Rolls-Royce of America liked to name its catalogue coachwork after English places, and the habit never sat more awkwardly than on the Piccadilly Roadster: a London street name, a chassis built in Springfield, M...
Few racing specials owe their existence quite so literally to cannibalism as the Sunbeam Tiger known across British club-racing paddocks as the Monster. Built for the 1966 season by the Kent-based Alan Fraser R...
When Elva's small workshop crew sat down in late 1964 to build the first customer copy of Bruce McLaren's new sports-racer, they had no engineering drawings to work from, only a stack of photographs, because th...
John Cooper was never entirely persuaded by the way his own sports car looked, and rather than defend the styling he kept a stock joke ready: the tail had been chopped off, he told anyone who asked, "we had to...
The Aston Martin Valkyrie Coupé is a landmark achievement in automotive engineering, merging hypercar performance with cutting-edge design. Developed through a collaboration between Aston Martin, Red Bull Racin...
Aston Martin built its reputation on the idea that a great engine's character matters more than clinical efficiency, and nowhere was that philosophy tested more directly than in the decision to turbocharge the...
In the realm of supercars, McLaren stands as a preeminent force, an automaker renowned for its relentless pursuit of performance, lightweight construction, and driver-focused driving experiences. Among their mo...
In the ever-evolving symphony of automotive excellence, the 2021 McLaren Elva emerges as a captivating crescendo. As the first open-cockpit road car from the renowned British automaker, the Elva not only propel...
The McLaren Speedtail, unveiled in October 2018, represents the pinnacle of McLaren's dedication to pushing the limits of automotive engineering. As part of the revered McLaren Ultimate Series,alongside the Sen...
In the world of luxury automobiles, the Bentley Continental GT has long stood as a paragon of refinement and performance. Yet, for its 100th anniversary, Bentley has taken a bold step to celebrate its illustrio...
The thunder of a turbocharged engine and the sight of an Aston Martin badge competing wheel-to-wheel on German soil – these sensations lasted just one fleeting season in DTM. When Aston Martin announced their e...
The Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Coupe is a meticulously crafted automotive masterpiece that represents the finest collaboration between Aston Martin and the renowned Italian design house, Zagato. Unveiled at t...
When McLaren unveiled the 675LT coupé in 2015, it was a return to the marque's legendary "Long Tail" lineage, a name that harkens back to the iconic F1 GTR race car of the mid-'90s. Designed as a more hardcore,...
The Rolls-Royce ‘Silver Spectre’ Shooting Brake by Niels van Roij Design and Carat Duchatelet represents a masterful fusion of luxury, performance, and bespoke craftsmanship. Rooted in the prestigious lineage o...
There's something magnificently absurd about the Twisted Land Rover Defender 110 XS Station Wagon V-8 LS3, and that's exactly why it works. This is what happens when a Yorkshire-based specialist takes one of th...
When Jeremy Clarkson slid into the cockpit of the Lotus T125 for a Top Gear feature in 2011, viewers witnessed something extraordinary: a seasoned presenter giggling like a child on a rollercoaster. The car, he...
The McLaren MP4-12C represents one of the most significant milestones in British automotive engineering. Developed as McLaren's triumphant return to road car production, this exceptional machine combined Formul...
In the world of high-performance grand tourers, few cars blend beauty, exclusivity, and motorsport pedigree quite like the Aston Martin V12 Zagato. A creation born from the 50-year collaboration between Aston M...
When Aston Martin decided to create a racing version of their already impressive V8 Vantage road car, they weren't just making another track machine,they were crafting automotive art designed to conquer the wor...
The turn of the millennium marked a pivotal moment for Aston Martin. After decades of financial struggles and ownership changes, the storied British marque needed a statement – something to reassert its positio...
In the realm of grand tourers, few vehicles capture the essence of luxury and performance quite like the Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagato. Born from the fruitful collaboration between British automotive craftsmanship...
In the late 1990s, as rallying entered an era of technical innovation and grassroots competition, Ford unveiled a pocket-sized powerhouse: the Puma S1600. Born from the road-going Ford Puma coupé, this homologa...
