Mecum car auctions to accept cryptocurrency

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June 1, 2021

Mecum Auctions has announced that it will now accept payment of winning bids with cryptocurrency.

The Wisconsin-based company has chosen BitPay as its cryptocurrency provider, opening up a wide range of payment options.

With the cryptocurrency option available to in-person and online bidders, the company hopes it will attract a new generation of customers.

Taking bids through the blockchain

Registered Mecum bidders will be able to select from various different cryptocurrencies and ‘coins’. This includes the popular Bitcoin, along with Ethereum and even Dogecoin.

Bitcoin has become the cryptocurrency of choice for certain car manufacturers. Karma dealerships in California have previously committed to accepting Bitcoin.

Tesla announced earlier this year that the company would allow payment for new cars with Bitcoin. However, Elon Musk later retracted the brand’s commitment, citing environmental concerns from the ‘mining’ of Bitcoin.

IndyCar driver Rinus VeeKay featured Bitcoin sponsorship in the recent Indy 500 race.

Spring Classic sets new records

Stephen Pair, CEO of BitPay, commented: “Mecum Auctions realizes the potential for crypto to revolutionize the collector car auction industry, making payments faster, more secure and less expensive on a global scale”.

He added that: “Our goal at BitPay is to make accepting crypto a seamless process and to increase adoption as crypto is the future of payments, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to support Mecum in providing crypto payment solutions for car enthusiasts worldwide.”

Mecum’s cryptocurrency announcement came as part of the recent 2021 Indy auction. This event saw the company hit a new record, seeing total sales of more than $107 million.

Top-selling cars included the famous ‘Big Oly’ Ford Bronco, which sold for $1.87 million.

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Motorists to save £35 a year on car insurance under new whiplash rules

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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June 1, 2021

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The government has claimed motorists could save £35 per year on the cost of car insurance following the introduction of new rules designed to reduce the number of fraudulent road accident claims.

As part of the reforms, there will be a simplified process for making accident claims online that are under £5,000, removing the need for lawyers.

Medical evidence will also be mandatory for all future whiplash claims.

The Ministry of Justice claimed insurers have pledged to pass on the savings to drivers, estimating they are worth £1.2 billion.

“For too long, the system for making whiplash claims has been open to abuse by individuals looking for an easy payday – with ordinary motorists paying the price,” said Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland.

“Our changes, which come into force today, will put an end to this greedy opportunism and ultimately see savings put back into the pockets of the country’s drivers.”

However, accident management company Call Brian hit out at the changes and accused the government of making things overly complicated for motorists involved in accidents.

It said it is not being made clear to motorists that they will need to understand a 64-page legal guide, adding they will also need knowledge of the MedCo system – which is used to facilitate the sourcing of medical reports in soft tissue claims brought under the Ministry of Justice.

“Firstly, Brits are expected to fork out for costly legal fees if they want to add any kind of professional legal weight to their claims, then you’re expecting them to become theoretical and medical experts just to get the compensation they deserve,” said Colin Shaw, the CEO of the firm.

“And even then, there’s no guarantee of winning, so everyone, not just motorists, will be left out of pocket under this new system.”

“I just can’t see how it’s going to work at all and feel it will become a real health and financial headache for already stress-induced Brits battling the effects of the pandemic.”

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Toyota and Lexus launch 10-year warranty for new and used cars

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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June 1, 2021

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Toyota and Lexus have launched a warranty programme that provides up to 10 years’ worth of cover for new and used vehicles.

Under the ‘Relax’ banner, a year’s warranty is added each time it is serviced at a main Toyota or Lexus dealer. Servicing costs are unchanged from today, and vehicles – including vans and pick-ups – are eligible if they are less than 10 years old or have covered under 100,000 miles.

Relax replaces both Toyota’s previous 5-year, 100,000-mile new car warranty, and the Lexus 3-year, 60,000-mile warranty. It is extended by one year each time a car is serviced at an approved Toyota or Lexus dealer.

Approved used schemes: what each car company offers

The scheme applies to all new Toyota and Lexus models and also applies retrospectively to models already sold, and vehicles maintained outside of the main Toyota and Lexus dealer networks are also eligible, assuming they are bought back for a main or interim service.

Claims under the warranty can be made outside of the UK too, assuming the firm’s dealership network is also participating in the Relax scheme – Toyota explained that should a car need remedial work in the south of France for example, the local dealer would be able to authorise the work under the Relax scheme.

