How to Follow a Legend

          How do you follow a legend? Ask any athlete who has had to step in after a legend retires and they will say it is all but impossible. There is no way to live up to what or who you replace.
          In the mid 1960s Aston Martin was faced with the problem of replacing the legendary DB5. Not only was this a quality touring car with speed, performance and luxury, it was also the car driven by secret agent James Bond, first in the classic film Goldfinger.
          Aston Martin knew they needed to come up with something worthy of that iconic movie hero. They first turned to the renowned design house of Touring of Milan for ideas. The proposals were rejected and so the firm turned in house to find a replacement.

          In 1965 the car was shown at the London Motor Show and received mixed reviews. Performance wise the car was a work of art, with less wind resistance, more power and therefore, more speed, topping out at near 150 miles per hour. But the looks were already dated when it was introduced. The car looked a great deal like the model it was replacing. The areas that were different, such as the Kamm styled rear end, looked as though it had been borrowed from a recent Ferrari 250.

          Despite all of the negativity regarding its looks, the DB6 became the longest running model to date for Aston, rolling off the lines until 1971. Sales, though not brisk, were satisfactory as people were obviously choosing performance over looks. Though the DB6 wasn't ever chosen by James Bond, it was a suitable follow-up to the legendary DB5 until Aston Martin turned out the next Bond car, the DBS.

Get set for a year of great motoring events in 2013

A SUMMER of motoring fun is just a few months away, if the list of exciting events across the north west and further afield is anything to go by.

Fans of classic cars and bikes will be spoilt for choice when a host of events get underway, with draws including the Ormskirk MotorFest - now in its third year - on August 25, the Lydiate Classic Car Show on July 7, and the Bank Hall show in Bretherton on July 28 among others.

It's also hoped that the Woodvale Rally, a longstanding favourite with car and bike fans, will return to its traditional home at RAF Woodvale for 2013, after concerns about asbestos at the site prompted a change of venue to Victoria Park last year. The show's organisers are still awaiting confirmation, but the event is provisionally set for the weekend of August 3 and 4 so keep an eye on their website at www.woodvalerally.com for any further announcements.

A little further afield there's the return of the North West Indoor Classic Car Show, after the inaugural event proved to be one of last year's surprise hits. This year's show takes place at EventCity in Manchester - a stone's throw from The Trafford Centre - so make sure you've got the weekend of April 6 and 7 in your diary.

A couple of other big draws to make a note of are the Classic Car Spectacular, due to take place over the first weekend of June at Tatton Park in Cheshire, the Classic, Vintage and Sports Car Show at the same venue on August 17 and 18, the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power between June 14 and 16, the Gold Cup at the Oulton Park race circuit over the August Bank Holiday. There's also word that CarFest - a motoring event organised by Radio 2 DJ and Ferrari nut Chris Evans - will get the green light for a 2013 event, so while there's no official dates yet don't bet against it being hosted at some point in August or September.

There's also - if you're prepared to hop in the car and venture even further - all manner of national events being held at Goodwood, the NEC, Beaulieu, Silverstone and Santa Pod to name just a few, but even if you can't it looks set to be a vintage year for automotive outings.

If you're organising a motoring event or show why not share it with Life On Cars? Get in touch with David Simister, our motoring correspondent, by sending an email to david.simister@hotmail.co.uk or leave a comment below.

Car Auction is a Triumph

Soon the days will be getting longer and the sun will warm us all up more quickly. No doubt convertible classic cars will start to come out of their winter hibernation, like the bright yellow Triumph Stag going under the Charterhouse hammer in their classic car auction on Sunday 10th February.

“For many years the Triumph Stag has been associated with engine troubles. However, this tended to be for badly maintained cars – if you do not maintain any car you are guaranteed trouble!” Commented Matthew. “And I should know as I have owned several Stages over the years all of which have provided comfortable drop top classic car driving with the burble of their V8 engines.” 

