1964 Solitude Grand Prix. Solitude, Germany. 18th - 19th July 1964. John Surtees (Ferrari 158), 2nd position, action. World Copyright: LAT Photographic. Ref: 25827.
Classic Cars

Historical Photographs at Classic & Sports Car – The London Show

Visitors to Classic & Sports Car – The London Show will not only be able to feast their eyes on the world’s most amazing period cars – but they will also be treated to a host of eye-catching historical photographs celebrating British motoring and motorsport. The inaugural show will take place from 30th October to 1st November 2015 at Alexandra Palace. Located in Alexandra Palace’s West Corridor, these amazing installations will provide real insight into automotive history featuring images celebrating Jaguar Land Rover and British F1, thanks to pictures sourced from the world’s leading automotive image agency, LAT Photographic. Jaguar Land Rover is sponsoring a 24-metre gallery featuring the top 20 iconic moments that have defined 80 years of Jaguar and 45 years of Range Rover. Entitled ‘Jaguar: 80 Glorious Years 1935-2015’, it will feature a range of imagery from […]

Tor Johnson
Articles

Zombie Apocalypse – Caused By Your Car

Your “modern iron”, “rain car”, “grocery getter” or whatever you want to call it is turning you into a zombie! Yes it’s true, and a lazy one at that! Auto wipers, auto lights, seats that move at the touch of a button, navigation the responds to voice command! They even put controls right on the steering wheel so movement of your muscles is almost gone… Even the kids are not safe – the TV screens in your headrests are part of the evil plot. The kids won’t know what’s going on outside the car unless you feed the backup camera into the the TV headrests! And the list goes on. The start was the automatic transmission, and few took offense. But then they got the Zombie Plan up to speed – although electronically limited to prevent engine damage. Satellite navigation, […]

Lotus 3-Eleven
Corporate Business

Lotus 3-Eleven – Two Weeks in Germany at the Nürburgring Nordschleife

The new Lotus 3-Eleven completed a successful two-week test session at the fearsome and challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit. The video documenting this comprehensive test and development programme can be found on the Group Lotus YouTube channel. Individual areas of expertise and vehicle set-up were a specific focus – aerodynamics, engine calibration, chassis tuning and suspension geometry – as the model continues its development towards start of production in early 2016. The Lotus 3-Eleven is the quickest and most powerful production Lotus road car ever produced, offering the ultimate pure driving experience. Heralding the next generation of Lotus high-performance sports cars, the 3-Eleven re-affirms Lotus core values as the perfect demonstration of “lighter, faster” and benchmark handling which comes from Lotus’ roots in competitive motorsport. Prices start at £82,000 for the Road version (including VAT and on the road costs) and […]

VotW - Jensen Healey
Articles

Jensen Healey – Video of the Week

Our Video of the Week this time round features the short-lived collaboration between the folks and Jensen and Donald Healey. The Jensen Healey has long been one of personal favorites with a body style that seems somewhere between a muscular Spitfire and a slimmed down Mustang, a Lotus engine, and a comfortable, almost plush, interior. For those who don’t know, or have forgotten with our increasing age, the Jensen Healey was a two-seater convertible sports car, in true British fashion, produced from 1972 to 1976. Even though it was only produced for about 4 years, it was the best selling Jensen of all time. In total 10,503 (10 prototypes, 3,347 Mk.1 and 7,146 Mk.2) were produced by Jensen Motors Ltd. in West Bromwich. A related and rare fastback, the Jensen GT, was introduced in 1975 but did not include the […]

Bentley at Jochpass Oldtimer Memorial & Historic-Rallye 3
Bentley

Bentley Competes in Oldtimer Memorial Rallye

Bentley Motors enjoyed an exciting and successful weekend at the 17th Jochpass Oldtimer Memorial and Historic-Rallye in Bad Hindelang, Germany. Four historic Bentleys competed in the world-renowned classics event between 9 and 11 October, including the Team ‘Blower’, R-Type Continental, Speed 6 and a Bentley 4,5 Litre Le Mans. About 18.000 enthusiastic spectators were in attendance to admire the 280 classic cars on show. The drivers travelled from all over Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

