Guides
Worth knowing before you buy.
What to check, what things cost, and what ownership is actually like. Written from cars we have had on the ramp rather than from forums.
Mercedes R107 SL buying guide: where these cars rust
Where the R107 SL corrodes, which engine to choose and what paperwork to ask for. A UK buyer's inspection guide to the 1971 to 1989 Mercedes SL.
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What a classic car restoration actually costs
What drives the bill on an older Jaguar or Mercedes: structure rather than mechanicals, plus UK labour rates by tier and what to allow for bodywork.
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Is high mileage a problem on a classic?
A hundred and fifty thousand miles is not high for a car built to last. Condition and history decide it, along with a handful of checks specific to the model.
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Living with a Jaguar XJ-S V12
What the V12 XJ-S is actually like to own. The engine is closer to a Rolls-Royce than to a Ferrari, and forty years on it still feels like a luxury car.
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Sourcing parts for a classic: what it actually involves
Finding parts for an older Jaguar or Mercedes is a research job rather than a shopping one. Here is what it takes, and which items are worth checking before you buy.
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The next car is being sourced.
One car at a time, documented from the day it arrives. Leave an address and you will hear about the next one before it is listed anywhere else.