Classic & Sports Car’s 2023 highlights

By Classic & Sports Car Editorial team

| 29 Dec 2023

Classic & Sports Car – Classic & Sports Car’s 2023 highlights

A selection of our favourite cars, people and events that made 2023 such a busy and memorable year for the Classic & Sports Car team.

Alastair Clements, Editor in chief

Car of the year

It is incredible the way Goodwood still manages to come up with cars I have never seen or heard of before, and how Mick Walsh is always there to fill me in. For 2023, it was the remarkable Huayra Pronello Ford (above), and Mick’s story in our November issue was as fascinating as the car itself.

Best drive

The photoshoot for the February 2024 issue cover story (on sale 4 January), which took place at Bicester Heritage earlier in the year, was an opportunity to fill several gaps in my motoring education. The biggest tick, and the biggest smile, came from Phil Blake’s wonderful NSU Ro80: no wonder Martin Buckley has been banging on about them for so long. Brilliant.

Best event

The chance to tag along for the 40th annual Bugatti Festival in Molsheim (below, left) was unforgettable. Spectacular venue, smiling people, sensational cars – both old and new – and two of the nicest, most unassuming racing legends I’ve ever met in Andy Wallace and Pierre-Henri Raphanel.

Classic hero

The spirit of clubmans racing is in Simon Taylor’s soul. “Not to worry,” he said, after noticing our Derby Bentley story clashed with a planned trip to Shelsley Walsh, “it’s a chance to run in the new engine!” He duly drove the Stovebolt from London to Crewe for the shoot, parked it outside his B&B, whizzed to Shelsley, competed hard (bottom, right), then drove it home.

New Year’s resolution

Easy. After having missed out on so much of 2023 with a torn knee ligament, this year I want to do more, see more and, most importantly, drive more.

Simon Hucknall, Senior contributor

Car of the year

Genevieve, the 1904 Darracq 10/12hp (below, main). As a long-time fan of the eponymous film, it was quite something to step aboard and drive it at Beaulieu. The slowest thing I’ve driven this year – and not a particularly great veteran, by all accounts – but such an important player in the classic car movement.

Best drive

I’m going to cheat and go for three – all Ferrari Daytonas, and all on the same day: a GTB/4, GTS/4 and a GTB/4 Competizione for the July issue (below, left). We had Millbrook’s epic Alpine Route to drive on, and I was entranced by their V12 powertrains, their peerless stability and the view over those long, elegant bonnets – check it out here. Priceless.

Best event

Flywheel, at Bicester Heritage. I love the informality of Bicester events, even when they’re as big as this one, which brought together a feast of classic cars and planes on 17-18 June. Well organised and friendly, with all attractions within an easy walk. Doing the sprint in a Vauxhall 30-98 was the icing on the cake.

Classic hero

Willie Green (below, right) was a childhood hero for me, so I enjoyed the chance to sit down with him at his Peak District home and chat about drifting Maserati 250Fs around Silverstone’s old Woodcote bend at 130mph.

New Year’s resolution

To take my Fiat 128 to meet its maker, with a road trip alongside my 22-year-old son across the Alps to Turin, hopefully to include a tour of Fiat’s fabulous heritage collection when we get there.

Aaron McKay, Deputy editor

Car of the year

Apart from being slightly star-struck by the unique, ex-Giovanni Agnelli Ferrari 166MM, it was a sensational passenger ride around Goodwood, full of early Colombo V12 noises, that really stuck with me. As a beacon of style and performance among our May issue’s 1948 game-changers, it was simply stunning.

Best drive

The drive home through Central London from collecting the 205 for May’s Peugeot Rallyes triple test was an absolute riot (below, right). Its voracious twin Webers and sprint gearing meant I couldn’t resist racing between the lights – apparently much to the enjoyment of everyone else, who seemed to love the bright white flash of this lightweight hot hatch through the city at night.

Best event

The beautiful setting, friendly atmosphere and astonishing range of classic cars – particularly the early Datsuns – meant the Madeira Classic Car Revival (below, left) really was a motoring treasure island.