The Land Rover Defender 90 NAS represents one of the most fascinating chapters in automotive history-a brief yet impactful period when Britain's iconic off-roader made its way to North American shores in limite...
The Jaguar XJR-S stands out as a remarkable fusion of luxury and performance within the storied lineage of the Jaguar XJ-S (later known as XJS). Produced between 1988 and 1993, the XJR-S represents a high-perfo...
Get ready to dive into the exhilarating world of endurance racing as we shine the spotlight on one of Jaguar's most iconic machines. Buckle up and prepare to be amazed by the sheer power and elegance of the leg...
In the realm of exotic and classic cars, where power and elegance converge, there exists a rare gem - the 1991 Bentley Turbo R Drophead Coupé by Pininfarina. It's a story that combines the opulence of a Bentley...
The March-Alfa Romeo 90CA is a notable entry in the rich history of American open-wheel racing, particularly in the IndyCar series. Debuting in the 1990 CART PPG Indy Car World Series, this vehicle represents a...
The year 1985 marked a pivotal moment in Formula Ford racing when Reynard Motorsport unveiled its 85F chassis. This striking open-wheel racer represented Adrian Reynard's ambitious attempt to challenge the domi...
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage stands as one of the most significant grand tourers in automotive history. When unveiled on February 18, 1977, it was immediately hailed as "Britain's First Supercar" - a title it ri...
The Rolls-Royce Camargue, produced between 1975 and 1986, is one of the brand’s most distinctive and polarising vehicles. Designed by Paolo Martin at Pininfarina, it marked a departure from Rolls-Royce's tradit...
In 1977, Formula 1 witnessed one of the most unexpected success stories in its history. The Wolf WR1, a car built by a team that didn’t exist a year earlier, stormed onto the grid and won its very first race. T...
When the Tyrrell P34 rolled onto the track for the 1976 Formula 1 season, it looked like something from a science fiction movie. With four tiny front wheels and two regular-sized rear wheels, the car seemed to...
When Ken Tyrrell faced the 1974 Formula One season, his team was at a crossroads. Jackie Stewart, the three-time world champion who’d been the face of Tyrrell Racing, had retired. François Cevert, Stewart’s pro...
In the early 1970s, as Formula One teams spiraled into costly technological arms races, a plucky British manufacturer dared to redefine accessibility in open-wheel racing. The Trojan T101, a snarling Formula 50...
The story of the Rondel Motul M1 begins not with engines roaring on the race track, but in the mind of a young mechanic named Ron Dennis,years before he would become the driving force behind McLaren’s golden er...
When James Hunt crossed the finish line at the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix, clinching the World Championship by a single point, it wasn’t just a personal triumph,it was the crowning moment for a car that had becom...
In the early 1970s, McLaren was a name already synonymous with racing innovation, though most enthusiasts associate their legacy with Formula 1 dominance or their thunderous Can-Am cars. But tucked within this...
The Merlyn Mk21 represents a fascinating chapter in the history of junior formula racing, a testament to a time when small British manufacturers could hold their own against automotive giants. Built by Colchest...
When the McLaren team arrived at Kyalami for the 1971 South African Grand Prix, they carried more than just a new racing car. The M19A represented something deeper,a statement that despite the devastating loss...
In the world of classic cars, few marques invoke the same sense of grandeur and sophistication as Aston Martin. The British automaker, with a history dating back to the early 20th century, has produced some of...
In 1969, a modest British engineering firm from Colchester made an outsized impact on the world of entry-level motorsport. The Merlyn Mk11a, an unassuming open-wheel racer, became the vehicle of choice for a ge...
The story of the Austin Mini Cooper S Mk II represents one of the most exciting chapters in British automotive history. Produced between September 1967 and January 1970, this compact powerhouse combined everyda...
Few cars capture the spirit of British motoring quite like the Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III BJ8. The BJ8 stands as the final and most refined evolution of the “Big Healey” lineage, a car that seamlessly combines c...