650S Can Am 01
Corporate Business

McLaren Celebrates Can-Am History with Limited 650S

McLaren established itself throughout the 1960s and 70s as a world-beating force in one of the most extreme forms of motorsport, Can-Am, winning five consecutive championships between 1967 and 1971. In honour of the 50th anniversary of the 1966 inaugural season, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has created the limited production 650S Can-Am which takes its inspiration from the race cars of this golden age of motorsport.  The 650S Can-Am can be commissioned now priced at £255,850 with deliveries set to commence in the spring of 2016, 50 years on from the first race at Mont Tremblant, Canada.  Just 50 examples will be produced globally, all based on the 650S Spider. The Can-Am series, or Canadian-American Challenge Cup, was a no-holds-barred battle of power and speed around some of the most iconic circuits in North America and Canada.  It attracted the […]

Bentley Continental GT3 wins Blancpain Sprint Series - 1
Bentley

Bentley Continental GT3 Wins Blancpain Sprint Series

The Bentley Continental GT3 has won its first major race car championship, as customer team Bentley Team HTP took the Blancpain Sprint Series drivers title following a pole position and two race victories at the final round at Zandvoort this weekend. Just two years after the Bentley Continental GT3 was launched, drivers Maxi Buhk (DE) and Vincent Abril (MO) fought off stiff competition from the 2014 championship-winning Audi, to take one of the most sought-after titles in GT3 racing. “This is a fantastic achievement for Bentley Team HTP with the Bentley Continental GT3,” commented Bentley’s Director of Motorsport Brian Gush. “The Blancpain Sprint Series is very competitive and there is no room for error. Maxi and Vincent with Bentley Team HTP have been the perfect team to take our race car to success.”

Aston Martin DB5 front
Aston Martin

London Show Reveals Details of Aston Martin Celebration

One of Britain’s best-loved luxury car manufacturers, Aston Martin, will be celebrated in grand style at the inaugural Classic & Sports Car – The London Show, with a stunning collection of some of the luxury brand’s most iconic models, from the oldest-surviving to the very latest. Seven of Aston Martin’s handbuilt machines will appear at the Alexandra Palace event from 30th October to 1st November in a display sponsored by EFG International. A3 Taking the Aston Martin story back to the very beginning, an ultra-rare A3 will headline the display. The 1921 car, the oldest Aston Martin in existence, was the fourth and only survivor of marque founders Robert Bamford’s and Lionel Martin’s original prototypes. The car is now looked after by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust. DB MkIII Fewer than 500 DB MkIIIs were built from 1957 to 1959 and hardly […]

Bentley's Desert Train - Camels
Bentley

Bentley’s Desert Train Race

Eighty-five years after three-time Le Mans winner Captain Woolf Barnato famously raced the ‘Blue Train’ from Cannes to Calais, modern day Bentley Boy, Steven Kane, has reinvigorated the legendary spirit in a tense four-hour 14 minute sprint against Saudi Arabia’s only desert passenger train. The dune train takes a 480 km route from Riyadh – deep in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula – to Dammam on the Arabian Gulf. The new Continental GT V8 S Convertible raced this unique locomotive on August 15th across the scorched, baren landscape and won, with six minutes to spare. Bentley Team M-Sport driver, Steven Kane, said: “Four hours is the same time as a stint at Le Mans.  But this was far more stressful. The heat, the conditions, not knowing where the train was, while driving within the limits of the country’s regulations.   […]

BCC Day Banner
Classic Cars

British Car Day – Charleston, South Carolina

October 25th is the day. The British Car club of Charleston will host our 31st British Car Day at the beautiful Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park on Sunday, October 25th, starting at 9:00am. There will the amazing silent auction tent, food on the grille, plenty of fun stuff and lots of great cars. The family can enjoy the pier at the park and views of the Charleston harbor. For those of you who don’t know, this is my home club, and the club I founded over thirty years ago with a great group of friends.  So, yes, this event is special. I will be there, of course, with “Catherine” my 1966 Vanden Plas Princess 1100. Well, and maybe my 1978 Triumph Spitfire. Also, since the rains in South Carolina delayed the Grand Strand British Car Show up in Myrtle Beach to […]

