New Range Rover Sentinel

September 8, 2015 Staff Comments Off

The new Range Rover Sentinel is the first luxury armoured vehicle to be fully engineered by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations, (SVO) hand built at its Oxford Road facility, providing the highest levels of protection an SUV can offer against a wide variety of attacks. The Sentinel is based on the standard wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography. It delivers the supreme comfort, command driving position and all-terrain capability of the Range Rover, while providing peace of mind thanks to outstanding occupant protection and, outwardly, looking identical to the standard model. This mobile fortress is designed to withstand the most damaging and targeted of threats including penetration by 7.62mm high velocity, armour piercing incendiary bullets. This exceptional vehicle delivers lateral protection against up to 15kg Trinitrotoluene (TNT) blasts and defence against DM51 grenade explosions from both beneath the floor and above the […]

Jaguar D-Type – The Autobiography of XKD 504

September 8, 2015 Staff Comments Off

This superb book tells the story of one of the most historically interesting of all Jaguar D-types – a car that has raced more than any other D-type. The long and varied life of XKD 504 is recounted in full, from its role as a works car used extensively for testing fuel injection, to two seasons of racing throughout Europe with Ecurie Ecosse, to four busy years of national competition in the hands of first Mike Salmon and then Peter Sutcliffe. This book provides fascinating insight into every aspect of this D-type’s history, supported by a fine collection of period photographs. Any Jaguar enthusiast will enjoy this addition to the ‘Great Cars’ series. Key content Life as a works car, including its important testing role and two races in 1956. Two seasons with Ecurie Ecosse, including sixth place in […]

Jaguar Land Rover Launches Academy

September 8, 2015 Staff Comments Off

Jaguar Land Rover has launched its Academy, the first of its kind in the UK automotive sector. The new Academy will offer all Jaguar Land Rover workers the opportunity to take part in continuous development programmes to enhance their careers and provide the skills the company needs. With an annual learning and development outlay of £100 million, Jaguar Land Rover invests heavily in skills. The creation of the Academy gives renewed focus to that investment and will deliver improved skills for the long-term by strengthening the links between training and business needs. All training provided through the Jaguar Land Rover Academy will meet quality levels defined by a recognised and standardised accreditation process. Commenting on the launch, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ralf Speth said: “We are investing significantly in the future of Jaguar Land Rover by creating […]

Bentley Bentayga Exploring the limits of performance

Bentley Bentayga SUV Preview

September 6, 2015 Staff Comments Off

The all-new W12 TSI engine is the most technically advanced 12-cylinder in the world, delivering the best combination of power, torque and efficiency of any car in its class. With a top speed of 301km/h, the Bentayga will be the fastest, most powerful SUV in the world. This film provides a glimpse of what is to come: a unique combination of performance and luxury. Performance of this nature is rare in any car. It was unheard of in an SUV – until now. Note: Press release courtesy of Bentley Motors.

Jaguar Previews All-New F-PACE

September 6, 2015 Staff Comments Off

Jaguar will celebrate its exciting future and rich, 80-year heritage at the 2015 Frankfurt IAA, with a dramatic reveal of the all-new Jaguar F-PACE. The Jaguar F-PACE will be the first ever compact luxury SUV from the famous British luxury and sports car brand. The stunning new F-PACE, which will be available to view on the Jaguar stand throughout the show (September 17 – 27), is previewed today with the release of an exclusive image and film. Camouflaged prototypes have already been seen proving the everyday usability and exceptional ride and handling of the all-new F-PACE, by supporting Team Sky on the Tour de France, enduring more than a quarter of a million miles of extreme testing at JLR test centers Dubai and Northern Sweden, and tackling some of the most challenging roads in world. This is a compact luxury […]

McLaren Returns To Chantilly Arts & Elegance

September 5, 2015 Staff Comments Off

McLaren Automotive will showcase the best of British luxury at this weekend’s Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille (6-7 September) taking place at Domaine Chantilly, north of Paris. The second edition of the glamorous event will see a stunning display of automotive extravagance including a one-off 570S Coupé by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) and the legendary McLaren F1 GTR by César. The McLaren 570S Coupé by MSO has been designed to showcase different personalisation options available through the bespoke division of McLaren, and made its debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. This striking example of modern craftsmanship is finished in new Ceramic Grey paintwork and features a variety of carbon fibre exterior options emphasising the lightweight carbon fibre chassis at the heart of the car. The 570S Coupé is the first model launched in the McLaren Sports Series […]

First Lotus Evora 400 Cars Leave Factory

September 5, 2015 Staff Comments Off

The first Evora 400 sports cars destined for customers and dealers have driven off the assembly line and are soon to arrive at dealerships across the UK and mainland Europe. The significant occasion was marked by a small celebration with proud members of the engineering and manufacturing team at Lotus, who are responsible for hand-building Lotus’ fastest production car to date. Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc states, “The Evora 400 has already received admiration and critical acclaim from media around the world, praising its performance, handling and design. In September and October, Lotus dealers throughout the UK and mainland Europe will be receiving their demonstrator and customers cars, so now is the opportunity for drivers to get behind the wheel and experience the Evora 400 for themselves.”