The Sunbeam Tiger Mk IA represents one of the most successful marriages of British sports car design and American V8 power. Created during the golden age of roadsters, this remarkable automobile combines the el...
In the illustrious world of grand tourers, few names command as much respect and admiration as the Aston Martin DB5. Born from the visionary mind of Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, the DB...
Few cars have achieved the iconic status of the Aston Martin DB5. Synonymous with luxury, performance, and British elegance, the DB5 is a cultural icon. Originally produced between 1963 and 1965, this grand tou...
The term "Volante," meaning "flying" in Italian, evokes freedom, elegance, and the unique sense of exhilaration that only an open-top grand tourer can provide. For Aston Martin enthusiasts, it carries an extra...
There are moments in automotive history when a manufacturer, almost by accident, produces something so right that it haunts the industry for decades. The Aston Martin DB4 'SS Engine' Series V Convertible is one...
The Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II BN7 stands out as a significant chapter in British sports car history, representing both the zenith of the "Big Healey" era and a high-performance variant that embodied the marque’s...
In the pantheon of classic automobiles, the Aston Martin DB4 Series V Vantage occupies a singular position as both a crowning achievement and a harbinger of things to come. Produced during a brief but transform...
A third SU carburettor, bigger valves and a little more compression: that was the entire recipe for the DB4's Special Series engine, and the strangest thing about it is how much confusion it has caused since. A...
In the automotive landscape of the late 1950s, sports cars were typically exclusive, expensive machines that most enthusiasts could only dream about. Then came a car that would change everything. The Austin-Hea...
In the grand tapestry of automotive history, certain cars emerge as true icons, not just for their raw power or technological innovations, but for the way they encapsulate an era. The 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Seri...
The Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I BT7 is a classic British sports car, first introduced in 1959, and a standout model within the "Big Healey" family. Manufactured from 1959 to 1961, this version of the 3000 is notabl...
In the austere aftermath of World War II, the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Drophead Coupé by Park Ward emerged as a triumphant declaration of British resilience and craftsmanship. Introduced in 1946 as Rolls-Royce...
There is a particular breed of automobile that resists easy categorisation - one that exists not quite as a production car, not quite as a show car, but somewhere in the charged creative space between a chassis...
In the austere years following World War II, the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Drophead Coupé by Park Ward emerged as a beacon of automotive opulence, blending the marque’s engineering rigor with bespoke coachbuildin...
In the heart of the 1950s, when sports cars ruled the roads and racetracks, there was a name that stood tall among the giants of speed. Frazer Nash, a British marque with an indomitable spirit, created a series...
The post-war era marked a transformative time for the luxury automobile industry. In 1946, Bentley introduced its first new model since World War II, the Bentley Mark VI, a car that would not only define the br...
Rolls-Royce never built a Wraith drophead coupé. What left Derby from 1938 was a rolling chassis, and the folding-hood two-door bodies that some customers ordered for it were the work of independent coachbuilde...
The Rolls-Royce Phantom III stands out as one of the most iconic and innovative luxury cars of its era. Produced between 1936 and 1939, it was the last large pre-war Rolls-Royce and the only model to feature a...
Lagonda's LG45 spent its short life being asked to be two things at once: the heir to a Le Mans winner, and a hushed, well-mannered carriage for people who would rather not wrestle a big six through a corner. T...
The Rolls-Royce 20/25 Two-Door 'Faux Cabriolet' by H.J. Mulliner is a car that radiates the spirit of its era, blending technical innovation, bespoke craftsmanship, and a kind of restrained glamour that only a...
The gravel crunches softly underfoot as you approach it, a stately presence that somehow manages to be both imposing and inviting. The gleaming radiator, topped with the Spirit of Ecstasy, catches the morning l...
The Bentley 8-Litre emerged from the Cricklewood works in London during an unfortunate moment in history. Announced on September 15, 1930, and unveiled at the London Olympia Motor Show the following month, this...
The Rolls-Royce Phantom I Riviera Town Car, customised by J.S. Inskip, represents a unique blend of old-world luxury and American flair. Rooted in the "New Phantom" platform, it is a testament to Rolls-Royce's...
