Here we all are, sittin’ in a rainbow. Nope, we’ve got no idea why we’ve opened this email with a line from a Small Faces song, but cor blimey, issue 21 is a good one. Something something the perfect way to while away a few hours on a Lazy Sunday afternoon, etc, etc.

There’s nothing lethargic about the acceleration of a third-generation Mazda RX-7. As Richard Heseltine says in his nine-page review of one of Japan’s prettiest sports cars: “You are certainly aware that you are moving rapidly, and it doesn’t take long before you are straying into arrest me territory.” The Mazda is fast, but in the shades he donned for the road test, Heseltine-san looks simply furious.

The future isn’t so bright for the cars from the 1990s Richard Dredge has put on the endangered list. If the likes of the Asia Rocsta, Daewoo Espero, Daihatsu Applause, FSO Caro, Kia Mentor, Sao Penza, Tata Gurkha and Yugo Sana float your submarine, you’re going to be buoyed by Richard’s selections.

Elsewhere, Gavin shares his love of the BMW 5 Series GT by waxing lyrical about the Honda Crosstour (yes, really), Sam Glover buys a 1949 Singer SM1500, Skorj delivers a lesson in Japanese, David Lowe introduces us to his Saab 900S Aero Convertible, Rich Duisberg remembers his Alfa Romeo GTV and Porsche 968, and Darren Walker spills the beans on the Dodge Dakota pick-up.

The subject of this month’s Ultimate Guide is the Volkswagen Corrado VR6, while Merc Carmode, still smarting from his 007-related misdemeanours, makes amends by penning an ode to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Many of us will be at the forthcoming Restoration Show at the NEC, so be sure to flag us down if you see us.

In the meantime, enjoy the new issue. It’s something to read in the khazi while you suss out the moon, oh yeah.