Classic, Performance & Retro December 2010

News - Reviews Tests - Show Reports - carREPORTS clubs - cars for sale LATEST NEWS -- Road EVENTS - FEATURES - CARS- technical FOR SALEtips - SHOW - REVIEWS

FRE Onl E

Mag ine a zin e!

December 2010 - Issue 1

James Bond’s

Aston Martin DB5 Auction Sensation!

MGA Coupe - Ferrari F430 Road Test - Stopping Power - Thriller in manila - AK Cobra

Keeping the great marques alive

www.moss-europe.co.uk from a spire nut to a supercharger

Classic Mini

MG T-Type

MGA

MGB

MGF

Sprite & Midget

CLASSIC ENHANCEMENT TRY MOSS, FOR THE PARTS YOU NEED AND THE PARTS YOU WANT

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Morris Minor

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Mr H. Ritchie, Canada.

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Welcome to Classic, Performance & Retro!

‘The automotive media revolution is finally here!’ That’s a pretty big statement to make, but hopefully it will give you a clue as to our intentions. We plan to be setting trends, rather than following them, right from the very outset.

So what’s in it for you? Well, an online ‘electronic’ magazine has many advantages over the traditional printed paper copy. For a start, Classic, Performance & Retro is FREE! Think about that for a second. We are bringing you a high quality publication, packed full of exciting features and articles, and it won’t cost you a penny. That is pretty revolutionary in itself. We are also trying to create a magazine with international appeal, because thanks to the power of the internet, we do not have any distribution restrictions. We are not ‘territorial’ or restricted to a single country/ region like the printed magazines are.

If you are someone who travels internationally on a regular basis, you can still read Classic, Performance & Retro where ever you happen to be, as long as you have an internet connection. Maybe you commute to work by train and carry a laptop with you. Again you can read the magazine as you travel. Going through tunnels and can’t get a signal? No problem – just download the offline version and your reading will not be interrupted.

Of course, there are other benefits too. Suppose you see a car that catches your interest in one of the advertisements. A single click of the mouse button will take you to the vendor’s website where you can find more about the car in question. If it is a private sale, another click will allow you to instantly e-mail the owner for more details – we help you stay one step ahead of the crowd so you need never miss out on your dream car ever again!

So, the magazine is free, it’s easy to access and uses modern technology for distribution and communication. What else is there? One of the biggest problems with printed magazines is that they are incredibly harmful to the environment. The huge amounts of paper used to produce them means that millions of acres of trees are cut down every year. Our magazine uses no paper! Nor does it use chemically produced ink which again can harm the environment. We don’t use hundreds of diesel burning lorries to distribute the magazine either, so we don’t pollute the atmosphere as we deliver it to you. Classic, Performance & Retro is one of the ‘greenest’ car magazines ever published!

Some people might be a bit sceptical and think that it might not work, or that there must be a catch, however we have been producing an aviation magazine in exactly the same format for nearly two years now and it has been a massive success. Now we are bringing that same successful formula to the automotive world, so now you get a car magazine every month for nothing! Good eh?

As far as content goes, the name of the magazine probably says it all. We are going to be featuring a bit of everything, so in some issue of the magazine you might find a Mini or Morris Minor rubbing shoulders with the latest Italian ‘supercar.’ We will also be delving into the world of motorsport with reports on everything from F1 and NASCAR to classic rallies and road trials. You can expect the occasional oddity to creep in too – if you can drive it, it might make an appearance, but the cars we will be featuring most will of course be Classic, Performance & Retro! I hope you enjoy the first issue, and please get in touch and let us know what you think of it.

Drive Safe!

The Classic, Performance & Retro team.

Below: It doesn’t look much, but the curved banking at Brooklands in Surrey is one of the most important pieces of concrete in motoring history. You can read the full story in our Autodrome feature on page 90.

Editor: Simon Hazeldine- Designer: Chris Peacock - Sub Editor: Alan Simpson - Advertising: Gareth McFarlane - Web ‘Geek’: Luke Mowatt - Marketing: Peter Allinson. The entire contents of Classic, Performance & Retro magazine are copyright. No part of it may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Classic, Performance & Retro Magazine is a FREE monthly publication produced by AV8 Publishing Ltd, Cambridge, England. Contact Details: PO Box 280, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 9DH. Website - www.cprmag.com - E-mail - info@cprmag.com - Telephone +44 (0)1353 777519. We are happy to accept photographs and articles with a view to including them in Classic, Performance & Retro Magazine, but please note: all submissions are sent at contributors own risk and we will not be liable for any loss or damage.

050

078

James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5!

See Our Auction Special

Can a replica Cobra provide as much fun as the real thing?

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Ferrari F430 - the latest Supercar Classic!

CONTENTS www.cprmag.com Issue 1 December 2010 018

MGA Coupe: We take a closer look at one of the alltime classic British sports cars - the beautiful MGA Coupe.

030

Stopping Power: Triumph TR expert Neil Revington explains how to keep your brakes in top condition.

026

Classic Le Mans: A round-up of all the action from this year’s Classic Le Mans in France.

038

Thriller In Manila: Steve Slater rides with the ‘Supercar Gang’ on the streets of Manila.

50

Autodrome - Brooklands: We kick off our series on motoring museums with a visit to Brooklands.

050

James Bond Aston Martin DB5: A detailed look at the ‘most famous car in the world.’

062

Ferrari F430 Road Test: We look back at the superb Ferrari F430 - the latest ‘supercar’ classic.

078

Taming The Cobra: A ‘performance’ kit car? The AK 427 Cobra is exactly that!

090

Autodrome - Brooklands: We kick off our series on motoring museums with a visit to Brooklands.

102

Book Shelf: A round-up of the latest books to emerge from the automotive world.

106

Model Motors: A look at some of the scale model cars that caught our attention recently.

RegularFeatures:

018

006

News: All the latest news and gossip from the Classic, Performance & Retro worlds.

016

Club News: A round-up of news from some of the best car clubs in the world.

038

Reviews: A look at what’s hot...and what’s not in the automotive marketplace.

074

What’s On: Never miss another race meeting or car show with our comprehensive events guide.

088

Auction News: A round up of what’s been happening in the auctions rooms around the world.

MGA Coupe Classic Style!

December 2010 5

News

The Latest Automotive News From Around The World!

James Bond DB5 Sold!

‘Most Famous Car In The World’ Sells, But Doesn’t Reach Expected Price The iconic James Bond Aston Martin DB5 that was featured in the films Goldfinger and Thunderball was sold by RM auctions for £2,912.000 (including auction premium) at a sale in London on October 28. The car was being sold on behalf of American Jerry Lee who has owned the car for the last 40 years. It was bought by another American, Harry Yeaggy from Ohio, who plans to return the car to the USA where it will be kept in his private car museum.

A packed audience attended the auction to witness the sale of ‘the most famous car in the world’ which was driven by driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger and Thunderball. The car still has its full complement of operational ‘Q-Branch’ gadgets, all of which are said to in working order.

Mr Lee sold the car to help raise money for his charity, the Jerry Lee Foundation, a multi-national initiative dedicated to solving social problems associated with poverty, with an emphasis on crime prevention. Of particular benefit will be the Jerry Lee Center of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania and the Jerry Lee Centre of Experimental Criminology at the University of Cambridge.

You can read the full story on our special ‘Bond Car’ auction feature on page 50. www.rmauctions.com

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Elvis Presley’s Mercedes-Benz 600 To Go under the Hammer!

Up For Auction With Ferrari 550 GTZ At Bonhams Year-End Sale A Mercedes-Benz 600, once owned by the ‘King of Rock and Roll’, Elvis Presley, and a 2000 Ferrari 550 GTZ will feature at Bonhams’ traditional end of year sale of Important Motor Cars and Fine Automobilia on December 6, which this year takes place at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, Surrey. Restored to a very high standard, and one of only a handful of cars that Presley registered in his name, the Mercedes-Benz has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £150,000 – 200,000. Presley kept the car, which was one of two 600 Mercedes he owned, for two years before giving it to a friend, James Leroy Robertson. It was purchased by the vendor in 2005 from Robertson Motors Memphis, and exported to the UK. The Ferrari 550 GTZ is one of only five examples of the car bodied by the famous Italian carrozeria Zagato and the only Right Hand Drive example. The Bonhams December sale is traditionally the largest, by value and volume, of the season and offers a wide variety of motor cars spanning all periods, types and marques. Mercedes-Benz World, situated within the banking of Britain’s first ever purpose built racing circuit, the famous Brooklands Motor Course (see Autodrome in this issue) provides an exciting and fitting location for the sale to take place. As well as its remarkable setting, the avant-garde venue is excellently equipped, featuring two refreshment areas – Cafe 1886 and the Gullwing restaurant, and the prestigious new Brooklands Hotel just next door.

James Knight, Group Head of Bonhams Motoring department, said: “Having attended a couple of functions at Mercedes-Benz World, I had cast an envious eye over the building. If I were to design a purpose-built motor car auction facility, it would not be far off what the venue provides - it really has everything. I am really excited about this venue - it ticks every box for us, our sellers and buyers – and that’s why I’m looking forward to showing you around.” www.bonhams.com/cars

New Starters At Cambridge Motorsport High Performance EDGE Motors Added To Range

Cambridge Motorsports Parts (CMP) has just announced two new additions to their range of EDGE starters. They can now offer powerful 1kW and 1.4kW starter motors that are ideal for use on classic cars and vehicles with a high compression ratio.

CMP says Edge Performance starter motors offer faster cranking of any engine, hot or cold.

Reduction gearing means high torque combined with low current draw from these more efficient 1KW or 1.4KW motors.

The extensive application list includes MGB, Triumph, Ford (Including Crossflow, Pinto and Cosworth Ford), AC, Bristol, Sunbeam, Vauxhall (including the Lotus Carlton), Lancia Beta, Delta Integrale and other Fiat based models in that range, Porsche, Austin Healey, Rover and Toyota. The 1kW starter can be identified by its smaller solenoid, which makes it suitable for mounting in restricted spaces, and retails at £159.50 plus VAT. The 1.4kW version retails at £195.00 plus VAT. For more details of the custom piston service telephone 01462 684300 or visit the Cambridge Motorsport Parts website: www.cambridgemotorsport.com

Damages Paid For ‘Fake’ Bentley A Classic car owner has been awarded £94,000 in damages by a court, after it ruled that a car she had paid £425,000 for was a ‘fake.’ The 67 year old woman from Cheshire purchased a 1930 Bentley Speed Six from a specialist dealer, but apparently later found out that the only original part of the car was a small section of chassis.

The discovery was made when she had the vehicle valued prior to selling it and was quoted a figure of £300,000.

December 2010 7

News

The Latest Automotive News From Around The World!

Collectable Ford Art Goes On Sale Cuneo Ford Factory Scenes Expected To Fetch Up To £9,000

Two oil on canvas paintings by the official artist of the Coronation of Elizabeth II, Terence Cuneo (1907-1996), commissioned by the Ford Motor Company in 1947, are to be sold at Bonhams’ sale of Important Motor Cars and Fine Automobilia on 6 December. This year the annual end of year sale will take place at a new venue - Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands in Surrey.

The paintings are part of a series of six, which were commissioned to depict Ford’s car, truck, van and tractor production at the company’s Dagenham plant. Entitled Ford Thames Foundry (April 1947) and Vehicle Inspection (February 1947), they have attracted pre-sale estimates of £7,000 – 9,000 and £4,500 – 5,500 respectively.

During the war, the plant was a major production facility for military vehicles and Rolls-Royce aero engines, and was subsequently damaged by German bombing raids. After the war, it became the major European car production factory of the time, employing around 30,000 staff.

All six of the paintings were kept at the Ford training centre in Boreham, near Chelmsford, and in 1987 were loaned to the Terence Cuneo 80th Birthday Exhibition at the Mall Gallery in London.

Cuneo was an English painter famous for his scenes of railways, aviation, motoring, horses and military action. Brought into the public’s attention when he was appointed the official artist for the Queen’s Coronation in 1952, a bronze memorial statue of Cuneo, by Philip Jackson, today stands in Waterloo Station, London. www.bonhams.com/mbw

Mansell To Start The Beaujolais Run British Driver To Wave Off Cars On Cross-Channel Run

British Formula 1 legend Nigel Mansell will wave the starting flag at this years’ Beaujolais Run which launches from Brands Hatch race circuit, Kent, on November 16. The run is being held to raise money for a number of charitable organisations, the key one being the Henry Surtees Foundation.

Henry, son of former F1 driver John Surtees, died in a freak accident last year while driving a Formula 2 car. The foundation was set up in his name to raise money for young people with head and brain injuries Nigel Mansell OBE said; “I am absolutely delighted to lend my support in memory of Henry at Brands Hatch to start what I am sure will be a very special 2010 Beaujolais Run.” Mansell will then take to the grid, along with the 2010 competitors and patron of the run, John Surtees OBE, for a lap of the Indy circuit before teams head to France.

A fitting celebration of 60 years of Formula 1, Mansell and Surtees’ combined F1 careers span 35 of these 60 years. Mansell will follow in the footsteps of Damon Hill OBE, Lord March, Sir Stirling Moss and John Surtees OBE when he takes hold of the run’s starting flag.

Nigel remains the most successful British Formula One driver of all time, notching up 31 victories. Enzo Ferrari personally picked him to drive for Ferrari. Mansell was the last to be picked personally by Enzo before he died. Following his illustrious career, he retired, as did his distinctive trademark moustache. He won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award twice, in 1986 and 1992, one of only three people to do so. In 1998, Mansell made a return to racing in the British Touring Car Championship.

If you would like to help the charities supported by the Beaujolais Run, please visit their website where full details can be found on how to make a donation. www.beaujolaisrun.com

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A Pontiac GTO ‘Judge.’

The End For Muscle Car Manufacturer Pontiac All Dealership Agreements Ended on October 31

One of the biggest names in American motoring is no more after shutting its doors for the last time on October 31. The end had been coming for some time, but the last day of October all dealership agreements ended. The company that gave us the iconic Firebird TransAm back in the 1970s was closed as part of a major restructuring plan by parent company General Motors. The last model rolled of the production in 2009 and this year’s sales amounted to less than 1% of GM’s annual sales.

Early on, Pontiac gained a reputation for producing gas-guzzling ‘muscle cars,’ but by the late 1980s the company under GM’s direction was turning out far more pedestrian vehicles from its plant in America’s ‘Car City’ - Detroit. Pontiac was established in 1926 and initially concentrated on producing ‘affordable’ cars, until falling sales in the 1950s almost caused the manufacturer’s demise. In desperation to save the company, GM got it involved with the high-octane world of drag racing and suddenly there was renewed excitement about the name. In 1968 Pontiac sold nearly one million cars, but it proved to be the company’s peak and was never repeated. www.pontiac.com/

MARTIN CHISHOLM COLLECTORS CARS LTD

News In Brief... clocked up a speed Classic car parts of 153.22mph at the specialist Moss Bedfordshire test Europe has track, the fastest introduced an speed ever recorded electronic distributor The GAZ Gold coil over suspension for a Healey 100. for classic Minis. kit for the Ford Escort II is now The records were The unit was An Austin-Healey available with a brand new steel set when the team originally fitted 100 that set 12 hub, which is precisely machined attempted to beat to all standard National and six before being added to the Gold the 132.81mph Cooper 1275cc carb 1971 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3 – Works Team Car International speed Coilover. This means that GAZ speedand setdriven for non-to an models. can place also A genuine Works entry for the 1971 World Sportscar Championship historicIt2nd records at Millbrook supercharged fourGold coilovers are available off beprivate used onowners any A+ in the 1971 Targa Florio by the lead Works driver Andrea de Adamich.

With just four in November 2009 thefrom shelf and no it longer require the new, is accompanied by original correspondence and notes fromcars Autodelta driver cylinder by the test 1275cc carTeodoro using is being customer’s donor units in exchange.

Zeccoli and an extensive spares package Healey and history worksfile. team a carburettor! No offered for sale.

The new hub will provide a secure bespoke car storage facility now available www.carstoring.com The car - built by dimensionally perfect mount for the For further information on the above and other motorcars in stock please contact us on: Austin-Healey wheel bearings.

01242 600 specialist821 Denis For more info, check out the GAZ Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Welch Motorsport website. www.martinchisholm.com www.gazshocks.com

GAZ ‘Gold’ Coil Overs for Ford Escort II

December 2010 9

News

The Latest Automotive News From Around The World!

Lamborghini staff say farewell to the amazing Murciélago.

Farewell To The Lamborghini Murciélago Ceremony Held At Lamborghini Factory To Mark End Of Murciélago

It is one of the most jaw-dropping supercars of all time – the Lamborghini Murciélago, and the Italian manufacturer says that will always be the case, even though its production life has now come to an end. The last Murciélago rolled off the production line at the company’s factory in Sant’Agata, Bolognese, May 11, bound for a customer in Switzerland. With ‘Arancio Atlas’ paintwork, the LP 670-4 Superveloce was issued with the final production number - 4,099.

The end of Murciélago production was celebrated at the factory on November 5, where a special exhibition showing the most iconic V12 cars from Lamborghini’s past was followed by a parade of cars driving through the streets of Sant’Agata. Cars like the 350GT, a Miura, a Countach and a Diablo escorted a Murciélago SV from the Lamborghini Museum during a symbolic ‘last ride’ through the gates of the Lamborghini factory.

“For almost a decade, the Murciélago was the icon of the Lamborghini brand, and it was enormously successful in the process,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “The Murciélago embodies the pure, unadulterated values of our brand. It is truly extreme, uncompromising and unmistakably Italian. This already makes it one of the legends of the sports car world. In 2011, we will take a huge step into the future with the successor to the Murciélago – with the most innovative technology and, once again, truly stunning design.” www.lamborghini.com

And The Future Looks Like ...

New Lamborghini Concept Car Unveiled At Paris Motor Show

Lamborghini says it is redefining the future of the “super sports car with a unique technology demonstrator.” Boasting an extremely lightweight construction, thanks to advanced carbon-fibre technology, the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento has an overall curb weight of just 999kg (2,202 lb) – including its V10 engine and permanent all-wheel drive. With its output of 570hp, power-to-weight ratio of only 1.75kg per hp and 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of only 2.5 seconds, the Sesto Elemento sounds like it will be quite a car!

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Nissan Unveils New ‘Enhanced’ 2011 GT-R More power, better aerodynamics and upgraded design features

Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd has unveiled its enhanced 2011 Nissan GT-R, which is now available to order at Nissan High Performance Centres nationwide. Since its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2007, the Nissan says that the GT-R has “enthralled its customers as the definitive accessible supercar,” and that the car been developed under the theme of the ‘World’s best multi-performance and pleasure of responsive driving.’

The 2011 model’s engine output is significantly improved to 530PS (390KW)/6,400rpm, with the maximum torque of 612Nm from 3,200 to 6,000rpm and the engine cover is painted red to illustrate its enhanced performance. Fuel economy has also been improved by modifying the boost pressure of the turbocharger, valve timing and air mixture ratio along with larger diameter inlet pipes and a modified exhaust system.

SAVE mode is a newly-adopted system, replacing ‘snow Mode’, which optimises driving torque and modifies the gearshift schedule to improve fuel economy when driving on motorways or open roads. To help control tight turning at slow speeds a new 2-Wheel drive mode will temporarily shift the car to 2-Wheel drive as long as the speed is below 6MPH and the steering wheel is turned more than half way.

Changes have been made to the body too. A rigid, lightweight strut supporting bar, made of carbon composite with an aluminium honeycomb, has been installed in the partition wall of the engine compartment. By linking right and left struts to quickly receive suspension input, the vehicle body’s responsiveness is enhanced. An additional support member has also been installed in the passenger’s side dash panel.

The 2011 GT-R comes with a price tag of £69,950 (incl 20%VAT) and Nissan says that buys you outstanding performance at a competitive price.

The standard ‘no extra cost’ specification list includes Premium Connect HDD satellite navigation, Bose stereo system, iPod connectivity, hard drive music storage, Bluetooth phone connection, 20” alloy wheels, runflat tyres, and individual climate control air conditioning. www.nissan.co.uk/

Aluminium Radiators For Classic Minis Mini Shop Helps Mini Owners Keep Their Cool!

