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Rolls-Royce Corniche IV Drophead Coupé by Mulliner Park Ward 1995

Truly great design never grows old. Rolls-Royce’s Corniche Drophead Coupé was introduced in 1970 as a convertible variant of the popular Silver Shadow, and it would remain in production for a remarkable 25 years. Each was built to individual customer order at Rolls-Royce’s H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward coachworks in London, taking over a month to handcraft to magnificent standards. Only the finest Connolly leather was used within, and the top alone was crafted so perfectly that it fit like the roof of a coupé...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/rolls-royce-corniche-iv-drophead-coupe.html

#rolls royce #corniche iv #rolls royce corniche iv #mulliner #classic cars

Classic Car Maintenance Tips

Classic car ownership will never be without issues when it comes to maintenance and repair; scarcity of parts, the sheer age of the vehicle, and historical problems with the marque can all be parts of the process. Budget concerns are always a big factor when dealing with vintage vehicles, and often the cost of restoration and maintenance can out-strip the amount paid for the car...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/classic-car-maintenance-tips-world-of.html

#classic cars #maintenance #tips #world of classic cars #article

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 'Pagoda' 1970

The Mercedes-Benz product line of the late 1950s had a glaring void. The 300 SL sports car was magnificent but financially out of the reach of many, whereas it’s 190 SL sibling, developed from an entry-level sedan, was more of a comfortable tourer. To remedy this, development began on a six-cylinder evolution of the 190 SL, internally coded W127 and intended to be badged as 220 SL. Along the way, however, the development was re-directed towards the S-Class, W112 platform. The result was the W113, a fuel-injected 2.3-liter sports car introduced at the March 1963 Geneva Motor Show. Badged 230 SL, it came as a roadster or as a coupé with the intriguing pagoda-shaped removable roof. Nearly 20,000 were built through 1967, of which more than half were exported, many of them to the United States...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/mercedes-benz-280-sl-pagoda-1970-world.html

#mercedes benz #280 sl #mercedes benz 280 sl #pagoda #mercedes benz pagoda #classic cars

Chevrolet Corvette 1956

The year 1955 was a turning point in Corvette history, as it marked the first year that the Corvette was graced with its legendary small-block V-8 engine. Gone was the anaemic Blue Flame straight-six of the early models, and with it, Corvette’s abysmal sales figures. More power was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Corvette, and it proved to be a massive hit with customers, finally making it the sports car Chevrolet dreamed it could be...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/chevrolet-corvette-1956-world-of.html

#chevrolet #corvette #chevrolet corvette #classic cars

Rock Star Cars

When it comes to owning a classic we’re suckers for a glamorous car history. We became obsessed with Paul McCartney’s Lamboghini Espada. We loved the idiosyncratic backstory of swapped number plates, visits to the bottom of lakes, hanging upside down in bars and we eventually tracked it down to Austria where it is being lovingly restored. Some cars are enriched by virtue of who owned them. Who wouldn’t love a jet black Roller that Johnny Cash drove, hitting the kill switch in Steve McQueen’s 911 or finding the hidden stash compartment in Keith Richard’s Bentley? Check out some of our favourite rock and roll cars...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/rock-star-cars-world-of-classic-cars.html

#rock star cars #classic cars #world of classic cars #article

Bentley S3 Saloon 1963

The S3 was the last of the S Series of Bentleys—and the last Bentley to utilize traditional, coachbuilt body-on-chassis construction. It combined old-world craftsmanship and superb British engineering with modern styling touches, most notably quad headlamps, a nod to American design trends. Interiors were lushly trimmed in thick hides, surrounded by burled walnut and all of the most lavish luxury features. The S3 was, simply put, the car in which to see and be seen during the early 1960s...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/bentley-s3-saloon-1963-world-of-classic.html