The scheme works in the same way for vehicles with longer service intervals: for instance, the Toyota Proace van has a two-year maintenance schedule, and so has two years of warranty added each time it is serviced.

Toyota’s previous warranty scheme, introduced in 2010, remains valid, with Relax beginning at the end of the five-year period.

“This is a game-changing proposition that redefines the manufacturer warranty, giving our customers the reassurance and value of cover for up to a decade of motoring,” said Rob Giles, Toyota’s customer services director.

“There are compelling business benefits to be gained as well, with Relax connecting us with more owners, building loyalty and giving our network partners the opportunity to maximise value chain opportunities in both sales and after sales activities.

“The foundation for this exceptional level of protection is the essential quality, durability and reliability of our vehicles and our commitment to delivering customer-first service.

“As well as rewarding existing Toyota owners, our Relax programme will also strengthen the appeal of our vehicles to new customers, equally whether they are considering a new car or a used model.”

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BTCC title-winning Alfa Romeo 155 heads to auction

By

John Redfern

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June 1, 2021

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One of the most important cars in the history of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) is heading to auction in June.

Used to dominate the BTCC in 1994, the Alfa Romeo 155 2.0 TS helped revolutionise the touring car series.

Now, the exact car that helped Gabriele Tarquini and the Alfa Corse team claim title success, will be sold by RM Sotheby’s in Milan, Italy.

Tin-top titans

For fans of the BTCC, the Super Touring formula used between 1990 and 2000 produced some of the best motorsport on the planet.

Super Touring rules dictated that cars should be four-door saloons, and fitted with 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engines. Manufacturers were prevented from fitting extra wings and spoilers that could not be found on regular road cars.

Alfa Romeo joined the BTCC in 1994, bringing with them the 155 TS saloon. The car had previously found success in the Italian Superturismo series, and the Spanish Touring Car Championship.

With the BTCC seen as the world’s premier touring car championship, Alfa Romeo wanted to win it.

Changing the game entirely

With ex-Formula 1 driver Gabriele Tarquini behind the wheel, the Alfa Romeo 155 would win the first five races of the 1994 BTCC. This included taking three pole positions, and setting four fastest laps.

Helping Alfa Romeo win was the trick aerodynamic aids fitted to the 155 TS. Hidden during pre-season testing, Alfa Romeo used a raised rear spoiler when racing to generate more downforce.

Alfa Romeo created a special-edition road car, with the extra aerodynamic appendages supplied unfitted in the boot. It meant the buyers of the 2,500 Silverstone Editions could choose whether to add the bigger spoiler.

Driving straight to victory

Such a creative approach to the rules prompted challenges from rival teams. This culminated in Renault, BMW, and Ford developing their own ‘aero specials’ for the BTCC. Alfa Romeo would also be forced to use the lower rear wing.

The reduced performance of the Alfa Romeo, combined with the improved rival teams, limited the success of the Italian team for the rest of the season. However, such a dominant start to the year had given Alfa Corse and Gabriele Tarquini a huge points advantage.

It meant that Tarquini collected the 1994 Drivers’ title, with Alfa Corse collecting the Manufacturers’ championship.

A one-hit wonder

Alfa Corse officially quit the BTCC at the end of 1994, leaving the Alfa Romeo team to be managed by Prodrive for the following year. As a parting gift for winning the championship, Gabriele Tarquini was gifted one of the cars he had driven that year.

Chassis number 90080 was used in the later stages of the 1994 season, and included podium finishes at Silverstone. These results were the ones to help Tarquini seal title success.

The car has been owned by Tarquini since, making this is the first time it has been offered for public sale.

Italian heroes for sale

To buy any period BTCC racer that has been so well preserved is a rare opportunity. To buy one that has been owned by the driver who used it to win is almost unheard of.

Such history, and the car being left in original condition, means the expected sale price is €300,000 to €400,000 (£258,000 to £344,000).

The Alfa Romeo 155 TS is listed as part of the RM Sotheby’s Milan sale. Other lots include a Ferrari 550 GT1 race car, and an outrageous Lamborghini LM002. Bidding begins on Tuesday, 15 June.

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Number of cars stolen falls 15 percent in 2020

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 31, 2021

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The number of cars stolen in the UK fell by 15 percent last year. This was likely due, in part, to the pandemic, with drivers looking after their cars as they spent more time at home.

