Sunbeams at the Columbia British Classics X 5
Events

Sunbeams at the Columbia British Classics X

This just in from Eric Gibeaut on the Columbia British Classics X show this past weekend and all the Sunbeams in attendance. Unfortunately, I fell ill and was unable to attend, but I have been told the weather turned out beautiful and it was a great show. As at previous events, Sunbeam owners from 5 different states – including Ohio and Florida- got together a few days before the show to drive their cars and socialize in the host hotel’s hospitality suite – which also had a swap meet area that had many rare and interesting parts for sale. The plan was for everyone to participate in the group drive around Lake Murray on Friday afternoon but then the rain started coming down pretty hard. A few brave souls did complete the trip around the lake but some came back […]
Looking for Stories of MG's Abingdon Factory
Classic Cars

Looking for Stories of MG’s Abingdon Factory

Bob Frampton, who lives in Abingdon, is fishing for memories from past workers at the town’s historic MG manufacturer. Frampton has dedicated his retirement to his town’s history is tracking down anecdotes about an iconic car plant. The Oxford Mail has published this story about Bob Frampton and the book he hopes to write. Peachcroft resident Mr Frampton, 69, said: “I wanted to capture the memories that are not recorded. What people recall.”
WORLD DEBUT FOR LAND ROVER SERIES I ‘REBORN’ AT 2016 TECHNO-CLASSICA 5
Land Rover

World Debut of Land Rover Classic Reborn Series

Land Rover Classic is underscoring its commitment to providing the very best cars, services, parts and experiences to passionate Land Rover customers with the launch of the ‘Reborn’ initiative for the iconic Series I at Techno-Classica in Essen, Germany. Reborn offers 25 prospective customers the unique opportunity to purchase an original and highly collectable Land Rover Series I directly from Land Rover Classic. Land Rover Classic’s expert team has drawn on decades of experience to hand-pick 25 Series I chassis from Land Rover’s global network. Each model will undergo a complete restoration according to the brand’s original 1948 factory specification and using Land Rover Classic Parts to preserve authenticity. This includes the choice of five period finishes including Light Green, Bronze Green, RAF Blue, Dove Grey and Poppy Red. Customers will be able to select their preferred base vehicle with […]
Manual Transmission for V12 Astom Martin Vantage S 4
Highlights

Manual Transmission for V12 Aston Martin Vantage S

Underlining its commitment to building exceptional sports cars that appeal to the most discerning enthusiasts, Aston Martin has ushered in its 17MY range by offering the sensational V12 Vantage S with a manual transmission. True icons of pure performance blessed with exceptional agility, each V12 Vantage S transmission option delivers its own unique character and dynamic emphasis; the manual unashamedly championing classic tradition and total driver engagement, while the Sportshift™ III transmission offers a more contemporary driving experience. Both exude the unrivaled sporting qualities for which the V12 Vantage S is renowned.
Jaguar F-TYPE Honored With 2016 Vincentric Best Value in America Award
Highlights

Jaguar F-TYPE Honored With 2016 Vincentric Best Value in America Award

Jaguar is proud to announce that the F-TYPE was awarded the 2016 Vincentric Best Value in America award for the Luxury Sports Car segment. This marks the third year the F-TYPE has received the honor. The Vincentric Best Value in America awards, now in its 12th year, are model specific honors that determine the best value in each segment. Value is determined using a statistical analysis that incorporates the total cost of ownership of all vehicles for the 2016 model year along with the current market price of those vehicles. Since its introduction in 2014, the Jaguar F-TYPE range has expanded from three models to six. The 2017 lineup will consist of the F-TYPE, F-TYPE S, and the recently announced range-topping F-TYPE SVR. A new entry model F-TYPE will feature a supercharged 340-hp 3.0L V6 mated to the 6-speed manual […]
GT Speed Black Edition coupe
Highlights

