Author Archive: AlanJMassey

Our Classic Car Finder Service helps you find the car of your dreams. Country Classic Cars offer a truly bespoke service to provide you the perfect car and take away all the hard work and worry of endless searching and the uncertainty of a prospective purchase.

We agree a budget and specification with you in advance and produce a shortlist of likely vehicles. Once agreed and before purchase, we shall carry out a detailed inspection and submit our report for your approval.

Upon your instruction to proceed, we purchase the vehicle on your behalf and arrange a pre-delivery inspection, taking care of any mechanical, electrical or bodywork repairs. The vehicle shall receive a ‘top to toe’ valet, new MOT (if necessary) and a comprehensive warranty. The vehicle is then delivered to your home address where we take time to go through advice on driving, care and maintenance.

Why use Country Classic Cars?We find the precise classic car you would likeWe give you plenty of helpful guidance on the best classic car for youWe find a classic car at the right priceWe act on your behalfWe deliver the classic car [...]

OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE

Country Classic Cars is a classic car servicing, restoration and sales business located in Fernhurst, between Haslemere, Surrey and Midhurst, West Sussex, but also servicing Hampshire. We are a family business - father, sons and daughter. Our passion for the business is fuelled and handed down from the owner's late father’s love of racing Lagondas and his brother Norton Dominators.

This passion was inbred within our family from an early age and indeed father like son has become the norm for our way of life. From the age of 18 years I was a member of the Southern Car Club and entered Mini Cooper S cars for Group B Rallying around the UK competing against the greats of Paddy Hopkirk fame to name but a few. This progressed onto saloon car racing, Ford Cosworths and eventually BMW M cars. Therefore it is of no surprise that my children have a passion for cars and m [...]

A couple of firsts for Aston’s DB9, the 1st production car to be built at their new Gaydon facility back in 2004 then tradition went out the window when ‘8’ was bypassed following on from the DB7. They went straight to nine after concerns buyers would assume this all new model was V8 powered when it enjoyed the awesome V12 from their Vanquish model. Based on a Ford’s VH (vertical-horizontal) platform the all-alloy panelled Grand Tourer was available in both Coupe and Convertible form. Country Classic Cars are very pleased to be able to offer this December 2007 example on a commission sale, with 4 previous owners and just 49676 miles travelled. Apart from the standard extremely high factory specification on the DB9, in this case the original owner requested Sports Pack, 5-spoke alloys, grey brake calipers, bright-finish grille, front parking sensors, piano black facia trim and includes AM car cover.

Service records are comprehensive, [...]

Smart marketing courtesy of Rover Special Projects kept the Mini brand alive and well up to the new millennium and resulted in a series of Special Editions with distinctive interiors and bespoke exterior trims. Country Classic Cars are very pleased to offer this 1999 Rover Mini 1.3 MPi which enjoys the upmarket ‘SE’ Balmoral interior, Pepper pot rims plus improved safety features such as driver’s airbag. A commission sale on behalf of a regular and much valued client who took custody of the Mini in 2018 at 9500 miles from new with just two previous owners. Five years on and this Mini still only shows 11636 miles and having benefitted from a recent £10k investment both visuals and driving experience belie its 24 years.

The last of the line, the Mark 7 ran from 1996 when multi point injection and electronic management boosted the popular 1275 powerplant and with the side mounted radiator switched to [...]

Our Maserati has been chosen to feature at the Historics Auction, Ascot. March 2nd 2024

There is no denying as the 1980’s arrived the name ‘Maserati’ was in a dark place, first Citroen then Di Tomaso sought to raise the once great marque back into the public eye. The Bi Turbo took the brand in a totally different direction and although it caused raised eyebrows among established clientele the Bi Turbo would boost production and sold in very large numbers, especially in the States. Initially, the Pierangelo Andreani design offered just 180bhp from its all new compact 90-degree V6 with a three-valve cylinder head design. The adoption of two small turbochargers was a world’s first on a production car, as was the Torsen limited-slip rear differential. Development ensured performance would improve as capacity increased to 2.5 litres in 1985 then the 2.8 litre two years later at which time 250bhp was available. The Export version [...]

The December 1987 issue of Car & Driver magazine featured a write up on the Toyota Mk 1 MR2 Supercharged; having been released in Japan the previous year they stated that whilst the visual differences were subtle this factory rocket ship needed to be driven to be appreciated, and concluded ‘The new wheels don’t jump out at you, and the louvers on the engine cover aren’t very obvious. Small “Supercharged” decals on the doors and the deck lid are the only other clues that this is anything but your old friend Mister Two.’

The Stateside 1987 model had enjoyed some minor adjustments to the interior; handbrake moved across the centre console whilst the rev counter now carried a red striped section above 7500rpm labelled ‘Supercharger’. The boffins at Toyota had combined their own Roots-type blower with the 4A-GZE power plant and improved peak power to 145bhp @ 6400rpm with 140 ft lbs of torque @ [...]

Whilst Jaguar’s XK8 was launched in 1996 (to great fanfare) the supercharged XKR version would take a further two years before buyers could sample 370bhp from its 32 valve 4.0 litre V8; improved with an Eaton built supercharger and electronically limited to 155mph.

Country Classic Cars are very pleased to have on consignment a 2001 Jaguar XKR with just 76k miles travelled and enjoying a huge history file whilst being offered at an extremely competitive sale price. One of 9661 coupe models built the first owner was not satisfied with the host of standard features included, additional options were spec’d including easy entry steering, folding exterior mirrors and heated seats. As previously mentioned, an A4 box file is filled with invoices and details of service work carried out, far too much to list here but this car’s history becomes more relevant from 2008. Images show superficial damage to the front o/s, nose section, bonnet and [...]

The model R107 earnt its place in history by becoming a star of the small screen whilst becoming the transport choice of the discreetly famous until 1989. Eighteen years of production saw the R107 feature heavily at the ‘Southfork Ranch’ where it seemed everyone drove the SL. Husband and wife team of Robert Wagner and Stephanie Powers either escaped from or caught up with ‘baddies’ in their R107 450SL in the series Hart to Hart. The TV companies enjoyed the V8 engine models, a variant that has been pursued by enthusiasts and collectors ever since. This 500SL is a later chassis and therefore benefits from a galvanised bulkhead and four speed automatic transmission. Registered October 1988 to its first custodian in Richmond, Surrey and has enjoyed a further 4 owners over 35 years.

This Mercedes is being offered on behalf of the current owner and at Country Classic Cars we find its best to present [...]

The debate rages … surely the ‘TR5’ is the most desirable of the TR dynasty? Inheriting the Michelotti lines from the ‘4’ and ‘4A’ but also featuring an all new (for the time) 2498cc straight six whilst boasting another first with Lucas petrol injection; points must make it favourite. The production line at Canley saw the first cars drive away autumn 1967, a run that lasted just 15 months before Karmann reshaped both front and rear ends for the TR6. Genuine 150bhp ensured 120mph performance with a sub 9 second 0-60mph (the fastest TR) and with only 2947 built certainly the rarest option whilst visually that body ticks all the styling boxes. To argue against the TR5’s desirability demands a strong case and the allure they enjoy on the classic market reflects that.

Country Classic Cars are pleased to present this superb Triumph TR5 for sale on behalf of the current custodian. A build date [...]