Most classic cars suffer from cooling problems, either when in traffic or at the high end when pushed to the limit. Even replacing the rad with a brand new, but original design, radiator will not match the efficiency of a modern alloy radiator.

Modern high efficiency radiators only need a few cores to exceed the cooling ability of classic radiators. Mini Spares of Potters Bar, Herts, now has a two core alloy radiator available for the classic Mini that can cope with fast road and even race use. The radiator also has the correct facility for the sender unit. Order as part number C-ARA5000 at £137.99 inc vat. (Overseas customers, outside EU - ex. VAT price - UK£117.44) For more details contact Mini Spares on +44 1707 607700 or visit the website. www.minispares.com

December 2010 11

trackNews

News, Gossip & Views From The World Of Motorsport

Red Bull Storm Brazil Title To Be Decided In Abu Dhabi

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel stormed to a sensational victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 7, with team-mate Mark Webber following close behind in second place. The ‘one-two’ result means that the title will be decided during the final nail-biting race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso took third place to which saw him retain the championship lead from Webber and Vettel.

The maximum points finish obtained by the two Red Bull drivers ensured that the team won the constructors’ championship, the first time Red Bull has clinched the title.

British driver Lewis Hamilton was fourth and still has a slim chance of winning the title, but fellow McLaren team-mate Jenson Button, and defending World Champion could only manage fifth place in Brazil which means he is now out of contention.

Fernado Alonso only now needs to win, or finish in second place, to take the title at Abu Dhabi. If Vettel wins the race, Alonso only needs to finish in fourth place to win the championship.

Speaking after the race, Sebastian Vettel said: “I don’t wish anything bad to happen to Alonso [in Abu Dhabi], but it would be nice if we see some nice Ferrari smoke. No, joking apart, we try to win the race and we will see where he is.”

Hamilton Backs Webber For F1 Title McLaren Driver Impressed By Australian

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton says he would love to see Red Bull’s Mark Webber win the F1 Drivers’ Championship if he cannot win it himself. Hamilton’s chances of winning are all but impossible, since he must rely on Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, and the two Red Bull drivers, not scoring any points.

The British driver, who won the World Championship in 2008, is a 100-1 outsider to take the title, but he is still refusing to give up all hope.

“I’d like to see Mark win it. He’s done a great job this year,” said Hamilton, when asked for his personal preference. “He has been told by his team what position he is, and against adversity he has kept at it. I think he has done an awesome job.

I’m quite impressed with what he has done.”

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Button Escapes Suspected ‘Kidnap’ Attempt In Brazil

Brit Targetted By Armed Men

Veteran racer Jackie Stewart believes that McLaren driver Jenson Button might have been the victim of an attempted kidnapping in Sao Paulo on Saturday night. The F1 paddock was left reeling after news broke that the reigning world champion’s car had been attacked by up to six men with guns whilst returning from the Interlagos circuit to his Morumbi hotel. Button’s speciallytrained police driver managed to evade the attack by barging through the traffic.

“Drug barons don’t go out to kill people,” said Stewart, “but they kidnap them because they are linked to rich multinational companies. In Jenson’s case that means Vodafone and Mobil.”

John Button, Jenson’s father, was in the car with his son at the time of the attack and also believes it was not a random attack.

“It was really weird,” said John Button, “because we were in a very small, compact Mercedes, and they couldn’t see in. It looked like they were waiting for someone, so that’s a little bit worrying.”

The Brazilian GP often makes the headlines for the wrong reasons, and it seems that Button’s escape wasn’t the only cause for concern this year. Several press photographers had their cameras stolen, a radio producer had a wallet and car keys snatched from him and even Virgin Racing’s Brazilian driver Lucas di Grassi said he was mugged. “A guy walked up to the car, tapped a gun in his belt and I handed over the watch,” said di Grassi.

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Pit Rumours!

According to Germany’s Auto Motor Und Sport, Russian investors are reportedly keen to buy into the new F1 team Virgin.

The reports suggest that the potential investors are already involved in the Russian car industry. One possibility is that investment could be coming from the first Russian ‘supercar’ maker, Marussia, which already sponsors Virgin. Marussia is headed by Nikolai Fomenko, a racing driver and presenter of the Russian version of TV car show ‘Top Gear.’

Speaking last month, he said he wanted to bring Marussia onto the F1 grid in 2012.

“The F1 project is a leading edge for the marketing of a supercar” he is quoted as saying recently.

Reports in the Italian media suggest that Renault F1 driver Robert Kubica could be about to lose his seat.

Group Lotus is reported to be looking into striking a €60 million deal with Renault which could see its name change to LotusRenault from 2011 onwards.

With the French manufacturer Renault SA’s involvement also apparently changing, changes could affect a range of existing team contracts. Among those contracts would be Kubica’s, who reportedly “would be free to choose another team”.

Lotus F1 driver Jarno Trulli has dismissed reports that he will switch to NASCAR in 2011 rather than stay another season in Formula 1. the stories gather pace after the Italian driver expressed his dissatisfaction with the reliability of his new car and then jetted straight to Miami from the Korean GP where he met up with NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya.

Trulli tested a NASCAR last year when his future was uncertain following the end of the Toyota F1 team.

He was asked about the NASCAR rumours in Brazil. “I know that Juan Pablo was testing somewhere a few days before but honestly no, I was there for a holiday and I think people are just making up rumours,” said Trulli.

Lotus technical boss Mike Gascoyne thinks that both Trulli and current teammate Heikki Kovalainen will still be in the team for the 2011 season.

NASCAR: Hamlin Wins Texas 500 Series Best Eighth Win Of The Season Denny Hamlin’s victory in Sunday’s AAA In a three-lap sprint to the finish, after Texas 500 wasn’t a knockout blow to Patrick Carpentier spun in Turn 2 to cause Jimmie Johnson’s title hopes, but it did the ninth caution of the race, Hamlin deliver a stinging message to the four-time swapped the lead with Matt Kenseth and defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. surged ahead for good when Kenseth ran Hamlin’s win, his series-best eighth of the out of room in Turn 2 on Lap 333 of 334 season, his second straight at Texas Motor and had to back out of the gas.

Speedway and the 16th of his career, was Kenseth held second, matching his best perhaps more effective than the haymaker finish of the season, with Mark Martin Jeff Gordon—yes, Jeff Gordon—tried to running third, Joey Logano fourth and lay on Jeff Burton after Burton wrecked Greg Biffle fifth. Biffle led a race-high 224 the No. 24 Chevrolet under caution on laps but lost first and second gears in his No. 16 Ford and couldn’t accelerate on Lap 190.

And Hamlin’s victory certainly wasn’t restarts. as surprising as crew chief Chad Knaus’ Kevin Harvick came home sixth and dismissal of Johnson’s No. 48 over-the- remained third in the standings, now 59 wall crew after a series of blown pit stops. points behind Hamlin.

With Gordon’s No. 24 crew available, Despite holding the points lead, Hamlin Knaus knocked his own crewmen out of promised to race aggressively next the box; the last straw was slow work on Sunday at Phoenix and in the season the right front tire under caution on Lap finale Nov. 21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

194.

Johnson minimized the damage with “I’m going to race Phoenix as if I’m 33 a ninth-place finish, but repeated loss behind to be honest with you,” Hamlin of track position helped transform his said. “There’s no comfortable margin 14-point lead over Hamlin entering the going into Homestead, because anything event into a 33-point deficit as the series can happen. “ heads to Phoenix with two races left.

NASCAR Texas 500 Place

Start

Driver

Make

Rating

Points

1 2 3 4 5

30 19 9 20 2

Denny Hamlin Matt Kenseth Mark Martin Joey Logano Greg Biffle

Toyota Ford Chevrolet Toyota Ford

119.3 105.0 121.7 115.2 142.5

190 175 170 165 165

December 2010 13

trackNews Aston Martin 15/98 Speed Model of Alan Hudd passes the pits.

(Peter McFadyen Photography)

ASTON MARTIN SERIES CLIMAX

News, Gossip & Views From The World Of Motorsport

AMOC ASTON MARTIN CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 FINAL STANDINGS Overall 1st Chris Scragg 400.00pts 2nd Anne Reed 374.30pts 3rd Robert Rawe 296.47pts 4th Jeremy Bailey 282.60pts 5th Joe Cann 236.40pts 6th Jon Gross 211.50pts 7th Glynn Allen 195.73pts 8th Bob Searles 186.67pts

Class winners P2 P3 A1 Chris Scragg Takes Title A2 This year’s Aston Martin Owners’ Club Championship drew to a close with the final race of series at A3 Donington Park on October 9, with Chris Scragg A4 taking the series title overall.

A5 The club is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, which gave the well-supported race series a little B2 added panache, and the quality and variety of cars on B3 the track was breath-taking.

As well as the ultra-quick DB9s, rarities like Alan B4 Hudd’s Aston Martin 15/98 Speed Model and Peter C2 Thornton’s DB4GT took part in the racing which C3 resulted in a grid that would be the envy of any car E2 museum!

Kelvin Robinson Peter Dubsky Doug Barker Jon Gross Glynn Allen Anne Reed David Clarke Peter Thornton Robert Rawe Wolfgang Friedrichs Joe Cann Chris Scragg Jeremy Bailey

89.10pts 180.99pts 90.30pts 211.50pts 195.73pts 374.30pts 50.00pts 152.25pts 296.47pts 48.30pts 236.40pts 400.00pts 282.60pts

Lister Jaguar Wins Sterling Moss Trophy Tense Finish To Algarve Historic Race Gary Pearson and John Young in their Lister Jaguar won the Stirling Moss Trophy at the Algarve Historic Festival held on October 15-17 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal. It turned out to be a fiercely contested race with the Lister clinging to first place in the final laps as Roger Wills caught them in his Lotus 15 that he shared with Joe Twyman. Wills was catching the Lister at a rate of over two seconds per lap, and had the chequered flag not signalled the end of the race when it did, he almost certainly would have won. Wills’ progress was helped when the safety car was despatched to the track 25 minutes before the end of the two-hour race and he took the opportunity to close the gap on the leader. Third place went to the father and son team of Gabriel and Dion Kremer in their Lotus 17.

One team that deserves credit for its efforts was that of Ron and Malcolm Gammons. The pair suffered a massive differential failure on their Lotus 11 during the Friday evening practice and had to work through the night to repair it.

During the race itself, they also suffered a puncture which led to an unscheduled pit-stop and wheel change. Despite this, they still finished in a respectable 10th place.

14 CPR Magazine

ClubNews

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Triumph Sports Six Club

Don’t Get Left Out! Classic, Performance & Retro magazine is keen to support the great work being done by all the car clubs out there, so if you want to see your club included in these pages, make sure your Press Officer sends us your latest club news so you don’t get left out.

Just send an e-mail to: clubs@cprmag.com and we’ll do the rest!

The Triumph Sports Six Club is holding its Christmas celebrations at the TSSC Headquarters on December 11/12. Among the goodies on offer will be light snacks, including mince pies, and some liquid refreshments which will, of course, include mulled wine for those who are not driving.

There will be fun and games for all the family, including a FREE raffle. There will be a ‘Best Triumph of the day’ competition and a ‘Bizarre Bargains’ stall which will be raising money for charity.

There will be lots more going on too, so check out the club’s website for more information at: www.tssc.org.uk

MG Owners’ Club

MG Car Club

The 2011 Club Collection From The MG Owners’ Club Out Now The MG Owners’ Club has launched its 2011 Club Collection catalogue. The full range of MGOC Regalia, books and manuals is included in the new catalogue and the club’s website has also been revised to make online shopping quicker and easier.

With the festive season fast approaching, the new catalogue contains some excellent gift ideas for any MG owner or enthusiast. If you haven’t got a copy yet, call the club on 01954 231125 or just go to: www.mgocshop.co.uk

16 CPR Magazine

MGCC 2011 Calendar

THE OFFICIAL 2011 MG Car Club calendar featuring illustrations drawn exclusively by well know classic car artist, Peter Entwistle is now available to purchase online.

At only £6.00 plus £1.00 postage, it’s great value too! See: www.kimberstores.co.uk

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MGA

Coupe

There’s something about the MGA Coupé - it just seems to look right from every angle, and some would say that’s exactly what makes a classic...a classic. Phil Sullivan takes a closer look at one of the prettiest cars MG ever built.

T

he introduction of the MGA back in 1955 was a little before my time, but I must admit that I would love to have been around to see the look on people’s faces when it was revealed for the first time. Up until that point, the Abingdon-based MG Car Company had been producing the aging MG T-types; the 18 CPR Magazine

earliest of which was produced back in 1936. While that series of cars is now highly desirable, back in the 1950s they were starting to look rather dated; this was the dawn of the ‘jetage’ after all.

Few then could have predicted what MG had planned to replace the T-series cars. A smooth, sleek and

exceptionally pretty two-seat roadster, it would split opinion between the traditionalists and those who craved a more modern design; it was of course the MGA. The contrast between the old and new models could not have been greater. It would be like Ford producing the Mk1 Cortina and then replacing it

The curvaceous lines of the MGA were a complete contrast to the T-Series cars it replaced. with a 2010 Mondeo. It really was a massive leap forward.

curves, a new chassis and the BMC B-Series engine instead of the older car’s XPAG Brylcreem Boys unit. The huge leap forward The earlier T-series had gained obviously wasn’t lost on MG’s a reputation during World War marketing team either, as the Two as being the transport of first advertisements proclaimed choice for RAF fighter pilots, the MGA to be the “First of a or the ‘Brylcreem Boys’ as new line.” they became known, but the Before the retired Majors MGA was different - it actually and Wing Commanders had looked like a fighter! barely had time to take in Gone were the slab sides, the these massive changes, MG open wheel-arches and flat went and rocked their world windscreen of the T-series yet again by producing a cars; now we had flowing Coupé version of the new December 2010 19

The small slatted radiator grille did little to help cool things down under the bonnet, but it does look pretty. car. You could almost feel the indignation radiating from Gentleman’s Clubs across the land! An MG sports car with a tin roof? Preposterous!

A Sensible Car While the Coupé didn’t quite match the desired image of some of the traditionalists, it did make a lot of sense, particularly in its home market.

While the delights of open top motoring are an accepted way of everyday life in places like California, back in Barnsley or Bolton, opportunities for open top driving were much less frequent. That tin roof, whether you liked it or not, 20 CPR Magazine

certainly served a purpose.

It is also one of the reasons that the owner of the car in our feature opted for a Coupe over the more sought after roadster version.

David Kempton had been running a pre-war MG as his everyday transport, until his wife Helen suggested that a little more comfort would be appreciated. Having no desire to buy a modern car, David set about finding a classic car that looked good, handled well and most importantly, had an acceptable level of comfort. As an avid fan of the MG marque, there really was only one choice – the MGA Coupe.

Like many of the British sportscars of the 1950s and 60s, David’s example was shipped to the USA shortly after it was built. It spent most of its life basking in the hot, dry climate of Texas, where tin roofs are used to keep the sun off your head, not the rain.

It was thanks to this dry climate that the car was in such good condition when David acquired it, however it did require a fair bit of work.

One of the first jobs he tackled was converting the car from left to right-hand-drive to make it more ‘user friendly’ on the British roads. With hindsight this might have proved to be

Above: The timeless lines of the MGA look great against the back-drop of Crowland Abbey. The moody skies add to the dramatic effect.

David has fitted a wood rim wheel to replace the original factory item.

December 2010 21

an unnecessary modification since David and Helen often use the MGA to tour mainland Europe, where having the steering wheel on the ‘wrong side’ of the car would be a blessing.

of a Chariot Red body which was capped by an Old English White roof. Again, some of the MG traditionalists might not approve of this deviation from the Abingdon colour charts, but you have to admit, the car does look absolutely superb in its new colours. It even Repair Or Restore? managed to sparkle during The next task was to repair some small damage in the rear our photo-shoot which took place on an exceptionally dark panel. This was one of those and gloomy day, although the small jobs that almost turned sparkling could have been the into a full restoration. The lightning reflecting in David’s car had been painted before leaving the USA, and to be fair, it didn’t look too bad, but the more work David did, the less happy he became with the paint finish. He made a decision and took the plunge, attacking the paintwork with paint-stripper and a wire brush until the whole car was down to the bare metal.

Period wing mirrors.

One of the really nice things about stripping all the paint off a car bodyshell is that it provides the owner with a blank canvas; it is an opportunity to paint the car any colour you like. David grasped this idea and decided to go for a non-standard paint scheme, but one that still used Strange looking door handles!

MG colours. This comprised

‘Minilite’ style wheels give David’s car a ‘sporty’ appearance.

22 CPR Magazine

Above: The racing ‘Monza’ style petrol cap is another nice period addition to David’s car.

paintwork!

Under The Skin With its shiny new paint, David put the car back on the road, but that wasn’t the end of his intended ‘improvement schedule.’ Over the years he has worked hard to improve road holding and comfort on his MGA. The handling was improved by fitting an anti roll bar – which is standard equipment on an MGA Twin cam – and lever arm dampers from the MGB at the front. This is a fairly

Lucas Fog-Lamps are both functional and decorative.

December 2010 23

standard improvement for the MGA and also has the advantage of adding a hint of negative camber.

While the suspension was in bits, David also took the opportunity to bin the rather flimsy original spec rubber bushes and replace them with more durable items, as fitted to the MGBGT V8. These firm up the suspension, but still give a comfortable ride.

The engine bay looks very much as you would expect, but all is not quite as it seems.

24 CPR Magazine

More Power The car was originally fitted with a 1600cc 78bhp engine, but since David wanted to use the car to occasionally tow his caravan he decided that a little more power was required. This was achieved by fitted an early three bearing 1800cc engine from an MGB, which despite being identical from the outside provided the additional power and low-end torque that David desired.

A few other additions were

made to improve usability such as fitting an oil cooler, and a visit to a local scrap yard produced an electric fan that would keep the temperature down even on the hottest of days.

Inside the car everything is more or less original. The most obvious deviations from the factory spec are the addition of a Motolita wooden steering wheel and a windscreen mounted compass.

On the passenger’s side of the dashboard, two stop watches

Left: The British weather did its best to disrupt our photo-shoot.

That nasty looking dark cloud quickly turned into an equally nasty thunder storm.

Mk1 1500

Development History

Launched at the 1955 Auto show in Frankfurt the MGA was a complete departure from the past. “First of a new line” was the apt advertisement slogan at the time. The new wider chassis allowed for the floor and seats to be lowered so driver and passenger no longer sat on the car but in it. The 1500 cc engine was the new B series unit launched earlier in the MG Magnette. Originally producing 68 bhp it was soon upgraded to 72 bhp. Suspension was a rigid rear axle and semi elliptic springs matched to independent coil springs and lever arm dampers at the front. A four speed gearbox with synchro on 2nd 3rd and 4th delivered the power to the rear wheels to attain a max speed of 97 mph. Brakes were drum all round. Price £844 inc tax. The first coupe was introduced in 1956 with the same specification but featuring wind up windows.

Twin Cam

In 1958 the twin cam was introduced to appeal to the more sporting enthusiast who may enter club racing. Produced in parallel to the MK1 1500 it boasted a double over head twin cam aluminium head on the B series engine. Its original high compression boosted power to 110 bhp. To counter the improved performance disc brakes were fitted front and rear.

Externally the twin cam looked just like the standard car except for the racing style knock off steel racing wheels.

It was produced in both open and coupe forms. Few sold possibly to the poor reputation the engine had for burning pistons.

Price was £1283 inc tax, a fair hike from the standard 1500 and another possible cause of slow sales.

Mk1 1600 & De-Lux

The 1500 received a small boost in power to 78bhp from an increase in engine size to 1600.

Detail changes were made to the rear lights, now in separate clusters and a 1600 badge and front disc brakes as standard. A De Lux version was introduced which in affect was the Twin Cam body and chassis fitted with the 1600 SOC engine but with discs at each corner. Prices were £940 inc tax

MKII and De-Lux

These were the final incarnation of this famous car. A further increase in engine size and a revised higher ratio rear axle made the MKII more of a long distance cruiser. Revised lights and a very noticeable new grill that was set back are the only external differences. A few De Lux versions were produced with the four disc brakes. Production ceased in 1962.

