THE CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING…

The festive season is fast approaching and tickets for what’s going to be an exceptionally merry 2019 Silverstone Classic (26-28 July) are the perfect Christmas present for family and friends.

Tickets to the Classic really are gifts that just keep on giving! Bringing great joy on receipt, then seven months of unbridled anticipation, before giving the lucky beneficiary an unforgettable experience at one of next summer’s premier fun-fuelled car-themed festivals.

Suiting all Yuletide pockets, a wide range of 2019 tickets are available from affordable stocking fillers to full hospitality packages for under the Christmas tree. 

Making present buying even easier and more attractive, all tickets are available online with the bonus of significant Super Early Bird discounts if purchased now. Adding to the convenience and presentation, a bespoke Gift Certificate can be downloaded from silverstoneclassic.com/gift-certificate for printing out and personalising all ready for giving on Christmas Day.

While the Classic boasts unrivalled on-track action packed with the world’s largest retro-racing grids, the massive three-day festival is also loaded with flat-out family fun to richly entertain all those lucky enough to be given tickets.

The cars are the stars at the Classic and in addition to the spectacular motor racing featuring more glorious and great sounding motor sport history than can be relished anywhere else on the planet, there will be record-breaking displays, epic parades of classic cars, and even the opportunity to buy a cherished model from yesteryear at the popular Silverstone Auctions sale.

There’s also plenty on offer for all ages with a vintage funfair, crazy golf, an Adrenaline Zone, rubber-burning action from the Streetcar Shootouts, air displays, a host of different interactive driving activities plus live rock music concerts.

Ensuring there are not any ‘batteries not included’ disappointments on the big day, all Classic tickets give access to both racing paddocks, all open trackside grandstands, the live music performances, air shows, vintage funfair rides and the vast majority of the epic family entertainment running alongside the non-stop on-track thrills.

“Half the fun of Christmas is finding wonderful and unusual presents that aren’t just quickly overlooked novelties,” said Silverstone Classic CEO, Nick Wigley. “Give someone Classic tickets and they’ll spend the next seven months dreaming about all the excitement that lies ahead. Then afterwards they’ll have some truly great memories of what’s going to be another unforgettable festival. The Classic is the gift that just keeps on giving!”

What’s more, those inspired to buy tickets before the end of December can take advantage of the Super Early Bird offer with savings of up to 22 per cent on Standard tickets – a big bonus for everyone seeking special Christmas presents.

Adult admission starts at just £35 with the price of the three-day weekend ticket frozen at £99 until the end of the year. Full details of all ticket prices – including Parc Fermé and Clubhouse hospitality packages, the RetroRun experience and camping – can be found on the silverstoneclassic.com website. 

WINNERS CELEBRATE AT GUILD OF MOTORING WRITERS AWARDS 2018

WINNERS CELEBRATE AT GUILD OF MOTORING WRITERS AWARDS 2018

Guild Awards 2018 - Winners

Award-winning motoring journalists, photographers, broadcasters and authors from the UK and Europe were honoured at the Guild of Motoring Writers’ Annual Awards on Thursday 29 November at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London.

A record-breaking total of 284 submissions (the most ever received in the 74-year history of the Guild) was entered in the professional categories, with further entries for aspiring young journalists and those making a special contribution to motoring and motorsport. Formula 1 commentator Ben Edwards was Master of Ceremonies for the awards.

The prized ‘Journalist of the Year’ title, supported by Renault, was awarded to John Evans who was singled out for his work that provided brilliant takes on interesting yet under-reported or simply unknown areas of the industry. Erin Baker was second with Christofer Lloyd in third.

The top Motoring Photographer was named as Drew Gibson, while the Motorsport Photographer of the Year was, for the second year running, Jakob Ebrey.

The Mercedes-Benz Montagu of Beaulieu trophy, for the best recording of the history of motoring in the English language, was collected by prolific author and noted Guild historian Karl Ludvigsen, for his comprehensive two-volume history of Reid Railton. Jonathan Wood and Graham Rabagliati were second and third.

In a closely-fought contest, the Newspress Young Writer of the Year was collected by Jack Phillips for a series of innovative reports with fresh angles and clever ideas – such as how the world of gaming is impacting on driver skills on the race track.

