Older is Better

Electric vehicles are now being offered by almost all major manufacturers, even cars that aren’t fully electric are packed with some kind of hybrid assistance, and along with that all kinds of driver aids that as far as I am aware no one asked for or wanted. The result; an extremely disconnected and to be honest downright annoying drive. Even brands that would previously pride themselves on providing ‘the ultimate driving experience’ or boast about their ‘vorsprung durch tecnik’ are now some of the biggest culprits for cramming their vehicles with LCD screens, gimmicky lights inside and out, distracting bonging noises and fake engine sounds piped through the cars speaker system. Now add in all the mandatory safety equipment that new cars are required to have by law and you’ve got a monstrously heavy piece of equipment that requires serious power to get moving, massive brakes to slow down and you need a team of Elons best scientists to design a suspension system that won’t disintegrate as soon as you try to adjust the trajectory of your giant land yacht.

Tesla emissions are zero, unless on fire it would seem

Every time I get behind the wheel of a car that’s been built in the last 10 years I find myself yearning to hear the real exhaust note, to feel the wheels mechanically connected to the steering wheel and a brake pedal that doesn’t lock up all four wheels as soon as you breathe on it….. And then I realise, I don’t HAVE to drive a new car.

Mondeo ST220, fast, cool, practical and reliable. All for less than £6k.

I think the reason most of us have a ‘reliable daily’ as well as a classic or performance car is that we just don’t want the hassle of another vehicle that may need specialist care or servicing. We also worry that it may not be ‘reliable’ at all. When looking at the timeline of production vehicles I think it’s worth considering that towards the end of the 1980’s all the way through to the early 2000’s we were gifted with some of the finest performance versions of the greatest cars ever made. They were reliable too, mostly down to the electronic ignition and fuel injection. Most importantly, it was just before the introduction of multiple catalytic converters, particulate filters, excessive number of airbags, mountains of sound deadening, huge display screens, and other unnecessary creature comforts that started to make cars distracting and ridiculously heavy.

’25 Golf, about as exciting as solitary confinement.

Take for example the 2025 Volkswagen Golf. Today you’ll pay £37,000 for a sporty 1.5 litre hybrid, now compare that to a Golf from 1993. After just a brief search on Google I found a 32,000 mile, 2.0 16v GTI for £8,950. They both have a 0-60 of around 8 seconds, both have a top speed of 130 mph +, the only real plus point the ‘25 Golf brings to the table is its apparent ability to do 52 mpg versus the ’93 Golf’s 33 mpg. I am extremely sceptical of modern car fuel economy claims when being used in the real world, but I do know from experience that 30 mpg is easily achievable from Volkswagen’s old 2 litre petrol engines.

’93 Golf GTI, it’ll warm the cockles of your heart.                        

 At 32,00 miles that 93’ Golf is barely run in and will happily cover another 200,000 before any major engine or drivetrain repairs, they’re incredibly reliable and luckily at this age the body was fully galvanised, mint condition rust free examples can still be found. A major service can be caried out in 2 hours with £200 worth of parts. Now compare that to the 25’ Golf which will without a doubt be reliable until the manufacturer warranty runs out, and at that point you’ll be then faced with a mountain of irritating beeping noises and costly particulate filter replacements, not good, considering you’ve not long parted ways with nearly £40,000.

	2025 Volkswagen Golf	1993 Volkswagen Golf
0-60mph	8 seconds	8 Seconds
Top speed	139mph	134mph
Mpg	52	33
Bhp	148	148

In conclusion, in a world obsessed with convenience and efficiency we seem to be going backwards, cars today seem to be more focussed on in car entertainment than they do driving. They certainly aren’t reliable. They are heavy, over complicated and stupid.

So next time your finance deal is up on your 320d or your Tesla Model 3, do yourself a favour, save yourself a ton of money and buy your favourite hot hatch from the 90’s, you won’t regret it, and you’ll have tons of fun. I can even recommend a friendly car restoration company that would be more than happy to look after it for you.

I came across a quote recently:

“If it isn’t old enough to have an ashtray, I don’t want it”.

Not bad words to live by……… and I don’t even smoke.

Coachbuilding; a dying art

In 1929 at the London Motor Show, 57 different coachbuilders displayed their ash-framed, metal-clad car bodies. By 1959, that number had dropped to 13. Fast forward to 2025, and workshops willing to take on the task of building a vintage body decrease every year as aging craftsmen retire. Petroyle Restorations is passionate about preserving the art of coachbuilding.

The decline in the number of coachbuilders highlights the changes in the automotive industry. One major reason was the rise of mass production techniques, like those used by Ford with their assembly line production methods. These innovations made cars more affordable and accessible to the public, but they also led to a decrease in demand for custom-built vehicles.

Economic challenges like the Great Depression and World War II also had a big impact on luxury industries, including coachbuilding. The focus shifted towards more practical and economical vehicles, leaving many bespoke coachbuilders struggling.

Today, the world of coachbuilding combines tradition and innovation. Some prestigious names, like Pininfarina, Zagato, and Touring Superleggera, continue to create custom designs for high-end clients. These workshops are known for their craftsmanship and attention to detail, passed down through generations. Modern technology has also influenced the industry, with advanced materials and design techniques being used.

In recent years, there's been a renewed interest in bespoke and limited-edition vehicles, driven by a desire for exclusivity and personalization. High-net-worth individuals and car enthusiasts seek out these unique creations as symbols of status and individuality. Some coachbuilders have even collaborated with major car manufacturers to produce special editions and custom projects.

Petroyle is dedicated to preserving traditional coachbuilding. This commitment has led to our latest challenge: building a unique Lagonda V12 based on a simple pencil sketch from the 1930s.

The journey begins with meticulous attention to detail, as we successfully translate the sketch into a digital DXF file. This crucial step allows us to capture the essence of the original design and ensure precision in our work. From the DXF file, we have crafted wooden bucks, serving as tangible guides to shape the car's contours accurately.

Currently, our team is hard at work mocking up plywood templates. These templates are essential for refining the design and ensuring every curve and angle aligns perfectly with the original vision. This process sets the foundation for the next phase: constructing the ash frame, a hallmark of traditional coachbuilding.

At Petroyle, every step of this project reflects our passion for craftsmanship and dedication to breathing new life into classic designs. Through painstaking attention to detail and unwavering commitment, we honour the legacy of coachbuilding while creating something truly remarkable.

Despite the challenges, the legacy of coachbuilding lives on, preserving the artistry and heritage of the past while adapting to the modern world. The future of coachbuilding may continue to change, but the passion and dedication of our craftsmen ensure that the tradition will endure.

If you would like to know more about traditional coachbuilding methods or arrange a tour of our facility, please contact us.

Gregg Alvarez