The Allard: We meet a rare and hardy beast in Devon
Kate and John Manley-Tucker’s Allard has been a vehicle for adventure and a thread through their shared lives for almost four decades. We spent some time with a unique car and its unique owners. Only 1,900 Allards were ever made. The brown Allard has a well-earned patina and a character wrought in hard work all […]
The Secretary: Chris Bowden and the Devon Vintage Car Club
Chris Bowden is at the heart of the charitable community that is the Devon Vintage Car Club. Chris tells us about the good work of a long-established group of Devon classic car devotees. Autojumbles are a key element of club life. PICTURE: JOHN WILDE/DVCC Linda and I became members of the Devon Vintage Car Club […]
Sensation: Community and Passion in Devon
Auboné Braddon is one of the country’s leading experts on Ford Anglias. He owns 12 of them. But he doesn’t possess a driving licence. That is because Auboné is visually impaired. But this disadvantage has not hindered his love of these characterful English classics. Auboné tells us a fascinating story of passion, community and the […]
Local Coventry Hero: Guy Broad
Guy Broad is one of the world’s authorities on everything XK. We spent some time with Guy at his Browns Lane showroom and explored how the Jaguar spirit is alive and well at the place of its creation. Local Hero:If you want to know about anything XK: Guy Broad is your man. Picture: JM DRAKE […]
Jaguar: Coventry Keeping Pace
It may be the most important Jaguar drop not made in Coventry. But a century of engineering chops has saturated this all-electric superstar, designed by Ian Callum. Freezing dawn in the West Midlands. Jaguar’s plant is iced up in a rolling Warwickshire countryside covered in a dusting of hard white frost. Not the ideal conditions […]
Coventry Roots and Culture: Coventry Motofest
Motofest Coventry is a deep-rooted celebration of the area’s automotive culture. Festival director James Noble sketches out the light and shade of a century old story. Motofest director James Noble is passionate about the Coventry story. Picture: JM Drake Motofest is a free festival of cars, motorbike and car culture that happens in Coventry city […]
Everyman Classics: Everyman Visionary: Giovanni Michelotti
When consummate Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti worked for Triumph – it was a strange kind of fusion. It was as if Federico Fellini directed a Carry On movie. But in the fleeting period in which these two worlds collided, some real classics of stylish, accessible motoring were created. And look at the cars. There was […]
Everyman Classics: Mid-Century Visionary 1 : Alec Issigonis
The original Knight of the road knew how fuel shortages impacted on the common folks. His creations perfectly reflected democracy in driving.
Everyman Classics: She Drives a Classic!: treading lightly with everyman Brits from the mid century
Is there anything more sustainable and planet saving than a car that is still being used half a century or more from the moment of its manufacture? We spent some time with classic driving YouTuber Steph Holloway – whose love of old cars by accident created a vision of the motoring future. Influx: Why classics […]
Imported Classics: IDA the Norwegian Rover
Not all Landies are what they first appear. Charles’ Series 1 Norwegian returnee has a Mazda drivetrain, power steering – and has more charisma than Sputnik, as he explains. This is Ida, she is a Norwegian Land Rover, supplied new in 1957 to Norway. She is a Series 1, 88 inch. She led a long […]