Cars

How to buy a Fiat 124 Spider before prices move again. Buying Guide Don’t let the Fiat 124 Spider scare you. Five steps to buying a Fiat 124 Spider. With bad examples entering the UK, it’s more important than ever to buy carefully. Words Russ Smith. Photography John Colley.

‘It arrived with the engine seized solid and the exhaust roped on’. Epic Restoration Ferrari 250 GTE Obsessive quests for perfection. Hospital case Ferrari GTE saved. Epic Restoration You’d think a doctor as a long-term previous owner would spell good news – but for this Ferrari 250 GTE it meant years of neglect. We follow the rescue operation of this grand tourer that had a scrape with deathly dilapidation. Getting in at a ground floor price for any Ferrari 250 means the elevator of expense can only go one way. But saving this neglected GTE was worth every penny, says the owner. Words Nigel Boothman. Photography Jonathan Fleetwood.

Rejoice – the world may have been going to hell in a handcart but the old car market chugs on and good cars are still out there for us enthusiasts.

Buyer’s guide Lotus Elan. Sports-car perfection: Buyer’s guide to the Lotus Elan. The devastatingly effective and fun Elan has taken off in price, so buy now before the summer rush, advises Malcolm McKay. Photography Tony Baker.

Mercedes-Benz W113 230-280SL how to buy Mercedes’ timeless Pagoda. The charm and practicality of Stuttgart’s 1960s Pagoda sports car has led prices to soar over the past few years, cautions Malcolm McKay. Photography Tony Baker.

“We weren’t sure if we could limit the power to only 200bhp” Rod Mansfield talks Mike Taylor through the difficulties involved in making the outrageous Sierra Cosworth a road-going reality. Photography Malcolm Griffiths/LAT. Rod Mansfield. We talk to the man who made the Ford Sierra into a bewinged icon. Meet the brains behind the Ford Sierra Cosworth.

Last year, I went to interview the former Leyland stylist Harris Mann. We were talking Allegros, a topic he will happily expound upon, but he is beginning to take exception to the attitude of the more populist media. To my delight, he recently told a BBC researcher to “get stuffed” (a very un-Harris-like remark) when they wanted him to take part in radio programme about “crap British cars”, so I fear we’ve had his last words on the subject. I don’t blame him: it’s time to find something else to take the Mickey out of.

Ultra-rare E28 Touring. Super-cool retro wagon. Mythic rare. Gorgeous E28 535i Touring. You might have never seen an E28 Touring before, you might never see one ever again, but they do exist and their rarity makes a modded one all the more special. Words: Elizabeth de Latour. Photos: Jape Tiitinen.

BMW 1 Series diesel. Andrew Everett offers his essential, Top 10 buying tips for those searching the classifieds for a first-generation 1 Series diesel.

Hybrid power. Performance with a conscience. Chris Graham enjoys an extended run in the technologically-impressive 330e; a car which illustrates BMW’s determination to make iPerfomance work.

Ultimate choice? Having sampled the new 5 Series Touring, Kyle Fortune argues that, in practical terms, it’s just about the only car you’ll ever really need. New model test. The stylish new G31 5 Series Touring promises to be all things to all men. Can it really be that good?

Lapping it up! Bob Harper samples the delights of the new M Driving Experience. Driving tuition. Bob Harper pops along to Oulton Park to sample BMW UK’s new M Driving Experience and discovers his inner racing driver.