It has often been said that in the event of nuclear war, the only things that will survive are cockroaches and Mercedes-Benz W123s. Hopefully this theory will never be put to the test, but one thing is certain: few companies have been as consistent as Mercedes-Benz when it comes to developing thoroughly engineered cars. But W123s aren’t as bomb-proof as you might think.
The chances are that there’s an Aston Martin or two in your dream garage, but with marque values going through the roof in recent years, the only realistic way that you’re going to buy into the brand is with a DB7. It’s the Aston Martin that remains resolutely affordable to buy, if not necessarily to run. The DB7 is the car that saved the brand, because when it burst onto the scene in the mid-1990s, production from Aston’s Newport Pagnell factory had slowed to a trickle.
Great things come in small packages – and affordable ones, too THE MARKET Buying Guide Zebra-patterned seats are a peculiar thing to be remembered for, but it’s one of the reasons the Honda Beat remains so widely adored 31 years after it was launched. Designed within the confines of the tax-beating ‘kei-segment’ city car regulations, this roadster was aimed squarely at the Japanese domestic market, pushing the very limitations of what could be packaged within such confining parameters.
It is 30-years since the iconic E36 M3 made its debut. Is it more desirable than ever in 2022, and what do the experts think prospective buyers need to know? Words: Ben Barry. Buying BMW's modern classic M car in 2022...E36 M3 AT 30 Ten years ago, Munich Legends boss Dan Norris had a tidy E36 M3 saloon parked round the back of his workshops. “It was Techno Violet with about 40k miles and in pretty good condition,” he recalls.
The life and times of the West Bromwich answer to Aston Martin. Words: Paul Wager. 1966-1976 FACTS, FIGURES AND HISTORY ON THE GLAMOROUS ’70s GTJENSEN INTERCEPTOR DATABASE: Facts, figures and history on the stylish grand tourer which was built in West Bromwich using American muscle and Italian style. The story of Jensen Motors is a fascinating one, even without any mention of the Interceptor.
The M119 V8-powered SLs from the 129-series are among the greatest modern classic buys for those on a reasonable budget, combining robust quality with effortless performance and high-end cabin appointments. Words David Sutherland. Images Eric Richardson.
Seven steps to buying an MGC and ’B GT V8 Sporting appeal with the thrust to match the looks for as little as £6500. Words Richard Dredge. Photography John Colley. MGC and V8 buying made safeRemove the doubt of MGC/’B V8 buying Buying Guide Get yourself a big-engined MG roadster or coupé with confidence While MGB values have been on a steady decline of late, less ubiquitous variants have remained solid. This makes a decent MGC or ’BGT V8 seem a safe and compelling buy.
Mixing a wide body with traditional rear-wheel-drive, the 911 Carrera S is a highly desirable 993. Here’s your complete dossier of information on this collector’s gem. Written by Kieron Fennelly. Photography by Damian Blades. Buyer’s Guide Porsche 911 Carrera S 993 AIR-COOLED HISTORY AND TECHIn Porsche nomenclature, ‘S’ usually denoted sporting or ‘Super’ and its first application to a 911 was in 1966. The 911S would set the standard as the fastest 911 until the 2.
The 996 has its detractors, but the C4S is an affordable route into wide-body ownership. It's time for a more in-depth look… Written by Chris Randall. Photography by Neil Godwin. Background to the 996 C4S Turbo look’ is a familiar part of the Neunelfer enthusiast’s parlance, but you have to head back to 1984 for its first appearance. Back then, it meant the M491 option for the 3.
The 997.1 was the last Turbo that could trace its origins to the original 930, and makes for a great-value buy today. Total 911 presents everything you need to know about it… Written by Kieron Fennelly. Photography by Damian Blades. HISTORY AND TECHThe first-generation 997 inherited its engines from the 996.
What better way to celebrate the first water-cooled production 911's twenty-fifth anniversary than buying an example of this game-changing Porsche to call your own?! Words Dan Furr, Danny Kaye, Emma Woodcock, Russ Stanley. Photography Dan Sherwood. 1997-2004 Porsche 911 996 BUYING GUIDEWhat to look for when considering a buy. Owning a 911 has never been a more attainable dream, primarily thanks to the current low prices and easy availability of the 996.
Now considered a modern classic, the first-generation one and Cooper still look great, are well made, fun to drive, have modern safety features and will never be cheaper. Words Martyn Collins. Photos MINI, 24Seven photography. BUYING AND TUNING GUIDEHow do you replace a car that’s been on sale for four decades? That was the headache facing Rover, especially when BMW took the helm in 1994.
Let’s not beat around the bush: the Imp has a reputation for being a dud. It didn’t do great things for Hillman, because when it was launched in 1963 it was under-developed, so it suffered from a multitude of problems. The Imp Mk2 of 1965 fixed things though, so the pneumatic throttle linkage and automatic choke of the Mk1 were swapped for a cable throttle linkage and a conventional manual choke. Other improvements included a stronger clutch, better engine cooling and new suspension geometry.
Buy a BMW E46 from £2k. A grand tourer in almost every spec, the E46 is a bargain – so buy carefully. Words Sam Dawson. Photography Bauer Archive. Seven steps to buying a BMW E46Buying Guide Get yourself a decent BMW E46 3 Series while they’re still bargains Exotic M3s aside, the E46-generation BMW 3 Series is currently at its nadir in terms of values. Look carefully, and you might even find one in acceptable condition for less than £1000.
The Jaguar XJ-S picked up where the Jaguar E-type (XKE) left off, but the new car was never supposed to be a replacement for the old. Whereas the E-type was launched as a sports car and it morphed into a GT, the XJ-S was conceived and developed as a cruiser. It was never meant to be sporting as such, although with a 5.3-litre V12 in the nose, the XJ-S was never going to be short of performance.