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In pictures: celebrities and their cars

By
Gavin Braithwaite-Smith
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Gordon Ramsay and Ferrari

Celebrities and expensive cars go together like, well, spaghetti and bolognese. TV chef Gordon Ramsay apparently sampled the bolognese tagliatelle when he visited the home of his beloved Ferrari in Maranello, Italy.

Here he poses with a 458 Italia on the famous Fiorano test-track. 

Gordon Ramsay’s Ferrari F12

Gordon Ramsay and Ferrari

Ramsay’s enviable collection of Ferraris includes a LaFerrari Aperta, 812 Superfast, F12 TDF, 488 GTB and 355 GTS.

The three-star Michelin chef and swearing enthusiast also owns an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, Porsche 918 Spyder, McLaren Senna, McLaren 675LT and BAC Mono.

X-Factor stars in a Morgan Plus 4

This is Simon Cowell at the wheel of a Morgan Plus 4 ahead of another season of The X Factor. Along for the ride are former judges Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw, with Cheryl Cole/Fernandez-Versini/Ann Tweedy in the front. 

Surely that number plate is better suited to a Jaguar XF?

Prince Harry’s Jaguar F-Type

Speaking of Jaguars, here’s Prince Harry behind the wheel of an F-Type roadster.

Harry created the Invictus Games for wounded servicemen to take part in an Olympic Games-style competition. It’s been an enormous success – and, from the inaugural event, has been well-supported by Jaguar Land Rover. 

Paul Hollywood’s Ducati

Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood is an unashamed petrolhead. He races Aston Martins, has a garage full of supercars and is also a committed bike nut.

His favoured ride is Ducati. Here he is choosing his next superbike.

Mary Berry on Paul Hollywood’s Ducati

Former Great British Bake Off judge and baking legend Mary Berry also tried out Hollywood’s Ducati for size.

Her views on it are not on record but, if you ask us, it perhaps suits her better than her former colleague…

Katie Price’s Range Rover

Everyone has seen Katie Price’s pink Range Rover. It’s one of the most distinctive celebrity cars, and Katie takes every opportunity for a bit of publicity.

The former glamour model was charged with drink-driving after crashing another pink Range Rover in Woolwich, London.

Jay Leno’s McLaren

Here, American TV host Jay Leno is seen with his McLaren 12C.

Leno has his own YouTube channel, where he reviews an eclectic range of modern and classic cars. It’s a must-watch for petrolheads.

Puff Daddy’s Bentley

Sean Combs, the hip hop mogul better known as Puff Daddy or P Diddy, likes his bling.

Here he is posing in a convertible Bentley Azure – with chromed rims, of course.

Paris Hilton’s Bentley

You know what they say about money and taste? Here’s Paris Hilton’s pink Bentley Continental GT to prove it.

Sorry, but that front grille could hardly look more ‘Halfords’… 

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Jeep

Arnold Schwarzenegger is known for liking Hummers, but here he is in a retro Willys Jeep. 

If you see this view in your rear-view mirror, best pull over. Now. 

Charlie Sheen’s Mercedes-Benz

This was actor Charlie Sheen’s Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousine, until he stuffed it in a ditch. 

We’re sure the damage polished out…

Jeremy Clarkson’s Range Rover

Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson is known to be a fan of Range Rovers.

Here, he folds his long frame into a modified Overfinch version.

Jay Kay’s Lamborghini

Old Italian cars aren’t the most reliable, as Jamiroquai star Jay Kay discovered.

He caused a paparazzi frenzy when he broke down on London’s King’s Road in his Lamborghini Miura.

Wayne Rooney’s BMW i8

Here’s former Man Utd and England ace Wayne Rooney in a BMW i8.

The footballer was forced to sell the car when he was given a two-year driving ban after being caught drink-driving in Cheshire.

David Beckham’s Porsche 911

Followed by bodyguards, David Beckham gives wife Victoria a lift home in this Porsche 911 Cabriolet.

