SEVEN COOL THINGS AT THE LONDON CLASSIC CAR SHOW

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This year’s London Classic Car Show will be bigger and better than last year’s with new features and car clubs being invited to attend. With the second day of this event beginning today, here are seven great things for you to look out for at the ExCeL exhibition centre’s hall this weekend.

GRAND AVENUE

The likes of the Citroën DS and the Fiat 500 are set to take part in the Classic Six Nations Cup between France, Germany, Italy, Japan, USA and the UK. Starting off at the Opening Ceremony this evening, they will then go on to compete in head-to-head heats on Friday and Saturday.

EVOLUTION OF THE SUPERCAR

This feature will be celebrating the evolution of the supercar as it goes back to the late 1960’s with the V12 engine of the Lamborghini’s supercars. Porsche’s 918 Spyder and McLaren’s P1 are just some of the hybrid-powered hypercars set to join the classics in this display.

THE PINNACLE OF RALLYING

Group B regulations saw rallying develop faster in four years than ever before and although it was short lived, it remains a memorable era. 30 years later, London Classic Car Show will be paying tribute to this unforgettable era by displaying a selection of the best vehicles, including the Flying Finn.

CAR CLUB SQUARE

A new feature for 2016 is the display of car clubs showcasing popular and affordable classics. Amongst many car clubs confirmed to attend the Jaguar Drivers’ Club, Mercedes-Benz Club and the Aston Martin Owners Club are all set to be at this event.

CLASSIC CARS AND CLASSIC CLOTHES

On Sunday 21 February, visitors are invited to dress in period clothing and take part in some retro entertainment. The best vintage dressed visitor will win premium tickets to the 2017 show alongside Joseph Perrier champagne and a Vivien of Holloway gift voucher.

LE MANS LEGENDS

Six significant racing cars will take part in this display and will recall the duels from the famous 24 Hour race. The cars, from Ferrari, Ford, Porsche, McLaren, Bentley and Jaguar, all have Le Mans history with the youngest car being the Bentley Speed 8 that won back in 2003.

MCLAREN F1

The 20th century’s most impressive hypercar is set to attend this event with a display being dedicated to the McLaren F1 to explore the creation of the vehicle and pay extraordinary attention to detail. This exhibit will offer people the opportunity to get a unique insight into the car say Gordon Murray.

CLASSIC CAR SPECIALIST OPENS NEW PREMISES IN HONG KONG

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Frank Dale & Stepsons, the world's oldest independent Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist, has opened a new overseas facility to directly support the Asian market.

Established nearly 70 years ago, Frank Dale & Stepsons is recognised globally as a market leader, offering some of the finest vintage and classic Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars for sale.

With the overseas market becoming increasingly important, the company made the decision to open showrooms and support facilities on foreign soil with the recent introduction of Frank Dale & Stepsons Hong Kong.

Having handled some of the most important examples built by Rolls-Royce and Bentley over the last seven decades, this new facility will support the growth of the company for many decades to come.

BRITAIN'S CAR SCRAPPAGE SCHEME VICTIMS UNCOVERED

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Details of the vehicles lost to the 2009 scrappage scheme have been revealed, and they make grim reading for classic car enthusiasts. Along with the thousands of humdrum saloons and hatchbacks was a significant number of classics, traded-in and certified for destruction.
The scrappage scheme was initially introduced because new car sales in 2008 were so poor, and it was hoped that these incentives would stimulate new cars sales in a depressed market. It clearly worked, and sales remained largely buoyant, and failed to crash as they did in mainland Europe. But there was a price to pay.
Among the victims of the scheme were 88 Citroën 2CVs, 81 Morris Minors and 45 Jaguar XJ-Ss. In total 392,227 cars more than a decade old were culled that year.
But some good news for those grieving for the lost generation of cars, the Conservative and Labour parties have both confirmed they won’t be reintroducing it after the 2015 election.
Camilla Marshall, DEFRA communications officer said: ‘We do not have any plans to introduce scrappage.’
Labour party spokeswoman Gabriel Huntley added: ‘No one is suggesting the reintroduction of the Scrappage scheme and we have no plans to do so.’
Geoff Lancaster from the Federation of British Historic Vehicles Clubs (FBHVC) said: ‘The initial reaction on seeing this list in this amount of detail is quite shocking. The sheer scale is almost overwhelming. For those of us concerned with the preservation of our motoring heritage, the worry with scrappage schemes is that part of that heritage will be lost. However, I am encouraged that the depth and breadth of interest in our motoring heritage is strong and growing and resides with the hundreds of historic vehicle clubs that make up our Federation.’

Scrappage victims 10 shockers

1    Audi 200, four cars
2    BMW 8-Series, six cars
3    Citroën CX, four cars
4    Ford Capri, 18 cars
5    Lancia Delta, seven cars (one Integrale)
6    Mazda RX7, 10 cars
7    Mercedes-Benz SEC, 15 cars
8    Morris Marina, seven cars
9    Porsche 928, three cars
10 Wolseley Hornet, two cars

Look at the full list here

Murray Scullion

POLICE TO CHECK FOR STOLEN CLASSICS AT BANGER RACES

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Police have agreed to attend banger races to check for stolen cars following a call from concerned owners' clubs, which say cars are being stolen for events. This comes on the back of news of a new 100-BMC Farina event, the A60 Amble, launching at Arlington Stadium next July.

