The wet conditions didn’t stop Daniel Bevis enjoying a Mk1 Toyota MR2 along the soggy Sussex coast – though spare a thought for photographer Simon Thompson, who faced the elements head-on to capture the shots.

Elsewhere, our Picture Past is a car ferry special: a period photo extravaganza from a time when crossing the Channel felt more exotic than a bottle of Yugoslav Riesling at the Berni Inn. And in an unlikely twist, we explain how Margate Pier could have played a part in rebuilding the reputations of Fiat and Lancia during the 1980s.

Moving inland, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Renault 14, defend the legacy of the Ford Scorpio, and revisit a Belgian coachbuilder you may have forgotten.

Georgiana Buckingham-Smythe returns with more Celebrity Squares, darling; Dimitri Urbain selects six of the best Simcas; Rich Duisberg compares Morgan to his greenhouse; and Saab takes centre stage in Sheds Heaven.

All of this – plus words from our correspondents, updates from the editor’s barn, your classics, and a new electric car you might actually like.

We can’t promise sunshine, but issue 39 should provide some entertainment while you’re sheltering from the rain.

Order online by clicking here. You know it makes sense.

P.S. Stay tuned for some new and exciting developments. From issue 40 onwards you’ll notice a few subtle changes – many inspired directly by your feedback in our recent reader survey. You spoke; we listened…

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Antony Ingram takes a very different kind of turbocharged rarity to the seaside, piloting a Mazda RX-7 Turbo II to Southend-on-Sea. Rotary boost, late-summer light and a destination better known for arcades and a pier than apexes and lap times.

Elsewhere, we’re in a reflective mood. We mark nearly 50 years of the Volvo 300 series, a car long misunderstood but quietly loved by those who lived with one. We also celebrate the genius of the original Ford Ka: a small car that solved big problems with intelligence, quirkiness and a refreshing lack of pretence.

Hero Worship takes a turn towards the deeply unfashionable, as our editor explains why his Toyota Camry deserves reverence. Yes, really. Consider it a love letter to dependability, restraint and the joy of a car that never asks to be centre stage.

In Picture Past, we head for the hard shoulder, celebrating roadside rescues and the unsung heroes who keep journeys moving. Our Postcards section sends dispatches from Epoqu’Auto in France, the streets of Athens, and the Futuro House – because sometimes the most interesting stories happen well away from the driveway.

There’s reassessment too. Six of the best Spanish Renaults get their moment in the sun, while persistent horror stories surrounding rust on the Alfa Romeo Alfasud and Lancia Beta are put under the microscope by Jon Burgess; myths separated from inconvenient truths.

Our readers roll in with a Mini 1000, a Renault Twingo GT and a genuine Pimp My Ride VW Polo. Add Celebrity Squares, Sheds Heaven, TRABM, our correspondents and a generous helping of period advertising, and issue 38 settles into its groove.

It’s the only classic car mag with Phil Collins, The Cheeky Girls and Will Hoy on the same page.

Order your copy of issue 38 today.

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You can read about the 200vi in the new issue, which features the usual eclectic mix of cars from the sixties to the noughties. There isn’t an article on the Mk4 Astra (boo, hiss, etc, etc), but you will find words and pics from Antony Ingram’s trip to Southend in a Smart Crossblade, Rich Duisberg’s love of the Matra Bagheera and Tatra T600, and why the 604 was Peugeot’s last proper luxury car. Meanwhile, Jon Burgess is back to dispels a few more myths, this time related to the Ford Probe.

We’re delighted to welcome Paranjay Dutt as a new columnist, while Georgiana Buckingham-Smythe serves up another round of Celebrity Squares, including Slade with a Ford Transit.

Elsewhere, we’ve got a road trip in a Citroën CX, postcards from EMWalhalla and London Concours, European special editions, and some period camping and caravanning photos in time for your summer hols. We fancy a GLT Monolite Transcontinental caravan with its fancy rear spoiler.

All this and much, much more in what is probably the most aromatic classic car magazine… in the world. We look good on Readly, but we look even better on your coffee table, adding colour and fragrance to your living room.

