IN OTHER NEWS…
OTHER BIG STORIES AND ISSUES THAT OUR NICK REMEMBERS FROM THE PAST 30 YEARS
1990
MAY Classic Car Weekly is launched with news stories including the formation of the Allegro Club International (see page 30) – after someone thought that it would be funny to ‘start’ a hoax organisation. What’s happening to classic car prices? We revealed that Jaguar XKs had fallen in value from from £50,000 to £30,000 and Ferrari Dinos from £100,000 to £60,000. Some may wish that this was still the case today!
1992
APRIL Recently released after five years incarceration at the hands of terrorists in Beirut, peace envoy Terry Waite is reunited with his beloved MGB at a ceremony in Covent Garden.
1993
APRIL The Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, now the British Motor Museum, opens its doors for the very first time.
1994
APRIL BMW Group buys Rover Group from British Aerospace.
1995
FEBRUARY Transport Minister, Brian Mawhinney, visits the Classic Car Weekly offices and says that continuous licensing for cars would be introduced. It became known as SORN (statutory off-road notification), and was provided free of charge.
1999
MARCH Four lead substitutes are approved by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC), following testing at the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA).
2003
AUGUST A major scoop for Classic Car Weekly when we discover that London authorities are looking into introducing a Low Emission Zone.
2005
APRIL MG Rover collapses with the loss of more than 6000 jobs.
2010
APRIL Massive controversy is caused when a banger race that goes on to destroy 50 Austin Westminsters is announced. This would be followed by further ‘fun for Philistines’ with ‘events’ comprising grids of Rover P4s and Ford Granadas.
2011
NOVEMBER FBVHC figures reveal that the classic car movement contributes £4.3 billion to the UK economy.
DECEMBER Saab files for bankruptcy, much to the disappointment to enthusiasts of the Swedish marque across the world. Saab had been producing cars since 1949.
2013
APRIL The former RAF Bicester in Oxfordshire is to be turned into a business park for classic car events and specialist dealerships.
JUNE A massive Morris 100 event takes place in Oxfordshire – forging continuing close ties between clubs.
2014 JANUARY
The DVLA closes local offices amid fears that this could mean major delays for classic owners.
MARCH It is announced that historic road tax will finally become a ‘rolling’ process for vehicles when they reach 40 years of age.
JULY Jaguar famously buys the 543-strong James Hull classic car collection – and later sells the nonJaguars on again!
NOVEMBER Brooklands Museum is forced to apologise when it is revealed that a Leyland Princess was turned away from one of its events, having being declared by the individual concerned as being a ‘non-classic’.
2015
MARCH After Top Gear is taken off the air following Jeremy Clarkson’s suspension, CCW recreates a classic road test planned for the latest series.
2017
SEPTEMBER Classics over 40 years olc will be exempted from MoTs, the Government confirms.
DECEMBER
The Classic Car Loan Project, begins to promotes older cars by lending them to younger enthusiasts.
2018
JULY Assurances are given that the Vauxhall Heritage Collection will not be sold off following the manufacturer’s acquisition by PSA Group in 2017.
2020
MAY Spending on classics increases by a third in just three years, new figures from the FBHVC reveal.
2020
APRIL Racer and classic show regular, Sir Stirling Moss, dies at the age of 90.