PENDINE OFFERS ULTRA-RARE ASTON MARTIN V8 ZAGATO PROTOTYPE IN ZAGATO CENTENARY YEAR

PENDINE OFFERS ULTRA-RARE ASTON MARTIN V8 ZAGATO PROTOTYPE IN ZAGATO CENTENARY YEAR

An extremely rare 1986 Aston Martin V8 Zagato prototype worthy of the world’s finest car collections is for sale with Bicester Heritage based, specialist dealer, Pendine Historic Cars.

Chassis 20011 is one of just three prototypes, and one of two configured in right-hand drive built ahead of the original limited production run of around 50 Aston Martin V8 Zagato coupés, all of which were pre-sold before production had even started.

Finished in Gladiator Red and presented in beautiful, restored condition, this particular prototype was commissioned with a unique specification by Aston Martin enthusiast Wensley Hayden-Baillie, a close friend of former Aston Martin Lagonda chairman, Victor Gauntlett.

It comes to market from a private collection for the first time in 20 years in an unmissable opportunity for Aston Martin collectors and those looking to mark the 100thyear of the Zagato brand.

“Chassis 20011 is a well-known Aston Martin and is surely one of the finest examples of all of the V8 Zagatos built,” comments James Mitchell, founder, Pendine Historic Cars.

“According to the current owner, who has raced and driven more V8 Zagatos than most, it drives unlike the other cars and is visceral by comparison. This is a special car which seriously deserves recognition for its place in the marque’s genesis.”

Based on the Aston Martin V8 but with a Zagato coach built body, the car’s angular appearance and squared-off grille are paired with a lighter weight and shorter wheelbase than the ‘standard’ Vantage, with deleted rear seats.

The factory quoted 0-60 time of under five seconds with a top speed of around 190mph, making it Aston Martin’s fastest ever car at the time.

As with all cars commissioned by Wensley Hayden-Baillie, chassis 20011 has an exceptionally high specification and consequently is one of only four known to have been built with the 432bhp motor, and one of just two with an integral roll bar. Other features include black leather seats, leather-covered steering wheel and dashboard, walnut centre console and authenticity plaques.

Between 2009 and 2013 the car was subjected to a breath-taking restoration by Pebble Beach winning specialist, Auto Restorations, which took place in New Zealand and was overseen by the current, third custodian.

Today the car is listed by Aston Martin Heritage Trust as a significant car and in recognition of its status was invited to the highly prestigious Concorso Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como in 2016, one of only 52 cars annually, worldwide, to receive such an invitation. This was followed by an invitation to the inaugural City of London Concours in 2017.

The V8 Zagato prototype is for sale with an asking price of £530,000 and is accompanied by all of its original manuals, delivery and warranty documents as well as copies of the fascinating factory memos about this special build. There is an unbroken, complete and extensive history file along with the original service vouchers book and handbook.

Interested parties should contact James Mitchell at Pendine Historic Cars directly by emailing james@pendine.com or on +44 1869 357126.

For further details on the 1986 Aston Martin V8 Zagato prototype for sale with Pendine Historic Cars, visit https://pendine.com/portfolio/1986-aston-martin-v8-zagato/.

All images copyright “Pendine Historic Cars”

REVEALED: BICESTER MOTION – FULL MASTERPLAN FOR IMMERSIVE AUTOMOTIVE RESORT FROM BICESTER HERITAGE

REVEALED: BICESTER MOTION – FULL MASTERPLAN FOR IMMERSIVE AUTOMOTIVE RESORT FROM BICESTER HERITAGE

Bicester Heritage has today unveiled ‘Bicester Motion’, its masterplan for the creation of the UK’s first automotive resort, with an ambition to become one of the country’s top 20 tourist and leisure destinations.

Having successfully developed the concept of a Centre for Excellence, experience and community for the historic automotive sector, Bicester Heritage (which occupies just 5% of the site) will now become a component of a larger landmark development named Bicester Motion. This expansion will ensure that the historic airfield location it calls home will fulfil its original and continued purpose as a focal point for cutting edge technology.

