Tex Automotive is now offering an ever-increasing range of enthusiast car parts and accessories, plus a mouth-watering selection of rare or, in some cases, unique ‘mint and boxed’ model cars. […]
From time to time Aston Martin, using their Lagonda brand, launched a four-door saloons. In 1961 they brought back the Lagonda name again with the Rapide saloon which was based on the then current Aston Martin DB4 but was the first car to use the new dual overhead cam 4-liter inline six which produced 236 bhp, at 5500 RPM and 288-foot-pounds of torque at a relatively high 3850 RPM. With this power unit, the car was reported to achieve 0-60 in 9.0 seconds, quite fast for the era, and a top speed of a very impressive 130 MPH. This was, however, the last Lagonda to use a six-cylinder engine although this engine was standard fitment in the DB5.
The new McLaren 720S is already well on the way to achieving cult status, joining the legendary McLaren P1 in the LEGO Speed Champions range of model cars. The LEGO Speed Champions McLaren 720S, accompanied by a car designer minifigure and design studio desk, complete with coffee cup, original design sketch. and 3D-printed model car, will be available to buy from 1 June. Builders aged 7+ and supercar enthusiasts alike can show off their design skills and build this awesome model, then put on a racing helmet and switch from supercar designer to racing driver.
NEO, a maker of high-quality 43rd scale models produces an extensive range of car models from foreign manufacturers as well as US car makers. They have added another MG to their range which previously included the MGTD and Arnolt MG coupe. Their latest is a 1933 MG F1 Magna Salonette a small four passenger two door closed car. There were MG Magna roadsters produced as well but no scale models as of yet. These Magnas made use of a small 1271cc overhead cam engine which William Morris had acquired after he purchased Wolseley and added it to the Nuffield group.
Some may not realize that the MG brand and logo are now in the hands of a Chinese firm, SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, a state-owned firm based in Shanghai. They are the largest Chinese automaker by sales with over 5 million units sold in 2014.
Back in the 1952-1953 period, the importer of MGs for the Midwest who was based in Chicago, Stanley H. Arnolt who ran S H Arnolt Inc, decided that the MGTD which was one of his big sellers needed a new updated body. Not seeing such a product likely to come from the Nuffield organization in England, he set about finding a coach building firm to create a new body for the car. He met with Giovani Bertone in Italy at the Turin auto show in 1952 and the foundation for a cooperative agreement was made.
Jaguar’s companion brand, Daimler, was acquired in June 1960. At the time Daimler made buses, military vehicles and a range of cars such as the Daimler Dart roadster also known as the SP250 and a large sedan/limousine known as the Majestic Major. Daimler was long the vehicle supplier to English royalty and can trace its beginnings to earlier than 1900. After Jaguar acquired Daimler they began to phase out some models and badge engineer existing Jaguar models as Daimlers. Cars such as the Mark 2 based Daimler 2.5 liter sedan which used Daimler’s own 2.5 liter hemi V8 in place of the Jaguar XK engines. Later there was a whole range of Daimler badged XJ sedans beginning with the Series 1 and continuing through the Series 3. In 1968 Jaguar introduced the DS420 limousine which was based on many of the mechanical components of […]
Production of the full-size McLaren P1™ may have ended but McLaren Automotive has linked up with selected partners to offer every fan of any age a miniature McLaren P1™ of their own. Many sizes, shapes and styles are available, from 1:64 models all the way up to an exact, hand-crafted 1:8 scale replica. The smallest size of McLaren P1™ is now within the reach of the very young, even if their only income is from pocket money, thanks to Mattel-HotWheels. The miniature die-cast toy McLaren P1™ is available in Volcano Orange and Supernova Silver and measures 75mm. The brand has been a favourite of young collectors since 1968 and remains one of the most popular toy car producers today. For those who would rather build their own, Lego® has created a Volcano Yellow McLaren P1™ as part of the Speed […]
We all started somewhere. That is fairly obvious, but where a lot of us started is with little cars. Very little cars – as in Matchbox and Hot Wheels toy cars. And quite frankly, I, like many of you, still have a nice collection of these wonderful miniatures. In honor of the toys of our youth – no matter the age – our Video of the Week this week is a 1965 piece on Matchbox cars. In the world of little cars, Matchbox were always the more authentic and real-to-life cars, while Hot Wheels were the concept, far out, and fantasy cars. What’s more, at least when I was young, Matchbox more often featured British motors while Hot Wheels had a distinctly American slant. Matchbox was introduced by Lesney Products in 1953 and is now owned by Mattel, Inc. The […]
Classic Car Auctions (CCA) is delighted to announce it will be auctioning Hornby Hobbies’ Ultimate 2015 Scalextric track at CarFest South on Sunday 30th August. Designed by Sky Sports F1® expert Martin Brundle, the biggest layout the slot car track experts have ever created will take centre stage on Hornby’s stand at the festival. Scalextric’s magnificent track is made up of 177 pieces and is 45 metres long. It features the best corners, chicanes, and sections from the 2015 F1® calendar that fans can watch live on Sky Sports F1® throughout the season, including: Italy and the Ascari Chicane Monaco and the Casino Square Canada and the Wall of Champions Silverstone and the Copse Abu Dhabi and the Marina Complex Martin Brundle, Sky Sports F1® expert and former racing driver, commented: “The team challenged me to design my dream circuit […]
One in five UK adults (22%) admit to still playing with toy cars, even when the children aren’t around, according to new research out today. And while half of this group (11%) is quite happy to do so in the company of other adults, the same number prefers to do so only in private. The research goes on to further underline the nation’s passion for the ever-popular toy car, with almost a third of adults (29%) admitting to still holding on to the models they owned as a child. One in ten (10%) are so protective of their precious mini marques that they hide them away for safe keeping, while a similar number (6.6%) are conversely so proud of their collection that they keep it on display at home.
Yes, another famous name in the manufacture of British cars has been sold – although this time on a much smaller scale. Model railway maker Hornby is continuing its expansion in the hobby market by buying up toy-car firm Corgi. Hornby, which originally made its name with model railways, paid £7.5 million for the model car firm, which though originally a British brand was owned by a US company. “We are pulling together the hobby elements of the British toy industry,” Hornby chief executive Frank Martin told the Guardian. The firm also owns Scalextric, a brand that has been making a come back with Formula 1 and film tie-ins. It has also bought plastic model firm Airfix and Humbrol paints. Martin hopes to use the formula that has worked for Scalextric for the Corgi models, hoping that not only will […]
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