THE UK'S MOST WANTED
Car & Classic has revealed the ten most searched-for models on its popular classified and online auction website in the first half of 2022. The Ford Escort topped the list once again, followed by BMW’s 3-series, with almost half of those searching for BMW aiming for M-models. Whilst the popularity of Triumph Stags, MGBs and Jaguar E-Types is never in question, newcomers can be spotted in the search table: VW’s Beetle, featured in 2021, drops off the 2022 list in favour of the marque’s Golf range, especially the hot hatch GTIs of the 1980s. Land Rover has also piqued the classic car enthusiast’s interest enough to appear in the top ten, de-throning the Ford Mustang, one of last year’s favourites. Unsurprisingly given the rise in value and demand in the last few years, Ford's Cortina also makes it into the top ten, with over 20% of its searches focused on the Lotus version.
Car & Classic typically lists around 40,000 vehicles at any one time, with a range of prices from no-reserve to £10 million. The top 10 searches were:
1. Ford Escort
2. BMW
3-series
3. MGB 4. Triumph Stag
5. VW Golf
6. Porsche 911
7. Land Rover S1-3
8. Jaguar E-type
9. Ford Capri
10. Ford Cortina
Iain Thompson wrote from Wisconsin with regards the September issue: ' Thank you for the great piece on the PL17. The last ones had forward-hinged doors as French law changed in 1962. The piece on Vauxhall shows a Cresta as the E-series – not quite as they looked in 1951, it must be a ’55 or later car as flashers were only legal in the UK from 1955. The coke-bottle PC from 1965 still looks modern even at a distance of almost 50 years.'
Norman J Milne wrote from Scotland: 'Just a note to let you know how much I always enjoy reading Classics – it has the right mix of features, topics, models and treatments. Truly the journal is quite a work of art, very colourful and arresting, but at the same time most informative, investigative and highly accurate. If I have any preference or questions about balance, I would personally like to see a bit more of the makes, models and histories of the 1950s, (but the 1960s are very acceptable too...). That's most probably due to my age, key experiences and general background. Having spent a good 30 years in the motor industry (mainly 1954-1985) I still find the "Frugal Fifties" quite fascinating.'
Thank you both for writing in, and we will have more from Norman next issue!