This proved to be an unbeatable combination, and became a milestone for Jaguar whilst reviving the motor industry with much fanfare after the war. Interestingly, the XK120 was only really designed as test bed with which to show off the XK engine, but with orders flooding in Jaguar wasted no time and put the car into full production. Several versions were eventually released, with the Roadster version being a hit amongst Hollywood stars like Clark Gable. It is still a design classic today, and in 1999 the car featured in the box office hit Cruel Intentions, driven by Ryan Phillippe & Reese Witherspoon.

The XK120 was the creation of Sir William Lyons, aka “Mr. Jaguar”, and was powered by the 3442cc power plant dubbed the XK engine, generating 160bhp, and the XK120 is so named as its top speed tipped 120mph. As expected it was a success on the track and was driven by some of motor sports biggest legends such as Stirling Moss and Ian Appleyard, and helped Jaguar win the Le Mans title on several occasions.

There are still a large number in circulation today, looking as they did when they first rolled off the production lines thanks to being a favourite amongst classic car enthusiasts and being lovingly restored. If you are interested in purchasing one, expect to pay in excess of £70000 for a prime example.

Owners of such a car should use a special classic car insurance broker, and conduct a car Insurance Comparison online to find the best insurance quotes

Amateur writer with a love for classic cars

The original brief was to produce a cheap, economical and reliable car for the working class. Adolf Hitler and Ferdinand Porsche were the two men responsible for kick starting the birth of the Volkswagen Beetle, and it went on to become a true classic thanks to its legendary reliability with an almost unbreakable gearbox, and both its unique shape and the unmistakable sound of its air cooled engine.

Like the Mini and the Citroën 2CV, the Beetle has become representative of the swinging sixties, and will always be associated with hippies and surfers thanks to its unique and alternative design. The beetle went on to become a classic car and has been made infamous thanks to its numerous appearances in Hollywood films, where most famously it starred as Herbie in the Love Bug, which also had a spin-off comedy series which ran from 1968 through to 2005. It was also made famous as the Autobot Bumblebee who took the form of a yellow Beetle in the popular Transformers series.

Strangely, in 1998 the Beetle was re-engineered and re-released, 4 years before the original Beetle ceased production! Unfortunately perhaps it shares little with its predecessor other than its name and its appearance, and as such has lost almost all of its charm. The new Beetle is essentially a modern VW Golf chassis with all the added features you would expect of a modern car. It’s certainly safer, easier to live with and more comfortable than the original, but the character of the original Beetle made it a true classic car.

Owners of such a car should use a special classic car insurance broker, and conduct a car insurance comparison online to find the best insurance quotes

Amateur Journalist

In the years following World War II VW had been successfully producing small and efficient automobiles like the Beetle, with a reputation for outstanding reliability. But as time wore on consumers began demanding vehicles with style and elegance, reflecting the changing attitudes at the time. This call was answered by the Karmann Ghia.

The end result however was a car which appealed to 2 very different groups. There were those who wanted a Porsche on a VW budget, and those who wanted a beautiful European touring car that was durable. This was achieved because VW chose to stick to its reliable Beetle chassis, yet covered that Chassis with a shell that was hand built to perfection using methods not seen anywhere else but on the world’s finest cars.

Then end result was a car which could not reach 100mph unlike its rivals, but this could easily be overlooked thanks to its beautiful styling and knowing it wouldn’t let you down whilst out on the road. During its 18 year production run, around half a million people considered these points more important than thoroughbred racing performance.

It is worth noting that VW emphasised all of the above facts in its advertising. They made it a point to openly declare that it was mechanically identical to the Beetle, and had slogans such as “The 1963 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Slower, but Prettier Than Any Porsche!”. This was an honest advertising campaign, and captured the attention of the public. Unfortunately due to high import duties at the time relatively few made it over to the UK, but this didn’t stop the car being a huge success at the time and going on to become a classic car.

Owners of such a car should use a special classic car insurance broker, and conduct a car insurance Comparison online to find the best insurance quotes

Amateur journalist

A lot of people will agree on the fact that they don’t make cars like they used to, and driving a beautifully restored classic car provides an escape to the days of motoring bliss, if only for a short while. These same people naturally congregate and form the various clubs, rallies and shows that appear around the globe. All of these provide the enthusiast with a much needed medium with which to vent their enthusiasm, and it’s a much needed outlet for a very absorbing hobby. It keeps them from driving their families mad! Clubs in particular are very important to the classic car owner, as they provide a forum through which they can discuss technical problems and gain otherwise hard to come by sage advice.

On a lighter note, whatever your reasons for owning a classic car, there are a couple of notable side effects which you should be aware of. For instance, you may have gotten by living next door to the same families for 20 years or more with only the occasional hello, but as soon as you bring your classic out for a some detailing you will suddenly find them flocking towards your driveway for a chat. Those decades of tactful avoidance squandered! Secondly, it is worth noting that all classic cars have an innate Crowd Appeal, and in a way this is what makes them a classic. If the sun is shining and you do feel like taking your classic to the shops, bear in mind that it will take at least twice as long. You’ll find this out on your first trip as your waving through the crowds to stick your bags of groceries in the boot whilst having ten or twenty questions fired at you!

Owners of such a car should use a special classic car insurance broker, and conduct a car insurance comparison online to find the best insurance quotes

Amateur journalist