Motoring
In need of a navigational fix
Alan Judd I'm in the car-buying mode again. I shouldn't — I don't need one — but that never had anything to do with the price of fish. The danger is that I've persuaded myself that I'm able to afford something a little different. Thus am I the man in your newsagent's, buying one car magazine and surreptitiously flicking through a dozen others, transfused by a hopeless plasticity of taste and self-image, equally, and different- ly, enthusiastic about a Series II Land- Rover, a Saab convertible, a Mark H Jaguar, a P5 Rover, an affordable Bristol, Rolls or Bentley or an ageing Toyota Land- cruiser. I want them all.
Feeling the need for some sort of naviga- tional fix in this galaxy of possible worlds, I revisited the hallowed ground from which I bought my first car too many years ago: Vicary's of Battle, Sussex, where I used to live. Established in 1916, it is a family- owned garage of a once traditional, now probably unusual, sort. It looks after most four-wheeled creatures and does a good line in second-hand quality and classic cars. They neither buy nor sell rubbish. Nor do they any longer have a blue 1955 Ford Pop- ular (the upright one) for £40, complete with the breed's endearing foibles of vacu- um-operated wipers that lose heart when you accelerate and a second gear (of three) that has to be kept in with your left knee. I was thrilled with it and used to take the rotary arm out every night, convinced that others found it as desirable as I did.
Vicary's still sell its modern equivalent but their stock is levered now by a selection of showroom beauties that kept me an afternoon. Most immediately captivating was a gleaming black 1936 Rolls 25/30 sports saloon with red St James's hide, interplanetary headlights, a wind-up glass division and coachwork by Park Ward. It's compact for a Rolls, with a manual gear- change on the right (ladies wishing to pre- serve their modesty are advised to slide across from the other side) and an intoxica- tion of wood and leather that made £50 change out of £30,000 seem, for a while, almost possible. Actually, it is for many people because at present interest rates you might as well have your money in that as in the building society, and enjoy it.
Moored alongside was a 1972 Jensen Interceptor III in burgundy metallic with tan leather. They're handsome brutes whose road presence speaks of shameless power and consumption (7.2 litres of it) and whose curvaceous yet masculine lines are, I'm told, sexy. They are said to have gone out of business with a full order book and I understand that all parts, except door-handles, are easily available. This one was subject to a £20,000 restoration some years ago and at £14,000 now it will, if looked after, only get dearer. But not for me.
Maybe it's a form of automotive autism for which I should seek treatment. I passed by the neat little 1972 Lotus Elan convert- ible (£11,995) and lingered only momentar- ily beside the 1992 Jaguar XJS (18,000 miles and £19,750). I admire them but somehow they don't quite do it for me.
Vicary's found their car sales unaffected by the recent recession (I'm never sure whether we're out of it or whether it's become permanent and we've got used to it). This is partly, I suspect, because they do a consistent line in good Rolls Royces and Bentleys aged 15-20 years and costing £10,000-15,000. Provided they have a decent service history which you continue, such cars will not seriously depreciate and you could find one a surprisingly practical proposition for everyday motoring.
Fuel costs are significant, of course, but less than the depreciation on a younger and cheaper car, while servicing needn't be as expensive as assumed. Lancaster Europa, a Sheffield main dealer advertising in the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts' Club maga- zine, quote £175 for a 6,000 mile service, £350 for 12,000 and £650 for 24,000. Insur- ance, through the club, can be as little as £270.
I tested Vicary's current Silver Spirit, a 1982 model with attractive dark oyster coachwork, 102,000 miles and full main dealer service history (£14,995). It drove as you would expect and had it been a Bentley which I slightly prefer, and had I had the nerve, and a garage, and the money in my pocket, I could have been a contender.
Illogically, I could also have been a con- tender for a 1993 Saab 900i convertible, white, 37,000 miles, full history, same money. I don't usually like convertibles but this is a proper four-seater and feels as compact and solid as a rock. It might or might not be cheaper to run than the Rolls but the fine September weather was work- ing its magic and it was only lack of nerve, money etc. that prevented me. That, and the delights of going on looking.
Anyone else suffering this condition might well find relief by ringing Vicary's on 01424 772425. Otherwise, see you in the newsagent's.
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