C&SC kicks of the New Year with a fantastic February issue packed with amazing classics and headed by a world exclusive. It is officially published in the UK on Thursday 2 January 2014.
The magazine has driven the ex-Steve McQueen Ferrari 275GTB/4 not just at any test track, but at Ferrari's Fiorano facility.
What makes this car special – apart from its first owner being the King of Cool – is that, having been converted into a NART Spyder by Straman in the 1980s, it has just been beautifully returned to its original spec as a berlinetta at Ferrari's Classiche workshops.
There's great variety in the rest of the feature articles, ranging from the battle of the first of the modern superminis – Fiat 127 vs Renault 5 vs VW Polo – to an in-depth interview with BMC motor sport guru Peter Browning.
We also enjoyed a true Midlands derby match when pitting a Jensen 541 against a Jaguar XK150 and rounded up a full set of Chevrolet Corvairs. They bow-tie's answer to the Beetle may still be controversial in some quarters, but Martin Buckley is astounded by their charms.
The Allard J2 enjoyed by James Mitchell is no run of the mill car (as if any Allard is!), but a Festival of Britain star that wound up in India and is now back home and meticulously restored.
One of our favourite photoshoots this month was taking the super-rare Citroën Mylord around Paris. Mick Walsh found the SM variant a delight to drive on its home turf even if the Gendarmes weren't entirely happy with James Mann's guerilla photography.
Two more stories round off the features: a fascinating period look at the British motor industry from the air and a blast in a legendary AC, the ex-Betty Haig Alpine Rally 16/80.
On the news front, it's been another busy month, with the team's annual selection of the best bits from the previous year, a huge review of Auto Retro in Barcelona, a report on the inaugural, C&SC-backed Chateau Impney Speed Celebration, plus much more.
