Classic Car Auctions to showcase an eclectic range of cars for their final auction of the year.

• 130 ‘everyman’ classics will be offered at auction at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre on Saturday 3^rdDecember.
• Lots include a 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo, a 1973 Jaguar E-Type SIII V12 Roadster barn-find, the first ever 1977 Vauxhall Chevette HS and a special VW Beetle charity lot.
• The sale is the auction houses’ final event of 2016 and includes a special viewing day on Friday 2^ndDecember.

Classic Car Auctions returns this weekend with its final auction of the year and a catalogue of 130 quality ‘everyman’ classics for sale on Saturday 3^rd December at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre.

With a diverse mix of traditional and modern classics on offer, buyers can expect everything from rare, low mileage collectibles, to eighties performance icons, timeless, restored classics and ready for restoration ‘barn finds’, offering the chance to buy some of the most desirable cars on the market, along with some healthy investment opportunities, given the growth in the sub-£100k market.

 

Proving popular at CCA sales, a number of iconic, modern performance cars headline the sale including a remarkable UK supplied, right-hand drive 1992 Honda NSX, finished in striking metallic black with a black leather interior. Supplied with a perfectly suited registration plate, 'J13 NSX', it is estimated at between £30,000 and £35,000.

Another iconic model, a 2001 Subaru Impreza P1 2.0T 4WD 2DR, number 524 of just 1000 limited editions by Prodrive, and with just one previous registered owner, offers great value to buyers with a sale estimate of £10,000 to £12,000. A supercharged 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG, with incredible performance and luxury, also offers buyers exceptional value, with a sale estimate of £8,000 to £10,000.

Fans of British performance models have the chance to own a 1999 Lotus Esprit V8 Twin Turbo, with both low mileage and recent servicing, estimated at between £26,000 and £30,000.

A fantastic choice of Porsches are also available, with a right-hand drive 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo finished in Tahiti Blue and maintained in excellent condition, estimated at between £55,000 and £65,000.

A very well cared for 1983 Porsche 944 Lux, finished in Guards Red with a leather and pinstriped velour interior, and reading just 61,000 miles, is estimated at between £8,000 and £10,000. Also, an attractive 1980 Porsche 911 3.0 SC Targa which has benefitted from much recent expenditure, is expected to achieve between £20,000 and £25,000 on sale day.

Barn-find E-Types are now a regular at CCA, commanding elevated sale prices over the last year, and a UK, right-hand drive 1973 Jaguar E-Type SIII V12 Roadster barn-find, ready for restoration, is therefore sensibly guided at £25,000 to £30,000.

Other highlights of the auction include a 1977 Vauxhall Chevette HS 2.3, a genuine part of motoring history as the very first example off the production line and now fully restored, estimated at between £18,000 and £22,000.

An unusual 1985 Mercedes-Benz 250 Limousine formerly owned by the United Arab Emirates Embassy will be offered at ‘No Reserve’.

Finally, the auction house will be offering a special charity lot, a 1975 Volkswagen 1303 Beetle Convertible, with all proceeds to be donated to 'Bloodwise', to end a year of fundraising for the blood cancer charity.

“We pride ourselves on the variety we offer our customers at our sales, and this one is no exception as one of our most exciting catalogues yet,” comments Guy Lees-Milne, auction manager at CCA. “We welcome all car fans, young and old, to our sales and we’ll be getting into the Christmas spirit early, so if you’re looking for a festive day out, or to buy the ultimate Christmas present, we can promise a very exciting auction.”

A special viewing afternoon will be held on Friday 2^nd December at the auction venue, near Leamington Spa. The sale itself begins at 12.30pm on Saturday 3^rd December. 

GOLF MK II - As the countdown continues to the Golf VIII, we look back at the second generation model.

• Design continuity is the key to the Golf's global success
• The second Golf will become a bestseller in all walks of life

The Golf is unique, forgery-proof. A design icon. In November, Volkswagen will show how this unique gem has evolved with its update of the Golf. A masterpiece in automotive design continuously refined over seven generations. A phenomenon, because the Golf is one of the few affordable cars in the world that is truly classless.

Experts agree – the most defining moment in the history of the Golf came in the late 70s when the decision was made to create the Golf MkII by further developing the Golf MkI's design DNA. And so the “Golf Phenomenon” came about – the Volkswagen of all Volkswagen cars; the perfect image of the brand; a compact car with a classless status reaching out to all levels of society.

Retrospective: 1983. Germany is thrilled when the German Ulf Merbold is launched into space on “Columbia”. Meanwhile Michael Jackson's album “Thriller” rockets into unimaginable heights of sales and is the best-selling LP/CD on the planet. Apple presents its first mass-produced computer “mouse”. That autumn, meanwhile, the second-generation Golf is launched.

