Month: July 2015

Classic Car Auctions (CCA) will be offering a unique opportunity to own a ‘brand new’ 1983 Austin Metro Vanden Plas 500 in its sale at CarFest South on 29th August. The car, offered without reserve, has covered just 741 miles and had just one registered owner since new, forming part of the famous and historic Patrick Collection housed in Birmingham. Very few Vanden Plas Metros remain on the road, and this rare car, the second of only 500 built, is believed to be one of only five left in the UK.

From the searing heat and dust of Dubai to the ice and snow of Northern Sweden, the new F-PACE has been tested to the limit in some of the most inhospitable environments on earth. Jaguar’s performance crossover offers an unrivalled blend of performance, design and practicality. To ensure that every system functions perfectly even under the most extreme conditions, the new F-PACE has been subjected to one of the most demanding test programmes the company has ever devised. “We developed the F-PACE to offer the ride, handling and refinement demanded from a Jaguar, together with exceptional levels of ability and composure on all surfaces and in all weathers. “Just as we paid obsessive attention to detail over the engineering of every single component, we’ve exhaustively tested the F-PACE in the most challenging conditions to ensure that it will exceed the […]

Salon Privé is proud to announce its partnership with one of the greatest global brands, Pirelli, who will sponsor the exciting new ‘Prestige & Performance’ Competition on Saturday 5th September at Blenheim Palace. As the first Concours of its kind in the UK to uniquely pay homage to post-1975 supercars, this event allows spectators to see stunning cars from the last 40 years. Presented in The Great Court and paraded through Blenheim Palace’s beautiful grounds, it offers the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and smells of these fabulous vehicles first-hand. The innovative new competition is the centrepiece of The Salon Privé Supercar Show, the event’s first ever public day. Visitors on the Saturday will be dazzled by up to eighty motors, and the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the most beautiful cars ever made […]

For our video this week we are going to turn to a more rare, perhaps even esoteric, car but one that is highly desired by most enthusiasts. The Jensen Interceptor is a stylish combination of British sports car design, American muscle car power, and Italian bodywork. So, our Video of the Week (VotW) this go round is another episode of the television show Wheeler Dealers with Mike Brewer and master mechanic Edd China. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKdOeeJn2oI The Jensen Interceptor was a sporting GT-class car. Interceptors were hand-built at the Kelvin Way Factory, West Bromwich near Birmingham in England by Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1976. The Interceptor name had been used previously by Jensen for the Jensen Interceptor made between 1950 and 1957 at the Carters Green factory. Jensen had extensively used glass-reinforced plastic for the fabrication of body panels in the […]

Reigning Caterham R300-S Superlight champion, Aaron Head and 2014 runner-up Dave Robinson will continue their head-to-head fight for this year’s title at Brands Hatch this weekend (Aug 1/2). In one of the most thrilling championship battles in the history of the competitive class, the pair have been scrapping all season long, but it is Robinson who leads going into the race weekend at the famous Kent circuit. The R300-S Championship is the pinnacle of Caterham’s domestic motorsport programme, which features five series, starting with the entry-level Caterham Academy, which is where Robinson started his racing career.

A highlight of the Beaulieu events calendar, Simply Classics & Sports Car, will return on Sunday 22nd August, bringing together a wide variety of pre-1990 classic cars, as well as sports cars of all ages. From family saloons and classic commercial vehicles to elegant tourers, open topped sports cars and more, this vibrant event is sure to please all motoring fans. Participants in the rally will be able to drive their cherished machines through the picturesque New Forest, before parking up in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, where they can chat with like-minded enthusiasts, admire the other cars on show and enjoy all of the features of the Beaulieu attraction, for just £10 per adult and £5 per child. For 2015, the event will celebrate three motoring milestones for Triumph with a special display area set aside for […]