The event has sparked anger from people in the classic car movement, who do not wish to see these cars destroyed. It is one of several events for pre-1970s cars being planned for 2015. The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) is set to discuss its stance on banger racing at a meeting this month.

Meanwhile, clubs are hoping that the FBHVC will support the proposal by representatives from a number of classic car clubs that uniformed police officers should attend events alongside independent classic experts if there is suspicion that stolen cars are present. In addition, banger racers would not only be prosecuted, but have their roll cages and other equipment used for the sport confiscated.

The idea has come from members of clubs catering for classics often targeted by banger racers, among them the Cambridge Oxford Owners Club (COOC). They have joined forces to discuss ways of to address the problem of car thefts, which some people allege increase prior to major classic banger races.

The Post Vintage Humber Car Club, Rover P5 Owners Club, P4 Drivers Guild, Ford MkI Owners Club, Triumph 2000 2.5 Register and the Ford Granada MkII Owners Club have also expressed concern about the amount of cars used for banger events, said COOC spokesman John Lakey.

John said: ‘One reason why our club is so strong is that we have members who used to race the cars, fell in love with them, and then restored an example to keep - myself included.

‘We also have people who still race bangers, but I'm sure that every COOC member would agree that stealing cars for racing is wrong and every effort should be made to catch those responsible. The vast majority of racers are enthusiasts who strip cars sensibly and sell parts to other club members.’

Geoff Lancaster, FBHVC spokesman added: ‘The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBVHC) was most interested proposals to help prevent cars being stolen for banger racing. We haven’t heard from the clubs involved yet but will certainly look forward to hearing what they have to say. He would also raise the news about the A60 amble at the Federation’s next committee meeting.’

Rover P5 Owners Club chairman and membership secretary Geoff Moorshead supported the proposals for police attending events to detain rogue banger racers. He said: ‘It would deter people from doing such things in the future. We we always warn people to be vigilant as far as security and classics is concerned.’

Price rises and reduced numbers of available Rover P5s had reduced the numbers appearing with legitimate banger racers.

Commenting on the planned Farina banger race, John Lakey added: ‘I also feel the A60 Amble is an idea past its time. The cars have a great, and you could argue, glorious history in the sport but they are now just too rare to be smashed up in this way. It's also a possible catalyst to theft and that's unacceptable. We should be racing Mondeos and Vectras not A60s or Rover P5s.‘

Geoff Lancaster strongly suggests owners to use a ‘DNA kit’ to mark their cars. Markings can be read under ultra violet light. The FBHVC is offering a kit called Selectamark.

The A60 Amble is being organised by Spedeworth Events, which has been in business for 55 years. Owner Dean Wood said: ’The cars being raced tend to be past restoration and yield valuable spares which everyone can benefit. We want to work with the classic movement. Police would be welcome at our events and if ever we suspected a car had been stolen we would instantly call the police

Crime Prevention and Design Officer with West Midlands Police, PC Simon Barrett regularly gives talks to classic car organisations and works with other police forces in cases of crime involving classics.’

‘We absolutely support any proposal to have police and inspectors at these banger racing events if there’s crime suspected. If we find a car is stolen it would be seized with its contents. We suggest people contact the local police first but we always help put people in touch with anyone who can help in police forces anywhere if we can.’

Simon Barrett can be contacted via s.barrett@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

Nick Larkin

SUNDAY NOSTALGIA: REVISITING 1984

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Britain in 1984 was very different from George Orwell’s nightmare vision. Or was it?

As 1983 drew to a close, thought turned to how life in the UK in 1984 would compare with the grim portrait of a totalitarian Britain presented in George Orwell’s dystopian science fiction novel. Orwell chose 1984 as the title of his novel because he was presenting the satirical flip side of life in 1948, the year during which he wrote most of it. Nevertheless, numerous catchphrases and concepts from the book had already been absorbed into popular culture: ‘Big Brother’, ‘The Ministry of Truth’, ‘thoughtcrime’, ‘doublethink’ and the unimaginable horrors awaiting within ‘Room 101’.

When the chimes of Big Ben struck 12 (or should that be 13?) on 31 December 1983, there were plenty of mutterings about Big Brother keeping an eye on us, if not through our shiny new Radio Rentals colour telly and newfangled VCR, then maybe through the CCTV cameras that were already creeping onto our streets. Fortunately, the UK’s first roadside speed cameras were still seven years away, otherwise we’d probably have immediately retired to a convenient bunker to await the inevitable.

In those days, 2014 seemed a far-off fantasy, well able to take care of itself – we had our own more immediate concerns to worry about. Most of the City of London’s movers and shakers were too busy with wealth-generation to worry about such trivia. By the roar of their Guard’s Red Porsche Carrera (and the twang of their matching braces) shall ye know them – a couple of years later, Harry Enfield would immortalise the yuppies’ conspicuous affluence with his ‘Loadsamoney’ character in the Saturday Live sketch show.

