Social media has revolutionised the way we communicate.  Conversations transformed into one’s and zero’s and shared across the world. Facebook has made us friends with people we have never met and may never meet.  It has given us access to experts, some more expert than others.   

Like the real world, the on-line world has its share of nutters and wasters as well as genuine people who share their knowledge freely and without expectation of reward.  The trick, as in the real world, is to sort the good from the bad.

In this series we will be trying to identify on line resources that might help you get the most out of your classic car. To start with we are going to look at a facebook page, Unofficial Yorkshire Classic Cars.

The Unofficial Yorkshire Classic Cars facebook page was created in August 2020 for like minded people who like all classic cars and like to ask questions and post pictures.   Since it was formed it has attracted over 2500 members which is quite remarkable and a credit to its founders.

I have been a member for almost two years and it is a friendly respectful page.   There is no judgement and they take the attitude that if you think your car is a classic, then it is.  Members cars cover the full spectrum from the 30’s through to 1990’s and all are welcomed with equal enthusiasm. Members are always willing to offer advice and encouragement.  The site is well managed and there are no candy crush links, bad jokes or racist and political comments.  So well done to the page moderators.

Where the page excels is with information about local classic car shows and events.  The page keeps a comprehensive list of shows pinned to the top of the page.   They also have their own meetings in Wakefield at Heath Common where you meet IRL (In Real Life).  Event organisers post their events and members who attend the events share pictures and post comments.  

If you are interested in showing your classic car and want to keep it local then this is a perfect place to find the best events.   If you are organising an event in Yorkshire then you must let them know.  This page is everything a facebook page should be and nothing it shouldn’t.

Give it a try and feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section.

Click the link ( Unofficial Yorkshire Classic Cars | Facebook ).

Is there a site that you find invaluable.  Let us know in the comments below and we will take a look at it.

Many classic car enthusiasts cut their teeth on motorcycles and that is where we learnt our basic mechanical skills. We then progress to worn out cars upgrading them until we were able to drive around in relatively new cars. Then when we have a lot more money, we go back to buying those worn out cars and call them classics.

Some people stay part of the biking fraternity, others leave and come back when they are older and allegedly wiser. I started aged 16 with a Garelli Rekord moped, replaced by a Yamaha FS1E (Fizzy) and then after turning 17, a Suzuki GT 125 which resulted in my first serious crash. Having written that bike off I moved on to a Yamaha RD250 which was incredibly fast. I took a break then but after a few years I bought a BMW 650 TL finally retiring from bikes aged 28.

A number of my friends have returned to biking in their 50’s and have tried to enlist me in their gang. I have declined so far because I can’t find a bike that appeals to me. Modern bikes seem soulless in comparison to the bikes of the past.

I was part of a biker family (my father never had a car licence) and it was the time when British manufacturers were fighting for survival against Japanese imports. Fast, reliable and oil tight British manufacturers were never going to win. Because I was a part of this short era of change, I am open to British, Japanese and Italian bikes which we rode at the time.

So it was interesting to see a 1977 Triumph Bonneville ‘Silver Jubilee’ 750 in time warp condition coming to market.

One of only 1000 ‘Silver Jubilee’ motorcycles allocated for the British market and one of 2400 built in total, this Triumph Bonneville was supplied new to a UK Triumph dealer in 1977. Initially unregistered for the road, the bike became a display item, its first owner only parting with it in 1996. The second owner registered the bike with an age related number plate while maintaining the originality of the regal machine which has barely been ridden since the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It now presents in impeccably preserved condition with delivery mileage showing on its odometer – just 7.7 miles.

The Triumph Bonneville is an iconic bike in its own right, the ‘Silver Jubilee’ “Bonnie” was a rare special edition souvenir, created to mark the 25th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. Based on a T140 model, it was given a bespoke metallic silver paint scheme, red, white and blue accents, and additional chrome and commemorative decals. Each was supplied with a signed certificate of authenticity from Triumph, carrying the approval of Buckingham Palace.

