Andy Pardy isn’t a man to sit back and do nothing. Which is why he quit his job, bought a van and set off on a European adventure to spell things out. Put simply, he wants to ‘STOP BREXIT’.
On a 30,000km (18,641-mile) trip he has dubbed ‘The Last European Tour’, Mr Pardy is creating the words using a GPS tracker by travelling across the continent over the coming months. His hope: to encourage politicians to stop Brexit.
As his Instagram account reveals, Mr Pardy – aka @therogueconsultant – set off from Loch Lomond on 10 July, before crossing the water to Northern Ireland, over the border into the Republic of Ireland and sailing to Wales, before making his way to Cornwall.
Thirty hours and 1,522km after leaving Loch Lomond, he had ‘written’ the letter ‘S’, completing stage one of his mission. His last update, on 8 August, shows him crossing the border into Finland, commenting: “the P is progressing nicely.”
A farewell tour
His website outlines the reasons for his adventure, which will cover 32 countries over the course of 356 driving hours.
“As you’re probably aware, it’s our last summer inside the EU as we know it. To mark the occasion, I’ve decided to embrace the concept of free movement and embark on a farewell tour.
“My objective is to follow a carefully constructed route, visiting 32 of mainland Europe’s countries whilst sharing the best of what they have to offer along the way. My van and I will stick diligently to this route, ensuring we leave a clear message daubed over the continent: Stop Brexit.”
I completed the O on the weekend and have been catching up on my blog posts 🚐🇪🇺 Check them out on my website (link in bio). Bring on the P!
Click ‘Live Tracking’ for current location – we are somewhere between Tromso & Alta (deep inside the Arctic Circle) ❄️ #stopbrexitpic.twitter.com/wQJSGo7kNS
— The Rogue Consultant (@ConsultantRogue) August 7, 2018
Mr Pardy told Sky News: “I believe the ability to explore as well as live and work abroad without tiresome red tape is an immense privilege and, although we don’t yet know to what extent this might be affected, I wanted to highlight some of the benefits as they stand.”
Not everyone is behind the mission, with people taking to Twitter to voice their opinions. Keith Adams had this to say:
It’s easy to be cynical about production milestones and automotive anniversaries, but whichever way you look at it, news of the 10-millionth Ford Mustang is a big deal.
Some context is required. The first Mustang rolled off the production line in 1964, two years before Toyota launched the Corolla. Oh, sure, the Corolla has shifted 45 million units and counting, but the purchase of the Toyota is driven by necessity rather than passion.
Buying a Ford Mustang is a lifestyle choice. Emotional desire rules rationalism – you buy a Mustang because you want one. Shifting 10 million units in 54 years is no mean feat, and speaks volumes about the car’s enduring appeal.
Give yourself a non-patronising pat on the back for a job well done.
Unsurprisingly, the Mustang is America’s best-selling sports car of the last 50 years and the world’s best-selling sports car for the past three consecutive years. Ford does the whole best-selling thing rather well: the F-Series pick-up is quite popular Stateside, while the Fiesta remains top dog in the UK.
Paying homage to the first serialised Mustang of 1964, the 10-millionth car is a GT V8 six-speed manual convertible finished in Wimbledon White. The name might be the same, but the cars are very different: the first Mustang V8 offered 164hp, while today’s model develops 460hp.
Jim Farley, president of global markets for Ford – and no doubt feeling like a proud dad – said: “Mustang is the heart and soul of this company and a favourite around the world.
“I get the same thrill seeing a Mustang roll down a street in Detroit, London or Beijing that I felt when I bought my first car – a 1966 Mustang coupe that I drove across the country as a teenager. Mustang is a smile-maker in any language.”
The London reference is significant, as the first right-hand-drive models went on sale in 2016, with UK buyers falling head over heels in love with Ford’s slice of Americana. Some 7,000 have since been sold, with Ford asking £37,045 for the recently revised 2.3 EcoBoost, rising to £42,145 for the 5.0 V8 GT.