The combination of sunny day, open roof and woolly hat is a strange one. Blame, er… fashion.

Deadmau5’s Ferrari

Music producer Deadmau5 wasn’t satisfied with a regular Ferrari 458 Spider, so he wrapped it to create a unique Nyan Cat-inspired ‘Purrari’.

Ferrari didn’t like it, threatened legal action, and it was replaced by a McLaren 650S Spider.

Kim Kardashian’s Bentley

Tuned by Platinum Motorsport, Kim Kardashian’s Bentley Continental GTC is a serious bit of kit for cruising the streets of Beverly Hills.

We wonder if the parking valet was tempted to go for a blast?

Rowan Atkinson’s Rolls-Royce

Comedian Rowan Atkinson loves his cars, so it’s no surprise that he’s owned quite a variety.

Here he is with a Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe. Famously, he also owned a McLaren F1.

The Queen’s Bentley

Do celebrities come any more famous than her Majesty The Queen?

This is one of her two Bentley State limousines, created by the Crewe manufacturer ahead of the 2002 Golden Jubilee.

Chris Evans’s Mercedes-Benz

Chris Evans is one of the UK’s most famous petrolheads.

Here he is parked outside the BBC Radio 2 studios in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series.

Carol Vorderman’s Vauxhall Ampera

Back in 2014, Carol Vorderman took delivery of a ULEV.

No, that’s not a Countdown conundrum, but an ultra-low emission vehicle. In this case, the Vauxhall Ampera.

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New car sales fall 89% in May 2020

By
Richard Aucock
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0

Hyundai Minstergate York new car showroom

The new car market was badly affected once again by the coronavirus crisis in May 2020, with the latest figures showing an 89 percent plunge in registrations.

Just 20,247 new cars were registered as showrooms remained closed due to lockdown measures.

These vehicles were delivered mainly through innovative new ‘click and collect’ processes.

For the second month running, the Tesla Model 3 was Britain’s best-selling car.

Alternative fuel vehicles, including electric cars, hybrids and plug-in hybrids, actually took a bigger market share than diesel cars, claiming more than 19 percent of the market. 

Worst since 1952

In May 2019, over 183,000 new cars hit the road, according to the official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

May 2020, by contrast, was the worst May on record since 1952.

Car showrooms reopened on Monday 1 June and retailers are reporting good business, which the car industry hopes will signal a recovery in new car sales.

In April 2020, just 4,321 new cars were registered: a 97 percent decline.

The electric Tesla Model 3 became the UK’s best-selling new car, with the Jaguar I-Pace (also an EV) in second place.

Year-to-date, the UK new car market has more than halved in size compared to 2019. 

“After a second month of shutdown and the inevitable yet devastating impact on the market, this week’s reopening of dealerships is a pivotal moment for the entire industry,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

“Early reports suggest there is good business given the circumstances, although it is far too early to tell how demand will pan out over the coming weeks and months.”

Not surprising

Auto Trader commercial director Ian Plummer said the figures were not surprising but insisted the market was paused, not stopped. “Now, it’s clearly restarting.”

Pent up demand was considerable, he said, with Auto Trader audience numbers now back up to pre-coronavirus levels.

“There remain question marks, though, about the sustainability of this demand over the mid-term.

“There are growing calls for government incentives to support the industry.”

Germany and France have already acted, said Mr Plummer: the UK “will now need to act fast to keep pace”.

May 2020: Top 10 best-selling cars

1: Tesla Model 3

2: Vauxhall Corsa

3: Ford Fiesta

4: Mercedes-Benz A-Class

5: Ford Focus

6: Volvo XC40

7: BMW 1 Series

8: Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

9: Ford Kuga

10: Mercedes-Benz E-Class

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Fiat launches £99 ‘pay as you go’ car lease

By
Richard Aucock
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0

2020 Fiat 500 Mild Hybrid

Fiat has introduced the UK’s first ‘pay as you go’ car lease. It allows motorists to get a new Fiat 500 Mild Hybrid for a £99 up-front payment.