This motorcycle shows very little wear since the day it rolled from Triumph’s factory at Meriden in Coventry. Entirely original and unrestored, it is free from any of the deterioration you would expect of a vehicle its age – even all of the special ‘Silver Jubilee’ badges and stickers are present and correct. Given its dignified life of luxury on static display, the bike’s matching-numbers air-cooled 744cc parallel twin engine is not currently in running order, it would be an ideal candidate for recommissioning should its new keeper wish to ride it.

Underlining the machine’s originality, it is accompanied by its factory-supplied owner’s handbook, unused original tool kit and a substantial history file. In addition, comes correspondence from the Triumph Owners Motorcycle Club confirming its authenticity and underlining its rarity, just 81 examples were known to the club back in 1996.

The five day auction starts on 20th August with estimates that the motorcycle could sell for around £15k. That seems like a good price to me, but not enough to get me back on the road. It simply wouldn’t keep up with the new bikes.

By Classic Yorkshire correspondent Tony Lofthouse

It’s about the passion. When thinking about buying your first classic it’s the excitement and anticipation that will ‘drive’ you.

There’s lots of fun in owning a classic car but also pitfalls to think about. Your dream motor could be costly to run, liable to frequent breakdowns and prove a sobering reality check.

If the idea still interests you, here are some useful tips from the Classic Yorkshire team.

Choose the right car. What do you want from your ‘new’ car? A doer-upper that you can have hours of fun restoring or a pristine motor that still retains the smell of leather inside, comes with gleaming bodywork and is ready to go!

Where to buy. Where possible, get an independent inspection of your intended buy or ask a trusted mechanic to look over the vehicle. If you are buying at auction remember you are buying ‘as seen’ and you can’t take it back.

Garage space. If you’re planning a restoration project, you’ll need a garage or at least a driveway with space to work.

Check the price guides. Check the internet or up to date car guides to get a good idea of the sort of prices the car you want is selling for.

Do your research. Read all about the car, get in touch with the owners club (if there is one!) and find out the good and bad about it. Ask yourself ‘is this the right car for me?’

Set a budget. You need take into account not just the price of the car, but it’s running cost – how much are parts? Plus how much will it cost to insure?

Maintenance costs. Are parts widely available and affordable? Again, owners clubs can be very useful in sourcing parts and getting tips on maintaining your new buy.

Go for a test drive. The car may look a ‘knock out’ on the forecourt but how does it drive? Get behind the wheel and find out. Ask to see its service history and invoices covering major repairs or restoration work.

The more you prepare the less the shocks in store and more the fun. If you’re still in love with the idea, then go for it and enjoy the ride! Good luck.

Do you have any tips for first-time buyers? Why not share with a comment at the end of this article?

Recent years have seen a plethora of new build classic cars. Whether they be recreations, or modern interpretations, they provide classic style but embrace modern technology to improve performance and safety.

These cars are made possible by new technologies such as 3D modelling and new materials that allow short production runs. But most important to the success of these vehicles has been the growth of wealthy individuals, too poor to go to space, too weathy to leave the money in the bank.

I love to see these vehicles, I love the designs, the technology, the engineering and the sheer audacity and commitment of the builders. But I do have a concern. We are custodians of our cars for future generations, just like art or a good quality watch. We are obligated to share our passion and to inspire and educate others. But what happens to these million pound cars. Do they just get locked away in a private garage never to be seen again. Do they only run on private track days where only a privileged few get to see and hear them.

I have tremendous respect for the classic and historic racing community who, despite the values of their cars, still get out on race and rally days so that enthusiasts can appreciate them and pass on our interest to future generations.

I have just added three new cars to my Hot Wheels car collection and I am particularly pleased with the Mazda Cosmo Sport. As I did this it occurred to me that many of these million pound plus cars are a rich persons equivalent of my HotWheels collection. Never taken out of the packaging, never played with, just sat in my office for me to enjoy. But having said that, the world would be a poorer place without the innovation and engineering of these specialist companies.

So the latest offering is from Lotus with the world premiere of the Type 66 who have confirmed the stunning track-only car will go into production. The Type 66 is a new, ultra-exclusive, low-volume car from Lotus. It brings to life a ‘lost Lotus’ drawing board programme from their motorsport heritage, combining it with today’s state-of-the-art racing technology and components.

