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.

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.

How to solve your last minute Christmas gift dilemmas



If you're still struggling to find last minute Christmas gifts then Great Escape Classic Car Hire is on hand. We're workirng right up to the last minute so you can order right up to 5pm on Christmas Eve and we'll get you personalised gift pack to you by email in time for Christmas Day.

To grab your last minute classic car gift pack you can book online 24 hours a day using our gift shop or call 01527 893733. We have a huge range of cars for hire as well as exclusive gift experiences and packages, including our popular classic car Driving Days.



Book before Christmas Day and we'll pay the first £50 of any order over £150. Just use discount code '50' online or call us and we'll automatically deduct the discount.
"We always experience a sudden rush of sales just before Christmas so we stay open right to the last minute," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "To help last minute customers we've created a special emailable gift pack that we personalise for each recipient.
"Every gift voucher is valid for a full 12 months - once the voucher is received just pick a date and call us to book, it's that easy."
Great Escape Classic Car Hire has the UK's widest choice of classic cars for rent, available from 11 local sites across England. You can find out more by calling 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk

These were a few of my favourite things in 2012

The year the Mayans chose for the world ending turned out to be perhaps our best ever here at Great Escape towers.  Sure, it had its downs as well as its ups (we'll cover those in a separate post) but for now, as we celebrate the last working day of the year (and possibly the end of the world, no coincidence we hope), here are my 10 top moments from our year of classic car hire.

1. Our Classic Car Driving Days

Cold blooded marketing man that I may be, this is not a plug.  If you can't do what you love, don't do it and it is our customer Driving Days that prove to me that I'm doing the right thing.  I really enjoy them, and I don't even get to drive the cars.  We ran several Driving Days during 2012, plus many more corporate events, but the Dales Dash in August and the Break for the Border trip in July stand out. I get a kick out of customers really enjoying the cars and even in a Jeep with a trailer the scenery and roads we went on were spectacular.  Oh, and by the way you can come along on one in 2012 for £199...

2. Driving a DeLorean

A DeLorean was one of the five dream hire cars I had on my list when I set up Great Escape in 2006.  Back then the plan was to concentrate on off-beat and unusual classic cars for hire - we still aim to do that but today we also offer more mainstream classics.  It took me until 2012 to find and add a DeLorean to the fleet,  still the only one in the world that you can hire and drive yourself.  Adding the DeLorean was a personal as well as business goal because I'm a child of the 80s and I love them.  Sure, it looks better than it drives but when it looks like that, who cares?  Driving it was a box ticked.

3. Meeting the Marquis of Blandford
Posh people and hob-nobbing don't do it for me.  But it was a genuine pleasure to have a chance meeting with the Duke of Marlborough's wayward son at Blenheim Palace when we ran a customer event there.  Attracted by the array of classic cars parked on the grass outside the palace he stopped in his car for a chat and proved to be a disarmingly down to earth and knowledgeable classic car fan.  With a BMW CSL 'Batmobile' and a Ferrari Daytona in the garage.  Respect.

4. Getting rid of a heap of junk

I won't lie, I hate this car. Finally getting rid of it after 2 years was one of the greatest days of my life.  Sure, this car and its owner cost me £7,500 that I'll never see again, plus untold stress, time and hassle, but sometimes life is about bigger things.  Which is never a bad lesson to learn.  You can read the full, honest sorry story elsewhere on this blog.  Meanwhile, always keep your eye on the big prize.

5. Happy customers
In the rush and stress of running a small business it is sometimes easy to forget quite why you're doing it.  Obviously money is one motivation, but there are far, far easier ways to earn it. I wouldn't do this if it wasn't for the customers. You can't please all the people all the time but most of the people most of the time will do for me. My team puts a huge amount of effort into making each hire run smoothly, which is no easy task when you're managing 80 old cars and 11 locations. But we are privileged to be making dreams for people who have often spent decades wanting a drive in a particular car.