The 1972 Yellow Triumph Stag finished in Mimosa yellow has undergone an extensive restoration process. It is fitted with the very desirable manual gearbox with overdrive in 3rd and 4th gears for touring and extra economy. Having been owned by the vendors for the last 7 years, it is now up for auction due to lack of use, having covered only 300 miles in the last 3 years. Estimated at £6,000-7,000 it will provide it new owner with plenty of smiles per miles.

Charterhouse is now accepting further entries for their New Year programme of auctions including an auction of Beswick, Royal Doulton, pictures, prints, maps, books and antiques in January followed by classic cars and motorcycles in February.

To arrange a free home visit or for more information regarding these auctions  please contact Matthew Whitney, Associate Partner at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne 01935 812277 or via email on mw@charterhouse-auctions.co.uk

Spring and Summer are coming – this Triumph Stag is being sold by Charterhouse in their February classic car auction £6,000-7,000
Quick Links

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Tel: (01935) 812277

For further information regarding this article, please contact Richard Bromell, Partner

The Car Without Peers

          At the turn of the century, the 20th century, Cleveland, OH was one of the major centers of automobile manufacturing. A new firm opened its doors in 1900 with a deal to make manufacture vehicles through a license with the French firm De Dion-Bouton. De-Dion-Bouton was in its 17th year and had initially been successful manufacturing steam powered automobiles and tricycles.

          This new U.S. firm, called Peerless, was to focus on more traditional gasoline driven vehicles. By 1902 they began designing and manufacturing their own, original cars. They quickly made a name for themselves and became one of the Three Ps of Motordom. Along with Pierce-Arrow and Packard, Peerless was considered one of the premium automobiles of its time.
          Like the other two of those premium manufacturers, the things that made Peerless a success also led to its ultimate downfall. The cars were so well built that people would be able to drive them for a decade or more. While the big Detroit firms were turning out cars that people wanted to "upgrade," Peerless machines would run at a near flawless rate, far outliving most other manufacturer's products.
          A lack of repeat customers wasn't the only reason Peerless closed its doors. The company also failed to keep up with changing trends in styling, making even their newer models look out of date. Throw in the Great Depression and people were not buying what they were selling. Peerless shuttered their doors in 1931.

          The 1913 Peerless Model 48 shown here is a Concours quality vehicle with an amazing past. It has been called the ultimate barn find. But it wasn't found in a barn. It was actually discovered in a mine in 1966 and had to be removed by helicopter. The La Jolla Mining Company was using its 587 cubic inch T Head six cylinder engine as a main power source for mines conveyor system. Name another car that has done that and perhaps you will have found this vehicle's peer.

Your favourite classic hire cars of 2012

2012 was our busiest year ever for classic car hire, despite some inclement weather damping summer spirits.  The wet weather may have distorted this year's list of the most popular cars chosen by our customers but even some perennially popular convertibles remain favourites even in the rain.
So here is our list of the most popular cars based on number of hires.  A few familiar faces, one or two surprises.....  It's in no particular order.

1. Jaguar E Type coupe 

Usually it's our convertibles that grab the hire headlines but this year it was the turn of our coupe hard tops.  Perhaps helped by the weather, the iconic fastback shape seems to have caught the imagination again, apparently fuelled by the E Type's 50th anniversary in 2011.  We now have two E Type coupes available for hire, one in Yorkshire and one in the Cotswolds.  We also have four E Type convertibles available for hire in Devon, Yorkshire, Cotswolds and now London too.  Whichever you choose they are still as good to drive as they look.

2. Alfa Romeo Spider

One of my own favourite cars and consistently one of the most popular available for hire.  We've had this car on the fleet from day one and, as well as being popular, it is always the most reliable.  Not bad for an Italian car.  The Alfa is perfect for a day or weekend away - or a longer holiday tour, as happened several times in 2012.