With his eyes on the high-profile and commercially lucrative Can-Am Series, Lotus founder Colin Chapman tasked Team Lotus draughtsman Geoff Ferris to launch the Type 66 project to evaluate how Lotus design principles could be applied to this exciting category. Chapman’s primary focus on Formula 1 meant the innovative project never went beyond technical drawings and scale models. In a fitting tribute to their racing pedigree and heritage, Lotus fulfilled the original vision 53 years after the designer first put pen to paper.

Only 10 examples of this ‘rediscovered and reimagined’ Lotus V8 will be built. It’s a total selected to commemorate the number of races the Type 66 would have competed in during the 1970 season.

The car made its public debut in a heritage-inspired livery – reflecting the red, white and gold colours Lotus raced in during the early Seventies – and which could have adorned the Type 66, alongside the all-conquering Lotus Type 72 F1 car.

The Type 66 is one of the most exclusive projects Lotus has ever undertaken and each example will cost in excess of £1million.

The Lotus Type 66 has benefitted from more than half a century of technical progress since it was imagined to optimise its design, engineering and manufacture. Using state-of-the-art computer software, the team led by Russell Carr, Design Director, Lotus, digitised a series of 1/4 and 1/10^th scale drawings supplied by Clive Chapman and created 3D renders to provide an entirely new perspective of the vehicle. The original sketches were true to Colin Chapman’s early designs, featuring a cockpit enclosure that would reduce drag and improve airflow to the rear wing.

In order to conform to modern safety standards and to ensure 21^st century driver confidence, the original designs were delicately reinterpreted. New features to the vehicle include a modernised driver compartment, inboard fuel cell, sequential transmission and anti-stall system. Everything is contained in a full carbon fibre bodyshell.

The front wing was designed to channel air from the front of the car, through and underneath the rear wing, generating more downforce than the vehicle’s total weight at full speed. This sense of porosity, where air travels through a vehicle, rather than around it, remains a signature element of Lotus vehicle design today and is seen on the Emira sports car, Eletre SUV and Evija hypercar.

Optimised aerodynamics has been part of the Lotus DNA for all of its 75 years, and the Type 66 is no exception. More than 1,000 hours of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) work has gone into the programme, resulting in downforce in excess of 800kg at 150mph. That’s far more than the original underbody design would have been able to manage, enhancing both driver safety and vehicle performance for quicker lap times.

Advanced ‘driver-in-the-loop’ technology has been used to test how the vehicle would perform on race tracks around the globe, such as Laguna Seca, Silverstone, Fuji and Spa. Thanks to modern-day engineering and ingenuity, the Type 66 now matches the dynamic performance and lap times of a modern GT3 race car. On some circuits, such as Laguna Seca, simulator work suggests it could actually be quicker.

At the heart of the Type 66 is a period-representative V8 push-rod engine. It’s mid-mounted for optimised handling, tuned by Lotus to produce more than 830bhp at 8,800rpm*. Bespoke modern-day components include a forged crank, rod and pistons, which generate torque of more than 746 Nm at 7,400rpm*. The iconic Can-Am-inspired air intake ‘trumpets’ take centre stage at the top of the engine. These not only smooth out the air intake to create laminar flow for smooth power delivery and better driveability. 

To ensure drivers can unlock maximum performance when on track, the Type 66 features modern comforts such as an EPASS motorsport power steering column, a sequential racing gearbox with reverse, a race ABS braking system, an anti-stall multi-plate clutch and a fixed rollover bar. 

By Classic Yorkshire correspondent Tony Lofthouse

A remarkable stash of mainly German and Italian motors going back to the sixties have been auctioned by Sotheby’s in Switzerland.

The Iseli Collection had been built up over the years by avid vehicle collector, Daniel Iseli. Mr Iseli started his motoring obsession with the purchase of a VW Beetle when he was just 16!

Amongst the 93 lots for sale was everything from classic cars and old tractors to three-wheel scooters and unusual vans, all kept in tip-top condition

But, it’s the high-end cars that really caught my eye.