A wide variety of Lister models took part in the Stirling Moss Trophy at Silverstone Classic over the weekend, crossing the finish line second and third in a competitive field of pre-’61 sports racing cars. The Lister Jaguar Knobbly ‘5’ had looked a certain winner as the race began to unfold, with a brilliant start taking it from sixth to first on the opening lap. For the next five laps Listers diced for the first three positions, with the Knobbly ‘8’ and Lister Costin Jaguar ‘16’ chasing down the leader. The Ferrari 246S ‘46’ was battling hard, making its way through the grid and dicing with the Listers every step of the way. Eventually it was sitting second just behind the Lister Jaguar Knobbly ‘5’ and finally jumped in to the lead during the pitstop window. But the Listers continued […]

The McLaren 650S GT3 was subjected to the most demanding test to date this weekend with two examples of the latest model from McLaren GT racing in the Total 24 Hours of Spa. Lining up against arguably the most competitive GT3 grid in the world with McLaren GT customer team Von Ryan Racing, drivers Alvaro Parente, Bruno Senna and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs brought the #59 650S GT3 home tenth in the PRO class, and 18th overall. The driver line-up announced for the 2015 season underlined the determination and commitment by Von Ryan Racing to compete in the Blancpain Endurance Series, but also to mount a viable attack on the championship. McLaren GT works drivers Rob Bell (UK), Kevin Estre (FR), Alvaro Parente (PT), Bruno Senna (BR) and Shane Van Gisbergen (NZ) join GP2 star Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (UK), and the resulting line-ups […]

Jaguar designed a special livery for its Team Sky F-PACE prototype to celebrate Team Sky’s third Tour de France victory in four years in Paris today. The prototype version of the Jaguar F-PACE, which was used as Team Sky’s support vehicle on Stage 1 in Utrecht, returned to the race in a celebratory light camouflage as Chris Froome and his teammates crossed the finish line to celebrate the British rider’s second Tour de France win. Photographs from Team Sky’s 1-2 finish in La-Pierre-Saint-Martin, where Froome won his first stage followed by teammate, Richie Porte, as well as other highlights including Geraint Thomas tackling the mountains, Luke Rowe leading the team out on the cobbles to the early team time trial stages, are all a part of the commemorative and inspirational camouflage depicting key moments from this year’s race. Team Sky […]

Aston Martin Works was one of the stars of the show at this year’s 25th anniversary Silverstone Classic. In its 60th year, the Newport Pagnell-based business once again attended the world’s biggest historic motor racing festival with a display comprising a selection of modern and heritage Aston Martin sports cars to celebrate its diamond jubilee.

In this, the 65th year of Plus 4 production, Morgan are pleased to announce the AR Plus 4. Since 1950, the exhilarating Morgan +4 has been a mainstay of Morgan production. To celebrate 65 years of this iconic sports car, a strictly limited run of 50 vehicles will be built; each hand assembled and tuned by Morgan’s experienced AR Motorsport technicians. Each vehicle embraces a powerful Cosworth 2.0 litre engine and offers performance and styling features above and beyond those of a standard Morgan. The ARP4 enhances on road performance whilst ensuring that driver comfort and usability remains paramount, this enhancement has been achieved in three key areas – Performance The ARP4 would not belong to the AR Motorsport family if it did not offer significantly more performance than a standard Morgan. As such, a large range of upgrades compliment […]

Earlier this year MG Motor UK announced it would be opening its flagship showroom in the prestigious area of Piccadilly, London. Today, members of the public and invited guests are gathering to celebrate the official opening of this exciting new store. This new showroom, part of MG’s major expansion of dealerships, is a significant move for the marque. Having a flagship showroom in London places MG in the heart of the growing economy and shows that the brand is back and here to stay. Today, to mark the official opening of the flagship, people were given the opportunity to visit the showroom and join MG staff in celebrating this exciting move. Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “This is a really exciting day for us, as it marks the official opening of our flagship showroom.