If you fancy a Dark Highland Green Bullitt Mustang, we bring bad news: the £47,545 special edition is sold out in the UK.
Wheeler Dealers has been a huge hit for the Discovery Channel, with the show having just completed its 15th series.
The concept is simple: car dealer Mike Brewer finds a used classic in need of some TLC to buy, and hands it over to his mechanic, Ant Anstead, to restore. Ultimately, with his wheeling and dealing skills, Brewer aims to make a profit come sale time.
Based at a workshop in Huntington Beach, California, the most recent series’ have offered an array of cars that cater to the American market. We’ve ran through the episodes in the order Discovery Channel UK aired them, so let’s jump straight in.
1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
What better place to start than with what some consider the original luxury SUV. Beating the Range Rover to market by some seven years when launched in 1963, the Wagoneer mixed Jeep’s off-road knowledge with upmarket features. Offered in various forms until 1991, it was the third longest-produced car in North America.
The later Grand Wagoneer, as featured on the show, was fully loaded with equipment. Electrically adjustable front seats, leather trim and a chrome grille were all part of the deal. As was the retro-tastic vinyl woodgrain exterior trim.
Powered by a 5.9-litre V8, the Grand Wagoneer that Mike set his sights on looked to be in a sorry state. Minus a rear window, and with the vinyl ‘wood’ damaged, the exterior would need work. Problems with the four-wheel-drive system were the only major mechanical concern.
Although the air conditioning, power seats and electric windows still worked, the interior had certainly seen better days. Trim pieces falling apart at least helped Brewer establish that the Wagoneer was free from rust. With all the issues, a price of $4,500 (£3,000) secured the deal.
Despite the low asking price, Brewer was unsure whether the Wagoneer would be a good investment. Ant Anstead was also unconvinced, especially after learning the interior and four-wheel-drive transfer box would need replacing.
A full respray, upgraded suspension parts, and a new vacuum controller for the 4WD certainly helped. The vinyl woodgrain was replaced with hand painted patterns directly onto the body. Finally, the tatty interior was reupholstered.
Being sold for $26,500 (£19,000), thanks to the demand for good Wagoneers, ensured a profit of $7,150 (£5,200).
1987 Alfa Spider Quadrifoglio
Spanning four generations between 1966 and 1994, the Alfa Romeo Spider sold more than 124,000 units. The USA was a particularly strong market, especially following the starring role of a Series 1 Spider in 1967 film The Graduate. An entry-level ‘Graduate’ trim even appeared during the 1980s.
All Spiders used a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout, with a roadster body and seating for two. Engines were a variety of four-cylinder units, ranging from 1.3 to 2.0 litres in size.
On the hunt for a Spider, Mike came across a special Quadrifoglio Verde model. Introduced in 1986, the ‘QV’ cars came with a painted hard-top, front and rear spoilers, and a standard 2.0-litre engine. The car found by Brewer had all of these, but a number of issues to sort.
For $7,000 (£5,500), Mike inherited a silver Spider in need of work on the propshaft and differential. The air conditioning was also classically Italian in its temperament, but at least the bodywork was found to be surprisingly lacking in rust.
It might have had a hard-top, but the fabric roof was also in need of replacement, and the driver’s side electric window needed to be fixed. To sort the sloppy power delivery, Ant Anstead fitted a new rear differential and refurbished the propshaft bearings.
Fitting new parts to the air conditioning brought it back to life, while the whole car received attention to make it look like a classic Alfa Romeo should. Being in demand, Brewer was able to sell the Spider for his asking price of $10,000 (£7,150), making $1,600 (£1,150) in profit.
1977 Porsche 924
Ask any car salesman and they’ll tell you that you should never let sentimentality get in the way of doing a deal. Yet, with this 1977 Porsche 924, Mike Brewer was certainly drawn in by rose-tinted memories.