Subsequent monthly payments are also capped to £99 – with motorists paying 19.6p a mile on top for every mile they drive.

Fiat says that with the monthly payment and fuel factored in, the average 25-mile daily commute will cost £10.39.

According to research, those living in London pay, on average, £15.25 for their daily public transport commute.

To make the deal more tempting, Fiat is giving the first 500 miles for free.

“I am confident that one of the most affordable offers in Fiat’s history will become very popular with consumers over the coming months,” said Fiat UK country manager Francesco Vanni.

Fiat likens the deal to those found in the mobile phone sector – it comprises a low base rental price and any usage is calculated via the ‘pay as you go’ concept.  

Mileage is tracked using an onboard black box, which monitors all vehicle movements.

So confident is Fiat in its new offer, the company has hinted there are already plans to extend it to other models within the Fiat, Abarth, Jeep and Alfa Romeo ranges.

The company has also separately launched a car finance package with job-loss protection. 

How does the Fiat pay-as-you-go car lease work?

2020 Fiat 500 Mild Hybrid

The Fiat 500 Mild Hybrid car lease is a four-year agreement – after which motorists hand back the car with nothing more to pay.

The upfront cost at the start of the lease is £99.

After that, the monthly cost for 47 months is again £99 – plus 19.2p for every mile driven.

This is all calculated though the onboard black box, so owners automatically pay the correct sum each month.

Fiat’s offer to give the first 500 miles free saves owners £96.

There is no upper mileage limit – owners can drive 20,000 miles a year if they wish (which would cost £3,840 a year).

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Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Jeep offer job-loss protected finance on new cars

By
Tim Pitt
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0

Alfa Romeo showroom

Alfa Romeo has introduced job-loss protection to its finance and leasing deals on new cars. The offer is intended to give buyers confidence in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

The free-of-charge protection covers involuntary job loss, along with being unable to work due to sickness. It can be activated during the first 12 months of the finance agreement, waiving payments for up to seven months.

Every new Alfa Romeo financed or leased until the end of September will be covered. The offer also applies to other brands within the FCA Group: Fiat, Jeep and Abarth.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

A recent survey of 2,000 UK drivers by Alfa Romeo revealed 31 percent are interested in buying a new car, but are worried about job security. One in five said the pandemic had stopped them buying a new or used car.

Arnaud Leclerc, managing director for FCA UK and Ireland, said: “We know these are uncertain times, so what better way to support our customers than to give them the reassurance that should their financial circumstances change in the months ahead, we will be there to cover their monthly car repayments.”

Alfa Romeo recently updated its flagship Giulia Quadrifoglio (new colours, larger infotainment display, optional Akrapovic exhaust) and revealed a hardcore GTA model.

The company’s Tonale small SUV is also due later this year – taking on big sellers such as the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Mazda CX-30.

READ MORE:

Motorway services open for business as lockdown lifts

How to prepare your car for driving after lockdown

How to save money on fuel

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Motorway services open for business as lockdown lifts

By
Gavin Braithwaite-Smith
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0

Motorway service area at night

Motorway service areas have remained open throughout the coronavirus lockdown, but often with reduced facilities and shorter opening hours. Now many are increasing the services available, with fast-food and coffee outlets serving takeaway orders

Motorways and major roads provide crucial links for key workers, even as many others continue to work at home. Highways England is committed to keeping motorway service areas open, albeit still with a reduced service.

As this table shows, all services are open 24/7, with a partial site closure in a minority of cases.

Transport Focus said ‘lorry drivers delivering goods, NHS volunteers taking medical supplies around the country and others making essential journeys will still need to rest, refuel, go to the toilet and have something to eat and drink.

‘Without [motorways] open there would be very little on the supermarket shelves.’

Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, also asked motorway services to remain open during the lockdown period. 

How are motorway service operators helping?

