WHAT’S NEW AT BEAULIEU FOR 2019

WHAT’S NEW AT BEAULIEU FOR 2019

The fantasmagorical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years exhibition, the first sculpture trail with internationally acclaimed sculptors, brand new car events and a celebration of the work of Lord Montagu’s mother are all fresh reasons to visit Beaulieu in 2019.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years

See an original screen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Humber 8hp driven by Truly Scrumptious and the original Child Catcher carriage in this new exhibition which will be open until November. Dress up for a selfie in the replica Grandpa Potts’ hut, see Sally Anne Howes’ life-size music box doll dress and the actual Spy Phone prop used in the film which is celebrating its golden half-century.

Coggins’ Garage has even been recreated in the National Motor Museum to house the film’s inventive machines created by Rowland Emett, including the Humbug Major Sweet Machine, Clockwork Lullabye, Little Dragon Carpet Sweeper and Hot Air Rocking Chair.

Chitty memorabilia includes a solid silver Chitty model bought for producer Cubby Broccoli by his wife Dana and original film concept art by Sir Ken Adam, storyboard watercolour artwork by Robert Laing and technical drawings by Peter Lamont which have never been previously exhibited.

Don’t miss a glimpse of the iconic Land Speed Record breaker Babs that inspired the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang story and is on show at Beaulieu until February.

During school holidays and weekends* you can also see a stunning Chitty Chitty Bang Bang reconstruction being driven around the grounds of the attraction. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years can be seen as part of a general admission ticket to Beaulieu.

* Chitty driving outdoors will be weather dependent.

Summer sculpture

For the first time at Beaulieu, a sculpture exhibition featuring the work of more than 50 international and national sculptors will be on show throughout the grounds and gardens of Palace House. From the atmospheric ruins of 13th century Beaulieu Abbey to the Victorian flower garden, 270 sculptures will be set in the perfect surroundings. The unique collection will include a trail of sculptures to suit all tastes and budgets. Beaulieu Sculpture will run from May 25th - July 14th.

Palace House exhibition

A new exhibition celebrating the painting, drawing and needlework of Lord Montagu’s mother, Belinda, Lady Montagu, will open at Easter and remain on display throughout 2019.

The exhibition in Palace House will include previously unseen work by the artist and embroiderer. Belinda, Lady Montagu undertook a wide range of work for the family business at Beaulieu designing posters and displays for the Montagu Motor Museum. Her embroideries include seven wall hangings recounting the story of Beaulieu Abbey. Commissions have included cushions for HM The Queen and HRH Prince of Wales and ecclesiastical work for a cathedral and churches. She also collaborated on a project to teach embroidery skills to local women in Bali, Indonesia.

Lord Montagu said: “For my sister Mary and me, it will be a great pleasure to stage this in recognition of all the wonderful work my mother has created through the decades.”

New Simply rallies in events line-up

The 2019 calendar for Beaulieu has been confirmed with the announcement of new Simply rallies joining the calendar of award-winning events.

Simply Mercedes will build on the growing success of Beaulieu’s popular Simply range of rallies, which celebrate car marques from Ford to Porsche in the grounds of the National Motor Museum. New club events also include Vanity Modified and Spring Alfa Day for Alfa Romeo owners.

Beaulieu’s 2019 season features a full range of motoring and family entertainment. The 50th Fireworks Spectacular will celebrate an Out of this World theme marking the first moon landing and summer fun includes Hot Rod & Custom Drive-in Day for Father’s Day and Beaulieu Supercar Weekend in August. The 25th anniversary Spring Autojumble will return on May 18th-19th, while International Autojumble will be held on September 7th-8th.

For tickets and more details see www.beaulieu.co.uk/events or call 01590 612888.

The National Motor Museum with its collection of more than 250 vehicles from throughout motoring history, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu family home of Palace House, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the stunning grounds and gardens are all included in a general admission ticket to Beaulieu. Tickets can be bought in advance online. For tickets or more information see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

BICESTER HERITAGE ANNOUNCES PLANNING APPROVAL FOR EXPANSION OWING TO EXCEPTIONAL DEMAND WITH ‘NEW TECHNICAL SITE’

BICESTER HERITAGE ANNOUNCES PLANNING APPROVAL FOR EXPANSION OWING TO EXCEPTIONAL DEMAND WITH ‘NEW TECHNICAL SITE’

 Now at capacity with 40 specialists, the next stage in the overall vision of Bicester Heritage as a unique home for automotive past, present and future has been announced to construct 70,000 square feet of brand new buildings and create the ‘New Technical Site’. The exceptional demand for showroom, workshop, office and apprenticeship facilities at the once ‘at risk’ historic site of former RAF Bicester drives the latest phase.

Plans have been unanimously approved by Cherwell District Council’s planning committee for the construction of eight new buildings with a combined total footprint of 70,000 square feet. Named the ‘New Technical Site’, this section shall be the base for an extension to the existing engineering, sales, office and apprenticeship hub, providing much needed space for skilled businesses in the historic motoring arena.