All the way back in October 2003 when Wheeler Dealers first appeared on our screens, it was a red Porsche 924 that Brewer first held out his hand to do a deal on. Purchased for just £700, Mike managed a £490 profit on that original 924.
Fast forward to 2018, and the Wheeler Dealers team had a much bigger budget. Showing how much Porsche values have risen, this time around $3,700 (£2,500) was needed to buy a 924 in need of some attention.
Often unfairly derided as a Porsche for the poor, some 121,000 924s were built between 1976 and 1985. The car here is a US-spec model, featuring a four-speed manual gearbox and a four-cylinder engine producing a ‘mighty’ 95hp.
Compared to some of the cars that have entered the workshop, the efforts needed to get the 924 up to scratch were relatively limited. Fixing an oil leak did require the removal of the entire engine, while a new fuel pressure regulator sorted the rough idling.
Ant was also tasked with updating the interior, and fitting a new short-shift gear linkage. An exterior polish made the car look showroom fresh, with final costs coming to $8,380 (£5,900). Sadly the intended buyer backed out of the deal at the last minute.
1969 Opel GT
Perhaps one of the more curious vehicles to emerge from the Opel back-catalogue, the GT was a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports car sold between 1968 and 1973. Power came from either a 1.1-litre four-cylinder engine with 67hp, or the preferable 1.9-litre with 102hp.
Although 103,000 were produced, a Vauxhall-badged version was never made, but the GT did cross the Atlantic to the American market. Mike spotted this car for sale in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Bought for the princely sum of $6,000 (£4,200), the green GT was most notable for the serious dent in the driver’s door panel. Used by Brewer to haggle down the price, he also broke the manually-operated pop-up headlights while on the test drive.
Dodgy brakes and a flat spot under acceleration both kept Ant Anstead busy in the workshop. As if repairing the bodywork wasn’t enough to be doing…
Thankfully for Mr Anstead, Mike decided to have the damaged door skin professionally repaired. This left Ant with minor damage to the wing to fix with a slide hammer and brute force. A new fuel filter solved the engine issues, with a new water pump also fitted.
With the delicate headlight mechanism also repaired, a full body respray was on the cards. The rear panel was finished in black to bring some ‘European style’ to the Opel GT. A final selling price of $13,500 (£9,700) saw Brewer walk away with $3,650 (£2,700) in profit. Luuuverly!
1972 Lancia Fulvia
What could be a better used purchase than a Rover P6 3500 V8? Apparently it’s a 1972 Lancia Fulvia, bought after the aforementioned Rover was too far gone for even the skills of Ant Anstead to resurrect.
We’ll gloss over the weirdness of a Rover P6 still surviving in America, and deal with the $9,500 (£7,000) paid to a California collector for the little Fulvia. Noises from the drivetrain and heater controls that did nothing were the main issues to fix.
Built between 1963 and 1976, the Fulvia was one of the first Lancia models to feature front-wheel drive. All were powered by a variety of V4 engines, and offered in saloon, coupe, and fastback body styles.
The Fulvia was also a genuine rally-proven machine, helping Lancia win the 1972 International Championship for Manufacturers, the precursor to the modern WRC. Multiple other victories came in the Italian Rally Championship, too.
With all that rallying pedigree behind it, Ant and Mike opting for a competition-inspired theme for the Fulvia was no surprise. Gold wheels were matched with big foglamps and a widened satin black bonnet. A new wooden dashboard, crafted by hand, added extra Italian flair.
Rebuilt driveshafts, a new heater matrix, and replacement oil seals for the gearbox brought the Fulvia back to full health.
All the time and money was well spent, with a final selling price of $33,000 (£25,500) after some haggling. This left a tidy profit of $18,195 (£15,700) after all the work was accounted for.
1972 Datsun 510
With rear-wheel drive and a variety of body styles, the Datsun 510 proved hugely popular when new. Sold between 1968 and 1973, US buyers were offered a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with a four-speed manual gearbox.