December 2010 25

Left: Under the bonnet might look fairly standard but the engine is actually an 1800 3-bearing engine from an early MGB. Above: Electric fan provides additional cooling on hot days. are fitted which give a clue as to another of the many tasks David uses the car for – road rallies.

Pleasure To Drive Externally, the only obvious change (apart from the nonstandard paintwork) are the

Minilite style alloy wheels.

These give the car a sporty appearance and changing from the original 4 1/2J wheels to 5J ones improves control, especially in the wet.

In his time as custodian of the classic MG, David says that the car has been a pleasure

to drive and his wife Helen certainly appreciated the extra creature comforts that the car provided.

Thanks to the subtle modifications, the car will easily keep up with modern traffic and the ride is better too. The car easily stays with

MGA Time Line MK1 1500 cc MKI Coupe MKI Twin cam MK1 1600 cc MK1 16000 cc Delux MKII 1622 cc MK11 DeLux 1622 cc Last car produced

26 CPR Magazine

1955 1956 1958 1958 1958 1961 1961 1962

68bhp / 72bhp. All new chassis, body and BMC ‘B’ series engine.

72bhp. Wind up windows fitted.

110bhp. 1600 DOHC engine, disc brakes all round. Centre lock steel wheels.

78bhp. Discs Brakes fitted - front only.

78bhp. Disc Brakes all round.

93bhp. New grill, rear lights.

93bhp. DeLux version with full discs and centre lock steel wheels.

MGA replaced by all-new MGB.

Above: Like the majority of British built sportscars of the 1950s and 60s, the MGA sold well in the USA.

Production figures Model Roadster MKI 1500 58,750 Twin Cam 2,111 MK1 1600 31,501 MKII 1600 8,719

modern traffic, and handling with the modifications made is “adequate” for a car of its age.

The 5J alloy wheels replacing the original 4 ½ J providing an improved sense of control, especially in the wet.

David’s car has generally provided reliable transport while he has owned it, but it has suffered from a few problems.

The MGA’s radiator grille –

Coupe 1859 210 1334 377

while pretty – doesn’t do a great job of directing the cooling air to the radiator, particularly at low speeds, but the electric fan has largely overcome this inadequacy. Another irritating problem is the poor quality of modern reproduction parts that barely last any time at all before failing. For example, David says that he has to replace the radiator hoses almost on an annual basis. Despite these

UK Market 828 150 838 219

From-To 1955-59 1958-60 1959-60 1960-62

minor ‘niggles’ the owner couldn’t be happier with the car although he says his only regret was not fitting an overdrive gearbox when he did the engine swap.

David still has his pre-war MG and has picked up a few more interesting cars over the years, but the MGA remains a firm favourite and is still an exceptionally pretty car, even 18 years after its restoration.

December 2010 27

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Stopping

Power!

Why do you need bigger brakes? Surely the ones that came with the car will do the job adequately? Well, as Triumph TR specialist Neil Revington explains, probably not!

H

istorically motorcars have been fitted with brakes with friction materials made from wood, leather, nasty asbestos and metal to name but a few. These materials have acted on the wheel directly, onto steel discs and drums or a combination of both.

Most modern motorcars use a disc brake system (at least at the front) where a disc (or rotor depending on where in the world you are reading this!) which rotates with the wheel.

Working with the disc is a caliper, which when the brake is applied, tries to ‘grab’ and thereby stop the disc via the friction material.

When your motorcar is travelling forward at speed it possesses kinetic energy which has to be opposed by the braking system to effect deceleration. This energy is turned into heat by the braking system and it is the efficiency coupled with the 30 CPR Magazine

amount of heat that can be dissipated that determines how effective the brakes are. The efficiency of the system depends on a few basic factors: • The ability of the caliper to apply enough clamping force to overcome the rotating disc’s inertia.

• The ability of the caliper pads (friction material) to maintain adequate friction properties even with the heat generated by continuous application of pressure from the caliper.

• The ability of the disc to absorb and dissipate the heat.

• And, often overlooked, the necessary traction from the tyres to allow the brake system to be effective.

Bigger discs The distance from the centre of the disc to its edge (radius) can be thought of as a lever and the caliper in effect pulls on the lever to slow

December 2010 31

Left: A simple pad upgrade can dramatically improve the braking on your car for very little outlay.omniati ime

the vehicle. The bigger the disc, the longer the effective lever; the longer the lever the more effect the caliper has. It is therefore easy to understand that larger discs increase braking capacity. If the disc is also well ventilated, its ability to dissipate heat is improved, allowing the caliper pads to operate at a lower temperature and endure the torture to which they are subjected.

of the compound to operate at the expected temperatures, for a reasonable service life. As a result, a variety of compounds are available to work in different heat ranges depending on the intended use of the vehicle. The higher the friction coefficient of the pad compound, the more grip it has on the disc, making the brakes more effective.

Friction Material

Hydraulic fluid is pushed down the feed pipes to the calipers from the master cylinder at a pressure relevant to the force applied by the drivers’ foot and the surface area of the master cylinder piston. This pressure is applied to the caliper

Different pad compounds offer different friction coefficients and the ability to work well at certain temperature ranges. Most often a compromise is reached between friction coefficient and the ability

calipers

pistons, which in turn apply their pressure to the pads. If we increase the area of the caliper pistons by increasing their diameter, the caliper will apply more clamping force to the pads and disc, further increasing the braking capacity of the vehicle.

Hydraulic pressure is constant throughout the system when the brakes are applied, it follows therefore if more caliper pistons are added, and the caliper will exert more pressure. More pressure or clamping power is more effective in preventing rotation of the disc, and is even more effective when more (smaller) pistons are arranged around the periphery of the disc, rather than fewer larger pistons where some of the force will be applied nearer to the centre of the disc where the effect is less.

discs and heat In the event that the brake system is used to full capacity and the pads are overheated, the pads will give off gasses as a result of the bonding agents used to bind the pad materials together beginning to burn. The expanding gasses from the pad (‘out gassing’) form a cushion between the pad and the disc and braking effectiveness decreases rapidly. This condition is referred to as ‘brake Drilled and slotted discs will prevent gas from forming between the disc and pad.

32 CPR Magazine

Sometimes, even the best brakes in the world won’t help you! (Chris Batt) fade.’

When we drill holes through the disc from one surface to the other and/or cut slots into the surfaces of the disc, we provide channels through which the expanding gasses can escape, increasing the brake efficiency a step further.

The disc must have the necessary mass to absorb the heat generated by applications of the brakes; in effect it is a ‘heat sink.’ After the initial temperature ‘spike’ from a hard brake application, the disc must be able to cool or dissipate the heat ready for the next application. Many methods of cooling have been tried, even water-cooling, but most often discs are air-cooled. Increasing the surface area of a given mass allows more contact with the cooling air and so speeds the dissipation of heat.

The most common cooling design is referred to as a ventilated disc. This disc design is a sandwich of the two friction surfaces separated by fins.

Separating the friction surfaces and adding cooling fins increases the overall cooling area of the disc. This allows air to circulate between the hot friction surfaces and around the cooling fins, sucking away the heat.

There are designs with more and less fins, staggered fin placement, posts instead of fins, curved fins etc. The most common high performance designs have curved fins or vanes.

This design makes the disc into

an impeller pump which actually forces air through itself for super cooling. A variation on this design is the ‘kangaroo paw’ internal pattern found on Disc Brake Australia (DBA) products where the ‘paw’ shape of vane in between the disc surfaces forces the cooling air to follow a convoluted route, grasping more heat as it passes.

For normal road applications on light cars such as Triumph TR’s

A caliper upgrade can make a huge difference to your braking.

December 2010 33

and similar sports cars, this level of sophistication is not always necessary unless more arduous conditions are expected.

Cross drilling of the disc and/or slotting increases ventilation and can be a factor in cooling efficiency as well as dealing with pad out gassing.

TR3-6 cars (and TR2’s fitted with TR3-6 type discs) fitted with standard or larger discs will normally work well with plain discs. Slotted should be chosen where the extra cleaning Competition spec pads should only be used on race cars.

34 CPR Magazine

of the pad provided by the slots is considered useful (not necessary on road cars). Slotted and crossdrilled discs should be considered where higher still performance is required. Ventilated discs should only be necessary when continuous repeated hard braking is likely to be encountered.

As TR7-8 originally used 13” wheels, it is not possible to use lager discs if these wheels are retained. Four-pot calipers will improve matters though.

If larger wheels (usually 15”) are to be fitted, then larger discs up to 300mm can be employed. It us usual in this case to go straight for vented discs.

Accurate fitting of new discs is vital - when bolted up ready to go the perimeter run out should be checked in accordance with the workshop manual for the car. In the absence of any information accept a maximum of 0.05mm (.002 inch). Run out can also occur because of play in wheel bearings or a slightly sticky caliper piston. If the disc under all conditions does not run true then on every revolution each side of the disc will ‘kiss’ the pad - this eventually wears a low spot on the disc which will eventually produce a pulsing vibration and an assertion that the disc has ‘warped’ with replacement required.

All components should be checked otherwise the problem will only repeat itself and a good product gets an unfavourable reputation through no fault of its own.

component rigidity A consideration sometimes overlooked is the overall rigidity of the various components of the brake system. If a component flexes or expands under the pressure to which it is subjected, it limits the maximum pressure in the system. Rubber brake hoses are known to expand under pressure, some calipers flex under pressure, a poorly designed brake pedal can flex as can weak caliper carriers. All of these maladies will cause an overall drop in system efficiency.

Flexing of components creates a mushy, not solid, feel to the pedal, usually requiring greater pedal travel to achieve a given force at the calipers. Removing flex from the system can make a marked improvement in brake function.

The first choice for improvement is typically the brake hoses as most other system flex problems are more

difficult to solve for the average enthusiast.

The TR2-6 stub axle is well known to flex under severe cornering forces exacerbated by modern type grip. This stub axle flex produces an effect called ‘knock back’ where the resultant tipping of the disc pushes the caliper pistons back into the caliper giving a ‘long pedal’ on the next application of the brakes.

Revington TR supplies a simple spacer kit (RTR3463K) which helps to eliminate this.

Tyres All the brake improvements in the world are not going to help if there is no traction available between the wheel and road. Ultimately, your tyres will determine how well your car stops. A brake system of given efficiency will be most effective with the smallest possible diameter tyre. In the same way that the larger discs offer the caliper a longer lever, a smallest diameter tyre offers the vehicle a smaller lever. This argument proves to be largely academic as far a TR’s are concerned, as it is unlikely that an owner of a TR2-6 with standard 15” wheels would choose to go smaller, and TR7-8 owners with 13” wheels are likely to increase the wheel size simply to be able to accommodate sensible size discs and calipers.

Fortunately the trend in recent years toward larger diameter rims and low profile tyres has opened up many options in the area of big brakes. In many cases and in particular TR7-8’s, increasing disc diameter will require an increase in rim diameter to make room for the disc/caliper combination.

Fortunately, low profile tyres keep the rolling radius of the tyre the same or near the same as the original equipment so increasing the rim diameter usually has no ill effect on braking. Conversely, modern low profile tyres are typically of a higher traction rating (or at least high

Triumph TR7 brakes were deemed to be sub standard straight off the production line! traction ratings are available) which will aid braking.

original equipment Most often, vehicle manufacturers provide adequate, not excellent brakes on their production vehicles (except TR7’s of course which were generally deemed to be sub standard straight off the production line!). It is safe to say we don’t get what we don’t pay for. More expensive vehicles tend to have better braking systems than the less expensive ones for obvious reasons, though this is not always true. What is true is that almost all of them can be improved and that’s where Revington TR can help. The various brake systems we supply provide some or all of the improvements listed above.

Probably the least expensive, single most effective upgrade one can

perform is a brake pad upgrade. This is an area where ONE definitely does NOT fit ALL. There are as many pad compounds as manufacturers of pads and each has its particular niche. For the sake of simplicity, we have broken pads into three basic categories; High Performance road use, High Performance road / Race combination and Race Only. Road pads have to be able to work well at low to moderate temperatures because road vehicles are driven cold and under normal circumstances don’t generate high temperatures.

Usually in this category, the pads work well cold and their effectiveness decreases as their temperature increases until breakdown of the compound bonding agents causes brake fade. Repeated hard brake applications as in most types of racing will quickly overheat these

Having good brakes won’t help you if you have tyres like this.

December 2010 35

If you fit race spec brake parts to your road car, expect an accident! pads making them useless.

Combination pads usually incorporate some degree of compromise to incorporate this flexibility of use.

For the road they have to work well enough at low temperatures to be safe and must also be competitively functional at moderately high temperatures under racing conditions.

These pads usually increase in effectiveness as they heat up through their upper operating range then fade with overheating. They usually don’t work as well cold as a road pad would and they don’t work as well in the upper temperatures as would a racing pad. This is the trade off for an ‘all around’ pad. There are many circumstances where these are the best pad for the application.

‘Race only pads’ do not work cold, period. Do not use race only pads on a road vehicle thinking: “If they are for racing they must be great pads.” You will be in for a huge surprise the first time you try to stop at a traffic light, finding that with your foot pressed hard to the bulkhead; you have to resort to using the unconventional resource of smashing into the car in front to effect your intended retardation exercise!

Race pads do not work cold and must be warmed up before they are at all useful and in most 36 CPR Magazine

circumstances require certain driver skills to optimise their use. If you have a ‘race only’ vehicle, you can obtain a number of race compounds for the different types of track you may encounter.

Sometimes a simple pad change can make the difference between poor brakes and reasonably good brakes. If you would like an inexpensive brake improvement, my recommendation would be a pad upgrade.

cross drilled discs These disc surface treatments do not automatically guarantee a shorter stopping distance, but can after repeated applications. As mentioned, cross drilling and slotting is useful when the pads become sufficiently hot to emit gasses.

Without an escape route, the gasses are trapped between the pad and the disc and actually prevent the pad applying pressure to the disc (brake fade).

For the most part and within the working heat range of the pad, slotting and drilling prevent this from occurring. The extra capacity afforded by these surface treatments can mean the difference between being able to make those last few stops driving down a mountain road

or not. They offer that extra capacity for sports drivers and an extra margin of safety for everyone for a very small investment.

I always recommend slotting on the surface of drilled discs as it has a tendency to keep the pad surface clean and free from glazing.

While the irregularity of the disc surface does not necessarily improve friction, it does help maintain a high friction coefficient as a result of the constant cleaning action by the slots as they wipe the disc, allowing more consistent (non deteriorating) performance between pad changes.

steel braided hoses Steel braided Teflon brake hoses are popular and for good reason.

These hoses are stronger and in most cases provide the driver with a firmer pedal compared to standard rubber hoses, which can swell under pressure.

This situation can be aggravated by heat, both radiant (from the disc) and conductive (from the brake fluid).

Stainless steel and Teflon both handle heat very well and tend to maintain a constant cross section under these conditions.

Braided hoses are a very worthwhile upgrade and perfectly compliment good pads and discs.

Brake upgrades are often sold as complete kits containing everything you need for the job.

big disc kits Frequently, it is possible to increase the disc diameter and therefore braking efficiency without major changes to the brake system.

Depending upon the availability of a compatible disc to work with the existing equipment radialy mounted caliper, we can provide a larger diameter disc and caliper relocation bracket. T his combination makes it possible to see huge brake efficiency improvements without huge investment.

Sadly as the TR range use side bolted, lug type calipers; this option is not practical when the standard caliper is still fitted. On the other

hand, if your brake system has been modified to radialy mounted calipers, then a disc change is possible, usually meaning changing to a ‘bell and bolt on disc’ combination.

Always check carefully internal wheel clearance before committing to a change.

Big disc and multi piston caliper systems are the ultimate upgrade.

We can combine discs from 280mm (11”) to 310mm (12.2”) in diameter and up to 35mm (1.38”) thick with calipers from 2 to 6 pistons of various volumes, piston sizes and configurations. Larger discs up to 355mm (14”) are available but are not generally practical for the TR range.

Revington TR has developed a range of caliper/disc combinations, which we believe will provide a solution for all users. Our systems utilize high quality race proven HiSpec calipers, high performance discs and Mintex pads.

Every system is engineered to exacting specifications for trouble free high performance use. Systems are complete and include all necessary components, hoses, any special fittings, hardware as necessary and instructions. We include specific pads for your intended use and can provide a variety of others to suit your intended use as necessary.

Classic, Performance & Retro magazine would like to extend its sincere thanks to Neil Revington for allowing us to use this article. You can find similar TR related articles on the Revington TR website.

www.revingtontr.com December 2010 37

Reviews

Cool Stuff To Spend Your Money On! Rolex Daytona Watch Available from: Dreamwatches.co.uk Price: £7,450 See: www.dreamwatches.co.uk Described on the Rolex website as the most sought after watch in the world. If you want one of these, usually you have to place an order and then sit back and wait 5-7 years before you receive it. Also described as a ‘Drivers’ watch, which makes it ideal for readers of Classic, Performance & Retro magazine!

Dreamwatches.co.uk has managed to get hold of a brand new example which can be yours for the princely sum of £7,450. This beautiful 2010 UK-supplied Daytona is finished in stainless steel with a stunning black face. It has a chunky feel and the black face carries three smaller dials which display hours and minutes along with a stopwatch function. Supplied with inner and outer box, warranty card, tags, booklets and all protective seals.

Quality doesn’t come cheap, but then if you want the best there is in timepieces, this is it!

Clarke MIG135TE Mig Welding Starter Kit Available from: Machinemart Price: £258.48 See: www.machinemart.co.uk When restoring cars, the one piece of equipment every repairer needs is a good Mig welder. Professional kit isn’t cheap, but Machinemart is offering this great value starter set that will handle everything you throw at it and it won’t break the bank in the process. The MIG135TE welder is supplied with a ‘professional style’ non-live torch, which makes life a lot easier if you are an inexperienced welder, and a turbo fan for prolonged welding at full power.

It comes in a stylish case with a hinged side door providing access to the wire reel and gas bottle and has power selector switches for easy use. The starter kit includes everything to get you going - CO2 gas (390g), regulator, mild steel wire, torch assembly, earth clamp, face shield & helpful user guide / instructions. If you have to tackle some welding and need the equipment to get you started, this kit is absolutely perfect and will serve you well for many years.

Draper Heavy Duty Tool Cabinet Shelf Available from: Mackay Price: £78.84 See: www.mackay.co.uk It can be a real pain when you have to keep walking backwards and forwards to your work bench so that you have a flat area to work on. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just work on your tool box? Now you can, thanks to this neat folding shelf from Draper Tools. The shelf bolts to side of your tool cabinet by means of a mounting bracket and four bolts supplied. The mounting bracket also has a handy roll dispenser under the shelf. It will hold up to 30kg in weight, so more than enough for something like a starter motor. Very neat idea!

38 CPR Magazine

WWW.CPRMAG.COM Steel Seal Head Gasket Repair Available from: A1 Motor Stores Price: From £29.99 See: www.a1motorstores.co.uk Don’t let a blown head gasket ruin your holiday or day at the Track. Steel Seal is the only product of its kind. It will permanently seal a blown head gasket, warped head or cracked engine block. It creates a permanent seal that will withstand high temperatures and high pressure. It can be used in both Petrol and Diesel engines.

Regardless of the value of your vehicle, you now have a practical solution, at a fraction of the cost and time of major engine repair and you can pick it up at any participating A1 Motor Store for just £29.99 and perform the repair at the road/track side without any tools. Just wait for the engine to cool and add to the coolant mixture. Steel Seal combines with the antifreeze/water mixture. Once the engine is started and reaches operating temperature, Steel Seal is drawn into the damaged area due to the extra heat created. This in turn starts the process and seals the crack with a thermochemical bonding action process. There are no fillers or fibres to dislodge or clog the coolant passages. The repair is strong and permanent and the effect of Steel Seal is confined to the area of damage. The remainder of the cooling system will be unaffected. To find your nearest A1 Motor Store Freephone 0800 526510 or www.a1motorstores.co.uk For further details call A1 Motor Stores on 01455 637031.

