SEARCH RESULTS

News Electrogenic widens drop-in EV conversion range Tuesday, 15 November 2022 at 14:15:00 UTC By Al Suttie New kits offer easier EV conversions for classics Electrogenic has expanded its range of ‘drop-in’ EV classic car conversions to include the Jaguar E-type, Land Rover Defender, and Porsche 911. The Oxford-based firm’s kits will sold through its networks of approved installers and include a bespoke Battery Management System. Steve Drummond, co-founder and director of Electrogenic, said: ‘We’re delighted to announce the expansion of our sector-leading ‘drop-in’ EV conversion kits, marking the next chapter in the development of our rapidly growing Powered by Electrogenic business. ‘Powered by Electrogenic EV conversion kits, devised by our expert team in the UK, deliver our world-class EV conversion technology - defined by exhaustive development and real depth of engineering - all in an easy to install package. ‘Our range of drop-in kits will sympathetically inject these much-loved cars with cutting-edge EV drivetrain technology, delivering exceptional driveability, performance and efficiency - future proofing these iconic machines and readying them for the fast-approaching age of sustainable, low-carbon motoring. The kits will be offered globally via our exclusive international network of installation partners, enabling us to reach a wider audience than ever before – scaling our business to meet the surging global demand that exists for EV conversion technology.’ The kits offer a driving range of between 120- and 160 miles depending on the vehicle being converted. http://www.electrogenic.co.uk

News Bell Sport & Classic reveal details of three-year Ferrari restoration Wednesday, 26 October 2022 at 10:30:00 UTC By Al Suttie Salon Privé-winning restoration process revealed Bell Sport & Classic has revealed the details behind its restoration of the Ferrari 330 GTC that won the 2022 Salon Privé Concours d’Elegance in September. The Ferrari was the only car in its class that also took part in the two-day Salon Privé tour prior to the concours judging. The firm’s Managing Director, Tim Kearns, said: ‘It’s a fundamental part of our philosophy that we just don’t build a car to get maximum points from the judges in a concours, it’s got to drive beautifully, too. The 330 GTC was the only car in its class to take part in the Salon Privé tour in the lead up to the event. ‘Every car we restore, while flawless visually, has got to perform at the highest possible level. It’s got to be a true driver’s car. And it has to be capable of being used every day of the week even if it isn’t.’ The three-year restoration started with a complete removal of the interior, which took two weeks, followed by all exterior trim being removed. Only then did the team move on to removing the engine, gearbox, and suspension. Many components were restored rather than replaced, including the original 14-inch magnesium wheels, which were badly corroded and kerbed. Original factory build sheets were used to confirm the car’s specification and helped to match the pale green paint, which is called Verde Chiaro Metallizato. Bell Sport & Classic’s Head of Acquisition and Sales, Peter Smith, said: ‘With this Ferrari 330 GTC, we have created a car that looks perfect from first glance right down to the details you will never see. We believe passionately that beauty is so much more than skin-deep. That’s why, if you took this car apart, every component would look new, even though it is 56-years old. ‘Versus the more famous V12 Ferraris of the period, the 330 GTC hides its light under a relative bushel, but it is such a wonderful combination of style and performance that this is one Ferrari unlikely to remain underrated for much longer.’ http://www.bellsportandclassic.co.uk

News New Art Deco classic heater Thursday, 10 March 2022 at 10:00:00 UTC By Al Suttie New heater system from Vintage Air Vintage Air has launched its new Streamline Heater with Art Deco styling for use in classic cars. The Streamline Heater has a moulded plastic cover, polished stainless steel trim, and is operated by a single lever. Louvres direct warm air from the bottom of the unit and it can be divided to send warm air to both passenger and driver footwells. There is a three-speed blower and electrically-controlled heater control valve, and the unit uses a CuproBraze copper and brass core. The Streamline Heater fixes to the bulkhead with two fittings to connect to the car’s cooling system. All parts to install the kit are included and it comes with a three-year warranty. https://www.vintageair.com/

News 96 Club offers secure classic parking in London Monday, 1 August 2022 at 16:00:00 UTC By CCB staff Non-members can now park securely in capital The 96 Club is now offering secure classic car parking to non-members at its garage in Chelsea Harbour, London. Classic car owners can now use the central London parking facility run by the oldest classic car and racing club in Europe. It uses ANPR number plate recognition technology to allow 24-hour access to the secure parking site. It also comes with fire detection, fire shutters, and on-site security patrols. As part of the 96 Club’s offer, there is also a concierge and vehicle engineer service. Non-members can use the facility with prices from less than £300 per month. It includes trickle chargers, and there are optional upgrades such as valeting, regular vehicle run-ups, and car preparation.