Designed as integral to the historic site, and with access via the existing Main Entrance, each modern commercial unit has been designed to be strictly in- keeping with the historic aesthetic of the existing structures, with large amounts of similar materials resonating with the restored buildings of the historic Technical Site which the new development shall sit adjacent to.

The New Technical Site development will further cement Bicester Heritage as the National Centre for Historic Motoring Excellence, now that the early 20th century buildings of the former RAF Bomber Station have been restored to create the world’s first and only centre for the historic motoring industry.

With the historic Technical Site now at full capacity with 40 tenants, the addition of this development will not only provide further skilled employment but also expand the plethora of engineering, showroom and workshop based skillsets already found on site. The New Technical Site borders Skimmingdish Lane on the north edge of the Bicester ring road, and is integrated to the ‘marina-like’ business cluster of Bicester Heritage.

With unbeatable transport links on the doorstep and class-leading events, the New Technical Site development is a clear commitment to the future of the historic motoring industry.

The news of this latest round of successful planning comes on the back of the unanimous approval for a landmark 344-bedroom hotel, conference and leisure centre at the Bicester Heritage site. The hotel will encourage a wide range of visitors to Oxfordshire across the business and leisure sectors increasing dwell time in the area significantly, as well as bringing in a projected 250,000 visitors per annum and creating an estimated 180 full time jobs. Its scale will put it amongst the top 15 largest hotels outside of London, answering the question of under-supply in the regional hotel sector.

Dan Geoghegan, Managing Director of Bicester Heritage, commented “We have been at capacity for some time and are very much looking forward to being able to welcome businesses wishing to benefit from the ‘Bicester Heritage effect’, providing business synergies as well as a modern-day quality experience that enthusiasts and their families demand.”

“With the impressive growth of a number of existing specialists here, we expect the units to cater for their expansion, whilst also being able to welcome a new cadre of class leading companies. An additional 10 businesses are expected once works are completed.”

Cllr Colin Clarke, lead member for Cherwell District Council Planning, said “The approval of these new buildings is great news for opportunity and growth in our district. Knowledge-driven and led by technology, the businesses based at Bicester Heritage do a great job attracting visitors and providing professional opportunities for local people.”

“With this track record in mind, the extension of Bicester Heritage’s technical site onto a disused area of land makes perfect sense. It will mean successful companies already based there can expand without relocating and it supports the wider corridor of motoring and aviation engineering in our district.”

Cllr Debbie Pickford commented “I cannot think of anything that would be more welcome for the Bicester and Cherwell area”, whilst her colleague Cllr Leslie Sibley, said that this project was a “fantastic opportunity for Bicester…we need more developments like this.”

GIFT THE CHANCE TO WIN THE UNIQUE JIM CLARK TRUST LOTUS EVORA THIS CHRISTMAS

GIFT THE CHANCE TO WIN THE UNIQUE JIM CLARK TRUST LOTUS EVORA THIS CHRISTMAS

The Jim Clark Trust has the perfect gift for any motor racing or sports car fan wrapped up this Christmas, with a new gift option for its competition to win the 100,000th Lotus, a unique Jim Clark Evora GT410 Sport.

For just £20 you can gift a friend or loved one the chance to win the amazing Jim Clark special edition Lotus Evora GT410 Sport, and support the charity as it builds a new museum dedicated to the legendary racing driver in his hometown of Duns, Scotland.

Available from the Jim Clark Trust’s website, the new gift option offers a unique present that supports a noble cause this Christmas. Celebrating the legacy of one of motorsport’s most enduring figures, the competition’s tickets are available worldwide from www.jimclarklotus.com

The Jim Clark Lotus Evora GT410 Sport was specifically built to honour the red Lotus Elan driven by Clark in the 1960s, registration number 997 NUR, and was created by Lotus Exclusive for the Trust. As a mark of respect for the historic F1 team’s most successful driver, the Jim Clark Lotus Evora GT410 Sport is the 100,000th car built by the famous British Marque.

Echoing the original car’s colour scheme, with red paintwork, a silver roof and silver wheels, plus tartan upholstery, the car carries Clark’s signature on each rear buttress and includes a discreet interior plaque confirming its 100,000th build status. The winner of the competition will be announced at the opening of the new Jim Clark Museum.

The new expanded Jim Clark Museum will preserve the memory of one of the sports most revered racers and display some of the incredible cars that Clark competed in. Funded by a partnership between the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Borders Council and The Jim Clark Trust, work on the new £1.6m museum began in June 2018 and the new museum is expected to open in summer 2019.

MG3 LOW-COST RACER ON THE GRID FOR 2019

MG3 LOW-COST RACER ON THE GRID FOR 2019

The MG Car Club, MG Motor UK and SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre are jointly developing a new low-cost race car based around the MG3.

SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Interns have been building the concept car as their Internship Project and will be unveiling the car in the early part of 2019. 

