Highlights

We welcome a new contributor today, Robert Morey of British Sports Car Consulting. Robert is a long time friend and car lover, and he brings us a remembrances of the old homestead and vintage cars. Hopefully Robert’s contributions will be a regular occurrence here, and your feedback and comments are both welcome and requested. There’s Always Better by Robert Morey I remember my great grandmother’s chairs. They were huge. Seemingly the size of a car, but perhaps this was due to my size as these are some of my earliest memories. The enormous overstuffed  chairs had comforters of the “grandma knitted them” variety draped over them in several layers, and this made the already over padded appearance even more inviting. Never mind the fact that those chairs were situated like the wagons of the Wild West around the also huge […]

After the summer break, Defender Challenge by Bowler returns this weekend for its fourth round as nine teams battle it out at the Trackrod Rally, part of the annual Rally Yorkshire event. Based at Pickering Showground, the course takes in 53 miles of rally stages that twist through the spectacular Yorkshire countryside over two days and opening with the daunting prospect of challenging night stages. The FIA-approved Land Rover Defender 90 Hard Tops are modified by Bowler Motorsport specifically for rally competitions. Engines are tuned to 170bhp and 450Nm of torque and the suspension system features uprated dampers and roll bars. Lighter wheels, a full roll-cage and rally safety features complete the specification. This weekend, a number of Land Rover employees and apprentices join the Bowler technical teams to support the rally. In addition to their ‘day jobs’, enthusiasts from […]

Norman Dewis, OBE, chief test driver and development engineer for Jaguar Cars from 1952 to 1985, is set to become the oldest ever contestant when he drives in this year’s MPG Marathon – at the tender age of 95! Dewis, who was born in 1920, will be entering this year’s event, rated as the UK’s most prestigious lean-driving challenge, in a rear wheel drive, 2.0 litre 163hp Jaguar XE alongside Jaguar Heritage communications officer, Tony O’Keeffe. Over the years, Dewis has played a major role in the development of some of Jaguar’s most iconic models, including the E-Type, XJ6, XJ-S and many more. He was behind the wheel of a Jaguar XK120 in October 1953 when it reached 172.412mph at Jabbeke, Belgium, a record for production cars. Awarded the OBE for services to the motor industry in the New Year’s […]

Classic & Sports Car – The London Show is delighted to announce, as a complement to its ‘Best of British’ theme, a display of important British single-seaters raced by ‘Mr Motor Racing’ Sir Stirling Moss. While Moss raced hundreds of different machines in dozens of different categories, including single-seaters, touring cars, sportscars and rally cars, all over the world in his spectacular career, it was his dedication to promoting Britain and its racing industry that was unrivalled. So much so that he would use his outrageous skill to compensate for often less-competitive machinery in his patriotic pursuits.

Nathaniel Cars, known locally in Bridgend as the ‘House of Cars’, is the latest dealer to join the MG franchise. The Wales based family-run garage, which was established by Wayne Griffiths 35 years ago, is now run by him and his son Nathan. With a strong local presence, the company will be a great addition to MG’s growing dealer network when it goes live next week (1st October). Both Wayne and Nathan Griffiths are very excited to be adding MG to their existing three franchises. Nathan said: “We can’t wait to start selling MGs. We think the model range offers exceptional value for money and has a huge potential. It’s also great to be selling such an iconic British brand; something I’m sure our customers will feel a sense of pride in too.” “We’re really excited about the range and […]

Our video this week is dedicated to the British Invasion show in Stowe, Vermont. The 2015 edition occurred this past weekend, and although we couldn’t make it (hope to next year), we are told it was a great event. This video features the show held last year. This video is an episode of My Classic Car hosted by Dennis Gage. In this particular episode, Dennis travels to Stowe, for the 2014 British Invasion car show. Additionally he discusses classic car restoration in the Autogeek Garage. I will admit that one of the segments I had to rewatch multiple times in this episode is the piece with one of my favorite cars, the 1932 MG J1.

