Irish Vintage Scene Issue 202
Fronting the April 2023 issue of Irish Vintage Scene is a really stunning motor car, a 1946 Ford V8 Super Deluxe that’s special for two reasons – firstly it’s just been restored to absolutely top-shelf condition, and second it’s an original right-hand-drive example, like those that could be found here in Ireland back in their day due to being produced in limited numbers at Ford’s Marina plant in Cork city. Its professional restoration wasn’t easy or quick, but it’s been totally worth it for its owner, who owned one of these RHD V8s himself back in his younger days. Our second car feature moves forward in time many decades to tell the story of two classic Opels of the same colour that are amazingly original survivors that have never been restored – both this 1979 Opel Kadett D and Opel Vectra A have very low mileages covered, and are owned by two ardent Opel fans that will ensure they remain in this amazing condition into the future.
Our tractor feature this month looks at another Ford product, this time a 1968 3000 Pre-Force that was saved from a very sorry wreck, sitting in a scrapyard in two halves with its engine missing. Thanks to the help of many friends, its owner has brought it back to as-new condition over the last couple of years. Our motorcycle feature delves into the unique history of a 1969 Honda CB250 nicknamed Tiddles, which over its lifetime has been transformed into a potent 350cc, 130mph racer that has topped the podium on several occasions. Rounding out this issue, our commercial feature showcases a beautiful 1964 Mk1 Mini Van that’s been restored and rebuilt as a replica AA van by a Co. Sligo enthusiast, in memory of his father’s forty-year career as an AA patrolman.
RETRO CLASSICS ISSUE 49 APRIL – JUNE 2023
The April to June 2023 issue of Retro Classics is now on sale at good newsagents nationwide, or direct from us by ordering online quickly and conveniently. Once again we’ve a diverse selection of feature cars in this edition, headed by our cover car, an E36 BMW M3 that’s gone from one of the most potent nineties coupes on Irish roads to a full-on sprint and hillclimb competitor. Since 2015 it’s tackled stages and courses from Donegal to France, and has proven extremely reliable despite its relatively high mileage and occasional excursion into the scenery!
Further into the mag, we also feature an immaculate and extremely original Mk2 Escort RS2000, a seriously eye-catching Vauxhall Firenza 2300 droop-snoot that was bought new by its Donegal owner in 1974, a rare little Audi 50 on air-ride and BBS wheels and a lightly-modified Toyota Carina that was unearthed after seventeen years off the road, in excellent condition and with very small mileage on the clock. With a detailing guide that debunks some of the most notorious internet hacks, a look back at the often-quirky car ads of decades past and reports from Autosport International, Mondello Mix-Up, Cars & Coffee North East, Race Retro, Edgewood Automotive Cars & Caffeine, the Brekkie Roll VW Meet and a roundup of the last Precision Graphics Future Classics Championship, there’s plenty to get your teeth into in this issue of Retro Classics, so don’t miss out!
LATEST POSTS
Massive Retirement Auction Just Days Away
A magnificent collection of automobilia, enamel signs, antique furniture and lots more from McNean’s Antique & Salvage Shop in Blacklion, Co. Cavan will go under the hammer next Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th of March at 2pm on both days. McNean’s is one of Ireland’s largest antiques emporiums, but after many years in business its owner, Hugh has decided to retire. The collection … Read more
Silverstone Auctions
Silverstone Auctions are out of the blocks really quickly for 2023 with a spectacular line-up for their Reis Race Retro sale, taking place on Friday the 24th and Saturday the 26th of February. With 170 cars and 150 pieces of automobilia going under the hammer, there are bound to be a few record-breakers in there. Why do we say that? Well one of the lots … Read more
Reis Race Retro
It’s been some time since I attended Race Retro. Back then I thought it was the best event I had ever travelled to, and sure enough it now holds the title of Europe’s number-one historic motorsport show. Run by Clarion Events, Reis Race Retro take place in Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, England over the weekend of the 24th to 26th of February and encapsulates all … Read more
Killarney Valley Starlet Draw
Killarney Valley Classic & Vintage Club hosted the raffle for their Toyota Starlet, as featured in the December 2022 issue of Irish Vintage Scene, on Thursday, November 24th at Kellihers Toyota in Tralee. The forty-year-old car was lovingly restored by the members of Killarney Valley Classic & Vintage Club, who sold tickets over the past six months to support four local charities that included the … Read more
The Next Classics Poised to Rise in Value
US-based automotive enthusiast brand Hagerty has revealed the ten cars selected as the 2023 Bull Market List stars. For this annual compilation, experts from the unrivalled Hagerty Valuation Team spend months identifying cars from all eras that offer a great ownership experience while also using their industry-leading market data to determine which of those models may appreciate in value. While this list was compiled for … Read more
Ford ‘Heritage Vault’ Unlocked
Earlier in 2022 Ford launched their online Heritage Vault, packed with photos, brochures and other period documentation relating to their cars, and accessible to anyone with an interest in classic Ford vehicles, anywhere in the world. Now, Ford UK have added more than 1,600 new photos showcasing every car produced there, from Anglia to Zodiac, and Transit to Fiesta. The searchable artefacts are downloadable for … Read more
International DKW Event Comes to Athlone in 2023
Each year fans and owners of the cars, vans and motorcycles built by innovative German manufacturer DKW meet up for their European treffen. DKW Club Austria were the hosts for 2022, in the town of Ybbs in July, during which there was much chat about how pleasant and successful the last Irish treffen had been, back in 2016. On their return to Ireland, members of … Read more
No Dorset Steam Fair in 2023
Irish Vintage Scene has received a communication from the board of directors of the Great Dorset Steam Fair in England regarding next year’s event, a summary of which follows. ED “Following a thorough review of the 2022 show, it is with great sadness and disappointment that the Great Dorset Steam Fair Ltd Board of Directors have to announce that unfortunately we will be taking a … Read more
Gerard Murphy Memorial Raffle Results
The long-awaited 2022 edition of the Gerard Murphy Memorial Classic Show & Run took place in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford on the 2nd of October, and was another mammoth event that attracted in the region of a thousand cars, by our own rough reckoning. While we will be bringing you a full report on this event in an upcoming issue of the magazine, we’ve been asked … Read more
Agricultural Bygones for Auction
Containing what’s described as a “lifetime collection of agriculture bygones”, an upcoming auction in Co. Cavan will certainly be of interest to vintage enthusiasts. The vast collection belonging to Tommy Shannon includes vintage tractors, machinery, enamel signs, engineering machinery and lots of automobilia, andwill go under the hammer over a two-day auction. Viewing in advance of the auction will be in Tommy Shannon’s yard, close to … Read more