The concept behind the car is aimed at providing a low-cost entry route into saloon racing with the budget for the project to convert a road going MG3 into a racer set at just £5,000.

The regulations have been produced to allow any MG3 model to be converted and get on the grid; not just the All-New MG3, which went on sale earlier this year. This provides potential competitors a chance to race the most up-to-date MG models on track, which has not previously been possible within the Car Club’s championships.

For some championships, sourcing heritage MG donor cars in good enough condition to be converted has been a challenge and a barrier to entry for new and young competitors alike. By allowing MG3 to compete, this barrier to entry has been removed with a wide variety of MG3s available on the market for affordable prices and in appropriate condition.

As an additional strategy to encourage participation from young competitors, the MG Car Club also offers half price entries to any competitor 25 and under for the 2019 season, meaning entry fees for a weekend could be as little as £300. 

MG3 will be able to race in the invitational class of the MG Cup during 2019, providing a first season of testing and development at the UK’s best race circuits before a full points scoring campaign in 2020.

The MG Cup has been running for over 30 years, with a simple structure and regulations designed to keep costs to a minimum and provide a challenge for new and experienced drivers alike.

Adam Sloman, General Manager of The MG Car Club commented “We are delighted to be involved in bringing the latest iteration of MG cars to race circuits up and down the country. Motorsport is a huge part of MG and the Club’s heritage, and we are very much invested in bringing new cars, drivers and young competitors to our grids in the future.”

Joanna Burland, Intern at SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre commented, “The Intern Project has provided a great opportunity to work on something slightly different, and gain valuable experience of helping to develop a new low-cost race car and work with MG Motor and MG Car Club to make the project a success.”

LATEST ROUND OF INVESTIGATIONS REVEALS 99% OF PART WORN RETAILERS SELLING ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE TYRE

LATEST ROUND OF INVESTIGATIONS REVEALS 99% OF PART WORN RETAILERS SELLING ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE TYRES

Investigations by TyreSafe during Tyre Safety Month this October revealed a shocking 99% of part worn tyre retailers were selling illegal and dangerous tyres. In total, 18 investigations were carried out across England and Scotland involving 68 part worn traders, all bar one of whom were supplying tyres which contravened the legislation governing their sale. Even more concerning, of the 129 tyres inspected, 75% were unsafe.

TyreSafe has been working in partnership with Trading Standards for many years to investigate part worn traders, but during Tyre Safety Month a range of enforcement agencies also participated. These included numerous police forces and fire services, the Environment Agency, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Health and Safety Executive.

In a week of activity in the North East, a multi-agency team led by officers from Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit visited 29 businesses, none of which complied with the regulations.

These dreadful findings support TyreSafe’s advice for motorists to think again before buying part worn as there is no gans. guarantee the tyres being sold to them are safe. Investigations also highlight a high level of incompetence among traders.

Stuart Jackson, Chairman of TyreSafe, said: “Despite years of appalling results from these investigations into the retail of part worn tyres, these findings still come as a shock.

“How can it be acceptable that three-quarters of the part worn tyres offered for sale were unsafe? Tyres are the only part of a car in contact with the road and essential to road safety – selling dangerous examples to unsuspecting motorists is putting lives at risk.

“The number of dangerous part worn tyres being sold is no doubt related to the widespread incompetence of the retailers. With just one of the 68 retailers found to be compliant with the law, surely the part worn trade must vastly improve its standards before the British motorist can have any confidence in them.

“Until that happens, TyreSafe continues to urge drivers to buy new tyres to avoid paying a potentially heavy price for choosing to fit unsafe part works.”

TyreSafe is campaigning to drive compliance of part worn retailers with the governing legislation (Consumer Protection Act 1987, referencing the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994) and raising their competence to a level comparable to new tyre retail technician

FIAT 500 ON DISPLAY AT MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN NEW YORK AS PART OF THE VALUE OF GOOD DESIGN EXHIBITION

FIAT 500 ON DISPLAY AT MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN NEW YORK AS PART OF THE VALUE OF GOOD DESIGN EXHIBITION

Fiat 500 F series

Following last year’s acquisition of the Fiat 500 by The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Fiat 500 F series will be on public display at the Museum for the first time from 10 February to 27 May, 2019, as a highlight of The Value of Good Design, an exhibition drawn from MoMA’s stellar collection of industrial design.

"500 is an icon of Italian style that never went out of fashion and that over the decades gained fans all around the world because of its key features and strong personality,” says Luca Napolitano, Head of EMEA Fiat and Abarth brands. “Since 1957, Fiat 500 has always brought colour and smiles to everyday lives on the roads of the world, becoming an ambassador of the ‘Bel Paese’ and an icon of style and design ‘made in Italy’.”

