stats count News – Page 785 – Meer Beek

News

Category Added in a WPeMatico Campaign

I bought classic ’50s motor for £1,000… perfect starter car still runs despite ageing parts & comes with hidden gem

A RETRO car lover has bought a classic 1950s motor she calls the perfect starter car for less than £1,000.

Steph, from YouTube channel idriveaclassic, set out to refurbish the old banger that she grabbed for a bargain price, and realised it came with a hidden gem.

a woman stands in front of a blue car with the license plate 145 xuv
YouTube
Steph with the Standard Ten which she described as the perfect starter car[/caption]
an old car with the hood open and the engine visible
YouTube
Many of its ageing parts still run perfectly[/caption]
the trunk of an old car has a spare tire in it
YouTube
The ‘enormous’ boot at the car’s rear was a novelty Steph wasn’t expecting[/caption]

Despite its ageing parts, the car still runs surprisingly well, with Steph claiming the previous owner “undersold” it.

The Standard Ten was an incredibly popular car during its production run from 1954 to 1960.

More than 170,000 of the vehicles were produced, including the 1954 one that Steph purchased.

Unlike the Standard Eight, produced from 1953 to 1959, the Ten actually has an opening boot lid.

The “enormous” boot space is a real hidden gem for Standard cars of this era.

Steph managed to get the steal of a vehicle for just £850.

She did, however, admit that the car isn’t fault free.

She said: “It hasn’t been on the road for a while, has a few problems, and hasn’t had an MOT since 2011.”

However, the car enthusiast remains confident she’ll be able to get repairs done in time.

She hopes to showcase the vehicle in time for the NEC Classic Motor Show in November.

The car lover also said how the vehicle could be the “perfect starter” motor for drivers, as it frequently retails for £1,500 or even less.

Steph also expressed her love for vehicles of the Standard’s era and hopes that we don’t “forget” about the classic cars of that generation that could still be used today.

Even she hopes to be able to drive the car “all the time.”

She said: “I want to drive it all week long.”

In keeping with the car’s tradition, Steph hopes to also not change many of the interior components.

She said: “I want to keep the driving experience as the Standard Motor Company intended.”

a car with a license plate that says 145 xuv
YouTube
Steph’s Standard Ten is around 70 years old[/caption]
the inside of an old car with the door open
YouTube
She admitted parts of the car need to be brushed up[/caption]

If you’re interested in grabbing a classic just like Steph’s, her Standard Ten is luckily not the only one currently on the market at such a price.

We found one listed for £1,400 on website Car & Classic that has just 15,000 miles on its clock.

Others may appear on auction sites at any time, so keep an eye out.

When looking for a cheap classic car, it matters where you purchase it from.

If you buy from a recognised dealership you might pay a premium over a private sale, but for that you can expect some security in regards to what you are being sold.

If you buy from an auction, you might grab a bargain but you are buying ‘as seen’ with no comeback if disaster strikes.

Similarly, any private seller is unlikely to be interested that the engine has detonated on the way home from his or her house.

Where possible arrange an independent inspection of the vehicle. It will cost a few hundred pounds but potentially save you thousands, says car finance firm JBR Capital.

14 great starter classics

HERE are 14 great starter classic cars for people starting off their vintage adventures, according to magazine Classic & Sports Car.

Ford Cortina MkIII

There is huge nostalgia associated with the model in all its forms and the Cortina MkIII is still very drivable, particularly if you’re into a more ‘urban’ style of classic – with the irony factor of the vinyl roof.

They’re easy enough to own, but parts supply can be patchy for these sort of ‘everyday’ Fords, compared to an MG or a Triumph.

Porsche 924

The original affordable Porsche (then and now), the 924 was the firm’s first front-engined, water-cooled sports car.

There are still plenty about and prices start at around £3,500. Spend £20,000 and you’ll be buying the very best, possibly even a Turbo, the model that gave the 924 some real credibility.

Pre-1980 versions with a four-speed box are probably worth avoiding, but either way these are easy cars to live with, so long as you can keep the rust at bay.

Triumph Herald and Vitesse 1959-’71

One of several Triumph starter classic candidates, the Herald was a light-to-drive four-seater with positive rack and pinion steering; its principle claim to fame was its amazing turning circle.

They’re particularly attractive and great fun in convertible form, and cheap too: you can pick one up from about three to four grand.

Volvo Amazon and 140 Series

Starting at £5-6000 for a running project, these big Volvos make a great first classic, with excellent survival rates and a fine record for reliability and rust resistance.