Silver MGF Handbrake Grip Available From: MGOC Spares Price: £37.45 See: www.mgocspares.co.uk One of the less desirable features of modern cars is the endless amount of plastic used in the interior and the Rover MGF/TF is no exception.

Now though, thanks to those very nice people at the MG Owner’s Club, you won’t have to put up with that naff black plastic handbrake grip for much longer!

The club spares department is offering this stylish silver alloy replacement, which is not only quick and easy to fit, it looks great too. Treat yourself to one of these and consign that tacky black plastic to the bin where it belongs!

December 2010 39

Reviews

Cool Stuff To Spend Your Money On!

ARE-1 Touring Car R/C Model Available from: SP Models Price: £99.95 See: www.spmodels.co.uk This one caused endless excitement when it arrived in the office...and promptly turned grown men into boys! This rather neat radio-controlled racer comes fully assembled which means you can drive it straight out of the box. No messy glue or fiddly parts - just charge it up and go. According to the manual inside the box, “power is mercilessly transferred to all four wheels via a carbon shaft, but the electronic speed control allows you to carefully dose the required power at all times.” The model has a torsionally stiff chassis and even has adjustable oil filled shocks for maximum handling performance.

The ARE-1 is all-electric so you won’t upset your neighbours with any excessive noise.

Their cat on the other hand will be terrified!

We had lots of fun - recommended.

Save-A-Battery Available from: Nimbus Motorsport Price: From £59.95 + VAT See: www.nimbusmotorsport.com The nights are rapidly closing in and winter is on its way. Time to give a thought to your battery, before it lets you down. Nimbus Motorsport are now distributing the Save-ABattery Charger/Maintainer/Conditioner and the multi functional, all-in-one, Save-A-Battery Charger/Maintainer/Tester/Alarm. As their names imply the Charger/Maintainer/Conditioner provides a high performance charger, and a micro processor controlled maintainer with pulsing technology that reconditions and rejuvenates a battery. The longer this device is connected to a battery … the better the battery becomes. Using SMART technology this is the best device available to charge, maintain and restore a battery to its optimum performance level. The Save-A-Battery range is especially suitable for vehicles which are to be left unused for periods of time.

The Save-A-Battery Charger/Maintainer/Tester/Alarm does all the above, and also tests, monitors, and alerts you when there are problems. Both units can connect via the battery terminals or battery clip-on connectors (all included in kit) and the Charger Maintainer Tester Alarm also comes complete with a cigarette lighter/auxiliary power-point connecting lead. The unique mounting design and light weight of the units allows for easy attachment either on the vehicle or to a wall.

Although the Save-A-Battery range comes from America they will work on any AC input charge from 90volts up to 264 volts so it will work from domestic power sockets virtually anywhere in the world. They have an output of 50 Watts and are capable of charging a completely flat battery faster than most other chargers. They will also monitor the battery’s condition while maintaining it. The Save-A-Battery Charger and Maintainer retails at £59.95 + VAT. The Save-A-Battery Charger, Maintainer, Tester and Alarm retails at £85.95 + VAT. Call Nimbus Motorsport on +44 (0)1377 236170 for more information.

40 CPR Magazine

WWW.CPRMAG.COM Piper Cams Chill Cast Camshafts For Triumphs Available from: Piper Cams Price: From £157.00 + VAT See: www.pipercams.co.uk Piper can now offer performance camshafts ground from chill cast blanks for most of the classic Triumph range of cars. The selection covers 4 cylinder 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, and six cylinder 2000 and 2500 engines. There are Mild Road, Fast Road, Ultimate Road and Rally profiles available. Fast Road are suitable for road/track day use and Ultimate Road profile is for extensively modified engines running throttle bodies and a remap.

Piper also offer performance valve springs for these engines. 4 cylinder cam prices start at £157 plus VAT with cams made from new blanks. (Reprofiled also available). Six cylinder cams start at £210 plus VAT. 4 cylinder valve springs sets start at £42 plus VAT and 6 cylinder at £95 plus VAT. RPM Coilover Kit for BMWs Available from: RPM Price: From £565.00 + VAT See: www.raceperformancemodified.com Race Performance Modified have just announced their fully adjustable coil over suspension kit for the BMW E36 Compact and Z3 sportscar. RPM are specialists in custom suspension solutions, and unlike their competitors they never sell an off-the-shelf suspension kit. Every kit is custom made to suit the customer’s personal requirements. For example, when ordering if you have a specific spring rate you want, RPM will supply it. If you don’t know what rate to use, they will ask specific questions on receipt of your order and from that information tailor make the perfect suspension set up for YOU. The kit allows precise changes to be made to the ride height and damper rate to obtain the optimum handling, enabling the car to be quickly changed from road use to trackday set-up without the need to remove the dampers from the car. Custom made track and race focussed kits are also available. The damper rate is easily adjusted by a top adjuster at the front and an easily accessible adjuster knob at the rear.

Front and rear ride height is adjustable from -25mm to -65mm by means of locking spring platforms. All the units are individually tested before leaving the factory and covered by a 2 year warranty. The RPM Coilover Suspension kit for the BMW E36 Compact and Z3 retails at £565.00 including VAT. EDGE 40amp Race Alternator Available from: Cambridge Motorsports Parts Price: £145.00 + VAT See: www.cambridgemotorsport.com Cambridge Motorsports Parts has added to its Edge range of race alternators.

The new 40amp alternator has been specially designed for race and track day applications and weighs in at just 2.7 kilos. CMP can supply a wide range of drive pulleys to reduce the drive speed or adjust the distance from the line of the drive belt.

This compact alternator is ideally suited to kit cars and models where space is limited.

The alternator is available in right or left hand fitment. Prices for the Edge 40 amp alternator start at £145.00 plus VAT. Call 01462 684300 for details.

December 2010 41

November 2010 3

A winning formula JD Classics professional racing team prepares, maintains and sells historic race cars. Each vehicle, whether their own or their customers’, is meticulously prepared to the highest standards ensuring that each race car meets its true potential.

Not only will the cars be mechanically perfected but they will also look their best, because JD Classics uses Autoglym car care products exclusively for all its vehicles.

Autoglym offers the most comprehensive range of car care products available and all are fast, effective and will provide a perfect result, inside or out.

Your own car might not place you on the winners’ podium but you can still enjoy a winning shine.

For more information on the complete Autoglym range, visit the website at www.autoglym.com

For product and local stockist information, visit our website or telephone 0800 515 779.

BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN SUPPLIER OF CAR CARE PRODUCTS AUTOGLYM, LETCHWORTH, ENGLAND

BY APPOINTMENT TO H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES SUPPLIER OF CAR CARE PRODUCTS AUTOGLYM, LETCHWORTH, ENGLAND

If you had to name the world’s best playgrounds for supercars, places like Monaco or St Tropez would instantly spring to mind...but what about Manila?

As Steve Slater found out, the streets of the Philippine capital reverberate to the sound of exotic metal, but you have to get up pretty early to catch it!

Thriller In

Manila here are some things you just know are foolish, potentially dangerous and just plain silly, but you do them anyway. Flying half way around the world, then getting out of bed at four o’clock on a Saturday morning is definitely one of them.

Yet that is the price that you must pay if you want to ride

T

44 CPR Magazine

with the “supercar gang” who regularly exercise their cars on the relatively empty streets of Manila in the wee hours.

Anyone who has been to the Philippine capital will know that regular daytime driving is not exactly short of adrenaline.

Manila’s maze of pockmarked streets, minimal lane markings and crazy ‘Jeepney’ bus

drivers make the first corner of any Grand Prix seem pretty tame.

Riding The GT40

Yet take away the traffic (hence the 4am start) and the area around Manila does have some pretty good driving roads....and some serious car people.

In addition to the 600bhp

Your morning wake-up call...Philippine style!

The Ford GT40 waits quietly in the dawn light before being ‘let loose’ on the streets on Manila.

Ford GT in which I was an ashen-faced passenger, other cars included a Ferrari 430 Scuderia, various obscenely turbocharged Porsches and Nissans and one guy is even building a turbo 1100 bhp, Camaro. Madness!

In deference to my host’s driving license, I won’t give his name, nor the top speed we recorded.

Suffice to say it was sufficient.

Of course the politically correct brigade may find this offensive, but as the engines howled all I saw on passing faces were smiles. It seemed as if they were enjoying the spectacle as much as us!

seen, in any country.

Alex Isip has for more than two decades held the reputation as the Philippines premier car restorer and now employs more the 30 specialist panel-beaters, trimmers and mechanics in his factory unit in downtown Manila.

His restorations encompass everything from Mini Coopers to 1950s Americana and muscle cars with added exotica including a Gullwing Mercedes and a stunning Lamborghini Miura.

Many restorations are now

Restoration Pro And thanks to some very generous hosts, my Philippine motoring experience was far from over. First a trip to one of the most impressive car restoration facilities I have ever

The author seen here admiring a stunning Mercedes 300SL in a workshop owned by Alex Isip, the Philippines’ top car restorer.

December 2010 45

The GPS in the Ford GT40 showing an eye-watering 262kph (162mph)! freshly washed and polished pride and joy, returning it at the end of the days motoring.

Brilliant!

Jeepney City

A pair of Ford Mustangs await their next outing. commissioned from overseas with the lower labour costs of the Philippines more than offsetting the price of shipping.

Minis from Japan rubbed shoulders in the workshops with a Ford Thunderbird from the USA and various muscle cars from Australia.

46 CPR Magazine

Alex also offers a service for owners closer to home, which I have never seen in the UK. The cramped streets or Manila offer few secure parking spaces for valuable classic, so Isip runs a car storage facility allowing owners to arrive and simply drive out of the garage in their

Meanwhile my motoring adventures were not yet over.

For decades, one of the staple forms of transport in both town and country in the Philippines is the ubiquitous Jeepney.

The originals were created by simply adding a bus-type body to WW2 Jeeps left by the American armed forces. Now they are custom-made and as much a part of the culture as a London Bus or Hindustan Ambassador in India.

A flying visit to San Pedro, south of Manila brought me to Armak Motors one of the longest-established Jeepney constructors. A quick tour of the factory demonstrated a level of

Originally developed from the Willys Jeep, Steve describes the ‘Jeepnies’ as “mind boggling!” building by hand which makes a Morgan look like a Metro!

The Jeepney today no longer uses Jeep components, instead using recycled Isuzu truck parts, with the engines, transmissions and axles being fitted to a custom-made chassis.

Mind-Boggling!

However it is the bodywork which blows the mind.

From the Jeep-style bonnet and front wings to the 18-seat bus rear, the entire body is hand-formed and welded from sheets of stainless steel. The finished body is then highly polished and adorned with spray-painted murals and other ornaments which are the personal choice of the owner.

The end result is, to western eyes, mid boggling.

Behind the wheel, one can imagine we are not seeking

the world’s greatest driving experience here. The cramped, offset driving position is clearly designed to maximize space for the highest possible number of paying passengers, while at anything more than 40mph, the title of Ralph Nader’s book “Unsafe at Any Speed” leaps to mind.

The Jeepney is of course a working tool, built using the available materials in a country which has far fewer resources than Europe.

So say, I loved it. Apparently a new one can be delivered for less than $8,000. Wouldn’t one cause a storm at Goodwood Revival next year!

December 2010 47

James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5

n io l! t uc cia A pe S

It has been described as the ‘most famous car in the world,’ and few would argue. Star of the James Bond Goldfinger and Thunderball movies, this Aston Martin DB5 was recently sold by RM Auction. Here is its story.

B

ack in the 1960s and 70s, this was the car every small boy wanted to own. It has been described as the most famous car in the world and even people with no interest in cars whatsoever have heard of it.

It is of course the legendary

50 CPR Magazine

James Bond ‘Goldfinger’ Aston Martin DB5 and it recently added another chapter to its already impressive history when it was sold by RM Auctions for a staggering £2,912.000. However, even with that ‘telephone number’ sale price, the new owner got

himself an absolute bargain considering that the preauction estimate was around the £4 million mark.

Despite the car’s star billing, bidding got off to a slow start.

An opening bid of £2.5 million was received, followed by another bid of £2.6 million.

After a silent pause which seemed to last a lifetime, and with no other bids coming in, the auctioneer slammed the hammer down and the car was sold.

The sale attracted a huge audience, but the ‘headlining act’ lasted less time than an amateur boxer fighting Mike Tyson.

Some exclaimed their surprise at the lack of bidders for the ‘Bond’ car, but there can only be a handful of people in this world who can afford to spend that sort of money on a car that will almost certainly rarely get driven.

Screen Legend The car itself is perhaps as much of a screen legend as some of the names who have played the Bond role, more so in some cases. The car first appeared in the 1964

Bond film Goldfinger and was an instant hit with cinema audiences worldwide. Not since Chitty Chitty Bang Bang did a car have so many gadgets fitted to it, but unlike the comical winged car, this one packed a far more deadly punch. Anyone accepting a ride in the Aston took their life in their hands…quite literally, and that had nothing to do with the driver’s road skills.

In the film Goldfinger, our hero is issued with the car by ‘Q’, who is Quartermaster of the British Secret Service Q Branch; the department responsible for creating the bizarre and wondrous weapons used by the secret agents. Bond, played by Sean Connery, does his usual best to irritate ‘Q’ by fiddling with various gadgets before finally being introduced to the now famous DB5.

“Now pay attention please…,” demands ‘Q.’ Tapping the windscreen, he states quite pragmatically: “Bullet-proof glass, as are the side and rear windows. Revolving number plates naturally; valid in all countries.”

Bond looks distinctly underwhelmed. “Anything else?” he enquires. “I won’t keep you for more than an hour or so if you give me your undivided attention,” says ‘Q.’ “We’ve installed some rather interesting modifications. You see this arm here, it contains you defence mechanism controls; smoke-screen, oil slick, rear bullet-proof screen and left and right front wing machine guns.”

All that is impressive stuff, but the best was yet to come.

Leaning inside the car, ’Q’ flicks up a cap on the gear knob revealing a single red

‘The Most Famous Car In The World’ The James Bond Aston Martin DB5.

(All - RM Auctions)

December 2010 51

button.

“What ever you do don’t touch this!” he demands. He goes on to explain that the button will fire an ejector seat that will despatch an unwanted passenger from the car at a rapid rate of knots. “You’re joking?” remarks Bond. ‘Q’ fixes his with a cold stare and retorts “I NEVER joke about my work 007!” Classic stuff.

Of course, those were not the only gadgets on the car. Also 52 CPR Magazine

among its armoury were wire wheels spinners that extended and acted as blades to shred the enemies’ tyres; the rear light popped up and distributed metal ‘tacks’ across the road, causing the pursuing car to suffer a blow-out; there was a hidden radar screen and the centre console and a telephone in the armrest (okay, we take telephones in cars for granted now, but this was unheard of in 1964!).

That was the first appearance of the car which would go on to become a motoring legend… not to mention a highly valuable collector’s piece. The car has had its fair share of controversy over the years too, or should I say ‘cars’ as the production company making the Bond films did in fact use two identical Aston Martin DB5s to shoot the sequences.

Only one of the cars was fitted with the gadgets while

the other was kept in stock configuration and used only for external shots.

Both cars were used again in the 1965 film Thunderball, although neither the film nor the cars had quite the same impact as the previous offering.

Over the years, silver Aston Martin DB5s have made cameo appearances in several James Bond films, including GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies and Casino Royale,

although these were not the actual cars used in the 1960s movies.

proved to be too cumbersome to handle with its heavy gadgets. Interestingly, FMP 7B was fitted with the more powerful Vantage engine The ‘Road Car’ (400/1469/V, although running So, exactly what role did the on the standard triple SUrecently sold car play in the carburettor setup, same as the movies? Well, wearing the ‘Effects Car’). This is logical UK registration BMT 216A, it as the Road Car was to figure was the ‘stand-in’ car used in prominently in the fast driving Goldfinger and retrospectively sequences. Indeed, FMP 7B became identified as the ‘Road was given substantial screen Car,’ as the first ‘Effects Car’ time in Goldfinger, notably from December 2010 53

Even the radar screen works! the scenes at the Stoke Park Golf Club and, even more recognisably, when Bond is spying on Mr Goldfinger from the picturesque Furka Pass in Switzerland.

As the Road Car in Goldfinger, FMP 7B was also fitted with a 54 CPR Magazine

special exhaust system which eliminated the rear resonators, giving the car a distinctive throaty roar. This more dramatic sound was dubbed in for all scenes involving movement of the Effects Car as well.

After sharing the well-known opening scene of Thunderball with FMP 7B, film-maker Eon Productions asked Aston Martin to fit the full complement of effects to the ‘Road Car’ as well, which it carries to this day. According to Roger Stowers, the official Archivist of Aston Martin Lagonda, the gadgets in the factory-built car (FMP 7B) were designed for dependability, anticipating an afterlife as a promotional vehicle. He said that the car had to reliably repeat all the special film stunts over and over again. “In the film, the gadgets only had to work once!”

It is also important to note

Above: The tyre slashing wheel spinners still work.

Right: The red button spells trouble for any unwanted passenger!

town in 1966, Eon Productions commissioned the production of two additional replica Bond DB5s from Aston Martin, to be used for promotion. Now known as the Press Cars, they, along with the factory-owned film cars, were kept very busy with international appearances at theatrical openings and exhibitions.

By the end of the promotional tour, ticket sales for Thunderball had exceeded those of any other Bond film to date and still remain the high water mark for global ticket sales for the 007 series.

Of the two Press Cars produced for Eon Productions (neither of which appeared on screen), one was sold by RM Auctions in January 2006 for nearly $2.1M. The other resides in the Dutch National Motor Museum.

A Brit Abroad

that the ‘Effects Car,’ after its useful life as a film prop, was completely decommissioned of its gadgets, the items discarded, and the car subsequently sold by the Factory as a standard road car.

As a result, FMP 7B is not just the only remaining example but also remarkably original, in that its specification had not changed since its appearance in Thunderball and virtually all its distinctive gadgets remain remarkably intact.

duty, with FMP 7B making a display appearance at the New York World’s Fair in 1965.

By the time Thunderball was released and screening continuously in virtually every

A few years later, once all the fuss had died down, the car was bought by Jerry Lee; a resident of Philadelphia.

It would remain in his possession for the next 40 years. Mr Lee treated it appropriately as a work of fine

Automotive Sensation With the release of Goldfinger, it soon became apparent that the DB5 had created a sensation, and the movie cars were sent out on promotional December 2010 55

Playboy Bunnies surround the Bond Car shortly after it was bought by Jerry Lee.

art, and stored it carefully in a special, climate-controlled James Bond room of his home.

An unabashed enthusiast of new technologies and the latest gadgetry, Mr Lee was of course captivated by the Bond films. Upon hearing of the sale in 1969 of the replica Press Cars, he contacted Aston Martin Lagonda to inquire as to the whereabouts of the real car. Informed that it too had retired from the promo 56 CPR Magazine

circuit, indeed it was still owned by Aston Martin. With the assistance of AML North America general manager Rex Woodgate, Mr Lee eventually acquired FMP 7B from the Factory, for the then-princely sum of $12,000.

Playboy Bunnies Mr. Lee travelled to London personally to collect FMP 7B, where he orchestrated one final promotional event in

the UK, centred around an appearance at the Playboy Club in Curzon Street, surrounded by Playboy Bunnies and the blinding light of popping flashbulbs, followed by a party in the penthouse suite, which was renamed the ‘007 Room’ just for the occasion.

Back in the USA, and after a brief series of promotional appearances for Rex Woodgate, Mr Lee December 2010 7

Above: This video was put together by RM Auctions to promote the sale of the Bond DB5. As you can see, all the gadgets do indeed work.

withdrew the car from further public exhibition. It was subsequently shown publicly exactly three times over the ensuing 30+ years: once at the New York Motor Show in 1981 (making its second appearance there), secondly at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia in February 1986, along with an appearance by Lois Maxwell, the original Miss Moneypenny, and lastly at the Meadow Brook Concours

d’Elegance circa 1992.