Whatever the financial sleights-of-hand of City types, some might say their biggest crime was to be responsible for transforming the Porsche (particularly the 911) from a hardcore enthusiast’s choice into a rolling status symbol for everyman (or woman). Lower down the automotive pecking order, the seeds of another revolution were afoot. The Golf GTI had appeared in 1975, but the hot hatch revolution needed a little extra heat to achieve lift-off. Then, in 1983, along came the Golf MkII, hot on the heels of the stylish Peugeot 205 and the all-white GTE version of the Vauxhall Astra. Both the Pug and the Golf spawned GTI versions in 1984, followed by the globular Astra MKII range, while the previously rather agricultural Escort XR3 gained fuel injection and the Fiat Uno got a turbo. The stage was set for the hot hatch to replace the traditional, leaky British sports car, once and for all.

Striking Out

By 1984, Margaret Thatcher was a year into her second term as Prime Minister and her head-on confrontation with Arthur Scargill and the National Union of Mineworkers was the long-running political saga of the year. But the industrial unrest wasn’t only at the pithead. In the same year, there were transport strikes, factory strikes (including BL, of course) and, as our main picture shows, also the occasional strike by dock workers, many coming out in sympathy with the miners. This one’s at the port of Dover on 1 September, with an atmosphere of ‘some day, one day’ among the orderly lines of vehicles waiting patiently to travel up the ramp to the ferry. Their formation contrasts with the haphazard arrangement facing them, with some vehicles caught up in the strike, some perhaps belonging to the strikers. There’s certainly a wide range of vintages and social standing among them, from a smart Cavalier Sports Hatch and Granada MkII to an Austin A35 van and Reliant Regal.

Though most of the frustrated travellers are probably on a late summer break, we imagine some are heading for the continent on business. In the days before email, and with plenty of new European business opportunities in an EU that still focused on commerce, communication with overseas prospects was by telephone, fax machine or by jumping in the car and going for a one-to-one meeting. The first budget airlines were still a decade away, although 1984 marked the year the government gave the official go-ahead to develop Stansted as London’s third major international airport.

There was also the thrill of driving on roads still mainly populated by that nation‘s makes of car – Renaults and Citroëns in France and Opels, Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs in Germany – as shown by the UK-centric contingent waiting to board, apart from the stray Renault Fuego. All that was about to change. Nissan was planning a UK factory in Tyne and Wear, from which it would export cars around the world. Supported by Margaret Thatcher, the new factory symbolised a shift in UK car production.

Underlying the industrial unrest was a move towards replacing factories that made things with shiny new industries that simply provided a service. Pushing that along was the arrival of the personal computer at home and at work. In 1980, the world had access to about a million computers; four years later, there were more than 30 million of them on the planet. In less than a decade, the internet, email and e-commerce would revolutionise global business.

That same computing power would also transform the factories that did survive, particularly in the car industry. At Vauxhall’s new Ellesmere Port plant, for example, a right hand drive Astra could be followed down the track by a left-hand drive Opel Kadett and then a Holden bound for Australia, watched over by a tenth of the number of people previously needed to build a single type of car.

Where do we go from here?

By 1984, Britain’s roads were clogging up. So, pile-ups meant it was time for a chat. Despite numerous industrial problems, UK car factories turned out around 1,750,000 cars in 1984, with the Ford Escort topping the charts, followed by the Cavalier and Fiesta. Between them, these three marques accounted for 415,350 cars on the road. Of course, all these new vehicles had to go somewhere and, as our May 1984 photo shows, sometimes there wasn’t the infrastructure to cope, especially after an accident up ahead on a still-damp road (in this case, the A12 Brentwood Bypass).

Judging by the ambulance, it looks like there’s been another prang in the queue itself. With no sign of anything moving in the near future, there’s time to go for a stroll, talk about last night’s TV and maybe go for a comfort break in those handy bushes up the embankment. With Dagenham just up the road, it’s not really surprising that there are Cortinas, Granadas and Escorts galore. There are also some ‘foreigners’ though – the 2CV looks to be on Dutch plates – and even a few Continentals. We can see four Japanese cars – including a Colt Mirage followed by a Honda Civic disappearing on the other carriageway.

The road probably still has its fair share of jams today, but a stroll would be less pleasant, with a double row of Armco in the central reservation. They seem to have done some road widening in the past 30 years, though, so at least the emergency vehicles should be able to get through more easily.

APPRENTICES REPAIR DAD’S ARMY VAN

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The 1935 Ford BB van that appeared in the original BBC TV series Dad’s Army has been given a full mechanical overhaul by apprentices at Ford’s Dagenham plant.

The platform of Ford apprentices who worked on the 1935 Ford BB van.

Under the control of Ford’s heritage vehicle technicians, the van needed recommissioning for it to star in the big-screen version of Dad’s Army.

The team fixed the running gear of Jack Jones’s famous van – in the same building at Dagenham that it would have left the plant more than 80 years ago. The work included a full engine rebuild, new clutch and new wiring looms.

First seen on the small screen in September 1969, the ‘J. Jones Family Butcher’ van appeared throughout the series’ nine-year run. It was bought by the Dad’s Army Museum, Thetford, Norfolk for £63,000 at auction in 2012.

Stuart Wright from the museum says: ‘It’s fantastic to see the van operational again and we hope it will capture the imagination of younger visitors as well as triggering happy memories for the older generations.’

Karl Carter, trade and skills director of the FBHVC applauds the project. He says: ‘Apprentices taking the FBHVC Classic Car Restoration course are being taught all the skills required to restore a Ford BB van such as the one that has been renovated by Ford apprentices.

‘The course is designed specifically for historic vehicles and they would have more relevant skills than apprentices trained on modern vehicles.’