Four-door Amazons offer top value as estates, while two-doors are relatively rare. Leave the early pre-1962 versions with the 6-volt electrics and drum brakes to collectors: you want the bigger 1800 engine, 90mph-plus top speed, disc brakes at the front and overdrive if possible, which means mid-’60s onwards.

MGB

The pretty, practical MGB is possibly the ultimate first classic sports car; built ruggedly and in huge numbers they are simple to work on, easy to drive and very usable, with possibly the best parts and club support of any old car.

The rubber-bumper roadsters produced from 1974 onwards start at £3000 or less, while project MGB GTs are available for under two grand. Spend £10-15k, meanwhile, and you’ll buy yourself a really nice ’60s roadster.

Austin A40 ‘Farina’ 1959-’67

The beginning of BMC’s association with Pininfarina, the Austin A40 was an angular, modernist replacement for the A30/A35. Built for nine years it was also, in Countryman form, the pioneer British hatchback.

Less plentiful – but also less twee – than a Morris Minor, the traditionally engineered A40 doesn’t have the ‘icon’ cachet of a Mini and is thus relatively cheap; prices start at £3,000 for a runner.

Volkswagen Golf Mk1 and Mk2

The classic ’70s origami hatchback, significant in that it marked the point at which Volkswagen finally got its act together and fully moved on from the Beetle with this class-leading, class-defining, transverse-engined, water-cooled, front-drive car.

It’s much fancied in its original GTI form, but you get much better value (and lower insurance costs) if you settle for one of the more pedestrian four-door versions. The Mk2 GTIs, meanwhile, are still affordable hot-rod shopping baskets, and particularly nice if you can find one with power steering.

Mercedes-Benz W114 and W123 1968-’76

If you have German leanings then the W114 and W123 Mercs are a good place to start, on account of their classic three-box/chrome bumper look and the solid feel of their superb engineering, which will likely give you a taste for all things Mercedes-Benz.

The 1968-’76 cars are arguably the most interesting of them, but not so easily found. Whichever model you go for, though, these are pretty bombproof first classics – so long as you avoid the thirst and complication of six-cylinder, twin-cam 280 versions.

Rover P6 2000 1963-’77

One of the best British saloons of the ’60s, the 2000, which you might also see listed as the P6, was really our answer to the Citroën DS.

With clean, distinctive and modern styling, a sophisticated chassis and base-frame construction that enabled all the panels to unbolt (thus making them easy to bodge), it was deservedly popular.

These refined, undervalued cars remain in plentiful supply and can be found for about £5000 and upwards today.

Fiat 500 and 600

It’s hard to ignore the appeal of a classic 1957-’65 Fiat 500 at £5000, but most of the ones you’ll find are left-hand drive and might scare you off when you get behind the wheel.

Frankly, the driving experience is more akin to that of garden machinery than a motor car as we know it today, with barely noticeable acceleration and lots of noise and vibration from its twin-cylinder engine.

These are quite a bit less numerous in the UK, of course, but if you follow the rear-engined Fiat line of thought there’s always the notchback 850, which is a significant step up in refinement and probably has the best handling of all the rear-engined ‘people’s cars’. Though harder still to find, they do tend to come cheaper.

Triumph Spitfire

Triumph made plenty of starter classic candidates, including the aforementioned Herald/Vitesse, but for the maximum price-to-enjoyment ratio look no further than the Spitfire.

There’s not much power beneath the bonnet, but it’s light enough to offer sporty performance regardless.

You can buy one today for as little as £2000, if you go for one of the less collectable 1500 models; early cars are quite sought after and will you set you back £15-20,000 or even more.

BMW 3 Series E30

With BMWs of earlier generations seemingly either hard to find or commanding the sort of money that hardly squares with the ‘starter classic’ ethos, we have to look to the ’80s models to find good cars in decent supply at sensible prices.

Of these, the ever-popular E30 3 Series seems the best bet, particularly if you restrict yourself to ‘cooking’ 316 and 318 versions that have led gentle lives in the hands of well-heeled, elderly owners: you might even find a convertible, such as the 325i.

Humber Sceptre 1963-’67

Rootes cars tend to be somewhat forgotten now, but they were nicely styled and considered a cut-above your Fords and Austins back in their day.

Of the ’60s four-cylinder cars, the Humber Sceptre, based on the much more utilitarian Super Minx, was the most glamorous, with its swept-back roofline, quad headlights and sporty dash. The Sceptre has something of the appeal of a Rover P5B coupé, but they’re cheaper to run and start at only £5000 for a nice one.

Volkswagen Beetle 1970-’77

Though lacking the charm of the 1950s and ’60s cars (which tend to command strong money), the ’70s 1302/1303/1303S Beetles with the wraparound windscreens are faster and easier to live with.