News London show attracts more than 20,000 visitors Tuesday, 28 February 2023 at 15:15:00 UTC By Al Suttie Olympia venue is a hit with crowds The London Classic Car Show was on good form as it welcomed more than 20,000 visitors over three days at the Olympia venue. More than 4000 visitors entered the show hall within the first half hour of the show opening. As well as the cars on display, there was a live stage and trade stands. Historics Auctioneers held a sale with 104 lots and enjoyed a60% sale rate on the day, with others under negotiation post-auction. Now in its ninth year, the London Classic Car Show has become a popular event on the capital’s calendar. Several traders that Classic Car Business spoke to were enjoying plenty of enquiries, though some reported converting these to sales was proving harder in the current economic climate. Electrogenic used the Olympia show to give three of their readymade EV conversion kits their public debut, and the company reported interest in these vehicles is increasing dramatically. Martin Clarke, Content Director at Brand Events, said: ‘After being away from Olympia for three years, I’m delighted to have the show back under the venue’s stunning roof once again. It’s wonderful to see such an engaged and enthusiastic audience make their way through the various exhibits, get involved in the live auction with our partner Historics Auctioneers and share in the excitement of the classic car world. This enthusiasm gives us a great platform to put on a bigger and better event for next year.’ Chris Wakley, representing Studio 434, reported good footfall on their stand and added: ‘Visitors to this show seem to be very well informed and enthusiastic about the cars and future of the sector.’ http://www.theclassiccarshowuk.com

News SmartBench launches portable 3-axis CNC router Monday, 16 May 2022 at 8:00:00 UTC By Al Suttie World’s first portable 3-axis true-CNC router launched by SmartBench SmartBench has introduced a 3-axis true-CNC router that is says is a world first. The CNC SmartBench is aimed at restoration businesses that require quick, accurate and repeatable cutting for dashboards, flooring, door cards, and vinyl. SmartBench works from a standard G-Code file and can be supplied with simple-to-learn, intuitive software which doesn’t require specialist skills. The SmartBench can work with 8’x4’ sheet, yet it can also be quickly folded stored when not needed, and it takes only three minutes to set up. It will also fit in the back of a van or estate car. There is an optional Stylus attachment that allows the user to cut vinyl or create large drawing, such as for wiring diagrams. https://www.trend-uk.com/smartbench

News Hagerty announces 2023 Bull Market List Thursday, 8 December 2022 at 10:00:00 UTC By Al Suttie UK and US Bull Market Lists from Hagerty Hagerty has released its Bull Market Lists for the UK and US, showing which cars it believes are the rising stars of the classic car market. In the UK, among the 10 cars chosen by Hagerty are the Ford Fiesta Mk1, Lotus Elise Series 2, and Mercedes-Benz SL R129. Others to make it on the list are the original Audi TT, Austin 7, Bentley Turbo R, Citroen BX, Lamborghini Diablo, Saab 99 Turbo, and the Triumph Spitfire. In the US list, there are some similar picks, such as the Saab 900 Turbo and Lamborghini Aventador. However, the remainder of the US choices are unique to this market and include the 1968 AMC AMX, original Audi R8, 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Nissan 350Z, Suzuki Cappuccino, and 1984 Toyota Pickup. There is also one motorcycle in the US Hagerty Bull Market List with the 1936-1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. John Mayhead, Editor of the UK Hagerty Price Guide, said: ‘Our Valuation Team analyses thousands of transactions from our 2 million insured vehicles, auction results and dealer sales to see what is on the move. The Bull Market list identifies those cars that may be rising in value, so if you want one, now may be the time to start your search. ‘This year, as ever, we have a really interesting mix of cars to suit all pockets and areas of the hobby, from a veteran car all the way through to a modern classic supercar. We’ve also included a couple of very different British roadsters. As ever, working through the data to compile this list has been a highlight of the year.’ In the US, Hagerty Senior Vice President of Media and Editorial Larry Webster added: ‘Bull Market is a guide for enthusiasts of all types to find, buy and drive something they love while also making a good investment.’ http://www.hagerty.co.uk

