Month: January 2017

Few would argue that the MGB remains Britain’s favourite classic sports car or that it is almost as at home in modern traffic as it was in that of the ‘60s/‘70s. However, it can nevertheless be updated to advantage and British Motor Heritage (BMH) is now stocking the superb Vitesse Global 5-speed manual gearbox conversion for the model. Based on the renowned transmission of the Mazda MX5 MK3, the replacement gearbox comes fully assembled and complete with clutch friction plate, slave cylinder, braided clutch pipe, speedometer cable, prop shaft and fixing kit. No modifications are required to the bodyshell and fitting is therefore quick and well within the scope of any competent home mechanic.

Not to do another Land Rover video so soon, but … well … our video of the week this time is from Land Rover! But it is about Range Rovers, so that is different. Two minutes is not long, but it’s enough time for Land Rover to celebrate a motoring icon. The Range Rover has pioneered design, refinement and engineering innovation since 1970 and Land Rover has showcased the evolution of its luxury SUV through four generations with a unique animation lasting only 120 seconds. The specially commissioned visual has been created to mark key dates in the history of the legendary SUV, as production of the original two-door model ended 23 years ago this month (January) and SVAutobiography Dynamic goes on sale around the world.

A sculpted, technical yet beautiful body shape and advanced aerodynamic technologies combine to provide the foundation for the enhanced aerodynamic performance of the second-generation McLaren Super Series. The new McLaren supercar, which will be unveiled on March 7 at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show, is twice as aerodynamically efficient as the McLaren 650S, with increased downforce and improved cooling among the engineering imperatives for the new generation.

In the annals of motor racing, few machines are as iconic as the Lotus-Climax Type 33, chassis number R11, the car driven by Jim Clark to first place in the 1965 Belgian, British, German and Syracuse Grands Prix and the Lotus in which he won his second World Championship. It is only right that this amazing piece of motorsport history be the centrepiece of the Motor Sport Hall of Fame at Race Retro, the international historic motorsport show, held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, from 24 – 26 February, where R11 will make its first public appearance in over four decades. 

Footman James research shows there has been a boost in the number of female classic car owners, with female drivers predicted to account for 11% of the market by the end of 2016. Research of over 1025 women and 55000 policies revealed that the driving factor for classic car ownership for 21% of women was nostalgia, followed by 19% who said they were encouraged by friends and family members and 17% who saw it as a good investment.

MG Motor UK has announced the winners of its 2017 Annual Dealer Awards. The event, which took place on 12 January as part of the company’s national conference, celebrated outstanding achievement from across the network. Nathaniel MG took home the prestigious Dealer of the Year accolade, alongside being named Top MG3 Selling Dealer. Part of the network since 2015, the Bridgend-based business was recognised for delivering exceptional service for customers across South Wales. 

Now that 2016 and December are behind us, I supposed it is time to reveal the winner of the last contest.  If you will remember, that contest was a simple one – all that was required was to our new Discussion Forums, register and then leave a comment. That was it! The prize for this contest was the engrossing DVD set of The Standard Triumph Story. Without further adieu … the winner is … Martin Keller of Ventura, CA.  We are contacting him as we speak so we can send the DVD set on out. Congratulations to Martin! Thank you to all those who entered! Make sure to check out the discussion forums!  

After unveiling the prototype in 2016, British sports car company Avatar is presenting the first production Avatar at the 2017 Performance Car Show, held at the Birmingham NEC on 12-15th January 2017. Now fully certified, the Devon-based firm has developed the prototype, making over 100 refinements to offer a 250bhp sports car that is now equally at home on road or track. The 695kg Avatar retains the high-quality componentry such as the Ford Ecoboost engine, Nitron dampers and Rota wheels that deliver 0-60mph in four seconds and a top speed of 145mph and adds a leather interior, heated screen together with other features to broaden the appeal. New no-cost options now include an Apple CarPlay + Android Auto audio system, roof, heater and air conditioning.

Unapologetic, uncompromising and built to win, Lotus has announced the development of the mighty Exige Race 380 – the track-only sibling of what has been hailed as one of the marque’s most significant and sensational cars, the critically acclaimed Exige Sport 380. Combining Lotus’ vehicle development skills with its motorsport pedigree, the class-leading competition car will set the pace when the first production cars reach owners in May 2017. As part of the current Exige’s development cycle, the Race 380 will become the race car of choice for teams as well as privateers for the 2017 / 2018 season.