The Golf MkII became bigger and more aerodynamic. The designers staying true to the Golf MkI's DNA while creating progressive new details. Radical new features in the rear: the Golf MkI's rear lights were right at the bottom just above the bumper – in the Golf MkII, they were moved much further up. In 1983 no other car had this. A bridge between the generations, the C-pillar configuration remains typical to this very day. In the words of Volkswagen in 1983: “The Golf must remain a Golf. So no redesign should move away from the Golf concept – yet it should still be a new car from bumper to bumper, abiding by the fundamental principles: concept continuity, progress in detail and quality.” It was the formula for world success.

Renault Trafic van achieves 200,000 sales in the UK after 35 years, and 3.4 million global sales.

• Renault Trafic van achieves 200,000 sales in the UK
• 3.4 million Trafics sold globally since 1980
• Renault has been European LCV leader for 18 consecutive years

The Renault Trafic has surpassed 200,000 sales in the UK, having been a staple of the British LCV landscape for almost 35 years. 

The Trafic has evolved considerably across the years, and now in its third generation, offers van users all the features and comfort of a passenger car as well as the class-leading practicality and innovation you would expect from Europe’s number one LCV manufacturer.

Now in its third generation, the latest Renault Trafic went on sale in the UK in late 2014, bringing a modern, fresh take on the practical van. It is available in a choice of four bodystyles – Panel Van, Crew Van, to carry up to six people and equipment, Platform Cab and Passenger, which seats up to nine people in comfort, and in over 70 variants in the UK.

Steve Wilson, LCV Product Manager, Renault UK said: “The Trafic has proved very successful in the UK since it was first launched here 35 years ago. To achieve 200,000 sales shows the Trafic really hit a chord with business users in the UK. 

It has innovated in the van market since 1981, offering a robust, user-friendly vehicle in a wide number of bodystyles and conversion options. The latest Trafic has proved fantastically popular since launching here in late 2014 and helped Renault LCVs to a record year in the UK in 2015.”

Trafic I

Replacing the Estafette, the original Renault Trafic was unveiled in 1980 and went on sale in the UK in 1981 – the same year that saw the inaugural London Marathon and MTV broadcast for the first time. Available up until 2001, the original Trafic saw three facelifts during its 20-year tenure and was offered in a total of 32 different variants, split between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive and petrol and diesel engines. 

The Trafic I was available at launch with a payload of up to 1200kg, and recognised the increasing importance of driver comfort by improving seating, driver control, soundproofing and ventilation over its predecessor. 

It was also easily accessible for loading and unloading goods, with a choice of rear and side doors, robust thanks to special treatment against corrosion and safe due to advanced semi-cab visibility and assisted braking with ventilated discs at the front. The original Renault Trafic went on sale in 1981 from £3,950.

Phase II followed in 1990, as the first generation Trafic underwent a major facelift with a slightly longer body, rounder front end and new, plastic bumpers. Five years later, the Trafic received another facelift with a new grille, new taillights, large double rear view mirrors and a new interior with modern dashboard and multi-adjustable seats. Through all three phases, 80,442 first generation Renault Trafics were sold in the UK.

Trafic II

Trafic II was unveiled at the 2000 Frankfurt Motorshow and launched in the UK in May 2001. Trafic II was the first Renault to be manufactured in the UK in thirty years and hit the roads in the year the first Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings films premiered, and the original Apple iPod was released. 

Built in Luton for UK customers, the Trafic II offered a refrigerated glove box, radio with CD player and central locking as standard, while options at launch included mobile ‘phone connectivity, air conditioning and a full-glazed bulkhead. Available in a range of twelve colours such as Desert Yellow, Laser Red and Storm Blue, it went on sale from £11,995 (excluding VAT). Between 2001 and 2014, 102,486 Trafic II were sold in the UK.

Trafic III

The current Renault Trafic, which went on sale in late 2014, is available with four efficient turbodiesel engines, in a choice of four bodystyles – Panel Van, Crew Van, to carry up to six people and equipment, Platform Cab and Passenger. Trafic boasts fuel economy of up to 50.4mpg (NEDC Combined) and CO₂ emissions as low as 149g/km, and is priced from £18,245 excluding VAT.

The Trafic provides the best load capacities on the medium panel van market today with clever solutions to make the loading area more practical. Innovative features such as keyless entry, touch-screen infotainment, mobile office storage and functionality, as well as sophisticated stability control, are available.

Trafic III can also be customised more than its predecessors with 70 variants in the UK, two different heights, two different lengths, panel van, crew-van, platform cab and passenger versions, not to mention all the solutions offered by approved converters.

Thanks to its new range of downsized, turbocharged engines, the Renault Trafic III is also more flexible and economical than ever before. The engines are based upon the 1.6 dCi unit and feature advanced technology to combine fuel consumption savings with real driving enjoyment. 