The 510 became famous in the United States for being used in the Trans Am sports car series. It actually took glory in the 1972 championship for cars under 2.5 litres, beating Alfa Romeo and Toyota. That success was the inspiration for the rough-and-ready paintwork on this 510.
Bought from a collector with an obsession for Datsun 510s, $5,000 (£3,500) was enough to secure a car with numerous bodywork issues. Fortunately the seller included replacement parts to fix the damaged panels, whilst the overall mechanical condition was noted to be good.
In fact, beyond a tatty interior that had been stripped in places for motorsport use, only the dodgy exterior would require major attention from Ant Anstead.
Despite having replacement panels, Ant would need to put in some serious effort to fix the damaged front and rear wings. Cutting, welding, and filling brought the panels back to life, whilst a full respray ditched the dodgy red for a distinctive blue colour.
Interior dials were repaired and updated, whilst Ant also fitted a five-speed gearbox, new 15-inch wheels, and rewired the tail lights for fancy LED units. Selling the car for $20,000 (£15,000) netted a happy Mike Brewer a profit of $8,070 (£6,200) after expenses were deducted.
2004 Mini Cooper S MC40
The newest car to feature on this series of Wheeler Dealers, it feels strange to consider the original ‘new’ Mini as falling into the realms of being a classic. Yet the earliest examples are now 18 years old.
Sentimentality crept in again, as Mike announced the 1964 Mini Cooper S (as used to win the Monte Carlo Rally) was his favourite car ever. Cue the hunt for the modern recreation.
Launched in 2004, the MC40 was the first US-market special edition of the modern Mini, built to celebrate that historic 1964 rally win. Just 1,000 examples of the MC40 were made, powered by a 1.6-litre supercharged engine and wearing special rally-inspired decals.
The car eventually bought by Brewer for $5,300 (£4,100) had lost its stickers over the years, was on lowered suspension and had a sagging headlining. Most significant was the 95,000 miles on the clock, meaning a substantial 100k service was due soon.
In fact, the major 100,000 mile service would cover most of the work done. Sensors, spark plugs, and belts were replaced, while the supercharger was also given some attention. The lowered suspension was put back to standard, as were the headlights.
Mike tracked down a company who could recreate the distinctive MC40 decals, restoring the collectability of the Mini. It worked, as Brewer was able to flog the car to a serial Mini owner, who wanted a cheaper model for his daughter. Doing a little deal left a profit of just $1,110 (£925) after costs and expenses.
1970 International Harvester Scout 800A
Blame it on those hipsters and their love for anything retro. Mike Brewer was on the hunt for another early SUV, and the International Harvester Scout is an ‘on trend’ choice. A producer of agricultural and utility vehicles, the International Harvester brand disappeared during the 1980s.
Designed as a rival for the Willys Jeep, the Scout featured standard four-wheel drive on most models, along with a removable roof. Engines ranged from four-cylinder petrol units through to sizeable V8s.
The engine powering the Scout bought by Mike Brewer was the 3.2-litre four-cylinder model, with the car having been used by the military in the past.
Bought for $8,000 (£6,000), the Scout came as standard with wayward power steering and an interior best described as ‘rustic’. The vacuum-powered windscreen wipers were only half-working, and the tailgate made a symphony of squeaks.
On top of fixing all the issues found on the test-drive, Ant Anstead was also tasked with replacing the leaky transfer case for the four-wheel-drive system. A full respray to Heritage Green was meant to pay homage to the military history of the Scout, while new power steering and windscreen wipers made it safe to drive again.
New seats, wheels and tyres pushed the expenditure up, but the coolness of the Scout helped Brewer secure a quick sale. Refusing to budge from the $22,500 (£16,000) asking price meant ending the series with a healthy profit of $6,700 (£4,500).
All told, Mike and Ant managed to make a total profit of $47,715 (£36,675) during the series. More than enough for another series of Mike Brewer telling us to hold out our hand to shake on a deal…
No sniggering at the back of the class, this new, limited-run Italian supercar really is called the Ares Panther. That’s Ares, as in the Greek god of war, before you start scribbling naughty things in the back of your exercise book.