What’s more, they survive in sufficient numbers that they look cheap next to Minis and almost anything with a Ford badge from the same period. They’re also, arguably, preferable to any of the two-cylinder Citroën family.

Though not universally loved, the Beetle is undeniably reliable – as long as you resist the urge to tune them – nicely made and different enough in look, sound and feel to have strong classic appeal.

Read More »

I got a brutal anonymous letter two DAYS before my wedding calling me materialistic – I’m now spiralling

A BRIDE has shared her horror after receiving an anonymous letter in the post just two days before her wedding.

She shared a photo of the typed message, which slammed her for her ‘materialistic’ registry gift list.

are you me that 's a rather expensive registry list don 't you think
A bride was shocked to receive this anonymous letter criticising her registry list

Typed in capital letters, the strongly-worded note read: ARE YOU S***ING ME? 

“THAT’S A RATHER EXPENSIVE REGISTRY LIST DON’T YOU THINK?

The letter then listed five verses from the Bible, which spoke about greed and loving money.

One from Luke 12:15 read: “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions’.”

The note continued: “God is ok with people having stuff. He is not ok with stuff having people. 

“When wealth, and material things become the focus of our life’s, we are elevating them to status of an idol [sic]. 

“Things we worship instead of God. Things that we focus more on than our God. 

“When your more concerned with your new toy than going to church, that’s a problem. 

“When your bank account number is more important than giving a few of those dollars to help the person that is struggling to make ends meet, that is a problem. 

“God blesses us so that we can bless other and show the love of God.”

The bride was completely shocked by the note and said she was trying to “not spiral.”

She shared on Reddit: “After a very emotionally and financially taxing wedding planning era, I felt I was finally turning the corner today into excitement for our wedding on Saturday when I recieved this letter in the mail, no return address and no real discernable information for who may have sent it. 

a woman sitting on a couch looking at a piece of paper
Getty
The bride shared her upset at the note. File photo used[/caption]

“The only clue is on the postage cancelation stamp, I can deduce it came from a post office not far from my hometown but in a populated area from which a lot of our guests hail from, and about an hour from where we live. 

“It was addressed only to me (bride) and not my fiancé. 

“I have been wracking my brain for who could have possibly sent it but am coming up short. 

“Any advice on how to not spiral??”

When is it tacky to ask for money for your wedding - and how can I ask without offending people?

By Josie Griffiths, Fabulous deputy digital editor and bride-to-be

Josie Griffiths said: “As someone who lives in an already cluttered 38 square metre flat, gifts aren’t exactly at the top of the list for our wedding day in August.

“All we want is money towards our honeymoon – and we’re already expecting backlash from the older generations, but what can you do?

“I would love an air fryer or coffee machine for the kitchen, but we simply don’t have the space.

“I think there’s a few keys when asking for cash to stop it looking tacky – which this bride has very much got wrong.

“One – the money is for our honeymoon, not to cover the cost of the wedding, we are absolutely paying for that ourselves.

“Two – like any gift, it’s totally optional, and people can decide what they’re comfortable spending themselves. When I went to a wedding abroad in my mid-20s, I didn’t contribute to their honeymoon fund and I still feel comfortable with my decision, the trip to Spain already cost me and my partner a lot.

“Under no circumstances should you ever invoice people for a specific amount. You might have relatives who are more generous than expected, which would of course be lovely, but your guests are just that and they shouldn’t have to pay for the food, decorations and entertainment you’ve chosen.

“Three – make it look and feel like a registry – there are some great websites where guests can donate cash for cocktails, room upgrades and experiences abroad, which make it feel a lot more personal than a bank account number and sort code. People like to know where their money’s going and then you can send proper thank yous with pics of you enjoying whatever they’ve paid towards.

“As for how to ask, some people do poems but personally I hate them, they sound childish and you wouldn’t knock one up to ask your mate to transfer you £100 towards your trip away, so it sounds odd here.

“Something like this, on your formal invite or wedding website, would be perfect: The most important thing to us is that you are able to celebrate with us on our wedding day. However, if you wish to give a gift, we will gratefully accept a small contribution towards our honeymoon.

“Good luck!”

Many people were shocked by the angry note, and told her to ignore it.

One wrote: “Cussing and quoting the Bible all in the same document is WILD.”

Another added: “The ramblings of a lunatic…throw it in the garbage and don’t think about it again. 

“Who sends poison pen letters these days?”

A third commented: “Yeah, this is bizarre and inappropriate and reflects 100% on the writer — not on you.