LEACY BUYS MINI SPECIALIST

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Birmingham based classic parts supplier Leacy Classics has bought a local Mini parts specialist to help it keep up with demand from abroad.

David Keene, CEO of Leacy Classics (left) and Julian Fishwick, previous owner of the Min-its next to Mini-its demo Mini.

Leacy sends 50%of its stock overseas, which it attributes to the growth of the classic Mini scene. The acquisition of Min-its is part of a three year growth plan that will increase turnover of the business to £10 million.

CEO David Keene says the market for classic Minis has expanded so much that his firm can barely keep up with demand. He said: ‘There is a real resurgence of interest, with lower insurance rates than most modern cars and rapidly appreciating values. The acquisition of Min-its gives us the opportunity to expand the range of classic and high performance Mini parts to our retail and trade customer base and potentially increase our international business even further.’

The company will use the purchase of Min-its to expand its range to over 50,000 parts, including an enhanced selection of 5000 Mini spares and high performance engine components, creating 20 new jobs in the process.

All current jobs at Min-its will be safeguarded as part of the deal. Martin Hale from the Midlands Mini Club was upbeat about the news, but didn’t hold much hope for lower prices. He said: ‘Hopefully Leacy Classics will keep up the good work of Min-its. But prices for things like bonnets have trebled in the last five years, and we suspect that won’t be changing anytime soon.’

FORGOTTEN WOLSELEY IS BOUGHT BY WORKMATE

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A Wolseley 6/90 that was hidden in a shed in Dorking, Surrey for 40 years has been unearthed and bought – by a friend of the original owner.

Wolseley Owner’s Club member Colin French first read about the 1959 6/90 on the club’s online forum, and with a bit of detective work, soon discovered that it was an old colleague’s car.

Colin said: ‘I used to work with a guy who was the driver for the local council, and I was his tanker’s mate. His chosen mode of transport was a large grey Wolseley 6/90, which turned out to be this very one.

‘He would often pick me up on the mornings when my Renault R10 wouldn’t start, which was more often than not! We had many a good time working together.

‘I also recall a time that we went to the council yard one Saturday to drop the gearbox on the Wolseley. I’m sure we were on overtime that day!’

When Colin found out that the Wolseley was the car he often got a lift to work in when he was just 17, he made an offer and bought the car just a day later. Colin has now started a full restoration, which will include trying to get the engine to start, replacing the brakes and putting new tyres on it.

AWARD WINNING FERRARI MAIN DEAL H.R. OWEN OPENS CLASSIC CARS SERVICE CENTRE

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H.R. Owen, the UK’s largest luxury car dealer, famous for supplying new Ferrari models, now offers classic Ferrari owners main dealer servicing, repair and restorations at its flagship north London service centre as it extends the launch of H.R. Owen Classic Cars.

Recently awarded the highest accolade of Ferrari’s Global Dealer of the Year, H.R. Owen continues its excellence and commitment to the marque by offering a range of fixed-price servicing options, expert restorations and repairs by Maranello-trained technicians for all Ferrari models, regardless of age.

Classic Ferrari owners can now deliver their cars to the experts at H.R. Owen’s state-of-the-art, 22,000 square-foot north London service facility; which is heralded as the UK’s largest and best-equipped aftersales centre. With 22 dedicated work bays, an engine overhaul room, industry-leading diagnostic and repair equipment and a dedicated wet area, H.R. Owen Classic Cars has the infrastructure to handle everything from an oil change to a full nut and bolt Concours-standard restoration.

H.R. Owen understands the responsibility and trust that their customers hand over when they place their ‘pride and joy’ in the care of H.R. Owen Classic Cars, which is why only the very best technicians are employed at their service centre. Technical Manager Attilio Romano is one of the many reasons why classic car owners return to H.R. Owen year after year. Starting his career in 1979 he entered the sportscar market in 1982 with Lotus and Lancia. Romano went on to work for many high-profile marques, most notably Ferrari Modena and Bugatti, working for the latter when the EB110 was launched, before going on to be the first factory-registered technician certified to work on the Veyron. Romano has won a host of awards on behalf of many manufacturers, and has worked for H.R. Owen for more than 19 years.

Famous for being the ‘go-to’ Ferrari technician, the ex-Ferrari Factory Technician can diagnose and correct issues swiftly, based on his many years of Ferrari experience. From tuning the carburettors of a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, to a full nut and bolt restoration of a 275 GTB, it’s said that nobody knows Ferraris better than him.

H.R. Owen Ferrari has been a main agent in London for over 40 years, offering unparalleled levels of experience and knowledge of the marque both past and present. All H.R. Owen technical staff are trained by Ferrari to the standard expected by the manufacturer and those of the H.R. Owen brand. This ensures that all members of the service team have factory-approved knowledge and skills, and provides expertise that can only be gained from using an officially approved dealer.

H.R. Owen’s flagship north London service facility is run by Service Manager Tony Vaccaro, who has worked in the motor industry all of his life and for H.R. Owen for nearly 20 years. When asked about the move into classic cars, Tony said: "We have looked after Ferraris from across the world for over 40 years and the cars that are now classed as classic were maintained by us when new. Having that experience in-house means we are best placed to look after any classic Ferrari as we know the cars inside out.

"Within the workshop, it’s not unusual to see a 512BB in for restoration alongside the latest LaFerrari, and the same dedication and passion will go in to both," he continued.