In the thrilling world of pre-war motorsports, one name stood tall, dominating the race tracks with its exceptional performance and relentless power - the Bentley Speed Six Le Mans Tourer in the style of Vanden...
The automotive landscape of the late 1920s witnessed a fundamental shift in consumer preferences that would reshape the British motor industry forever. As the decade drew to a close, the romance of open-air mot...
The Jaguar E-Type is an icon of automotive history. Known as the Jaguar XK-E in North America, this British masterpiece was a blend of beauty, advanced engineering, and breathtaking performance. The Series 1½ R...
The story of the Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2-Litre Roadster is about the creation of an automotive icon that would forever change how we think about sports cars. When this magnificent machine burst onto the scen...
When Gordon Murray sketched a three-seat sports car concept while waiting for a flight home from the 1988 Italian Grand Prix, little did he know he was about to create automotive history. The McLaren F1 wasn't...
If there's one car that defined the early '90s supercar scene, it's undoubtedly the Jaguar XJ220. A masterpiece of design, engineering, and raw power, this beast from Coventry left an indelible mark in the anna...
When the Jaguar XJR-15 thundered onto the scene in 1990, it wasn’t merely a car,it was a declaration. Born from the ashes of Le Mans glory and forged in the crucible of motorsport ambition, this limited-product...
The Jaguar XK 150 arrived in 1957 carrying a difficult inheritance. The XK 120 that had launched in 1948 was a sensation - slippery, fast, and genuinely beautiful in a way that stopped traffic in both senses -...
The Jaguar XK150 S 3.8 Drophead Coupe is a symbol of an era when British sports cars ruled the roads. As the last iteration of Jaguar’s famed XK series, the XK150 represents the pinnacle of Jaguar's 1950s engin...
When Jaguar unveiled the XK150 in 1957, it represented the culmination of nearly a decade of sports car development that began with the revolutionary XK120. The XK150 3.4-Litre Roadster, specifically, arrived i...
The McLaren P1, codenamed P12, is a defining entry in the British marque's Ultimate Series, sitting alongside the legendary McLaren F1 as a testament to cutting-edge automotive engineering. Unveiled at the 2013...
The Jaguar E-Type stands as perhaps the most significant sports car ever created, a perfect storm of engineering brilliance, breathtaking design, and racing pedigree. Among the various iterations produced durin...
Adrian Newey's aerodynamic fingerprint had been on every McLaren since the MP4/13 of 1998 - the car that delivered Mika Häkkinen his first championship in a season of near-total competitive authority. Through t...
In the mid-1950s, as Europe’s postwar racing scene buzzed with sleek Italian thoroughbreds and refined German engineering, a small British workshop began crafting something audaciously different. The Lister-Che...
The Lagonda LG45 Rapide Sports Tourer, introduced in 1936, stands as one of the most remarkable and stylish cars of the pre-war era. Combining elegant design, advanced engineering, and motorsport pedigree, the...
In the world of classic cars, few names evoke as much passion and reverence as Aston Martin. Since its inception, this British marque has been synonymous with luxury, performance, and timeless design. Among the...
In the rarefied air of automotive tributes, the McLaren Senna GTR 'LM 25' by Lanzante stands as a technical marvel and historical bridge. Conceived to commemorate the 25th anniversary of McLaren’s improbable 19...
Inside Rolls-Royce's Crewe drawing office in the early 1950s, the car that became the Bentley R-Type Continental was filed under a name it would never officially carry. Engineers' chassis cards described the pr...
"The Dreamer" arrived before anyone expected it. When the Motor Age published a photograph of a 1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost standing outside a townhouse in Adelaide in November 1912, readers in America encoun...
In the early 1930s, amidst the purr of luxury automobiles and the roar of emerging sports cars, one vehicle stood as a testament to the quiet, resolute elegance of a bygone era. This was the 1931 Bentley 8-Litr...
The Rolls-Royce Phantom II Tourer by Thrupp & Maberly is the epitome of pre-war British luxury, capturing an era when motoring was more than just transportation,it was a statement of affluence, refinement, and...