As Bicester Motion launches across 444 acres, the new resort hopes to offer leisure, culture and tourism experiences within one destination. Consisting of multiple zones, the Bicester Motion concept comprises of the recently announced 344 room hotel and conference development (which received unanimous planning approval from Cherwell District Council at the end of 2018), and an additional 770,000 feet of operational business and leisure accommodation sitewide.

As a unique, holistic experience, Bicester Motion seeks to become a UK top 20 tourist attraction that offers a destination for one million tourists many of whom already visit Bicester on day trips, and a further 30+ businesses providing over 2,000 skilled jobs to the area. Embracing the location’s inherent history and existing business success, Bicester Motion will provide world-class leisure facilities, employment and business opportunities at a leading automotive-focused development unlike any other.

Bicester Motion aims to be the first experiential automotive resort where visitors can become fully immersed in the breadth of our automotive culture, from existing on-site historic vehicle specialists through to future electric and autonomous technology. This planned low-density development will be dedicated to driving experience and the demonstration of high-tech engineering as well as health, wellbeing, events, accommodation and aviation.

Bicester Motion aspires to include a brand experience centre offering driver experiences on both road and off-road courses with restaurants and cafés, offering activities for the whole family. Close to the brand centre, the aim is to transform the dilapidated quarry and former industrial areas into the Bicester Reserve. This ecology-led health and wellbeing zone aspires to utilise the site’s currently inaccessible natural areas and offer access to a new country park complete with footpaths, cycle paths and lakeside lodges ideal for family breaks.

The potential construction of inimitable Motor Vaults as a community of private gallery-style garages for car storage with accommodation will allow owners to use and maintain their vehicles in a beautifully designed and discreet location. Nestled into the WW2 airfield’s boundary, these car storage structures will sit adjacent to the current Bomb Stores, a fitting tribute to an area also purpose-built as a storage solution, but also close to the current supportive campus of over 40 industry specialists as well as test circuits.

Bicester Motion map

Land abutting the Bicester ring road is earmarked for Bicester Motion’s Future Automotive Speed Technology hub or F.A.S.T. Zone. This planned new centre of excellence will be a thriving home for automotive ‘tech’ development, demonstration and education.

Providing an introduction to the future of the automotive movement is central to Bicester Motion’s concept and where else in the UK is it possible to experience future vehicles in conjunction with our motoring history, past and present? The existing perimeter circuit, The Radial, once refurbished will offer visitors the chance to experience these vehicles in a controlled environment as well as learn skills.

Bicester Expo, an aspiring cutting-edge exhibition centre based in the former WW2 C Type Hangars will provide significant venues for conferencing, automotive events and leisure opportunities.

By partnering with both blue-chip and cutting-edge businesses, the generation of new skilled jobs and financial contribution to the local and wider economy stand to benefit the area immensely. Offering new amenities and experiences, this development hopes to ensure cohesive links to Bicester town centre, Bicester Village and the Ox-Cam ‘technology corridor’.

Dan Geoghegan, Chief Executive of Bicester Motion, commented:

“The automotive industry is in a fascinating state of flux owing to changing customer habits and requirements, alongside the technology shift in drivetrains and autonomy.  Bicester Motion will enable both new and existing manufacturers to interact more effectively with their clientele.  It will help build those relationships in a revolutionary way by providing an immersive environment that offers a lifestyle experience beyond just cars on tracks or visiting a showroom.  The automotive world is changing, and we plan to offer a first-of-its-kind resort that will have multi-generational appeal.” 

“Being around 90 minutes from 50% of the UK population makes the Bicester Motion location second to none, furthermore Oxfordshire receives 27.6 million visitors per annum.  Of those, 7 million visitors head to Bicester Village a stone’s throw away, with arguably the most desirable national and international demographic to the automotive industry."

