Premium Collection Archives

Austin 1300GT

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1971

Age: 50 years

Place of first registration: Lancashire

Facts: Having only done 32,000 miles in half a century, this car has been sympathetically restored to a high standard.

We Love: The bold external colours, the vinyl roof and the sporty steering wheel and interior.

Not so good: The 1300 was by this stage getting old and we all hoped the Allegro was the answer. In retrospect the 1300GT was a rather good car.

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Austin Seven Ruby Saloon

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1937

Age: 84 years

Place of first registration: Scotland

Facts: Completely rebuilt and restored. This is a lovely little car.

We Love: Everything is in the right place and it’s just sweet!

Not so good: Slow, noisy, cramped…but much better than a motor-bike and sidecar!

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Ford Escort Cabriolet

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1997

Age: 24 years

Place of first registration: Southampton

Facts: This car has had one lady owner from new and covered only 48,000 miles.

We Love: The elegant shape, plush interior and electric hood.

Not so good: It could be a bit quicker but on a sunny day with hood and windows down would you really care?

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Ford Granada MK1

Part of the New Cars, Premium Collection

Year: 1972

Age: 51 years

Place of first registration: UK

Facts: These early Granadas were built at Dagenham and have a silky smooth 2,5 litre V6 engine. This car has been very well looked after and drives really well. It has automatic transmission and looks great in the Sweeney colour scheme of Bronze with a Vinyl roof. It is a GXL so has all the appropriate accessories. The Mk2 Granada was never made in the UK.

We Love: The Granada

Not so good: I

Land Rover Series 2

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1962

Age: 60 years

Place of first registration: Dundee

Facts: A good example of another British icon

We Love: The ability to go virtually anywhere

Not so good: Its quite hard work on the road !

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MG Maestro 2.0 Litre EFI

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1991

Age: 31 years

Place of first registration: Birmingham

Facts: One of the last of the 32,000 two litre cars

We Love: The engine which gives 0-60 in 8.5 seconds mated to a sweet Honda 5 speed box. It’s a quick and comfy drive

Not so good: The earlier 1.6 MG Maestro was much less good and the brand’s reputation did not recover with this much better car

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MG Midget Sports

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1963

Age: 58 years

Place of first registration: Scotland

Facts: An original Mk 1 Midget. A taste of the 60’s.

We Love: Light, agile, low and pretty.

Not so good: Very basic, bumpy and noisy. Hood is hopeless!

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MGB GT

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1981

Age: 40 years

Place of first registration: Staffordshire

Facts: The MGB left Abingdon 23rd October 1980, so this is one of the last MG’s made in Oxfordshire.

We Love: Iconic shape dates back to 1965. The original hot hatch.

Not so good: The plastic bumpers required to satisfy the American safety legislation.

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Mini “Italian Job” Special Edition

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1993

Age: 28 years

Place of first registration: Oxfordshire

Facts: The Mini was always a good subject for “Special Editions” and as 36 Minis were used in the making of the original “Italian Job” film, an “Italian Job” special was always on the cards. Surprisingly, it was more than 20 years after the film that one finally appeared in 1992.

We Love: Everything about it

Not so good: “You were only supposed to blow the bl—y doors off!”

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Mini Cooper

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 2000

Age: 21 years

Place of first registration: Reading

Facts: One of the last Minis ever made this car shouts British with its Union Jack roof.

We Love: The peppy fuel injected engine, flared arches and racy alloy wheels.

Not so good: Still only has a four speed gearbox and although the handling is first class the ride is bumpy at best.

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Morris Minor Million

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1961

Age: 60 years

Place of first registration: Nelson, Lancashire

Facts: One of the 350 special edition Minor Millions built to celebrate the millionth Morris Minor. This car was sent to J S Horsfall Ltd in Nelson Lancashire as every Morris Dealership received one. This was car number 191. Less than 60 Minor Millions survive in 2021 when it celebrates its 60th birthday.

We Love: The colour, the interior and everything about it.

Not so good: Underneath it just a standard Minor, these days it would probably have had a tuned engine.

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Rover P4 110

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1963

Age: 59 years

Place of first registration: Bromley

Facts: Known as the ‘Auntie Rovers’, the 110 is the last and most powerful variant made.

We Love: The 110 despite its considerable weight could achieve 100mph without any stress!

Not so good: The replacement Rover P6 showed how the solid and dependable looks had become dated.

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Sunbeam Rapier Convertible

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1960

Age: 61 years

Place of first registration: Greenock, Scotland

Facts: A lovely example of Rootes stylish four seater drop top.

We Love: Just about everything about this car. The American but reasonably subdued styling, the slightly crazy interior trim and the traditional wooden dashboard.

Not so good: Like all cars of this era suffered from terrible corrosion so only a tiny number survived. The hood is tricky to operate and not the most weatherproof if the family got caught in a storm.

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Triumph TR7

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1980

Age: 41 years

Place of first registration: Coventry

Facts: In amazing condition. Had 18,000 miles on clock when we bought it.

We Love: Brave wedge shape and wacky interior

Not so good: It needed the 16 valve engine with more go.

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Wolseley 14/60 “ A star of Foyle’s War”

Part of the Premium Collection

Year: 1938

Age: 84 years

Place of first registration: Cornwall

Facts: A very original example having had only 4 owners . Was used extensively in ITV’s Foyles War and driven by Honeysuckle Weeks who played Foyle’s chauffeur Samantha Stewart. Also appeared in “Poirot” with David Suchet.

We Love: The smooth six cylinder engine, the upmarket instruments and the comfortable ride. After her film career a kind new owner gave her an extensive engine overhaul

Not so good: Like most cars of this era, the steering is a bit vague and the brakes need a good shove on the pedal. The film company did not look after her particularly well with the dents in the bonnet caused by camera mounts, the engine in desperate need of a rebuild and holes in her original number plates so additional fake plates could be screwed on top

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