CLASSIC SHRINE: OPEL'S FRUITS

This showcase of one of Germany's lesser appreciated marques is a hidden gem, with many of its 600 vehicles still in running condition

BLACK & BLUE

In an era when WRC success made a real impact on showroom sales, Subaru and Ford launched bruising rally-bred machines that would become performance icons

The Making Of Mg's Monster

Mike Taylor reunites designer Peter Stevens and production engineer Ian Moreton with the wildly aggressive V8-engined XPower SV, 15 years on.

Alfa Takes Top Gong At Blenheim

Heavy showers didn’t dampen spirits at the prestigious Salon Privé Chubb Concours on 31 August. Overall victory at the event, which was being held at Blenheim Palace for the third year running, went to the magnificent 1960 Alfa 3000CM Superflow.

Roverfest Fetes Solihull V8

More than 700 classics converged on Roverfest at Wroxall Abbey from 11-13 August to celebrate a half-century since the launch of the first Buick V8-engined Solihull model, the P5B. Enthusiasts came from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and the US, while cars had been driven from across the continent – including Italy, Germany and The Netherlands – to the Joint Rover Clubs Midlands gathering.

Smith On The March At Oulton

Northern Irishman Darwin Smith took a hard-earned double as the Historic Sports Car Club returned to Oulton Park for its Gold Cup meeting from 26-28 August. Smith led a 25-strong field in the FIA Historic Formula Two encounters, his March 722 coming home ahead of Richard Evans (March 742), who ran Smith close in Monday’s race.

Beautifully Functional

Hand-built for discerning buyers, the Mercedes Universal and Vanden Plas Countryman are the zenith of ’60s estates.

Oldtimers Turn Back The Clock

Classics spanning five decades gathered for the Blackheath Village Day celebrations on 2 December.

Simon Taylor Full Throttle

Down the years lots of motor-racing feature films have made it to the cinema, from Checkpoint to Grand Prix, from Days of Thunder to Rush.

A Home For Tupelo Honeys

Many classic events revolve around the 1950s, featuring tailfins, acres of chrome and the music of Elvis Presley.

Chassis Number One Set For Rebuild

JUE 477, the first production Land-Rover in an enduring series that lasted 69 years, briefly went on show at the RAC Club on London’s Pall Mall in February – 20 years after it was hidden from view.

Sexy 6C Coupe Is One Of A Kind

The Alfa Romeo 6C-2500 was introduced in 1939, and continued in production in small quantities throughout WW2.

Balance Of Power

Greg MacLeman gathers – for a world exclusive – two generations of Ford GT with a sublime GT40 MkIII, but which one does he want to take home?

London To Brighton Run Joy Marred By Tragedy

More than 400 pioneering veteran cars gathered in Hyde Park on 5 November to celebrate the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

Surrey Field Hoard Is Evicted

More than 25 classic cars stored in a field near Redhill, Surrey have been urgently seeking new homes after a November deadline for removal was issued to their owner.

Simon Taylor Full Throttle

Genius – it’s a term that is used all too glibly, and has become very much devalued.

A Touch Of Class For The Post-War Family Saloon

The Sunbeam MkIII and Singer Hunter heralded a new age of prosperity, says Andrew Roberts, while retaining the decorum of their predecessors

Traversee Honours Deco Paris

More than 750 classics – ranging from bicycles to supercars and tractors – converged on the east side of Paris for the 18th winter ‘crossing’ on 7 January.

Benz Crew Tops Austrian Epic

Alexander and Florian Deopito took their Mercedes 350SLC to a narrow victory on the 2018 PlanaiClassic, held from 4-6 January. Competitors on the Alpine event had to tackle heavy snow, ice, slush, rain and even hailstorms.

Unique Worcestershire Beauty

It is not commonly known that, when it was getting back into car production soon after WW2, Morgan sold 56 chassis to coachbuilders and garages who went on to add bespoke bodywork to their customers’ specifications.

Simon Taylor Full Throttle

In a lifetime of meeting car people, for me one of the most unforgettable has to be Tom Wheatcroft.

Jeremy Dickinson

London-based artist is inspired by the diecast toy cars of his childhood

How It All Started

Hail the Vauxhall Prince Henry, Britain’s first road car designed for pure enjoyment. Malcolm Thorne gets the rare privilege of a proper drive

Taxi Ride Back To The Prisoner

In a tribute to the cult 1960s series, film and TV expert Andrew Roberts returns to Portmeirion with a famous Moke

When Rallying Got Serious

Who better than John Davenport to pick out the highlights of one of the sport’s most exciting years? Mick Walsh delves into his brilliant new book

Shelby Shines At Charity Show

A fascinating mixture of vehicles gathered at Dunstan Green for the 12th Thatcham Classic on 7 October. The meeting, organised by C&SC’s Martin Port, raised £1120 for the Rosemary Appeal Cancer Support & Renal Dialysis Unit.

Baronet's Beauty

The Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental inspired England’s finest coachbuilders, says Mick Walsh, who’s utterly enchanted by the fabulous coupé that Freestone and Webb built for Sir John Leigh

From Shoeless To Hotshoe

Bobby Isaac came late to the brutal, cut-and-thrust world of NASCAR, says Paul Fearnley, but he certainly made his mark

Riding The TVR Rollercoaster

As TVR marks its 70th birthday, the green shoots of revival are emerging. Greg MacLeman takes a Griffith on an emotional tour from past to future

Le Joggers Battle The Elements

Snow and ice made this year’s Le Jog, held from 8-12 December, even more gruelling than normal.