Bentley Unveils New GT Speed and Black Edition

Bentley unveils today the revised Continental GT Speed, raising the bar even further in terms of exclusivity and performance. The fastest production Bentley ever, with a top speed of 206 mph (331 km/h), now delivers even more power and torque, and a striking new Black Edition model joins the Speed family. Engineers at Bentley in Crewe have developed even more muscle from the Continental’s iconic 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine. The GT Speed now produces 642 PS – up from 635 PS – and 20 Nm of extra torque, bringing its total to a forceful 840 Nm. This additional torque is applied through the entire rev range via careful reoptimisation of boost control, raising the Grand Tourer’s renowned “torque plateau” of continuous maximum torque delivery from 2,000-5,000 rpm, and bringing even greater acceleration performance. As a result, the 0-60 mph sprint […]
QUEEN’S BENTLEY GOES UP FOR SALE ON AUTO TRADER
Classic Cars

Queen’s Bentley Goes Up For Sale

The Queen’s Bentley Mulsanne limousine has gone on sale for just under £200,000 on Auto Trader in the UK. This rolling piece of history was reserved for exclusive use by the Monarch during a two-year period from 2012 to 2014 when the Bentley was retired from Royal duties. The Mulsanne was pressed into service by the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations and for a unique visit to 10 Downing Street where she attended her first-ever cabinet meeting with Prime Minister, David Cameron, who greeted her on her arrival. The limousine was first prepared and registered by Bentley in Crewe at its headquarters for exclusive use by the Queen. The Royal wheels features several upgrades including walnut burr veneered picnic tables, door panels and rear quarter vanity mirrors. There are embroidered Bentley emblems to all seats and the car runs […]
McLaren 570S Portimao-15417
McLaren

McLaren 570S Coupé Named Best of Best

The McLaren 570S Coupé has received the highest accolade at the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2016, being named ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best’ for design quality and groundbreaking design. The internationally renowned awards were judged by a highly regarded independent jury of 41 members, and this latest award celebrates the aerodynamic focus of the 570S Coupé which introduces the McLaren design language to the sports car segment for the first time. The Red Dot Award: Product Design 2016 saw around 5,200 items entered, and the Red Dot jury, consisting of independent designers, design professors and specialist journalists were unanimous in awarding the first model in the McLaren Sports Series with the coveted ‘Red Dot: Best of the Best’ title. Taut body lines mark the 570S Coupé out from the competition, and the final design is closely matched to […]
MG Using Augmented Reality To Show Of GS SUV
MG

MG Using Augmented Reality to Show Off GS

In a first for MG Motor UK, the manufacturer is making advances in technology by giving consumers the opportunity to see its highly anticipated SUV using augmented reality. For those who aren’t familiar with this term, augmented reality is a way of superimposing virtual content into our everyday surroundings. This can be achieved with any electronic device that has a screen and a camera. Through clever technology, the device takes a photo of whatever you’re looking at and superimposes a 3D image onto it. You could be looking at a box that turns into a house or a new pair of shoes. In this instance, and more simply put, you can interact with the MG GS. This weekend (Friday 1st April to Sunday 3rd April), at the Gadget Show in Birmingham and the first race in the Dunlop MSA British […]
Custom Torsion Rig Design
Caterham

Cycle Tech Delivers Lightweight Chassis for Caterham

A trio of British companies has produced the world’s first car chassis using butted tubing technology taken from bicycle production. Famous bicycle tube-makers Reynolds Technology, high-quality Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) consultancy Simpact and sportscar maker Caterham Cars shaved more than 10% off the weight of the already lightweight chassis of the iconic Caterham Seven. The research and development project unveiled a prototype Seven using the new technology and processes at the Niche Vehicle Network Symposium on Wednesday, March 16. Caterham believes that an ultra-lightweight Seven using the new technology would cost between £1,000 and £2,000 as an option on the standard vehicle but could be taken up by as much as a fifth of future Caterham customers. Reynolds, which first patented the process for making butted tubes in 1897, provided the tubing technology for the initiative and had to develop […]
Lotus Kuwait Showroom opens with Lotus Evora 400 unveiling
Corporate Business