Ares, who was seemingly despised by everybody except Aphrodite, preferred to travel around in a four-wheeled chariot accompanied by dogs and vultures. Make no mistake, he wouldn’t care for puerile jokes or references to the Panther working 60 percent of the time, every time.
Now that we’ve got all of that out of the way, let’s move on to the big story here: POP-UP HEADLIGHTS.
That’s right, the Ares Panther, which is inspired by the De Tomaso Pantera, boasts everybody’s favourite retro feature: pop-up headlights. We fully expect the production version to include a vinyl roof, cassette player and wind-up windows.
Nostalgia sells. You need only look at the likes of Singer, the Aston Martin and Jaguar continuation models, and the crazy prices of even relatively humble classics to know that viewing the car world through rose-tinted glasses is big business.
Dany Bahar, CEO of Ares Design has pulled out an ace and wealthy supercar owners are all too happy to lay down their cash.
Just 21 Panthers will be built from October 2018, each one with a starting price of €515,000 (£465,000). All 2018 build slots are accounted for, so you’ll need to be quick if you fancy this homage to the classic Pantera.
Beneath that ‘war helmet’ exterior lies the carbon fibre and aluminium chassis from a Lamborghini Huracan, with an uprated 5.6-litre engine developing 650hp and 413lb ft of torque. Ares hasn’t disclosed how fast it is, but we suspect the performance will be savage, as befitting a car named after a god who enjoyed hurting people.
Ares claims that the Lambo-sourced V10 “could provide even more power”, once final development is completed this summer. By the child of Zeus and Hera, this thing could be mighty quick.
Did we mention it has pop-up headlights?
You’re gonna hear me roar
Dany Bahar said: “This is a really exciting moment for us. Within just six months of announcing the Panther project we have our test car on the road and are ready to present to the world our expression of a car that I dreamt of as a kid.
“The Ares Panther will be the perfect blend of old school charm and charisma, underpinned with an iconic modern chassis, and clothed in full carbon.”
Matteo Vezzani, the newly appointed technical director of Ares Design, added: “This car is a showcase of Ares Design’s capabilities. From the very first statement of intent to the shakedown, people have been fascinated by this project and I totally understand why.
“One of the most significant characteristics of the Ares Panther is its voice. The sound produced from the naturally aspirated V10 engine is nothing short of a roar. Super sporty, throaty and head-turning, the team has done an incredible job in creating a stunning-sounding, beautiful-looking car.”
Far Beyond Driven: the Pantera
The De Tomaso Pantera made its debut at the 1970 New York Motor Show and, thanks to the Italian firm’s close alliance with Ford, was initially very successful. By the end of 1972, De Tomaso had shifted 3,000 units of the Ghia-designed Pantera. The price in the UK: just £6,696, or £88,000 in today’s money.
It’s a shame Ares Design’s ‘Legends Reborn’ ethos doesn’t extend to the price tag.
The Pantera was sold and serviced by Ford’s massive US dealer network, with power sourced from a Ford 5.8-litre V8. With around 330hp and 325lb ft on tap, the Pantera could hit a top speed approaching 160mph. Big numbers for such a relatively small price tag.
It was beautiful, thanks to Tom Tjaarda’s styling. It was quick, thanks to Ford’s muscle. And it was practical, thanks to a roomy interior and air conditioning. But quality was never a strong point, which hampered its chances of muscling in on the supercar establishment.
When Ford withdrew from the relationship, De Tomaso continued alone, treating the Pantera to a series of tweaks and improvements, including a Marcello Gandini facelift towards the end of production. Against all the odds, the Pantera lived on until 1993, by which time some 7,260 units had found a home.
