Classic Sports Car UK – July 2026
Summary
Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 versus BMW 3.0 CSL "Batmobile" — the greatest-ever homologation specials go head-to-head in Classic Sports Car UK's July 2026 issue (Volume 45 No 4, £6.99), a 12-page feature (p68) that compares the two legends of 1970s motorsport engineering. The Top Ten Homologation Specials (p78) extends the debate, while Hollywood's love affair with the Dual-Ghia (p82) offers a lighter detour into celebrity car culture. Alfa Romeo GTV6 touring car restoration (p90), the Pirelli archive (p98), and a three-car 1970s sports saloon test (p104) round out the features.
The Feature on the Porsche-BMW showdown (p68) puts the RS 2.7 and CSL through road and track tests, with photography by Jacob Sjoman. The technical breakdown covers engine output, weight distribution, suspension geometry and period race results. The Top Ten list (p78) expands the argument to include the Lancia Stratos, Ford RS200, and Audi Quattro, each with a paragraph on what made it special. The Pirelli archive piece (p98) is a visual essay that charts the Italian tyre company's motorsport history through its stored collection of racing tyres, promotional materials and design prototypes.
The muscle-bound Mercedes R129 SL73 (p112) gets a standalone feature that traces AMG's early relationship with Mercedes-Benz and the SL73's role as the precursor to the modern AMG GT. Churchill's Daimler DB18 (p120) — the car that carried the wartime prime minister on his 1945 re-election campaign — closes the feature section with a driving story that blends political history with automotive nostalgia. Regular columns include Mick Walsh (p43), Simon Taylor (p45), Martin Buckley (p47), and letters (p49).
—————
Content Guide
▸ Cover Story
p.68 · Road-Racing Royalty – Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 vs BMW 3.0 CSL
A head-to-head test of two homologation icons: the Porsche's lightweight, ducktail design and the BMW's aero-dynamic "Batmobile" bodywork. The performance metric where the Porsche wins — and the one where the BMW dominates. The track data that settles the "which was faster?" debate once and for all.
p.78 · Top Ten Homologation Specials
Ten cars built to qualify for motorsport, ranked by engineering ambition, racing success and desirability today. The single car on this list that has appreciated faster than any other in the past five years.
▸ Features
p.82 · The Cult of Celebrity – Dual-Ghia
Why Hollywood stars of the 1950s and 60s — Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and others — chose the Dual-Ghia, a car built in tiny numbers by a Detroit-Italian collaboration. The design detail that made it more exclusive than any contemporary Ferrari.
p.90 · Return to the Track – Alfa Romeo GTV6
A team's mission to make a historic Alfa Romeo GTV6 touring car competitive again, covering engine rebuild, chassis stiffening and period-correct modifications. The single part that took longer to source than the entire restoration.
p.98 · Wheels of Fortune – Pirelli Archives
A visual journey through Pirelli's motorsport history, from 1950s racing tyres to modern Formula One rubber, drawn from the company's photographic and product archives. The tyre technology from 1965 that still influences tread design today.
p.104 · All the World's a Stage
Ford Escort RS, Sunbeam Lotus, and Vauxhall Chevette HS — a three-car group test of 1970s British sports saloons that defined a generation of club motorsport. The one that delivers the most driving pleasure for the lowest current market price.
▸ Regulars
p.43 · Mick Walsh – From the Cockpit
Walsh reflects on the changing face of historic motorsport and why the new generation of collectors values originality over restoration.
p.45 · Simon Taylor – Full Throttle
Taylor interviews a former factory driver about the golden era of Group B rallying and the safety culture shift that followed.
—————
Editor's Take
The Porsche-BMW feature is the best kind of comparison test — data-driven, historically informed, and willing to pick a winner. The photography throughout the issue is excellent, particularly Sjoman's work on the cover story. The Pirelli archive piece is a genuinely original idea that uses the brand's visual heritage to tell a broader motorsport story. However, the Top Ten Homologation Specials list is too predictable — every entry is the usual suspect, and there are no surprises. The Churchill Daimler DB18 story, while well written, feels like padding; it doesn't connect to the issue's motorsport theme. The regular columnists (Walsh, Taylor, Buckley) are consistently good, but at Volume 45, the magazine is showing its age in layout design — the grids feel cramped compared to newer classic car titles.
Strengths
• Porsche vs BMW comparison is definitive and well-documented
• Pirelli archive piece offers genuinely original content
• Photography throughout is of exceptional quality
Weaknesses
• Top Ten list lacks any unexpected entries
• Churchill Daimler story feels thematically disconnected
Verdict: Essential — the cover story alone is worth the cover price, and the Pirelli feature makes this an issue that classic car enthusiasts will keep.