The downsizing of the engines offer brisk pick-up and greater low-end torque for responsive acceleration, even when the vehicle is fully loaded. In the UK, as of the end of March 2016, 18,189 of the latest third generation Trafics have been sold since launch in late 2014.

Renault’s expertise has earned recognition in the demanding and growing LCV segment. Groupe Renault engineers and produces not only for its own brands but also for other manufacturers.

The Renault Trafic is built in Sandouville, Renault’s plant in Northern France, where Renault also manufactures vans for Nissan (NV300) and Fiat (Talento) as well as high-roof versions of Vivaro for Opel and Vauxhall.  

The Renault Kangoo, and the Mercedes-Benz Citan, are produced at the Renault factory in Maubeuge and at the Batilly plant, Renault manufactures the Master for Renault and Renault Trucks as well as vans for Nissan (NV400), Opel and Vauxhall (Movano).

The Trafic has won numerous awards throughout its lifetime and most recently became a two-time consecutive winner of What Van?’s ‘Best Medium Van of the Year’ in 2015 and 2016. It has also demonstrated its economical credentials by winning the LCV titles of ‘Best MPG’ in 2014, and ‘Best Percentage Improvement’ in both 2014 and 2015, at the MPG Marathon. 

The Renault LCV range consists of the Kangoo small van – comprising Kangoo, Kangoo Maxi and all-electric Kangoo Van Z.E – the Trafic, as well as the larger Master. A comprehensive range of factory and approved LCV conversions are also available to order. The all-electric Twizy Cargo is also a part of the LCV line-up – a unique way of transporting smaller items around urban environments.

Renault provides a specialist dealer network for its business customers through its Pro+ specialist dealers. The dealers offer sales and service advisors with specific B2B expertise. In the UK, all Renault LCVs are available with the reassurance of four years’/ 100,000 mile warranty and four years’ roadside assistance, providing the ultimate peace of mind.

Renault has been Europe’s leading LCV manufacturer for eighteen consecutive years, with sales in 2015 rising by 17 per cent compared to 2014 to 347,679 vehicles. In the UK, Renault had its best ever year for LCV sales in 2015 with 25,458 vehicles – up 40 per cent.  In the first quarter of 2016, Renault registered 6,618 vehicles – up 21 per cent on Q1 last year. 

Trafic: Then and Now

Trafic I – 1981 Petrol 1397cc – 47.5bhp @ 4,750 rpm	Trafic III – 2016 dCi90 – 90bhp @ 3,500 rpm
• Two-speed front windscreen wipers	• Rain-sensing automatic windscreen wipers
• One key for ignition, doors and fuel filler cap	• Hands free keycard entry
• Heating controls and sun visors	• Air conditioning with pollen filter
• Reversing lights	• Rear parking sensors and colour reverse parking camera
• Manual front windows	• Electric front windows
• 2 seatbelts and optional head restraints	• Driver’s airbag and 3-point height-adjustable seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters
• Internally adjustable door mirrors	• Electrically adjustable heated door mirrors
• Map pocket in driver’s door and tray running full length across dashboard with centre and passenger side glove compartments	• 54-litre underseat storage
• Interior light in centre of cab	• Mobile Office: Adjustable smartphone & tablet cradle, fold down central seat incorporating detachable A4 clipboard holder to be fixed in place to face the driver or passenger and laptop storage and holder
• FM/AM radio	• Renault R-Link Multimedia system: 7” touchscreen, TomTom® LIVE Navigation, FM/AM/DAB tuner, 4x35W speakers and Renault Bass Reflex, Bluetooth® audio streaming and hands-free calls, USB and AUX sockets, voice control and vehicle applications
• From £3,950 (+VAT)	• From £18,475 (+VAT)

Jaguar Land Rover announces rebranded Jaguar Land Rover Classic business, for parts, service, hiring and more.

• Jaguar Land Rover announces rebranded Jaguar Land Rover Classic business
• Formerly known as Jaguar Land Rover Heritage, the new business will provide classic cars, services, parts and experiences
• Renaming of business division better reflects Jaguar Land Rover’s capabilities and expertise

Jaguar Land Rover is delighted to announce the renaming of its Heritage business to Jaguar Land Rover Classic. The rebranded division will continue to provide cars, services, parts and experiences for Classic Jaguars and Land Rovers and their owners.

Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “Renaming the rapidly growing global business to Jaguar Land Rover Classic best reflects the division’s overall capabilities in providing the best cars, services, parts and experiences for our customers. We aim to build an even more successful future by celebrating and nurturing Jaguar and Land Rover’s past.”

Jaguar Land Rover Classic can now accommodate full restorations of classic vehicles at its UK sites, as well as providing a repair and maintenance service for customers.

