Jaguar Land Rover buys Britain's largest private car collection
Tuesday, 29 July 2014 14:41
in News

Jaguar Land Rover buys Britain's largest private car collection

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Jaguar Land Rover's Special Operations division has acquired Britain's largest private car collection of 543 classic motorcars. This enormous collection of cars was created by tooth expert and entrepreneur Dr.James Hull. He made his fortune by building up a chain of dental surgeries and selling them in 2006 to a private equity firm. James began his collection while working as a dentist in South Wales where he opened a practice in 1987. During the years he travelled around the world to purchase cars for his collection.
The Steyr-Puch 500 and 650
Saturday, 19 July 2014 20:49

The Steyr-Puch 500 and 650

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The Steyr-Puch company, initially known as Josef und Franz Werndl and Company was founded in 1864 as a rifle manufacturer. During the First World War the company grew rapidly and in 1918 it employed 14,000 people. The company began producing bicycles in 1894. In September 1917 Steyr recruited Hans Ledwinka, now remembered as one of the great automobile engineers of the twentieth century, to the position of chief-engineer, to lead the creation of their automobile manufacturing business. The first Steyr car appeared in 1920. The company changed it’s name to Steyr-Werke AG in 1924. In 1934, Steyr merged with Austro-Daimler-Puch  to form Steyr-Daimler-Puch. After the second world war, Steyr-Daimler-Puch built diesel  engined trucks, buses and tractors and also resumed passenger car production. First, Steyr assembled the Fiat 1100E , then put their own engine in a Fiat 1400 , renaming the car the "Steyr 2000". Most prominent, however, was its range of off-road cars, from the two-cylinder Haflinger  and the 4x4  or 6 x 6 Pinzgauer , the Fiat Panda 4x4 (999cc) to the Mercdes-Puch G . The Haflinger  was produced from 1959–1974.
Historic Trophy Nürburgring 30 May-1 June 2014
Friday, 27 June 2014 00:00

Historic Trophy Nürburgring 30 May-1 June 2014

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Three times three – it's the success formula of the three-hour race of the Historic Trophy Nürburgring. Three racing series start together on Saturday afternoon for a 180 minutes race on the Grand-Prix circuit and the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. The equipes from approximately 150 historic touring cars and GT cars from the Dunlop FHR Long Distance Cup, Trophy and Triumph classic cars Competition & British GTs will not only compete against each-other in their own competition field but also against the cars the other two series. The pilots know that not only their lap times are critical - also with the right strategy and a good pitcrew are essential to finish this race. What is needed is the right mix of speed and consistency, so the combination of full commitment and gentle handling of the material is essential. A special highlight for the spectators is that they can visit the starting grid just before the start of the race.
The MAB Special - Doctor Stuart Saunders
Sunday, 22 June 2014 08:00

The MAB Special - Doctor Stuart Saunders

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Doctor Stuart Saunders  MAB SpecialThe car featured here is a rare 1908 aeroplane engined monster found 20 years ago in a paddock near Wagga Wagga, by Dr Stuart Saunders of the Australian Capital Territory.  The initials MAB were stamped on the remains of its radiator and on many of the bearings, bushes and castings.“There was very little left of the engine and so a 1918 Packard-Liberty V12 aero engine was installed to build a facsimile of a pre-1910 racing car. The liberty has a capacity of 27 litres,” Dr Saunders said. “Most of the racing cars of the period were chain drive and some had engines of 20 litres or more."The MAB was restored by the mid-1980s and has done thousands of miles since then, and I believe it has been seen in rallies and demonstrations in the UK and Europe.“Apart from twisted drive-shafts in the early years, the car has been very reliable.”  Dr Saunders said.This photograph was taken by Bill Hunter for Motormarques at Winton, Victoria (Au) in 2006.