‘The remarkable thing was that the little car did not look remarkable: its virtues were matters of engineering not mere styling…In the numerous new standards it set, the Fiat 128 was quite exceptional’.
As a younger classic enthusiast, one of my favourite books was the World Car Catalogue, not least because of its array of overseas-built British cars. Here is a sample of just ten such vehicles:
I have long had a soft-spot for the Corsair, the Ford that once bridged the gap between the Cortina and the Zephyr. It has an agreeably mid-Atlantic air, with an appearance faintly reminiscent of a 1961 Thunderbird but dimensions more suited to British roads.
Visitors to the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show will have had the chance to see some of the cars that defined a certain type of motorist – the boy racer. So, Englebert Humperdinck sideboards immaculately shaped and Luncheon Vouchers at the ready for that ‘business dinner’ at the local Berni, here are five GTs worthy of the most go-ahead sales rep.
The mode of delivery, the cars, the street scenes, the clothes and the cinematography may all inevitably seem dated - but the message of so many of these newsreels remains very relevant:
Some of these shows will be reviewed in greater depth next year – but all of them merit a place in anyone’s DVD collection:
With the prospect of certain local authorities being unprepared for the concept of frozen water falling from the skies, here are eight vehicles that will make snow-bound commuting a more entertaining prospect:
Back in the mists of time, when The Goodies on BBC2 represented a highlight of the week, our family car was a very second-hand 1964 Renault R8.
If, like me, you are a devotee of 1950s and 1960s British cinema, there is one model of car that so often appears in the background. A GS5-series Austin A40/A50/A55 Cambridge Mk. I is almost as ubiquitous a sight as a cameo performance from Sam Kydd, reflecting its popularity.
Diesel vehicles are under the spotlight now, and not for good reasons. But is that hounding from the authorities really justified?
Show organisers are delighted to announce for 2018 the marque feature will be a celebration of ‘Land Rover’ sponsored by Yeovil Land Rover, Somerset.
Ant Anstead and his team built from scratch a 1950s Grand Prix inspired racer which raised £22,500 at auction for Harrison’s Fund, after Silverstone Auctions kindly waivered their usual fee. Here we catch up with the new owner and hear why he was interested in buying the racer and what his plans are for the year ahead.
Mike Brewer and his team restored a 1989 Ford Escort XR3i which raised £22,500 at auction for Marie Crawford Boyd Foundation, after Silverstone Auctions kindly waivered their usual fee. Here we catch up with the new owner and hear why he was interested in buying the Ford and what his plans are for the year ahead.
Dim the lights, fire up the projector and settle back in your office chair, and enjoy these promotional shorts that were intended to make you a better dealer - or tempt a fleet buyer to their local dealership…
There is a select group of cars of such aesthetic appeal that you really have to encounter them in the metal (or GRP) to appreciate their beauty - or, put somewhat less pompously, the Reliant Scimitar GT is an exceptionally handsome motor car.
Polished black Wolseleys with Winkworth bells, Bakelite telephones, traffic lights on striped poles, road signs ordering motorists to ‘Halt’ – all captured in the Pathe archive
Of all the lost sights of post-war Britain – traffic lights on striped poles, teddy boys, 78 rpm Alma Cogan records, ten shilling notes, jumpers for goal posts, - one of the most evocative is possibly the Austin FX3 taxi.
Six decades ago, taking delivery of a new Humber Hawk was a proud moment in the life of many a British motorist; proof that they had ‘arrived’ in elite suburban circles.
As a devotee of ITC’s spy and adventure series, Danger Man has a pride of place in my DVD collection. This was the TV series that made Patrick McGoohan a star when the first episode was aired in September 1960 and four years later the show was extensively revamped.
Or, how to motor in the snow with cross-ply tyres, a six-volt electrical system, and wearing your stoutest hat, scarf and overcoat…