As many as half a million spectators will line the route of the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run this November, when the longest running motoring event in the world sets off on its annual adventure from London to Brighton (Sunday 1 November). Like the hardy teams piloting their amazing horseless carriages from the capital to the coast, the spectators brave whatever the weather conjures up to salute motoring’s pioneers: every car taking part was built before 1905. Best of all, every vantage point along the 60-mile route offers completely free viewing allowing everyone to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of more than 400 veterans as they ‘put-put’ their way to Brighton. Although the Run follows more or less the same route as last year, there have been a few changes to make it even better for participants […]

When the established rules become a constraint to creativity, it takes individuals of vision to carry the game forward. It was this spirit of individuality that has inspired the creation of two Great British institutions – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and the game of rugby. Celebrating the illustrious history of the latter, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to introduce the Rolls-Royce ‘Wraith – History of Rugby’, a unique creation from the company’s Bespoke Design Studio in Goodwood, England. Usually tasked with reflecting the individual taste and lifestyle of a bold new generation of customer, Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke team has drawn inspiration from the rich history of the quintessentially English sport to create a unique car. The Rolls-Royce ‘Wraith – History of Rugby’ celebrates England’s fundamental attachment to the great game, through an expression of individuality in keeping with the pioneering inspiration behind […]

In 2016, the Concours of Elegance returns to the spectacular venue which saw the event established, the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor Castle. From Friday the 2nd of September through to Sunday the 4th of September, the most exceptional cars from all over the world will gather to help celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday with a spectacular Concours of Elegance display in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle. The Concours of Elegance remains unique in the UK as the only automotive event to be held at a Royal venue each year, with 2016 marking the show’s fifth year of spectacular automotive gatherings in some of the world’s most iconic locations, including St James’s Palace, Hampton Court Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and next year’s return to Windsor Castle. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent […]

The most spectacular sports cars – and two of Britain’s racing driver heroes – stand out among the subject matter for the Royal Automobile Club’s 2015 Motoring Book of the Year Award, which will be announced on Wednesday, 28 October. Nominations for the Award have now all been received from the six independent judges, who review car-related books professionally for the most respected motoring publications in the country. Major new works on the Porsche 917, the Jaguar Lightweight E-type 4WPD and Alfa Romeo’s Grand Prix cars are in contention amongst superb autobiographies of Sir Stirling Moss OBE, and the late Jim Clark – in what’s turned out to be a truly vintage year for new titles.

With British-made classic cars continuing to hold their own at auction, Bonhams is offering for sale a unique collection of Bentley, Aston Martin, Frazer Nash and Invicta vehicles. The fleet was assembled by Lancashire-based businessman Gordon Willey. British cars are sometimes effectively beating more highly estimated cars at auction. With Ferraris hitting records, buyers have been selective in recent sales at several houses. Willey’s multi-million-pound collection includes seven Bentleys such as a 1929 4½-Litre Tourer estimated at £400,000-£500,000. There are also pre-war cars such as a 1938 Frazer-Nash BMW 328 Roadster, once owned by British dance-band leader Billy Cotton and estimated at £550,000-£650,000 ($101,000). The lots also include Willey’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Sports Saloon, estimated at £400,000-£500,000, and delivered new to the Nizam of Nabunda. There is also an ex-Nigel Dawes 1934 Invicta 4½-Litre ‘S’ Type Low Chassis Tourer, […]

Jaguar’s legendary test driver Norman Dewis OBE is to host a special tour to the famous Hotel de France between October 28th and November 1st. Drivers will be able to join Norman on a 5-day trip that will take them to the circuit at Lohéac, the famous motoring hotel, where they will spend three nights, and Le Mans, where he raced for Jaguar. The tour is being run by specialist tour operator Classic Grand Touring and spaces are still available. Owner of the Hotel de France Martin Overington said: “This is a unique opportunity to spend time with one of motoring’s legendary drivers and to hear from him about his racing and driving experiences as we explore the Loire Valley, one of France’s most beautiful regions.” On Saturday evening, after a day of driving and visits to the principal chateaux […]