Southwaite services sign

There are four major motorway service operators: Moto, Roadchef, Welcome Break and Extra, plus the smaller operators Westmorland, Stop24 and Euro Garages.

At the time of writing (1 June 2020), this is their position on the coronavirus outbreak.

Moto

As the tweet above states, Moto has donated 10,000 free hot meals to HGV drivers during the lockdown period. Many of its food and drink outlets, including Costa Coffee and Burger King, are now open for takeaway orders.

Free fuel is also available to all emergency services at the 46 BP forecourts in the Moto network. The offer began on 21 March and runs to 7 June, and is open to NHS emergency ambulance services, NHS Trust non-emergency vehicles, local police and fire authorities. Click here for full terms and conditions.

Roadchef

Roadchef showers, toilets and retail stores remain open, with hot drinks, food and other essentials available. The operator has increased the frequency of contact surface sanitising in its dining, retail and toilet facilities.

Free parking has doubled to four hours and the 24-hour parking rate is reduced to £15. Also, drive-thru Costa Coffee sites have reopened at Clacket Lane (M25), Strensham (M5) and Rownhams (M27).

Welcome Break

Welcome Break CEO John Diviney said: “In these uncertain times some of us still need to be on the move. I wanted you to know that all our locations are still open, clean and continuing to serve the nation’s motorists. Please be assured we are following government guidance to keep you and all our team members safe and well.”

Blue Light & Defence discount card holders and NHS staff get 50 percent off at Welcome Break’s Waitrose and WHSmith stores. Burger King, KFC and Starbucks have also reopened for takeaway orders.

Extra

A limited amount of food outlets are open for takeaway only. All Extra filling stations and toilet/washroom facilities remain open 24/7.

Westmorland

Westmorland, which operates motorway services areas at Tebay and Gloucester, is operating a reduced service. The filling stations remain open 24/7 and will offer an increased range of products from the farm shop.

Toilets in the main building are open 10am until 3pm, while the kitchens, farm shops and butcheries are closed. Fast-food outlets such as Burger King have reopened, however.

Euro Garages

Euro Garages is offering a free Starbucks hot drink to all NHS staff and the emergency services.

Stop24

Stop24 Folkestone Services is located at junction 11 of the M20 and is the closest motorway service area to the Channel Tunnel and Port of Dover.

The filling station and main building remain open, but a limited range of food and drink is available. The convenience store is open, but seating areas are shut. All toilet, washroom and shower facilities are open for lorry, car and motorhome drivers.

For the latest information, visit the Traffic England website. 

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How to prepare your car for driving after lockdown

By
Tim Pitt
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0

Fiat 500X

As the UK’s coronavirus lockdown eases, many cars will be driven for the first time in weeks. Making a few careful checks first is important to stay safe.

Here, we look at three key areas to focus on before hitting the road: tyres, oil and lights.

These easy-to-follow checks require no mechanical knowledge or special tools – and should take no more 10 minutes in total.

If your car requires repair, remember that most garages have stayed open during the pandemic. And if all else fails and you need a new car, showrooms are permitted to reopen from 1 June…

Check your tyres

Checking tyres

Begin by checking the air in your tyres: they may have deflated over time. The manufacturer’s recommended pressures (measured in PSI or Bar) will be listed in the car’s handbook, plus somewhere on its body – often inside the fuel filler flap or front door opening. Note the figures may differ for the front and rear tyres.

To measure the pressure, find the tyre valve (near the outer edge of the wheel) and remove the plastic cap. Hold a tyre pressure gauge firmly against the valve for a reading.

If the pressure needs topping up, you will need an air compressor. These are found at many petrol stations and usually charge around 50p for several minutes of air. Alternatively, you could buy one online.

You should also check the depth of your tyre tread before driving – and at monthly intervals thereafter. UK law requires 1.6mm of tread across the central three quarters of the tyre. The easiest way to measure this is with a 20p coin. Push the coin into the tyre grooves: if you can see its outer band (where ‘Twenty Pence’ is written), the tread is below the legal limit.