#bentley #s3 saloon #bentley s3 saloon #classic cars

Lancia Ardea 1952

Introduced in 1939, the Lancia Ardea featured a 903cc, V4 power plant with an alloy cylinder head and became the smallest production V4. In 1948, the third Series Ardea became the first mass produced motorcar to feature a five-speed gearbox. The unitary construction included a pillarless section between the doors. Due to its small size, this allowed ease of access to the rear passenger compartment. Every Lancia Ardea was built in righthand drive; Lancia not manufacturing a production lefthand drive vehicle until 1955. Production of the Ardea ceased in 1953 with nearly 23,000 examples being produced...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/lancia-ardea-1952-world-of-classic-cars.html

#lancia #ardea #lancia ardea #classic cars

Austin-Healey 100 BN1 1954

The Austin Healey 100 was built from 1953 until 1956 and developed by Donald Healey to be produced in-house by Healey's small car company in Warwick. Healey built a single Hundred for the 1952 London Motor Show and the design impressed Leonard Lord, Managing Director of Austin, so much, that a deal was struck with Healey to build it at Austin's Longbridge factory and renamed the Austin-Healey 100. The name came from Donald Healey who selected it due to the car's ability to reach 100mph, as opposed to the Austin-Healey 3000, duly named for its 3,000cc engine. Production Austin-Healey 100s were finished at Austin's Longbridge plant. The 100 was the first of three models later called the Big Healey's to distinguish them from the much smaller Austin-Healey Sprite. The first series 'BN1' were equipped with the same 90bhp engines and manual gearbox as the A90 although the transmission was modified to be a three-speed unit with overdrive on second and top. With only 6% of these early Healey's sold in the UK, their scarcity alone has made them hugely collectable, this combined with their competition potential in many of the worlds classic rallies makes for a desirable sportscar in any collection...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.com/2016/05/austin-healey-100-bn1-1954-world-of.html

#austin healey #100 bn1 #austin healey 100 bn1 #classic cars

French Cars – Vive La Voiture

What have the French ever done for us? Apart from amazing pastries, existentialism, new wave cinema, fashion houses, absinthe, Gitanes, yellow headlights and a healthy dose of egalitarianism; the answer is not a whole lot. Oh, and cars. We just love French cars. In a tribute to all things French here are five of our favourite gallic motors...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/french-cars-vive-la-voiture-world-of.html

#french cars #top 5 #classic cars #cars #article #world of classic cars

Bond On A Budget

If you’re a fan of James Bond, chances are you’ve already seen the films. They have a couple of fantasy cars that are pure 007, but neither the Aston DB10 or the Jag CX-75 will make it into production. But the ability to purchase them is irrelevant to most people. How many of us will be doing the school run in a DB5 or a 1935 Bentley Drophead? I’m willing to wager that these vehicles are out of the reach for most of us. But what of the Bond cars we can afford. Well, there are a few more than you think...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/bond-on-budget-world-of-classic-cars.html

#bond #007 #classic cars #world of classic cars #article

Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato 1993

Alfa Romeo and Carrozzeria Zagato revived the SZ, or Sprint Zagato, name at the 1989 Geneva Salon. First in coupé form and later as a roadster, the Type ES-30 SZ/RZ was also a joint project of Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Both models were based on the floorpan and drivetrain of the Alfa 75. With the exception of its aluminium alloy roof panel, the coupé’s bodywork was thermo-plastic, injection-moulded composite. After 1,036 SZ coupés were delivered, an open version, called the RZ (for Roadster Zagato), followed...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/alfa-romeo-rz-by-zagato-1993-world-of.html

#alfa romeo #rz #alfa romeo rz #zagato #cars

Cagiva Moke 1993

Designed by the Mini’s legendary creator Alec Issigonis, the Mini Moke was originally created for military use as an off-road vehicle that could be dropped from a plane with a parachute for troop landings. The civilian version followed in 1964, and cult classic status was assured after it was featured in numerous episodes of the classic television series The Prisoner, as well as in James Bond films, where fleets were frequently seen in villains’ lairs...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/cagiva-moke-1993-world-of-classic-cars.html

#cagiva #moke #cagiva moke #cars

Fetch The Car Philip - A Brief History Of Royal Cars -

When it comes to buying cars the Royal family have made some pretty good choices. The ability to choose is helped by the narrowness of the brief – ‘Buy British. Money no object’. This combination means they have avoided having to tool around the north circular in an over-heating Austin Allegro. For them it is the luxury of an Aston Martin and an empty road. Here is our look back at some of the best Royal cars.