Tony has been instrumental in the growth and development of the north London site since it opened seven years ago, saying: "In those years we have grown H.R. Owen Ferrari to become one of the largest dealers in the world. Last week we attended the Ferrari World Dealer meeting in Florence where we were presented with the highly prestigious title of Ferrari World Dealer of the Year. A fantastic honour and a reflection of the passion we have for the brand.

"The development of young talent is vital," said Tony, "our young technician Vito Martuccio has recently been selected as one of the finalists for the 2015 Ferrari World Technician Challenge after working under the guidance of Attilio Romano. With many years of in-house experience and our continued development of new experts there is no better dealer to look after your Ferrari, old or new".

H.R. Owen Classic Cars Service is just another demonstration of the full-service approach that it dedicates to its clients. The H.R. Owen Group not only operates in sales and service of premium luxury cars, but it also offers a number of related divisions in the dealership, including H.R. Owen Insurance Services, Luxury Car Hire, Chauffeur Drive alongside the much discussed H.R. Owen Classic Cars division.

SHADOW PARTY

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Man who helped save Rolls-Royce joins car owners for Silver Shadow’s and Cloud’s joint anniversaries.

A former chairman of Rolls-Royce and Bentley joined classic owners in Crewe last weekend to mark two of the manufacturer’s anniversaries.

Sir David Plastow, who stepped up to become the motor car division’s managing director when Rolls-Royce went into liquidation in 1971 and became chairman of Rolls-Royce Motors a year later, was the guest of honour at the Cheshire event to mark the Silver Shadow’s half century and 60 years of the Silver Cloud.

He told CCW: ‘It was my life to be in Rolls-Royce and Bentley – I originally started there in 1958, and ended up spending more years than I care to remember working for the company. It’s a heck of a privilege to be involved with Rolls-Royce and it’s something you do with real humility – people love these cars the world over and they’re a byword for elegance and quality.

‘The cars at the event were an amazing collection, brought along by some very dedicated people who cherish their Rolls-Royces. It makes me immensely proud to see them back at Crewe for the anniversary.’

The event was organised by the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club, with members coming from as far afield as Holland and Italy to mark the occasion.

John Beecroft, secretary of the club’s Northern Section, said: ‘The Silver Shadow’s 50th anniversary and 60 years of the Silver Cloud are both very significant in Rolls-Royce history – and it’s great to have so many owners and people involved with Rolls-Royce along to mark the anniversaries.

‘Both models are still very elegant and respected cars to this day, and are held in very high regard not just here in the UK, but around the world too.’

APPRENTICESHIPS OFF TO A FLYING START

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More than 60 youngsters are now learning the skills needed to plug the gap in the nation’s classic restoration industry – up from just 11 a year ago. But the industry needs many more if it is to flourish in the future.

Trade and skills director Karl Carter said that a new intake of apprentices at Banbury and Bicester College, a new extended learning course and the introduction of the FBHVC’s scheme at North London Garages and Rolls-Royce specialist P&A Wood had helped hugely in training more people in the skills of restoring older cars.

‘It’s fantastic that we’ve got more apprentices taking up the course, and that North London Garages is still looking for more. It’s good news, but now we need to get this out across the country – it’s a bit South of England-centric at the moment.’

He added that he is still keen for more colleges in other parts of the UK to take up the course, and is encouraging clubs to pitch in with their suggestions.

Federation chairman David Whale praised apprentice supporters Francis Galashan, the MG Car Club and McGrath Maserati, and said it would have been impossible to get the course off the ground without their help. ‘The first 11 students have now started their second year,’ he said. ‘That’s ample indication of the success of the course and Banbury and Bicester College’s ability to keep young people engaged.’

WHY DOES THE MERCEDES SL NEED TURTLE POWER?

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The Mercedes-Benz SL R107 is one of the most decadent luxury convertibles ever created. Its chiselled good looks and top-of-the-line build quality helped it become an icon for high-society living.
Its appeal crosses the gender divide too, with those elegant lines the perfect backdrop for scooting between high society functions or as the modern cad's weekend toy. It appeals across any class and cultural boundaries – wherever you're from, your life would seem just a wee bit more special behind the wheel of an SL.

It's sophisticated transport, too, with fantastic engines available in a multitude of six and eight cylinder flavours. They're strong and reliable too. But there's one part of the SL make-up that's not particularly glamorous, and that's when you have to put the hard-top on – alone.

With two suitably strong people to do the job it's fairly easy. For a time Mercedes stored your roof for you and re-attached it at the end of summer and took it off when the sun came out again. But what if you're caught short and have to do it alone?

It can be a painful and strenuous job with two of you – one can only imagine the scraped paintwork and broken glass SLs have endured due to hardtop installation howlers. Trying to do it on your lonesome is a feat to tax the mind as well your muscles.

Perhaps the answer can be found in 'doing the turtle'. We found this video that shows that you can put the roof on your SL solo. The only problem is you don't look quite as elegant as the car you're putting together. Kudos to him though, he's made it work.

However, this shouldn't put you off one of the finest convertibles you can buy. We've found this fantastic 500 SL that looks superb in scintillating light metallic blue. However, if you prefer your SL with six cylinders, this one looks tempting in deep red.