The ever-popular Feature Writer of the Year category, sponsored by British Car Auctions, attracted a massive 42 entries. The winner was Richard Webber for a feature that combined a road test with a visit to Jim Clark’s hometown.

Staying with motorsport, the Peugeot Motorsport Cup was won by Germany-based overseas Guild member Vaishali Dinakaran for her varied work in the field – including driving a Renault Formula 1 race car.

Courage and endurance are two of the qualities looked for in the Guild’s Driver of the Year. This year, these were very much in evidence from winner Billy Monger, who battled back from a horrific accident which resulted in him losing both legs, to return to single-seater racing. He received a standing ovation as he walked to the stage to collect his award.

Collecting the Rider of the Year trophy was British Superbike runner-up and soon to be Moto2 contender Jake Dixon.

Away from the world of journalism, the Guild’s award for a Special Contribution to Motoring, sponsored by Kia, was presented to Matthew Avery, head of research at Thatcham, for their contribution over 50 years to vehicle safety and security.

Author and Guild Benevolent fund-raiser Giles Chapman was recognised for his work over many years with the Pemberton Tankard.

The final presentation of the night was the President’s Trophy which was awarded to Aston Martin president and chief executive Dr Andy Palmer for his work in reviving the fortunes of the famous British brand.

GUILD AWARDS 2018 – WINNERS AND HIGHLY COMMENDED

AA Campaigning Journalist of the Year

Winner: Alex Grant

Highly Commended: Louise Cole and Maria McCarthy

GOMW Photographer of the Year – General

Winner: Drew Gibson

Highly Commended: Olgun Kordal and Matt Howell

GOMW Photographer of the Year – Motorsport

Winner: Jakob Ebrey

Highly Commended: Kel Edge and Jayson Fong

British Car Auctions Feature Writer of the Year

Winner: Richard Webber

Highly Commended: James Taylor and Rachel Boagey

Peter James Insurance Editor of the Year

Winner: Laurie Caddell

Highly Commended: Ben Klemenzson and Chris Rees

GKN Driveline Consumer Journalist of the Year

Winner: Claire Evans

Highly Commended: Maria McCarthy and Christofer Lloyd

IAM RoadSmart Safety Award

Winner: David Williams

Highly Commended: Louise Cole and Gustavo Ruffo

Market Engineering Award for Automotive Technology Journalism

Winner: Nick Hull

Highly Commended: Jorn Madslien and John Evans

Mercedes-Benz Award for the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy

First: Karl Ludvigsen

Second: Jonathan Wood

Third: Graham Rabagliati

Newspress Young Writer of the Year

Winner: Jack Phillips

Highly Commended: Alex Kalinauckas and Sophie Williamson-Stothert

Peugeot Motorsport Cup

Winner: Vaishali Dinakaran

Highly Commended: James Taylor and Dan Trent

Prova PR Business Writer of the Year

Winner: Nick Gibbs

Highly Commended: Lem Bingley and Martin Kahl

Renault UK / The Guild of Motoring Writers’ Journalist of the Year

First: John Evans

Second: Erin Baker

Third: Christofer Lloyd

RM Sotheby’s Classic Writer of the Year

Winner: Mick Walsh

Highly Commended: Sam Dawson and Greg MacLeman

Guild Driver of the Year

Billy Monger

Guild Rider of the Year

Jake Dixon

President’s Trophy

Dr Andy Palmer (President and CEO, Aston Martin)

Special Commendation for a Contribution to Motoring sponsored by Kia

Thatcham Research

Phil Llewellin Student Journalist of the Year sponsored by CAR

Winner: Emily Macbeth

Highly Commended: Guy Hirst and Jake Horton

Sir William Lyons Award sponsored by Jaguar

Winner: Luke Chillingsworth

Highly Commended: Nathan Hine and Alex Whitworth

Pemberton Trophy

Giles Chapman

THE FINEST SELECTION OF MOTORING ART CHRISTMAS CARDS

THE FINEST SELECTION OF MOTORING ART CHRISTMAS CARDS

Motorgifts is offering the finest ever selection of classic car Christmas cards, with a special pack of 10 assorted cards which have been painted by some of Britain’s leading motoring artists.

The pack includes classic Aston Martin, Austin Healey, Jaguar, MG and Morris Minor themed cards, plus others featuring a range of colourful and evocative scenes from the golden age of motoring.