The GT5-S of the mid-80s was one of the most dramatic models, featuring Countach-like cosmetics and a Ford ‘Cleveland’ 5.8-litre V8 engine. With prices in the region of £40,000, the Pantera GT5-S wasn’t cheap, but to its credit, De Tomaso retained an element of personalisation, building cars to customer’s precise specification. It all came down to taste – or a lack of it.
Ares will offer Panther customers the same treatment – designing, building and doing the handover from the same venue.
To paraphrase Brian Fantana, Ares will make the little kitty purr for you. We can’t help but think that Fantana would prefer the Pantera, mind.
Mountune has been doing naughty but nice things to Ford products for many years, and for its latest trick, it is giving a boost to the Focus ST diesel.
The m460D power upgrade kit comprises an OBDII flashing cable, dongle, performance calibration and – for some must-have car park kudos – a Mountune badge. The result: a 20hp power increase and an extra 37lb ft of torque to deliver figures of 205hp and 332lb ft.
That torque figure nudges the Focus ST diesel to within 15lb ft of the fabled Focus RS. How’s that for some bragging rights?
Because 0-60mph times matter in the ST world, the Mountune kit sees the Focus diesel complete the sprint in 7.4 seconds – 0.7 seconds quicker than showroom version. Meanwhile, the 31-62mph time drops by 0.5 seconds.
David Moore, global brand manager at Mountune, said: “Mountune has been producing market-leading power upgrades for over a decade and this is the first time we’ve been able to unlock the potential in a ST diesel product.
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“The standard Focus ST diesel is a great base car, but with the m460D kit installed we’ve been able to make it smoother, quicker and generally even more fun to drive.”
The kit – which is only available for cars with a manual gearbox – costs £429 for DIY installation or £350 for installation at Mountune’s HQ in Brentwood, with the lower cost due to the fact that the do-it-yourself version requires an individual dongle and cable.
Buy a new Focus ST diesel, while stocks last
Although an all-new Focus is on the way, it’s still possible to order the outgoing Ford Focus ST diesel. In standard Race Red colour and trim, an ST-2 diesel with a manual ‘box costs £24,760, which is £1,000 lower than the standard retail price. The diesel version costs £25,860.
The ST-3 hatchback costs £27,810 in Race Red, but standard kit includes the excellent Recaro Windsor leather.
The latest Volkswagen camper might be called Grand California, but it’s so house-like, it could feature on Grand Designs. Although quite what Kevin McCloud would make of it is anyone’s guess.
There will be plenty of people dreamin’ of owning one – anyone who has spent time in Cornwall this summer will know that VeeDub campers are about as popular as a free bar in Newquay – but sales won’t begin until early 2019. Still, that’s plenty of time to sell your des-res and invest in a Grand Cali.
How much it’ll cost remains to be seen – we might find out at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf at the end of August – but the standard California costs upwards of £46,625, so you will need to dig deep if you plan to go Grand.
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This biggest of Volkswagens is based on the Crafter but gains more than a metre over the California, which is enough for an 840 x 800mm bathroom. Seriously, park this in a West London street and a property investor will offer you a six-figure sum for VW’s bijou residence. Fittings include a toilet, shower, fold-out basin and shelves with holders for toiletries.
There’s even an integrated toilet paper holder, to protect your precious loo roll from getting damp. If McCloud isn’t impressed now, he never will be.
Don’t forget the kids
Of course, we know that an episode of Grand Designs rarely passes without the lady of the house getting pregnant, so it’s surprising to discover that, for all its grand pretentions, the California XXL only sleeps two. A high bunk bed for children is an option, but it does come with an integrated panoramic skylight.
Elsewhere, the Grand California is a little more child-friendly, featuring a four-person dining table, a satellite dish, a wifi hotspot and a 70-litre fridge. If you can tear yourself away from Netflix, YouTube and Facebook, options include an awning, bicycle rack and camping table/chairs.
Standard kit includes a powered step, two-part mosquito net, Bluetooth-enabled speakers and windows fitted with cassette blinds and flyscreens.