Classic hero

Anna and Louise Getley (below, main), who drove the family 3/4½ Litre Bentley at the Rally for the Ages for nearly the first time (C&SC, September), then a few weeks later took it to the Le Mans Classic, where they finished 27th out of 69 in the hour-long Benjafield’s Racing Club event. The future of the hobby looks safe!

New Year’s resolution

With my VW camper project finally under way, I need to keep up the momentum so it can be ready for a weekend away in the summer.

Simon Taylor, Editor at large

Car of the year

The 1956 ex-Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati 300S that went through Gregor Fisken’s hands on its way to a lucky new owner. Mick got to drive it, too (below).

Best drive

In (someone else’s) Derby Bentley along the amazing A54 across the Cheshire/Derbyshire borders: narrow, steeply up and down, tight bends and wonderful vistas.

Best event

Shelsley Walsh’s Classic Nostalgia, once again. A little Goodwood in a picturesque Worcestershire valley, with great cars, the friendly atmosphere of 1950s-style club motorsport, the C&SC concours and a good band. Plus I got to compete in the Stovebolt as well.

Classic hero

The nameless chap I see every morning commuting into London, in all weathers, in a slightly battered but evidently well-loved 1960s MG Midget. He uses his classic every day, so he’s a classic hero we should all emulate.

New Year’s resolution

I’ve always meant to take the Stovebolt down the Santa Pod dragstrip to see what its standing quarter really is. This year I’ll do it.

Lizzie Pope, Associate editor

Car of the year

It has to be the Ferrari 500 Superfast that was part of our 500th-issue celebrations in November. It’s the kind of car for which you run out of superlatives – and Olgun Kordal’s photos more than did it justice (below, left).

Best drive

Stretching my Mustang’s legs to and from the Le Mans Classic was the perfect reminder as to why we do what we do (Our classics, October). A great drive, with excellent company, in much-loved classic cars.

Best event

In July, I went to the Heveningham Concours for the first time and left thoroughly impressed. Rural Suffolk isn’t known for its high-end car events, so not only establishing one there but also placing it within a country show broadens its appeal. The dramatic staging didn’t hurt, either (below, main). Find out which cars came out on top here.

Classic hero

The classic car world bid farewell to Peter Mullin (below, right) in September. As well as being a self-made businessman, he had one of the world’s greatest collections of Art Deco machines. We’re sure his widow, Merle, will continue his legacy – likewise the team working to realise his dream of a British classic destination, to complement his well-established Californian museum.

New Year’s resolution

To get to more new (to me) events. I enjoyed December’s innovative inaugural Motoring Literary & Art Festival, and I’m always interested in days out that offer a fresh perspective on our pastime.

Martin Buckley, Senior contributor

Car of the year

For the second year in a row it’s a pre-war V12 saloon that sticks in my mind. Like last year’s revelatory Lagonda V12, the Rolls-Royce Phantom III Gurney Nutting Touring Limousine I drove for the August issue (below) was superb, but would probably be even nicer with a lighter body.

Best drive

Only a fleeting moment, but it has to be chasing a Lancia Fulvia 1600HF up an Oxfordshire B-road with my Oldsmobile Toronado – which, surprisingly, kept up well and didn’t run out of fuel or brakes in the process.

Best event

The South Cerney steam fair (otherwise known as the Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza) – not only for the comedy value, but also for the variety of interesting cars on show.

Classic hero

Mike Taylor of LotusBits, who doesn’t get offended when I ignore his always sage advice regarding my Lotus Elite and do the complete opposite!

New Year’s resolution

To finish off my Lancia Flaminia saloon before I buy anything else as a distraction tactic.

Mick Walsh, International editor

Car of the year

The restoration of Lord Bamford’s Corsica-bodied Bugatti Type 57SC by the talented teams of Steve Clark and Tim Dutton was a marvellous tribute to former owners Robert Ropner and Bill Turnbull.

Best drive

What better way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Maranello’s early V12 barchetta than a blast in one of the finest? The glorious sound of the Ferrari 166MM (below), and the encouragement and trust of owner Clive Beecham, will never be forgotten.

Best event

The return of the SF Edge Trophy for the 80th Goodwood Members’ Meeting was epic, packed with early titans and hero drivers.

