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When compared to earlier and later 911s making use of forced induction, the 996 Turbo represents one of the Porsche's scenes best buys... TECH: BUYING GUIDE PORSCHE 996 TURBO SMore than twenty-five years have passed since the 996 debuted, yet talk of the model’s radical departure from previous 911 architecture fails to quell.
Bought new by a Ministry of Defence official, this Fintail has spent the decades since in single family ownership criss-crossing Europe. Words RICHARD MASON Photography IAN SKELTON Trans-Europe Express – the well-travelled story of a ‘Fintail’ Mercedes July 1967 – Desmond Thain collects in Stuttgart ‘My dad, Desmond Thain, always had nice cars, Zephyrs and Jaguars,’ says Desmond’s son Philip. ‘But he’d never had a Mercedes before.
This perfect introduction to classic car ownership is still affordable – just – so act fast Words RICHARD DREDGE Photography JON COLLEY Seven steps to buying a Triumph SpitfireBargains at one end, investments at the other – so buy a Spitfire now! Buying Guide With early Triumph Spitfires making big money, now’s the time to buy What to pay You can still find a scruffy 1500 for as little as £3400, but it’ll probably need bodywork attention.
The 997 Targa. Chances are you forgot about that one, and indeed the 996 before it. Porsche took a bit of a diversion with the Targa version of the 993, 996 and 997, with these models not coming with the immediate Targa signifier of a rollover bar and expansive wraparound rear glass. The 991 would return to that format, with some added opening and closing automated theatrics, all of which leaves those interim Targa models somewhat overlooked.
Porsche has used twin turbochargers on its 911 since the 1990s, but how do these devices manage to generate such significant power gains? Turbo charging has been utilised by Porsche since 1973, where it was put to devastating effect in the 1974 Carrera RSR 2.1. Quick to make use of the technology in production cars, the 3.0-litre engined Turbo (930) was launched in 1974.
It’s one of the first questions we ask when interested in any vehicle, but more so a 911: “How many owners has it had?” We asked our experts, what significance does that number carry when looking at a used 911? “In older cars, the number of owners is largely irrelevant,” says Jonathan Ostroff of Hexagon Classics. He points out that condition is the key factor, not how many people have registered the vehicle in their name.
The road and rally legend created a storm when it was launched in 1992 and 31 years on, its status has only grown — as have the values. Here’s what you need to know if you’re in the market for one. Words Christian Tilbury Photos Magic Car Pics BUYING GUIDE: Escort Cosworth - What to check when buying Ford’s performance icon.
Volvo P1800 Jensen Cow Horn according to customer's request One set includes : One front bumper in 3 parts One rear bumper in 3 parts Mounting kit (bolts and nuts). The rear bumper is shaped like the front bumper, but the size of the rear bumper samples. Bumper is made from 304 stainless steel (it never rust, even at different temperatures), 2mm thickness, After the bumper is finished, it is polished to high gloss. It looks like chrome.
The Focus ST170 is widely revered as a fantastic handling car with a smooth and rev-happy 2.0-litre engine that delivered plenty of smiles-per-mile. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be made even better... Words JAMIE KING Photos ADE BRANNAN MODIFYING GUIDE: MK1 FOCUS ST170How to extract the best from the hot Mk1 that wasn’t an RS. The Mk1 Focus was a bit of a turning point for Ford; before its arrival in 1998, Blue Oval hatchbacks were something of a handful when the road got twisty.
Engines are made of many moving components, working together under finely engineered tolerances. To do that, they need oil, a viscous fluid that lubricates all those moving components, reducing friction and cooling them in the process. Without it, bearing surfaces would quickly overheat and wear out in minutes. This is the job of oil pressure: the engineered resistance created by the fluid being pumped through the engine as it rotates, ensuring moving parts are lubricated as intended.
For many years, the Targa was out of favour in the 911 market, offering possibly the cheapest way into each model. Is that still the case? No, says Philip Raby of Philip Raby Specialist Cars: “They were once unloved, because they leaked, or gave wind noise issues, so the Cabriolets were more popular. Today, that’s probably reversed.” Philip explains this is partly down to fresh interest in the model after the 991 Targa reintroduced the silver hoop of earlier cars.
The 964 was the last old-school Turbo, but today it’s much-prized by collectors. Here’s your in-depth look at both the 3.3- and 3.6-litre models. Written by Kieron Fennelly 3.3 VS 3.6: HOW TO BUY A PORSCHE 964 TURBOPorsche Index: 964 Turbo - Kieron Fennelly unearths all the facts you need on both the 3.3- and 3.6-litre 964 Turbo HISTORY & TECH The 964 Turbo is famously almost the 911 Turbo that never was.
Rescued from a bankrupt Ginetta, this wild V8 roadster has tested the mettle of two passionate owners. Words SAM DAWSON Photography IAN SKELTON Tricky to live with, sublime to drive – a Ginetta G33’s life story told 1995 – Malcolm Pinder realises his long-held dream of becoming a Ginetta owner ‘When I was 19, I went to the Motor Show at Earls Court, saw the then-new Hillman Imp-based G15, and knew then and there that I wanted a Ginetta one day,’ says Malcolm Pinder.