Either way you're in for one of classic motoring's greatest treats – driving an SL. Just remember to keep your neighbours happy in case you need to put the hardtop on in a hurry...

ALFA ROMEO TO LAUNCH LIMITED EDITION 50TH ANNIVERSARY 4C SPIDER

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Alfa Romeo is celebrating 50 years since it launched its iconic Duetto Spider with a limited edition of its latest roadster, the 4C Spider.

Alfa Romeo launch limited edition 50th Anniversary 4C Spider

Launched in March 1966, the Pininfarina-styled roadster featured enclosed headlights and a signature 'boat-tail' rear end.

Fifty years after its debut, Alfa Romeo has announced it will pay tribute to the classic with a 4C Spider 50th Anniversary Limited Edition. Alfa says the new car 'pays tribute to one of the most quintessential Alfa Romeo models in a very special way'.

Perhaps one of the most instantly recognisable of the Alfa Romeos, the Spider Duetto is also one of the prettiest. It enjoys a fashionable reputation unlike any other model, and has been synonymous with sexy chic ever since it first rolled off the production line in 1966.

Very little is currently known about the changes that will be made for the limited edition cars they are likely to include special badging and a new seat trim.

Full details of the special edition car will be unveiled in a week's time. In the meantime, take a look at the selection of classic Alfa Romeo Spiders for sale.

200-CAR KIWI BARN-FIND!

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New Zealand chicken farmer reveals huge British classic collection

A dusty collection of more than 200 cars – many of them British – has been found in a New Zealand barn.

Journalist Gordon Campbell visited the collection, and says that Peter Markham started this collection in 2004 at a former chicken farm in Waikato, North Island. ‘He’s no stranger to collecting cars and in 1991 he owned a total of 75 PA Vauxhalls, earning him the nickname of "Captain Vauxhall". Vauxhall PAs are dominant in the current collection although Morris Minors and BMC 1100/1300s come a close second,’ says Gordon.

Other British marques found in the collection include Ford, Hillman, Humber, MG, Riley, Singer, Sunbeam,Vanden Plas and Wolseley. There’s also a few Japanese cars and a single American example. While Peter doesn’t want to part with some of the cars, he has sold a few of them – with the new owner’s name written in the dust.

WHAT KILLED ALFONSO DE PORTAGO AND THE MILLE MIGLIA?

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The Mille Miglia was an extremely popular open-road endurance race, helping to make the reputations of Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Maserati, Ferrari and BMW to name but a few. But everything came to an end after a fatal crash in 1957 - what caused the horrific accident and why were Ferrari sued?

What killed Alfonso de Portago and the Mille Miglia?

It may seem like the longest name in human history, but Alfonso Antonio Vicente Eduardo Angel Blas Francisco de Borja Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, known as Alfonso de Portago - or probably Al to his mates, was the Marquis of Portago and a spirited racing driver.

Born in London and educated in France, Alfonso was articulate in four languages and also the heir to one of the most respected titles in Spain. As if that wasn’t alluring enough to the female sex, he also happened to be rather dashing and, coincidentally, a millionaire.

He was no stranger to performing the extraordinary; winning a $500 bet when aged 17 by flying his plane beneath a bridge following a dare. He was also a bobsleigh runner; forming Spain’s first bobsleigh team for the 1956 Winter Olympic Games. Naturally, life as a racing driver seemed tempting to a man of his stature and he started his driving career in 1953, with a debut as a co-driver during the Carrera Panamericana.

He participated in five World Championship Formula One races, placing his best result during a shared drive at the 1956 British Grand Prix, with a total of four championship points. It had almost never happened however, with Portago thrown from his Ferrari during a Silverstone sprint in 1955 while competing at 140km/h. He could have been killed, yet all he suffered was a broken leg.

Sadly, he wouldn’t walk away from his next major accident - after stopping alongside a fence to kiss his girlfriend during the 1957 Mille Miglia, he ran back to his Ferrari and sped off to his ultimate destiny.

While traveling at 150mph with his co-driver on a straight section between Cerlongo and Guidizzolo, a tyre blew and spiralled their Ferrari into the crowd lining the road - claiming the lives of 10 people; 5 of them being children.

The Ferrari landed on top of the two drivers, reportedly disfiguring them to the point they could barely be identified. Portago’s body was apparently found in two mangled sections.

Under an investigation it was revealed that Portago was so desperate to win the event, he had waited too long to replace the worn tyre, however the manufacturer received blame and was sued - as was the Ferrari team.

The Mille Miglia was then abandoned, a further crash involving a Trumph TR3 finally nailing the rally for good.

"I won’t die in an accident." Portago once commented, "I’ll die of old age or be executed in some gross miscarriage of justice".

Others claimed, due to his racing style, that he wouldn’t live beyond 30. Meeting his fate aged 28, they were sadly right.

The footage below commentates on the 1957 Mille Miglia, with footage shown of the Ferrari wreckage being recovered. But we warn you, it's not easy watching:

MIKE HAWTHORN: TRAGIC ACCIDENT OR FATAL ROAD RACING?

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On the 22nd of January 1959, only months into his retirement, world famous racing driver Mike Hawthorn died on the A3 Guildford bypass while driving his comprehensively-modified 1958 Jaguar 3.4-litre saloon. There is still speculation into his death.

Mike Hawthorn: Tragic Accident or Fatal Road Racing?