Issue 35 highlights

• Postcard from EMWalhalla
• Postcard from London Concours
• Six of the best European special editions
• Celebrity Squares
• Living with a BMW Z4
• Living with a Citroën CX
• Auto Barn – Fiat Coupé
• Commercial Break – Jaguar E-type
• Rover 200vi drive story
• Matra Bagheera
• Tatra T600
• Renting a Toyota MR2 in Japan
• Smart Crossblade to the Essex coast
• Hero Worship – Peugeot 604
• Picture Past – camping and caravanning
• Myth busting – Ford Probe
• TRABM – MGF Cheetah

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We’re celebrating our third birthday, which means we should be driven into an MoT testing bay and subjected to our first thorough inspection. There’s a little wear and tear on the body, but the structure is solid enough and our emissions are nothing to worry about, so we won’t look back in anger. Instead, we’ll give ourselves a pass with a few advisories. With a little luck, and some welding further down the line, we’ll live forever…

What can you expect in issue 30? Well, the cover provides a big clue, as our editor spent a week in the company of a Honda S2000. To think that he was happy to slip into later life with a wafty four-door saloon and a bag of Werther’s Originals. The S2000 proves that there’s life in the old dog yet, which is uncanny, as that’s the phrase we’d use to describe the contents of his shed of nightmares. See this issue’s Autobarn for the latest fleet update.

Elsewhere, Sarah Crabtree interviews a very important man with a very impressive collection of Mitsubishis, Richard Dredge tells you nearly everything you need to know about buying a Morris Minor, while Andreas Zacharia tells us why he loves the BMW Z3.

Classic.Retro.Modern. was delighted to support Connor Heath and Daniel Beany’s Czech on a Trek charity road trip in a Škoda Favorit. Find out how they got on in this issue.

Elsewhere, we’ve got a smorgasbord of ’90s coupés, postcards from the Festival of the Unexceptional and Roscoff, three generations of Jaguar, the Volvo 164, the Ford Eltec, and a celebration of the aerodynamic Vauxhall Calibra. There’s even room for our ace art director, Roy McCarthy, to showcase his writing skills. He’s a man of many talents.

All this and much, much more in issue 30. We’re off to celebrate our third birthday with a bottle of champagne and a (super) Nova GTE…

Issue 30 highlights

• Cover feature: Honda S2000
• Hero Worship: Vauxhall Calibra
• Picture Past: Coupés of the 1990s
• Family Ties: Jaguar E-type, XJ-S and XK8
• Market Insight: Morris Minor
• Interviews: Mitsubishi at 50 and A Time – A Place
• Future Past: Ford Eltec
• TRABM: Volvo 164
• Road Trips: Czech on a Trek and BENmark

Don’t forget to check out our latest subscription deals, including our XTRA special offer, which gives you a 50p saving on the cover price, plus free postage to your door, when paying by Direct Debit.

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Brought to you by the geniuses* behind your favourite classic car mag, the book is a collection of motoring adverts from the 1960s to the 1990s, so you can take a look at what you could have bought when the ads got in the way of a rollicking good read. 

From concrete garages to ski racks, Mexicos to Marinas, and Back-Door Runabouts to cars with rare pedigree, Commercial Break will take you on a nostalgia trip of products you didn’t want then, but you’d do anything to get your hands on today. Yes, even a set of Karobes striped seat covers for your four-door saloon.

Whether you’re searching for a gift, or you need something orange to brighten up your bookshelf, Commercial Break is the A5 book for you. Limited stocks are available, so place an order today.

If you love old adverts, you’ll adore Commercial Break Volume 1. Order now to avoid disappointment. Buy, buy, buy. You’re gonna love it. Don’t miss out!

As you can tell, we’re not advertising people.

*Genius might be a stretch. Mad Men might be more appropriate, with the emphasis on mad.

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The problem is that we’re a very small team at Classic.Retro.Modern. and the relentless deadlines of putting together a monthly mag have been taking their toll, which is why we’re going bi-monthly from issue 22. 

You’d be amazed at how many of our fans have said that we’re too prolific – that we put too much into the mag and that it comes out too frequently, so it’s hard to keep up.

Well, we’ve listened and we’re going to produce six issues each year from now on, instead of 12, because running a magazine long-term is a (DAF 66) marathon and not a (Triumph Dolomite) sprint, or something.

