CATERHAM CARS AMONG STAR ATTRACTIONS AT 10TH ANNUAL SUPERCAR EVENT

Caterham Cars at Top Gear Supercar Event

June 20, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Caterham Cars will be one of the stars of this year’s Supercar Event – the 10th anniversary of the charity initiative. The Supercar Event is an annual family-based event which offers fun activates such as supercar and helicopter rides, land hovercrafts and a Stay Safe Driving School for children aged 14 and over. The event runs from over the weekend of July 2/3 at the famous Top Gear track at Dunsfold Park. It will be open to the public from 9am to 4:30pm each day. At the event, Caterham will have the exhilarating, top-of-the-range Seven 620R on display and will offer fans the mouth-watering opportunity of having a passenger ride with a skilled instructor in the car – the most powerful production Seven ever built. The Seven 620R will also form part of the event’s main parade, which travels round […]

Lotus 18 – Colin Chapman’s U-turn

June 16, 2016 Staff Comments Off

In 1960, Colin Chapman sought to identify the most straightforward and uncomplicated way of building a Formula 1 car. The result was his first rear-engined design, the trendsetting Lotus 18. Lotus 18 – Colin Chapman’s U-turn by Mark Whitelock, the new book from Veloce Publishing, charts the 18’s competition history, from its inception, up to 1966 – via sensational victories over Ferrari at Monaco and the Nürburgring. Colin Chapman’s previous attempts at producing a Formula 1 car had been a complete disappointment. Despite being technically advanced, extreme lightness led to numerous structural failures. In 1960, Chapman decided to start with a clean sheet of paper, assessing the basic requirements for a contemporary Formula 1 car, and identifying how to achieve them in the most straightforward, uncomplicated way. The result was one of Chapman’s greatest creations – the Lotus 18 – a […]

MINI Announces UK Only John Cooper Works Challenge

June 16, 2016 Staff Comments Off

The new MINI Cooper John Cooper Works Challenge takes track-driving performance to a new level, while also offering a thrilling on-road driving experience that doesn’t sacrifice everyday comforts and refinement.

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Bentley Return to Goodwood Festival of Speed

June 15, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Bentley Motors returns to Goodwood Festival of Speed 2016 with a trio of powerful and luxurious UK debuts. The award-winning Bentayga SUV and new Flying Spur V8 S sedan will demonstrate their performance credentials on the Goodwood hill-climb, while both models will also be displayed on the Bentley stand alongside the new Continental GT Speed – the fastest production Bentley ever.

VotW – Magic Carpet – MG 1100

June 11, 2016 Michael Carnell Comments Off

Our Video of the Week (VotW) this go round comes by way of the British Motor Corporation of 1962. It is entitled “Magic Carpet” and is a nice period marketing piece for the MG 1100. The BMC family of 1100 and 1300 sedans were the big brothers to the Mini. Designated AD016, they were badge engineered as Austin, MG, Riley, and Morris to name a few. They were enjoyable little people movers and were the top selling, or one of the top selling cars, in Britain for many years. Although they never reached that same level of popularity here in the US, there did used to be quite a number of them around. Long ago I had a website devoted to the MG 1100, and although I haven’t updated it in a long time you can still find it at http://justbritish.com/mg1100. […]

Triumph Spitfire Door Handle Mechanicals

June 9, 2016 Michael Carnell Comments Off

Welcome to our new post category – “Road Ink“. The first of this new category is a short video on the innards of a Triumph Spitfire door mechanism. These mechanics are notorious for going out of alignment and even breaking. When this happens, you can no long open the car’s door from the outside. Quite frustrating, trust me! What is even more frustrating is that the fairly simple repair parts are not available for purchase. You either get to fork out over $200 for a complete unit, or attempt for use used or alternative parts. This latter choice is what those of us not made of money would prefer to do, but since this unit was always viewed as a single item by Triumph and BL, documentation is scarce. Hence this video. I just want to take a few moments […]

McLaren Returns to Goodwood Festival of Speed

June 8, 2016 Staff Comments Off

McLaren Automotive will return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer celebrating race wins and titles spanning more than five decades. McLaren will honour the drivers and championships where the team has claimed the top step of the podium, in the ultimate expression of ‘Full Throttle – The Endless Pursuit of Power’. McLaren House will once again return to the lawns of the Goodwood Estate, with iconic racers displayed alongside the full range of modern-day McLaren models in the Sports Series, Super Series and Ultimate Series. The broad selection of models, spanning more than 50 years of the McLaren name, will be the most extensive display of McLaren models ever showcased, including the new 570GT. As in previous years, McLaren will also be present in the Supercar Paddock with models from each of the three tier range. The recently announced […]