Jaguar XF R-Sport Rhodium Silver
Corporate Business

Jaguar XF to Star at Wired2015

Jaguar UK today announces an exciting partnership which will see the presentation of the technologically-advanced XF executive saloon car at WIRED2015.  WIRED is recognised as the multimedia authority on the future, in print and digital. Senior Jaguar executives Kevin Stride (XF Vehicle Line Director), Adam Hatton (Creative Director, Jaguar Exterior Design), Alister Whelan (Creative Director, Jaguar Interior Design) and Peter Virk (Head of Connected Technologies and Apps) will support the presentation of the all-new XF at WIRED.  These experts from the Design and Engineering teams at Jaguar Land Rover will also feature in exclusive workshop sessions at the WIRED conference. Chaired by WIRED UK Deputy Editor, Greg Williams, and supported by additional speakers from WIRED2015, two 30 minute thought-leadership sessions will cover topics designed to stimulate discussion and debate by experts in their field.  The first session is scheduled for […]

St Mary's Trophy was one of 2015's Revival highlights
Classic Cars

Goodwood Announces Provisional 2016 Dates

Goodwood is delighted to announce provisional dates for the 2016 Festival of Speed and Revival, ahead of tickets going on general sale on 5 November. The Festival of Speed, which celebrates the very best from the past and present of motoring and motor sport, will be held on 23-26 June, 2016*. As usual, the event will open with the Moving Motor Show on Thursday, 23 June, featuring many of the world’s largest motor manufacturers showcasing their latest models, alongside exciting and innovative concepts. From Friday-Sunday, 24-26 June, the famous Goodwood hill will be taken over by a glittering collection of the greatest cars, bikes, drivers and riders from the history of motor sport. The Revival is the world’s largest and most celebrated historic motor racing and vintage culture event, bringing back to life Goodwood Motor Circuit’s glory days as an […]

Nigel Clarke from JLR talks to a young boy
Corporate Business

JLR Launches Kenyan Water Relief Project

Jaguar Land Rover, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of premium luxury vehicles, has launched a new project in Africa as part of its ambitious Global CSR Programme. Jaguar Land Rover’s ambition is to achieve long-term responsible business growth by placing sustainability at the heart of its business strategy by reducing the environmental impact of its vehicles and operations and making a positive impact on society, all through ‘Environmental Innovation’. The company recently received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development for reducing the environmental impact of its vehicles and operations. Jaguar Land Rover’s Global CSR Programme was launched in 2013 as part of its ‘Environmental Innovation’ strategy. The programme invests in education, technology, health, wellbeing and environmental projects which will positively impact 12 million people’s lives by 2020. The programme builds on the success of its UK education […]

JLR Apprentice Intake 2015
Corporate Business

Jaguar Land Rover Recruiting for Apprenticeships

Jaguar Land Rover has launched its recruitment drive for over 200 apprentices to join the company in September 2016.  The Government’s Skills Minister, Nick Boles, praised the UK’s largest automotive apprenticeship provider saying: “Jaguar Land Rover is playing a leading role in backing the next generation of highly skilled workers. Their new apprentice intake will learn highly sought after skills whilst benefiting from earning a wage and some will even gain a degree. “Jaguar Land Rover recognises the value apprenticeships bring to their business and productivity, this is why we are committed to delivering 3 million quality apprenticeships by 2020.” Jaguar Land Rover is the largest apprenticeship provider in the UK automotive sector, currently accounting for approximately half of the total apprentices employed in that industry.  Applicants can choose from either the four year Advanced Apprenticeship aimed at GCSE students, […]

SU Carburetor Diagram
Articles

The Cellist Is Dead, Or, Your Car Is A Symphony

I’m sorry if this comes off as somewhat of a rant, but that’s because it is…. The act of diagnosing a running problem is not always simple; in fact, like a symphony it is most often NOT simple, and that very statement, “I’m sure it’s something simple,” made so many times by owners only serves to anger any mechanic. This statement belittles us and, if you must know, makes us more than a little upset! Imagine having someone tell you your job is simple! It’s like saying, “I could do this myself but I am taking pity on a wretch like you and will throw you a few sheckles from my lofty position, where I cannot be bothered with this trivial thing that is down at your level”… I am careful never to say this to anyone, not the computer […]

