Classic Car Buyer Magazine No.192 TR7 & MGB Twin Test Back Issue

A s many readers will already know, driving a classic car on a long journey can be a bit of a challenge as well as great fun. This was brought home to me when I drove our Triumph Toledo down to Cardiff from our Peterborough office via home near Matlock to cover part of Country Lane Tours’ weeklong Dragon Trail around Wales. As my report of this event appears on pages 56 and 57 of this week’s issue, I won’t give too many secrets away, other than to say the adventure was one I can thoroughly recommend. One aspect of the trip that really left a big impression on me was how other road users react when they come up behind a classic car. The majority of drivers are extremely courteous and will often give a friendly wave as they overtake, while some are just downright dangerous. During the Trail, I clocked up just over 800 miles in the Toledo travelling on roads ranging from motorways to hilly single-track country lanes and was faced with plenty of examples of both types of response from my fellow road users. Obviously, the golden rule when driving a classic vehicle in fastmoving traffic is to plan every manoeuvre well ahead. However, this is sometimes easier said than done, especially in heavy traffic or when approaching an unfamiliar junction or large roundabout. It can be very difficult trying to peer into a tiny, vibrating wing mirror hoping to catch a glimpse of what’s going on behind. I lost count of the number of times I glanced at where the passenger’s door mirror should have been while driving the Toledo. It took a few heartstopping moments to get used to using wing mirrors again. These are great period-looking accessories on a classic but it’s vital they’re adjusted correctly to eliminate any dangerous blind spots. This can be a bit tedious as adjusting a wing mirror is definitely a two-person job involving a lot of “up a bit more”, “no, twist it in a bit” and “yes, that’s it, just move it out a tad!”