Cars

With my next track day fast approaching we still had a good few jobs to do on the M3 and one of the most daunting was changing the bottom end shells. Although Dave and I had done a few E46 M3s before, we had never tackled an S65 engine. The reason for this preventative maintenance was that worryingly there is quite a large list of cars on the American forums that have suffered with bearing failure and I even know of a German car that spun a shell at less than 40,000 kilometres.

Buying Guide Fancy a sweet handling normally aspirated sports saloon? Then how about looking at the E90 330i? Like normally aspirated straight-sixes? Need four doors? Then you’ll be wanting an E90 330i – the last of BMW’s non-turbocharged sports saloons. Words: Bob Harper and Andrew Everett. Photography: Dom Fraser and Max Earey.

Do you remember that AC Schnitzer once made a supercharger kit for the E46 330i? We have fond memories of the conversion so jumped at the chance to drive one today Words: Bob Harper. Photography: Dave Smith.

Performance Art. We get up close and personal with the wonderful M2 with a host of M Performance accessories.  We love the M2 straight out of the box but can the addition of some M Performance accessories improve it still further? Words: Bob Harper. Photography: Gus Gregory.

Porsche 964 How to buy the last affordable classic 911. Buying Guide Fancy a Porsche 964? Follow our six steps to 911 heaven. More exciting than a 993 – but care is needed when buying the ‘unloved’ 911. 6 Steps To Buying The Best Porsche 911 964 third generation. Words Paul Hardiman. Photography Tom Wood.

Any BMW E3 is now a rare sight but the long-wheelbase 3.3 limo is something you only see every decade. BMW built just 1406, only 222 were sold in the UK and the DVLA has just four cars registered on its mainframe. A mere 30 are believed to be still in running order worldwide. Handsome chiselled looks, impossible rarity, sumptuous cabins and 128mph mean that this is definitely a classic BMW to watch. And the trade has already got the E3 on its radar with Fast Classics in Bramley offering a gorgeous Anthracite 1977 3.3Li with 68k miles for £60,000. That might sound big money but recreating anything as mint as this example could easily cost double. Scuderia Sportiva in Cologne has a 1976 LHD in Rubinrot red with total history, only 54,000km and period factory Alpina bits for £27,500. That one needs buying.

Porsche 914. I’ve tipped the Porsche 914 before but recent soaring 912 prices have started to pull hard at values of the cute VolksPorsche. Interest is growing and most decent cars on eBay have at least 50 watchers. And it’s all about the 914’s vibe. See one in Irish Green, Nepal Orange or Sunflower Yellow with Fuchs wheels and Porsche side-stripes along the doors and it grins with the same Californian carelessness that’s made the vintage 911s and 912s so tremendously hot. Original 914s in period colours look like they were born and raised on the Pacific Coast Highway, which they were really, because rather a lot of the 115,000 built ended up basking in West Coast American sunshine.

Six steps to buying a Triumph 2000/2500/2.5. Buying Guide. Michelotti style with six-cylinder power – follow our seven-step guide to buying the best Triumph 2000, 2500 and 2.5.   Handsome and inexpensive, the 2000 family is the perfect choice for a first classic. Words Connor Andrews. Photography Tom Wood.

The Collector. We take a tour of the eclectic classics Derek Newman and his son-in-law Chris Littler have amassed over the years, from a Morris 8 to a Porsche 911 GT3 996. ‘The Porsche drove an awful lot better after it had been stolen’ The Newman family share their eclectic collection with each other – and occasionally with supercar and hillclimber-loving thieves… Words Mike Renaut. Photography Matt Richardson.

Life Cycle. Garry Austin first met his Alpine GTA while it was still on the production line. Thirty years on, the concours winner has served as continental cruiser and hillclimber. The life story of an Alpine GTA V6. The UK’s first ‘atmo’ GTA has been a continental tourer, accidental concours winner, F1 paddock regular and hillclimb racer – but has always been a cherished classic. Words Sam Dawson. Photography Jonathan Jacob.

Eric Morecambe’s Jensen Interceptor MkI restored. Epic Restoration Rescuing Eric Morecambe’s Jensen Interceptor was less divine comedy and more horror story turned labour of love for owner Nick Whale. Epic Restoration Jensen Interceptor MkI. ‘The initial estimate was £50k-£60k. It ended up costing twice that’. This Interceptor was first owned by Eric Morecambe and its history helped the current owner persevere when it was bringing him more grief than sunshine. Words Nigel Boothman. Photos Jonathan Jacob.

Golf GTI 40th anniversary road trip to secret VW collection.  The Pilgrimage. Great drives to meet marque gurus.  ‘No wonder sales of traditional sports cars plummeted’ To celebrate 40 years of the Golf GTI we head for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of VW’s vast reserve collection at its depot and restoration shop in Wolfsburg. Words Russ Smith. Photography Jonathan Jacob.