6. My Alfasud

The irony of running a classic car hire company is that you very rarely actually drive classic cars for relaxation and pleasure.  We don't even drive them that much in the course of business, except for regular short test and assessment drives. I love the other cars, particular the Jensen, but my Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti is my one true driving pleasure because it's mine all mine.  It isn't a hire car, it's mine.  Except I hardly ever drive it.  In 2012 I managed two decent trips in it, through the Cotswolds and over to the Welsh Borders.  But I don't need to go far to fall in love with it again - it's illogical, irrational and hard to defend, but for me it's my favourite classic car of all time.

7. Twitter
2012 is the year I discovered Twitter and turned from a tweeting Philistine to a tweeting Evangelist.  Like running Great Escape, Twitter is something I do because I like doing it and I've hooked up with some great and interesting people that I would never otherwise have known.

8. Blackpool in the Morning

Blackpool is not, and never will be I have to confess, one of my favourite places on earth.  But there is something about arriving by the sea early in the morning before the rest of the world is awake and having it all to yourself.  That's how it was when I dropped this Morris Minor van in Blackpool as part of a TV film shoot back in October.  The air was crisp, the sea was calm and there was a street cleaner eating leftover food out of one of his bins.  All, or at least most of it, was right with the world.  

9. My wife, my holiday (and my trusty old Saab)

Running Great Escape is pretty much a 7 days a week job between March and November.  I couldn't do that without these three things - well, two of them at least, my wife and a holiday.  Thank you to the former, thank goodness for the latter.  And I had to squeeze in the old barge here too - my 2001 Saab 9-5 Griffin.  Bought for £500, this 200 bhp super estate has covered 15,000 faultless miles in 2012, including a 3,000 mile trip down to Amalfi in Italy.  Here it is in its favourite place (a petrol station) with Vesuvius in the background.  Thank you all three, but especially my wife Janine.

10. The Great Escape team

In time honoured fashion, this roll call of all that was great about 2012 has to end with the people that make it happen - Shelle, Jamie and Alison (and Russ too of course). We've had some ups and downs along the way but we've finished 2012 with a flourish. Keeping a small business on the right track can be tough and stressful work at times but the Great Escape team have supported me all the way and I really appreciate their commitment, dedication and loyalty.  If you've hired from us in 2012 and loved it, it's all about them.  Cheers.

You can find out more about what we do at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call 01527 893733. Our round up of what was less spectacular will be posted shortly.....

Now make your getaway in Wiltshire too

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added an 11th site to its network of classic car hire locations across the UK.  The new base in Trowbridge, Wiltshire is part of Great Escape's Owner Operated Network, which enables customers to hire classic cars directly from the owners as well as Great Escape's partners.

The new Wiltshire sports car hire location improves Great Escape Cars' presence in the South West, where it recently set up a base in Exeter, Devon.  While the Devon site will boncentrate on classic cars from the 1960s, 70s and 80s the Wiltshire site specialises in more modern 'youngtimer' classics like Mercedes SLK and Porsche Boxster, two cars that are perfect for a weekend getaway.

Great Escape has been growing its network of local classic car hire sites in order to bring the hire of classic cars closer to customers.  This means that they spend less time and money travelling when they hire one of the cars.

The new cars can be booked directly via Great Escape and complement the company's existing range of classic and sports cars for hire.  There are over 80 specialist cars available to hire from Great Escape including classics, sports cars and modern supercars.  You can find out more by visiting http:/www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call 01527 893733.

Fabulous role for a Morris Minor Van

With a little help from Great Escape Cars a characterful blue Morris Minor van is the third star of a new TV series of The Fabulous Baker Brothers.  We sourced and provided the 1971 van through our specialist TV, film and production car business and it was used for six weeks filming between August and November 2012 at locations across England.

Great Escape project managed the supply of the van throughout the production from initial contact with the film company right through to final filming.  We sourced a suitable van of the right colour, age and specification, negotiated with the vehicle's owner and then worked to the client's schedule for delivery and collection of the van to various locations.  Using our dedicated transport facilities we delivered the car to locations in London, Devon, Cotswolds, North East and Yorkshire and provided ongoing support for the crew.  The van was sourced quickly to a tight deadline and we regularly adapted our schedule to accommodate the inevitable changes to the film shoot schedule.

