World-renowned classic car specialist, JD Classics, has appointed former Lotus Group PLC Chief Executive Jean-Marc Gales as CEO. Jean-Marc Gales joins JD Classics from Lotus Group PLC where he was appointed CEO in 2014 and was responsible for transforming the business, driving rapid profitability growth for the iconic brand. Bringing with him more than 30 years’ experience in executive roles within the automotive industry, Gales has led Marketing for Volkswagen and Fiat Groups, worked as Global Sales Director for Mercedes-Benz and stood as President of PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC reported May 2018 US sales: Land Rover reached a new May sales high of 7,103 units, an increase of 42 percent from 4,993 in May 2017; Jaguar sales were 2,366 units, a 24 percent decrease from 3,113 units in May 2017. Jaguar Land Rover May US sales for both brands hit 9,469 units, a 17 percent increase from the previous 8,106 units in May 2017. Jaguar Land Rover continues to achieve strong monthly sales. Our SUVs from both Jaguar and Land Rover clearly are aligned with the current trends in the market place and offer our customers a variety of distinct choices. – Joe Eberhardt President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC For the full year 2017, Jaguar Land Rover US sales reached 114,333 units, up nine percent compared to 105,104 units in […]

Geely Holding Group, China’s leading privately-owned automotive group, announced today that Mr. Feng Qingfeng, vice president and chief technical officer of Geely Auto Group, has been appointed to succeed Jean-Marc Gales as the chief executive officer of Group Lotus effective immediately. Mr. Jean-Marc Gales has chosen to leave for personal reasons and will become Chief Strategic Advisor to Lotus Chairman, Daniel Donghui Li. Geely Holding, which acquired a controlling stake in Group Lotus in 2017, thanked Mr. Gales for his contribution to the company over the past four years.

A significant milestone was reached today as the ‘key’ to the building that will house the new £50m McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) was handed over to McLaren Automotive ahead of final fitting out. The MCTC in the Sheffield region will be the Yorkshire-based facility where McLaren will innovate the process for making the ultra lightweight and strong carbon fiber tubs that are at the heart of all of its luxury family of sports cars and supercars. The finished tubs will then be sent to the McLaren Production Centre in Surrey where the company’s vehicles have been hand-assembled since 2011.

The Jaguar Owners Association of North Texas (JOANT) again held its Concours D’Elegance in the quaint setting of the Down Town Square in Carrollton Texas. This event had a purpose greater than giving Jaguar Owners the opportunity to put their cars on display. That purpose was to honor longtime club member and major contributor to the success of the club, David Nichols. David had been a member for longer than anyone can remember and held almost every position needed to keep the club running. Lately, he has been the Chief Judge for the concours, so holding this event in his honor was only fitting.

We got this report from reader Russell Browne regarding the Spring Autojumble at Beaulieu and the British Racing Motors (BRM) V16 that made an appearance there. A quick line and photo from the Spring Autojumble at Beaulieu this side of the pond. Last weekend the weather was good for the Beaulieu Spring Autojumble fo 19/ 20 May 2018. Thousands of people gathered to look for sought-after bits and pieces amongst the many trade stands. The photo was taken at lunchtime when many folk made for the benches in the shade of the oaks. The highlight drawing many people was the startup of the 1950 BRM V16 with a newly restored engine. The Chief Engineer of the National Motor Museum took to the cockpit of the historic British Formula One car for the auspicious occasion. The V16 came to life immediately and sounded fantastic! […]

The McLaren 720S has added to its trophy haul by winning the top Best of the Best category of the 2018 Red Dot Design Awards. It is the second time that a new McLaren has been awarded the international seal of outstanding design quality, following the recognition of the McLaren 570S Coupé in 2016. The second-generation Super Series provides a new interpretation of McLaren design language, with a dedication to aerodynamics principles and was singled out by the 40 international judges for its “innovative symbiosis of aesthetics and function”. Criteria for the competition, which is one of the world’s largest design contests, include innovation, functionality, formal quality, ergonomics, and durability. Of the 6,300 products from 59 countries vying for the ultimate Red Dot title in 2018, just one percent were chosen as worthy of the Best of the Best title.