New Morgan to the US – View from One Dealer

June 8, 2016 Michael Carnell Comments Off

This piece was sent to us by our friend Christopher Silvestri who runs Christopher John, LTD down in Florida. They are the U.S.’s newest Morgan dealer, and like us, have high hopes for the reintroduction of new 4-wheeled Morgan cars to our shores. With the Passing of the new replica law, the Morgan V6 Roadster’s return to the U.S. is on the not too distant horizon! And this Daytona area Morgan dealer is ready. While it has been hard for the Morgan Car Company to bring four wheel cars into the U.S. due to stringent emissions and safety laws in recent years, a new law passed in December of 2015 is allowing Morgan dealers to begin gearing up for new four-wheeled Morgan cars later this year. The classic Morgan range fits into the “replica” area of the law with brand new […]

VotW – 1957 Aston Martin Mk III – Perfectly Awful

June 8, 2016 Michael Carnell 3

Our “Video of the Week” this time is from Petrolicious and is of a 1957 Aston Martin Mk III that the owner bills as “perfectly awful.” And no, that is not an insult, it is a term of endearment. This is not one of those over-restored, pampered, show-only cars. This is an honest to god, survivor, original. And it is simply wonderful. “Some day, down in the future, whoever ends up with this car when it leaves my garage—they may choose to restore it,” says Dave Adams. “…but I hope if and when that happens, they do it with the correct lens so it’s not over-restored.” This 1957 Aston Martin Mk III is actually the prototype for the Mk III range, and was not only used for official testing and design duties, but had also been entered into the Monte […]

Jaguar F-PACE global media drives in Montenegro

F-PACE Helps Boost Jaguar Land Rover to Record Breaking May

June 7, 2016 Staff 1

The all-new Jaguar F-PACE helped propel Jaguar Land Rover to its best ever May, with retail sales of 44,946 vehicles, up 18% on May 2015. This is the company’s fifth consecutive record-breaking month. Jaguar Land Rover sold 245,100 vehicles in the first five months of 2016, 23% up on the same period in the prior year. The Jaguar F-PACE, which is designed, engineered, and manufactured in the UK, has seen impressive results this month, with more than 3,000 vehicles sold worldwide. The new family sports car is the company’s fastest selling Jaguar ever. Retail sales for the month of May were up year-on-year across all regions: 28% in China, 24% in Europe, 23% in the UK and 8% in North America. Other Overseas markets were up 6% year-on-year.

McLaren Special Operations Creates Limited Edition Carbon Series LT

June 7, 2016 Staff Comments Off

McLaren Special Operations, the bespoke division of McLaren Automotive, has announced the creation of the MSO Carbon Series LT. Strictly limited to 25 units globally – all already sold – and based on the 675LT Spider, the Carbon Series LT has been produced in response to requests from McLaren customers captivated by the visual carbon fibre bodied McLaren P1™displayed recently at the International Geneva Motor Show. Staying true to the ‘Longtail’ ethos, established by the McLaren F1 in the late 1990s, the MSO Carbon Series LT has been developed with a focus on light weight and optimised aerodynamic performance. Applying gloss carbon fibre to the entire body of the car further extends its appeal to bring a brutal beauty to the existing 675LT Spider body, showcasing the skills of the McLaren bespoke division.

The world’s first Mini Census – the results!

Results of Worlds First Mini Census

June 6, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Over half of the world’s Minis are boys, with the most popular name being Marvin, according to the world’s first ever Mini Census. The survey, carried out by the organisers of Mini World Live, which takes place at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northants, on July 10, 2016, received responses from Mini owners all over the globe, including places as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Malta and the USA. The results show that in total, 51% of the world’s Mini population is male, 35% are female and 14% are neither – although anyone who’s ever owned a Mini knows it’s more than just a car.

Two Early E-Type Barn Finds Go To Auction

June 6, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Two early Jaguar E-type barn finds, both ideal candidates for restoration projects, will be auctioned by Classic Car Auctions (CCA) at the June Sale on Saturday 18th June at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa. The first of the pair is a 1963 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Series I Fixedhead Coupe. Clearly a well-loved car, the first owner kept it for 30 years before it was passed on to its second owner in 1993. Driven for only two years, the car was then tucked away in a barn and has recently been discovered an amazing 20 years later. This early E-Type is an original, highly desirable, UK right-hand drive manual now in need of some TLC. Beneath the dust, this blue E-type presents in partially dismantled condition with the bumpers, headlamp covers, engine air filter and interior carpets removed. The bodywork […]

