The world's sexiest roadsters and Ford Escort at 50: Inside the May 2018 issue of Classic & Sports Car

By Marc McLaren
News
 | 5 Apr 2018
The world's sexiest roadsters and Ford Escort at 50: Inside the May 2018 issue of Classic & Sports Car

The May issue of Classic & Sports Car goes on sale in the UK today (5 April), and it's absolutely stuffed with fascinating features, in-depth news reports and essential advice to help you buy, maintain and enjoy a classic car.

Our three-way face-off between a trio of super-stylish '50s soft-tops leads the way this month, with other highlights including a look back at 50 years of the Ford Escort, a drive in a converted Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and a day out with some Group B rallying legends.   

Of course as well as features you'll also find C&SC's customary winning mix of news, events info, buying tips and classifieds.

Scroll down for a peek inside, and don't forget to subscribe for the best possible deal. 

1. Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance 2018

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We sent Matt Stone inside one of the world's most prestigious classic car events; he returned with tales of the legendary Bullitt Mustang, several stunning Ferraris and Emerson Fittipaldi's sideburns...

2. Ultimate '50s showdown

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The ’60s might have been the era of the sports car, but the 1950s was a time for glamour. With rationing over, and the proceeds of newfound success rolling in, there was a new appetite for luxury and performance – and there were plenty of companies willing to feed it.

Jaguar’s XK150, Mercedes’ 300SL and Maserati’s 3500 Vignale all mated thoroughbred pedigree with style and comfort… but which is best? Malcolm Thorne finds out.

3. When a Ferrari is too tame

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The 1980s heralded a new breed of hypercar, as tuners such as Koenig strapped turbos to already rapid Ferrari supercars to create the wildest, most potent performance machines of their generation. Richard Heseltine goes for a spin in one of them: a Koenig-modded Ferrari 512 BB.

4. From Munich, via Fulham

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Adding significantly to the already costly E3 saloon on which it's based, the British-built 3.0 Si estate was an incredibly rare car even when it was new, and today just a single example survives.

It’s just the sort of car in which Martin Buckley can see himself transporting around a couple of Labradors he reckons, after a long-awaited drive.

5. Fun fare for common men

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Five decades ago, the Blue Oval created an institution with the launch of a new generation of compact family car.

Over six generations, the Escort range encompassed saloons, hatchbacks, estate cars, convertibles, vans and highly successful competition machines; Andrew Roberts pits a benchmark model from each era of Escort production against one of its key period rivals.

6. Beasts from the forests

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James Mann heads to Race Retro to meet the enthusiasts keeping some of the icons of Group B rallying alive, as they take to the special stage.