Otherwise, and until 2010, the car has remained completely out of public view and is therefore the least exposed of the original or replica film cars.

The Bond DB5 was found just where legend had it, safe and secure in the special, purposebuilt room in Jerry Lee’s home.

Clean but unrestored, the car had seen virtually zero road use during Mr Lee’s ownership.

The odometer shows around

30,000 miles, most of which were from its tour usage. It was repainted at some stage, while the original dark grey interior (never black, as many assume) remains in generally good condition, displaying a remarkably authentic and appealing original patina to match the mileage.

Since extraction from Mr Lee’s home, a careful recommissioning programme was performed by top December 2010 57

New owner Harry Yeaggy (left) being mobbed by the media at the auction.

technicians at the RM Auto Restoration shop in Ontario.

Mechanically, this included a head-off engine service, clutch work, a fully rebuilt braking system and finally new exhaust piping built to the original configuration, designed for its exciting exhaust note. The systems running the movie props have been repaired and serviced as well, so the car is once again in roadworthy condition with its factory-installed spy gadgets returned to working order.

A New Owner

Worn but original. The ‘Bond Car’ is a real time capsule.

58 CPR Magazine

Jerry Lee’s 40 year ownership of the car finally came to an end on October 28, when RM Auctions sold the car at its sale in Battersea, London. It was bought by Harry Yeaggy from Ohio in the USA. “This is a car that I’ve always wanted, after all

it is the most famous car in the world,” said Mr. Yeaggy about the purchase of the Bond DB5.

“My plan is to display it in my private car museum in Ohio just as it is.”

Although the car was brought back to life by the skilled mechanics of RM Restorations, the Aston Martin is far from concours condition.

The work carried out was just enough to make the car driveable again.

In fact some who saw it at the auction or before described it as ‘shabby.’

The car spent some time being

looked after by acknowledged Aston expert Richard Stewart Williams before the sale, who said that as it stands, the car isn’t much fun to drive. The cap on the gear lever flips open every time the gears are changed, one of the extending over-riders pops out whenever it feels like it and numerous other faults make themselves as the car is being driven.

Williams suggests that the car really needs a full body off overhaul, which would cost around £300,000, still only a small amount of the car’s value.

Part of me is glad that the DB5 has gone to somebody who isn’t going to rebuild it; I can’t help feeling that a full restoration, no matter how sympathetic, would rob the car of its originality and character.

But then another part of me feels incredibly sad to think that once again, it is going to disappear back into a private museum and out of public view.

Still, for the last few months at least…it was home, back here in the UK. And you know what? It was great to see it again – albeit briefly.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Peter Haynes and RM Auctions for their help with this article.

December 2010 59

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Ferrari F430 The introduction on the Ferrari 458 Italia spelt the end of the line for one of the most popular models to emerge from the Maranello factory in decades - the F430. Simon Hazeldine looks back at one of Ferrari’s best.

I

n the small Italian town of Maranello in Northern Italy, an elderly man walks slowly through the factory doors after finishing another shift in the machine shop. He walks across the car park feeling the evening sun warming his aged leathery skin, his face looking tired and drawn. He wonders why someone of his age should still have to work; surely he should be taking things a little slower at his time of life?

But then a distant noise catches his attention. Echoing off the walls of the factory comes the snarling staccato howl of a highly tuned V8 engine. Shifting rapidly through the gears, the driver punches the throttle pedal to the floor, wringing every last drop of power from the straining powerplant. The howl turns into a whine, as the driver hits top gear and accelerates to a blistering speed, while the white needle on the tacho flirts precariously with the red line, warning of danger should it be crossed.

62 CPR Magazine

The old man pauses as he loads his tools into the back of his car. He nods briefly as the noise of the car resonates around the valley, just the faintest sign of a smile starting to appear on his wrinkled face. “Bella…bella…,” he mutters to himself under his breath, as he catches sight of the bright red car lighting up the main straight on the test track. The engine responsible

December 2010 63

for shattering the peace and quiet on that warm, sunny evening was ‘his’ engine; one that he had built with his own experienced hands.

The car it was fitted to was the last production Ferrari F430.

Okay, so it probably didn’t really happen like that, but Ferrari and romantic notions seem to go hand-in-hand at the best. It’s always sad to see a great car pass from the production line into the history books, so I’m sure there were many sad faces at Maranello when the last F430 rolled off the assembly line.

Design Or Evolution?

64 CPR Magazine

The F430 was designed as a replacement for the highly successful Ferrari 360 Modena, although some would say that the 360 wasn’t replaced, it merely evolved into the 430. It was introduced to much acclaim at the Paris Motor Show in 2004 and while the similarities to it predecessor were obvious, it was somehow a much prettier car.

The spec sheet was impressive too, with its 4.3 litre V8 engine producing 483bhp, which in turn led to a top speed of 200mph and a 0-62mph time of just four seconds. In terms of performance, the F430 had left its arch enemy – the Porsche 911 – behind and was going head-to-head with cars like the 492bhp Lamborghini Gallardo and the 6.0 litre 450bhp V12 Aston Martin DB9. The

“The whole package was wrapped in an aluminium body which not only looked great, it produced an incredible 50% more downforce than the Modena” whole package was wrapped in an aluminium body which not only looked great, it produced an incredible 50% more down-force than the Modena too, thanks to a small front wing and diffuser.

Elegant But Aggressive Looking at the car from the side, you could easily mistake it for a 360 Modena at first glance, but look closely and you will see that the F430

has a much more aggressive appearance. It is when viewed from the front that the differences between the two cars are most apparent.

The twin intakes on the front valance have been restyled from the Modena’s less attractive square apertures into curvaceous recesses topped with elegant bi-xenon headlights.

The whole body was welded and riveted together and was 20% stiffer than the 360 and gave 8% less flex.

All-New Engine The F430’s engine was an allnew V8 that used the favoured classic Ferrari 90° flat-plane crank configuration. The 4,308 cylinder capacity was a vast improvement over the Modena’s 4,586cc, but despite this, the new unit only weighed 4kg more that the older powerplant. It featured variable cam timing on both inlet and exhaust cams along with variable valve timing within its four-valve heads. This gave December 2010 65

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

£129,990

2006, 17,580 Miles, Nero Daytona

Ferrari 575 Superamerica F1 2006, 14,015 Miles, Grigio Silverstone

£124,990

A stunning example with full Ferrari service history, finished in Nero Daytona with Daytona seats

Grigio Silverstone finish with Beige interior. One of 57 UK right hand drive F1 examples this

in Nero with Giallo stitching this 599 GTB has a massive specification full details can be seen

Ferrari has a full main dealer service history. This phenomenal machine is still in perfect

online. Also fitted is a HGTC style sports exhaust and and upgraded sound system.

condition, and with a total production number of 559 cars world wide will keep appreciating.

Lamborghini Gallardo

Ferrari F40 Cat non-adjust

£64,990

2003, 13,890 Miles, Nero

1992, 3,028 Miles

£POA

This example is finished in Nero with giallo hide and nero carpets. A manual car it also features

Having been involved in many of these cars in recent years this is by far the best one we

giallo calipers, Cassiopea wheels, electric seats, electric folding mirrors and dual climate control.

have seen. A Ferrari Cerificazione di autenticita (Classiche) comes with the car along with all

In fantastic condition this low mileage example has been impeccably looked after.

tools,books etc.

Ferrari 550 Maranello

Ferrari 348 GTC

£44,990

2000, 32,047 Miles, Nurburgring

1994, - As featured in EVO magazine

£44,490

Finished in Argento Nurburgring Silver with Nero hide and Nero Carpets this 550 Maranello

Only 56 GTC’s were made between 93 and 94, this being number 36, only eight of these cars were

is one of 457 UK right hand drive examples. Options over and above standard include silver

right hand drive, meaning in the future this model will be very sought after. This example is in

stitching, carbon fibre dash inserts, door card, handbrake cover and sill covers.

superb condition and is not an ex track day/hill climb car and would complement any collection.

Chart Enterprise Park . Dencora Way . Ashford . Kent TN23 4FL

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550 Barchetta

Stradale

Dino 246 GTS

360 Spider

2002, 14,300 miles

1989, 7,967 miles

£129,990

£109,990

£149,990

£54,990

£49,990

2001, 10,000 miles

2004, 3,047 miles

1972, 61,478 miles

the car an impressive 483bhp at 8,500rpm and 343lb/ft of torque at 5,250rpm, although the manufacturer claims that 80% of that torque is developed by 3,500rpm.

F1 Style Gear Shift While the F430’s engine was an all-new affair, its transmission was developed from the set-up used on the Modena. It was fitted with a Formula 1 style six-speed sequential gearbox giving lightning fast gear changes, and although broadly the same as the Modena, the sixth gear and the final drive had been lengthened to give a higher top speed.

Customers could choose between the F1 style semiautomatic transmission or an ‘open-gate’ manual

“Of course, all this power – impressive as it is – is pretty much useless if the suspension doesn’t keep the wheels pressed against the road.”

December 2010 67

“...the F430, it could change from one gear to another in the blink of an eye…literally! box. The F1 gearbox was first introduced of the F355 in 1997 and has seen many improvements since it first appeared. On the F430, it could change from one gear to another in the blink of an eye…literally! It only takes 150

68 CPR Magazine

milliseconds to shift gears and even reverse could usefully engage 50% faster.

Electronic Diff The power from the gearbox is transferred to the wheels

via Ferrari’s active limitedslip differential – the E-Diff. A hydraulic actuator receives data from the car’s steering and pedal inputs, as well as the wheel rotation speed and yaw angle, and controls the torque distributed to the rear wheels.

Of course, all this power – impressive as it is – is pretty much useless if the suspension doesn’t keep the wheels pressed against the road. Thankfully, this isn’t an issue on the F430. The 19-inch wheels are mounted to the car using double unequal-length wishbones along with speed-sensitive power-steering and electronic adaptive suspension.

Stopping power is provided by 350mm cross-drilled cast-iron disc brakes, or alternatively, if you wanted to break the bank you could opt for the optional 380mm carbon-ceramic discs – not cheap though at nearly £10,000. This awesome array of technology can be controlled by the driver using the F1 inspired ‘Manettino’ – an almost insignificant rotary switch mounted on the steering wheel from which different modes of suspension,

traction control and gearbox shift patterns can be selected.

Driving Experience Climbing into the F430, the driver is greeted with the fragrance of fine quality leather. The seats are comfortable and despite Ferrari having a reputation for producing cars better suited to smaller framed drivers, the F430 is surprisingly roomy.

The quality of finish is superb.

The expensive looking steering wheel falls easily to hand and the dash is finished with lashings of leather and carbon fibre. Three circular air vents draw the eye to the centre console which also houses the radio/CD player, although how anyone could ever tire of listening to that exhaust

Above: The Ferrari F430 looks stunning from every angle.

Ferrari F430 - Specs Overall length: Overall width: Height: Wheelbase: Front track: Rear track: Curb weight: Engine: Bore/stroke: Max power: Max torque: Max speed: 0-100 km/h

note is beyond me. Surely any other form of ‘music’ is redundant in a car like this?

If you wanted a CD multichanger or Sat/Nav, you once again had to refer to the ‘optional extras’ list with its

4512 mm 176.6 in 1923 mm 75.7 in 1214 mm 47.8 in 2600 mm 102.3 in 1669 mm 65.7 in 1616 mm 63.6 in 1450 kg 3197 lb 90° V8 92 x 81mm 3.50 x 3.03cu in 360.4 kW (490 CV*) at 8500 rpm 465Nm (47.4 kgm or 343 lbft) at 5250 rpm >315 km/h > 196 mph (0-62 mph): 4.0 s often eye-watering prices.

There’s ample headroom in the cabin and despite the midengine there is still a generous amount of space behind the seats. Ferraris have never been known for their luggage December 2010 69

space; if you want to go away and take the kitchen sink with you then buy a Volvo estate, but the F430 does have a usable shaped luggage area under the bonnet which can take enough clutter to get you ‘plus one’ through a weekend.

If I had to be really picky, I could say that the steering wheel mounted horn buttons are easy to knock while turning the wheel, which can be embarrassing in the wrong situation. The switch for the headlight dip beam is also a bit too far away from the steering wheel meaning you have to stretch your fingers to reach it, and finally, why are the electric window buttons on the centre console? Surely it would be a fairly simple task to mount them on the doors where they belong?

Extras?

When the F430 was new, the base model with the F1 style gearbox would set you back a cool £124,500. Once you had decided to take the plunge, the salesman would present you with the list of optional extras so that you could ‘personalise’ your car.

Now, if someone is prepared to walk into a Ferrari showroom and write a cheque for almost £125K, they are not going to quibble too much at the prices on the options list, but some of them are simply staggering.

For example, if you wanted the brake callipers painted yellow, that would be an extra £565.00.

How about having the Ferrari racing shield badges placed on the bodywork behind the front wheels – well, that would 70 CPR Magazine

be another £800.00. By the time you have finished adding bits and pieces to the car, it could have cost you close to £200,000 – ouch.

On The Road Okay, so what’s it like to drive? Well, if you’re not used to ‘flappy paddle’ gear changing, it can be quite… different. Thankfully, it isn’t an issue thanks to ‘auto’ button, but more about that

later.

Sliding into the seat behind that odd shaped wheel with all its knobs and switches, you just know you are about to experience something special. From the outside, this car looks fast even when it’s standing still; from behind the wheel…it still feels fast even when it’s standing still! There is enough speed to overdose even the most avid adrenaline junkie, and we haven’t even turned the key yet.

recognizable. For example, when switching from Sport to Race, I could feel the difference in ride quality, along with lower traction and stability control intervention when powering through bends with throttle on.

The gearbox really comes alive when you push the ‘auto’ button and produces blistering gear changes even at full throttle. The changes are silky smooth too which is an improvement on the Modena which could feel a little ‘snatchy’ at times.

How you drive a car like this really comes down to experience.

Its acceleration and speed mean that the car can easily get away from you; you need to be able to think ahead of the car, because if you don’t, you will be just a passenger on a very scary ride. This is usually what causes cars like this to crash.

An inexperienced driver lets the car get ahead of them and the consequences aren’t pretty…or cheap to fix!

All-Time Classic!

The car fires up with a deafening roar before quickly settling into a taut tick-over.

Blipping the throttle produces the most awesome sound, and quite frankly I could sit and listen to it all day; it almost seems a shame to drive it.

However, drive it I must.

Before going anywhere, you have to select from one of five settings on the steering wheel; Ice, Low Grip, Sport, Race and CST. ‘Sport’ is the default setting, but if you like to take

things a little calmer, set it to ‘Ice’ for the least demanding ride. On the other hand, if you like your adrenaline served in extra large helpings, go for CST (Control, Stability & Traction) which will disable all driver aids except ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

On some cars you can push buttons like this all day long and they barely seem to have any effect, but on the F430, the changes are instant and

The F430 was certainly one of Ferrari’s all-time classics. It looks amazing from any angle and on the road it handles superbly.

It is comfortable over long distances and despite its awesome speed, it feels surprisingly easy to drive.

If anybody ever asks you to describe what makes a car a ‘supercar,’ just point them at an F430, for it does indeed tick all the boxes on the ‘supercar’ checklist. And more.

December 2010 71

Fine motor cars offered for sale

Aston Martin Short Chassis Vantage Volante

Ferrari 340 America Le Mans Touring Berlinetta

Ferrari 288 GTO

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Ferrari F50 – 1 of just 31 yellow F50’s built

Ferrari F40 – 28k kms - Non Cat Non Adjust

Ferrari 166 MM Vignale Spyder

MGB – Period history & Race ready

Jaguar XK 150 OTS or DHC – both LHD

Chevron B8 – Race Ready

Porsche 356 Speedster 1600S – 1957 & LHD

Ferrari 250 GT Lusso – LHD

Ferrari 365 GTC/4 – RHD & low mileage

Ferrari 512 BBi – Swiss Title & LHD

Servicing to perfection, for all Ferraris

Based just 1.5 miles from Junction 18 of the M25, DK have an impressive facility. The 4,500 square foot workshop includes 4 service ramps, restoration and race preparation bays, a machine shop and a rolling road. DK also have a separate, dedicated engine and gearbox workshop.

A beautiful showroom is home to a selection of the best cars from DK’s stock list. A separate 18 car private sales viewing gallery for modern cars is located close by. Customers old and new are recommended to come and visit DK’s famous home.

Acquisition Consultancy

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What’son

Find Out What’s On Near You!

Each month, Classic, Performance & Retro magazine brings you some of the best motoring events from around the world in our comprehensive ‘What’s On’ guide. Each listing features a live website link, so if you want know more a single click of the mouse is all you need. If you would like us to include your event, just send an e-mail with the details to: info@cprmag.com

Featured Event

Classic Motor Show November 12/13/14 2010 The biggest classic car show of the year takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, on November 12/13/14 and it’s promising to be one of the best yet.

Among the planned attractions this year will be Ayrton Senna’s original Formula 1 racing car from 1987, a pink ‘Barbie’ Jaguar XJS convertible and two rare Porsche 928s.

Mike Brewer and Ed China from TV’s ‘Wheeler Dealers’ will be there along with other celebrities from the motoring world.

We will also be launching this very magazine at the show, so why not visit our stand in Hall 2 and come and say ‘hello!’

For more information, visit the show website at: www.necclassicmotorshow.com

74 CPR Magazine

November 2010

12-14

Classic Motor Show: NEC, Birmingham, UK. www.necclassicmotorshow.com/

13

RM Auctions: The Milton Robson Collection,Gainesvill e,Georgia,USA. www.rmauctions.com/

13

Split Screen Van Club Autumn Jumble: Ace Cafe, Stonebridge, UK. www.ace-cafe-london.com

15

Beaujolais Run: London, UK, to Mâcon, France, www.beaujolaisrun.com/

17

Bonhams: Car Auction, Harrogate, UK. www.bonhams.com/eur/cars/

18

DVCA: Car Auction, Shepton Mallet, UK. www.dvca.co.uk/

21-5

Karma Enduro 2: India. www.karmaenduro.com/

26-29

Roger Albert Clark: Starts in Leeds, UK. www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org/

Above: Drivers already signed up for the 2010 Race of Champions include Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost and Sébastien Loeb.

27-28

2010 Race of Champions: Düsseldorf, Germany www.raceofchampions.com/

WWW.CPRMAG.COM

27-5

Essen Motor Show: Essen, Germany. .www.essen-motorshow.de/

December 2010 1

Brightwells: Car Auction, Leominster, UK. www.brightwells.com/

2-4

Mencum Auction: Kansas City Convention Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. http://mecum.com/

4

Club Expo: Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire, UK. www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/

4

Historics At Brooklands: Weybridge, Surrey, UK. www.historics.co.uk/

4-7

LE JOG: Land’s End to John O’Groats, Start Lands End, UK. www.heroevents.eu/

4-7

Breakfast Club Christmas Cracker: Goodwood Circuit, West Sussex, UK. www.goodwood.co.uk

6-7

Barons: Car Auction, Ascot, UK. www.barons-auctions.com/

6

Bonhams: Car Auction, Brooklands, Surrey, UK. www.bonhams.com/eur/cars/ This 1959 Lister Jaguar ‘Knobbly’ wil go on sale at the H&H auction on December 8, and is expected to fetch around £500,000.

8

H&H: Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK www.classic-auctions.co.uk/ December 2010 75

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Taming The

COBRA Few cars capture the imagination like the iconic AC Cobra, but with genuine examples fetching massive six figure prices, it remains only a dream for most of us, but as David Harrison found out, there is an affordable alternative. Meet the stunning AK Cobra!

78 CPR Magazine

M

and of course instantly ention the words ‘kit identifiable by the undesirable car’ to anyone over 40 and you won’t ‘Q’ number plates.

If you had the nerve to take get a good response. Howls one along to a classic car club of derision and eyes rolling meeting you would find yourself skywards will be the most spending the afternoon or likely reaction, and there is a very good reason for that. evening sitting alone in some dusty corner of the car park, Back in the 1980s, and for while other owners shunned a few decades before, the standard of kit cars was…how your vehicle in favour of ‘proper classics.’ shall I put it…questionable.