All the cards have been painted by such highly regarded automotive artists as Kevin Walsh, Trevor Mitchell and Richard Wheatland and contain an outstanding level of detail of the cars which are featured.

GUARANTEED SAME DAY DESPATCH

Motorists prides itself on its high-quality of customer service and guarantees that all Christmas card orders received by 3pm are despatched by 1st class post the same day (Monday to Friday) to ensure rapid delivery.

 

FREE 2019 DESK-TOP CLASSIC CAR CALENDAR WITH ANY 2 PACKS

As a very special additional offer, Motorgifts is also giving away a high-quality 2019 A5 size classic British car desk calendar with the purchase of any two or more packs of cards.

 

100s MORE CHRISTMAS MOTORING GIFTS AVAILABLE

Motorgifts.co.uk is the original online motoring gift shop and stocks hundreds of individual items, with prices ranging from just £1.99 for a car shaped air fresheners and motoring themed bookmarks, to several hundred pounds for limited edition motoring prints and sculptures.

The full range of products can be viewed at www.motorgifts.co.uk, which also features numerous special Christmas offers.

The Christmas cards cost just £9.99 per pack of 10 (+P&P) and can either be purchased online or by calling 01625-520322.

RESPONSIBLE USE IS KEY – FIVA INTRODUCES ITS NEW GUIDE FOR HISTORIC MOTORING

RESPONSIBLE USE IS KEY – FIVA INTRODUCES ITS NEW GUIDE FOR HISTORIC MOTORING

One of the highlights of FIVA’s annual General Assembly, held this year in Gibraltar, was the presentation of the FIVA Guide for responsible use of historic vehicles on today’s roads. It reminds owners and drivers of historic vehicles of the importance of caring for the environment, and for the safety of other road users when taking a trip in a historic vehicle.

Tiddo Bresters, FIVA’s Vice President for Legislation, comments, “FIVA is fully aware that the world of mobility and transport is changing. However, it is also deeply convinced that in times of rapid innovation in vehicle technology, the sight of historic vehicles in use on the roads – artefacts that demonstrate the designs, the skills and the cultures of past times – will continue to delight people all over the world.

“Not only does our new Guide address the more than a million and a half historic vehicle owners that FIVA represents, it will also help the authorities and institutions influential in road safety and the environment to recognise that historic vehicles have a place in the world’s future landscape – as they have had for so many decades in the past.”

With the publication of the new Guide, FIVA confirms its commitment to maintaining the high standards of road safety for which historic vehicle drivers are known – not least by the insurance industry. (Indeed, FIVA is a member of the European Road Safety Charter, which it joined almost 10 years ago.)

The Guide replaces earlier publications that expressed FIVA’s respect for these two essential concerns – the environment and the safety of other road-users – and FIVA’s member organisations in around 70 countries, across all continents, will be encouraged to actively distribute it.

The Guide, which has over 20 pages and is imaginatively illustrated by three women illustrators from three different countries, has been edited under the direction of FIVA’s Legislation Commission. The cover of the Guide (image available for publication) is inspired by an actual photograph taken by FIVA’s Tiddo Bresters in Heidelberg in 2018 – and it perfectly illustrates the joy of introducing future generations to our mobile heritage. It shows children displaying a natural curiosity in the unusual sight of a BMW Isetta – a motorcycle-engined microcar from the 1950s – and in the background, the illustrator has added its modern equivalent, a brand-new electric microcar, the Microlino, inspired by the Isetta.

GOODWOOD PRESENTS THE JIM CLARK TRUST WITH £53,000 FUNDRAISING FROM THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL OF SPEED

GOODWOOD PRESENTS THE JIM CLARK TRUST WITH £53,000 FUNDRAISING FROM THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL OF SPEED

The Jim Clark Trust is delighted to announce that £53,000 was raised by donations from Goodwood Festival of Speed visitors over the four-day event weekend held this summer (12-15 July 2018). The official charity of the Festival, the proceeds will help to celebrate the memory of one of the most successful and admired motor racing legends of all time, with plans for a new Jim Clark Museum.

The Jim Clark Trust would like to thank the generosity of all those who donated over the course of the event, as well as guests at the Goodwood House Saturday Night Party, the Goodwood Road Racing Club and in particular, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon for inviting the Trust to be the chosen charity for this year’s event.

