The brand-new issue of Classic & Sports Car goes on sale in the UK today (3 September), and it’s jam-packed with fresh classic content. The headline act is a world exclusive first drive of the Colton Ferraris, followed by a massive Citroën DS group test and a full-throttle drive in TVR’s bargain Griffith 500. We also take a look at Datsun’s Z car dynasty and Keith Richards’ Bentley Blue Lena. We investigate a charismatic Triumph TR4-based Fiberfab Jamaican, while later looking back at the Williams FW13B and the last days of analogue in Formula One.
A Ferrari 250GT SWB and a 275GTB/4 would be a dream garage for many, and it certainly was for Richard Colton, the businessman who bequeathed both sports cars to the RNLI. Far from being show queens, each car was used extensively by Colton for European tours and mechanically perfected throughout the years. Ideal, then, for testing to the full before they are auctioned later in the year. This is one you won’t want to miss.
Fans of the Déesse will be in seventh heaven this month, as Andrew Roberts gathers four stunning examples for a thorough group test. They range from the early DS19 and its Safari sibling through to the DS21 Pallas and sublime Chapron-bodied Décapotable. Each variant has its own particular charm, while retaining the other-worldly futurism for which the model has become renowned – but which would you like to have in your garage?
Most Bentleys conjure images of velvet smoking jackets and plaid slippers – not so Blue Lena, Keith Richards’ fabled Continental. Think love triangles, drug busts and trips to Morocco. Mick Walsh immerses himself in the history of The Rolling Stones before getting behind the wheel for a trip down memory lane.
Bargain classics needn’t be boring, as proven by TVR’s thunderous Griffith 500. Even the youngest examples are now almost 15 years old, but 1960s technology ensures this modern is more Healey than S2000. Greg MacLeman takes the wheel of an immaculate example for a storming drive through the South Downs, and discovers that the Griffith is one car that well and truly lives up to its reputation. Good or bad? You be the judge.
In contrast, Datsun’s seminal 240Z could hardly be described as a bargain. Values have shot up in recent years, taking the model out of the reach of many enthusiasts, which has drawn increasing attention to its younger, more affordable siblings. Malcolm Thorne weighs-up the original sleek coupé against the firm’s later offerings, in the shape of the 260Z, 260Z 2+2 and 280ZX. Whether your dream is of a sports car or grand tourer, there’s a Z for you.
For those who prefer their automobiles a little more unusual, there’s the alluring Fiberfab Jamaican. The hand-built glassfibre beauty is rarely seen on UK shores, which makes Andy Somerville’s example even more intriguing. Simon Charlesworth gets to grips with one of only two Fiberfabs in the country, while discovering that, in the case of the Jamaican, beauty is much more than skin deep.
Ask most Grand Prix fans and they’ll tell you that modern Formula One has lost its way, from artificial drag reduction systems to automatic gearboxes – but where did it all go wrong? James Page sits down with current F1 ace Felipe Massa to remember the Williams FW13, one of the last top-flight racing cars with a manual ‘box and a notable lack of electrical wizardry. What could be better? Perhaps taking it for a blast up one of the country’s most famous hills – Goodwood. Buckle up!