Lotus Kuwait Showroom Opens with Lotus Evora 400 Unveiling

An automotive legend comes to Kuwait, with the official opening of the brand new Lotus showroom in Kuwait City’s Shuwaikh district, marked with the unveiling of the exhilarating Lotus Evora 400 sports car. The exciting new Lotus Kuwait facility, close to the SIRBB race circuit, is the result of a partnership between Lotus Cars Middle East, the distributor for Lotus cars in the region, and Alghanim Motors, offering new and existing customers the opportunity to experience the famous brand first hand. Officially opened today by Aslam Farikullah, Chief Operating Officer of Group Lotus plc, Mr Samir Kasem, Chief Operating Officer – Alghanim Industries and His Excellency Mr Matthew Lodge – British Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, the ceremony included esteemed guests, key media and senior management from both businesses. Joining the critically acclaimed Lotus Evora 400 at the new […]
Spitfire and GT6 Magazine
Triumph

Sad Demise of Spitfire & GT6 Magazine

Unfortunately, it looks like another magazine dedicated to our corner of the automotive hobby is biting the dust. In this case, it is Spitfire & GT6 Magazine which is/was a US based quarterly magazine of high quality devoted to the Triumph Spitfire, GT6, Herald, Vitesse and “small Triumph” crowd. In an open forum posting to the Triumph Experience message boards today, editor Shawn Frank said the following: I wish I had better news about Spitfire & GT6 Magazine but I regret to inform you that the magazine will no longer be in publication. I had sent Issue #49 to print September 2015 and have still not seen it in print. The Publisher (Magazinepublisher.com) has decided not to continue with the magazine and in fact has not communicated any future plans or lack thereof with me, the print house, advertisers, or […]
Abingdon Spares LLC Relocates to Connecticut
Corporate Business

Abingdon Spares LLC Relocates to Connecticut

Abingdon Spares, L.L.C., the World’s Largest MG TC-TD-TF Parts Specialist has recently relocated to Deep River, Connecticut from its former Walpole, New Hampshire location. The new owners  purchased the entire inventory of new and used parts, tools, manuals, posters, assorted automobilia, even the shelving, basically recreating the former New Hampshire (MG) landmark in southern New England. “We moved all that was movable, quite a collection of rare and hard to find parts assembled by former owners”. Abingdon Spares carries everything that you would need to restore a  T-series MG, from engine parts, carburetor sets and parts, complete brake systems, suspension, wood framing, interiors and tops, and chrome parts. They also provide manuals, tools, specialty lubricants as well as the hundreds of small hard to find fittings, knobs, handles, etc. that go into one of these cars. They  source many of […]
Michelle Rodriguez Goes 201 MPH in Jaguar F-TYPE SVR
Highlights

Michelle Rodriguez Goes 201 MPH in Jaguar F-TYPE SVR

The new Jaguar F-TYPE SVR, the fastest production Jaguar ever, has been put through its first high speed test drive with Fast and Furious star Michelle Rodriguez at the wheel. On a closed highway in the Nevada desert, home to the world’s fastest road race the Silver State Classic Challenge, the actress pushed the car to its top speed with the speedometer indicating 201mph – a personal top speed for Michelle. Michelle Rodriguez said: Driving this car was insane! I’ve now broken my personal speed record in the beautiful Jaguar F-TYPE SVR. Reaching 201mph felt amazing, the car drove really smoothly, all my corrections were minimal, I was super focused, and it really reacted in all the right ways. I don’t think I’d ever go this fast without a professional driver seated next to me, but oh man, it was an incredible […]
McLaren named Manufacturer of the Year by BBC Top Gear Magazine
Corporate Business

McLaren Named Top Gear’s Manufacturer of the Year

McLaren Automotive has been presented with the accolade of Manufacturer of Year in the 2016 BBC Top Gear Magazine Awards in recognition of the rapid growth and global success of the company, both achieved in so short a time. The announcement follows a ’vintage’ year for McLaren, its most successful to-date, with five new cars launched and another sales record achieved. McLaren also predicts 2015 will be its third consecutive year of profitability. Models across the three-tier McLaren range also received praise with the overall strength and breadth of the line-up highlighted as key to the award: ‘We’re not evaluating them as a product line-up, but assessing each in its own competitive environment. All of them are exceptional, arguably the very best in their class. That McLaren has got to this stage in such a short time frame speaks volumes […]
Aston Martin Launches Recruitment Program
Corporate Business