Our video this week comes from our friends over at Take to the Road. In fact, the featured car, a Vauxhall Viceroy, belongs to the site’s own Niall Julian. He told me this about his car and the video: I own a 1982 Vauxhall Viceroy, a car that I doubt many in N America have ever heard of, despite the General Motors connection. It was a mid range luxury saloon, based on the Opel Commodore C from West Germany. The car was first registered to Vauxhall UK in Luton and a couple of weeks ago I took the Viceroy back to where its journey first started. I went to the Vauxhall Heritage Centre and also got some shots outside the factory in Luton. How could I resist a car going back to its home? In the article on Take to the Road, […]

The MG Vintage Racers (MGVR) have selected VARAC’s “Vintage Grand Prix” at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario, Canada, (Northeast of Toronto) the weekend of June 14-17 for our 2018 “Focus Event”. A “Focus Event” is an annual MGVR designated race weekend where all MG racers (and MG supporters) are encouraged to attend. It is complimented by including MG races and a variety of MG social activities and awards, including the Canadian “Simms Cup” for MGs. A large turnout of MGs will be racing, along with many other great vintage race cars! The tentative schedule calls for three days of racing – including “All-MG Races” and a “MG-Triumph Challenge Race”! Non-racing activities will include: Thursday evening’s MGVR “Meet and Greet” social at “MGVR Central” in the paddock; a “Whistle Paddock Tour”on Friday evening with food and beverage stations located throughout the paddock; and a Saturday evening “Banquet”; (It’s a lot more FUN than just […]

Joe Osborne’s first win as a McLaren Automotive Factory Driver was the headline in what turned into one of the most successful weekends in McLaren’s British GT Championship history, the 570S GT4 scoring both class wins and podiums at Snetterton. In the first race on Sunday morning, Osborne led home a one-two finish for customer Tolman Motorsport and the McLaren 570S GT4. Osborne’s car, which he shares with David Pattison, started the race sixteenth but quickly climbed the order to tenth before the safety car was called into action just a handful of minutes before the pit window opened. With the field bunched up, and the opportunity to pit coming under safety car, almost the entire field came in including Pattison, who handed over to Osborne.

Land Rover has enhanced its record-breaking Discovery Sport range with a new special Landmark edition. The new Landmark Edition salutes Discovery Sport’s success as the fastest-selling Land Rover of all time – coinciding with the brand’s year-long 70th-anniversary celebrations. Powered by Land Rover’s TD4 180PS diesel Ingenium engine, Landmark offers customers the best of the Discovery Sport range with a unique color and trim combination.

Edd China is set to return to our screens with a brand-new collaborative and real-time restoration series on YouTube. The former ‘Wheeler Dealers’ star has joined forces with long-time friend Al Cox for ‘Built by Many’, in which the intrepid duo will work with the audience to rebuild a 1968 Jaguar E-type Series 1 fixed-head coupé. Along the way, they will be delivering a wealth of ‘how to’ videos, plus a back-story on the car and the history of the legendary marque.

Abingdon Spares is happy to announce that they have recently acquired Restoration Decal, the vintage decal enterprise of the well known automotive artist and illustrator David Townsend. Abingdon Spares is now your exclusive source for vintage decals for your British car restoration. These beautifully reproduced decals are printed in the most accurate colors and designs, printed on 3M ControlTac and laminated for durability, giving you years of excellent service. They are guaranteed to add that finishing touch to your project. Restoration Decals are accurate reproductions of labels and decals that are so often missing or damaged on older classics. Now you can complete the restoration of your classic MG, Austin Healey, Triumph, Jaguar and many other classic British automobiles with these exact replicas of the factory installed decals. You can see all the decals that are available at on the […]

LBL only runs every 10 years this is the 6th rally taking place on the original route first done in 1958

A casual gathering for only British cars. To meet new friends and share stories about driving our LBC’s. Anyone bringing a child will get a model of a British car.

A casual gathering of only British cars. To meet new friends and share stories about the fun of driving our LBC’s. Anyone bringing a child will receive a model of a British car.

As part of a major restructure of Jaguar Land Rover global Marketing, Sales, Service and Public Relations functions, Jaguar Land Rover UK announces Rawdon Glover as UK Managing Director. Jeremy Hicks remains with the business to take up a new position of (Global) Market Performance Director. Effective 2nd July Anthony Bradbury Global Marketing Communications Director has been appointed to the position of UK Marketing Director with Scott Dicken taking up the role of UK Sales Director. Rawdon Glover said: I am delighted to be taking the role of Managing Director for Jaguar Land Rover UK at such an exciting time for the industry. There is so much opportunity to take advantage of with the advent of our electric revolution alongside the introduction of exciting new vehicles and continued development of our retailer network. I can’t wait to get started. With an […]

The official, unauthorized feeder event for MINI Takes The States 2018