Classic Cars

Five superb variations of the Mini, all with fascinating stories, are set to go under the hammer at Classic Car Auctions March sale held at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show. The Mini which celebrated a significant birthday throughout 2019 continues to hold the limelight and is one of the most recognisable cars on the road. It also spawned a number of derivatives making it an extremely versatile car for its size.

A British icon that was designed by Aston Martin in the late 1970’s to show off the capabilities of its new engineering facility is to be restored by CMC, Classic Motor Cars in Bridgnorth. The Aston Martin Bulldog, styled by William Towns, is a one off concept car that Aston Martin created to prove that it was not only a small company of renowned motoring artisans but that it’s engineering prowess was also world class.

The London Concours, presented by Montres Breguet, has announced the second of its special feature displays – The Collector –  which each year shines a light on one individual’s personal car collection. This year, London Concours’ Collector is none other than famed automotive designer, Ian Callum CBE. Ian has been at the forefront of automotive design for decades, penning designs for the likes of Ford, TWR Design, Jaguar Land Rover and is a founding member of new design and engineering business – CALLUM. Having designed veritable icons like the Aston Martin Vanquish and most Jaguar products from the early 2000s until 2019, Ian’s own car collection is a fascinating insight into his own personal milestone moments in car design and engineering. Ian will showcase his very own Jaguar XJC, Porsche 911 (993), 1932 Ford Model B and more; each subtly modified by […]

Classic Engines, Modern Fuel: The Problems, The Solutions by Paul Ireland brings together a collection of popular articles previously published by the author in assorted car magazines. Coming out in the UK in March and the US in April, the book is based on in-depth research carried out at Manchester University, the articles investigate how classic engines respond to modern petrol/gasoline, and the results are presented here in a way that any enthusiast can understand. One chapter ranks some brands and grades of modern petrol/gasoline, helping you choose the best type for your vehicle, while other chapters present the findings that debunk some of the myths about petrol/gasoline and engines. Real data is provided to help you tune your classic vehicle, and ensuring that it runs as it should. You will be able to experience the pleasure of driving your […]

The Great British Rally by Graham Robson is the complete history of British international rally events, starting with the very first RAC rally of 1932, which included 1000 miles of road motoring, when a mere three driving tests were needed to produce a result. By 1951 an international permit had been achieved, a speed element was included, and the ‘Rally of the Tests’ ran until 1960. From 1961, the event took on a number of high-speed, loose-surfaced Special Stages, the Scandinavian influence became clear, and the event took on a World Championship qualification in 1973. In that time, competing cars had progressed from having perhaps 50bhp to at least 300bhp, and even more high-tech machines with 500bhp and four-wheel-drive would follow.

An ultra-rare 1960 Triumph TRS sports car with Le Mans provenance has been acquired for sale by Bicester Heritage-based specialists in post-war British sports cars, Pendine Historic Cars, offering an unmissable opportunity for collectors of the world’s most important historic race cars. As one of just four ever built, the ex-works 1960 Triumph TRS is famous for playing a significant role in British motoring history as one of three cars which competed in Triumph’s 1960 and 1961 assault in the 24 hours of Le Mans, with their performance resulting in the prestigious manufacturer’s team prize. Registered as ‘927 HP’, the car set the scene for the yet to be released TR4 featuring one of the very rare ‘Sabrina’ twin cam prototype engines, developed specifically for the demanding Le Mans race by the Triumph Competition department in 1959, of which only […]

The MG Car Club are sorry to announce that due to Silverstone Circuits Limited’s decision to carry out essential track maintenance during June 2019, MGLive! has lost its venue and dates. Silverstone has been the home of MGLive! since its inception as the MG Car Club’s annual national meeting, meaning the loss of the opportunity to host the event at Silverstone has hit the Club very hard sentimentally. The MG Car Club are now exploring options to move the event to a new location and date, with further announcements to be made on this in due course once arrangements are in place.

The latest title from Porter Press takes readers behind the scenes at Aston Martin to witness the resurrection of the DB4 G.T., one of the most desirable cars ever made. Aston Martin DB4GT Continuation – History in the Making by James Page is due out this month in the UK with sales in the US shortly thereafter with a cover price of $60usd. When the Aston Martin announced in early 2017 that it would build 25 Continuation examples of this model, first made from 1959 to 1963, author James Page was granted exclusive access to key people involved in the project and to the Aston Martin Works factory where the cars took shape.

Evolution E-Types has launched an exclusive behind the scenes interview with the Evolution creator Uryk Dmyterko ahead of their showcase at the forthcoming London Classic Car Show. Evolution E-Types creator Uryk Dmyterko explains how a combination of passion and determination has evolved his successful parts supply business into building the ultimate Jaguar E-Type where quality has been redefined to another level.