About Fiat 500

The model on display at MoMA will be a 500 F series, the most popular 500 ever, produced from 1965 to 1972. Counting the other versions (namely Sport, D, L and R) of the first generation, a total of more than four million cars were produced from 1957 to 1975. The car is a clear expression of form following function, a logical and economical use of materials, and a belief that quality design should be accessible to all. The development of inexpensive, reliable cars such as the Fiat 500  was essential for the motorization of the post-war European continent. Through its design and centrality to the story of mid-century Italy, the 500 embodies many of the principles that typified mid-century modernist design and connects it to themes explored in works throughout the Museum’s collection.

Commonly referred to as the ‘Cinquecento’, the Nuova 500 was designed by designer and engineer Dante Giacosa and launched in 1957. Giacosa, who joined Fiat in 1927, was responsible for many of the most important designs to emerge from the automaker during his 43-year career, including the original 500 ‘Topolino’ and the later 500 ‘Nuova’. A compact, rear-engined city car, the 500 was conceived as an economical car for the masses. Despite its small exterior dimensions, Giacosa’s design maximized interior volume, resulting in a surprisingly spacious interior that could accommodate four passengers. The standard-feature foldable fabric roof imbued this economy car with a sense of luxury while simultaneously reducing the amount of steel – a precious commodity at the time – necessary for the production of the car.

This undisputed success was followed up in 2007 with the launch of the new generation. Today's 500, just like its illustrious ancestor, immediately proved highly successful worldwide with an impressive array of prizes, including ‘Car of the Year’ and ‘Compasso d'or’.

The Value of Good Design

Featuring objects from domestic furnishings and appliances to ceramics, glass, electronics, transport design, sporting goods, toys, and graphics, The Value of Good Design (10 February to 27 May, 2019) explores the democratizing potential of design, beginning with MoMA’s Good Design initiatives from the late 1930s through the 1950s, which championed well-designed, affordable contemporary products. The concept of Good Design also took hold well beyond the Museum, with governments on both sides of the Cold War divide embracing it as a vital tool of social and economic reconstruction and technological advancement in the years following World War II, of which the Fiat 500 is a classic example. The exhibition also raises questions about what Good Design might mean today, and whether values from mid-century can be translated and redefined for a 21st-century audience. Visitors are invited to judge for themselves by trying out a few ‘good design’ classics still in production, and exploring how, through its design stores, MoMA continues to incubate new products and ideas in an international marketplace.

VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE OWNER OF 51 YEARS REUNITED WITH 'ANNIE' AFTER ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME RESTORATION

VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE OWNER OF 51 YEARS REUNITED WITH 'ANNIE' AFTER ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME RESTORATION

 Kathleen Brooks bought her first Beetle in December 1966 in Riverside, Calif.—a red 1967 model she quickly named “Annie.” Ever since, Annie has been Kathleen’s daily transportation, racking up more than 350,000 miles over 51 years, or enough to circle the globe 14 times, and Kathleen, now 73, still drives Annie to work. 

After hearing about Kathleen and Annie’s special relationship last year, Volkswagen’s North American Region undertook a unusual project—offering to restore Annie at the North American home of the Beetle at the Puebla, Mexico, factory. Over the past 11 months, a team of some 60 Volkswagen employees and trainees reworked Annie back to factory-quality specs, with several custom touches that celebrate Kathleen’s dedication. This week, Kathleen and Annie were reunited, and Kathleen met key members of the Volkswagen team that led the restoration.

“We often hear stories of dedicated Volkswagen owners, but there was something special about Kathleen and Annie that we felt we needed to honor,” said Derrick Hatami, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “The original Beetle launched our business in the United States. This isn’t just a Beetle, it’s a member of her family, and after all the time our employees have spent with this special vehicle, we feel Annie is a part of our family as well.”

Brooks works with breast-cancer patients and survivors to provide comfort and cosmetic care during treatment and recovery. A three-time breast cancer survivor herself, Brooks says for over five decades Annie was a constant conversation starter with Beetle fans and owners, but also “always there for me.” “I’ve said many times she and I are so much alike because she’s old, she’s faded, she’s dinged, she’s dented, she’s rusted, but you know what? She keeps running,” says Brooks with a laugh. “And as long as I take as good care of her as I can, she’s going to continue to run.”

Even with Brooks’ best efforts, Annie had several needs when her restoration began in Puebla early this year, from a floor pan rusted through to the ground in spots to suspension, transmission and electrical challenges. Over 11 months, the Puebla team replaced roughly 40 percent of Annie’s parts and restored 357 original pieces, down to recreating the stickers that Brooks had added to the body and windows over the years. To properly restore her faded red paint, the team matched the original shade from the inside of the glovebox, sandblasted the body, repaired with a mix of period-correct and updated parts, and then reassembled.

