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1953 Jaguar XK120 FHC vs. 1957 Aston Martin DB MKIII

007 very nearly got an E-type for the Goldfinger film — but he also came close to a Jaguar in the novel upon which it was based. Which of these original Goldfinger cars makes for the best classic experience today?

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1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Sedanca de Ville Coachwork by Hooper & Co

This is one of a few Rolls-Royces built for the oil millionaire Nubar Gulbenkian and probably the least outrageous, yet it was still enough of a head turner to find itself a movie role in a true cult classic.

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1953 Cisitalia 808 Coupe

Henry Ford II himself commissioned Cisitalia to build the 80S. Ford’s first sports car? Time to lay bare a real rarity.

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1953 Fiat 8V Spider Vignale

Only one Fiat 8V Spider was ever made, bodied by Vignale in 1953. Now it’s been fully restored in the UK – and driving it proves a real revelation.

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Jaguar MkVII finishes second on 1953 Monte Carlo Rally

Despite Ian Appleyard dominating the Alpine Rally throughout the early Fifties with his cream XK120, registration NUB120, since the Monte Carlo Rally’s rules at the time demanded cars over 1ó litres had to be four-seaters, it meant he had to ditch the sports car in favour of a MkVII instead. For his first Monte in 1952, Appleyard ordered a brand new example, registered PWN 7, but due to poor weather he, together with his co-driver wife, Pat (who was also the daughter of chairman of Sir William Lyons) finished a lowly 53rd. He would use the car again for that year’s Tulip Rally in April when he came home a strong second.

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1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Series 3 Racer

Lancia’s ground-breaking Aurelia B20 GT was not only an object lesson in elegance but also a superlative tool for racing. That status remains as relevant today as was in 1951.

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1953 Vauxhall Velox

Mick Johnson was handed a large pile of boxes when he took on a Vauxhall Velox in 2014, but he has turned it into a beautiful car. Phil Homer tells the story, and speculates as to why so few of this marque and model survive.

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First production car with a fibreglass body 1953 Chevrolet Corvette C1

When you think of motoring in 1950’s America, it’s likely that lashings of chrome, tail fins and bodywork for miles will come to mind. It’s fair to assume lightweight materials won’t feature anywhere on the list of all of the things that make up mid-20th century Americana.

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1953 Ferrari Abarth 166 MM/53 Smontabile Spyder

For 1953, Ferrari released a second series of its 166 Mille Miglia (MM) for sports racing in the popular sub-2.0-litre sport class. These used the 1995cc V12 engine with new Weber 32IF4C carburettors, producing a healthy 160hp at 7200rpm. The so-called 166 MM/53 was sold alongside the 250 Mille Miglia (3.0 litres) and 340 Mille Miglia (4.1 litres).

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1953 Jaguar XK120 OTS

We sample a late example of the 1953 Jaguar XK120 open-two-seater that, thanks to being owned by Jaguar since the Seventies, remains beautifully preserved, despite its recent adventures in motorsport.

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1953 Porsche 550 Spyder

The first Porsche designed specifically for motorsport, the 550 Spyder is considered one of the most important race cars ever manufactured...

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1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia

The impact of the Second World War could be felt across the globe. In the automotive sector, many factories were shut down or even destroyed. Quality materials used prior to WWII were in short supply and the day-to-day operations of once thriving companies were struggling across the board. Custom and small coachbuilders like Bertone, Pinin Farina (the company was renamed Pininfarina in 1961

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