HIT THE ROAD! Santa Cruz
Monterey Carmel-by-the-Sea
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ANNIVERSAR
Y
ISSUE
UK Off-sale date – 16/08/2018 No.328 August 2018
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Ben Klemenzson
Viewpoint HIT THE ROAD!
I
Santa Cruz
Monterey
Big Sur
A RY
ISSUE
UK Off-sale date – 16/08/2018 No.328 August 2018
£4.50
Ben Klemenzson, editor bklemenzson@mortons.co.uk
Image: Jonathan Fleetwood
328 August 2 018
n case you hadn’t noticed, this issue of Classic American is a very special one for us, as it marks 30 years in publication since that very first issue hit the shelves back in 1988. We thought we’d pull the stops out with some special features, including probably one of the nicest Continental Mark IIs in the country and an amazing road trip feature from our star snapper Jonny Fleetwood, who was recently voted Automotive Photographer of the Year at the Newspress awards. In the current publishing climate, it’s quite an achievement to have made it this far – I’d be lying if I said we haven’t faced challenges over the past couple of decades, but as with any successful species, it’s been essential that we evolve and adapt to the new climate/environment in order to survive. While our website and Facebook pages will never take over from the magazine, they’re an integral part of what Classic American is now and offer platforms for material we can’t fit in the actual magazine itself. We look forward to hearing your reminiscences and memories about Classic American, your cars and fun times over the last three decades. Why not write in or email about them – you could win a er! Here Here’ss to the next 30 years... years £100 insurance voucher!
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22 EDITOR
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AUGUST 2018 REGULARS 06 14 16 18 20 40 90 100 119 127 129 132 134
News Muscle Car Files Here to Obscurity Across the Pond Subscription Offer Letters Discoveries Events Scale Autos Reviews Service Directory Drive Buy Private Classifieds
77 F E AT U R E S 22 33 43 46 53 64 69
1956 Continental 1957 Oldsmobile 30 years of Classic American Chryslers of the 50s American Road Trip Mercury’s Mustang Wayne Carini
WORKSHOP 77 83
Tech: Radiators Beauty Pala
AMERICAN & MODIFIED 110 116
Dodge Charger A&M News
EVENTS
104
75 92 97 104
Staplefield Show Bristol Classic Custom Rod Show American Speedfest
W W W. C L A S S I C - A M E R I C A N . C O M HIT THE ROAD! Santa Cruz
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UK Off-sale date – 16/08/2018 No.328 August 2018
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Classic American
James Hadley from Kingstown Shipping (right) hands over the Speedfest VI heat Car of the Year trophy to John Maunder.
Newss WE HAVE A WINNER (OR TWO!)
Rounds two and three of the Footman James & Kingstown Shipping Car of the Year competition have been and gone and we’ve got some tasty automotive morsels to share with you. The second heat took place at the American Speedfest VI at Brands Hatch (you can read a full report on that event on page 104) and was won by this stunning fastback Ford Mustang in Champagne Beige. Owner John Maunder is an American who has been living on these shores for the past three decades and has actually owned the Mustang since he was 16, when he acquired it from his brother, after helping him extract it from a garage. The car was driven daily from the Seventies until 1988, when John moved to the UK, and it was laid up until 2014 when he decided to have the Mustang restored by Shasta Mustang Supply of Redding, California. With its Deluxe interior, fresh
carpets and paint and highly detailed 289 motor, this is one pony car that will be quite the centre of attention at this year’s finals at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC in November. Round three took place at the Footman James Bristol Classic car show and was won by this stunning 1957 Plymouth Belvedere (right), belonging to Nick Parker from Bristol. The car had previously belonged to famed Bristol hot rodder Jerry Denning, who had bought it as an unfinished project. Nick had first seen it in 2005, when it totally blew him away, but it took almost a decade until the opportunity arose for him to acquire it. Not a lot is known of the car’s history in the States, other than a dealer tag on the back from New York state. The car boasts a lot of its original interior, a 301cu in V8 and of course that famous
push-button transmission. Nick is no stranger to success at the Car of the Year contest – he was the heat winner two years ago at the Bristol Classic with his equally stunning 1973 Cadillac Sedan de Ville. Nick’s gorgeous Plymouth.