Several parts of the vehicle were restored with better than their original factory parts, from the disc brakes that were an upgrade on later Beetles produced in Mexico to the AM/FM/Bluetooth stereo designed to mimic the look and feel of original Beetle radios. The wiring was completely redone; the transmission rebuilt and suspension upgraded. The engine was completely disassembled, cleaned, updated and rebuilt. Even the seats received a special touch, with “Kathleen” and “Annie” embroidered in a classic VW font over new leather. And to tie the car to the modern era, the car’s toolkit and jack was painted in deep sea teal metallic, the color of the 2018 Beetle Coast edition.

The goal, says project manager and mechatronics engineer Augusto Zamudio, was not to create a museum quality Beetle, but to bring Annie back to a state where Kathleen could drive and enjoy her for many more years to come.

“When Annie arrived, our team members quickly understood the connection Kathleen had with her car and embraced this project wholeheartedly,” said Steffen Reiche, CEO of Volkswagen of Mexico. “Restoring this car posed a number of challenges, but also provided a demonstration of the dedication we put into every Volkswagen we build.”

When Brooks parted with Annie, she wrote a heartfelt note to the Puebla team members thanking them for their efforts and asking them to take care of her special car. Zamudio says the feeling is mutual – and the team wrote Brooks back a note of their own.

“This was a labor of love for all of us. It was emotional to see Annie go after all the time we have spent working on her, but we are happy Kathleen and her can be reunited.”

BUGATTI’S DOMINANCE IN 1928

BUGATTI’S DOMINANCE IN 1928

90 years since the racing season packed with victories for the Type 35

From the very first day of the car manufacturer from Molsheim, the Bugatti myth was created mainly by motorsports. In this respect, 1928 was a special year for Bugatti. The rules had changed and the highly successful era of the Bugatti Type 35 had begun. This car strengthened the reputation of Bugatti over the decades and still does so today.

The open Bugatti Type 35B with an eight-cylinder engine, Roots supercharger and 140 PS was already considerably faster than 200 km/h 90 years ago. With more than 2,000 victories in Bugatti’s “golden decade”, this was probably the most successful racing car ever.

For 1928, the governing body of motorsports had planned seven international races, of which only two had actually taken place by the end of the season. For this reason, there was no official world champion in 1928. However, even without a championship to fight for, Bugatti racing cars won race after race. Of 26 races held in 1928, Bugatti drivers took first place in 23, including 11 Grands Prix and the Targa Florio, the world’s toughest road race, which was already famous 90 years ago.

Bugatti’s success in 1928 started with Tazio Nuvolari. The Italian, known as the “Flying Mantuan”, had begun his career as a motorcycle racer, before switching to cars in 1924. He won the Tripoli Grand Prix in March 1928 driving a Type 35C. On the same day, 11 March, Louis Chiron of Monaco, whose nickname was “old fox”, took first place on the Circuit d’Esterel Plage in France driving the same model. He had been a private entrant with Bugatti since 1925 and had joined the works team in 1927.

Two weeks later, Nuvolari outclassed the competition in Verona. In the following weeks, Chiron took several first places, for example at the Circuit de la Riviera and the Antibes Grand Prix with a Type 35C. Its 2.0-litre eight-cylinder equipped with a Roots supercharger developed about 125 PS and accelerated the racing car, which only weighed 750 kilograms, to a top speed of over 200 km/h.

Especially on winding circuits, Type 35 left its competitors standing thanks to its consistent lightweight design. At a very early stage, Ettore Bugatti already knew that power is important but lightweight is all-important. 90 years ago, he had major components of his racing cars including engine and transmission housings, bodywork and wheels, made from lightweight aluminium. The rules of the sport at that time only stated that racing cars must weigh between 550 and 750 kilograms; there were no rules on power output. Bugatti opted for a sturdy, powerful and reliable straight-eight and saved weight on other parts of the vehicle.

Louis Chiron became a new star with his outstanding Bugatti T35C. He drove from victory to victory, winning the Grands Prix of Rome, Marne, San Sebastian in Spain and Europe, held in Monza.

Alberto Divo was equally successful with the Bugatti Type 35B. In May 1928, he took first place in the Targa Florio, followed by Giuseppe Campari with an Alfa Romeo. However, the secret star of the race was Elisabeth Junek (Eliška Junková). In 1928, she entered this race against the best drivers of the time with a Bugatti Type 35B, attacking from the start and winning a number of exciting duels. For a long time, she was in first place in but lost the lead on the last lap as a result of a leaking water pump. Despite her fifth place, she was celebrated like a winner.

The Type 35B is powered by a straight-eight with a displacement of 2.3 litres and about 140 PS. The Roots blower rotates at the same speed as the crankshaft, forcing sufficient air into the combustion chambers without over-revving at high engine speeds. Alberto Divo raced around the circuits at up to 215 km/h with his Type 35 – 90 years ago.

