THE WORLD CHANGED a huge amount during the 21 years that Jaguar’s XJ-S remained in production. Dictators came and went yet Jaguar’s GT battled through, transformed in a bid to stay relevant in a rapid

I SUCCUMBED. OR, as younger people say, I caved. I’d been looking at my Phantom’s bodywork (the victim of a blow-over respray prior to my renewed ownership, after a white ‘wrap’ was removed) and alway

Year of manufacture 1981 Recorded mileage 16,800 Asking price £26,995 Vendor Kim Cairns, Snettisham, Norfolk; 01485 541526; kimcairnsclassics.co.uk WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £15,039 Max power 205bhp Max t

Once they headed the company car parks of Eighties Britain, now these executive icons offer prestige, nostalgia and pure driving pleasure from £5k. But which of these trading-floor titans best rewards the shrewd classic motorist?

£254,200 OTR/£282,000 as tested/£5,077 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: What has a hybrid makeover – and Mulliner buffing – added to the world’s best grand tourer? DRIVER: Ollie Kew TOPGEAR’S BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT

Amid impossible financial odds in 1974, Aston Martin opportunistically sought to usurp an equally sickly Rolls-Royce with this Lagonda prototype. It arguably saved the company