There were a few that didn’t Tasteful look too bad, but they were Fortunately, things are a little the exception, not the rule. different now. We look back at Most looked like they had the 1980s as the ‘decade that been designed around the taste forgot’ and thankfully, like running gear of a Tesco shopping trolley, and nearly all the cheesy music of that era, of them were unsightly, angled the awful kit car designs are shapes, held together with pop long gone. Nowadays, most rivets and aluminium brackets, of the popular kits seem to be

based on actual production models, with Italian ‘supercars’ seemingly the most copied.

Still, it is said that ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’…

That leads me nicely into the subject of this feature. The one single type of car that has been copied more than any other has got to be the iconic AC Cobra. Even back in the tasteless 80s, the Cobra kits were one of the few designs bringing a shred of dignity to the kit car scene. Like a good wine, over the years these kits have matured into cars that can compete with some of the best production sports cars of modern times, maybe not in practicality, but certainly in terms of speed and handling.

December 2010 79

Telephone: (01753) 644599

Mobile 07836 222111 Email: sales@runnymedemotorcompany.com

www.runnymedemotorcompany.com

1995 Aston Martin V8 Volante, finished in Signal red with contrasting cream hide interior piped in red with black top dash roll. This car is a one off special order from Aston Martin ordered prior to the official launch of the V8 Coupe and modified by the factory when new at vast cost to the first owner. The car is in unmarked condition throughout and comes with a considerable history file. It is almost unique and will undoubtedly increase in value. Please inquire for more details. ....£62,950

1981 Aston Martin V8 Oscar India finished in Balmoral green with a freshly re-trimmed interior by Gary Wright in Tan hide with contrasting dark green Wilton carpets. Refurbishment works by us have included a full re-paint, re-trim including headlining, full engine service, suspension rebuild and new Ronal wheels and tyres. Very practical for long journeys and excellent value at ................£59,950

1974 Aston Martin V8 srs III finished in Suffolk red with a bespoke mushroom hide interior retrimmed by an expert aircraft trimmer. This is a superb car with a 4”thick history file dating back to the 70ʼs and including all invoices to the present time. Upgrades include a deep front air dam and Vantage style front grill and driving lamps, BBS alloy wheels. Very unusual and will definitely increase in value. ......Please enquire for more details.

1969 Aston Martin DBS 6 cylinder, 4.0 litre finished in Champagne with contrasting black hide interior and black carpets. This car has been the subject of a complete restoration by its previous engineer owner, including new sills, detailed engine bay, back to metal repaint and a complete engine, gearbox, axle and brake overhaul. It is superb to drive and definitely rising in value, following the previous DB range. A potential investment at ....£45,000

A rare opportunity to acquire one of the most recent recreations of the iconic Jaguar “C” type. This is an almost exact copy of the real thing built in aluminium but incorporating more modern running gear to give it a superior ride. It has independent rear suspension and a 4.2 litre XJ engine to give it increased power. Absolutely stunning ......................£65,000

2002 Aston Martin DB7 finished in Derwent green with tan hide interior and green Wilton carpets. This car which was supplied in 2 seater configuration is in fabulous condition and a credit to its previous owner. With only 47,000 miles, it is totally unmarked, just serviced and ready to be enjoyed. Wonderful value at ............£29,950

Aston Martin DB9. A choice of three cars currently in stock.

A 2007 in Tungsten, a 2006 in Dark blue and a 2004 in Celeste blue. All three are excellent spec cars with sequential transmission and satellite navigation and all are exceptionally low mileage examples. Prices are £47,995, £59,950 and £69950 respectivel ........Please enquire for further details.

1993 Porsche 928 GTS LHD finished in Guards red with contrasting black hide interior. Imported some years ago, it has a comprehensive history both in Germany and the UK. Fitted with air conditioning, 17” cup alloys, automatic transmission, electric heated seats and adjustable steering column. This car is in superb condition throughout and realistically priced for a car which is fast becoming a collectorʼs item ........................£16,950

1961 Aston Martin DB4 series III finished in Dubonnet Rossa with full black hide interior. This excellent example has had the benefit of a recent complete engine rebuild and is both cosmetically and mechanically excellent. Arrives Wednesday 16th September hence library picture....................£140,000

1995 Aston Martin Virage Volante finished in Cairngorm Grey with contrasting mushroom hide interior. This has been a very well kept vehicle with a very comprehensive history and it is in Excellent order throughout. It comes with most available options and is sensibly priced at ............................................£39,950

1977 Jaguar XJ 4.2 Coupe finished in Old English White with contrasting St James red hide interior. This car has only covered 29,000 miles from new and is in a condition commensurate with the mileage. Probably an appreciating motor car and realistically priced at ........................................................................£12,995

1997 Porsche Boxter finished in silver with contrasting grey hide interior. This is a 3 owner car with a comprehensive service history and has only covered 51,000 miles. It is in excellent condition and represents wonderful value at only ......................................£8,750

1960 Turner Sports Mk I, finished in classic blue with black bucket seats and wire wheels. This is probably the most well preserved Turner in captivity and is a credit to its previous owner.

It has a 1380cc “A” series engine with 40dcoe Weber carb and front disc brakes. Very rare and much better than a Sprite.

Sensibly priced at only......£17,950. Will undoubtedly appreciate.

1989 Bentley Mulsanne “S” finished in Balmoral green with contrasting St Jamesʼs red hide interior.

This car is in very nice condition and comes with a huge history file. The car drives beautifully and now represents stunning value at..............................£9,995

Aston Martin DB7. Six cylinder; we have a choice of two very nice early cars, both finished in Mendip blue with cream hide with Aston Martin service histories.

They are both in excellent condition and are priced from ................................................................ £19,995

1972 Jaguar V12 “E” type 2+2 finished in finished in Azure blue with dark blue hide interior. This car is in very good order throughout and is fitted with automatic transmission and chrome disc wheels. It comes with a comprehensive service history and drives extremely well. Sensibly priced at ....................................£19,950

1966 Mercedes SL 500 finished in arctic white with contrasting full blue hide interior. It is fitted with most period options including electric windows and air conditioning and has both hard & soft tops and 16 hole flat face alloy wheels. Now undoubtedly rising in value and sensibly priced at ......................................£12,950

1972 Jaguar V12 “E” type 2+2 finished in Damask red with contrasting black hide interior. Fitted with manual transmission and chrome wire wheels, the car comes with a good history and is competitively priced at ........ ........................................................................£18,950

WE ARE CONSTANTLY SEARCHING FOR MORE STOCK, TELEPHONE US IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL. COMMISSION SALES ALSO UNDERTAKEN

Visit our website on www.runnymedemotorcompany.com

One of these kits is produced

by Peterborough-based AK Sportscars, although perhaps referring to it merely as a ‘kit’ is doing it an injustice since the company will actually build you a ready-to-go factory-built car to whatever specification you desire.

Small Beginnings The company can be found on a small industrial estate in Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. The nondescript entrance gives few clues as to the exotic machinery produced within, but as you step through the

door you are left in little doubt as to the primary construction material in use – fibreglass.

The air is thick with fumes from the stuff; so much so that I half expected to see the AK workforce floating around the ceiling with silly grins on their faces, but like most things in life, if you are exposed to it often enough you gradually become immune to it.

The company was formed by Allan Frew and Ken Freeman about 25 years go, and in case you haven’t already guessed, Allan and Ken are the AK in the company’s name.

Ken had already worked for

some time with precision fibreglass mouldings for the automotive industry. Being a fan of the Cobra design, Ken decided to build his own replica, but instead of buying one of the readily available kits, he opted to make his own.

He set about constructing the moulds for the fibreglass body and enlisted the help of Allan who built the chassis. The finished result attracted much admiration and soon the pair was inundated with requests to build more cars.

Ken set up a small production facility at the bottom of his garden and the two men

Below: Classic lines and raw power make the AK Cobra an excellent, affordable ‘supercar.’

December 2010 81

started to turn out a steady stream of cars. Eventually the business outgrew the ‘garden’ premises and relocated to its current site in Peterborough where Ken’s son Jon now runs the business.

Exceptional Talent Jon is a likeable man with a great sense of humour, and his pride in what the small company has achieved was obvious as he showed me around the factory. He is also an exceptionally talented fabrication engineer who can create the most stunning work in fibreglass or steel.

I’m not sure what I was expecting to find when I visited AK Sportscars; I think I was half expecting to see bought in chassis’ or ready-assembled 82 CPR Magazine

body tubs, but I was amazed to see that the company builds everything from scratch.

AK’s unit is split into sections, with each part dedicated to producing certain aspects of the cars.

For example, on the ground floor there is a chassis construction area, where each individual frame is built from scratch using a highly accurate jig. The chassis’ are built to a design that was drawn up by Allan which is both incredibly strong and offers excellent torsional stiffness too. The result is a car that handles superbly and allows the owner to drive with confidence.

The remaining part of the lower floor is split into bays where each car is assembled and

there is a hydraulic lift near the main door which makes life easier when working underneath a car.

Also downstairs is the stainless steel welding bay.

As you can see from our pictures, most AK cars have beautiful polished stainless steel exhausts running below the doors, and in my ignorance I assumed that these were sourced from an external supplier. It turned out that I couldn’t have been more wrong, and as if to prove the point, Jon donned his welding goggles and proceeded to knock up a brand new sidebranch exhaust from scratch right before my eyes. The quality of workmanship was exquisite, as was Jons’ welding.

Left: Steve Ladym’s Cobra has a stunning interior which has a real retro/modern feel. Note the neon blue light emitting from the buttons in front of the gear stick.

“A look inside reveals a stonking great Chevy 350 5.7 litre fuel-injected engine with more grunt than Ozzy Osbourne!”

Body Building Upstairs is where all the glass fibre work is carried out. A large Cobra shaped mould stands in the middle of the room and is surrounded by smaller moulds for doors, bootlids, bonnets and so on. Some of Jon’s staff were busily laying fibreglass into the moulds and it was fascinating to watch as sheets of glass fibre were cut from a large roll and transformed into usable car parts. Pots of what appeared to be coloured paint lined one of the shelf units, but it was in fact colouring agent for the fibreglass gel-coat. AK can supply the bare shells in a range of colours and the highquality of the gel finish allows owners to opt for an unpainted car. This means they can get

on with build, and even drive the car, and put off painting it for another day.

The upper floor also houses the trimming bench where the company makes all its own trim, including seat covers, carpet sets, centre-consoles and leather dash covers.

Like the original AC cars,

the AK Cobras use Jaguar suspension and running gear, most of which comes from either the XJ40 or XJ6/XJS. The steering column is an adjustable BMW unit.

All of these items are sourced

by AK and fitted to the cars as they are produced.

Raw Power!

Things get rather more exciting under the bonnet. A look inside reveals a stonking great 350 Chevy 5.7 litre V8 fuel injected engine with more grunt than Ozzy Osbourne!

December 2010 83

“The ground beneath my feet vibrates like the floor at an Iron Maiden concert!”

of the build that isn’t undertaken at the company’s Peterborough facility is the paintwork. This is farmed out to a specialist paint shop a few miles up the road near Spalding in Lincolnshire.

SMS Autospray specializes in painting glass fibre cars and has applied paintwork to countless Lotus cars and many Cobra replicas too.

Baked Twice

Below: A finsihed chassis waiting to become the next AK Cobra.

These are rated at 330bhp and usually return over 20mpg.

If that isn’t enough power for you, how about a 6.2litre supercharged engine producing up to 600bhp?

If you want it, you’ve got it, since AK has built just such a beast in the past.

A Getrag five-speed gearbox is used to distribute the power to the wheels and these have proved to be excellent at coping with the high-torque engines used in the Cobras.

Perhaps the only aspect 84 CPR Magazine

Jon Freeman assembles a stainless steel exhaust.

One of the SMS owners, Steve Ladym, was so impressed with the AK cars that he bought one for himself, and it is his recently finished stunning metallic blue example that is featured in the photographs on these pages.

Looking around Steve’s car you cannot be anything but impressed with the standard of finish. The paintwork is perfect, and that is not surprising when you consider the amount of preparation that goes into it. Each car is baked in the oven before and after painting. Baking the car

The 5.7 litre V8 turns out a whopping 350bhp and should propel the car at eye-watering speeds. I say ‘should’ because at the time of my visit Steve was still running the car in, and having spent a considerable amount of time and money on his car, he wasn’t about to start thrashing the engine just because the cameras were there. Sensible chap that Steve!

Jaguar XJ40 Parts

before the paint is applied ensures that any tiny air bubbles or moisture in the gel-coat are eliminated.

These can cause microblisters in the paintwork, even several years after the car has been painted.

It should be stressed that AK Sportscars go to great lengths to ensure that there are no air bubbles or moisture in their shells; the baking is just an added precaution.

With the ignition key set to ‘on’, Steve pressed the starter button and the Cobra roared into life.

The sound is simply stunning and the ground beneath my feet vibrates like the floor at an Iron Maiden concert.

Above: Cars being fitted out in the AK Sportscars workshop.

Underneath the fibreglass body, the running gear is mostly borrowed from a Jaguar XJ40. The Chevy engine is coupled to a Getrag gearbox which in turn drives a differential taken from the ‘big cat.’

The steering rack and column are not Jaguar units but actually come off a Rover SD1.

Under the bonnet there is chrome and stainless steel everywhere you look.

The mighty V8 engine

Modern Retro Inside, the car is trimmed with lashings of grey leather and contrasting navy blue carpet. The dashboard carry’s a sort of modern/retro theme, with its chrome rimmed round gauges that echo times gone by and modern switchgear that throws out bright blue neon light. The overall effect is stunning.

The main body mould for the AK Cobras.

December 2010 85

Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Like you, we’re totally devoted to the sports car that defined the glamorous, getaway sixties.

We know that a labour of love demands more than a few nights in the garage. Lanes Cars supply meticulously rebuilt ‘E’type Jaguars, hand-assembled to faithful original or individual specification, and as near to a factory-fresh car as you will find.

We also appreciate that your own restoration may need expert input at some point - we can often obtain the unobtainable, or simply offer the voice of experience. Lanes Cars also supply original and upgraded parts, metal work and mechanical services, undertake partial or complete rebuilds and incorporate sympathetic improvements.

Talk to Martin Lane. He’s even more obsessed than you are. ● Upgrades and enhancements ● Classic and contemporary ● Full workshop facilities ● Always a fine selection of prepared ‘E’types available in our showroom

01922 749244 www.lanescars.co.uk

Our success continues to be built upon our commitment to quality

‘E’type Jaguar specialists

LANES CARS Chester Road Garage, Chester Road, Stonnall, Lichfield, WS9 9HH

is topped with an Edelbrock carburettor and air filter assembly.

According to Steve, the car is “beautiful” to drive. “I wasn’t sure what it would drive like to be honest; sometimes you find that good looking cars don’t handle as well as you would expect them to, but the Cobra drives just as good as it looks.

It’s a really well balanced car and a joy to drive.”

The AK 427 Cobra is a pretty awesome car when you think about it. It can provide its owner with ‘supercar’ performance, but without the ‘supercar’ price tag. You get all the style and open top motoring pleasure that a classic can offer, but you can build the car with reliable modern parts so you don’t have to worry about getting home. It’s never going to be a practical car, but for blasting along the country lanes on a summer’s evening, it’s hard to beat.

Above: One of the team at AK Sportscars separates an inner bootlid panel from its mould. All the moulds are waxed before the fibreglass and resin is laid into them to ensure the part releases from the mould easily. As you can see in the picture, some of the wiring is fitted in place during the moulding process.

December 2010 87

auctionnews

Latest News From The Auction Rooms

Bonhams Veteran Motor Cars and Related Automobilia, New Bond Street, London.

November 5, 2010.

Bonhams Veteran Motor Cars Type

Year

Price

Renault 4½hp Type D

1901

£62,000

De Dion Bouton 8hp Model R

1903

£73,000

Peugeot 9hp Twin-Cylinder Rear-entrance Tonneau

1904

£78,500

Sunbeam 10/12hp Four-cylinder Rear-entrance Tonneau

1903

£321,600

De Dion Bouton 3 1/2hp

1900

£26,450

Decauville 5hp Twin-cylinder Two-seater

1899

£27,600

Rochet 4 1/2hp Type D

1902

£54,850

De Dion Bouton 4½/6hp

1900

£60,900

Oldsmobile Model R

1903

£42,200

Stanley Model CX 8hp Runabout

1904

£43,850

1900 De Dion Bouton - needs work, but sold for £26,450.

A veteran 1903 Sunbeam 10/12hp rear-entrance tonneau, which is one of the earliest examples created by the British company, smashed its presale estimate of £160.000 - 180.000 to sell for £321,600.

The saleroom for Bonhams annual sale of Veteran Motor Cars, Steam and other Related Automobilia was packed, and bidders in the room and on the telephone fiercely competed for the eleven veteran cars in the sale that raised a total of over £1million, with 90% sold by lot, including automobilia and artwork.

Among the car going under the hammer were a 1903 De Dion Bouton 8hp model R rear-entrance tonneau that sold for £73,000, a 1902 Rochet 4 ½hp, estimated at £38,000 - 45,000 and sold for £54,850 and the oldest entrant, a 1900 De Dion Bouton 41/2 6hp that sold for £60,900.

A further highlight included a 1900 De Dion Bouton 3 1/2 hp project that had been in the same ownership for more than 90yrs selling for £26,450.

The new owner will certainly have their work cut out! The oldest car in the sale, a 111yr old 1899 Decauville 5hp sold for £27,600.

The automobilia section also proved hugely successful. Fifteen works, from a private collection, by the accomplished artist Margery BalfourBrowne made over £44,000. As a young woman at the turn of the century, Margery Balfour- Browne became very interested in the motor course at Brooklands, attending many meetings and vividly recalling these dramatic events in her watercolours. Many of the lots were sold for over double their pre-sale estimates, such as “Mercedes Racing Car at Speed” that sold for £4,600 (est. £500 – 800) and “Brooklands Paddock Scene” that sold for £9,775 (est. £2500- 4000).

H&H, Haynes International Motor Museum, Yeovil, Somerset, October 22, 2010.

Jenson Button’s Honda S600/800.

H&H Classics is celebrating the completion of another successful sale at The Haynes International Motor Museum in Somerset.

The auction generated sales of more than £1m for a selection of classic motor cars, motorcycles and automobilia. The auction, which included buyers from South America and Asia, set a number of world records. The 2008 world record achieved

88 CPR Magazine

H&H Haynes International Motor Museum Type

Year

Price

Porsche 356A Cabriolet

1959

£22,000

Honda S600/800 (ex-Jenson Button)

1966

£40,700

Alvis Speed 20SB Vanden Plas Tourer

1934

£77,000

Porsche 356B Coupe

1960

£29,150

Morgan Aero

1926

£18,700

MG A 1600 Roadster

1960

£15,620

AC Greyhound

1961

£45,100

MG TD

1952

£15,400

MG Midget 1500

1977

£4,585

Vauxhall Viva GT

1969

£7,260

for a Brough Superior SS100 was raised by some £120,000, fetching over £286,000.

Other significant highlights included, £77,000 for the 1934 Alvis Speed 20SB Tourer and £40,700 for Jenson Button’s beautiful Honda S600.

Simon Hope, H&H’s Managing Director and head auctioneer had only just returned to the UK after finishing fourth in class, on

the gruelling Peking to Paris rally. He commented: “It has been a fantastic end to the week for the whole H&H team, which has seen us complete our successful assault on the Peking to Paris Rally and hold an extremely successful auction. Everyone in the H&H team, can feel very proud of today’s results and for putting on such a fantastic event.

WWW.CPRMAG.COM RM Auctions Automobiles Of London, Battersea, London.

October 27, 2010.