Few automobiles capture the essence of classic luxury and craftsmanship like the Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Owen Drophead Sedanca Coupe by J. Gurney Nutting. Revered for its impeccable design, engineeri...
The Rolls-Royce Phantom II Limousine by Barker exemplifies the elegance and engineering excellence of pre-war luxury automobiles. Produced from 1929 to 1936, the Phantom II marked the final evolution of Rolls-R...
There is a particular breed of motorcar that refuses to accept any single identity - one that exists at the intersection of engineering ambition and the coachbuilder's art. The Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continenta...
The Rolls-Royce Phantom II is celebrated as one of the last great 40/50 hp models produced by Rolls-Royce. Launched in 1929, the Phantom II evolved into the Continental,a version that emphasised a sporty, strea...
The Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Tourer, famously dubbed the “Silver Ghost,” stands as one of the most significant and storied vehicles in automotive history. Produced from 1907 to 1926, this luxury model...
The boattail is a lie - or rather, a magnificent contradiction. H.J. Mulliner built its reputation on restraint: the long, composed limousine bodies, the formal sedancas, the kind of coachwork that whispered ra...
There is a peculiar tension at the heart of the Rolls-Royce Phantom I Sports Tourer - the tension between a firm whose very reputation rested on whisper-quiet refinement and a world increasingly captivated by s...
The Rolls-Royce Phantom I Newmarket Convertible Sedan by Brewster stands as a symbol of 1920s luxury, combining sophisticated design, masterful craftsmanship, and reliable engineering. Built on the Springfield,...
When it comes to legendary sports cars, the Jaguar E-Type stands tall among the icons. The Series 2, specifically the 4.2-Litre Roadster, represents a refined and enhanced version of an already stunning machine...
The moment Clifton Scott, AC Cars' chief engineer, pulled the Bristol engine from its mounting in a test Ace and tightened the first bolts around its replacement, he was participating in a decision that would q...
In the symphony of automotive history, there are compositions that resonate with elegance, innovation, and the unbridled joy of driving. One such crescendo in the automotive symphony is the 1961 AC Greyhound, a...
In the world of grand touring, where elegance meets adrenaline, the 1972 Aston Martin DBS V8 stands as a testament to the craftsmanship and innovation of its time. Born from the hands of skilled artisans in the...
When James Bond climbed out of a silver DBS coupe at Casino Royale's poker table in 2006, Aston Martin handed the car a cultural appointment it hadn't quite earned on the road yet. The Volante version, which ar...
The Triumph TR6 sits at the end of a lineage built on honest brutality - the kind of sports car philosophy that held that if the driver wanted comfort, they had bought the wrong machine. But before passing judg...
When Lotus drew a line under the Esprit in February 2004, they did so with 79 cars. That number is so small it barely registers as a production run - more like a handwritten list than a factory output - and yet...
The Bentley 4¼-Litre Sedanca Coupé, rebodied in the style of Henri Chapron, stands as a testament to the golden era of bespoke automotive artistry - a machine where British engineering meets the sculptural flai...
The Bentley 4 1⁄4-Litre Coupé by de Villars is a luxurious and timeless masterpiece from the late 1930s, embodying a sophisticated balance of British engineering by Bentley and French coachbuilding by the artis...
When Rolls-Royce absorbed what remained of Bentley in 1931, the acquisition was widely read as a quiet burial - the Cricklewood factory shuttered, W.O. Bentley himself eased out of the company whose name he had...
The engineers at Abingdon had given themselves a nearly impossible brief: take the overhead-valve B-Series engine that powered half the vehicles in the British Motor Corporation's catalogue, graft twin overhead...
The MG TA Roadster is the kind of car that makes you want to drop everything, grab your goggles and driving gloves, and set off into the countryside with nothing but the sound of its eager engine and the wind i...
The year was 1929, and the roar of engines filled the air as the world witnessed the birth of a legend. Bentley, known for its remarkable blend of British luxury and race-winning performance, unleashed an autom...