According to figures obtained by Compare the Market via a Freedom of Information request, 28,454 cars were stolen in the UK in 2020. That compares to 33,289 in 2019.

Based on data from 26 police forces, Birmingham West is the hotspot for cars being stolen, with 1,375 thefts in 2020. It’s followed by Sheffield (1,123) and Liverpool (1,062).

Doncaster – ranked as the fifth most likely place to have a car stolen – saw thefts increase by eight percent in 2020 compared with figures from 2019, however.

93 percent of thefts are keyless

According to vehicle tracking company, Tracker, keyless car theft accounted for 93 percent of stolen cars last year.

“There are measures you can put in place to help reduce the chance of your car being stolen, but nothing can keep your vehicle 100 percent secure,” said Dan Hutson of Compare the Market. “You need to make sure you have an insurance policy that covers theft, so you don’t end up out of pocket if a criminal strikes.”

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Brits can drive for 1p a mile for first time since 1970s

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 30, 2021

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Electric car motorists are able to travel a mile on a penny’s worth of ‘fuel’ for the first time since the 1970s.

That’s according to EDF Energy, which has launched an EV-specific electricity tariff. It claims its GoElectric 35 rate is the lowest in Britain, with an off-peak charging rate of 4.5p per kwh – equivalent to 1.3p per mile for a typical EV.

This, the company says, means it is possible for British drivers to travel for a penny a mile for the first time since 1972. Back then, petrol cost 35p per gallon and the Ford Cortina was the country’s most popular car.

According to EDF, the average motorist estimates it would cost 34p to travel a mile in an EV. And 38 percent of the 2,000 people surveyed weren’t aware it’s cheaper to fully charge an electric car than to fill a petrol or diesel vehicle with fuel.

Cheaper travel by EV

EDF added that, on average, respondents said the average price of recharging stands at £25.80 – £20 more than the true cost using its EV-specific rate.

“As Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, we’re committed to making it as easy as possible for motorists to make the switch to an EV,” said Philippe Commaret of EDF.

“Our GoElectric 35 tariff offers the cheapest off-peak rate in Britain, providing drivers with the cheapest travel costs seen in decades at just a penny a mile.”

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New app counts number of bugs splats on cars

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 29, 2021

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A new app has been launched to help track the number of bugs that end up splatted on car number plates. The idea is to help scientists survey the insect population.

Before making a journey, drivers are asked to clean their car’s number plate. They then count the number of bugs splatted at the end of a journey using the Bugs Matter app, which sends a photograph to the scientists running the project.

The survey is based on the ‘windscreen phenomenon’, says Bugs Matter, a term given to the observation that people tend to find fewer insects squashed on the windscreens of their cars compared with several decades ago. However, evidence of this decline is thin on the ground.

The campaign is being run by the Buglife charity and alongside the Kent, Gwent, Essex and Somerset Wildlife Trusts. The trial is set to run from 1 June through to 31 August.

‘A major concern to everybody’

“Many people remark on not having to clean bug splats off their car windscreens as much as they did 20 or 30 years ago,” said Andrew Whitehouse, countries manager at Buglife.

“The falling abundance of flying insects should be a major concern to everybody as these essential creatures are, quite simply, the small things that run the world.

“In 2019, dozens of citizen scientists helped Kent Wildlife Trust gather data on the numbers of insects squashed on car number plates. The results showed that the number of insects counted was 50 percent lower than in a survey using the same method carried out by the RSPB in 2004. This is a startling figure, although not enough evidence to say it represents a decline.”

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London crossings to prioritise people over cars

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 28, 2021

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Transport for London has modified 18 pedestrian crossings to prioritise those on foot over vehicles.

TfL said the crossings have been programmed to show a continuous ‘green person’ signal until a car, van or lorry approaches. The change is part of a plan to ‘help make the capital’s transport network even more sustainable and support a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic’.

According to TfL, crossings will show the green light until a vehicle is detected, which makes it easier for people to cross the road and enables more walking journeys to be completed.

The number of people walking in London has increased during the pandemic. At one point last year, the number of journeys made on foot increased from 35 percent to almost 50 percent.

Although just 18 pedestrian crossings use the new system, it is likely to be rolled out to other locations in future. A TfL spokesperson told the Telegraph it intends to “increase the number over the coming years”.