Note that under-inflated tyres will adversely affect the car’s handling and increase fuel consumption, while driving with insufficient tread could land you a £2,500 fine and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.

Check your oil

Checking oil

Oil is the lifeblood of your engine. It lubricates the moving parts and prevents premature wear. For that reason, checking the oil – and topping it up if needed – is essential before driving after lockdown.

Most cars have an oil warning light on the dashboard (usually shaped like an oil can) to alert you if the level is low. However, we recommend supplementing this with a manual check.

Open the bonnet and locate the dipstick. It’s often colour-coded yellow and towards the front of the engine – consult the handbook if you’re unsure. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean with a tissue or cloth, reinsert it for a few seconds and then take it out again.

The oil level should be between the minimum and maximum marks on the dipstick. If it’s below the former, you will need to top it up. Use the recommended oil for your engine and pour in a small quantity at a time, checking the level at regular intervals.

Check your lights

Nissan Navara

It sounds obvious, but ensuring all your car lights work is vital before driving again, even in summer. Failure to do so risks a fine, penalty points or worse.

With the engine running (so as not to drain the battery) and the handbrake on, switch on the headlights and walk around the car to check each of the indicators in turn.

To check the brake lights work, you may need a friend to help – or you could try backing up close to a wall or window. Replacement bulbs are cheap to buy and available from car accessory shops, many of which have remained open.

Video: top healthy car tips

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Ford Police Interceptor Utility can now decontaminate itself from viruses

By
John Redfern
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0

Ford Police Interceptor kills viruses

Rapid action by Ford has seen the company develop new functions to help police vehicles render harmful viruses inactive. 

The Ford Police Interceptor Utility SUV can now use software to rapidly increase the temperature of its interior to more than 130 degrees Farenheit (over 56 degrees Celsius).

This extreme heat then reduces the concentration of coronaviruses, including COVID-19, by more than 99 percent.

Ford is now making the software update rapidly available across North America, with only minimal work needed to implement it by police fleets. 

Turning up the heat on viruses

Ford Police Interceptor kills viruses

The new process is used when officers believe they have transported a suspect with potential symptoms of COVID-19 in their vehicle. It relies on simply pressing a series of buttons on the cruise control system, or an external tool on older vehicles. 

Making the virus-killing software so instantly effective is that it uses the Police Interceptor Utility’s normal engine and heating systems.

Once officers have exited the vehicle, the Police Interceptor Utility will begin to warm the engine to a specific degree.

The heat from this is then channeled into the interior of the vehicle through the air vents, elevating the temperature to 133 degrees Fahrenheit (56.1 degrees Celsius).

Sensors note when the right temperature has been reached, and then maintain it for 15 minutes. A cooldown process is automatically initiated afterwards.  

Hotter than Death Valley

Ford Police Interceptor kills viruses

Officers are able to monitor progress safely from outside the vehicle. The hazard warning and tail lights flash in a pre-set pattern to confirm the process has begun, and also when it has been completed. 

Laboratory supervisors at The Ohio State University department of microbiology have stated that “exposing coronaviruses to temperatures of 56 degrees Celsius, or 132.8 degrees Fahrenheit, for 15 minutes reduces the viral concentration by greater than 99 percent on interior surfaces and materials”.

Ford has designed the new process to be used alongside existing manual cleaning measures. The heating system allows areas that might be harder to reach to also be decontaminated. 

A simple software solution

Ford Police Interceptor kills viruses

Testing has already been undertaken by police forces across the United States. This has included the NYPD and LAPD, along with state police and sheriff’s offices in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Florida. 

Larger departments will be able to install the updated software directly, with other fleets able to use Ford dealerships. 

The company is now working on similar measures that can be used on other Ford police vehicles. This comes as part of the firm’s wider response to COVID-19, including making visors and respirators.