Jaguar Land Rover Triumphs at Autonis Awards with Three Trophies for Best Design
Corporate Business

JLR Triumphs at Autonis Awards

Jaguar Land Rover has been honoured with three trophies at the prestigious Autonis design awards, voted for by readers of Germany’s leading motoring magazine, Auto Motor und Sport. In the 15th annual reader survey, 115 cars competed across ten categories with more than 17,500 votes cast.  The Jaguar XF led the upper middle class category with 42 per cent share of votes, beating local competition from the Audi A6 (35 per cent) and BMW 7-series (30.5 per cent). The all-new Jaguar XE scooped 36 percent of votes in the middle class group, relegating the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3-series to second and third place with 29 and 28 per cent of the votes respectively. Jaguar also took home the silver medal in the design brand of the year class. Land Rover celebrated success in the SUV class with the Range […]

Laura Schwab Aston Martin at Wimbledon
Aston Martin

Aston Martin Appoints Laura Schwab President

Aston Martin is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Schwab as President for Aston Martin The Americas, reporting to Global Sales Director Christian Marti, effective 26 October. Laura joins Aston Martin from Jaguar Land Rover where she worked most recently as Marketing Director, leading marketing communications, experiential events, sponsorships, product marketing, customer engagement and corporate social responsibility. Based at the company’s regional headquarters in Irvine, California, Laura’s role as Regional President embraces sales and service, public relations, brand marketing and communications to both Aston Martin’s customers and 46 dealers in the region, spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America. Having graduated from University of Kentucky College of Law, Laura started her career with a technology start-up company in Southern California, before joining the automotive industry and since amassing fifteen years’ experience across a variety of operational, sales […]

AM Vulcan 3
Articles

VotW – Aston Martin Vulcan

Our video this week is courtesy of Aston Martin. Normally we don’t use purely promotional videos as our VotWs, but this one is simply too cool to pass up. As the last remaining airworthy Avro Vulcan prepares for its final flight later this month, the iconic 1950s British V bomber has been united with its modern namesake: the Aston Martin Vulcan. Vulcan XH558 – currently being operated by the charitable trust Vulcan To The Sky – is due to retire from ‘active service’ in October, going on to form the centrepiece of the educational Vulcan Aviation Academy & Heritage Centre at her home base,  Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster. Ahead of that final flight, the famous Cold War-era long range bomber was paired with the Aston Martin Vulcan – the new track-only supercar – via a special fly-past at Elvington […]

Barons AC
Auctions & Sales

Bentley and AC Headline Barons’ Autumn Auction

With a diverse and impressive range of cars already consigned, the early entries for Barons’ Autumn Classic (October 27th, Sandown Park) indicate that the auction house’s strong run of sales in 2015 is set to continue. The sale is headed by a very fine 1962 Bentley Continental S2, which was built for the celebrated musician, nightclub owner and bandleader Edmundo Ros, a huge star worldwide from the 1940s to his retirement in the 1970s. Once a familiar sight around the streets of Knightsbridge, London, this handsome Tudor grey Bentley has been the subject of considerable restoration, and comes complete with a comprehensive history file, including original Bentley build sheets and correspondence with Edmundo Ros. Estimate: £85,000-£105,000. The Bentley is followed by a magnificent, concours-winning 1965 Series One E-type Jaguar convertible, which spent most of its life in New York, returning […]

Original footage unearthed to celebrate 20th anniversary
Caterham

Caterham Academy Championship 20th Anniversary

The ground-breaking Caterham Academy championship celebrated its 20th anniversary Thursday, October 1. The very first Academy event took place, under the banner of the Top Gear Caterham Scholarship, at Mallory Park in 1995 and Caterham has located rare footage of the event to celebrate the landmark birthday. Since its inception, the Academy has gone on to become one of the most popular novice race series in the UK, with more than 900 amateur male and female drivers competing across the 21 seasons racing the iconic Caterham Seven. The series is still going strong, with only a handful of the 56 grid slots for 2016 remaining. Academy graduates and aspiring racers alike can get a taste of the action from the inaugural event by viewing the following video.