Month: September 2015

The entry list for Barons’ sale at Sandown Park on September 15th features an eclectic mix of cars spanning 10 decades, turning the saleroom into something of a ‘pop-up’ motoring museum. The sale is headlined by an extremely rare 1936 Alvis Speed 20 SD drophead coupé with Vanden Plas coachwork. One of five such examples built, just three are believed to still be in existence, and this is the only car of its type registered in the membership list of the Alvis Owner Club. It comes with a complete record of owners since its manufacture nearly 80 years ago, and still drives very well and performs strongly. Estimate: £100,000-£130,000. Another rarity is the unrestored, highly original 1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal V8 Bertone Coupé, which has covered just 38,000 miles in over 40 years, and has been barn-stored since 2011. Whilst […]

A very personal film, made in collaboration with Credit Suisse, has revealed new insights into the extraordinary life of motorsport icon Sir Stirling Moss. The 85-year-old race ace, who dominated the international scene in the 1950s and early-60s, chats candidly ahead of the 18th running of the Goodwood Revival at the circuit where he achieved so much success in his 15-year professional career. Talking at his London home with motorsport journalist, broadcaster and Goodwood commentator Henry Hope-Frost, Sir Stirling reminisces about his remarkable life on the race track. He talks fondly about Goodwood, the circuit that bookended his career via a 500cc Formula 3 win at the opening meeting in September 1948, when he was just 19, and the Glover Trophy Formula 1 accident at Easter in 1962 that put an end to his career. With 2015 marking the 60th […]

Bentley Motors today announces its new European Communications team line up. Caren Jochner, Senior Communications Manager Europe, will continue to lead the team, which consists of Mona El-Mahdi, Communications Manager Europe West; the newly appointed Sebastian Michel, Communications Manager Europe Central; and Maddalena Manfredi, Communications Coordinator. Sebastian Michel joined the team on September 1 from Daimler, where he was previously the press spokesperson within the Global Business Communications Department of Daimler Commercial Vehicles. Caren Jochner, who joined Bentley two years ago, is responsible for overall European Communications operation, with a specific focus on Germany as a key player in the European market. Andrew Roberts, Bentley’s Director of Communications, said: “With Sebastian Michel joining Caren Jochner’s talented team I have complete confidence that the media in all European markets will be well serviced. Europe is Bentley’s third largest market and with […]

For more than half a century Aston Martin has been the sports car of choice for the world’s most famous spy, James Bond. Now, the luxury British brand is celebrating the release of Spectre with the launch of the strictly limited DB9 GT Bond Edition. Limited to 150 examples worldwide, the highly desirable model is based on the recently launched DB9 GT. Designed to offer the best of what DB9 can be, the DB9 GT delivers world-class grand touring and hand-built excellence. Building on these exceptional foundations, the new Aston Martin DB9 GT Bond Edition adds even greater levels of exclusivity by virtue of its limited edition build run along with a host of carefully considered trim, equipment and accessory additions that celebrate the brand’s more than 50-year association with the famous film franchise. Subtle styling additions The DB9 GT […]

If you are familiar with PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, then you will immediately recognize the Keno brothers, high-energy twins who are quick to point out the key differences between a $500 Chippendale table copy and a multimillion-dollar original. Hemmings Motor News has a good write up on the brothers’ upcoming auction – which we hope to have more on in the near future. Surrounded by collector cars since birth, Leigh and Leslie Keno are lifelong car guys who restored their first car, a 1963 Jaguar XK-E roadster, at age 16 (with their father’s guidance). They’ve judged at Pebble Beach, lectured as subject-matter experts on automotive preservation and contributed to the book The Stewardship of Historically Important Automobiles. This November, the brothers will add to their impressive resumes with the debut of Keno Brothers Fine Automobile Auctions in New York City. Scheduled to coincide with art […]

We really appreciate the help from Take to the Road for our Video of the Week this go round. Titled “A Very British Wedge – The Triumph TR7”  this is the story of Triumph enthusiast Alan Gleaves who spent many years looking for a good TR7. In 2014 he found his dream car. To quote our friends at Take to the Road, Barn finds are very popular these days in the classic car classifieds world. The term itself is often applied to literally any car storage scenario which can raise a few eyebrows. Many are genuine “barn finds”, locked away and forgotten about for decades. Regardless of how the term is used, barn/garage finds always get classic car enthusiasts just a little bit excited. We all dream of one day of stumbling across an old classic parked up, covered in […]

Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, was the devoted custodian of his family’s 7,000-acre Beaulieu Estate in Hampshire. He was also a champion of the historic vehicle movement and founder of the National Motor Museum. He played a major role in the preservation of England’s historic houses and the development of the UK tourism industry. He passed away Monday at the age of 88. Edward Montagu inherited the Beaulieu Estate on the death of his father, John Montagu, a motoring pioneer, when he was just two years old. The family seat, Palace House, was built around the original gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey, a Cistercian monastery founded on land granted to the Order by King John in 1204. The Estate was sold to Lord Montagu’s ancestor, Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton, by Henry VIII in 1538. Lord Montagu was an […]

Scotland’s historical seat of power, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, is playing host to the 2015 Concours of Elegance from 4 to 6 September, with an impressive array of Bentley models taking centre stage. The prestigious, invitation-only event – which showcases 60 of the world’s rarest and most valuable cars – will feature six Bentley models ranging from a 1927 6 ½ Litre Vanden Plas tourer to a 1960 S2 Continental with H.J. Mulliner Fastback coachwork. Not only is the Mulliner name still closely associated with Bentley today, but it also has historical ties with the Scottish capital. In December 1909 John Croall & Sons Ltd of Edinburgh purchased a controlling shareholding in H. J. Mulliner & Co, which it held until 1959, where after the coachbuilding company officially became part of Bentley Motors Ltd. Other Bentley models on display at […]