Aston Martin’s DB7 Vantage stands as a defining moment in the brand’s modern history - a car that not only saved the marque from financial uncertainty but also set the tone for every Aston Martin that followed....
The Rolls-Royce Phantom name carries with it a century-long legacy of opulence, grace, and exclusivity. Since its inception, the Phantom has been synonymous with luxury, hand-built craftsmanship, and an unparal...
When Rolls-Royce's Crewe factory shut its gates on a Rolls-Royce-badged car for the last time on 30 August 2002, the car rolling off the line was a Corniche V - and the circularity of that moment deserves more...
When Bentley's Speed 8 prototypes rolled into the scrutineering bay at Circuit de la Sarthe ahead of the 2003 race, it marked the closing of a parenthesis that had been open since 1930 - the year a Bentley last...
When Pininfarina agreed to build the bodyshell of a British luxury car in a factory outside Florence, it was quietly acknowledging something Bentley's own workforce could not: that Crewe simply lacked the space...
The Bentley Azure stands as a testament to timeless luxury, engineering prowess, and bespoke craftsmanship. As one of the most iconic four-seater convertible grand tourers ever produced, it has left an indelibl...
The problem with the Vantage Volante isn't one of speed, or beauty, or ambition - it's one of contradiction. Newport Pagnell, 1986: Aston Martin's craftsmen are hand-building what is simultaneously a luxury dro...
In the tumultuous landscape of 1970s automotive design, the Aston Martin V8 Series III emerged as a defiant celebration of handcrafted grandeur. Produced from 1973 to 1978, this model bridged the gap between As...
When Roger Moore's 007 handed back the keys for good, the Aston Martin V8 Volante almost went with him - and then Timothy Dalton saved it. Victor Gauntlett, Aston Martin Lagonda's chairman, personally lent his...
The Aston Martin DB6 Vantage, produced from 1965 to 1971, stands as a masterpiece of British automotive engineering, blending refined luxury with raw performance. As the successor to the legendary DB5, the DB6...
When the Aston Martin DB4 Series I debuted at the 1958 London Motor Show, it marked a transformative moment for the British marque and the grand touring segment. Emerging from the creative vision of Sir David B...
When sixty sales managers of a Minneapolis greeting card company each pool $200 to buy their boss a Christmas present, and that present turns out to be a one-of-two coachbuilt Aston Martin designed by Giovanni...
In the realm of grand touring cars, the Aston Martin DB2/4 Coupe by Bertone stands as a distinguished symbol of mid-20th century automotive sophistication. Produced from 1953 to 1957, the DB2/4 was a significan...
When the engineers at Newport Pagnell grafted an extra 200 millimetres into the wheelbase of the V8 Volante, they were doing something that felt almost against the grain of Aston Martin's DNA - making a car mor...
Twenty-eight. That is the entire global production run of the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster - and every last one was committed to a buyer before a single carbon fibre panel had been laid up, let alone...
Nineteen. It's a number that follows Zagato around like a phantom, encoded into the very DNA of the Italian carrozzeria. Founded in Milan on 19 April 1919 by Ugo Zagato, the house built only 19 examples of its...
The McLaren 720S stands as a testament to British automotive excellence, redefining what a modern supercar can achieve. Combining breathtaking performance with surprising everyday usability, this McLaren model...
Four hundred and ten brake horsepower, in 1989, from a naturally aspirated engine that first saw light in a gentleman's road car. Pause on that number for a moment, because the engineers at Newport Pagnell arri...
The Sunbeam Tiger Mk I was born with two things most cars don't have to contend with at the factory: a sledgehammer and a royalty cheque. The sledgehammer was used by Jensen assembly workers in West Bromwich to...
If you wanted to buy a Bristol in 1966, the car didn't come to you - you came, by appointment, to the small showroom at Kensington High Street, where the proprietor Tony Crook might personally assess whether yo...
When Sir Leonard Lord announced on the sixth of August 1959 that Innocenti of Milan would build British Motor Corporation cars for the Italian market, he listed the Austin A40, the A55, and the Morris Oxford. H...