News Everrati partners with Hilton & Moss Thursday, 5 May 2022 at 9:00:00 UTC By Al Suttie EV convertor partners with Mercedes specialist Electric vehicle specialist Everrati has established a strategic partnership with Mercedes restorer Hilton & Moss to produce ‘Pagoda’ SL models. The W113 SL Pagoda is the latest model to join Everrati’s list of EV conversions, and Hilton & Moss will undertake the restoration of all the non-EV powertrain elements of the car. Peter Hilton, founder of The Hilton Group, said: ‘The fabric of Hilton & Moss is woven with the spirit of Mercedes-Benz. Having developed 40 years of knowledge with Mercedes-Benz vehicles, we pride ourselves in providing an authentic feel behind the wheel. Everrati’s EV technology and engineering bring another exciting dimension to this experience, and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to offer our combined expertise to customers seeking a stylish and thrilling classic motoring experience.’ Justin Lunny, Founder and CEO, Everrati Automotive Limited, added: ‘Everrati prides itself on working with partners who meet extremely high-quality standards. With its industry-leading expertise in Mercedes-Benz vehicles and passion for exquisite restoration, Hilton & Moss is the perfect partner to help us redefine the W113 SL Pagoda experience. We’re excited to work with such an established name in the world of classic vehicles and look forward to offering more redefined iconic models in partnership with Hilton & Moss in the future.’ https://hiltonandmoss.com/ https://everrati.com/

News Hilton Group expands showroom Tuesday, 5 April 2022 at 9:30:00 UTC By Al Suttie New three-floor space for Hilton Group The Hilton Group has opened its new three-storey facility in Bishop’s Stortford. The purpose-built 75,000sq/ft complex gives the firm a total of 100,000sq/ft of space for storage, showrooms, and workshops. It also includes a roof terrace for customers. The upper two storeys are given over to storage and showroom space for the firm that specialises in classic car restoration and approved body work repairs. A custom-made ramp allows access to the first floor for vehicle repairs to be undertaken. Hilton Group Founder, Peter Hilton, said: ‘This new facility is the future of our business, perfectly encapsulating everything we do here at the Group. The new state-of-the-art showrooms are the ideal showcase for our perfect restoration work at Hilton & Moss – as well as TVR and Lotus models as part of Car Sales – our two-storey 30-bay workshop further extends our reputation as the largest manufacturer-approved repair facility in the UK, and Hilton Car Storage showcases our absolute passion and attention to detail. More than that, though, we wanted to create a real destination for car enthusiasts in the South East and beyond.’ https://hiltonaccidentrepair.co.uk/

News MPH to close Friday, 17 December 2021 at 0:00:00 UTC By Al Suttie Bonhams closes MPH The MPH arm of Bonhams is closing and the company will now focus more effort on the recently acquired The Market. The move comes with immediate effect despite MPH hosting 12 auctions since its launch in 2019. It was set-up by Bonhams to concentrate on newer classics in the sub-£100,000 category. Bonhams bought The Market in April 2019, which has proved very successful during the pandemic with its online auctions. The Market is also set to launch in the US with Caroline Cassini spearheading this move. https://themarket.co.uk/en/

News ‘New’ BRM delivered Friday, 24 September 2021 at 21:00:00 UTC By Alisdair Suttie The first ‘new’ BRM P15 since 1953 has been delivered to its owner. Built to celebrate 70 years of the BRM company, the exact recreation was presented to owner, John Owen, at its first shakedown test at Blyton Park circuit The P15 is one of three that will be built, all with a 1.5-litre V16 engine that revs to 9000rpm. John Owen said: ‘Hearing that V16 engine again after so many years was an incredible moment, and a dream come true. It’s a tribute to the tremendous skill, persistence and attention to detail of the engineering team at Hall and Hall who have built the car.’ John is the son of BRM founder Sir Alfred Owen, and he has been instrumental in the creation of these cars that produced 600bhp at 12,000rpm when new. For the test, the BRM was driven by Rob Hall, of Hall and Hall. He said: ‘The car still needs a few tweaks and adjustments, but this is to be expected in such a complex package. We took the engine up to 9000rpm, but got a ticking off from the circuit because I think we exceeded their 95dB noise limit!’ The BRM P15 makes its public debut at the Goodwood Revival on 17 September. http://www.britishracingmotors.co.uk

News Carbon-fibre Cobra Monday, 21 February 2022 at 14:30:00 UTC By Al Suttie Classic Creations to make 10 carbon-fibre Cobras US-based firm Classic Creations is producing a limited series of 10 Shelby Cobras and each comes with a Carroll Shelby commemorative signature on the dash. Called the Carbon Fiber Shelby Race Car and built to mark the 60th anniversary of the AC Cobra, the entire body is made from the lightweight material. All up, the body weighs a claimed 88lbs (39.9kg). Each car will have a diamond-encrusted badge. Classic Creations’ cars will be powered by an 800bhp supercharged Ford Coyote V8. The company believes this will make it the fastest Cobra model ever made. Each of the 10 Carbon Fiber Shelby Race Cars will cost $1.2 million (£880,000). https://classic-recreations.com/