This year’s Festival of Speed 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of 1968 with a competition launched to win the 100,000th Lotus ever made to raise funds for the charity ­– a Jim Clark special edition Lotus Evora GT410 Sport inspired by Jim’s famous 1960’s Elan and created by Lotus Exclusive. The winner of the competition will be announced at the opening of the new Jim Clark Museum in summer 2019. Motorsport fans around the world are encouraged to enter this amazing competition at www.jimclarklotus.com.

The new, expanded Jim Clark Museum is being built to preserve the memory and display some of the incredible cars in which Jim Clark raced. The new £1.6m museum is funded by a partnership between the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Borders Council and The Jim Clark Trust. The building works began in June 2018 and the new museum is expected to open in summer 2019.

The Jim Clark Trust is committed to £300,000 funding towards the project. The current plans have space for two race cars and the Trust is now seeking additional funds to explore plans to increase the number of cars on display in the future. The Trust, whose aims are focused on heritage, education and inspiration is run by relatives of Jim Clark and is reliant on public support. In recent years fundraising has included events, grants, crowdfunding, merchandise, and special edition memorabilia such as driving gloves and a commemorative whisky.

The launch of the Jim Clark special edition Lotus Evora GT410 Sport competition is the most ambitious fundraising campaign to date and has attracted interest from Jim Clark fans, F1, classic and motorsport fans around the world. The Lotus Evora includes special features such as a Scottish tartan interior, classic wooden gear knob, Jim Clark signature and discreet interior plaque making this 100,000th Lotus truly unique. The launch of the competition was attended by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, a Patron of the Trust, with Group Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng.

Over the course of the Festival, The Jim Clark Trust welcomed visitors to their stand with an exhibition featuring the life of Jim Clark as a racing driver and farmer in the Scottish Borders, historic memorabilia and a display of classic and modern race cars. Honorary President of the Trust Sir Jackie Stewart commemorated the 50th anniversary of 1968 by driving Jim’s Lotus 25 up the Hill Climb with Doug Niven, Jim’s cousin and Family Trustee, in a Lotus Cortina. Plans for the new museum also received the support of FIA President Jean Todt announced as a new Patron of the Trust at the Festival of Speed.

Commentating on the presentation of the funds raised from this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Ben Smith, Secretary of the Jim Clark Trust, said, “The support of Goodwood and donations raised by the thousands of visitors to this year’s Festival of Speed visitors is tremendous and we are extremely grateful. A sincere thank you must go to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, the army of bucket collectors and volunteers who helped to support the fundraising over four memorable days at this year’s event. We were greatly encouraged by the genuine interest in our plans and affection for Jim Clark and we look forward to welcoming visitors to the new museum in the future.”

ATTACK OF THE CLONES: CAR CLONING IN LONDON RISES BY 50% IN ONE YEAR

ATTACK OF THE CLONES: CAR CLONING IN LONDON RISES BY 50% IN ONE YEAR

Cases of car cloning in London have risen by 50 per cent in just one year, with concerns that similar levels of cloning may be rife across the rest of the UK, according to official figures obtained by HonestJohn.co.uk.

The leading consumer motoring website analysed previously unseen Transport for London (TfL) data for the Congestion Charge zone and found that the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) being cancelled due to car cloning has soared.

In 2016 the number of PCNs cancelled on the grounds that the car was a clone was 1099; however, in 2017, this figure increased by 50 per cent with 1652 cases being recorded by TfL. Data for the first six months of 2018 show that car cloning continues to rise, with official figures up by a third on January - June 2017.

The true figure for the number of cloned cars on the road in London is thought to be much higher, given the complex and lengthy PCN appeals process and the fact that the Congestion Charge zone only operates Monday to Friday.

In the event of a PCN being issued due to a cloned car, the legitimately registered keeper will be required to provide evidence to satisfy the issuer of the ticket that their car was not at the time and place where the alleged offence occurred.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said HonestJohn.co.uk’s Managing Editor, Daniel Powell. “On the grounds that it is down to the car owner to prove they are innocent, it would be safe to assume that the true figure for car cloning in London is significantly higher as many drivers will be unable supply the evidence TfL requires to cancel the PCN.

“For those involved, it can be a very frightening and stressful experience, because they will be threatened with crippling fines and court action if they cannot provide comprehensive proof that they were not on the capital’s roads. It also raises an important question - how many drivers simply pay the fine to avoid the stress?