Great Escape regularly provides all types of vehicles to the film, TV, production and advertising sector.  Our ability to source virtually any vehicle from our own classic car hire fleet or through our contacts, plus our nationwide transport service, means we can work to even the most demanding requirements.  For more information on our TV, film and production car supply services call 01527 893733 email tvcars@greatescapecars.co.uk or visit http://www.greatescapetvcars.co.uk.

We just want to be close to you

The price of travelling isn't getting cheaper, despite the occasional tweak to the fuel price.  So we thought we'd bring what we do here at Great Escape Classic Car Hire closer to you.  In the past if you wanted to hire a classic car it meant a journey of several hours to pick it up, and probably an overnight hotel stay too.  Not any more.

Over the past couple of years we've been developing our network of local classic car hire sites so that you don't have to travel far to enjoy a classic car.  From the original centrally located site in the Midlands we now have 11 locations across England, from Devon to Yorkshire and all points in between   And we've just added two more - in Wiltshire and Hampshire. It gives you the biggest choice of classic cars and the widest choice of starting points from one company in the UK.  In fact, you're never more than 90 minutes drive from a Great Escape site anywhere in England.

All of which means it is now cheaper and more convenient than ever to hire a classic car.  So when you give someone one of our gift vouchers you're not committing them to excessive travel costs.  They may not even need to stay overnight.

We operate two site networks - Managed Sites, that are owned and operated by Great Escape staff in Devon, Cotswolds and Yorkshire.  And a network of smaller Owner Operated sites that are owned and run by classic car enthusiasts who hire out their own vehicles based on systems and controls set by Great Escape.

Here's the latest list of our sites:

Larger Great Escape managed sites:

Devon
Yorkshire
Cotswolds

Owner Operated sites:

Hampshire
Wiltshire
Northamptonshire
Peak District
France
Oxford
Shropshire
London

Every site operates to strict systems and standards set by Great Escape Classic Car Hire, so wherever you hire from you get the same high level of personal service and vehicle preparation.

With the network of locations in place we have also been busy developing the choice of cars available at each site.  From our Devon, Yorkshire and Cotswolds managed site you will find an example of each of the most popular hire cars in the UK, including E Types, Triumphs, MGs and Jaguar Mk2s. Our Owner Operated Network tends to have more specialised cars but we ensure each site has a good range and choice.

We follow this flexibility through with our Christmas classic car gift voucher packages.  You can buy a voucher for a particular price band of car or a particular car - as we have several examples of each price band at each site and also several examples of our most popular cars across the country it means the recipient gets some real choice - of car or location.

You can find out more about Great Escape Classic Car Hire by visiting http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call 01527 893733

We're giving away £50 this Christmas

Well it makes perfect sense to us.  We've brainstormed it and cogitated upon it and here at Great Escape Classic Car Hire we've agreed that giving away £50 to all of our customers for 7 days is the right and proper thing to do.  So we are.
From now until Christmas Eve when you spend £150 or more with us we'll pay the first £50 of your bill.  No strings, no catches.  So when you buy a Christmas gift package from us for £150 you'll only pay £100.  Frankly, it's free money.

This special offer is our best ever deal and applies to any purchase made online or by phone before 5pm on 24th December 2012.  It covers every Christmas gift experience and package available to buy through our online gift shop including driving days, rallies, gift experiences and classic car hire vouchers.  There are no catches - you pay the special reduced price but get the same product.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire has a fleet of over 60 classic, sports and supercars for hire across the UK including everything from classic Morris Minors to modern Aston Martins and Ferraris.  The cars are available to hire from 10 locations including large sites in Devon, Cotswolds and Yorkshire.
You can find out more and claim your £50 discount code by visiting http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call 01527 893733. Offer ends 24th December 2012 at 5pm.

