Filed in archive
Auctions
, Austin Healey
, British Cars
by philip on March 7, 2010
Way back when the Austin Healey Sprite was launched, BMC Canada loaned me one for what became the very first North American media test drive. Being young and foolish and a novice racer I persuaded the...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, MG
, Romantic Notions
by philip on February 28, 2010
Imagine, if you will, acquiring a professionally restored example of the vehicle that first turned America on to sports cars. Then imagine that all you paid to own this 1949 MG TC (shown above) was $1...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, British Cars
, Photographs
by philip on December 8, 2009
With cars it's often the details that make one more attractive than another. The same could be said about the art of photographing vintage automobiles for some photographers prefer to focus on the det...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, British Cars
, Hot Rods
by philip on December 4, 2009
I have a difficult time accepting this as a hot rod because it looks, to me, like a very traditional English saloon car. (That's saloon as "sedan," in case you aren't hip to British automobile termino...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Great Drives
, Triumph
by Philip Powell on October 8, 2009
Thanks to a blog in the latest Hemmings newsletter I've become aware that Englishman John Macartney has successfully driven a restored Triumph Stag across North America. The Stag left Florida on J...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, British Cars
, Famous Drivers
, Fun Events
, Racers
, Vintage Racing
by Philip Powell on October 2, 2009
As mentioned in the previous blog a long-awaited visit to the Goodwood Revival turned into a major disappointment. My brother and I misjudged the time it would take to drive from the town of Bingen in...
Filed in archive
Auto Shows
, British Cars
, Fun Events
, Japanese Oldies
, Morgan
, Oddball Autos
by Philip Powell on August 19, 2009
While everyone is "oohing" and "awing" over the classics at Pebble Beach I would like to draw your attention to an expanding niche I call "Street Shows." Instead of displ...
Filed in archive
Bentley
, British Cars
, Concours
by Philip Powell on August 12, 2009
If, like me, you enjoy watching BBC and ITV shows from England, you'll be aware that classic cars are often used as props. The Hercule Poirot series are a good example, especially as they frequent...
Filed in archive
Automobilia
, Automotive Art
, British Cars
, Concours
, Great Gifts
, Morgan
by Philip Powell on August 5, 2009
A major highlight of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance for those who appreciate automobile fine art is the annual poster. Now, however, there are three. One for the Concours, one for the Tour d...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Jaguar
by Philip Powell on August 3, 2009
It is difficult enough to achieve perfection. To improve on perfection is all but impossible. Yet that's what the English makers of the Eagle E-type Speedster appear to have done. Starting with a ...
Filed in archive
Auctions
, British Cars
, Racers
, Vintage Racing
by Philip Powell on July 24, 2009
Many beautiful race cars have been designed and built in the last sixty years, their shapes answering to performance and aerodynamic needs rather than marketing demands: Thus no showroom compromises. ...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, British Cars
, Ford
, Fun Events
, Vintage Racing
by Philip Powell on July 22, 2009
If you live in an area of the US or Canada that happens to be far from the Pacific Northwest the name "Westwood" may not ring any bells. But for folks in BC, Washington, Idaho and Oregon, Va...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auto Shows
, British Cars
, Design
, European Specials
by Philip Powell on July 3, 2009
Walking down Sidney BC's main street recently on a fine sunny day, I spotted a Daimler SP250, known as a "Daimler Dart" until Chrysler threatened legal action. Although SP250s are scarce...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Bentley
, British Cars
, Great Drives
by Philip Powell on June 29, 2009
Some classic car owners are content to leave their charges in museums or humidity-controlled garages. Others believe the cars should be driven and even exposed to the same hazards they faced when new....
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Fun Events
by Philip Powell on June 12, 2009
It isn't often that I participate in so-called "lucky draws," especially those where the first prize is a brand-new million dollar+ home. What would I, a bachelor of considerable years, ...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Automotive Art
, British Cars
, Racers
by Philip Powell on May 29, 2009
On January 2nd, 1959, I was working the morning shift at CKFH in Toronto. The station's news policy was of the "rip and read" type, where we announcers ripped off items endlessly flowing...
Filed in archive
Aston Martin
, British Cars
by Philip Powell on May 27, 2009
The modern Aston Martins are so spectacular we sometimes forget that the legendary British marque has a long and noble history, dating back to 1914 when Old Etonian Lionel Martin built a car to drive ...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Design
, Movies
by Philip Powell on May 25, 2009
It may not appear on anyone's "most beautiful cars" list but for me the original Sunbeam Alpine deserves to be there, as would almost any car designed by Raymond Loewy. Perhaps the Alpin...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Rolls-Royce
by Philip Powell on May 22, 2009
My field of dreams is filled with vintage automobiles, and so I was obviously in dreamland when surrounded by Rolls-Royce "motor cars" of all years and types at Vancouver's 2009 All Brit...
Filed in archive
British Cars
by Philip Powell on May 20, 2009
Yes, yes, I know. We're supposed to be totally enraptured by Carroll Shelby's Cobras, unquestionably one of the world's great sports cars. Like the rest of you, I'm in awe, nevertheles...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Information About
by Philip Powell on May 18, 2009
When H.F.S. Morgan began making cars in 1909 his first model was a three-wheeler: two wheels up front, the driving wheel at the rear. And that's the only kind of vehicle the factory manufactured u...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, European Specials
, Ford
by Philip Powell on May 8, 2009
Ah, the Ford Capri! The handsome coupe was Europe's version of the Mustang, built from components of British Ford sedans, just as the former was constructed from Falcon part bins. This year marks ...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, Auto Shows
, British Cars
, Fun Events
, Morgan
by Philip Powell on May 6, 2009
The UK's auto industry may be a mere shadow of its past but all over the world you'll find enthusiasts keen to own, restore, or just admire a British car. Nowhere is this more evident than in ...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Design
, Rare Europeans
by Philip Powell on April 10, 2009
The 1938 Jaguar SS100 is, to my mind, the epitome of what a sports car should be. Never mind the lack of an envelope body and modern conveniences, one look at the SS100 and you know this is a car mea...
Filed in archive
American Independents
, American Specials
, British Cars
, Concours
, Information About
by Philip Powell on April 2, 2009
Of all the North American 2009 concours, nothing could be more appropriate than one that takes place in Detroit and honours the best in American design, especially when the industry is threatened with...
Filed in archive
As We See Things
, British Cars
, Fun Events
by Philip Powell on April 1, 2009
CKFH was a Toronto radio station owned by Foster Hewitt, hockey's original and greatest play-by-play announcer. For a little over a year I was one of the station's staff announcers, working da...
Filed in archive
British Cars
, Concours
, Rolls-Royce
by Philip Powell 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
by Philip Powell 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
by Philip Powell 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
by Philip Powell 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...