That’ll give you twice as long to pore over the pages of the mag, it’ll give us twice as long to lovingly craft the issue, and it’ll give our new advertising agency twice as long to bring in the cash to pay for it all.

This change in frequency will also give us time to work on our personal projects, which have been neglected since the arrival of Classic.Retro.Modern.

Our publisher Ian also runs Diesel & Eco Car, which as a monthly print magazine has had to continue as before, so it’s been business as usual. But Gavin’s PetrolBlog and Richard’s Below The Radar channels haven’t received much love since the arrival of Classic.Retro.Modern.

People have noticed and asked for more frequent updates, and this will now be possible with the change in frequency of Classic.Retro.Modern.

Unlike most of the car mags out there, Classic.Retro.Modern. was created by a bunch of mates who wanted to try doing something different. We’d say that we’ve achieved that aim, but not being part of a much bigger publishing house means that we don’t have the economies of scale that they do. Things take longer to put together and they cost more, but we’re not going away.

Apologies if you like things just as they were, but we reckon that six issues are better than none, and hopefully we can look forward to your continued support.

Mark the date on your calendar now!

The first bi-monthly issue of Classic.Retro.Modern. will go on sale on 1 May 2023, then 1 July 2023 and so on.

Please don’t worry if you have already purchased a subscription or ordered issue 22 individually, as you will still receive the same number of issues as you have ordered. The frequency in which we publish may have changed, but our high standards will remain.

Rumours in the staff canteen suggest that there may even be a Renault Avantime on the front cover of issue 22, but keep that to yourself!

For those that would like to pre-order issue 22 in advance, or express their support for the magazine by subscribing, please check out all of our subscription offers or call 01268 906 800.

Every subscriber gets a bespoke subscription-only cover and FREE delivery to your door.

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Pay for your subscription using Direct Debit, and we’ll honour the £49.99 deal for life, so the Christmas offer will renew at the same price, year after year. Like membership of the Jelly of the Month club, it’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year. It’s even better than installing a swimming pool, although Clark W. Griswold might disagree.

Your subscription will start with issue 19, which is published on 30 December 2022. You can start the new year with a review of the Saab 99 Turbo, a profile of Alejandro de Tomaso, an Ultimate Guide to the Jaguar XJ (X350) and the confessions of an advertising executive.

Our Reader Resto is a Renault Sport Clio V6, Richard Heseltine names six of the best American-engined European exotic, Gavin asks if the Rover Streetwise is a classic, and we’ve even found room for the Suzuki X-90.

We’d say you have until midnight on Saturday 31 December to take advantage of this offer, but it’ll probably overrun into the new year. We can’t expect the online team to be working when the bells ring in the new year. Just remember, the £49.99 price for life is only valid when you pay by Direct Debit. A Classic.Retro.Modern. subscription is for life, not just for Christmas, or something.

We’ll take this opportunity to thank you for your support in 2022. Our first full year has been hugely enjoyable and we’ve loved receiving your positive feedback. On behalf of everyone at Classic.Retro.Modern. magazine, have a thoroughly brilliant Christmas.

P.S. We’ll be launching a special offer for our overseas readers in the new year.

THIS OFFER IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

Read more

Issue 18 available in Sainsbury’s supermarkets
Essential news! We’re now available in selected Waitrose stores
Kicking tyres: 1993 Fiat Uno Start

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We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been invited to appear on the shelves of hundreds of Sainsbury’s supermarkets, kicking off with issue 18. Kicking off… World Cup… football… geddit? Moving on…

It all starts on 1 December 2022, when the Fiat Panda Italia ’90 on the front of issue 18 will be greeting shoppers as they brave the Christmas rush. We’re on trial, so if things don’t go according to plan, we’ll be booted out before Noel has finished delivering his presents. There’s another football reference in there. You may have missed it.

For us, it’s like Christmas has come early. Although we’re aware that it’s only a trial, we’re delighted to be given the opportunity to be stocked in Sainsbury’s. Breaking into supermarkets was near the top of the wish list when we first started talking about launching a classic car mag this time two years ago. That’s ‘breaking into’ in a business sense – we’re not about to stick some crowbars in the boot of a Mk2 Jag.