Our Christmas Elves are working late again

We'll be working right up to the wire again this year to bring you your Christmas gifts in time for the big day. Order online or by phone by 12pm on Saturday 23rd December and we guarantee Christmas delivery by post.  We've never let failed to get a Christmas gift to a customer on time.

Even if you don't buy from us by then we can still help.  Order after that cut off date for postal deliveries and we'll still get your gift to you by email.  Our special emailable gift packs mean that you can order right up to 5pm on Monday 24th December and we'll send your Christmas gift to you by email.

The Christmas delivery guarantee from Great Escape Classic Car Hire applies to all purchases made online in the company's gift shop or by phone on 01527 893733.  The secure gift shop enables you to buy classic car hire gift vouchers for individual cars or a price band of car or you can buy vouchers for driving days and experiences that are exclusive to Great Escape.  By buying direct from Great Escape Cars you also avoid the middle-man mark up taken by an activity provider.

Prices for classic car hire start at just £95 and include 24 hours use and insurance.  The range of Great Escape Classic Car Hire vehicles for rental include everything from Morris Minors to Aston Martins and range in age from the 1950s to 2000s.  Great Escape has also recently added a fleet of supercars to its range.

For more details on Great Escape Classic Car Hire's range Christmas gifts for men and Xmas gifts for women call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk.

E Type hire now available in London

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added a sixth Jaguar E Type to its hire fleet.  The new car is a 1969 Series 2 E type convertible in British Racing Green and is available to hire from Islington, London.

The latest addition extends Great Escape's London classic car hire fleet to include classic cars by Aston Martin, Bristol and Bentley as well as Jaguar.  The London site is part of Great Escape's growing Owner Operated Network, which involves classic car enthusiasts making their cars available to customers through Great Escape.  These sites are managed to the same standard and operate to the same procedures as Great Escape's large own managed sites in Devon, Cotswolds and Yorkshire.

The new Jaguar E Type convertible for hire in London is fitted with the classic straight six 4.2 litre Jaguar engine matched to a manual gearbox.  The car has recently been extensively refurbished, including a full suspension rebuild.  It is available to hire by the day, weekend or week.  Every hire day includes 24 hours use, 200 miles allowance per day and comprehensive hire insurance.  Full UK breakdown cover is also included at no cost.  Book during December and you can save 10% on the hire price.

"Travel costs keep on rising so we are working to bring our cars closer to our customers," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape.  "Previously our customers in the south east had to travel to the Midlands to hire an E Type, now they can do this from our central London location.

"We have 9 hire sites across the country, and we are adding new sites and cars all the time."

You can find out more about hiring the Jaguar E Type convertible in London by visiting http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call  01527 893733. To claim your 10% discount use discount code '10' online. 

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The Christmas gift that goes on giving

Driving a classic car is, for many, the stuff that dreams are made of.  It's all about making a memory and it's one that lasts.  If you've done the bottles of whisky, hampers, woolly jumpers and socks then make this year really special with a classic car gift experience.
Unlike super car driving days that involving queuing up on a windswept airfield for 5 minutes in a tired Lamborghini a classic car gift experience puts you in control.  You can choose to buy a voucher that puts them behind the wheel of their dream car for 24 hrs, giving them the freedom to take it wherever they want on any road they choose.  Or you can buy them a seat on a driving tour where they will sample at least 5 different cars, enjoy great scenery and the company of like-minded enthusiasts.  All for the price of a super car driving day.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has the widest choice of classic cars available to hire anywhere in the UK.  Starting from one of our 9 pick up locations - including Devon, Cotswolds and Yorkshire - you can choose virtually any classic car from a Morris Minor to an Aston Martin, with prices starting from just £95 for 24 hrs hire.  Great Escape offers several different ways to buy a voucher too - you can buy a voucher for a specific price band of car and let the recipient choose the car and dates they want, or select a specific car and leave them to decide when they want to hire it.  With several examples of the most popular cars based around the countryside, you don't even have to travel far to start your experience.