RM Auctions Automobiles Of London Type

Year

Price

Talbot-Lago T23 Teardrop Coupe

1938

£1,792,000

Pagani Zonda R

2010

£812,000

Bentley 8-Litre Open Tourer

1931

£756,000

Ferrari 365 California Spyder

1966

£739,200

Lamborghini Miura SVJ

1971

£728,000

Lamborghini Miura SV

1972

£704,940

Maserati A6G/2000 Competition Berlinetta

1956

£700,000

James Bond Aston Martin DB5

1964

£2,912,000

RM Auctions enjoyed a triumphant return to its annual London event on October 27, attracting £19,147,790 in total sales, with 92 of the 106 lots changing hands for an 87 percent sell through rate. Among the quality collector cars that went under the hammer were eight that surpassed the million dollar mark. Obviously, the event’s top seller was the famous 1964 Aston Martin DB5 James Bond movie car (see feature in this issue); becoming not only the most expensive Aston, but also the most valuable film car ever sold at auction at £2,912,000.

“For the past number of years our London sale has been a highlight on RM’s calendar of events, and this year we are once again very pleased with the results,” said Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe. Other lots that exceded US$1 million included: An elegant 1938 Talbot-Lago T23 Teardrop Coupe - the sole Jeancart-style, four-litre T23 Teardrop built (£1,792,000); A fierce and sophisticated 2010 Pagani Zonda R, one of only 15 scheduled to be built (£812,000); An exceedingly rare 1931 Bentley 8-Litre Open Tourer with original coachwork by Harrison (£756,000); A completely original, matching-numbers, factory-certified prototype 1966 Ferrari 365 California Spyder (£739,200); A multiple award-winning 1971 Lamborghini Miura SVJ (£728,000); A desirable 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV (£704,940); and a Mille Miglia eligible 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Competition Berlinetta (£700,000).

The impressive results of RM’s 2010 Automobiles of London event were generated by bidders from 30 different countries on the telephone, over the Internet and assembled in the standing-room-only venue. RM welcomed a number of first-time clients, with new bidders representing 33 per cent of all registrations.

This stunningly beautifulTalbot-Largo T23 Teardrop Coupe sold for £1.792,000.

The awesome Pagani Zonda R went to a new home for £812,000.

This Ferrari 365 California Spyder sold for £739,200.

Forthcoming Sale RM Auctions - The Milton Robson Collection November 13, Gainesville, Georgia, USA. One of the world’s premier muscle car collections will cross the auction block in Georgia soon as RM Auctions presents The Milton Robson Collection, a single-vendor sale to be held in Gainesville, Georgia, on November 13.

The result of over 25 years of careful acquisition by lifelong ‘car guy’ Milton Robson, the Robson Collection features a remarkable series of low-production and ultra-high specification Detroit muscle cars, along with a series of iconic fifties and sixties classics, and a superb selection of Henry Ford’s original flathead V8s. A total of 55 vehicles from the collection, along with a range of memorabilia will be offered ‘without reserve’.

The headline attraction for the auction is a trio of Pontiac GTO Judge Convertibles, including a Starlight Black ’69 Judge, one of the most rare and desirable Pontiacs in existence (Est. $750,000 - $1,000,000). It leads a charge of 12 Pontiacs included in the sale. Also on offer, an all-original 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko/SC Sport Coupe, one of the most vaunted vehicles of the muscle era. (Est. $300,000 - $400,000).

The Starlight Black Pontiac GTO Judge.

December 2010 89

autodrome

Keeping Automotive History Alive

Brooklands

Brooklands was the site of the world’s first purpose built racing circuit and quickly established itself as the home of British motorsport in the 1920s. Now an excellent Museum is keeping the ‘Brooklands Spirit’ as Edward Norris finds out.

W

hen it comes to motorsport history, few places on Earth come close to Brooklands in Surrey. With its famous banked oval circuit and listed buildings, the place positively oozes history from its very foundations.

Its peaceful leafy surroundings echo only to the sound of

90 CPR Magazine

birdsong and if you listen carefully, you can hear the faint hum of the M25 motorway some way off in the distance; a far cry from the glory days of this legendary racing circuit when names like Bentley, Napier and Sunbeam were responsible for shattering the silence as they thundered around the track.

These days the site is home to the Brooklands Museum, which is dedicated to preserving the history of this Great British institution.

Identity Crisis The first thing any casual visitor might notice upon entering the site is that the museum seems to be

WWW.CPRMAG.COM

Above: a 1929 4.5 litre Bentley powers around the banked Brooklands circuit.

Left: a striking green dome caps the listed Brooklands Club House building with the ERA and Campbell sheds to its left.

having some sort of identity crisis – is it a motoring or aviation museum? In fact it’s both. Brooklands has been associated with aircraft for almost as long as it has cars, so it would be impossible to feature one type of transport while completely ignoring the other. This doesn’t detract from the visitor’s experience in

any way; in fact if anything, it enhances it.

Getting There So, what’s the first thing you will find when you visit Brooklands? Well, for a start the museum is well signposted once you leave the M25 and head into the town of Weybridge. The signs

lead you to a modern looking industrial/retail area and the first indication you have that you are getting close to the museum is a section of banked track running alongside the A318 opposite a huge Tesco superstore. That stretch of the A318 is also called Barnes Wallis Way after the famous designer/engineer responsible for the Vickers Wellington bomber and of course the ‘bouncing bomb’ used in the ‘Dambusters’ raid in World War Two. In fact, if you look closely enough in this area you can spot numerous bits of the Brooklands infrastructure. One example of this is the airfield control tower which lies just off Sopwith Way, the road that leads to the entrance of the Brooklands site. Even though the control tower is naturally associated with the aviation side of Brooklands, some of the offices inside the renovated building are now home to AC heritage Ltd; an automotive restoration company specializing in AC cars.

As you proceed into the Brooklands site itself, you December 2010 91

The impressive Mercedes-Benz World building now stands at Brooklands

would be forgiven for thinking that you have taken a wrong turn, as everything starts to look very modern. The first thing you see is the recently added Mercedes Benz World – a sort of theme park for Mercedes car fans and something we will be looking at in more details in a future The Brooklands’ shop has a great selection of motoring gifts.

92 CPR Magazine

issue.

Follow the road around the Mercedes building and eventually you will end up in a large car park just outside the entrance to the Brooklands Museum. The entrance itself is almost hidden from view, and is nothing more than a gap in the hedge. If

it wasn’t for the presence of a prominent sign, you could miss it altogether.

Don’t Miss That Gap! Head through the ‘gap’ and over a foot-bridge that crosses a small river and follow the path to the museum entrance and the ticket desk that is located in the museum shop.

The shop is stocked with a nice selection of aviation and motoring related items, from model cars and planes to books, prints and clothing. If you are stuck for Christmas present ideas for someone interested in planes or cars, here would be a good place to start!

The shop exit leads into the museum itself and the

The Campbell Shed holds an amazing collection of cars and visitors can even look inside the great man’s workshop. pathway to the main complex is lined with a huge model Concorde and a Tallboy bomb which was carried by Lancaster bombers during the war. On the other side of the path is a small covered parking area which is filled with a selection of aging airport service vehicles such as Morris Minor vans and a Bedford minibus.

A 1925 Salmson Grand Sport inside the Campbell Shed.

Malcolm Campbell From here you can take your pick on your route around the museum. My first point of call was the Campbell Shed, which as the name suggests was used by World Land Speed Record holder Malcolm Campbell as an office and workshop building in the 1920 December 2010 93

racing club memorabilia, around which the story of ‘The Great Racing Days of Brooklands’ is told. Anyone with an interest in motoring history will get a real buzz from walking in footsteps of the legendary Campbell.

The workshop where Malcolm Campbell spent many hours.

and 30s.

It was here that his successful ‘Blue Bird’ racing and world record-breaking cars were often kept, displayed or even built. The building was later taken over by leading motor

engineers Thomson and Taylor as a workshop and showroom for Alfa Romeo and Railton cars. Today it houses a collection of racing cars, a driver’s study, an engineer’s workshop and displays of

ERA Shed A walkway leads from the Campbell building to the neighbouring ERA Shed. This building is the latest of all the Paddock workshops having been completed in the late 1930s. It was occupied by LBB Motors who needed unusually high external doors to accommodate the double-decker buses that they converted to use diesel. It was also used as

Brooklands History B

rooklands saw its Genesis in 1906 when wealthy landowner Hugh Locke King decided to use 350 acres of his Surrey estate to build Britain’s first car and motorcycle racing circuit. 1500 men worked on the project, using the latest in steampowered equipment to construct the famous thirty-foot-high banking. The first races took place in the summer of the next year around the 2¾ mile circuit. At that time a clubhouse was built which became incorporated in buildings that still exist today as part of the museum.

Bicycle racing was also popular at the time and 100-mile endurance races were held annually on the same track that was later used to stage the first ever British Grand Prix, in 1926.

As motor racing developed, so too did interest in aviation. AV Roe was based at Brooklands from 1907 and famously conducted his first flight trials from here in the following year, although there is some question as to whether he actually became airborne! Having learned to fly here, Tommy Sopwith and Harry Hawker also operated from Brooklands, as did various other aviation pioneers, including Bleriot. The first public flying exhibition took place from the newly created aerodrome, in 1909. By 1911 the ‘Flying Village’ had been created with the world’s first ticket office. Scenes from the 1965 film, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, were based on this period of Brooklands’ history.

From 1910 onwards, flight training continued from the aerodrome. Well-known students included John Alcock of Alcock and Brown fame and round-the-world yachtsman and

94 CPR Magazine

aviator (Later Sir) Francis Chichester. Battle of Britain and ATA pilots were also trained here in the early 1940s. At least one Tiger Moth still carries the distinctive ‘Brooklands School of Flying’ livery.

Motor racing stopped during the First World War and did not resume until 1920, but during that time Vickers Aircraft established at Brooklands, what was to become the largest aircraft factory in Britain. The Vickers Gunbus and later the Vimy were built here, as eventually were the Wellesley and Wellington bombers during in the Second World War. Various records were set on the racetrack between the wars by both cars and motorcycles, with the 1921 land speed record being set at 135.75 miles by Kenelm Lee Guinness in a V12 Sunbeam.

Motor racing ended here forever with the outbreak of World War Two, in 1939. From then on, the whole site was made over to aircraft production. Fortunately a large part of the ‘motoring village has been retained or restored and this forms the nucleus of the museum that we see today.

In 1940, a Bellman hangar was erected on part of the old racetrack, for the production of Wellington bombers (This building is now also part of the museum). Over 2,500 Wellingtons were built at and flown from Brooklands, despite the factory being bombed by the Germans with serious casualties. 3,000-plus Kingston-built Hurricanes were also test flown here. Barnes Wallis, father of ‘geodetic construction’ and the inventor of the ‘bouncing bomb,’ also had his base at Brooklands.

Civil aircraft production continued after the War with the building of 444 Viscount and 53 VC10 airliners. Over 1,000 people were employed on the site when Vickers became part of the newly formed BAC in 1960 and production eventually switched to BAC 1-11s. TSR2 was one of a number of projects that were also worked on contemporaneously. With the nationalisation of the British aviation industry in 1977, the factory became part of British Aerospace before finally closing in 1986. During this latter period, more components for Filton-assembled Concordes were produced here than at any other plant.

The factory was eventually demolished in 1990.

a Paddock showroom for the renowned English Racing Automobiles (ERAs). By 1939 it was occupied by the Brooklands Engineering Company, well known for their ‘Martlet’ pistons. The building continues the displays of racing and record cars, motorcycles and cycles. The ‘Fastest On Earth, exhibition which is a main feature of the ERA Shed recalls the countless speed records achieved at Brooklands and pays tribute to the Brooklands drivers, riders, mechanics and engineers who claimed new records across the world.

Napier Railton One of the real stars of the Brooklands’ collection is housed in this building, the stunning 24-Litre Napier-Railton. The car was designed and built by Thompson and Taylor right here at Brooklands in 1933 and is powered by a Napier aircraft engine. It produced 525bhp and 2550rpm and set the track record at Brooklands with a speed of 143.44mph.

The car was bought by the museum in 1997 with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund which paid for 75% of the car’s price. The remaining 25% was contributed by the following generous donors: Rowan Atkinson, The British Racing Drivers Club, Ron Dennis, Jonathon Finch, Victor Gauntlett, Adrian Hamilton, John Haynes, Neil Higgins, The Earl of March, Michael Marshall, Michael Shanly Investments, Hugh Taylor, Tom Walkinshaw and Ray Wiltshire and Members of The Association of Friends of Brooklands Museum and

Visiting Brooklands is like stepping back in time!

One of the ‘star cars’ at Brooklands is the stunning 24-litre Napier Railton.

The Brooklands Society. As you can see, a lot of very big names in the motoring industry were determined to see the car remained in its rightful home at Brooklands.

Time Warp When you wander out of the ERA Shed, you can’t help feeling that you are stuck in some kind of time-warp. You are surrounded by motoring

names from the past, proudly displayed on period signage.

A small petrol station bearing the words ‘BP Motor Spirit’ is fronted by a single vintage petrol pump while a glance back at the ERA Shed reveals names like Alfa Romeo and Bugatti painted on the doors.

The atmosphere is simply delightful.

Across the road from the ‘sheds’ is the Brooklands Club December 2010 95

The Brooklands Club House has changed little since the 1920s. and, with its slogan “The Right Crowd and No Crowding” the club only admitted into the building those wearing their members’ guest badges.

Sunbeam Cafe

House. This green-domed building was built in 1907 to accommodate the race track officials such as stewards, the Clerk of the Scales and the Clerk of the Course. It also housed a weighbridge for the cars, changing rooms for the drivers and a large open viewing stand for the press, which faced south across the circuit. It had a bar and dining room exclusively for members 96 CPR Magazine

of the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club (BARC) and their guests. In 1913 a luncheon room was added with stairs leading up from the Paddock, but it was not until 1930 that major alterations were made that included a Ladies’ Reading Room, Billiard Room, Members’ Lounge and Tea Room. Although anybody was allowed to join the BARC, few enthusiasts could afford to

Today, the Club House forms the focal point of the Brooklands complex. It houses the museum’s Sunbeam Café which serves drinks, snacks and hot meals to hungry visitors. Arranged around the entrance to the restaurant area are small yet impressive displays of motoring and aviation artefacts. A selection of vintage motorcycles guard the main door while a display of AC Cars memorabilia is housed in a glass case on the opposite wall.

In 1947 the building was occupied by Barnes Wallis as

part of the Vickers-Armstrong Research and Development Department. Many alterations were made when rooms were turned into drawing offices and the original drivers’ bathroom was adapted as a shower room for those who worked in the newly-built Stratosphere Chamber next door. The Clerk of the Course’s Office, Ladies’ Reading Room and the Billiard Room have now been refurbished and form part of the Clubhouse displays.

The ‘Loch Ness’ Wellington bomber is an awe-inspiring sight in the main hangar.

Loch Ness Wellington Of course, although my visit to Brooklands was primarily to view the motoring related artefacts, I simply had to go and see some of the aviation exhibits, most of which are kept in a large ‘Belfast’ style hangar.

The hangar itself has seen better days, but the aircraft housed inside are definitely worth seeing. Perhaps the most famous airframe is that of the Vickers Wellington.

The bomber on display was actually built right here at Brooklands in 1939 and took part in bombing raids over occupied Europe. It crashed into Loch Ness in 1940 during a training flight where it lay undisturbed for the next 45 years. In 1985 the aircraft was raised from its watery grave and was found to be in remarkable condition; even the rear lights worked when connected to a modern battery.

Across from the Wellington, visitors can see the ongoing restoration of the museum’s Hawker Hurricane IIA which served with both the RAF and the Russian Air Force. While it was in Russian service the aircraft was shot down as

The Brooklands’ Hawker Hurricane saw action with both the British and Russian air forces.

When you stand on the banked circuit, you can almost feel the history coming up through your feet!

December 2010 97

it engaged several German Messerschmitts. The pilot survived the subsequent forced landing and the wrecked Hurricane remained where it fell until 1996. It arrived at Brooklands in 1997 and has been under restoration ever since.

There are many other fascinating aircraft to look at in the huge hangar, but for me the real treat awaited outside. This was the famous track itself, and as I mentioned earlier, sections of it still exist. Anyone with an interest in motoring history will have seen the black & white photographs, or perhaps even those crackly old news-real films, showing cars racing around – and sometimes flying off – the banked circuit in the 1920s and 30s.

Ghosts Of The Past The section of track that can be accessed from the museum is part of the ‘Home Banking’ which is capped by the equally famous ‘Members’ Bridge.’ It feels such a privilege to be able to walk out onto the hallowed concrete surface, which like the hangar, has seen better days.

While I was there, the only movement on the track was that of falling autumn leaves and the occasional squirrel scurrying around for fallen chestnuts. If you close your eyes, you can almost feel the mighty racing cars thundering around the circuit, the crowd gasping as a screech of tyres spells trouble for one of the drivers, the smell of castor oil and exhaust fumes and the roar from spectators as the victor crosses the line. As one member of staff remarked 98 CPR Magazine

Test Hill is actually much steeper than it looks!

Part of the Brooklands track viewed from the Members’ Bridge.

Cars roar under the Members’ Bridge in the 1930s

Brooklands from the air!

(Julian Temple)

during my visit: “You can feel the history coming up through your feet!” He wasn’t wrong.

Test Hill If you are feeling energetic you can still access the Members’ Bridge. I say energetic because this involves walking back past the big hangar and climbing up the deceptively steep Test Hill. This is a straight piece of concrete track used for ‘hill climb’ racing, and while the vintage cars seem to sprint up the 1 in 4 hill with little effort, my vintage frame found it hard going!

The bridge itself doesn’t actually lead anywhere and your progress is blocked by a fence roughly half way across, but it is still worth making the effort to go up there as it provides an excellent view of the historic track below.

There is so much to see at Brooklands that it’s impossible to list it all in a single article.

I haven’t even mentioned the Jackson Shed with its

impressive collection of Grand Prix cars and Formula 1 simulator or the biggest exhibit on display, the massive Concorde airliner which is open for public tours.

Brooklands is a treat for any motoring enthusiast. There is so much to see and do here that you really need to allow

a whole day just to take it all in. The quality of the cars on display is second to none, and if you’re lucky, you might just get to see one of them fire up and venture out onto the curved banking for a photoshoot or test run. All in all, a great day out and thoroughly recommended.

Contact Telephone: 01932 857381 ext 221 Address: Brooklands Museum Trust Ltd, Brooklands Road, Weybridge Surrey, KT13 0QN E-mail: info@brooklandsmuseum.com Website: www.brooklandsmuseum.com

December 2010 99

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Bookshelf

Speedy Stories & Revving Reads!

It’s the book that the BBC tried to ban. We take a closer look at ‘The Man In The White Suit’ by Ben Collins and ask ‘what exactly was all the fuss about?’

THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT: The Stig, Le Mans, The Fast Lane and Me. Format: Hardback ISBN: 978-0-00-732796-6 UK Price: £ 20.00 Some say, that this book should never have been written… and that it has ruined one of motoring’s best kept secrets…all we know is…that the Stig is Ben Collins!

Whether you like it or not, the ‘Stig’ concept was a brilliant idea.

To have an anonymous racing driver testing cars and training celebrity drivers on BBC’s Top Gear programme was s stroke of genius. Credit for the idea goes to show presenter Jeremy Clarkson along with Producer Andy Wilman, and it wasn’t long before the mysterious character had captured the imagination of the nation. Everybody was talking about it.

The first incarnation was the ‘Black Stig’ who was in fact Perry McCarthy. McCarthy had worked briefly as a test driver for the Williams and Benetton F1 teams before landing the role as the Stig. Unfortunately, he let slip that he was the man under the black suit and visor

102 CPR Magazine

and as a result, his character was launched off the deck of an aircraft carrier never to be seen again.

The producers, knowing that they had struck marketing gold with the Stig, set about finding a replacement and on the first show of the following series, ‘White Stig’ was introduced to the world, and the rest as they say… is history.

Right, that’s the background out of the way, so what about the book? To be honest, I really wanted to hate it. Look, anyone who knows how to use Google found out that Ben Collins was the Stig well over a year ago!

Everybody knew, but it didn’t matter because the BBC, and even the driver himself, were denying it so there was always an element of doubt.

Then the bombshell dropped.

Collins was writing his memoirs in a ‘tell all’ book and the BBC wasn’t happy. In fact they took legal action against the publisher to try and stop the book from coming out. Even if the ‘Beeb’ had prevented its publication, the media frenzy over the case was enough to ensure that Collins had now been publicly unmasked.