“There are a number of steps car owners can take to protect themselves, with the most obvious one being photos of their car to show the subtle differences between the clone and legitimate vehicle. Legal number plates usually have the manufacturer’s logo on them, while the clones are usually blank. CCTV footage will also prove a car’s location at a certain time, along with footage from a dash camera with GPS tracking.”

As part of its detailed response to HonestJohn.co.uk’s FOI, TfL said: “Prior to issuing the PCN we manually verify that the image of the vehicle observed in the zone matches the vehicle information provided by the DVLA. Only when there is a match is a penalty issued. At the point of issuing the penalty, we would not know if a vehicle had been cloned. 

“On receipt of the penalty, a motorist can follow the representations and appeals procedure and challenge a PCN. If we receive a representation stating a vehicle has been cloned we request evidence to confirm this.”

The Congestion Charge zone is enforced by a network of roadside automatic number plate recognition cameras (commonly known as ANPR), which record the registration and image of each vehicle as it enters and leaves the zone. Drivers that do not pay the London Congestion zone fee are sent a PCN for £130, which they need to pay within 28 days. TfL usually reduces the penalty to £65 if it is paid within 14 days.

Source: HONEST JOHN

FIVA CULTURE AWARDS: THE WINNERS ARE REVEALED

FIVA CULTURE AWARDS: THE WINNERS ARE REVEALED

Earlier this year, the FIVA Culture Commission (CC) invited classic vehicle enthusiasts to nominate entrants for a new series of awards to celebrate our cultural and technical mobile heritage.

FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens or international federation of historic vehicles) announced that the Culture Awards would comprise the following three categories: 

• RESEARCH

• DEDICATED SERVICE by INDIVIDUALS or ORGANISATIONS (CLUBS, FEDERATIONS, MUSEUMS), ETC.

• EDUCATION, TRAINING and the raising of AWARENESS

At the annual FIVA General Assembly in Gibraltar, the CC had the honour of revealing the winners of the three categories. The selection proved to be difficult due to the quality of the submissions, and the CC needed to study all the applications in great detail, with consideration given to a range of factors that included media coverage, the involvement of the general public and the participation of younger enthusiasts.

Nataša G. Jerina, CC President, commented, “It was very satisfying and a surprise to receive so many applications in the first year of the award presentation and the quality of the responses made selecting a winner even more of a challenge.”

The FIVA Culture Commission is now pleased to announce that the 2018 winners by category are:

RESEARCH

Winner: The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs with its National Historic Vehicle Survey

The CC noted not just the comprehensive quality of the Survey but how the findings indicated a wider appreciation of historic vehicles by the British population; the association of historic vehicles with other heritage organisations; plus a set of figures, such as the £5.5 billion value of the movement to the UK economy, all of which help to influence the UK government and politicians to ensure we can continue to use our historic vehicles on the road. In particular, we were impressed by the understanding of employment trends and the need to ensure that skilled resources are developed in this sector, leading to the creation of the Heritage Skills Academy.

DEDICATED SERVICE

Winner: The ‘Motorcycle Republic Symposium’, an event organised by the Hellenic Motorcycle Museum

The CC noted that the 3-day event, part of the annual FIVA motorcycle week, welcomed more than 2,000 visitors who were able to see some 50 motorcycles and attend a comprehensive range of presentations, ranging from a video presentation on the ‘Charter of Turin’ to a talk on ‘Education in Riding Safely’.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and the raising of AWARENESS

Winner: Federación Mexicana de Automoviles Antiguos y de Colección, A.C. with the Diploma syllabus

The project is very comprehensive, with a strong practical component and – having been in operation for nine years – it can boast approximately 300 graduates.

Special Culture Award 2017

Finally, the FIVA Culture Commission would like to thank Motorhistorisk Samraad and Mr Henning Thomsen for an application originally sent in 2017, nominating Mr Ole Sommer for a Culture Award for Dedicated Service. We’re pleased to confirm that the Commission has agreed to present a Special Culture Award in recognition of the wide-ranging and passionate commitment to historic vehicles, and Jaguars, in particular, demonstrated throughout Mr Sommer’s life.

“It’s fantastic to realise how many projects are being undertaken worldwide, many of which we are as yet unaware of, that we believe we should endeavour to promote whenever possible. We hope to receive many more applications in 2019 and we look forward to receiving them with great enthusiasm!” confirms Nataša Jerina.