When James Young of Bromley finally ceased building bodies on Phantom chassis in 1968, Rolls-Royce found itself for the first time as sole provider of coachwork for its most formal model. The coachbuilder's wor...
The engine that powered Aston Martin's most exotic and coachbuilt 1980s creation - the razor-edged, Zagato-bodied V8 - was also available, quietly and without fanfare, as a factory conversion for the Vantage si...
The most exclusive version of the world's most famous grand tourer had no special name. While the DB5 coupé was acquiring its immortal association with James Bond across two consecutive films, the open-top vari...
In 1959, even as the first Phantom V chassis were being prepared for dispatch from Crewe, Rolls-Royce was quietly letting it be known that the Silver Shadow - the car already in development to replace the mains...
When Vilhelm Koren heard what Rolls-Royce had done with his design, his reported response was one of displeasure. The Norwegian had left Park Ward's coachbuilding works at Pyms Lane in Willesden well before 196...
When Rolls-Royce wanted a body for the most significant Bentley in a generation, they did not turn to Britain. They turned to a Norwegian freelance designer who had caught their attention in Turin with an Alfa...
When Jaguar PR man Bob Berry drove the pre-production fixed-head coupé registered 9600 HP flat-out from Coventry to the Parc des Eaux-Vives in Geneva, he arrived on the morning of 15 March 1961 with twenty minu...
The name that Rolls-Royce and H.J. Mulliner chose for their most desirable Silver Cloud conversion was, by any reasonable measure, an act of studied understatement. "Adaptation" - suggesting a minor modificatio...
The early 1960s marked a fascinating moment in automotive history,a time when jet-age styling met old-world craftsmanship, when technology began to transform luxury, yet traditional methods still prevailed. At...
The most celebrated Continental Bentleys of the 1950s wore two-door bodies - lean, purposeful shapes that rejected the rear-quarter glass of a conventional saloon in favour of something more aerodynamically res...
Pop the bonnet of an XK150 S and you're confronted with something that doesn't quite belong in a road car: a cylinder head painted pumpkin orange, the same shade worn by units that spent their developmental yea...
When Rolls-Royce launched the Silver Cloud in 1955, it marked something of a philosophical watershed for the Crewe firm: for the first time, the standard body was pressed steel, manufactured at the Pressed Stee...
Somewhere between the last gasps of Britain's post-war industrial confidence and the dawning realisation that American V8 muscle had fundamentally redrawn the world's expectations of performance luxury, Bentley...
Perry B. Fina's speed shop on West 54th Street in Manhattan was not, on any given day in early 1951, what you would call a quiet place. New Allards arrived off the docks at regular intervals, crated and half-fi...
Sydney Allard built cars for people who wanted to win arguments. Not the polite, points-scored-over-dinner kind - the kind settled at traffic lights or, ideally, at Pebble Beach concours where a British roadste...
To order a Bentley S1 in 1955 was already to make a point about how you chose to move through the world. To then direct that order to a modest workshop on London Road in Bromley - bypassing the factory steel bo...
Turin has a particular talent for looking at something already beautiful and deciding it isn't quite finished. In the mid-1950s, when Jaguar's XK 140 arrived as a rolling chassis at the gates of Carrozzeria Ghi...
Presented at the Olympia Motor Show in October 1929, the Bentley 6½-Litre Sedanca de Ville by H.J. Mulliner arrived at a peculiar intersection of two entirely different Bentleys - the one W.O. believed in and t...
W. O. Bentley was trying to keep a secret somewhere near Lyon in the summer of 1924, and failing spectacularly. His development mule - a disguised prototype registered as a "Sun," fitted with a large, wedge-sha...
When a manufacturer puts a guaranteed top speed in writing and stakes its reputation on the promise, the car carrying that claim had better be honest. In 1934, Aston Martin signed its name to exactly that kind...
The shape that became the Jaguar XK120 was drawn in approximately four weeks. William Lyons, Jaguar's co-founder and its determining aesthetic voice, worked against a deadline - the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show...