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Every new Volvo now has a 112mph top speed

By
Richard Aucock
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0

Volvo steering wheel logo: the automaker is now electronically limiting all its cars to a 112mph top speed

Every new Volvo now has a top speed electronically limited to 112mph as part of the Swedish brand’s quest for zero fatalities and serious injuries in its cars.

The firm admits the move has proven controversial, with some questioning the right of car makers to impose such limitations.

Volvo, however, insists it is the right move – even if it means losing potential customers.

“Above certain speeds, in-car safety technology and smart infrastructure design are no longer enough to avoid severe injuries and fatalities in the event of an accident.

“People have poor understanding of the dangers around speeding. As a result, many people often drive too fast.”

Volvo’s 112mph speed limiter – 180kmh – is how the firm aims to stop excessive speeding.

Volvo Care Key

The Volvo Care Key has also been standardised on all new models.

This allows Volvo motorists to set further limitations on their vehicle’s top speed – before, for example, lending it to younger or more inexperienced drivers.

Volvo adds that millions of motorists still get speeding tickets each year – and that it is one of the most common reasons for fatalities in traffic.

The firm indicates that apart from speeding, intoxication and distraction are two other primary areas of concern for traffic safety and “constitute the remaining gap towards Volvo Cars’ vision of a future with zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries”.

Volvo will be taking action to address “all three elements of human behaviours in its safety work, with more features to be introduced in future cars”.

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Car insurer offers free home recovery as lockdown lifts

By
Tim Pitt
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0

RAC recovery

Car insurance company NFU Mutual is providing free RAC recovery and home breakdown cover as the lockdown lifts.

The offer applies to more than 600,000 of NFU’s car and light van customers. It remains valid until 31 August, even if UK lockdown restrictions are fully lifted before that date.

RAC data shows a 78 percent increase in home breakdowns between 23 March and 11 May, with a record number of call-outs due to flat batteries.

This number is expected to increase in the coming months. 

Battery breakdowns at record level

RAC recovery

The NFU offer includes national recovery and home start (normally an addition to standard RAC breakdown cover). 

To quote the small print: ‘The cover will include emergency roadside assistance, recovery of the vehicle, driver and passengers to any UK destination if the vehicle cannot be repaired at the roadside, accidental mis-fuelling cover, unlimited call outs and no call-out charges, and small hire car for 48 hours if the vehicle needs a longer repair and the repair cannot be done the same day.’

Motorcycles and larger commercial vehicles (e.g. tractors and lorries over 3.5 tonnes) aren’t covered, but the vast majority of NFU Mutual policyholders will be eligible.

There is no need to activate the offer. If you are insured with NFU Mutual and need RAC assistance, simply call 0800 282 652 and select ‘breakdown’ when prompted, quoting your vehicle registration. 

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The Chris Evans car collection

By
Motoring Research team
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The Chris Evans car collection

After nine years fronting the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, car-mad Chris Evans has launched his new Virgin Radio show.

“I say, this is very exciting,” Evans said as he greeted his new listeners.

Over the years, he has owned a tremendous collection of cars, with many of his multi-million-pound purchases ranking among the rarest cars in the world. Here, we look at some of the cars Chris Evans can list on his CV.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

The Chris Evans car collection

Evan’s most unusual acquisition was the only working car built for the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film. It features a Ford Racing 3.0-litre V6, a dashboard plate from a first world war British fighter plane, a polished aluminium bonnet, a red and white cedar boat deck and brass fittings lifted from Edwardian motor vehicles.

Shortly after buying it, Evans explained how the purchase came about. “My pal had bought the car on his birthday before he went skiing, not realising she is over 17 feet long. Garage problem. No money lost or gained.

“Chitty is now officially part of the Berkshire Automotive Massive. She is indeed Truly Scrumptious. She’s also gone into the workshop for some much-needed road legalisation.”

Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider

The Chris Evans car collection

Chris Evans clearly has no intention of scaling back his car collection. In 2014, he spent £2.27 million on a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder – believed to be a world-record price. It looks stunning in black – a marked contrast to the yellow paint worn by the 1969 Frankfurt Motor show car.