Mike Hawthorn had only 60 hours to live when a club dinner at the National Sporting Club was held in his honour, dubbed ‘The Gay Cavalier’ of motor racing, he lost control of his MKI Jaguar on the Guildford bypass - hitting a lorry, mounting the embankment and finally hitting a tree at high speed. At only 29 years old, Mike Hawthorn was dead.

Shooting to global fame as Britain’s first Formula One World Champion in 1958, driving a Ferrari Dino 246 and clinching the title during the Moroccan Grand Prix at Ain-Diab near Casablanca, Hawthorn immediately announced his retirement - badly marred by the death of his close friend Stuart Lewis-Evans; succumbing to injuries sustained during an accident on the German Grand Prix track that season.

Mike appeared to be a fan of Jaguar’s offerings and besides owning at least one XK140, Jaguar loaned Hawthorn a MK1 during his tenure racing for the company - allowing him to continue using it afterwards. The 806th right hand drive 3.4 saloon produced, it donned a rather fetching British Racing Green exterior paired with a suede green interior. No special remarks were recorded in Jaguar’s chassis record book, but modifications are unlikely to have been carried out without Jaguars approval.

A now rather spooky road test of Hawthorn’s Jaguar appeared in a magazine shortly before the accident; stating that the Jaguar held ‘tremendous acceleration’ with a maximum speed in ‘excess of 120mph’. Mike had actually seen over 130mph with his MK1, however at these speeds the car was ‘a little unstable…perhaps due to the undulating road surface’.

The fatal crash occurred on a notoriously dangerous section of the road, the A3 Guildford bypass, where 15 serious accidents - two of them fatal- had occurred during the previous two years. The road was wet at the time, with witnesses claiming the Jaguar overtook a Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘gull-wing’ driven by Rob Walker - the motor racing team manager - in excess of 80mph.

Upon entering a right-hand bend Hawthorn clipped a bollard dividing two carriage ways, brushed an oncoming lorry before hitting and uprooting a roadside tree; suffering substantial head injuries and being catapulted into the back seats.

Several theories have been put forward for this tragedy, the most accepted being that Rob Walker and Mike Hawthorn were racing at the time of the crash. This is fuelled by Walkers constant refusal to estimate his speed during the time of the crash when questioned at the coroner’s inquest.

Other possible explanations include driver error over the difficult section of road, a blackout or a mechanical failure. Upon inspection of the 3.4 MKI there was no evidence of any mechanical failures, however Hawthorn had already lost a kidney due to infection and had started suffering problems with his other - he was expected to live only three further years.

Further evidence of racing the Mercedes appeared during an interview in 1988, interviewed by motor racing driver Eoin Young and writer Eric Dymock, Walker admitted he had indeed been racing Hawthorn in his green Jaguar but had been advised not to make further comment by a police officer, as it would incriminate him.

A final conclusion can perhaps be reached with this unnerving quote:

‘I interviewed the driver from the Tourist Trophy Garage shortly after the accident. He confessed to me that he hated driving the car as it had spun on him twice before Michael’s fatal crash. In his opinion the power generated was too much for the tyres to absorb’.

The registration plate of VDU 881 will never be reissued by the DVLA for those eager to snap up a historic licence plate - the policy states that licence plates on cars that have been destroyed are never reissued.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED TO GRACE KELLY'S ROVER P6…

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It was during this week in 1982 when Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco drove away in her 1971 Rover P6 3500 before plunging over the edge of a steep, winding road – down a 120ft mountainside. It is claimed Kelly suffered a stroke, but there appears to be more to the story than that…

You won't believe what happened to Grace Kelly's Rover P6…

Princess Grace died of her injuries sustained in the crash, fashioning one of the most tragic losses in modern history. Known worldwide as America’s princess, Kelly’s life seemed to be a true fairy tale.

Born into a wealthy Irish Catholic family in Philadelphia, where she attended private schools, she then enrolled into the Academy of Dramatic Art in New York. Rising to stardom in Hollywood alongside the Broadway stage, she won public affection thanks to films such as Rear Window and The Country Girl. Yet, she abandoned her acting career to become royalty – marrying Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Sitting in the passenger seat of Grace’s Rover, a car she was apparently very fond of, was her daughter Stéphanie - who tried to regain control of the car after Kelly appeared to suffer a stroke, but was unsuccessful.

When the emergency services arrived at the site, Kelly was still alive but unconscious. Despite their efforts, her head injuries, alongside fractured ribs, collarbone and thigh, were irreparable. Doctors believed that Kelly had suffered a minor stroke before the accident, making her susceptible to another. The following night, at exactly 10:55pm, Rainer decided to take Kelly off of life support.

However, there appears to be more to the story than this brief summary. The original consensus was that Stephanie was at the wheel during the crash, something it took twenty years for her to break silence over. There was also a persistent rumour that the two ere arguing heavily over Stephanie’s then boyfriend.

"I was not driving, that's clear," Stephanie, 37, said in an interview with the Paris Match magazine. "In fact, I was thrown around inside the car like my mother, who was catapulted on to the back seat ... The passenger door was completely smashed in; I got out on the only accessible side, the driver's."

A motorist traveling behind the Rover P6 reported witnessing the vehicle swerve violently back and forth before accelerating to well over 50mph, smashing through the stone barrier before careering down the mountainside.