BULLITT COMES TO GOODWOOD The iconic 1968 Ford Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in Warner Bros Pictures’ classic film Bullitt – and lost to history until the beginning of this year – will make its first appearance outside of the US at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed from July 12-15. The car that starred in the Warner Bros film’s legendary 10-minute chase sequence – setting the standard for every movie car chase to follow – is set to feature on the 1.16-mile (1.9-kilometre) Goodwood Hillclimb course alongside the new special edition Ford Mustang Bullitt, now available to order in Europe and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the classic film. One of two identical 1968 Mustang GT fastbacks used in the filming of Bullitt, the historic vehicle driven by McQueen resurfaced after more than three decades in storage. To fulfil his family’s lifelong dream, owner Sean Kiernan, who inherited the car in 2014 from his late father, Robert, contacted Ford and the two parties worked together to reveal his movie star car at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, Detroit, in January. Kiernan is accompanying the car during its European debut at Goodwood.
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Sean Kiernan, owner of the original Bullitt with a brand-new 2018 Bullitt Mustang.
WIN A £100 INSURANCE VOUCHER! Those nice folks over at RH Insurance are sponsoring a prize for the star letter in Classic American magazine. The prize, which is valid for 12 months after the competition has closed, is a contribution of up to £100 towards the premium for the insurance of one specialist vehicle courtesy of RH Specialist vehicle insurance. All you have to do to be in with a chance to win is send us a letter or an email. For full terms and conditions please visit http://mrtns.uk/starletterterms Grass was so dry that Tatton Park looked like a beach!
CLASSIC AMERICAN STARS & STRIPES SCORCHER The weekend just before we were going to press was the inaugural Classic American Stars and Stripes show. This event is celebrating its 30th anniversary – just like Classic American – and this year was the first year the event (having been taken over by Classic American’s parent company Mortons) was being run by the company’s show team. The weather was scorching hot both days and the show field was packed out. It was a great start to Classic American’s very own show and we hope we can build on it and improve on it in coming years – as always, your feedback is gratefully received!
classic-american.com 7
Classic American
News Stuart Graham.
THRUXTON 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Mansell, Walker and Thruxton Group MD Bill Coombs.
Words and photography: Steve Havelock
Under a blazing mid-day sun, at this 50th anniversary celebration, 1992 Formula One world champion and 1993 CART Indycar champion Nigel Mansell teamed up with his old friend, the much-loved commentator Murray Walker, to officially open Thruxton’s new multimillion pound hospitality centre. Prior to this, the pair signed hundreds of autographs and chatted with fans. Mansell, now 64 and looking fit and well, unexpectedly quit Williams F1 after lifting the F1 crown and headed Stateside to race Indycars. He signed up with Newman Haas Racing as team mate to Mario Andretti in the CART Series, where he stunned the American racing world by taking pole position and winning his first race. He also led the Indy 500 before eventually finishing a fine third. He won five races that year and bagged the Championship, making him the only man to hold both the F1 and CART titles at the same time. Mansell said at Thruxton: “I did my first race here in 1976 in Formula Ford 1600 and I’m pleased to say that I won it. And I raced in F3 here in 1979. But the biggest thrill I’ve had is meeting my ‘dad’ here (referring to Murray) and being a double act to open this splendid building.” Murray, who is now 94, has frequently commentated Marshals with lemonade.
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at Thruxton and said: “Looking back, I can’t Big rig display. think of any other track that has changed as little as Thruxton has. It’s the same now as I always remember it, which is one of its great strengths. Not only that, but it’s in this glorious rural setting in Hampshire and the racing is always good and varied.” Mansell was asked if he would be demonstrating a racing car that afternoon and wasn’t sure, so Murray, famous for his Murray-isms, piped up: “Well, he’ll either be driving or he won’t.” Classic Murray. A walk around the paddock revealed some wonderful machinery. There was a new bright yellow Ford GT which was later put through its paces on track by British F4 Camaro driven by the man himself. The former driver Seb Priaulx and nearby was an original Motorcycle Grand Prix and TT winner turned 1965 GT in the iconic blue and orange Gulf Championship-winning car racer, competed at livery belonging to the Rofgo Collection. There Thruxton many times in Camaros during the was also the famous DAF 55 with rear mounted early ’70s and won here. Upon climbing out of five-litre Oldsmobile V8 that Tony Hazelwood the car, Stuart said: “I wasn’t going that quick raced in Super Saloons during the early Seventies because I was still trying to figure out where all and was the first Super Saloon to lap Thruxton the bits were. I always used to enjoy Thruxton at more than 100mph. A raucous Lola T70 because it was a proper flowing circuit which Chevy V8 in blue and yellow Sunoco colours suits a big car anyway. We always went pretty also thundered around the track as part of the well here with the Camaros so it was nice to weekend’s demonstrations, as did a replica of rekindle some memories and it was great fun. I Stuart Graham’s black and green Faberge ‘Brut’ thoroughly enjoyed it.” I also spotted something to keep the kiddies entertained, not difficult as a giant Kenworth Smokey and the Bandit tribute rig gave the game away. It had hauled a bunch of Mini Movie Trucks, powered by 6.5hp motors, for the children to trundle around a ‘Smokey’ film-themed inflatable course. And finally to the racing. Of most interest to CA readers were the two historic touring car races which saw the Chevy Camaros of Oliver Bryant and Alex Thistlethwayte pitched against hot Mansell’s Williams F1.