“As they say: the best revenge is a life well-lived. And/or in this case, a wedding well-enjoyed.

“Put this out of your head and don’t let this rude idiot take up any more of your thoughts.”

Meanwhile, one person joked: “I’d frame it and put it on the gift table lmao.”

Read More »

Giovanni Pernice set to return for Strictly 20th anniversary special weeks after BBC ‘bullying’ probe

GIOVANNI Pernice could return for a Strictly 20th anniversary one-off special — just weeks after a BBC probe into his behaviour towards Amanda Abbington upheld six of her complaints.

The episode, due to air in December on BBC1, is set to include “iconic performances and familiar faces past and present” in the look back at the show’s history.

a man in a green suit is standing with his hands in his pockets
Giovanni Pernice could return for a Strictly 20th anniversary one-off special
Rex
PA
Giovanni’s dance partner Amanda Abbington accused the pro of bullying[/caption]

It means Giovanni, 34, is likely to be seen in footage from 2021 dancing with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who was the first deaf contestant to lift the Glitterball Trophy.

A source said: “Giovanni made history when he won with Rose so footage from their emotional silent performance is set to feature.”

Viewers are even speculating that the dance pro could appear in person for the show — which the BBC refused to confirm or deny yesterday.

Giovanni quit in May after nine years on Strictly as he faced allegations over his training methods with previous celebrity partners — including 50-year-old actress Amanda.

She departed last year’s show in week six, citing medical reasons, but later accused Giovanni of bullying.

The BBC’s five-month investigation, which was published last month, cleared Giovanni of ten of the 16 allegations made against him.

But it found instances of him using “belittling” language towards her, and the Beeb apologised to Amanda.

It is not thought that fellow dancer Graziano Di Prima will make an appearance on the special after he was sacked in July over allegations he kicked celeb partner Zara McDermott.

A BBC spokesman said: “Editorial decisions about what the final show will include haven’t been finalised yet.”

Read More »

‘Where is he?’ Strictly fans baffled as Wynne Evans practically vanishes from set after ‘grope’ scandal

STRICTLY Come Dancing fans were left baffled as Wynne Evans practically vanished from the set.

The Go Compare advert star appeared to be mostly absent from the BBC One programme after the ‘grope’ scandal.

a group of people standing on a stage with a sign that says ' dancing with the stars ' on it
BBC
Wynne Evans appeared to be absent from many of the ‘Claudatorium’ segments on Strictly Come Dancing[/caption]
a man in a colorful sweater is pointing at something
BBC
He appeared as planned at the start of the show during the contestants introduction[/caption]
a group of people are standing around a woman on a stage
BBC
Eagle-eyed fans soon picked up on his disappearance, despite Katya being firmly placed in the background[/caption]

Wynne, 52, made his entrance as planned along with the rest of the contestants at the start of Strictly Come Dancing.

However as more dancers made their way up to the ‘Claudatorium’ area, he appeared to be absent.

Tasha Ghouri, Jamie Borthwick and Paul Merson were all given scores as he may have been hiding backstage.

This was despite the fact that his professional partner Katya Jones was visible just behind Claudia Winkleman.

Fans were quick to notice his mysterious absence as they took to social media in droves.

One fan wrote: “Have we seen much of Wynne in the Clauditorium this evening? Don’t remember seeing him at all.”

Another viewer asked: “Where’s Wynne?”

“Has Wynne and Katya been in the background at any point tonight?”, enquired a third.

As a fourth replied: “Yes but mostly apart.”

And a fifth joked: “Production manager ‘Keep Katya and Wynne out of all back round shots I repeat keep Katya and Wynne out of all back round shots’,” along with a GIF of Alan Partridge using a walkie talkie.

Wynne did eventually reappear after Sam Quek danced with Nikita Kuzmin halfway into the show.

Eagle-eyed fans couldn’t help but think that he appeared to look ‘awkward’ as he stood next to his partner.

Another user stated: “Wynne and Katya looking awkward is comedy moment of the night.”

As someone else noted: “Wynne keeping his hands resolutely in. His. Pockets.”

Strictly 2024 pairings

Here's who is matched with who this series...

This comes after the pair were stung by the backlash to their grope “joke”.

Last week, Katya removed Wynne’s hand from her stomach after he slid it across from her waist.

She later declined to high-five him during an awkward segment with Claudia.