The Queen and a Land Rover Defender

The Queen driving a Land Rover. Not sure how much more British you can get without dusting off the pearly suit and singing Rule Britannia from the top of Nelson’s column...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/fetch-car-philip-brief-history-of-royal.html

#royal cars #article #classic cars #world of classic cars

Porsche 944 1989

The Porsche 944 was built from 1982 to 1991 on the same platform as the 924. The 944 was intended to last into the 1990s but major revisions planned for a 944 S3 model were eventually rolled into the 968 instead which replaced the 944. The 944 was a successful model and was available as both a coupé and cabriolet in naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms. In mid-1985, the 944 underwent significant changes. These included a new dashboard together with new door panels, embedded radio antenna as well as some mechanical changes. Also included was a larger fuel tank, optional heated and powered seats, Porsche Hi-Fi sound system and revisions in the mounting of the transaxle to reduce noise and vibration. The numbers built, reflecting the popularity of the model, made it one of the most successful cars in Porsche's history...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/porsche-944-1989-world-of-classic-cars.html

#porsche #944 #porsche 944 #cars

Mercedes-Benz 250 SL Pagoda 1967

Mercedes-Benz has been producing an SL (Sport Leicht) model or range of models since 1954 when the landmark 300SL was unveiled. The similarly styled, but mechanically unrelated, 190 followed in 1955, completing the first generation of cars. Their successor was the W113 series SL which proved to be more comfortable than the former and faster than the latter. The 250SL is the rarest of all the SL's as they were only made for one year, of these, very few were fitted with a manual gearbox. The 250SL also had a far superior seven main bearing engine as opposed to four in the 230SL...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/mercedes-benz-250-sl-pagoda-1967-world.html

#mercedes benz #250 sl #mercedes benz pagoda #pagoda #mercedes benz 250 #classic cars

Fiat 500 Mare by Holiday 1960

As 1960s jet-setters partied down at sandy beaches all over the world, they were most often seen not in their Ferraris or Maseratis but behind the wheel of a Fiat Jolly. The Jolly, based upon the reliable mechanicals of the Italian “people’s car”, the 500 featured dune buggy-like bodywork by Ghia of Turin, with open sides, a simple surrey top, and wicker seats that would have looked at home at an English garden party. It was often finished in brilliant, shiny colours, making it all the better to match one’s swimsuit or yacht club burgee. Jollies were all the rage on the streets of resort towns, and if you were really a member of the jet-set, you carried one upon the deck of your yacht as a tender. Both wealthy vacationers and fashionable resorts bought them in droves...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/fiat-500-mare-by-holiday-1960-world-of.html

#fiat #500 mare #fiat 500 mare #holiday #classic cars

HAZ Buggy 1969

The beach was where the ’60s generation escaped to, and the dune buggy was just the iconic vehicle to take them to their Endless Summer.

The dune buggy was the brainchild of Bruce Meyers, who developed the combination of a fiberglass body and shortened Volkswagen Beetle chassis in 1964 after realising the design’s potential for off-roading use. The design’s fame was assured after a record-breaking victory in a race in the Baja Desert and epic wins in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb. Its role as a status symbol was further cemented when Elvis Presley drove one in the film Live a Little, Love a Little and when Steven McQueen set off across the dunes in The Thomas Crown Affair with Faye Dunaway at his side...

http://worldofclassiccars.blogspot.ro/2016/05/haz-buggy-1969-world-of-classic-cars.html

#haz buggy #classic cars

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