Retro

Retro cars road test

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1938 Ford Model 81A Deluxe

1938 Ford V8 Deluxe Sedan Don’t judge this book by its cover because it’s as solid, powerful and practical a car as anyone could own for relatively little money and is still going strong today, as Zack Stiling discovered...

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1954 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible

Glamorous Fifties American convertibles are not unknown in Glasgow, but few of them brighten the place up like Bruce Kinnear’s gorgeous ’54 Chevrolet Bel Air…

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1984 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2

With bomb-proof build quality, the Carrera 3.2 represents the bedrock of 911 history, combining classic looks and driving traits with a relatively straightforward maintenance regime. Now, three decades on, even the best examples need restorative measures. Who better to demonstrate than a leading conservator of the breed?!

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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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1954 Bentley R-Type Continental

We delve into the history of a very special R-Type Continental – and take it ‘home’ to the Birmingham-based works where it spent its early years as everyday transport.

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1970 Fiat-Abarth 1000 TC Corsa wide-body racer tested on track

Strap in for a wild ride as we get behind the wheel of a Group 5 race-spec Fiat-Abarth 1000TC Corsa Wide Body.

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Truly unique 1921 Ford Model T

Australia has produced more than its fair share of great motoring journalists, and one of the greatest is Doug Blain who – like several of his compatriots – came over to the Old Country in the 1960s to show us how it should be done.

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Fangio’s 1950 Gordini Type 18S Berlinette Supercharged

Success may have eluded Fangio at Le Mans, but this supercharged 1950 Gordini Type 18S berlinette left a lasting impression on him and has a unique place in Gordini’s history.

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1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Supergioiello

Not all the early history of this sinfully attractive Alfa is recorded. But maybe that’s a force for good, reckons

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1955 Mercedes-Benz 190SL W121

Recently selling at auction for a record-breaking sum, this fully restored 190SL confirms that many still hold dear the Pagoda’s predecessor.

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1972 BMW 3.0 CSL E9 pre-production prototype

This is where modern motor sport-bred BMWs began – on the road in the 3.0CSL in its earliest, purest form.

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1973 Porsche 911E Targa

Porsche and carburettor fan Ajmal Mahmood has always lusted after an early 911. Today we let him loose in a pre-impact bumper, fuel-injected Targa

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1946 Bentley MkVI by HJ Mulliner

This unusual Bentley MkVI was commissioned by a man with particularly rigid views on the way his cars should be. Was he onto something?

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1954 Kaiser Darrin

Bill Smith, known to his friends as ‘Barnsley Bill’, likes unusual American cars and he’s certainly got one with this 1954 Kaiser Darrin… When faced with a rare car such as this one, I’m always intrigued to hear why the owner decided to buy it.

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1978 Lancia Sibilo

The collection of Milan-based Architect Corrado Lopresto ranks among the best in the world. The Key — an annual which ranks individuals based on the value and provenance of their collections — placed Lopresto at 22nd: more significant than Andreas Mohringer, but not quite so important as Ralph Lauren. Though, if you are like me and think a list is just another divisive tactic to get people arguing over something they might normally bond over, you can appreciate the life’s work of Corrado Lopresto for what it is: an immense and valuable tribute to Italian automotive design.

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