One of the stand out lots was a Mercedes-Benz 190 E Nurburgring. The Merc model is just one of 21 ever made and was raced by F1 legend Niki Lauda in the 1984 Nurburgring ‘Race of Champions’.

A rare 1960 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider was another highlight – one of 12 Alfas in the sale. With coachwork by Touring of Milan, the Spider is presented in Grigio Grafite with beige leather upholstery.

Equally stunning was a 1964 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint, capable of a top speed of 200kmh. The car is finished in Metallic Silver with a tan leather interior.

Among a clutch of Fiats in the collection was a rare 1973 130 Coupe by Pininfarina with red leather finish. 

The car collection also include three of my favourite classics, a 1973 Citroen DS 23 Pallas, a 1960 2CV and an NSU Ro 80 kept by its first lady owner for 40 years!

To view the whole collection (and see the sold prices) visit https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/sm23/additional/the-iseli-collection

You may not know this but Classic Yorkshire is an enthusiast run blog. We cover local stories and events as well as relevant national stories to encourage you to enjoy your hobby.

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Most of us buy our classic cars based on some kind of emotional connection. It may be a car we admired as a child, a car we wanted but could never afford when new or it may have been on a poster in our bedroom.

But there are those that like to have an eye to future values. As such it helps to know what the future classics are going to be, or what is undervalued in the current market. In this case the combined knowledge of the Piston Heads community can be useful guidance.

PistonHeads has named the Lotus Elise S1 as the ‘Best Performance Car’ of the last 25 years as part of its 25^th anniversary celebrations.

The PistonHeads community came together with the expert PistonHeads editorial team to crown the winner, with ‘Piston Headers’ casting their vote to determine their definitive best performance cars of the last quarter century.

The PistonHeads editorial team selected their champion from a shortlist of cars of category winners chosen by the PistonHeads community, comprising: Best Supercar (Porsche Carrera GT), Best Saloon (BMW M5 E39), Best Track Day Car (Caterham Seven 620R), Best Hot Hatch (Toyota GR Yaris) and Best Sports Car (Lotus Elise S1). Each sub-category contained at least 12 cars shortlisted by the PistonHeads team.

The Elise dominated in the Best Sports Car category, receiving 27.06% of the over 10,000 category votes – nearly double the number of the second place Porsche 911 (997) Carrera and third place Honda S2000.

The journey to establish the Best Performance Car of the last quarter century began at the start of the year, and a combined total of 33,935 votes were cast to determine the category winners, followed by the PistonHeads editorial team testing the five winners over two days back-to-back to decide on an overall victor.

Often labelled as ‘the car that saved Lotus’, the original iteration of the Elise was powered by a 120hp, 1.8-litre Rover K-Series engine. An innovative glass fibre body mounted to an ultra-stiff aluminium chassis resulted in an incredibly lightweight car at just 725kg, delivering a totally unique driving experience. Being relatively affordable, too, with a starting price of just £18,995 when it launched in 1996, rendered it a huge sales success for the Norfolk-based sports car manufacturer.

However, the Elise faced stiff competition from the other category winners. The BMW M5 E39 (Best Saloon) is regarded by many as one of the brand’s greatest hits thanks to its perfect blend between modern car performance and old-school analogue feel.

The Porsche Carrera GT, named Best Supercar, used a 5.7-litre V10 from the LMP2000 Le Mans racer, and offered phenomenal track performance, yet somehow proved to be a road-friendly package too.

Combining Caterham’s renowned determination to be ultra-lightweight with a range-topping supercharged engine, the Caterham Seven 620R scooped Best Track Car. The 620R delivers a brutal 580 bhp-per-tonne making for a truly unforgettable track experience.

Last but not least, Best Hot Hatch went to the newest car on the shortlist – the Toyota GR Yaris – a rally homologation special that instantly earned legendary status upon its arrival in 2020.

Do you agree? Make your thoughts known on the comments page.

By Classic Yorkshire correspondent Tony Lofthouse

I’m guessing it’s been a hectic past few days for the press team at BMW Mini.