The winning projects will each be the subject of a short video on the FIVA website.

COUNT’S RECORD-BREAKING BABS JOINS CHITTY EXHIBITION AT BEAULIEU

COUNT’S RECORD-BREAKING BABS JOINS CHITTY EXHIBITION AT BEAULIEU

BABS in Beaulieu exhibition

The iconic Land Speed Record breaker Babs that inspired Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has joined the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years exhibition at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

The incredible machine, known as Chitty Bang Bang IV, was the creation of racing driver Count Louis Zborowski and inspired Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang story.

Babs joins an original screen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Humber 8hp driven by Truly Scrumptious, the original Child Catcher carriage, Coggins Garage recreated in the museum to house the inventive machines of Rowland Emett and a replica of Grandpa Potts’ hut in Beaulieu’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years which celebrates the film’s golden anniversary.

Babs started life in 1923 as the Higham Special and was even more extreme in its design than the Count’s previous three Chittys. When he died a year later, it was bought for £125 by talented racing driver John Godfrey Parry-Thomas who re-christened it, Babs. After boosting power to 500 bhp by adding new pistons to its American Liberty V12 aeroplane engine, Parry-Thomas beat the Land Speed Record by more than 20mph by reaching 171mph.

When Sir Malcolm Campbell raised the record again the following year, Parry-Thomas made an attempt to regain the title which ended in disaster and he was killed. The wrecked car was buried at Pendine Sands, where it remained for more than 40 years.

In 1969 Babs was excavated by university lecturer and car restorer Owen Wyn Owen, who discovered that the car was not as badly decayed as expected and embarked on bringing it back to its former glory. Today, the fully-restored Babs is a fitting tribute to the aeroplane-engined racing cars and their fearless drivers whose exploits inspired Ian Fleming.

Other Chitty memorabilia on show at Beaulieu includes the leather bonnet strap from the Count’s original Mercedes Chitty, 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.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years can be seen as part of the general admission to Beaulieu, which includes entrance to the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu family home of Palace House, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the grounds and gardens. To buy tickets in advance online or for more information see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

Find us on Twitter @Beaulieu_Hants, Facebook at /nationalmotormuseum or Instagram @national_motor_museum and join the conversation with #Chitty50years.

THE SEAT 1400: SEAT’S FIRST EVER VEHICLE CELEBRATES ITS 65TH ANNIVERSARY

THE SEAT 1400: SEAT’S FIRST EVER VEHICLE CELEBRATES ITS 65TH ANNIVERSARY

The car that launched SEAT is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. The SEAT 1400, a luxurious and elegant saloon, marked the beginning of the brand’s story and formed the platform for its future success.

The first SEAT 1400 – with registration plate number B-87.223 – rolled off the production line at the brand’s Zona Franca factory in Barcelona on the 13th November 1953, just three years after the brand had been formed.

Priced at 117,000 pesetas (around €705 or £616), the production rate was just five vehicles a day during the first year, but that number would rapidly climb.

Conceived as the vehicle to build the foundations of SEAT’s business, 1400 was an impressively executed four-door, front engine, rear-wheel drive saloon, equally at home as an official state authority vehicle or providing transportation to the masses as a public taxi.

Performance to impress

Built at SEAT’s manufacturing plant in Barcelona, with an initial workforce of 925 employees, the 1400’s technical specifications were reflective of the period: longitudinally mounted petrol engine at the front with power delivered to the rigid rear axle which incorporated a differential.

That engine was a four-cylinder unit with a displacement of 1,395cc, linked to a four-speed manual transmission and with a maximum output of 44PS, giving it a top speed of 120km/h.

The chassis incorporated helical springs that produced an elastic effect on the rear suspension, and longitudinal semi-cantilever springs – which acted as thrust arms – to give it anti-roll stabilisation. A Panhard rod ensured the lateral positioning of the axle. This setup was ultra-modern for the time.

The 1400’s exterior took its design cue from American vehicles of the time, with a rounded rear shape extenuated by conical-shaped rear lights, but it also introduced curved, one-piece windscreens and a heating system to the market.

As well as appealing aesthetics, the SEAT 1400 also offered more than sufficient performance. Its 48-litre fuel tank gave it significant range thanks to its fuel consumption figure of 10.5 litres/100km (27mpg) and it would gladly cruise at 100km/h (62mpg).

