Filed in archive
British Cars
, Concours
, Rolls-Royce
on March 10, 2009
This is what you ride in when you're the head of an oil-rich country. The 1966 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulette, with body by Mulliner Park Ward, was owned by His Highness Sheik Issa Bin Su...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, British Cars
, Gifts
, Jaguar
on November 28, 2008
Ah, yes, what can I add to the accolades regarding Jaguar's E-Type, including the glamorous coupe seen here? Barons of the UK suggests it might be an ideal gift for one's spouse. Or a perfect ...
Filed in archive
Austin Healey
, British Cars
, Fun Events
on November 12, 2008
At the foot of the St. Lawrence River, where it flows into Lake Ontario, is the historic city of Kingston, Ontario. I know it well as an entry point from the US when shortcutting Montreal-Toronto driv...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, British Cars
, Ferrari
, Rare Europeans
on October 31, 2008
While criticising RM's attempts at video advertising (see previous blog) I should be fair and point out that the company has totally redesigned its Web site with a fresh, clean, easy-to-navigate l...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Design
on October 22, 2008
Everyone has a favorite classic car and the Bentley Continental is mine. The long hood and fastback configuration based on a luxurious but sporting chassis set off with a typically English wood-and-le...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, British Cars
, Famous Drivers
, Rally/Retro-Rally
on October 20, 2008
During the past few weeks we lost two racing icons: Phil Hill, the only American to win a world driving championship, and Paul Newman, who was as talented behind the wheel as he was before the camera....
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Jaguar
on October 1, 2008
Amid all the 100-year auto celebrations taking place a significant diamond (60th) anniversary may have been overlooked. It honours the anniversary of one of the greatest auto engines ever created, equ...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Catalogs
on September 27, 2008
When, in the 1960s, Robert McLellan discovered "The Autocar" and "The Motor" on his local newsstands he was annoyed that these British magazines (which were expensive in the USA an...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Concours
, European Specials
on September 11, 2008
As a manufacturer "Standard Motor Company" may not stimulate your memory banks but you'd be surprised at the variety of vehicles produced by that venerable firm during its 60 years of pr...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Concours
, European Specials
, Rare Europeans
on September 10, 2008
When I joined my first car club in the late 50s many of the members were British ex-pats who'd moved to Canada after the war. Not surprisingly they favored English "motors" so inevitably...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Concours
, European Specials
, Rare Europeans
on September 8, 2008
Decisions! Decisions! Labour Day weekend forced me to choose between Vancouver's 2008 Steamworks Concours and the annual Victoria Wooden Boat Show. In past years I'd journeyed to the mainland ...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Concours
, Fun Events
on August 15, 2008
If I were designing a concours poster I'm not sure I'd put contemporary skyscrapers in the background. But the folks at the Central Virginia British Car Club obviously know more about the appe...
Filed in archive
Austin Healey
, Automotive Art
, British Cars
on June 30, 2008
If this doesn't stir your romantic juices, gentlemen, nothing will! Imagine the fun of driving a 1959 Austin Healey Sprite and parking by a seaside lighthouse with a lovely British "bird"...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Photographs
, Racers
on June 4, 2008
Back in October of 2007 Nigel Matthews e-mailed me scans of photos taken by an old friend who worked with Colin Chapman in the early days of Lotus. I immediately added one to a blog and promised more,...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, German Cars
, Movies
, Oddball Autos
on June 2, 2008
With a new indiana jones movie just launched there is considerable interest in authentic memorabilia from the previous films. And what could be more authentic than the 1937 Mercedes 300 that was used ...
Filed in archive
Automotive Art
, Bentley
, Books
, British Cars
on May 23, 2008
My ex- and I had booked a table for dinner at a nice though secluded restaurant close by the Thames in London's Chelsea district. We both liked james bond movies and Maggie was an enthusiastic fan...
Filed in archive
Automotive Art
, British Cars
on May 14, 2008
Nothing pleases me more than promoting the works of automobile fine artists, especially when an artist has created something truly original. This is one of a new limited edition series by Paul Chenard...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Concours
, Fun Events
on May 5, 2008
I'm really annoyed with myself for booking a trip to Toronto while the All British Field Meet is taking place in Vancouver, just a few miles across Georgia Strait from where I live. That'll te...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Jaguar
on April 30, 2008
From the moment I first saw an XK120, followed by a Mark V, then a Mark VII, I fell in love with Jaguar cars. The sheer voluptuous beauty of those curvaceous, elegant lines did it for me. The famous d...
Filed in archive
Books
, British Cars
on April 25, 2008
Until my good friend and Brit-car enthusiast Nigel Matthews brought me up to date, I hadn't realised that this year marks the Land Rover's 60th anniversary. Like most folks who watch movies an...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, British Cars
on February 8, 2008
If there's one thing I like about the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction it's the company's ability to attract the unexpected. For example, I never thought I'd see a 1956 English Ford ...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, British Cars
on January 21, 2008
Be it ever so humble, there are few cars regarded with more affection by their owners than the Morris Minor. Designed by Alec Issigonis, the genius behind the Mini, the Minor was known for its excelle...
Filed in archive
Books
, British Cars
on January 15, 2008
If you own, admire, or just like to look at British sports cars (and who doesn't?) here's a book that's both handy and fascinating. "Keith Martin on Collecting Austin-Healey, MG and T...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Rare Europeans
on January 15, 2008
Hanging on my living room wall is an exquisite water color by the late Canadian artist Wentworth Folkins. The subject is a passenger train departing from Toronto's Union Station in the 50's, p...
Filed in archive
Bentley
, British Cars
, Test Drives
on December 22, 2007
Our man Nigel Matthews (well, he isn't exactly ours, just a good friend and contributor, but I like to make it sound as if I actually have a staff) has recently been testing some new "Lotus&q...
Filed in archive
British Cars
on December 19, 2007
Before the familiar Triumph "TR" series of sports cars appeared in North America a small number of sporting automobiles carrying the iconic UK badge startled a public who'd never seen an...
Filed in archive
Auto Shows
, British Cars
, Concours
, Jaguar
on December 11, 2007
Sometimes silly mistakes lead to good things. The other day I drove from Sidney, BC to the city of victoria, about 22 km south on Highway 17. My mission was to collect a rental projector from a camera...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, British Cars
on December 3, 2007
I'm being sentimental once again so please forgive this connection with the past, for I was almost tearful when reading a Classic Driver article about the opening of The Gauntlett Gallery in Londo...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Fun Events
on November 27, 2007
You have to admire someone who's willing to do something with classic cars to help others. And if it means a coast-to-coast drive on an unfamiliar continent, so much the better... better still if ...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Catalogs
, Great Gifts
on November 17, 2007
Can it be? Yes, Christmas is less than six weeks away and any moment now we'll be bombarded by ads from retailers anxious to make those sales so crucial to annual revenues. Still, time does fly fa...