When all this was going on, I, like a lot of people, thought

that Collins was a bit of an opportunist. He was cashing in on his role as the Stig and at the same time spoiling the fun for millions of people. For that reason alone I did not want to like this book.

As I ploughed into chapter one, simply entitled The Audition, my feelings changed little. It seemed to be rather overwritten and quite over exuberant; the author made a few circuits of Dunsfold airfield sound like the Battle of the Bulge.

As I continued through the chapters, my opinion gradually started to change. When Collins leaves the driving stuff alone and talks about what goes on behind the scenes on the Top Gear set, it becomes a very entertaining read. He strips away the glossy veneer from the show and describes a world of grubby offices and mouldy coffee cups.

His encounters with some of the many celebrities that appeared on the show are captivating and these provide another great insight into the lives of some very big names. He talks about the time that Michael Schumacher came to Dunsfold with his Ferrari FXX. Speculation about the Stig’s identity was mounting and the German driver was persuaded to take part in a spoof

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‘Stig-outing’ on the show. Collins’ recollections of the event are hilarious, as he explains how the show’s producers used him to play the part of Schumacher playing the part of the Stig, in the ‘reasonably priced car.’

Overall the book is actually

quite a good read, and despite my initial reservations, Collins actually comes across as a decent guy. You have to sympathise with him when he says that car racing is what he lives for, and that while being the Stig was enormous fun, it

never satisfied his competitive streak. He wanted to get back into racing, and who could blame him for that. Sure, he could have kept his mouth shut and never written this book, but as I said earlier, we all knew he was the Stig anyway.

December 2010 103

Bookshelf

Speedy Stories & Revving Reads!

Ferrari 250 GTO - The History of a Legend Author: Anthony Pritchard RRP: £50.00. Format: Hardback. ISBN: 978 1 84425 546 7 Available From: www.haynes.co.uk The Ferrari 250 GTO is one of the most successful and charismatic cars ever produced. Now, almost 50 years since the completion of the first 250 GTO prototype, Haynes has published an in-depth history of this iconic car.

Built purely for racing, the 250 GTO dominated the Grand Touring racing category between 1962 and 1964, and raced in all of the world’s sports car classics, including Le Mans.

Ferrari built just 40 production cars, and the 250 GTO is now regarded as one of the world’s most valuable cars. Due to its sheer beauty, immensely successful track record and the relatively small number of cars built, in recent years examples have changed hands for several million pounds, the last example to appear at auction making £12 million.

This lavish book features over 250 photographs, with a wonderful array of period images – including some rare colour – and is packed with original research, exhaustive analysis and revealing interview material.

Ferrari 250 GTO - The History of a Legend is divided into two parts. The first part chronicles the genesis and development of the car, and provides a long and profusely illustrated year-by-year account of the car’s racing history. The second part is a fascinating chassis-by-chassis history, featuring photographs of the prototypes and all 40 production cars, all of which survive today.

Anthony Pritchard is a prolific author who in recent years, since retirement as a solicitor, has been producing books of ever-greater authority. Sports car racing subjects of the 1950s and 1960s are his favourite area, and his first love has always been Ferrari. His recent Ferrari titles for Haynes include the well-received Scarlet Passion and Ferrari: Men from Maranello.

Art Deco and British Car Design : The Airline Cars of the 1930s Author: Barrie Down RRP: £19.99. Format: Hardback. ISBN: 978 1 84584 2529 Available From: www.veloce.co.uk This is a book about automotive styling, in particular the streamlined styling that defined what are now known as Airline cars. During the mid-1930s the majority of British car manufacturers and coachbuilders experimented with streamlined styling. This fashion was the result of Art Deco, an international movement that influenced design and marketing in many different industries, and produced some of the most unique and visually exhilarating cars ever produced in Britain.

Part One of the book explains and illustrates the Art Deco styling elements that link these streamlined car designs, and describes their development, their commonality, and their unique aeronautical names. The stories of the individual cars, their designers, and their development, are told in Part Two. Here, Barrie Down has collected examples of all the significant British streamlined production cars made between 1933 and 1936, many of them still represented by beautifully restored survivors.

The book is well illustrated with over 200 contemporary pictures and colour photographs of existing cars, many of which have never before been published. This book is an instructive and visual feast for all car lovers.

Haynes Desk Diary 2011 RRP: £9.99 Format: Hardback ISBN: 978 0 85733 0024 Available From: www.haynes.co.uk The 2011 edition of the Haynes Desk Diary retains all the flair and style one would expect of this iconic name in motoring publishing and is sure to be another hit with its loyal fans across the country this Christmas.

Now in its fifth year of publication, the diary follows the format of Haynes’ much-loved manuals, with week-to-view pages printed on high-quality paper providing added durability over the course of the year.

Its 160 interior pages also feature 12 black-and-white classic cutaway diagrams from the Haynes archives, accompanied by historical backgrounds to key makes and models as well as useful appendices of automotive related data.

Easy-reference guides to conversion factors and UK mainland registrations complete the array of information contained within its hardback covers and make this product an essential companion for the next twelve months of motoring that lie ahead.

A treasure-trove of essential motoring material, the latest Haynes Desk Diary is guaranteed to be a welcome addition to any car enthusiast’s Christmas stocking and a well-fingered sight on their desks throughout the coming year.

104 CPR Magazine

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British Touring Car Racing – The crowd’s favourite – late 1960s to 1990 Author: Peter Collins RRP: £14.99.

Format: Paperback.

ISBN: 978-1-845842-47-5 Available From: www.veloce.co.uk An affectionate, mainly pictorial panorama of twenty-odd years of the British Touring Car Championship, from the anarchical 1960s and early 1970s of flared wheelarches, lifting wheels and smoking tyres, through the Group 1 years when the rule-makers tried to make the cars look standard and, as a result, slowed them down. This had the predictable effect of galvanising race car builders into trying to get round the restrictions, eventually resulting in cars that were faster, and evolved into the tarmac-melting fire-breathing, turbo-powered frontrunners of the late 1980s. The story takes us up to the point where the rule-makers attempted another clampdown as the final decade of the 20th century dawned.

This book is a riveting read from cover to cover and packed with some great action shots from three decades worth of British Touring Car races. If you are a fan of the BTCC, you’ll simply love this book.

Volkswagen Beetle: Haynes Great Car Series Author: Richard Copping RRP: £25.00. Format: Hardback.

ISBN: 978 1 84425 966 3 Available From: www.haynes.co.uk

The Treasures of Formula One Author: Bruce Jones RRP: £30.00.

Format: Hardback. ISBN: 978 184732 3682 Available From: www. carltonbooks.co.uk ‘The Treasures of Formula One’ is not only a riveting history of the most prestigious formula in motor racing but also a unique treasure of photographs and removable items of facsimile memorabilia. Bruce Jones’ text drives you through the early years of motoring and racing, the first Grands Prix and the birth of the World Drivers Championship. And, as well as the narrative history running through the book, there are special features on the great races, teams and drivers, all accompanied by magnificent photography. ‘The Treasures of Formula One’ is a winner from the green lights to the chequered flag.

With more than 21 million built between 1945 and 2003, the Volkswagen Beetle was and remains the world’s most popular car. It therefore needs no justification as a subject in the Haynes Great Car Series, where stunning studio photography combines with rarely seen archive material and a lively narrative covering all the key elements in the history of perhaps the humblest of motoring icons.

Focusing more on the history of this classic rather than on technical specifications, author Richard Copping explains how Ferdinand Porsche was financed by Adolf Hitler to produce what was dubbed ‘the people’s car’. However, Porsche wasn’t interested in politics; he simply wanted to see his design come to life. After the war, while Germany was occupied by the Allies, a British officer, Major Ivan Hirst took control of the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg and the rest is history. Beetle fans will love this!

‘Mr Big Healey’ – The Official Biography of John Chatham Author: Norman Burr RRP: £24.99. Format: Hardback.

ISBN: 978-1-845842-57-4 Available From: www.veloce.co.uk This is the authorised biography of one of the best-liked bad boys in British motorsport. John Chatham, driver, racer, repairer, rebuilder, tuner, trader and lover of Austin-Healeys, was in the words of Geoffrey Healey “uncontrollable” in his youth, and has only mildly mellowed with age. Burly and genial but formidably competitive, and not above bending the rules when he thought he could get away with it, to many he is the archetypal club racer. John is so synonymous with AustinHealeys that the most famous racing Healey in the world, DD300, is so well-known mainly because John campaigned it for decades, notching up tens of thousands of racing miles. But his career embraces far more than one car, and until this biography no-one had attempted to fill in the gaps. Thoroughly politically incorrect even by the standards of the 1960s, it’s an account which will strike a chord not only with admirers of Big Healeys, but also with anyone who believes that independent thinking, and the courage to apply and enjoy it, is the greatest virtue of all. An entertaining book from start to finish!

JOCHEN RINDT - Uncrowned King Author: David Tremayne RRP: £40.00. Format: Hardback.

ISBN: 978 1 84425 472 0 Available From: www.haynes.co.uk Haynes has published the first definitive biography of Formula One (F1) racing driver Jochen Rindt, 40 after he was killed in qualifying for the Italian GP. He remains the only driver ever to be awarded the FIA Formula One World Championship posthumously following his accident at Monza on 5 September 1970.

Jochen Rindt Uncrowned King is the first fully illustrated, English language biography of the Austrian star and includes poignant, previously unpublished photographs of his childhood and last hours. Excellent read and very moving account.

December 2010 105

modelmotors

Minichamps 1:18 Top Gear Bugatti Veyron £149.99 www.modelzone.co.uk If you like ‘supercar’ models then you are in for a real treat with this Top Gear Bugatti Veyron from Minichamps. This is a limited edition model and there are only 1,000 pieces Worldwide, so if you want one you better move fast!

This model isn’t cheap (although it is considerably less expensive than the real thing!) but you really do get what you pay for.

The detailing is fantastic and the quality of finish is faultless.

We particularly liked the detailing in the front grille which is exquisite.

The headlights look like you could actually switch them on!

The Veyron comes complete with an individually numbered certificate and is finished in two-tone Polar/Pearl Metallic.

Outstanding!

106 CPR Magazine

Miniture Masterpieces!

TRIUMPH TR4 RED 1:18 DIECAST MODEL Available From: JM Toys Ltd Price: £35.99 www.jmtoys.net This is easily the best Triumph TR4 model that I have ever seen. The detail is excellent, but perhaps the most important thing is that unlike a lot of other TR4 models, the actual shape of the car is spot on. The classic TR4 shape has been reproduced perfectly. Under the bonnet, the 2138cc engine is faithfully recreated and most of the major ancillaries are there too. Cockpit detailing is superb and the instruments on the dash are readable. The hood stick cover around the rear decking is a little too high, but apart from that, this is a fantastic model that would look great in any collection.

1:24 Ford Mustang Custom Shop Kit in Metallic Grey Available From: Mini Model Cars Price: £16.99 www.minimodelcars.co.uk This mean and moody looking Ford Mustang is as solid as it looks. With its ridiculously low-profile tyres and spoked alloy wheels, it will appeal to any follower of American ‘muscle cars.’

Detailing is good for a 1:24 scale model and the cockpit is furnished to the same level as the real car, which can be seen through the opening doors. The front lights and grille are particularly impressive too. Like the Triumph TR4 above, we were impressed with the accuracy of the body shape on this Mustang. Great model for the price!

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The opening rear doors provide access to the removable spare wheel and tool kit.

The opening doors reveal the leather effect seats and a faithfully reproduced dashboard.

1:12 Morris Minor Traveller (1956) in Old English White Available From: Mini Model Cars Price: £134.99 www.minimodelcars.co.uk Just when you think things can’t get any better, along comes this absolutely stunning Morris Minor Traveller model. If you crave total 100% accurate detailing, then you will struggle to beat this little gem.

Among its features are: working steering, suspension, authentic wheels, opening bonnet, opening doors, opening glove box, tilting front seats, opening front side windows, leather-effect seats, removable spare wheel, opening quarter-lights, removable toolkit, independent suspension, detailed engine with separate HT leads, fan belt, alternator, starter motor and lots more.

This car isn’t so much a model, but more like the real thing that has shrunk in the rain. It’s so realistic that I half expected it to start leaking oil all over my desk!

We loved the authentic woodwork around the rear doors and we couldn’t spot anything that was missing from either inside the car or under the bonnet. Even the brake pipes were in place and seemed to be correctly routed too.

It is a limited edition of 2,000 pieces worldwide (complete with numbered certificate) so if you want one, snap it up while you can.

Again, not cheap, but when the quality is this good you don’t mind paying a little extra. Highly recommended.

Under the bonnet you will find just about everything that is on a real car, including brake pipes!

Folding front seats and opening quarterlights are just two of the realistic working parts fitting to the Traveller.

December 2010 107

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You can advertise you car for sale in Classic, Performance & Retro and it will cost you nothing! Just send us a photograph of the car, along with up to 50 words, and we will include it in the next issue. We will advertise the car in subsequent issues free of charge until you advise us that the vehicle is sold. If you have not contacted us after three months, the advert will be removed.

Send advertisements to:

classifieds@cprmag.com

1980 MG B GT £3950, Located in Scottish Borders TD6. Full restoration 2005 with work done since total over £11000 spent including full respray in original Vermillion.

Rubber bumpers removed & lowered to chrome bumper height with uprated springs & pollybushes and spax rears.

Complete ownership history known & full file of all receipts for work done.

Unleaded conversion with K&N’s, AAA needles, s/s manifold & system & elctronic ignigtion. All new carpets with full leather interior. A great car always reliable and with MOT until June 2011, currently on SORN for winter but can be taxed for new owner at cost to make it a drive away purchase.

Contact Philip Titley on 07795 400022 or email philtitley@aol.com

Off road car For Sale! £2000 ono (autograss) Metro.

Powered by mid mounted supercharged Honda V6 engine/box rolling road tuned, for full spec contact Tony on 01270 841573 mob 07949642830 e-mail: tony.salmon@bentley .co.uk

108 CPR Magazine

Ford Escort brake linings, pads and shoes. Genuine Ford parts bought 1985 for 1981 XR3.

Believe fit other 1.6 mark III models but buyer to check. Kept in dry storage from new. £25 + £9 UK carriage or collect FOC. York, UK. email: to@porcavin.co.uk tel 01904 633872.

Be Wise When You Advertise!

When you advertise always take steps to guard against identity fraud. Do not place personal details in your adverts.

If you are selling a car, remember that there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who will use every trick in the book to part you from your car or your money. Take sensible precautions.

If you are buying a car; make sure you check it thoroughly. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is! Never meet a vendor on the street or at service stations. Research the type of car you are buying so you know what to look for. If you are unsure, take an expert along with you.

MGBGT. Taxed/moted, my lightly restored Gt is for sale at £2500. Old English white, Webasco roof, woodrim, overdrive, Kenwood stereo/cd. New battery and tyres. Retro push button start and immobiliser. Mot history and full ownership record support mileage 522080. Very smooth engine and gearbox, full soundproofing, waxoyled. Retired engineers 6th mgb project. m.tomkinson@o2.co.uk or mobile 07802 449822. View Enfield, by appointment.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1, 1976, Flared wheel arch model, Only 34,000 miles, Oxford Blue, Everflex roof, Light blue upholstery, RR service history, Handbook, Service book, Build history, Tool kit, Show condition, Every MOT certificate, Tax & 12 months MOT. Truly magnificent. £14950 ono. Tel: 01362-860961 or 07802-256298. Email: frank_michie@btinternet.com

DAIMLER DS420 LIMOUSINE £10995 ONO. 7 SEAT WEDDING CAR. 89.000 MILES. MOT August 11th 2011. Black over cream. Beautiful car inside and out. Must see car ready for next wedding. Lots of photos just ring with email address. Price for quick sale. 01977-645034.

MG Midget 1500cc Unleaded Engine Full/Half Tonneau Cover, Rollover Bar. MOT December 2010, Tax April 2011. Good Condition Some Service History.

64000 Miles, Tahiti Blue £2,650.00 ono (Somerset)Tel 01458445806 Or email: peter.b10@tiscali.co.uk

For Sale. Ford Model T Stakebed Truck NISSAN 200SX 1991 1.8 16v AUTO 1926. Fully rebuilt and balanced engine, DAIMLER DS420 LIMOUSINE £8995 ONO. 7 SEAT WEDDING CARS. SILVER 6 MONTHS MOT CAR IN gearbox, electrics, suspension. New body 75.000 MILES. MOT August 14th EXCELLENT CONDITION. NO and roof. Fitted with high-ratio Ruckstell RUST. OWNED FOR 8 YEARS 2-speed axle. Taxed (free), new MOT. 2011. Black over ivory. Beautiful car PART OF MY CAR COLLECTION Fitted with stop light and indicators for inside and out. Must see car ready for BUT I NEED THE GARAGE SPACE. safety. Drives and runs perfectly. Ideal next wedding. Lots of photo just ring CAR IS IN PLYMOUTH £999 phone vintage transporter. £9,250ono. 01235 with email address. Price for quick 07710872016 553574 Oxfordshire. sale. 01977-645034.

WWW.CPRMAG.COM

TRIUMPH TR4 - 2.5 1963 Signal Red fitted CP TR6 stage 2 engine, on triple SU’s. TR5 performance, superb drive. Body-off chassis/ suspension/engine upgrades by TR specialist. Strong and reliable £15,950 ono. For spec & photos call Mike 07979 531877 or e-mail mike@chadinman.com

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Next Month

Breaking a Rover Sterling 827 (G -Reg) Most parts are available!

For info contact Tony on 01270 841573 or mobile 07949642830.

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Chevrolet Corvette 1992 Auto Red LT1 47,000 miles always garaged.

MOT till Oct 2011, Tax till Apr 2011. vgc. Reg Plate C20 VET incl.

Unmarked black leather electric seats t/c, c/c, e/w, e/m, Bose cd/ radio included is car cover and GM Manuals. £8000 ono. tel 01242 574083. Glos.

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RALEIGH WISP Moped 1967 49cc Gold. Rebuilt and painted seven years ago. Good runner, everything works. Complete with rare top engine covers and rear bag. New Mot, Taxed (free).

Electronic speedo. Ideal for cyclemotor runs, nipping down the shops or put on the back of a camper. £550 o.n.o. 01235 553574 Oxfordshire.

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A BRITISH COMPANY SUPPORTING BRITISH CARS

LAND ROVER PARTS CENTRE

FULL RANGE OF PARTS & ACCESSORIES l Genuine Land Rover parts

(All models) Rimmer Bros is an authorised Land Rover parts distributor

l Quality Aftermarket parts l Worldwide mail order service (Retail & trade)

l Extensive website (On-line ordering)

l l l l l

CONTACT US FOR ALL YOU PARTS AND R ACCESSORIES

Counter service (Retail & trade) Vast stocks (For immediate delivery) Great prices! l Great service!

Free catalogues Trade enquiries welcome (Local trade delivery service)

STAINLESS STEEL

EXHAUST CENTRE

for all Land Rover models

Please enquire for superb prices and off the shelf availability.

MG ROVER & TRIUMPH CLASSIC PARTS We stock the full range too!

VERSION 2.8 Dec 2007 PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

VISITORS WELCOME

We are open:- MON – FRI; 8.30am to 5.30pm, SAT; 8.30am to 1pm.

RANGE ROVER, DISCOVERY, FREELANDER, DEFENDER.

TR2-8, SPITFIRE, GT6, STAG, 2000/2500, HERALD/VITESSE, DOLOMITE/SPRINT.

Refer to outer sleeve for installation & system requirements

Tel: 01522 568000. Fax: 01522 567600.

E-mail: sales@rimmerbros.co.uk www.rimmerbros.co.uk

PARTS SALES & ENQUIRIES

Tel: 01522

568000 Trade Enquiries: 01522 567111 Fax: 01522 567600

E-mail: LRsales@rimmerbros.co.uk

www.rimmerbros.co.uk

Rimmer Bros. Triumph House, Sleaford Rd (A15), Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln, LN4 2NA

www.rimmerbros.co.uk