Jaguar Classic will continue to use the historic Browns Lane facility, where the six continuation Lightweight E-types were built and a newly developed Land Rover  Classic workshop at Solihull for the restoration of Land Rovers. Fully factory restored Jaguars and Land Rovers are now also available for purchase.

Jaguar Land Rover Classic Parts supplies genuine parts for models whose range has been out of production for over a decade. 

The parts catalogue has over 30,000 individual and guaranteed parts, available to order from Jaguar Land Rover’s global retail network. Specialist technical advisors have extensive product knowledge and selected parts are available to order on the day for collection at local retailers.

In addition to cars, services and parts, the Classic business also offers customers the opportunity to experience a selection of Jaguar and Land Rover’s most iconic models with Classic Drives. This is complemented by the second season of the Jaguar Classic Challenge race series for pre-1966 Jaguar models, which commences on 2 May 2016 at Donington Race Circuit in the UK.

The Iconic Ford Transit Van has been awarded entry to the What Van ? Hall of Fame.

The Ford Transit has rounded off its 50^th year by joining What Van?’s Hall of Fame. What Van? editor, Paul Barker said, “The Transit is the most iconic of vehicles in the UK, and its dominance looks as controlled now as at any point in the last 50 years. 

It’s impossible to not encounter the influence of the Transit van on a daily basis in all walks of life, and this legendary figurehead of British industry, business and society looks set to rule for a long time yet.”

The Ford Transit’s 50^th anniversary celebrations led up to August 9, 1965 when the first Transit rolled off the production line. More than eight million Transit and Transit Custom models have been built since which, lined up end-to-end, would circumnavigate the globe. More than 2.5 million of these have been sold in the UK alone.

Ford continued its winning streak with the Transit Courier also picking up Small Van of the Year, the second year it has won the accolade since it was launched in 2014.

“The Transit Courier proves that small can still be fun, sensible, practical and high-quality,” Paul Barker continued. “Our 2015 Van of the Year is, a year on, still the most impressive vehicle in its segment by a distance, and very easy to recommend for businesses that don’t need to be hauling large or heavy loads.”

The Transit Courier completed the Transit line-up when it was launched last year and has become a strong contender in its segment. Over the summer, Ford introduced even more fuel-efficient engines – strengthening the Courier’s position as the most efficient petrol and diesel vehicle in its class. Fuel consumption for the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine equipped with Auto-Stop-Start is improved by a further three per cent to 55.4mpg, with 115g/km CO₂. The 1.6-litre TDCi with Auto-Start-Stop remains at a class-leading 76.3mpg and 97g/km CO₂**.

Ford was also highly commended in several categories including Medium Van of the Year with Transit Custom, Pick-Up of the Year with Ranger, 4x4 Van of the Year with Transit AWD and the Innovation Award for Ford Telematics powered by Telogis.

Kevin Griffin, sales director, Ford of Britain said: “We are immensely proud of the Transit and its enduring success in the UK so I am delighted to receive this award. In its fiftieth year of sales leadership, the Transit doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. This year for the first time since 1989, sales of Ford’s commercial vehicles have topped 100,000 with both Transit and Transit Custom leading their segments.”  

The entire Ford commercial vehicle range is now available from Ford’s designated 105-strong commercial dealer network, called Transit Centres.

It's the 50th anniversary of the Cobra Daytona coupe, and you can still buy(ish) them new.

Back in 1964, the Cobra was all dominant – except at such high-speed European circuits as Le Mans. Carroll Shelby duly tasked designer Peter Brock with penning a sleeker body and the resulting Cobra Daytona Coupes beat Ferrari to the 1965 FIA Sports Car Championship. 

Only six cars were constructed in period, which will be assembled for the first time ever at the upcoming Goodwood Revival meeting, September 11-13. 

Unsurprisingly, these Shelby masterpieces very rarely come to market and, when they do, they fetch a fortune – the last one to sell fetched a cool $7.25million. A genuine derivative is, however, available brand new from just £99,800 plus VAT – here’s the story…….

The current CSX9000 Series Daytona Coupe was developed directly from the original Coupes by Brock and fellow designer Bob Negstad. 

They combine the mouth-watering shape of those original cars with the very latest in engineering technology, as a result of which they were sanctioned by the late, great Carroll Shelby and subsequently adopted as an official Shelby product.

The current (MKII) version benefits from numerous upgrades, including: a better gearbox (Tremec Magnum); improved suspension option with Öhlins adjustable dampers; stainless steel side-mounted exhausts; deep-dished 15” FIA wheels or 18” race-style ones; greater interior space; better air conditioning controls; and exterior door handles. 

The body is manufactured from polyvinyl ester and there is a wide choice of engines as follows: Ford motorsport ones from 289 to 427ci in capacity and 380 to 550bhp in output, and a 520bhp version of GM’s popular LS3 unit.