Some books in this hobby are just must-haves. MGB: The Illustrated History by Jonathan Wood and Lionel Burrell is one of those books. And frankly, most of us already have it. It seems to be the first book a person gets when they buy an MGB, sometimes even before they get a repair manual.  So why are we talking about it here? Because there is a newly expanded 4th edition, that’s why. With this new edition, Veloce Publishing has taken over the job of publisher from Haynes. Veloce is known for putting out quality books in both the content and the actual construction of the volume. I have often commented on how you can count on books coming from Veloce to have beautiful covers, high-quality paper, and excellent printing. This new edition of the MGB work is no exception.

Aston Martin’s increasing commitment to historic motorsport has been cemented with the creation of Aston Martin Heritage Racing – an over-arching brand that unites the company’s assorted historic motorsport activities under one banner. In the first of several major new initiatives, Aston Martin has joined forces with Masters Historic Racing – one of the world’s leading historic race event organizers and promoters – to become its official automotive partner. The partnership places Aston Martin and its customers at the heart of the action, through a number of core activities. The most visible of these are the supply of Aston Martin road cars as Official Pace cars and Course cars for Masters Historic Racing. For 2019 this will see Aston Martin’s driver-focused sports car – the Vantage – head each of the grids at selected MHR race weekends, leading the field […]

Our video this week comes from the Sunday Times Driving section and goes by the very long title of “I inherited and MGA: How a Classic Car Changed How I Looked at Motoring”. As the lead-in to the article in the Times says: When her beloved grandfather passed away this year, Charlotte Vowden was bestowed his 1960 MGA sports car. Now driving means a lot more to the 29-year-old. Now driving means a lot more to the 29-year-old. Part of what is relayed in this video and the accompanying article goes back to our video from last week – passing on the love of the cars and the hobby to others. To a younger generation.  Since these great old cars are not seen on the road much anymore, it falls to us to take others for rides, to show off the […]

The London Concours, presented by Montres Breguet, has announced this year’s expertly curated car classes, including ‘The Great Marques’, ‘The Innovators’ and ‘The Icons’. The capital’s leading automotive garden party returns to the idyllic lawns of the Honourable Artillery Company from 5-6 June, displaying more than 70 automotive greats in seven distinct classes: Great Marques – Ferrari Great Marques – Jaguar The Icons The Innovators The Outlaws Made in Germany Lost Marques

Talking about mental health problems isn’t just for Christmas. Two former car designers want to open up and kick out the stigma attached to talking about mental health and raise money to help those in need. Car designer-turned-reverend Adam Gompertz and director of the National Transport Design Centre Craig Callum are joining the Blue Diamond Riley Specialists team, driving a 1949 MG TC from Glasgow to Monaco, to raise much-needed funds for OCD Action during this year’s Monte Carlo Classique Rally (30th January to 3rd February). Funds raised by Adam and Craig will enable OCD Action to help more people in 2019 with the mental health illness. Donations are welcomed on their Just Giving site.

The Racing History Project has unveiled their first 2019 “Legends of Racing History” at the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo; a very rare 1954 Sutton Jaguar special. The “Legends of Racing History” display, changing quarterly, features little known, rarely seen, unique and historically significant racing cars as selected by the Racing History Project advisory board. The Sutton Jaguar Special, a hand-built aluminum bodied racecar based on an XK-120, was the work of Jack Sutton, a transplanted English metal shaping legend who set up shop in North Hollywood and produced one-off bodies for Ferraris, Kurtis 500’s and this unique Jaguar.

As Bentley enters its Centenary year, the oldest remaining and first racing model – EXP 2 – will be displayed at Retromobile, Paris. The first of many unique events in 2019 that will see Bentley celebrate this landmark year, Retromobile kick-starts the world car show season between 6-10 February at Salon des Expositions, Porte de Versailles. Showcasing Bentley’s motoring evolution over the past 100 years, the British brand’s stand in Paris offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the heritage and the innovation of the British luxury car manufacturer. Joining its illustrious forebear in Paris will be the new Continental GT Convertible – the pinnacle open-top Grand Tourer.

Mini owners are being offered a fantastic opportunity to be part of the idolized little car’s unmissable 60th birthday party at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (26-28 July). Plans to salute the diminutive icon’s diamond jubilee with the biggest-ever grid of racing Minis has already been announced – but now comes confirmation of an exclusive anniversary track parade and display, too.

Aston Martin Works, the world-renowned heritage arm of British luxury sports car maker Aston Martin Lagonda, is promising visitors to the upcoming Retromobile Show in Paris next month an unprecedented view of one of the brand’s rarest and most sought-after classic cars – Aston Martin DB4 Convertible, chassis no. 1173. This one-off model, built in 1963 at the historic home of Aston Martin in Newport Pagnell – now center of operations for the Aston Martin Works heritage sales, service, and restoration business – is unique as, of the circa 70 DB4 Convertibles made by the brand between 1961 and 1963, chassis no 1173 is the only car known to have been built by David Brown’s factory team with the more potent DB4 GT engine as an original fitment.