Others are thinking of buying a classic car, and want a test run one before committing.

At roughly 20p a mile in petrol, it’s not cheap. But we didn’t care. Over two days, we covered nearly 500 miles of Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Warwickshire, tootling down country lanes or bombing down the A303.

Many hiring a classic take suggested drives through the Cotswolds and Shakespeare Country, an initiative brightly put together by Tony and the South Warwickshire Tourist Board. Picnic hampers can also be provided.

Full RAC breakdown cover is included, which is just as well, as I discovered heading back to Warwick on Sunday evening. It was another memory of the Cortina, waiting at the roadside after the onboard electrics had gone and the headlamps had died.

The RAC man’s eyes lit up on arrival. “New cars are all computers and diagnosis — no fun at all,” he cheerfully grumbled. Whipping off the dashboard and setting up a bridging relay to restore power, he wiped his hands five minutes later and sat back in admiration. “Well, look at it this way — if I was as old as this car, I’d be falling to bits too.”

The Open Road (01926 624891, www.theopenroad.co.uk) hires an E-type Jaguar for £270 a day. Other prices start at £130, for an MGB. Drivers must be over 25 and under 70.

Page 2: setting the standard
Page 3: Morris Minor
Page 4: Bentley
Page 5: other classic options

()Setting the standard

A NEW classic car group has been set up to guarantee standards of quality and service. As demand for classics multiplies, the Historic and Classic car Hirers Guild (HCHG) has been established to regulate the industry.

Four founder members are involved — The Grand Touring Club (Bury St Edmunds), Cornwall Classic Car Hire (Bodmin), Rambling Roadsters (Colchester) and The Open Road in Warwick.

Two more companies have been approved: Caledonian Classic Car Hire (Perth) and Classic Touring of Tunbridge Wells.

Nick Brimblecombe, chairman of the HCHG, said that there are now around 200 classic cars for hire across the country — ones that are at least 25 years old or those that “hark after the style of older cars”. They include Alfa Romeo Spiders, Aston Martins, Morgans and Ferraris.