Rofgo Collection GT40.
The new hospitality centre.
Jags, Capris, Rover V8s and Alfas. Unfortunately, Ric Wood’s threelitre V6 Capri, driven by BTCC ace Adam Morgan in the first race, was just too fast and romped home to win by 36 seconds from Oliver, with
Alex a further six seconds behind. The second race was pretty much a repeat. This time, Wood himself took to the wheel and won by 42 seconds from Oliver with Alex fourth behind a Jaguar XJ12C. ★
Stuart Graham.
New Ford GT.
lola.
Bryant Camaro.
classic-american.com 9
Mid-century must-haves
Sarah Bradley tracks down some seriously cool fabrics, perfect for use in home furnishings for fans of mid-century modern…
If you’ve got a mid-century modern home to match your classic American car, you’ll love these classy new 1950s-inspired interior fabrics and homewares from 20th Century Cloth. The London-based brand’s upholsteryweight fabric is diverse with styles and colours, ranging from the atomicinfluenced Telstar and fun boomerang look of Monterey and Ventura, through to the more sophisticated design and hues of Spiro. The initial eight retro patterns are also available on a variety of home accessories, including scatter cushions and cork-backed melamine coasters. Best of all, these high-quality products are all designed and made exclusively in Britain.
Telstar coasters.
20th Century Cloth owner and designer Helen Snell – whose family garage houses a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air – says: “I have always loved the designs of 1950s America, and this range really has been a labour of love. The initial response has been overwhelming, and I've already got more designs in the pipeline.” The upholstery fabric is priced at £72 per metre, while the coasters are £20 for a boxed set of four and the cushions start at £42 each. 20th Century Cloth also has a 1950s-inspired range of dress fabrics and beauty accessories; to see the full selection of products, go to www.20thcenturycloth.com. ((Chair image e: www.sewplush.com)
Starlight fabric.
Atomic Blonde coasters s.
Twilig ght pattern cushion.
Planet Voodooo up for sale It’s not very often that a renowned and highly regarded UK custom comes up for sale – and this one’s arguably the finest built in the UK – but that’s precisely what’s happened, now that legendary 1950 Ford Mercury custom Planet Voodoo has been put up for sale by its creator, Lance McCormack, the Mulliner Park Wardtrained proprietor of premium classic restorers, Romance of Rust.
Planet Voodoo.
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Lance told Classic American: “It was built by myself and a team of craftsmen to exacting standards at Romance of Rust. Since its first outing at the prestigious Louis Vuitton Concours d’Elegance at London’s Hurlingham Club in 2002 this car has become a highly regarded art car. It has won many shows, however I feel it is time for a new owner to enjoy this wonderful machine so it is now for sale. It has covered only 350 miles since its debut. I would actively encourage any inspection at our premises in Brentford. It really needs to meet its public again after a quarter of a century since it first emerged…” This stunning car was imported from Dakota in 1992 and underwent a 2¾-inch roof chop with hammer-welded panels, ’53 Buick headlamp treatment and side trims. In true Fifties style it was nosed, decked and every panel of the car has been massaged. In the engine bay sits a 368cu in Continental Mark II engine, transmission and rear axle. All the brakes have been rebuilt with new parts and dual exhausts by Pipecraft were fitted. The Mercury also features Fat Man Fabrications
Inside features Connolly hide and Wilton carpet.
dropped front spindles, all new front suspension, Posies ride glide rear springs, Ron Francis Wireworks wiring system and a dash painted by Vince Ray. Continuing the excellent spec are the gauges, which have all been rebuilt by Speedy Cables then faced in boa constrictor skin, plus a steering wheel in hand-stitched Connolly hide and cobra skin. Interior wow factor also includes seats in Green Connolly hide, with bronze Gucci reptile leather and Wilton carpets throughout, bound in hide. Finishing up are Continental Mark II hubcaps, rebuilt original radio and a differential pinstriped by Simon Watts. Interested? Then get in touch with Classic American by email at: email@ classic-american.com