Lightning Strike
RS Turbo. S1 RST. ‘White Lightning’. Call it what you like, but Ford of Europe’s first foray into production-car turbocharging was a cracker, and has achieved cult status in the last decade. This 1986 example is one of the finest you’ll find, after a lot of TLC on the part of its owner, Brian Walshe.
Tango T-Top
It would be hard not to notice any C3 Corvette on the road, but thanks to the orange paint and billet wheels on Joe McDonagh’s ’76 example it’s a guaranteed head-turner. Ian Shipley meets with Joe and his son, Matt, and explores the mystique behind America’s finest sports-car.
Wagons Roll
Retro station wagons have a cool-factor all of their own, particularly when they’re as rare as this Corolla KE70. Once an everyday sight on our roads, they are now firmly on the endangered list. This one’s led a charmed life since 1985, but it’s recently had more pep in its step thanks to some unique modifications.
Pure Peugeot
When Fermanagh lads Benny Grainger and Ernest Campbell took it to the roads of Ireland over thirty years ago, little did they know how important their Peugeot 104ZS would become many years later. This orange beastie has recently been restored to beautiful condition, as Patrick Mullan finds out.
Euro Muscle
If John Condon lived in the US, his latest project would probably have been a seventies Mustang or Falcon filled with big-block V8 power. But John lives in Ireland, and so he’s cruising around in this stunning 24-valve V6 Cortina, probably the closest you could get to a classic European Ford muscle-saloon.
Flying V
It was always a crying shame that BL saw fit to endow the MGB GT with the gutsy Rover V8, but not the roadster. Such a car would undoubtedly have had huge appeal in the US, one of the MGB’s most crucial markets, but internal wrangling between BL’s different marques put paid to that. Today, Chris Lyons’ modified example
shows us what could have been.
Little Steps
We’ve all got to start somewhere in this retro and classic hobby, but for many of us the results of our first car projects are best forgotten. However, even though Evan O’Connor started his Mini rebuild at the age of fifteen, he’s ended up with a stunner to be proud of.
News & Products
What’s new in the retro classic scene in Ireland and beyond.
Show Reports
- Eirespares Beetle Reunion 2013
- HRCA Championship 2013
- GTINI Castlewellan Show
- The Big Meet Weekend 2013
- Neal Egan Ford Show & Run
- Donegal International Rally 2013
- 2nd Irish Festival of Speed
- 3rd Annual Classic & Old Skool Toyota Run
- Kirkistown 60th Birthday Race Meeting
- Loughgall Festival of Motorsport
- Banbridge Motor & Sports Car Show
- And lots more
In The Works
What’s being built in the small garages and workshops of the island of Ireland.
Retro Club Scene
Our monthly look at clubs catering for retro classic cars.
Retro Buyer’s Guide
In its 50th anniversary year, we show you how to buy yourself a Hillman Imp.