The Magazine

A 1961 Brandshatch Lotus Bentley Mystery ( Lagonda LG 45!)

A photo sent by Mark Cox: "I was hoping you would be able to help me, I have a photo which shows a Lotus 17 with its bodywork removed. It was taken at brands Hatch circa 1961 and I am trying to establish what the car behind is. The registration number I think ends in E588. Is it a Bentley?" 

Editor: it very well could be a Bentley, but judging the rather forward positon of the radiator one tends to think it is a special based on a postwar Mk VI. Another option is that it is a Mallalieu Special, but according to our information those came only in the seventies. Any of the readers may be able to help?

Update by Peter Graham: most correct he comes up with Lagonda LG 45

Thursday, 17 May 2012

Largest gathering of mice ever?

Last weekend the Dutch Fiat Topolino Club celebrated that their club was established 45 years ago. They had invited other clubs from Germany, Italy and Switzerland for a three-day meeting in the Dutch province of Zeeland. More than ninety Topolino's (Italian for little mouse) attended, most of them the Type C, made from 1949 until 1955, several types B, 1948-1949) and the pre-war Type A. Yet there were also some special body variations, for instance the Giardiniera Belvédère station wagons; the Furgoncino delivery van and last but not least the French made Simca, built under licence from Fiat. Judging by the photos it must have been a great weekend and asa former Topolino owner, your editor would have loved to be there.
(photos courtesy Fiat Netherlands)

Wednesday, 16 May 2012

One day you will tell your grandchildren about the time when it took no more than $ 25,000 to get a fine Impala SS

"There was a time way back in the early tens of this century when classics like a full size Chevy convertible were not really popular any more. Prices for pure petrol were still very low, but people thought it was expensive.  This was of course before the G20 Petrol Law was introduced. And the H2O/hydrogen converters and CO2 reburning units had still to be invented. You should know, all that stuff came in the early twenties and no earlier. So driving a car like this on pure petrol - can you imagine how crazy that was !!! - would take a fortune. Happily all that has changed and we all can drive our classics without any sense of guilt and free of any energy charges. The only setback, a car like this is now more expensive than a five bedroom Hollywood home... with swimming pool."

for further info check the Auburn Spring Auction , June 1-3

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

An outsider at the Mille Miglia

In just a few days cars taking part in the famous Mille Miglia will be chasing down the roads of Italy. Starting on Thursday morning with a parade through the streets of Brescia the line-up of participants looks very promising. Apart from the private entrants, many of the bigger marques have emptied their museums to give their normally stationary exhibits a good work-out. Porsche will bring several, among them two Type 550 Spyders. BMW will bring twelve cars, including the 328 'Trouser Crease' Roadster that took part in 1940. Mercedes also brings several, of which we very much like the 1955 180 D, a diesel-powered sedan that cannot compete with the truly fast cars, but will no doubt finish the race with ease. Many, many more will take part, so if you have the chance do go and see the Mille Miglia which follows the course of the most beautiful roads from Brescia to Rome and returns on Saturday in Brescia. If while you are there, don't forget to send us some photos, we'll be glad to publish them!

Monday, 14 May 2012