Classic Retro Modern Magazine

Take one Alpina B7 S Turbo, finished in a shade of green that feels more Savile Row than Nürburgring, and hand the keys to Will Beaumont. What follows is a reminder that some of the most interesting performance cars were never interested in shouting about it. Early turbocharged sophistication, straight-six smoothness, tartan seats, and a sense that Alpina was quietly redefining what a fast road car could be. Antony Ingram takes a very different kind of turbocharged rarity to the seaside, piloting a Mazda RX-7 Turbo II to Southend-on-Sea. Rotary boost, late-summer light and a destination better known for arcades and a pier than apexes and lap times. Elsewhere, we’re in a reflective mood. We mark nearly 50 years of the Volvo 300 series, a car long misunderstood but quietly loved by those who lived with one. We also celebrate the genius of the original Ford Ka: a small car that solved big problems with intelligence, quirkiness and a refreshing lack of pretence. Hero Worship takes a turn towards the deeply unfashionable, as our editor explains why his Toyota Camry deserves reverence. Yes, really. Consider it a love letter to dependability, restraint and the joy of a car that never asks to be centre stage. In Picture Past, we head for the hard shoulder, celebrating roadside rescues and the unsung heroes who keep journeys moving. Our Postcards section sends dispatches from Epoqu’Auto in France, the streets of Athens, and the Futuro House – because sometimes the most interesting stories happen well away from the driveway. There’s reassessment too. Six of the best Spanish Renaults get their moment in the sun, while persistent horror stories surrounding rust on the Alfa Romeo Alfasud and Lancia Beta are put under the microscope by Jon Burgess; myths separated from inconvenient truths. Our readers roll in with a Mini 1000, a Renault Twingo GT and a genuine Pimp My Ride VW Polo. Add Celebrity Squares, Sheds Heaven, our correspondents and a generous helping of period adverts.