Great Escape also offers a range of classic car gift experiences and packages, including its popular classic car driving tours that operate from its sites in Cotswolds and Yorkshire.  For just £199 you can get behind the wheel of several different classic cars during a day of driving over 100 miles around the beautiful local countryside.
The full range of Great Escape Classic Car Hire gift packages are available to buy online through Great Escape's gift shop or you can buy by phone by calling 01527 893733. During December Great Escape is offering 10% off all bookings - just use discount code '10' online or claim your discount by phone.

Save £99 on Jaguar E Type hire, 7 days only

For its busiest week of the year Great Escape Classic Car Hire is offering you its best ever deal.  We’ve lopped £99 off the price of our E Type convertible gift vouchers.  Now you can drive away the Jaguar that classic car fans drool over for just £250 (normal price £349). 

This offer is only available for 7 days until 17th December. When it’s gone, it’s gone.  You can book online using discount code etype99 or call  01527 893733 to redeem it.

For £250 you get the same full hire package as we normally offer.  That includes 24 hours use, 200 miles per day allowance, comprehensive insurance for 1 driver and full UK breakdown cover.  Your gift voucher is valid for 12 months and you can even choose the start date.  When you’re ready to drive, just call us and we’ll book you in.

You can also use this offer to book specific dates during 2013.  You can book online or call  01527 893733 to book by phone.

We have three Jaguar E Type convertibles for hire from our sites in Devon (near Exeter), Yorkshire (Harrogate) and the Cotswolds (near Stratford).  Each car is fitted with the classic V12 5.3 litre engine matched to a manual gearbox – perfect for cruising the idyllic countryside on the doorstep of each of our sites.  To view our E Type convertible fleet click on Classic Cars at the top of the page and follow the links. Your discount E Type gift voucher will be valid to use against any of these 3 cars.

To grab your E Type convertible bargain for just £250 call  01527 893733or buy a voucher online.  Just use discount code etype99.

If you don’t fancy our E Type offer or you’ve already driven one, we have a lot more Christmas gift ideas.  As well as hire of our fleet of 60 classic cars we also offer driving day experiences and gift packages.  To visit our online shop, click here. (link to Shop page).  We’re offering 10% off the rest of our range until 25th December.  To grab your saving just use discount code '10' online or call  01527 893733.  (10% not available to be used in conjunction with E Type offer).

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Why we still believe in the MOT

Just over two weeks ago on 18th November the MOT exemption for pre-1960 cars came into force.  This new legislation, which was apparently designed to reduce red tape, means that all cars manufactured before and including 1960 no longer need to have an annual MOT check.
The legislation appears to have come about because of the problems of accommodating an increasingly wide range of cars into the MOT inspection system, including keeping MOT inspectors trained in that full range of cars.  All of which, naturally, costs money.  The argument put forward by the Government was that pre-1960 cars are not used very much and they're owned by enthusiasts who like tinkering with them.  They asked members of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) what they thought.  A very small percentage responded and in summary they favoured it, albeit not overwhelmingly.  Which, with all due respect to the FBHVC, is a bit like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas.
I have a particular issue with this decision.  It was pushed through with very little consultation (unless you happened to be a FBHVC member) and my subsequent polite attempts to engage with the politicians involved ended up with me stonewalled and branded a nuisance.  So much for democracy.  But I also believe it undermines the cause of classic cars.  By allowing a large group of vehicles, selected with an arbitrary cut off date, onto our roads without any independent inspection to assess their roadworthiness is at best foolhardy and potentially extremely dangerous.