The duo were since rapped over the knuckles by BBC bosses for the viral incident.

a group of people are standing in a circle on a stage
BBC
Wynne later appeared alongside his partner after Sam and Nikita performed halfway through the show[/caption]
a man is carrying a woman on his shoulders with the name wynne evans on the bottom
BBC
Many viewers thought he looked ‘awkward’ upon his comeback[/caption]
a man and a woman sit on the floor with bbc written on the bottom
BBC
The duo were amongst the last couples to dance on the night[/caption]

Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.

Read More »

Jeremy Clarkson’s partner Lisa gives behind-the-scenes glimpse of series four as Clarkson’s Farm fans make same demand

CLARKSON’S Farm series four is officially in production, with Lisa Hogan on hand to share a behind-the-scenes look.

Lisa, who joins longtime partner Jeremy Clarkson on the show, shared a glimpse of the camera crew on the set of their Chipping Norton farm.

a group of people are standing in a field with a trailer that says ' ambulance ' on it
X @ClarksonsFarm1
Lisa gave an insight into filming of the new Clarkson’s Farm[/caption]
a man kisses a woman on the cheek in a field
Amazon Prime
Lisa stars on Clarkson’s Farm alongside Jeremy and Kaleb Cooper[/caption]
a man kneeling next to a pig wearing a face mask
Dan Charity / The Sun
The beloved series has been praised for highlighting the plight of British farmers[/caption]

Filming in the middle of the foggy field at Diddly Squat Farm, Lisa can be heard turning documentarian as she filmed the crew from her phone.

“A familiar sight in October. Misty. No wind. Quite mild,” she noted.

She simply captioned the quick video: “Series four filming”.

The beloved Prime Video series has become an international smash-hit, being praised for highlighting the trials and tribulations of UK farmers.

This includes the devastating loss of animals on the farm, how weather affects the annual harvest, through to the government red tape farmers face in order to sell produce or expand their sales.

The third series of Clarkson’s Farm, which aired this year, saw the farm find a promising new lucrative item in the shape of mushrooms, but the heartbreaking death of their favourite pig.

Now fans are excited to see what has happened since, with Jeremy expanding his business further by buying a pub selling beer made from produce from his land.

The Farmer’s Dog opened in Cotswolds this September, but Jeremy has made no secret he’s found the project a “nightmare”.

He completely refurbished the formerly defunct building, spending over £1million to make it perfect – even suspending a tractor from the ceiling.

The TV presenter has tried to keep his prices affordable, with prices averaging £5.50 for a pint, £9 on small plates and up to £19 on a full meal.

However after ‘knowing nothing about owning a pub’ he’s found himself in a crash course of being a landlord.

He also admitted being shocked on the discovery of the pub being on the site of a popular dogging spot, finding someone’s thong on the ground outside.

The new series is expected in 2026, and will follow the 2024 harvest season as the gang try to turn a profit from their homegrown wares.

a group of people are standing around a tractor in a field .
X @ClarksonsFarm1
The cast were back to work on the busy farm[/caption]
a man and a woman standing in front of a sign that says jackson
Lisa is on hand to provide some levity to the chaos of the farm
Getty
a man and a woman posing for a picture in front of a stone building
Lisa is in charge of the shop on the farm
Instagram

Read More »

Fury as legendary Coronation Street character is KILLED OFF by soap chiefs

CORONATION Street chiefs are controversially killing off the legendary Les Battersby.

His death off-screen is a snub to actor Bruce Jones, 71, who played the gobby cabbie for ten years.

a man with his arms outstretched is wearing a shirt that says wo
Splash
Corrie chiefs are controversially killing off the legendary Les Battersby, played by Bruce Jones[/caption]
a man and three women pose for a picture together
Granada Television
The Battersbys arrived on the cobbles back in 1997[/caption]

Next month Les’s daughter Leanne, played by Jane Danson, receives a call telling her that her dad is dead. She then breaks the news to her sister Toyah (Georgia Taylor).

A source said: “It’s a huge snub to kill off a popular character like this.

“Bruce created one of the Street’s most iconic characters in Les and always hoped one day he might return.

“A lot of the cast and crew have said it’s a bit mean.

“It’s also bound to infuriate long-term fans who remember Les with great fondness.”

The Battersbys arrived on the cobbles in 1997.

But in 2007 Bruce was suspended from the ITV soap for allegedly getting drunk in a restaurant, insulting fans and revealing plots.

The actor was then written out.

Speaking last year, Bruce, now 71, said: “Les is a legend. I’m so proud of him.”

In February Bruce made his wrestling debut.

Friday night’s Corrie included a dig at his new career with Leanne and Toyah discussing their father being “drunk at the wrestling”.

The source added: “Bruce has been very critical of the show, and the writers never forget.”

A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: “We don’t comment on future storylines.”

Read More »