3. DeLorean

You might not want to take a DeLorean on a European touring holiday - you wouldn't get far with all those clamouring photo-opp fans - but it is the ideal car for a wedding, or just to save you have.  Both of those reasons explain why our DeLorean is in the list of our top 5 most popular cars in 2012.  It only joined the fleet in 2012 but has shown that 30 years after it went out of production it has become an icon for any child of the 80s.  We love it, but we have heard every Back to the Future joke and script line already, in case you wondered...

4. Aston Martin DB6

Like the DeLorean, the Aston proves the power of film on our collective conscious. Without Bond would the Aston be quite so feted?  Actually, we think so.  It is the DeLorean of its era - exotic styling, rarity and sheer four-wheeled presence make the Aston Martin DB6 (who cares if Bond drove a DB5) one of those cars that draws gasps of appreciation even from the uninitiated.  In 2012 once again it proved to be on of our most popular cars being used for weddings, special birthday celebrations, TV productions and even touring holidays. And why not.

5. Morris Minor Convertible

In its own way, the humble Moggy is the E Type for the masses.  Distinctive, enduring and with oodles of character, everyone needs to experience a Morris Minor at some point in their driving career. Sure it's slow and simple but that's its charm - we call them the Time Travellers because they fit you right back into an era when things moved a little more slowly.  And all the better for it.  To demonstrate how popular they are, we have 3 Morris Minor convertibles for hire, plus a rather nice 'woody' Morris Minor Traveller.

So roll on 2013. If you want to hire any of these cars or another car from our fleet of 80 classic and supercars, just call us on 01527 893733 or email info@greatescapecars.co.uk.  For more information on the cars visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk.

A classic day out for just £199

Our 2013 Driving Days are proving to be our most popular ever, with just a few places left on our 5 rallies from our Yorkshire and Cotswolds sites. To fill up the final spaces we're giving away 10 of them at the rock bottom price of just £199 each.

Your £199 buys you a day to remember with Great Escape Classic Car Hire. Every Driving Day is limited to no more than 16 people and everyone gets to drive at least 5 different classic cars over a minimum 100 mile route. There are regular stops for car changeovers and refreshments, including a country pub lunch. The price includes insurance, fuel and lunch.



The Great Escape Driving Days are perfect for classic car fans and can also be enjoyed by non-driving partners and friends. We offer a special discount place for guests who don't drive of £150, which includes lunch and refreshments.

When you book your £199 classic car Driving Day we provide you with a voucher valid for 12 months entitling you to attend one of the rallies. Just check the schedule, decide which one you want to go on and call us to book in. We recommend early booking to avoid disappointment. You can view our calendar of 2013 rallies here.



Our classic car driving day rallies are one of the most popular parts of our calendar. They are run from our Yorkshire site in Harrogate and our Cotswolds site near Stratford Upon Avon.  We developed them for individual customers after providing large scale events for corporate clients. The Driving Days follow a similar format and are carefully planned and managed to ensure you get the best out of the day. To read some testimonials and reviews on our Driving Days, click here.

For more details or to book visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call 01527 893733.

Jaguar XK Series

          Most people in the USA have this belief that, sure, maybe something existed before it but that the history of Jaguar automobiles began with the famous E Type. For those people who haven't brushed up on their history they may be surprised to learn that Jaguar had a huge international success with a car built around their most famous engine, the XK-6,
          The dual overhead cam inline six was first introduced in 1948 and proved to be so successful that it was not only their mainstay engine through the 1970s but has remained the basis for most every Jaguar power plant.

          Having a great engine is one thing but Jaguar has always had a history of draping it's muscle in beautiful wrappings. Indeed, the first car to be powered by that beautiful motor, the XK-120 featured something many manufacturers had strived for but seldom achieved: beauty, performance and value. The first engine was really more of an experiment with a longer wheelbase that was originally intended for the marque's Mark VII saloon car. But when the public saw that they could own a high quality yet affordable car that was very easy on the eyes, the flocked to dealerships to drop their money.
          With growing sales, the folks at Jaguar continued to tweak their product, adding power to the engine, all the way up to a 3.8 liter with up to 265 horse power, improving handling, "cushing" up the comfort levels inside and making minor sculpting enhancements to the body. The cars continued to sell and sell well.