The highly-anticipated Aston Martin Vulcan will attend the showpiece of the Blancpain Endurance Series, the TOTAL 24 Hours of Spa, this weekend (25 July) and will demonstrate its abilities as the ultimate track-only machine as it completes two flying laps of the world-famous circuit. With its 800-plus bhp powertrain developed in conjunction with Aston Martin Racing, the 7.0-litre V12 Aston Martin Vulcan will be driven by works driver Darren Turner (GB), who has been involved in the design and development of the car from its inception. Turner has more than 20 years experience in developing racing cars and relished the opportunity to put this track-knowledge into Aston Martin’s most extreme sportscar. “It’s been amazing to have been involved in this project from the beginning,” said Turner. “From the conceptual sketches through to working with the designers on driver ergonomics, it […]

The largest field of pre-war race cars ever assembled will compete at the Silverstone Classic this weekend in the inaugural Kidston Trophy – named for legendary Bentley Boy and Le Mans winner, Glen Kidston. Among the 57 competitors will be 12 of the rarest and most valuable Bentleys in the world. This stellar ensemble includes several Bentley 3 Litre models, and a collection of 4½ Litre racers including a legendary Supercharged ‘Blower’. Glen Kidston and Bentley Chairman, Woolf Barnato, famously won the 1930 Le Mans 24-Hour race in the Bentley Speed Six ‘Old Number 1’. This was the second year in succession that the Speed Six had taken the chequered flag and the fourth year in a row that a Bentley was victorious. Richard Charlesworth, Director of Royal Relations & Heritage, said: “For one of Bentley’s most famous characters to […]

Pendine Sands came alive as hundreds of spectators watched a commemorative run of the iconic 350hp Sunbeam, on the 90th anniversary of Sir Malcolm Campbell’s World Land Speed Record of 150mph. The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, marked the anniversary with a low speed demonstration run in the restored Sunbeam with Sir Malcolm’s grandson Don Wales at the wheel. Don Wales and the Beaulieu team also recreated two iconic pictures from the original run. Don, who is also a Land Speed Record holder, said: “I was thrilled to be given this amazing opportunity to sit at the wheel of my grandfather’s car back at Pendine where he set his record. It was an honour both to follow in his footsteps and to drive this iconic car on such a special occasion. “My grandfather was a remarkable man and for us to […]

Morgan is teasing us with the release of their AR Plus 4. Here is what the teaser release said… Morgan are excited to announce that the new AR Motorsport developed Morgan AR Plus 4 will be launched on the Morgan stand at the Silverstone Classic this Friday 24th July at 1200hrs. To celebrate 65 years of the Morgan Plus 4, 50 limited edition AR Plus 4 models are to be produced by AR Motorsport, Morgan’s racing division. Powered by a 225bhp Cosworth engine, the AR Plus 4 is the most powerful 2.0 litre Morgan ever produced. Full images and information on the car will be released this Friday. For more information please visit the Morgan website. For more information on the Silverstone Classic and how to attend click here. Of course we will have full coverage on Friday, so stay tuned.

When John Egan arrived at Jaguar Cars in April 1980, newly appointed as Chief Executive, the company’s very survival was in grave doubt. In fact, the situation looked utterly hopeless. Not only was the once-proud Jaguar company a part of the catastrophic BL Cars but he was greeted at the gates by the workforce – on strike! The odds against saving Jaguar were immense. Quality was appalling, the workforce bitter, the management disillusioned and it was hemorrhaging money. The Labour Government had introduced the ‘closed shop’, giving the unions and their militant shop stewards immense power. This book tells the story of how John Egan gradually overcame the odds and, piece by piece, rebuilt this once great company, winning over the workforce, the suppliers, the overseas dealers and, most important of all, the customers. Working initially with BL Chairman Michael […]

Things seem to come in cycles here, and this current go-round seems to be a Jaguar one. So, for this week’s Video of the Week we are going to feature a road test of the Jaguar XKR and XJR by Vicki Butler-Henderson from 2000. For those of you who don’t know, Vicki Butler-Henderson is a former racing driver, so very well qualified to evaluate high-performance cars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSJ01dfAW3k The XK8 was launched in 1996 to replace the XJ-S. Two body styles were produced – a coupé and a convertible. The car was the first in the Jaguar line-up to use Jaguar’s newly developed V8 engine – the AJ-V8. In 1998 the supercharged XKR was added to the range. However, both the XK8 and XKR are limited to a maximum top speed of 155.4 mph (250.1 km/h). As for the Jaguar XJR, well we all […]