A visualisation of the interior of Bicester Motion’s F.A.S.T. Zone

FUZZ TOWNSHEND’S CLASSIC OILS LAUNCH DUCKHAMS PARTNERSHIP AT BICESTER HERITAGE

FUZZ TOWNSHEND’S CLASSIC OILS LAUNCH DUCKHAMS PARTNERSHIP AT BICESTER HERITAGE

Fuzz Townshend’s Classic Oils launch Duckhams partnership at Bicester Heritage

Duckhams, the iconic oil brand will be available through Fuzz Townshend’s Classic Oils outlet, based at Bicester Heritage, from November 2018, as the stockist adds to its ever-expanding range of lubricants for historic vehicles.

The Duckhams name is synonymous with British motoring heritage and was the recommended oil of choice for many historic manufacturers in period such as MG, Morris, Austin and Jaguar. The brand made its return in late 2017, after once again becoming an independent British company following its acquisition from BP.

The products stocked by Fuzz Townshend’s Classic Oils provide older engines with optimal protection levels, consistent oil pressure and reduced deposits and the team recommend that engines of all ages can benefit from the latest oil additive technology. Classic Oils will stock the entire Duckhams engine oil range for classic vehicles, including SAE30 and 40 monograde plus Q 20w 50 and Q 10w 40 multigrade. These will be available in both twenty-litre pails, ‘gallon tins’ and handy 1 litre top up tins with extendable spouts for ease of use.

Also joining the range will be Duckhams’ gear oil products for differentials and gearboxes of all ages and designs including 90Z, 85W-140 GL5 and 80w-90 GL4.

Guy Lachlan, MD of Fuzz Townshend’s Classic Oils at Bicester Heritage says, “We are incredibly excited to be adding this well-loved brand to our range of products. The famous green oil uses a very high-quality base oil with optimum ZDDP levels and so will suit our customers who demand quality and reliability from their engine oil.”

Duckhams and Fuzz Townshend’s Classic Oils announced the partnership at the last Sunday Scramble of the year, held at Bicester Heritage this month where Martin Gough, Director for Classic and Motorsport at Duckhams was on hand to answer questions from the many historic vehicle enthusiasts present.

Martin Gough explains, “Guy and the team at Fuzz Townshend’s Classic Oils are the ‘go-to guys’ for lubricants in the historic vehicle community and to have their expertise and enthusiasm for quality associated with Duckhams is very exciting for us.”

The full range can be seen online at www.classic-oils.net and www.duckhams.com.

Source: Duckhams 

BICESTER HERITAGE WELCOMES NEW TENANT HOWSON MEDIA AS ON-SITE MEDIA SPECIALIST

BICESTER HERITAGE WELCOMES NEW TENANT HOWSON MEDIA AS ON-SITE MEDIA SPECIALIST

Bicester Heritage is proud to announce its latest tenant, Howson Media. Having launched at last weekend’s Sunday Scramble, Howson Media and their outlet Petroleum & Co are set to capture the unique atmosphere of Bicester Heritage and beyond.

Howson Media is a video production company producing a wide range of bespoke video content for private and commercial clients. With a classic car expert, creative director and cameraman on the team, the company offers a full service for those seeking videography, from concept and storyboarding through to drone work and post-production.

The team have already produced videos for Bicester Heritage tenant Pendine Historics, including a highly acclaimed piece showing sideways action in a 1959 Aston Martin DBR4 race car, and also a stunning work showing the exceptional craftsmanship behind Harry Fraser Vehicle Upholstery. They have also collaborated with official timing partner Bremont Watches

The addition of Howson Media adds the digital automotive content creation capability to Bicester Heritage and will support existing tenants and events on site.

Dan Geoghegan, Managing Director of Bicester Heritage, commented “We have been very impressed by the skill and enthusiasm of the Howson Media team.  Critically they bring a new perspective and innovation to media production for the automotive sector.  We wish them every success.’

George Howson of Howson Media added “On a professional level, Bicester Heritage is at the centre of the automotive world, so there is no better place for us to be. On a personal level, we have been huge fans of the site since day one so we are absolutely thrilled to be here.”

Further information on Howson Media can be found here: https://www.howsonmedia.co