Mr McCloud would mark the Grand California down for its questionable aesthetics, but for services to the great British summer getaway, he would present a favourable final piece to camera. Just don’t forget the kids.
As part of the UK release of Ant-Man and the Wasp, Hyundai has published the results of a survey focused on the coolest movie cars of all-time. Some 2,000 participants voted, with the results used to create a this rundown of the best movie motors.
Spoiler alert: the Hyundai Veloster isn’t the coolest movie car of all-time. Sorry, Hyundai.
20. Christine – 1958 Plymouth Fury (Christine)
The car reflects the genre, and in Christine, the 1958 Plymouth Fury has all the hallmarks of the ultimate horror car. That’ll be why it’s on the video cover art…
19. Robocop’s 6000 SUX (Robocop)
A weird one, as this 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass doesn’t resemble the 6000 SUX that uses it as a base. Like character, like car, then. The 8.2mpg beast, as with Robocop, is very of its era – the ultimate 80s vision of the future – minus the agricultural underpinnings.
18. Bandit’s Trans Am – 1977 Pontiac Trans Am (Smokey and the Bandit)
One of those cars that you just have to include. The Bandit Trans Am popularised the dream of tearing across America with a V8 underfoot and flashing lights in the rearview mirror.
17. Mr Frye’s Ferrari – 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)
Like the Trans Am, Ferris Bueller’s ultimate joyride – the Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder – reminds us of that dream of freedom, of bucking the authorities and doing whatever we want.
16. Iron Man’s Audi R8 (Iron Man)
Of course, before he was Iron Man, Stark was a too-cool billionaire weapons tycoon. The R8 was the coolest car on sale in 2008, so little else suited the smug to-be shellhead more.
15. Louise’s Thunderbird – 1966 Ford Thunderbird (Thelma and Louise)
In 2008, the Ford Thunderbird from Thelma & Louise (not pictured), sold at auction for $71,500. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis drove the car throughout the entire movie.
14. Bumblebee – 1977/2009 Chevrolet Camaro (Transformers)
For a robot in disguise, you’d think Bumblebee would want something less conspicuous than the then-new Camaro. Then again, he couldn’t have made much cooler a choice…
A splash of retro-futurism, a blinding paintjob, equipment to fight off the supernatural and some impressive load space. It couldn’t be anything else but the big Cadi.
12. The Bluesmobile – 1974 Dodge Monaco (The Blues Brothers)
Not much says “I’m above the law” more than the police-liveried Dodge Monaco as used by the Blues Brothers.
11. Tim Burton’s Batmobile (Batman, Batman Returns)
Tim Burton means bat***t, and Bruce’s Batman Returns Batmobile is just that. Complete with jet engine and sleek matte black bodywork, what isn’t there to love?
10. 1960s Batmobile – customised 1954 Lincoln Futura (Batman: The Movie)
The original, the iconic. There is no bettering the custom Futura Batmobile, even with something akin to a tank.
9. Ford Mustang GT Fastback (Bullitt)
A key character in one of the greatest movie car chases of all-time, the Bullitt Mustang must be one of the coolest movie cars of all-time.
8. Charlie’s getaway Minis – 1968 Mini Cooper S (The Italian Job)
Of course, power is nothing without control. So the humble Mini is no doubt the better companion in the greatest movie heist of all-time than any Lambo would have been.
7. Greased Lightning – 1948 Ford Deluxe (Grease)
To survive high school in 50s America you needed bravado and ego, something John Travolta in a leather jacket delivered in spades. A Ford Deluxe hot rod is the only car to match, though, not this one. This one you can have for your wedding car courtesy of americandreams.co.uk…
6. James Bond’s Lotus Esprit S1 (The Spy Who Loved Me)
This would have to be Bond’s coolest car were it not for the history-wide Aston Martin association. The ultimate 80s wedge is also arguably the coolest submarine of all-time.