Classic hero

Mark Brinker for highlighting unsung engineers Bob Sorrell and Wolfgang Denzel, with his fine restoration of the former’s SR-100, and as co-author of a definitive history on the latter (Books, November).

New Year’s resolution

A road trip to Vintage Revival Montlhéry to celebrate the famous track’s centenary.

Damon Cogman, Art editor

Car of the year

Looking every inch the Le Mans refugee it genuinely is, the Porsche 911 Carrera RSR ‘R7’ from the October issue (below, left) is the perfect mix of classic looks and brute force. Flared wheelarches have never looked better than when adorned with Martini stripes on this monster – take a look here.

Best drive

I’d never before driven a V12 Lamborghini, but that box was well and truly ticked when I experienced 571 of the finest thoroughbred horses from Sant’Agata in the Murciélago for December’s cover story. Blimey, it’s quick...

Best event

Trundling up the A1 to the wilds of Lincolnshire means only one thing: it’s Festival of the Unexceptional time. The bafflingly mundane mixed with the surprisingly dull adds up to a brilliant day out to celebrate a wonderful future for our movement (below, right).

Classic hero

The man who put the wheels in motion back in 2002 for C&SC’s favourite event, the Le Mans Classic, is Patrick Peter. He’s been at the forefront of superb classic motorsport events all over the globe with his team at Peter Auto, and continues to make sure we enjoy old cars being driven at full tilt either as competitors or spectators.

New Year’s resolution

It’s all about adventures with old cars. I plan on putting many more miles under the wheels of my VW over the coming year.

Charlie Calderwood, Features editor

Car of the year

It’s brilliant that one of the rare South African BMW 530 MLEs has come to the UK (C&SC, October). It was simultaneously so chuckable yet drivable, while its race history is fascinating. And that sound! The BMW ‘six’ firing through three sidedraught Webers was the most thrilling, paper-tearing road-legal roar I’ve heard.

Best drive

Our May issue 1948 cover shoot was my first proper experience of a Citroën 2CV (below), and it was a joy both around the circuit and on some of the rougher access roads, as you can read here. It has gone straight on to my bucket list to attempt to drive as much of France on unpaved roads as possible in a 2CV.

Best event

Rather than guarded on exclusive, manicured lawns, the rarefied cars at Dinard Élégance are put on the busy seafront of this Brittany resort. There were no pricey entry tickets, and only the lowest rope fence. Just as good were the classics that followed the event and filled the town centre.

Classic hero

Beset by electrical gremlins with my Smart, I paid a lot of money to two ‘experts’ without much expertise, then Howard at Smart Car Repairs was my saviour. This one-man band had the car for less time, charged considerably less, yet fixed everything.

New Year’s resolution

It won’t be in my Smart – that’s up for sale – but I’ve just got to drive some proper roads in my own car this year. I’m desperate to make a break for Spain: for my money, it’s the closest slice of motoring Nirvana.

Ryan Standen, Editorial apprentice

Car of the year

I enjoyed reading about Martin Port’s homemade ‘Vegemite Special’ (below) in Our classics, and his mostly trouble-free trip to Le Mans was the icing on the cake. Watching onlookers trying to work out if Australia’s favourite yeast extract also dabbled in cars was another plus.

Best drive

A passenger ride around Goodwood in the ex-Stirling Moss Ferrari 250GT SWB was not on my 2023 bingo card, but owner Clive Beecham was kind enough to take me for a spin after we shot the cover story for the May issue. It was an experience I’ll treasure for ever.

Best event

The Retro Rides Weekender at Goodwood in May was laid- back, with a festival atmosphere, and attracted a varied set of pre-2000 classics, from a Peugeot 106 Rallye to a De Tomaso Pantera.

Classic hero

Classic Assessments celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023. Brian Page has assessed more than 600 Jaguar E-types, 400 MGBs, a Chieftain tank and more, and helped countless enthusiasts avoid the pitfalls of buying classic cars.

New Year’s resolution

To improve my mechanical know-how. I’m getting better at diagnosing problems, but I’m still not great at fixing them so more hands-on experience is needed.