          Not only was this a nice touring car but many folks used them in rally events where they not only did well but won many major events despite the fact that they were a bit heavy to truly take on the machines coming out of Italy and France at the time.
         But with Jaguar's racing success in other events the company made a decision in the early 1960s to create a sports car to not only replace the aging XK Series but one that could better compete against those foreign powers to the south. Enter the E Type.

          During it's life the XK Series was the envy of many manufacturers throughout Europe. Though few were exported to the USA this is the car that set the stage for Jaguar's intense invasion during the 1960s.
          Shown here is one of the last XK Series cars, a 150 with the 3.8 liter engine. By the time this was rolled out the styling was rapidly getting showing its age. Today, though, looking at this beautiful car brings back visions of long spring rides through the English countryside.

They've All Been Touched

          Here are the last of the pictures from the annual car show sponsored by the City of Blue Ash and the Untouchables Classic Car Club. I hope you have enjoyed them all as much I enjoyed seeing them at the show and shooting these pictures.

Happy Christmas from Life On Cars

AS a special Christmas treat for everyone who enjoys Life On Cars and its coverage of motoring news, reviews and events I'm happy to share this, a magazine looking back at some of the automotive highlights of 2012.

Not only is it the moment when I finally get to announce what my favourite car of 2012 is but it's also a chance to look back at some of the best bits of a cracking year for car enthusiasts, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've agonised over which events and cars deserve a second look in the 20 pages of this rather special edition of the magazine.

If you're bored of your presents already or you've had a little too much wine and turkey, then sit back and enjoy this Car of the Year edition of the Life On Cars Magazine.

Merry Christmas!

Open publication - Free publishing - More autos

Still Untouched

          I have two more days of "untouched" pictures from the annual City of Blue Ash and Untouchables Classic Car Club show. I hope you enjoy them both.

Video: Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

 

IT’S two days before Christmas and with it being cold, wet and slippery out there the conditions aren’t exactly ideal for the sort of driving petrolheads enjoy. Or are they?

For decades keen drivers have known that a fast car is more likely to cope with wet, slippery conditions if the power’s going to all four wheels – so the power’s distributed more evenly, more of the time – and for more than 20 years one of the fastest  four wheel drivers on the market’s been the Carrera 4 version of Porsche’s evergreen 911.

If you’re the sort of person who likes their sports car to come with a little added reassurance when the going gets slippy then you’ll probably like this latest video from Porsche, which helps you get a grip – pun intended – on the history of the Carrera 4 system and how it’s evolved from the Paris Dakar Rally-winning 959 supercar to the latest 991 Carrera 4S.

Now all I need is to get the right Euromillions numbers. Fingers crossed...

 

An Alfa, the Brecon Beacons & some cool tunes

When Cardiff band Winter Villains were looking for a stylish classic car for their new music video, they approached the fine chaps at Retro Cars magazine who recommended Great Escape Classic Car Hire.



The team at On-Par Productions chose our Alfa Romeo Spider for the shoot in the beautiful Brecon Beacons. The car's retro cool design and burgundy red paintwork seemed to work well with the winter scenery, as these photos from the shoot show. Despite poor weather and battling with the Alfa's notoriously weedy ventilation, the car performed faultlessly during filming. 



The production team and the band expressed their thanks for our help and assistance throughout the shoot.  Now we're looking forward to seeing the finished video - watch out for it too as Winter Villains' previous single is excellent.



Great Escape Classic Car Hire regularly provides cars for TV, film, video and advertising shoots across the UK, using its own fleet of 80 cars as well as vehicles sourced specifically for client requirements.  We run a dedicated website for production companies at www.greatescapetvcars.co.uk which lists our cars by type, colour and age.  For more details visit the website, call 01527 893733 or email tvcars@greatescapecars.co.uk.

You can view our full range of classic cars to hire at www.greatescapecars.co.uk.