Manufactured for success

By the end of the SEAT 1400’s initial production run in 1954, 1,345 units had been produced, but that was just the beginning of the car’s life. The 1400 family continued with the introduction of the 1400 A in 1954, the 1400B in 1956 and 1400 C in 1960, along with a number of special versions.

With each version came improvements to the performance and design, helping solidify its position in the market and grow SEAT as a brand.

The 1400 helped SEAT’s growth skyrocket. Initial production numbers were small, by the end of 1954, 959 units were delivered, however, a year later annual production was tipping towards 3,000 – and the 1400 was produced with nearly 100% nationally sourced components.

In 1956 7,000 vehicles were manufactured, with that number hitting 10,000 a year later. By the end of its life, 98,978 units had been sold and its place in history was guaranteed.

Technical specifications

SEAT 1400

Engine
Number of cylinders/valves	Four-cylinder/Eight valves
Bore and stroke	82mm x 66mm
Displacement	1,395cc
Carburettor	Solex or Weber downdraft with manual choke
Cooling	Liquid cooled belt driven fan. Water pump
Transmission	Four-speed manual, plus reverse
Chassis	Front: Independent, deformable trapezium with springs and telescopic shock absorbers Rear: Rigid axle with springs, telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers and longitudinal leaf springs
Tyres	5.90 x 14
Brakes	Front and rear drums

JAGUAR F-TYPE RALLY CARS CELEBRATE 70 YEARS OF SPORTS CAR HERITAGE

JAGUAR F-TYPE RALLY CARS CELEBRATE 70 YEARS OF SPORTS CAR HERITAGE

Watch F-TYPE rally cars in action: https://youtu.be/YsUcDmCmLMg

12 November 2018, Whitley: Jaguar has developed two F-TYPE Convertible rally cars, with design cues from the F-TYPE Chequered Flag Limited Edition, to continue its celebration of 70 years of sports car heritage since the XK 120 was revealed in 1948.

The one-off F-TYPE rally cars also pay homage to the legendary Jaguar XK 120 registered ‘NUB 120’ which, in the early 1950s in the hands of Ian Appleyard, completed three consecutive Alpine Rallies without incurring a single penalty point, and won the RAC and Tulip.

Both rally-specification F-TYPE Convertibles are powered by Jaguar’s 300PS 2.0-litre Ingenium four-cylinder petrol engine. With modifications overseen by Jaguar Design and Engineering, both cars were built to FIA specification, with comprehensively uprated brakes and suspension fitted alongside a protective roll cage, race-seats with a six-point harness, bonnet-mounted light pod and fire extinguisher.

Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design, said: “The opportunity to design a rally car doesn’t come along very often so I was fascinated to see how we could take our modern day sports car to a similar character. These models are a fitting tribute to the XK 120 and all the great Jaguar sports cars since its reveal 70 years ago, including the latest F-TYPE Chequered Flag Limited Edition."

The rally F-TYPEs feature upgrades to the brakes, suspension and drivetrain including the addition of grooved discs with four-piston callipers front and rear. Hand-built competition dampers and softer springs ensure the high-performance cars can be driven flat-out over rough rally stages. Three-way adjustable dampers allow the cars to be tuned for different surfaces and feature spherical bearings for added precision. With motorsport-spec wheels and tyres specifically for use on gravel, a limited-slip differential improves power delivery on loose surfaces while a hydraulic handbrake helps drivers tackle hairpin bends.

The celebratory models were put through their paces at the Walters Arena rally stage, South Wales, to demonstrate their performance credentials and will now attend a series of Jaguar events over the next few months.

The rally cars’ livery takes design inspiration from the new F-TYPE Chequered Flag Limited Edition, which features a range of subtle exterior visual enhancements, including unique 20-inch Gloss Black wheels with a Diamond Turned finish and a Black Contrast roof on the Coupé. Inside, the luxurious Ebony Windsor Leather interior features Performance seats with embossed Chequered Flag headrests and a Dark Brushed Aluminium centre console trim finisher.

The Jaguar F-TYPE Chequered Flag Limited Edition is available from £62,335 and can be configured at www.jaguar.co.uk. You can read more about the F-TYPE Chequered Flag Limited Edition here.