We won’t list every participating store, because it’ll take longer than the classified football results on Radio 5 Live. And we know what happened to that. But there are hundreds to choose from – a veritable A to Y of Sainsbury’s supermarkets. That’s Alnwick to York and Alton to Yarm.

The trial could last no longer than a week, so we’d be delighted if you could lend your support by sticking a copy of our mag in your basket or trolley. Around a tenner is enough for a Sainsbury’s meal deal and issue 18. Tasty.

Don’t forget, issue 18 is also available in selected Waitrose stores. No sleep until we’ve conquered Bejam, Fine Fare, Mainstop and Somerfield.

Just one more thing. Our new festive subscription offer means you can get 12 issues of our mag for just £49.99. Subscribe now to have something to look forward to when the World Cup and Christmas are over.

We’re off to buy an On the Go Turkey Feast sandwich.

Main image © Sainsbury Archive

Read more

Essential news! We’re now available in selected Waitrose stores
Special Christmas Subscription Offer – 12 issues for £49.99. UK only
We’re now available at Shell petrol stations

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They make great gifts, and are a perfect solution for Christmas when it’s difficult to come up with ideas for Secret Santa or that difficult-to-buy-for relative. Alternatively, you can just treat yourself. You’re worth it, or something.

Many of the earlier mags have sold out, but we have limited stocks of the latter issues and even a few subscription copies of issues 2, 5, 6 and 7. From issue 9 onwards we have small stocks of both the retail cover and also the subscription edition.

But if they are as popular as we think they may be, those stocks won’t last long, so hurry now and reserve the issues that you need to complete your collection.

The back issue sale ends at midnight on Monday 21 November, when the prices go up and our publisher turns into a pumpkin. Every back issue that we hold in stock is eligible for the special price, but you’ll have to pay full price for the current mag.

Thinking ahead, why not pre-order your copy of issue 18 for free delivery before it hits the shops? You know it makes sense.

The SEO expert has told us that we’re little short of the 300 words required to keep the search engines happy, so we’re just killing time. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Read more

Essential news! We’re now available in selected Waitrose stores
Where can you buy a copy of Classic.Retro.Modern. magazine?
We’re now available at Shell petrol stations

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The Mondeo is currently owned by Twitter celebrity Steve Clarke – better known as @ChodSpot – who bought the car as part of a challenge to buy, fix and review every European Car of the Year winner. Steve also owns a Ford Focus and Renault Clio, but other cars are, ahem, on the Horizon…

We’ll Punto a stop to these ECoTY gags, because Uno when it’s time to stop. Besides, you’ve Scenic all before.

The Mondeo had been in storage for around five years when Steve bought it, with the seller advertising it as ‘spares or repair’. A running issue was traced to the fuel pump, before Steve treated it to a full service and some cosmetic repairs.

According to Steve, the car is “begrudgingly up for sale”, but it comes with an MOT until September 2023 and around 102,000 miles on the clock. And the pen. We can’t forget the pen.

In 1995, the Si trim was positioned tantalisingly close to the top of the range. The badge said that you had performed better than Andy in his Aspen, Larry in his LX and Georgina in her GLX, but not quite as well as Gary in his Ghia. Truth be told, we’d prefer the 2.5-litre 24-valve engine (who wouldn’t?), but a 2.0 Si told the world that you were a salesperson on the up.

Please admire the body-coloured rear spoiler and 15-inch alloy wheels. Revel in the Sonic Raven upholstery. Delight at the interior door handle illumination. Lose yourself in the majesty of the Mondeo pen. Did we mention that the car comes with a free pen?

You can send Steve a direct message on Twitter for more information, but check out his 16Valver YouTube channel for extensive footage of the car. His enthusiasm and love for the former EcoTY winner is infectious, so let’s make sure the Mondeo goes to a good home.

Oh, and if you want to read more about the Ford Mondeo, buy a copy of issue 15, in which we celebrate 30 years of the landmark rep special. Unlike Steve’s car, it doesn’t come with a pen. Sorry.

Read more

Essential news! We’re now available in selected Waitrose stores
Richard Heseltine’s top 10 fast Fords
Issue 15 (Exclusive Subscriber Edition) – UK only

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