Marcel Lehoux of France, who won the Algerian Grand Prix in May and the Tunisian Grand Prix in June, also with a Type 35C, was just as fast. Like Chiron, Lehoux chose a Bugatti as its first racing car. At the French Grand Prix in July, William Grover-Williams driving a Type 35C left the competition standing. Grover-Williams, an Englishman living in France, had joined the Bugatti works team in 1928 and took first place ahead of André Rousseau on the temporary circuit on public roads in the district of Comminges near Saint-Gaudens. The circuit was 27 kilometres long. At the end of the sports car race, after two hours and 27 minutes, Grover-Williams’ lead over the driver in second place was two minutes and 23 seconds.

Louis Chiron rounded off a successful season with the Italian Grand Prix in Monza in September. After three hours and 45 minutes, he crossed the finishing line in first place, with an average speed of almost 160 km/h. This was the last win in the season but not the last in international races. In 1929, Bugatti was able to continue its success and to forge even closer ties between the brand and motorsport.

FOR THE FIRST TIME A SPECIALLY FORMULATED CERAMIC COATING HAS BEEN PRODUCED FOR CLASSIC VEHICLES

FOR THE FIRST TIME A SPECIALLY FORMULATED CERAMIC COATING HAS BEEN PRODUCED FOR CLASSIC VEHICLES

For the first time a specially formulated ceramic coating and its aftercare products have been produced for Classic vehicles.

The product is put through its paces on a famous rally

The ceramic coating has had the ultimate test last weekend when a 1965 Porsche 911 SWB is driven by Stephen Owens with navigator Nick Bloxham who works as Workshop Manager at CMC in Bridgnorth took part in the gruelling Le Jog Rally organised by Hero Events which saw 70 classic cars driving from Land’s End to John O’Groats in just three days.

Nigel Woodward, Managing Director of CMC said: “We have tested this product for the last few months and it has proved to be fantastic for Classic Cars, so much so that we are now launching it as a new range of CMC ‘Classic Guard’ coatings and after-care products.”

“However, we thought that putting it through its paces on Hero’s Le Jog, which is recognised as being one of the toughest winter rallies in the world would be the ultimate test and it has stood up to it really well.”

Dan Brown, Lead Vehicle Detailer at CMC said: "I have tried a lot of products over the years but nothing comes close to the performance of Classic Guard. The technology makes other waxes and sealants look like they are from the dark ages. I'm really pleased that we are able to pioneer this technology in the classic car world and it's great to work with a product that I have so much confidence in". 

And when the cars stopped at Telford for their first overnight stop both driver and navigator were very pleased with the results. Nick Bloxham said: “ This is one of the most testing rallies in the world and it is giving the driver great confidence that his car is being protected from rain, mud, salt and anything else that this really can throw at it.”

CMC who have received awards worldwide for their superlative restorations have worked closely with Alpha Nano Developments Ltd. to produce the CMC “Classic Guard”, protective coating, as well as a range of ceramic infused after-care products using cutting-edge Nanotechnology that will ‘preserve’ classic cars for future generations.

David Smith, Global Business Development Director of Alpha Nano Developments Ltd. said: “We have been providing specialist, protective coatings to a wide variety of clients across the automotive industry - it’s been great that through our collaboration with CMC, we have further developed these products to safeguard classic cars into the future.”

The CMC “Classic Guard” coating is designed to preserve paintwork, bare metals, wheels and even glass against degradation from pollution as well as environmental damage, corrosion and soiling.

The “Classic Guard” after-care products include shampoo, quick detailing spray and ceramic infused wax which is designed to work in harmony with the professionally applied protective coating to further prolong the life of the original paintwork. These products have also designed to be used as stand-alone products for uncoated vehicles to give an additional level of lustre and gloss, leaving any vehicle, whether professionally coated or otherwise with a first-class premium finish.

DRIVERS NEED TO ‘SPRUCE UP’ THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CHRISTMAS TREE LAWS OR FACE FINES AND POINTS, SURVEY REVEALS

DRIVERS NEED TO ‘SPRUCE UP’ THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CHRISTMAS TREE LAWS OR FACE FINES AND POINTS, SURVEY REVEALS

Three-quarters of British motorists have little or no idea about the laws for safely transporting Christmas trees, according to a survey carried out by Fiat Professional.

And around half are planning to buy a real tree for when they deck the halls. But bringing it home could land drivers with three penalty points on their licence, or an unlimited fine.

According to the Fiat Professional research, only 25 per cent of British adults say they know the rules regarding transporting Christmas trees safely on the road. 

And while there is no specific mention of the festive firs in the Highway Code, there is a section about loading your vehicle correctly and safely, which is appropriate at Yule time.

A Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency spokesman said: “A dangerously loaded vehicle will incur an instant three penalty points on your licence, along with an uncapped fine.” That means drivers could face a bill of thousands of pounds if they get needled.        

Around six per cent of drivers admit they have previously transported a tree in a manner which ‘may have contravened the rules of the road’ by leaving the tree hanging out of their vehicle, while an astonishing 25 per cent admit to just ‘throwing it in the car’ and not securing it. A further five per cent carry the tree home on the roof of their car, irrespective of whether or not they have a roof rack, securing it with rope or ratchet straps.