Mk1 Ford Escort Mexico

The Chris Evans car collection

Chris may have a taste for rare and exotic Ferraris, but that doesn’t mean he can’t mix it with the rest of us. Here we see him about to set off from Radio 2 at the wheel of a Ford Escort Mexico. Values of good MK1 Escorts are on the rise, but there’s still a way to go before they catch up with expensive Fezzas.

Bentley

The Chris Evans car collection

And here’s Chris Evans leaving Radio 2 again, this time at the wheel of a Bentley. Looks a bit tight there, Chris. You may want to consider driving something a little smaller.

Daimler SP250 Dart

The Chris Evans car collection

In 2014, Chris Evans had a run in with the law and paid a high price. He bought one of the very last Daimler SP250 ‘Dart’ police cars for a little over £50,000 at auction. The ex-Scotland Yard Dart came complete with all law-enforcing accoutrements, with Chris adding ‘the kids love it; the big kids love it even more.’ Well quite.

James Hunt’s Hesketh 308

The Chris Evans car collection

£230,000 doesn’t seem like a lot of money for one of F1’s most famous cars. But that’s the price Chris Evans paid for the Works Hesketh 308, driven by James Hunt before his title winning season in 1976.

LaFerrari

The Chris Evans car collection

You have to be invited to purchase cars like the LaFerrari. Fortunately for this chap, he’s owned enough Ferraris in his time to be considered a key client. We’re talking about Chris Evans, not Pudsey Bear.

Ferrari 328 GTS

The Chris Evans car collection

This Ferrari 328 GTS was formerly owned by Chris Evans. In 1985, the 308 GTB and GTS were updated with a new V8 engine, hence the new 328 GTB and GTS denominations. Over 6,000 GTS roadsters were built, far more than the 1,345 hardtops.

Ferrari 458 ItaliaThe Chris Evans car collection

This is the 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia that, a few years ago, Chris Evans put up for sale at £189,950 via Auto Trader. It had covered only 5,559 miles since new.

1972 Volkswagen Beetle

The Chris Evans car collection

A somewhat impulsive buy, Evans saw this slightly beaten up 1972 sky blue VW Beetle with a for sale note stuck in its window on his way home from work. After a quick telephone conversation the owner met Evans at the car 10 minutes later and the deal was sealed.

Ferrari GTO

The Chris Evans car collection

Evans lusted after a Ferrari 250 GTO for years before he finally bought one similar to this for a staggering £12 million in 2010. One of only 36,250 GTOs ever manufactured, this Ferrari has been called the Leonardo da Vinci of motoring. Evans describes it as the beauty and the beast rolled into one.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The Chris Evans car collection

Evans drove and was chauffeur-driven in his W220 S600 in equal measure. This was also the car he chose for his entrance at the Staines magistrates’ court in 2001, where Evans was banned from driving for 56 days for clocking 105mph in a 70mph zone with his Ferrari 550 Maranello.

1961 Ferrari California Spyder

The Chris Evans car collection

In 2010 Evans made history when he bought the most expensive car sold in Britain – paying a cool £12 million for a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. This 1961 California Spyder, once owned by Hollywood hard man James Coburn, is the convertible cousin of that car and set the DJ back a not insignificant £5.6 million in 2008.

1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL

09_Chris_Evans_car_collection

Keen to capitalise on the massive success of the 1950s 300SL, Mercedes-Benz launched the more affordable but equally beautiful 190SL in 1955. Evans sold his classic 1965 Merc in 2004 and it went under the hammer again four years later, fetching its owner at the time a handsome £32,347.

1964 Daimler V8 Vicarage Convertible

The Chris Evans car collection

This is Chris Evans’ 1964 Daimler V8 Vicarage Convertible. The car is rumoured to have cost Chris £135,000 but it sold for just £73,500 when he auctioned it at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed sale in 2007.

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