MG3 comes to the rescue on new children’s digital channel

MG3 Comes To Rescue on Dr Molly Children’s Show

June 2, 2016 Staff Comments Off

The super-fun MG3 has taken on a new role; it is now the ‘Mollymobile’, transporter of Dr Molly and Stripes to tend to children’s broken toys! Today, E-Bop.tv, a new children’s digital channel, has launched. MG Motor is pleased to announce a collaboration with E-Bop.tv and be part of their Dr Molly series. Dr Molly specialises in fixing broken toys so, when a call comes through to Dr Molly HQ from a child in need, she calls upon her ‘Mollymobile’ MG3 to get her there as quickly as possible. Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing for MG, said: “We are really pleased to be working with E-Bop.tv and to be involved in one of their new programmes. It’s fantastic to know that Dr Molly will be heading out to visit her patients in an MG3 as it reflects the […]

Austin Mini Takes on Peking to Paris Motor Challenge

June 2, 2016 Staff Comments Off

This year’s Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, billed as the world’s toughest endurance rally for classic and vintage cars, will feature a Mini for the first time in the event’s history. Concerned for the Packard, Paul contacted Owen Turner from the Rover Centre whom he had met on last year’s Sahara Challenge, for some advice and seeing just how much work still needed to be done on the old American car, advised against taking it on the grueling 36-day 8,500mile event that journeys through some extremely difficult terrain. Needing a car in a hurry to meet the shipping deadline, the best option was to buy the Mini Owen had prepared for himself for the 2015 Marrakesh event as well as Le Jog. Owen explains: “The Packard needed a lot of work still doing and would not have coped with the […]

Bentley Best of British at Nürburgring

May 31, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Bentley Motorsport has out-performed its second-year target for the Nürburgring 24 Hours by finishing well inside the top-ten with a seventh place result by the #38 Continental GT3 of European partner team Bentley Team Abt. The yellow #38 Deutsche Post-liveried Continental GT3 was the highest finishing British entry in the gruelling 24-hour endurance race, and beat all but two manufacturers, including many German marques that consider the 25 km track their home. Drivers Guy Smith (GB), Fabien Hamprecht (DE), Christian Menzel (DE) and Chris Brück (DE) completed 131 laps of the Nürburgring Nordschleife to cross the line ahead of more than 150 cars. “Success at the Nürburgring 24 hours requires at least a three-year plan and we’re pleased that at the end of year two we’re ahead of our target,”commented Bentely’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush. “We set out to […]

Veloce Releases More Classic Automotive Books

May 28, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Available again in print after a long absence, Veloce Publishing is re-releasing a number of go-to titles for the classic British car enthusiast. These titles include How to Paint Classic Cars, Classic British Car Electrical Systems, and Triumph TR2, 3, 3A, 4 & 4A – Enthusiast’s Restoration Manual. Veloce specialises in fine automotive books of all types, ranging from practical do-it-yourself guides to leatherbound limited editions. Their philosophy is that “every one of our books will be of the highest quality in terms of content and presentation, as well as being of true value to the purchaser.” How to Paint Classic Cars Available again after a long absence! Taking you step-by-step through each stage of the painting process, from planning, preparation, and safety, to final painting and finishing, this book will give you the skills and the confidence you need for […]

CCA Auctions Highwing Rare Esprit during 40th Anniversary of Lotus Esprit

May 27, 2016 Staff Comments Off

A 1992 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE ‘High Wing’, one of just two original factory press cars, will be auctioned at Classic Car Auctions’ (CCA) June Sale on Saturday 18th June, at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa. In the year that Lotus celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Esprit, this car is the perfect opportunity to acquire an important example of the iconic model. This rare ‘High Wing’ variant, which appeared on the front covers of motoring magazines in the early 1990s and at various motor shows at the time of the model’s launch, will be offered for sale with an estimate of between £22,000 and £26,000.

Jaguar Design: A Story of Style – Review

May 26, 2016 Michael Carnell Comments Off

I have mentioned this book a few times before, but I owe it to you to give a more informative review. Jaguar Design: A Story of Style, is as stunning book both in presentation and in content. As billed by publisher Porter Press, this is, essentially, the story of three men — Jaguar company founder and owner Sir William Lyons, aerodynamicist Malcolm Sayer and current Design Director Ian Callum — and how they shaped the cars that made Jaguar famous. The line that really struck me, and it actually occurs in Ian Callum’s introduction, is in answer to the question, “Should not form follow function?” To this Callum replied, “Yes, of course, but one of the functions of a Jaguar is to be beautiful.” In a nutshell, that hits at the core of what makes a Jaguar a Jaguar, and what […]

Bentley Set to Return to Green Hell

May 25, 2016 Staff Comments Off

Bentley Motorsport will return to the Nürburgring Nordschleife this weekend in a bid to conquer ‘the green hell’ with its Continental GT3, as the proving ground for road and race cars alike once again plays host to the world’s toughest endurance race, Nürburgring 24 Hours. The two-car campaign will be run by Bentley’s Crewe-based works outfit – including senior personnel John Wickham, David Argent and Christian Loriaux – in conjunction with its new European partner team, Bentley Team ABT Sportsline.