There are three options for people with pre-1960s classic cars.  Do nothing.  Check the car themselves annually.  Or put the car through a voluntary MOT test.  Nobody, however skilled an amateur mechanic, has the ability or the equipment to properly assess their car themselves.  And surely the temptation will always be there for some owners - and who could blame them - to simple skimp on the cost, particularly in these hard-pressed times.
At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we run 60 classic hire cars, including several pre-1960 cars.  Our cars typically cover between 5,000 and 15,000 miles a year, often with between 50 and 100 different drivers.  We are legally entitled not to MOT our pre-1960 cars but clearly that would be insane.  It is also not clear where it would leave us in terms of insurance cover in the event of an accident.  The fact that I could send a customer out in an uninspected car highlights how silly the new legislation is.  My customers need the confidence that we service and maintain our cars to a very high standard and that at least once a year they are inspected independently to check their safety and roadworthiness.
That I am sensible enough to put my cars through a voluntary MOT does not indicate that the legislation works.  Not everybody may feel like I do.  Some people may be prepared to take risks that I won't.
In my view, the annual MOT check is an absolute minimum standard because classic cars can deteriorate very quickly if used regularly.  That's why we subject our cars to a MOT check and a regularly monthly check while they are on hire.  And during the winter we work through the cars to address any faults and improve areas where we think a MOT test in 2 or 3 years time may highlight issues.
There should be no cause for celebration with the MOT exemption.  Cars are dangerous objects capable of high speeds.  Whether they travel 10 miles annually or 100,000, it only takes one problem to cause an accident.

Drive the car, now watch the video

We've teamed up with the rather excellent Classic Cars Driven website to create a full length video of some of our most popular cars.  The video is a collection of reviews by Matt Nichols, the brains behind the website and the video.  Already very popular on YouTube we've collected them together for the first in a series of DVDs covering popular classic cars.

The 70 minute DVD is the perfect accompaniment for anyone who has driven one of our cars or plans to.  The first series features 10 different classic cars, including Great Escape Classic Car Hire's Jaguar E Type convertible, Jensen Interceptor, MGB, Porsche 911T, Jaguar Mk2 and HMC Healey MkIV, alongside a Triumph TR4a, Mini Cooper, Alfa GTV and Daimler Dart.  There is in-car and external footage of each car plus a continuous commentary from Matt on the driving experience. 

The new Classic Cars Driven DVD is available to buy from the Great Escape Classic Cars website for just £14.99.  It can be bought online or by phone on 01527 893733.

Great Escape works with Classic Cars Driven to provide vehicles from its fleet for Matt to review.  Article and video review are produced on each car and can be viewed on the website at www.classiccarsdriven.com.

For more details visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk and follow the links to the online shop.

Our Christmas guarantee: one price, no hidden extras

We know that there are a multitude of ways in which online retailers try to bump up their margins.  They call them delivery charges, administration fees, booking fee, processing fee, any one of a number of fancy names.  We call them a rip off. Whatever you buy from Great Escape Classic Car Hire this Christmas we guarantee that the price you see advertised is the full price you pay.  And nothing more.

Our philosophy here at Great Escape Classic Car Hire is pretty simple.  We want you to enjoy what we enjoy, which is our classic cars.  We believe in honesty and fairness and hidden charges just don't fit into that approach.  We don't even charge card processing fees.  The only extra that appears anywhere on our price list is if you want to add additional drivers to your hire.  When you buy online the price you see already includes VAT and delivery where applicable.

When you choose to hire a classic car from us we make the package you get clear and transparent.  For each car we list the price, the location, the mileage allowance and the insurance excess.  We also include a Frequently Asked Questions page, full description of our Terms and Conditions (in normal, easy to read type size) and an explanation of our Insurance Excess and Insurance cover.  

"We charge one comprehensive price for each gift package and each car," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape.  "We think that is the fairest and most transparent way to work with customers.  

"It seems to have become standard practice online for retailers to advertise a low headline price and then bump up the cost through delivery charges, VAT and processing fees.  I don't see why our customers should pay extra for us to process their booking or book not knowing that the price excludes VAT.

"We not only advertise the full price you pay but we have also kept our prices the same for 24 continuous months.  So in real terms, the price now is cheaper than it's ever been."

Great Escape is the UK's largest and busiest classic car hire company with a fleet of 60 cars available to hire from 9 locations.  You can find out more by visiting http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call  01527 893733.   

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