Aston Martin Launches Recruitment Program

Aston Martin has launched its first recruitment campaign to find 1,000 employees, based across its two manufacturing facilities in Gaydon, Warwickshire and St Athan, Wales.  Aston Martin is investing £200M in new products and facilities, signifying its long-term future in the United Kingdom. The company will be holding an initial recruitment event at the International Centre for Aerospace Training (ICAT) in South Wales between 11:00-15:00 on March 30. Held in conjunction with Cardiff & the Vale College and supported by the Welsh Government, the event will showcase the various roles currently available at Aston Martin as well as future training / apprenticeship opportunities. Michael Kerr, Aston Martin Group HR Director said: ‘Our new manufacturing facility is an important part of Aston Martin’s Second Century Plan and it is crucial that we have a world-class team at the heart of our […]
Rolls-Royce Dawn 2
Highlights

Rolls-Royce Dawn Named Top Gear Luxury Car of the Year

The Rolls-Royce Dawn has earned BBC Top Gear Magazine’s coveted 2016 ‘Luxury Car of the Year’ award, just days after the international launch of the car began in the winelands around Cape Town, South Africa. The most uncompromised open-top motoring experience in the world, Dawn has won plaudits from some of the most highly respected international commentators, with many declaring that the new Rolls-Royce redefines the notion of a true super-luxury drophead. Dawn, the fourth distinctive model in the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars family, is powered by an effortlessly smooth 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine and features a multi-layer foldaway fabric roof that, when in place, makes the Dawn the world’s quietest convertible car. Addressing the desires of a significantly younger customer base, Dawn delivers timeless refinement and is the most social car the marque has ever produced. Naming the Rolls-Royce Dawn […]
History of Jaguar Cars
Highlights

VotW – A History of Jaguar Cars

Strange how time gets away from us. I thought we had featured Jaguar Cars recently in our Video of the Week (VotW) series, but on looking back that proved not to be the case. I had to go way back into 2015 to find such a video. How could this be? So let us reconcile that now with a video with is a short history of Jaguar Cars. Of course nothing less that a full television series could possibly do the span of years of Jaguar justice, but this video does present a good overview of the highlights. As most good British car buffs know, Jaguar as we know it was originally founded as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922. They originally made motorcycle sidecars before developing bodies for passenger cars. Under the ownership of Swallow Sidecar (S.S.) gave way […]
XKSS Side Render Preview (1)
Classic Cars

Jaguar to Build Iconic XKSS

Jaguar is to build the stunning XKSS as an ultra-exclusive continuation model. Nine new XKSS’s – often referred to by experts as the world’s first supercar – will be hand built by Jaguar Classic to the exact specification as they appeared in 1957, replacing the cars lost due to the famous Browns Lane factory fire. Tim Hannig, Director Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “The XKSS occupies a unique place in Jaguar’s history and is a car coveted by collectors the world over for its exclusivity and unmistakable design. “Jaguar Classic’s highly skilled team of engineers and technicians will draw on decades of knowledge to ensure each of the nine cars is completely authentic and crafted to the highest quality. “Our continuation XKSS reaffirms our commitment to nurture the passion and enthusiasm for Jaguar’s illustrious past by offering exceptional cars, services, […]
Aston Martin GREAT
People

Aston Martin CEO Joins Select Team of GREAT British Ambassadors

Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer has been selected to become an ambassador for the UK Government’s GREAT Britain campaign, an initiative that promotes British business, tourism and education around the world, showcasing the very best of what Britain has to offer. British luxury carmaker Aston Martin is already a partner of GREAT so it is fitting for the company’s CEO to spearhead its involvement. Speaking about his ambassadorial role with the GREAT campaign, Dr Palmer said: “Aston Martin is proud to be a British company that does business in the global economy. Just a few weeks ago we launched the new DB11 and we have already taken orders for 1,400 cars, which will be sold in both the domestic and export markets. “Britain is indeed a GREAT place to visit, study and do business so it is very easy […]