Where the tree is longer than the vehicle, the Highway Code clearly states that the overhanging load should feature a reflective flag to warn other motorists, while it mustn’t obscure the driver’s vision of the road.

Drivers of the new Fiat Professional Fullback and Fullback Cross won’t have this problem though. With comfortable seating for five and a cargo bed space of 1520mm (length) and 1470mm (width), the whole family can go out for the traditional Christmas tree buying trip, and bring it home safely and legally.

“The Highway Code clearly states that drivers must not overload their vehicle and must secure any load so that it doesn’t stick out dangerously,” says Richard Chamberlain, Head of Brand, Fiat Professional UK.

“The Fiat Fullback would certainly give owners plenty of space to carry a large tree, even if it had to be tied down, which can be done easily and safely with the Fullback’s load space. And as an added bonus, drivers won’t get stuck in the snow if it’s a white Christmas this year. The Fullback comes as standard with 4x4 transmission – with diff lock on the Cross versions.”

Pricing for the Fiat Fullback starts at £21,995 (ex VAT) for the 150HP Manual SX, rising to £27,995 (ex VAT) for the 180HP Auto Cross.

RARE AND UNUSUAL CARS AUCTIONED OFF FOR NEW TV SERIES

RARE AND UNUSUAL CARS AUCTIONED OFF FOR NEW TV SERIES

October Films are making a brand-new TV car restoration series. Motoring journalists and car fanatics Jonny Smith and Tom ‘Wookie’ Ford, together with Tim Glover from classic/custom car workshop RoadHouse Motor Co. have been on the hunt for affordable rare and unusual cars across Europe.

Ten cars have been transported back to the UK and partially restored, in order to bring them up to a standard the guys were happy to sell them at.

As part of the show's filming, the vehicles will be auctioned off on Sunday 2nd December 2018 in Stamford, Lincolnshire and there’s no reserve price! 

The cars up for auction include 1964 Seat 600D, 1975 Seat 133, 1987 Range Rover Series 1, 1980 Ford Fiesta, 1976 Ford Escort Estate, 1977 Ford Taunus, 1988 VW Jetta, 1978 Opel Kadett C, 1988 Renault 4F6 and 1971 Toyota Carina. 

If you’re interested in bidding or promoting the auction, please email katie.johnson@octoberfilms.co.uk or visit stamfordcarauction.com for more information.

We welcome those who want to attend the auction day, but there will also be the opportunity to bid via phone. Viewing of the cars will be from 9am - 10am and the auction will run from 10am - 3pm.

NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM’S LAND SPEED RECORD BREAKERS INSPIRE LUXURY SCARF COLLECTION

NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM’S LAND SPEED RECORD BREAKERS INSPIRE LUXURY SCARF COLLECTION

Bluebird

Icons of Speed

The National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu is delighted to announce a new motoring-inspired collection of silk scarves and pocket squares, based on iconic Land Speed Record breaking vehicles on display in the museum.

Three eye-catching designs have been launched by luxury scarf brand David Watson, as a result of an innovative Arts Council England funded project called Creative Commercial Collections. Led by Hampshire Cultural Trust, the project engaged with creatives to celebrate Hampshire’s rich heritage and produce high-quality products. The collaboration has resulted in a series of inventive designs, all inspired by the outstanding collections held across the county.

National Motor Museum Director of Collections Andrea Bishop said: “This was an exciting opportunity to use our world-famous collections in a refreshingly different way. The project enabled us to invite designers and artists to find inspiration in our world Land Speed Record breaking cars, to create designs that would suit high-quality commercial products. Each of these very special cars is a design icon and so were a compelling choice for this creative initiative. David Watson have added three new designs made for the National Motor Museum to their luxurious range of silk scarves and pocket squares.”

Sir Henry Segrave’s 1929 Golden Arrow inspired artist Mariska Parent’s Art Deco design, which celebrate the car’s strong lines and sweeping curves in rich colours to characterise the era. Donald Campbell’s 1961 Bluebird CN7 is represented in Liz Lippiatt’s interpretive design which shows the car morphing into a bluebird amid yellow tonal shapes which evoke the arid environment of Lake Eyre, Australia where the record was set.

Winchester-based creative studio Marmalade on Toast has produced a fresh, contemporary design using features from both the 1920 350hp and 1927 1000hp Sunbeams, as well as the Golden Arrow and Bluebird CN7, in a colourful, geometric pattern called Icons of Speed.

Samuel David Watson Petty, founder of New Forest-based David Watson, said: “I am so pleased to add these designs to my range of silk accessories. They are inspired by the National Motor Museum’s iconic cars and are a perfect match for our British made products.”

The National Motor Museum Trust, a charitable organisation, will receive a modest royalty from the sale of the scarves, along with the creatives who designed them.

The collection of pure silk and silk and cotton blend scarves and pocket squares is available from the Visitor Reception Gift Shop at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu as well as the David Watson website at www.davidwatson.uk/nmm-shop. Prices start from £25 and range to £160.