The ‘good news’ is the German giants are investing a reported £600 million – including a fair slice of government funding – in electric Mini production in Oxford and Swindon. A move that will safeguard thousands of jobs in the area.

Now the bad news. Anyone with a love for this wonderful British name will surely be saddened by news that the manufacture of the manual Mini will end next year.

For Mini Cooper drivers the exciting motion of going through the gears will soon be a thing of the past, bringing to an end 65 years of unique Mini motoring.

Looking ahead, BMW say they will build all-electric Mini Coopers and the crossover model, Mini Aceman over here from 2026, as part of ambitions to take the brand fully electric.

The move won’t stop Mini from its motorsport activities, according to BMW, but a new chapter of racing might look a bit different.

Sadly, flagship motoring gems in manual form are slowly disappearing. Only recently, Volkswagen announced the end of the stick-shift Golf GTI and the rest of the Golf line-up during 2024.

These changes come as figures (from Direct Line) show that whilst manual cars still amount for 70% of UK motors on the road, in 2021 new automatic cars outsold manual ones for the first time.

Rest in peace to another motoring icon.

Raising sponsorship: 

Sponsorship is usually a mix of businesses putting something back into the local community and business promotion. So…

1. Prepare a sponsors information sheet with key information about the event and what they get for their money.  For example, title sponsorship, name on posters and programmes, a place on the judging panel. 
2. Be clear about how much you want.
3. Make sure you exceed your sponsors expectations so that they come back in future years.
4. Get them into any pictures taken by the press.

Managing entrants:

For very small events for club members this isn’t much of a problem.  Just telling them when and where is usually enough.   But if you have a large number of people attending, or are charging exhibitors it might be worth using a commercially available booking site.

I use Eventbrite for my events.   You upload all your information to the site and it provides a full service from providing tickets, registering entrants, closing the bookings when the event is full and issuing emails to exhibitors.  It really saves you a lot of time and best of all its free if your event is free.   If you use the site to take payments then they take a percentage.

I manage my mailing list using Mailchimp which I linked to Eventbrite.  Every entrant is logged into mailchimp and this provides a database for marketing future events.   I generally issue a mailing to my regulars in advance of any marketing.  Mailchimp is also free provide your database doesn’t exceed a certain number.

Make sure you include the Eventbrite link in all your marketing and promotion.  If you need to issue joining instructions, or even cancellation notices, Eventbrite will do it all for you (well you do have to write the notice).

On the day:

How your event goes on the day will largely determine whether they come to your next event.   So …

1. Arrive early, long before the first car is due
2. Brief stewards and volunteers.
3. Prepare for the weather, sunscreen and /or waterproofs.  Wear hats. Drinking water
4. Have a first aid kit and lost children post
5. Carry some basic tools including hammers, nails, string, paper, Sellotape and some car tools.

After the event:

Write to key people, landowners, judges, competition winners and sponsors thanking them for their support.  Tell the press who won and send some nice pictures and simple quotes.  Then start to plan for next year.

I hope this helps you to put on your own events.   Trust me using technology makes it so much easier.  One final tip.   Over book by 20% as there is always a drop out rate, especially on free shows where people book and decide on the day if they are going to come.

We have split this article into two parts as it is a little longer than usual.

Classic car shows are a mainstay of our hobby and bring together owners, enthusiasts and suppliers.  Shows range from a group of enthusiasts meeting in a field somewhere to large professional shows at exhibition venues such as the NEC.

Over the past 15 years I have organised or supported a number of small shows and have learnt a few lessons along the way.  Here a just a few tips that might make your life easier whether you are an experienced organiser or setting up your first event.

Budget:  

Judging by some comments I have received on line, classic car shows cost nothing to put on and organisers should be paying owners to turn up.   It is true that many small scale events can be free with a willing landowner and volunteers to help with stewarding and promotion.   But as soon as you start looking at hiring a venue such as a park or stately home then the costs can mount rapidly. 

