Category Archives: Car Designers

A-Z Of Car Stuff: C is for Cobra

A-Z of Car Stuff

This is one in a series of posts on cars, drivers, designers etc. that have interested me over the years. I’ve bored my family and friends with this stuff for years – now it’s your turn!

See A-Z of Car Stuff page for more posts in this series.

Finally! – A Cobra Post

I’ve been planning to compose a Cobra post for a very long time but I was finally spurred into action by the announcement that in 2021, AC Cars will build a limited production run of new Cobras.

Hooray you shout ……… until you read the small print. The new cars will be powered by either a 308hp electric motor or by a 345hp turbocharged 4-pot internal combustion motor.

Sorry, I’m afraid I just can’t get my head around this. The key distinguishing characteristic of the Cobra is, and always has been, its Ford V8 engine. Even the plethora of Cobra replicas have almost all used a V8 motor of some description so I just have to ask WHY???

Continue reading A-Z Of Car Stuff: C is for Cobra

London Classic Car Show – Sat 22nd Feb 2020

This show provides a much needed mid-winter boost for for frustrated classic car owners itching to extract their cars from dusty garages to participate in a new year of classic racing, hillclimbs, shows, rallies, auto jumbles and any other form of automotive therapy, anorakery and nerdiness!

Continue reading London Classic Car Show – Sat 22nd Feb 2020

Cars at the V&A – Sat 21st Dec 2019

Cars: Accelerating The Modern World is a curious but far too small exhibition in the Sainsbury Gallery in the V&A celebrating the influence of automotive development on the modern world.

Continue reading Cars at the V&A – Sat 21st Dec 2019

Silverstone Classic – Sat 27th Jul 2019

In these climatically challenging times, I suppose we should no longer be surprised at how rapidly weather conditions can switch from tropical heatwave to standard UK summer drizzle but why does this always seem to coincide with seriously special classic car events?

Last year it was Luftgekühlt at Bicester Heritage which in the midst of wonderfully warm and sunny Summer, transformed into Wassergekühlt! This year, we went from sweltering 38 degree heat (in London at least) to a state of excessive sogginess for Silverstone Classic. Sigh …………. where did I leave my waterproofs and underwater camera?

Continue reading Silverstone Classic – Sat 27th Jul 2019

Pub chat – Revenge (Part 3)

A series of free-wheeling pub chats on the vitally important topic of cars.

“So there we were down the Old Bull & Bluster savouring the delights of their on-tap beery lubricants when the conversation turned to ……………………….. REVENGE!”

Continue reading Pub chat – Revenge (Part 3)

Pub chat – Revenge (Part 2)

A series of free-wheeling pub chats on the vitally important topic of cars.

“So there we were down the Old Bull & Bluster savouring the delights of their on-tap beery lubricants when the conversation turned to ……………………….. REVENGE!”

Continue reading Pub chat – Revenge (Part 2)

Pub chat – Revenge (Part 1)

A series of free-wheeling pub chats on the vitally important topic of cars.

“So there we were down the Old Bull & Bluster savouring the delights of their on-tap beery lubricants when the conversation turned to …………………… REVENGE!”

Continue reading Pub chat – Revenge (Part 1)

A-Z Of Car Stuff: F is for Facel

A-Z of Car Stuff

This is one in a series of posts on cars, drivers, designers etc. that have interested me over the years. I’ve bored my family and friends with this stuff for years – now it’s your turn!

See A-Z of Car Stuff page for more posts in this series.

So – whats so special about Facel?

Facel or Forges et Ateliers de Constructions d’Eure-et-Loir (Facel S.A.  for short) traces its roots back to 1939 when it was established by parent company Bronzavia – a manufacturer of military aircraft.

The company eventually shifted from manufacturing steel components and furniture to building special edition cars for large manufacturers and finally to building their own Facel-badged luxury GT and sports cars.

Continue reading A-Z Of Car Stuff: F is for Facel

Goodwood FOS – Sun 15th Jul 2018

I’d not visited the Goodwood Festival of Speed for some time but the promise of rare and interesting Porsche cars – there to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the company was too difficult to resist.

To be more accurate – the 70th anniversary relates to the first Porsche badged car being built in 1948 as Porsche GmbH, Konstruktionsbüro für Motoren und Fahrzeugbau was actually founded in 1931!

Continue reading Goodwood FOS – Sun 15th Jul 2018

Goodwood 76th Members Meeting – Sun 18th Mar 2018 Part 2

Such is the variety and age range of cars that turn-up for the Goodwood Members Meeting – it can sometimes be difficult to come up with natural grouping topics in a blog post.

Participants in a particular race or demo run is the safest option as these are normally related to a former race category from a specific time period unless it’s to celebrate the career of a racing driver in which case it might span many years.

Certain cars, marques and models however merit greater focus.

Continue reading Goodwood 76th Members Meeting – Sun 18th Mar 2018 Part 2