HAGERTY PRICE GUIDE REPORTS 1% GROWTH OF CLASSIC CAR MARKET

HAGERTY PRICE GUIDE REPORTS 1% GROWTH OF CLASSIC CAR MARKET

December 2018 Hagerty Price Guide update shows market grew by 1.07% since April, with 52% of tracked vehicles rising and 26% falling in value.

Hagerty, the classic car insurer and valuation experts, has just released the latest update to its market-leading UK Hagerty Price Guide (HPG) which can be seen in its entirety online here. The HPG tracks over 40,000 individual values of over 2,000 classic car models, using data collected from auctions, insured values and private sale prices.

The HPG’s Classic Index, containing fifty of the most popular UK classics (list here), showed an overall average increase of 1.07% since April 2018. This is the smallest periodic increase since the UK HPG was started in 2012. Other headlines include:

• 52% of models rose and 26% of models dropped in
• Biggest drops were in cars that were relatively cheap for a long time, rose rapidly, and have now settled back. For example:
  • Aston Martin Lagonda Series I: -11.9%
  • Ferrari 308 GTB Standard: -10.7%
  • Ferrari Testarossa: -7.6%
  • Willys MB Jeep: -8.6%
• Risers tended to be cars that combined sensible values with practicality and style:
  • Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato 1.6: +5%
  • Mazda MX-5 1.6i: +8.5%
  •  Fiat 500 F: +4.3%

• Other popular cars rose at a steadier rate:
  • Aston Martin DBS Vantage: +1.6%
  • MGB-GT V8: +0.4%
  • VW Beetle 1200 (oval window): +0.9%
• Some cars that had risen steeply over the last few years are now flat:
  • Ford Capri Mk III 2.8i: no change
  • Mini Cooper 1275S: no change
  • Porsche 911 (930) Turbo: no change

Analysis

Angus Forsyth, MD of Hagerty International, gave the following statement:

“It's clear the market is currently in a state of flux, although we believe prices are correcting rather than anything else. The biggest percentage drops are in those cars that rose rapidly in value over the last few years: early Jaguar E-Types, classic Aston Martins and 1980s Ferraris have all been particularly affected. For example, the Aston Martin DB4 Saloon has dropped by around 3.5% (average value now £385,500 from £399,500).”

“We’ve also seen some of these models struggle at auction. For example, we’ve noted six no-sales at auction since August of early ‘flat floor’ Jaguar E-Types (including two desirable ‘outside bonnet lock’ cars).”

“We’ve also noted a disparity between sold values and advertised values for those cars that have dropped. For example, the average price of a Ferrari Testarossa sold at a major UK/European auction this year was £87,800 with the most expensive being a car that sold for £111,886 including commission (Artcurial). In the US, these figures are similar with an average of £85,300 and a top value of £120,710 (RM Sotheby’s) and fall in line with the HPG Condition 3 (good) and Condition 2 (excellent) values of £78,100 and £119,000 respectively. However, when we looked at advertised values the average is £116,000 and the top advertised value is £199,950*. We believe that some sellers’ expectations are still higher than the market will bear, and we caution against using advertised values as a guide to valuing your car for insurance purposes or otherwise. That said, this autumn, we have seen many of the UK auction houses setting realistic guide prices which their customers seem to be accepting; this is good for the market in the long run.”

“The Porsche market is interesting. Porsche 911 values have generally followed the same trajectory as those noted above (swift rise followed by correction) but the market is 6 months to a year ahead of other cars. For example, two years ago values of Porsche 911T hit their peak. This time last year they had dropped by around 10% (our top value was £80,900), but now are climbing back up again (current top value £87,200). On the other hand, Porsche 924 values are on the rise: one very low mileage, pristine example sold for an astonishing £42,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Porsche Anniversary Sale in the US. While the HPG hasn’t reflected what is considered to be an anomaly for this car, we’ve seen plenty of more run-of- the-mill examples of the 924 achieve strong sales.”

‘The 924 is an example of a classic that combines style and value for money with usability. Enthusiasts, and we believe this is especially true of those who have bought their first classic in the last few years, like cars that drive more like a modern car, have good parts supply and can be used for different events such as taking the family to a show or road rallying. Lancia Fulvia coupes, Alfa Romeo 105-series cars, Fiat 500s, early Ford Escorts and BMW 2002s all fit this description and have all continued to rise in value.”

Marketing Director Marcus Atkinson also noted: “We’re continuing to expand the UK Price Guide and it remains free to access online. In this update we added over 60 new model guides to the hundreds already in the guide, providing historic information and buying tips. We’re constantly revising the guide and aim to update it quarterly.”

*Average values based on published values of 11 cars sold at auction in the UK and Europe and 14 cars sold in the US in 2018, including costs and commission. Advertised values based on all 35 cars with prices displayed advertised on www.carandclassic.co.ukon 13 Nov 2018.