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars celebrated a record Goodwood Revival over the weekend. The manufacturer of super-luxury motor cars hosted customers, prospects and VIPs and also entertained the tens of thousands of visitors to the world’s most popular historic motor race meeting in true Rolls-Royce style. The Rolls-Royce Radford building at the March Motor Works – this year titled ‘March Mews SW1’ – presented an appropriate tribute to the ‘Finishing Shop’ of Harold Radford (Coachbuilders) Limited, South Kensington. Harold Radford & Co Limited were long-established retailers of Rolls-Royce motor cars who, under G H Radford, developed a bespoke coachbuilding business in the late 1940s named Harold Radford (Coachbuilders) Limited. The coachbuilding business became synonymous with amendments to suit the rural lifestyle of the landed gentry, developing their ‘Countryman’ range of conversions to Rolls-Royce motor cars. A ‘new’ Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was displayed […]

A one-off piece of artwork, created by world-renowned motoring artist Tim Layzell for Classic & Sports Car – The London Show, is being auctioned in support of the event’s chosen charity, WeSeeHope. All proceeds from the auction, run by Silverstone Auctions, will go to WeSeeHope, a charity which supports vulnerable young people in sub-Saharan Africa. WeSeeHope is the official charity for the first-ever Classic & Sports Car – The London Show and the auction is just one of the ways the event is supporting the organisation. The bespoke artwork – which anyone can bid on by heading to – depicts three legendary British cars, a Jaguar E-type, Bentley Speed Six and McLaren F1, at the show’s home of Alexandra Palace. These cars, together with seven others, have been the subject of a global poll to name the Best British Car […]

The sixtieth E-Type to leave Jaguar’s production line in 1961 went back to Somerset to surprise its previous owner on his 83rd birthday after undergoing a full ‘nut and bolt’ restoration at leading restorers Classic Motor Cars of Bridgnorth (CMC). When former Royal Naval Commander Bob Reed put his pride and joy, a rare Jaguar E-Type into auction little did he expect that it would sell for £109,000 or that it would be purchased by someone who would spend substantially more than the purchase price to bring it back to its former glory. Bob bought the car in February 1965 and owned it for more than 45 years, raced it and only decided to sell it because he couldn’t afford to restore it and didn’t want to see it deteriorate further.

Caterham Cars is entering the UK’s most prestigious eco-driving event, the MPG Marathon, for the first time in a two seater sports cars billed as the manufacturer’s ‘most frugal ever’. The British sportscar maker will be entering the entry level version of the iconic Caterham Seven, the 160, rated as the most economical in the company’s history and the most cost-effective two-seater sportscar on the market. The 160 is powered by a super-compact, turbocharged three-cylinder Suzuki engine, which enables it to achieve an impressive 57.6mpg, emit just 114g/km CO2 and yet reach 0 – 62mph in a blistering 6.5 seconds. “We are delighted that Caterham Cars is entering the MPG Marathon, the UK’s leading lean driving challenge, for the first time,” said organiser Jerry Ramsdale, publishing director of Fleet World. “We will be very interested to see how it compares against […]

I am a big fan of New Orleans, and also a fan of the SVRA (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association). So what could be better than combining the two? Our video this week is from the SVRA touting their upcoming races in the Crescent City. This new addition to the SVRA schedule will be co-hosted by the Texas-based vintage car club, Corinthian Vintage Auto Racers (CVAR), at this racing facility located just 14 miles from the French Quarter of New Orleans. This event is non-points race for both clubs, featuring two days of exciting racing for all classes. Also sharing the weekend, as a featured group, will be The Trans-Am Series. In addition to the racing, there is a Saturday Car Show. NOLA presents a 2.75-mile, world-class track consisting of 16 turns, with a 5,200-foot straightaway. Designed to be challenging, but […]

Last night, Jaguar Land Rover celebrated its vehicles appearing in the new Bond adventure, SPECTRE. Cars, including the Jaguar C-X75, Range Rover Sport SVR and the iconic Land Rover Defender, stole the show as they were unveiled in public for the first time at the palatial Thurn und Taxis in Frankfurt. Naomie Harris (Moneypenny) and David Bautista (Hinx) were guests of honour at the glamorous event showcasing special stunt vehicles used in the latest instalment of the James Bond series.  Guests were entertained by British singer and musician John Newman, who performed a number of top ten hits from his album.