Costs to consider will include: –

1. Venue hire
2. Public liability Insurance
3. Cancelation insurance
4. Stewards and security
5. First aid
6. Marketing and promotion
7. Trophies and certificates

Income streams:

1. Exhibitor charge (not recommended unless it’s for charity)
2. Visitor charge (You will need a system to collect payments and distribute tickets)
3. Sponsorship (Not easy)
4. Pitches for retailers and suppliers

As you can see there are more opportunities to spend money than there are to make it.   Best fire up that spreadsheet to keep on top of things.

Liability:

This doesn’t really apply to an informal gathering of car enthusiasts meeting in a car park or going for a drive in which case your own car insurance should cover you for any incidents. .  But there may come a time when this informal gathering becomes a bit more organised. Whether you are organising a small local event or a major show you are taking on a liability.  So, you need to understand who is the organiser.  Is it you personally, a club or a business?  Because if anything goes wrong someone will need to be held accountable. 

Anything can happen, a car gets scratched, someone gets hit by a car reversing into position, a trip or fall.  These things can happen….. but probably won’t.  But if it does, then where there’s blame there may be a claim.

To reduce your liability you can:-

1. Make “exhibit at your own risk” part of your conditions.
2. Take out Public Liability Insurance (PLI)
3. Don’t permit the use of gazebo’s
4. Don’t invite trampolines, bouncy castles or Zorbing balls unless they carry their own Public Liability Insurance (ask to see the certificate).

Venue:

These come in all shapes and sizes but common things to look for include

1. Easy access from the road
2. Suitable track to the display area (a rutted track might cause problems)
3. Flat display area capable of parking the appropriate number of cars on display
4. Parking for visitors
5. On site facilities (food outlets and toilets)
6. Electricity and sound systems.
7. Separate exit route if possible

Marketing and promotion:

This is just a quick summary of what you can do.  We will write a more detailed article sometime soon.  There are lots marketing routes available these days. Remember you have two audiences for you marketing, exhibitors and visitors. I suppose that social media sites are the most popular, especially facebook.  So try:-

1. Create an event facebook page and post links on other classic car sites.
2. Produce a poster in Jpeg format and post on social media.
3. Issue a press release to the local press (include some nice pictures)
4. Send the poster (with a covering email) to local car clubs and owners clubs.
5. Attend other events and leave leaflets on cars that you are interested in.

By Classic Yorkshire correspondent Tony Lofthouse

According to research from Skoda more than seven million dog owners take their four-legged friends on car runs every week.

A good proportion of these are classic car owners who like to offer canine comfort as well as enjoy a good drive. Estate cars may be the most popular choice but hatchbacks, coupes and SUVs are also common.

So in the name of research ….. and as a bit of fun, Classic Yorkshire has picked its top six ‘pooch perfect’ motors.

Volvo estate

The boxy 850, 940, 240 and 740/760 are long standing favourites for the discerning dog owners with some of the biggest boot capacity available, from 56 to 75 cubic feet, depending on the model. It’s an estate that’s ideal for transporting a wet hound and the odd chewed stick!

BMW Z3 M Coupe

The rarer six-cylinder Z3 M Coupe offers ample rear hatch space and low floor for access. In terms of driver appeal it’s a car offering a real turn of speed, but watch those wet paws on the leather upholstery!

VW Golf Mk2 

This 80s hatchback is ideal for taller dogs with ample head space and boot. One drawback is the back  seats don’t drop down quite flat.

Skoda Superb estate

It may not be old enough to be a true classic but it’s hard to leave out this affordable Skoda. The Superb estate has a wide boot opening that sits low to the ground and comes with durable upholstery that’s easy to clean!

Land Rover Discovery

At the other end of the price scale the Discovery offers seven good-sized seats with the back row folding to give ample boot space. The high sills may not be ideal for the smaller dog getting in and out, but hey, these are big cars for big dogs!

Citroen DS Safari 

Finally, for sheer style the DS Safari makes a grand ‘canine carrier’ combining enormous load space, a ‘glass house’ rear and groundbreaking hydraulic suspension. Launched in 1958, the estate makes a fabulous drive if you can find one!

Perhaps you have your own favourite dog-friendly classic, if so, why not share your top vehicle with readers by leaving a comment with this story or on our Facebook page?