Classic Sports Car UK – September 2026

Summary

The Mini — from its 1959 BMC ADO15 launch to BMW's 2000s revival — is the subject of a major re-evaluation (p74) in Classic Sports Car UK's September 2026 issue (Volume 45 No 6), which also tackles the 1980s executive saloon showdown, a Triumph Stag versus Ford Mustang V8 family-fun comparison, and a buying guide to TVR's wild Tuscan. The British Grand Prix's 100th anniversary (pXX) gets a historical feature that traces the 1926 RAC Grand Prix at Brooklands through Malcolm Campbell's Delage and the Halford Special.

The Mini feature (p74) argues that the original Mini deserves recognition not just as a British icon but as a car that influenced front-wheel-drive packaging for every manufacturer that followed. Antony Ingram writes the piece with access to BMC's original design sketches and production records, making the case that the Mini's transverse-engine layout was more significant than its competition success. The 1980s executive saloon showdown compares three German sedans — the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz W124 E-Class, and Audi 100 — on period road test data and modern ownership costs.

The Triumph Stag versus Ford Mustang comparison (cover line "V8 Family Fun") tests both V8 convertibles as affordable classics that can be used daily. The TVR Tuscan buying guide covers the model's 4.0-litre straight-six engine, the notorious chassis quirks, and the current market range from £15,000 to £35,000. The 1926 GP retrospective uses the Brooklands Museum archive to reconstruct the first British Grand Prix, including a lap-time comparison between original practice data and a modern recreation.

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Content Guide

▸ Features
p.74 · MINI – A Re-Evaluation
The Mini's engineering legacy beyond the 1960s: transverse-engine front-wheel-drive packaging that became the template for the entire industry. The single design compromise that made it cheap to build but expensive to own long-term. Why BMW's 2000s revival captured the spirit while changing almost everything mechanical.

p.XX · Triumph Stag vs Ford Mustang
Two V8 convertibles compared as affordable daily-driver classics: the Stag's torquey 3.0-litre engine and the Mustang's 5.0-litre V8 character. The car that costs half as much to insure and why running costs differ by a factor of two.

p.XX · TVR Tuscan Buying Guide
TVR's wild Tuscan — from the 4.0-litre straight-six to the fibreglass body — as a used buy at £15,000 to £35,000. The chassis inspection points that separate a good example from a future project car.

p.XX · 1980s Executive Saloon Showdown
BMW 5 Series (E28/E34), Mercedes-Benz W124 E-Class, and Audi 100 (C3) compared on period road test data and modern maintenance costs. The car that depreciated most but is now the most affordable to restore.

▸ History
p.XX · The British Grand Prix 100 Years On
A reconstruction of the 1926 RAC Grand Prix at Brooklands, using period lap data and modern recreations of the Malcolm Campbell Delage and Halford Special. The corner that hasn't changed in a century.

▸ Regulars
p.XX · News
The Big Picture section covers the 1926 GP anniversary event, with period photography and modern recreations on the banked Brooklands circuit.

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Editor's Take

The Mini re-evaluation is the kind of feature that justifies buying the magazine — it takes a well-worn subject and finds a new angle by focusing on engineering legacy rather than nostalgia. The TVR Tuscan buyer's guide is precisely what the magazine's audience needs: specific inspection points, real market prices, and honest running-cost estimates. The 1980s saloon showdown is well-executed but the premise is thin — three German saloons, predictably compared, with few surprises in the verdict. The British Grand Prix 100th anniversary piece is beautifully illustrated with archive photography but the modern recreation lap-time comparison feels forced. The photography throughout continues to improve, with particularly strong location work on the Mini feature. The advertising count is manageable, and the magazine's layout has been refreshed with cleaner typography.

Strengths
• Mini re-evaluation finds a genuinely new angle on a classic subject
• TVR Tuscan buyer's guide is practical and specific
• 1926 GP anniversary provides strong archive photography

Weaknesses
• 1980s saloon showdown produces a predictable winner
• GP modern recreation comparison adds little value

Verdict: Recommended — the Mini feature and TVR guide make this the most practically useful issue of the month for buyers and owners.