One of my passions is old car mags, they're like a time machine that you can use for inspiration or reference. This is part one of our Retro review series where we fire up the scanner and take you on a most excellent (intentional Bill & Ted reference) journey into car modifying from back in the day. Buckle up scenesters...we're going back...way back...

It's 1969, Ford dealers will sell you a brand new MkII Cortina, British people still thought that penny begins with a 'd' and that pound begins with an 'L' and this is the month that the Americans (allegedly) walk on the moon. Back on earth car enthusiats in England are looking to Hot Car for the latest in car tweakage.

Isn't hindsight a great thing; 'wings' on F1 cars? Thank heavens they put a stop to that, once four wheel drive is adopted by the teams downforce will be a thing of the past, relegated to a mere blip in motor racing history, phew!. At least UK hot rodding is thriving, it's getting hard to tell a UK car from it's US counterpart...is that an Opus or an authentic Bonneville racer?

Three year old 18,000 mile Downton tuned Mini in immaculate condition for less than a monkey? (that's five-hundred quid) - I'll take it! I'll have that Riley too, as it happens. 

How about some new rims? "Some 5.5Js for the Amazon sir...of course, they're seven an' nineteen. VAT? On car parts? Are you mad?" What about some new-fangled deluxe aluminium wheels for the missus' Cooper?

That's all folks, we'll be making like HG Wells again soon though, see you there! - cue cheap special effects/cheesy synthesised music.