‘The world’s most walkable city’

“Walking has so many benefits – it doesn’t just enable us to get from A to B, but also improves our mental and physical health,” said Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner.

“We know that safety is a key concern for people walking around London, and giving pedestrians priority is a powerful way of putting them first and making it easier to cross London’s roads.

“By combining this with creating extra pavement space and ensuring roadworks are carried out in a way that doesn’t disrupt Londoners, we will make our city the world’s most walkable and eradicate collisions on our streets.”

Nick Owen, TfL’s head of network performance, added: “We know that walking is a brilliant way for people to make local journeys, boosting activity levels while cutting the number of car trips and the associated congestion and pollution they can cause.”

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Government to launch car parking consultation

By

Daniel Puddicombe

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May 27, 2021

0

The government is to launch a consultation on proposed changes to car parking charges which it said will ‘help deliver a fair, proportionate and consistent system across the country’.

The government wants to introduce a new Code of Practice for parking operators to make the system fairer for drivers.

At present, private parking charges are capped at £100 by the industry, regardless of how serious the breach of terms and conditions.

However the government is proposing a tiered system for parking charges, based on the severity of the offence.

The consultation will run for four weeks during the summer.

The government said it ‘understands that this will mean some changes for the private parking industry and will carefully consider all consultation responses when making a final decision’.

“This government is making life easier for motorists as we get back to life as usual and build back better from the pandemic,” said Local Government Minister, Luke Hall.

“I encourage motorists and parking operators to share their views on our proposed Parking Code of Practice.

“These changes will bring in a fairer system for drivers, creating a simplified appeals process and curbing excessive charges for millions of motorists.”

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You can buy IndyCar racer Graham Rahal’s Ford GT

By

John Redfern

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May 27, 2021

0

Getting your hands on a second-generation Ford GT is no easy feat, but being a successful racing driver is likely to help.

Ford famously announced that initial customers for the GT would be hand-selected by the company. Those who were deemed to be the best ambassadors for the brand were allowed to buy a GT.

Being an experienced IndyCar racer, and the son of a former Indy 500 winner, meant Graham Rahal clearly met Ford’s criteria.

The car he bought is currently advertised for sale on the Bring a Trailer auction website.

Shades of Deep Purple

Rahal did not hold back when ordering his 2018 Ford GT. From a standard list price of $450,200, the 2011 24 Hours of Daytona winner spent an additional $131,500 on optional extras.

Accounting for $45,000 of that total is the special paint color. The custom order Deep Purple metallic hue is said to be derived from the Viola Parsifae color, used by Lamborghini.

A further $10,000 was spent on the Ingot Silver stripes, while the exposed gloss carbon fiber exterior trim added $15,000.

Highway Star

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6’s 647 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque are a little down on Rahal’s usual weekend ride, but still allow a top speed in excess of 215 mph.

A titanium exhaust system, adding a further $10,000 to the price, was picked to save weight and add more aural drama.

Carbon ceramic Brembo brakes, with silver-painted calipers were fitted at the factory. Rahal has installed a set of staggered HRE alloys, although the original $15,000 carbon fiber wheels will be supplied.

Machine Head

Compared to the exterior, the cabin of the GT is slightly subtler, but no less expensive. The Dark Energy interior finish cost $30,000, and sees ebony leather wrapped around carbon fiber bucket seats. Mounts for racing harnesses were a relative bargain at just $600.

Even more affordable was the $250 spent to wrap the two-spoke steering wheel in leather. Much like an IndyCar, the GT’s steering wheel is responsible for controlling numerous car functions. It also has black aluminum paddles for the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Purchased by Rahal in October 2018, the car was sold to a new owner in September 2020. The GT was then reacquired by the Indiana-based Graham Rahal Performance dealership in 2021.

Speed King

Compared to some second-generation Ford GTs, this particular car has clocked up more miles than usual. The odometer currently shows 1,500 miles, with recent servicing work undertaken in September 2020.

Opportunities to own a Ford GT are still relatively rare, and buying one in this specification is likely to be a unique chance. This has helped push bidding on the car to already deep into six figures, with more to follow.

The auction for the GT closes on Friday, 28 May, coinciding with Carb Day for the 2021 Indy 500. We imagine Graham Rahal will be focussing on this final practice runs, rather than checking the bids, though.

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