What usually gets left out of this tragic tale is the main political scandal in Europe at that time. Only 14 days prior to the fatal accident, a membership list of the infamous oligarchic P2 Lodge became public, causing the collapse of the Italian Government. Prince Rainer was leaked as chairman of the collection of nation destroying oligarchs.

It seems that Princess Grace was planning to get away from Rainer, as her Rover was packed with luggage and belongings. She also suggested that she drive herself; the chauffeur would no doubt report back around their whereabouts.

Conspiracy theory? You may brush it off as nonsense, but if the fact her life support was disconnected only hours after the crash isn’t enough to set your mind racing, strangely, the Rover was crushed into a cube, taken out into a deep section of the Mediterranean and sunk.

Was the car tampered with? We’ll leave you to make up your own mind…

BIG CATS TO ROAR IN LE MANS

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Jaguar is to make a nostalgic return to Le Mans this year as their sports cars are confirmed for 2016’s Classic.

The Jaguar Classic Challenge, seen here at Oulton Park last year, visits Le Mans in 2016.

The Le Mans Classic programme, 8-10 July, will now include a leg of the Jaguar Classic Challenge series of races for 2016, providing a field of pre-1966 Jaguars racing wheel-to-wheel.

Jaguar’s long, successful history at Le Mans began in 1951 when Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead drove C-type XKC 003 to victory. Following a one-two finish in 1953, the marque dominated Le Mans in 1955, ’56 and ’57 in the D-type. In 1988 and 1990, the works team won in an XJR-9LM and XJR-12 respectively.

The Jaguar Classic Challenge, run in conjunction with the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC), will also adopt new technical regulations based on the FIA’s Appendix K framework for cars competing in international historic racing competitions. These regulations pay consideration to a car’s period specification and are in keeping with the true spirit of historic motor racing.

‘Jaguar’s history of racing at Le Mans will add to the spectacle of the Jaguar Classic Challenge,’ says Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic.

The season kicks off at Donington Historic Festival, 30 April-2 May.

CAPTAIN NEMO'S NAUTILUS CAR TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER

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Captain Nemo's six-wheeled Nautilus car from Sean Connery’s adventure movie 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' will be sold by auctioneers Coys at their Blenheim Palace auction on July 11th.

Designed by production designer and art director Carol Spier and one of only two made, this fully functional and complete vehicle was used throughout the film. Unlike Nemo's ship, which was a digital representation, the car is very much fully functional (although not road legal), at 22 feet long with two axles at the front that steer and one at the rear.

Chris Routledge, Managing Partner of Coys, said: "We have a long tradition of selling film, television and celebrity cars, and having such a cool car from such a cool film is really exciting. We are offering an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire one of the cars that actually appeared in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and which will undoubtedly increase in value in years to come."

The vehicle started life as a Land Rover fire tender, adapted via a steel frame with the addition of a Rover V8 engine. The chassis is covered in an intricate ivory coloured fibreglass shell and features a wealth of elaborate embellishments in an aged gold effect on both the exterior and interior. Inspiration for the decoration was taken from the Hindu god Ganesha and assorted flora and fauna. The interior is trimmed with faux leather and even features the original Land Rover dials.

The wheels each measure 72cm and hidden within the arches are hydraulics to adjust the ride height. The car retains most of its original functionality and shows signs of wear and evidence of running repairs from on-set use. In spite of this wear, the car is in running condition.

For the last few years, the car has been part of a large collection of movie props and costumes at Prop Store’s UK facility. It is estimated at £18,000 to £25,000.

Stephen Lane, founder of Prop Store, said: "I bought the Nautilus from the film company after The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen came out because I loved the car, loved the design and felt it was one of the most emotive vehicles I have ever seen, a true design icon. I have taken it to Essen, driven it at the Lord Mayor’s Show and now feel its time to let somebody else own it and enjoy it."

THE GALLERY BRUMMEN ENTERS UNIQUE ASTON MARTIN IN 2016 MILLE MIGLIA

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Classic car dealer The Gallery Brummen will take part in the legendary Mille Miglia rally from May 19 to 22 with a 1939 Aston Martin 15/98 2 Litre Abbey Coachwork.

**The Gallery Brummen enters unique Aston Martin in 2015 Mille Miglia**

Co-owner Nick Aaldering was able to secure a starting position with this unique British race car for 2016 and he will drive together with Maikel de Munnik, Register Valuator Classic Automobiles.

It is the second time The Gallery Brummen will enter the historic event with this Aston Martin. The 76 year old 15/98 2 Litre Abbey Coachwork has an extensive British racing history and has been rigorously prepared in house by mechanics from The Gallery.

From Brescia to Rome

The Mille Miglia, which is Italian for one thousand miles, was one of the world’s most important long distance races held in Italy since 1927. Nowadays the Mille Miglia is a regularity race for historic automobiles built from 1927 to 1957. To cover the total distance of 1,000 miles from Brecia to Rome and back, the colourful high speed parade with teams from all over the world needs four days and three nights.

Eight entries since 1999

The Mille Miglia has become a part of The Gallery’s history with eight entries in the last eight years. During the 2015 edition the 1939 Aston Martin 15/98 was driven by founder en owner Nico Aaldering together with his daughter Nina. To follow team Gallery Aaldering in their historic Aston Martin during the 2016 Mille Miglia, please visit facebook.com/galleryaaldering and twitter.com/gallerybrummen.