The judges at the What Car? Awards, one of the most important measures of success in the automotive calendar, have once again declared Ghost the best super-luxury car in the world, completing a hat-trick of victories for Ghost family motor cars in its most prestigious category, luxury cars over £100,000. In awarding Ghost Extended Wheelbase the What Car? judges praised the car for its perfect marriage of driving dynamics and supremacy as the consummate entrepreneurs limousine: Designed as the Rolls-Royce for the owner who’d prefer to spend some time in the driver’s seat, the Ghost offers the class and attention-to-detail the brand is famous for. Under its bonnet is a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 that’s as discreet as it is potent. The ride is very forgiving, and the light but precise steering makes this massive car surprisingly easy to place and […]

For our video we are returning again this week to the great folks at Petrolicious for a look at the classic 1972 Lotus Elan +2. These are great little cars, though a bit tight for some of us, so I can see having no regrets for purchasing one.  Note – you will need to turn on the closed-captioning to listen to the video unless you understand French. To quote Petrolicious about this video… Typically 2+2 body styles are less desirable to two-seaters—that’s true of the Datsun 240Z and the Lotus Elan. But with the Lotus the Plus 2 wears the larger size with elegance, and at a still-attainable price point. While not enjoying the valuation of the lighter drophead coupe, the 10 inches of additional width and two feet of length give the classic a character of its own. Brieuc […]

Only tangentially related to British cars, but still important to those of us who work on our own cars is the news that after controlling the Craftsman name for 90 years, troubled department store operator Sears said it will sell the famous tool brand to Stanley Black & Decker Inc. Stanley, which makes and sells tools under the DeWalt and Black & Decker names, wants to grow the Craftsman brand by selling its products in more stores outside of Sears. Today, only 10 percent of Craftsman products are sold in other stores.

Addressing the annual Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, USA, Bentley Chairman and CEO, Mr Wolfgang Dürheimer, has outlined his vision for the future of luxury mobility and Bentley’s role in defining it. Speaking on the subject of changing customer types and tastes, Mr Dürheimer highlighted the seismic changes that face luxury car makers in the near future.

Already recognised as the most dynamically capable, performance-focused Jaguar, the F-TYPE sports car continues to evolve, with a fresh look, state-of-the-art infotainment system and world-first ReRun app that combines vehicle data with GoPro video to enhance the driving experience. Since launch in 2012, Jaguar’s all-aluminium two-seater has firmly established itself as the best-selling sports car in its segment in its home market and has won nearly 160 awards worldwide. The unrivalled balance of seductive design, stunning performance and outstanding dynamics has always made the F-TYPE unique, in a range that has evolved to include Coupé bodystyles, manual transmissions and intelligent all-wheel drive.

The Jaguar F-PACE has been named Best Large Crossover in the UK Car of the Year Awards 2017. It will now feature in the final shortlist for the overall UK Car of the Year Award which will be announced in February. The UK Car of the Year judging panel is made up of 27 of the UK’s leading motoring journalists, with representatives from publications including Top Gear, Auto Express, Autocar and Car.  

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has today announced its second highest ever annual sales result in the marque’s 113-year history, up 6% on its 2015 results. A total of 4,011 cars were delivered to customers in more than 50 countries, affirming the brand’s strength and resilience in a year of challenging market conditions for luxury goods worldwide.

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles achieved its best ever full-year global sales in 2016, selling more than one car every minute with retails of 583,313 vehicles, up 20% on the prior year. This is the company’s seventh successive year of growth in sales, with retails in 2016 almost triple the 2009 figure. Sales in December were up 12% compared to the same month last year, with retails of 55,375. Retail volumes were up 36% for the month in China – its strongest monthly performance on record. Jaguar Land Rover’s global performance for the full year 2016 shows a balanced regional portfolio with record retail sales in the UK, North America and Europe.

Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) is celebrating a ground-breaking 2016, as the Liverpool-based manufacturer has enjoyed an incredibly fruitful year on all four corners of the globe. BAC is the company behind the One-of-a-Kind Mono supercar, which has risen from strength to strength since it launched in 2011. And over the past 12 months, it’s truly taken off with a series of world firsts.