Jaguar’s Ian Callum Inducted to Scottish Motoring Hall of Fame

September 5, 2015 Staff Comments Off

Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum has been named among the first inductees to the Scottish Motoring Hall of Fame at a prestigious ceremony held aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia and hosted by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent. The Association of Scottish Motoring Writers’ Scottish Motoring Hall of Fame, presented by Bridge of Weir Leather Company, was inaugurated as part of the opening celebrations of the Concours of Elegance, which opens at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh this weekend. Ian Callum joins motorsport legends Sir Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark as the first inductees. Ian Callum said: “It’s a great honour, made even greater by the company I am in as an inaugural member of the Scottish Motoring Hall of Fame alongside Sir Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark. I am absolutely thrilled, and so proud.” Ian Callum, […]

Jaguar Announces 2016 Product Offerings

September 4, 2015 Staff Comments Off

With the introduction of three new models – two of which are all-new to North American customers – realigned pricing and a new best-in-class1 coverage under Jaguar EliteCare, 2016 model year marks the beginning of The Next Generation of Jaguar. Already on sale in select markets around the world, the all-new Jaguar XE arrives in U.S. showrooms this spring. Launching with three powertrain options across four trim levels, the Jaguar XE enters the highly competitive sport sedan segment with standard rear-wheel drive and the option of all-wheel drive on certain powertrains. Fully redesigned for 2016, the second generation Jaguar XF continues to bring a unique blend of design, technology and refinement to the premium sedan segment. Positioned between the mid-size Jaguar XE and the full-size Jaguar XJ, the new bodywork on the XF mirrors the evolution of the Jaguar design […]

National Motor Museum Launches Sunbeam Appeal

September 4, 2015 Staff Comments Off

The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, has launched an appeal to raise funds to build a new gear box for Sir Malcolm Campbell’s historic 1920 Sunbeam 350hp Land Speed Record car. The museum’s manager and Chief Engineer, Doug Hill says: “During the Sunbeam’s long and chequered history, its Achilles heel has been a weak gearbox. At some time after WWll, the original gearbox was removed and subsequently lost. It was replaced with a gearbox that was originally used in an Albion 35hp van, designed to take only one tenth of the power this engine produces and the way in which the braking system has been modified means that this installation severely compromises the braking of the vehicle. “For the next stage of the Sunbeam’s restoration story, we need to build a new gearbox from scratch. As the original gearbox no longer exists […]

CONCOURS OF ELEGANCE ARRIVES IN SCOTLAND – FILM FROM HIGHLAND TOUR – DAYS 1 AND 2

Scotland Concours of Elegance Highland Tour

September 3, 2015 Staff Comments Off

A week of motoring celebrations in Scotland is underway with the Concours of Elegance Highland Tour, now complete with the arrival of the cars in Edinburgh this evening. More than 50 incredible pieces of automotive history dating from a 1903 Mercedes 60HP Simplex to a 2015 Ferrari La Ferrari took part in the tour, covering over 200 miles through Scotland, arriving the centre of Edinburgh on Thursday afternoon. A welcome party aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia officially opens the Concours of Elegance in Edinburgh tonight, and sees the inaugural Scottish Motoring Hall of Fame presented by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers and Bridge of Weir Leather Company. The three-day Concours of Elegance itself opens in the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh on Friday 4 September following a parade down the […]

Napier-Railton and Napier-Campbell Blue Bird

Brooklands Autumn Motorsport Festival

September 3, 2015 Staff Comments Off

Now in its fifth year, the annual Motorsport Festival at the Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey always has something new to amaze visitors. Among the vast number of competition cars from all eras booked to appear on Sunday 11th October, this year’s Festival will for the first time be welcoming the 22.3-litre W12-engined Napier-Campbell Blue Bird. In 1927, on the Pendine Sands in Wales, this Land Speed Record car set a new record at an average 174.883mph on the two-way run, with Malcolm Campbell at the wheel. What’s more, the Blue Bird will be run with the Napier-Railton, the all-time Brooklands lap record-holder – and a car that broke 47 world speed records between 1933 and 1937. Other highlights at the Festival include a recreation of the 1905 Fiat Land Speed Record car, powered by a genuine 16.5-litre Isotta Fraschini V6 […]

Rare Alvis at September Baron’s Auction

September 3, 2015 Staff Comments Off

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 […]

Film Interview with Sir Stirling Moss

September 3, 2015 Staff Comments Off

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 […]

Aston Martin DB9 GT Bond Edition

September 2, 2015 Michael Carnell Comments Off

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 […]

Keno Brothers Fine Automobile Auction

September 2, 2015 Michael Carnell Comments Off

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 […]

VotW – TR7 Is A Very British Wedge

September 2, 2015 Michael Carnell Comments Off

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 […]

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu Dies at 88

September 1, 2015 Staff Comments Off

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 […]

Bentley at the Palace of Holyroodhouse Concours of Elegance

September 1, 2015 Michael Carnell Comments Off

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 […]

Sneak Peek – New Site Coming Tomorrow

August 31, 2015 Michael Carnell Comments Off

Revision note: I was so deep in the technical details that I missed an obvious error – the go-live is September 1, not October. Just goes to show that there will always be something. This is a bit of internal business, but it is one that has been coming for a long time – and is long overdue. Tomorrow, yes tomorrow, October September 1, 2015, we will launch the new Just British website. You can see a bit of a sneak peek in the picture below. Although the site will look different, it shouldn’t look jarringly so. Well, that is unless you are surfing from a mobile device such as a tablet or smart-phone. While our current design looks fine on a normal computer, it is horrible on a mobile device. There, I said it. I admit it. The […]