5. Batmobile/Tumbler (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight)
When you need a car for war, look no further than the Dark Knight’s Batmobile. The Tumbler is more tank than car, it’s just that most tanks don’t have rocket boosters. Nor do most cars, really…
4. Herbie – 1963 Model 117 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle (The Love Bug, etc)
No cars are characters quite like Herbie the Love Bug, beating the colourful characters of the Cars films to automotive sentience by 38 years.
3. Doc Brown’s DeLorean – 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 (Back to the Future)
It’s a tough battle at this point for most iconic car of all-time. Doc Brown’s time-travelling masterpiece will always be in the running.
2. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – customised Paragon Panther (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)
The original car that had us looking at our cars and then looking to the skies. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is one of the ultimate cult classics. We’re in little doubt that no car has taken to the skies in cinema and garnered such a gasp as this.
1. James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 (James Bond movies)
No contest, really. Bond’s original Superleggera-bodied masterpiece is immortal, probably because they keep wheeling it out. Why? Because it will never be bettered, for Bond or any other movie.
If you’ve got yourself a new Ford Mustang Bullitt on order, Steeda can offer an injection of McQueen muscle to take it to the next level.
The Steeda McQueen Edition Bullitt Mustang is that car, created in collaboration with Steve McQueen’s son, Chad, and his company, McQueen Racing LLC.
What is it?
True to its name, this is a modification package offered by Steeda exclusively for Bullitt Edition Mustangs, with a maximum of 300 cars available per year. It will also obviously be limited by the amount of Bullitts ordered from Ford.
Power (as standard) is around 500hp, with the cold air intake and tuning package boosting the standard 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine.
A supercharger retrofit and half-shaft upgrade is available as an option, taking it up to 800hp. These, along with the overhauled suspension, short-shifter and more are carried over from other already-excellent Steeda-modified Mustangs.
What’s exclusive to the McQueen?
As well as the Highland Green paint of most Bullitts, the Steeda car has HRE wheels with McQueen Edition centre caps, a decklid emblem and rear quarter window louvres.
The devil, however, is in the finer details, with bespoke light-up sill plates, a dash plaque, floor mats and engraved key fobs. Optional McQueen-exclusive parts include an Alcantara-clad wheel complete with green centre stripe and brake calipers finished in dark charcoal with green accents.
There is also ‘Special Buyer’s Thank You Package’ with even more pleasing trinketry – of which the engraved key fobs are a part. Joining them are a letter of authenticity, a Steve McQueen Edition poster and archival pigment print – both numbered and signed by Chad.
Steeda is confident the spirit of the original movie Mustang and of Steve himself is expressed to the fullest with this modification package, saying “We take things on as Steve himself would have wanted: understated, cool and with the focus firmly on enhancing performance”.
Bicester Heritage has submitted plans for a 344-room hotel on the former RAF Bicester site as part of a vision to create the “world’s leading automotive resort”.
The hotel will use materials inspired by existing pre-war RAF buildings and will include a four-storey atrium to showcase rotating automotive-themed exhibitions and displays. Situated next to the track, the hotel will provide unrivalled views of the events and rallies held on the 420-acre site.
Other amenities will include a restaurant, bar, courtyard, gym, swimming pool and sauna.
Dan Geoghegan, managing director of Bicester Heritage, said “We very much look forward to welcoming enthusiasts to our motoring hotel, from which they will be able to experience a range of automotive destinations on a single site, from the existing centre of excellence for historic motorcars to private track, exhibition hangars, OEM brand centre and future technology.”
The hotel is designed by British designer and car enthusiast Dexter Moren, who said: “Hospitality specialist architects and interior designers, Dexter Moren Associates, are thrilled to have been selected to design a landmark hotel within a former RAF base, forming part of the Bicester Heritage master plan vision focusing on motorcars and aeroplanes.
“The design objective has been to respond in a contemporary manner to the site’s rich and unique story, drawing inspiration from its historic position at the forefront of aviation, engineering, and innovation while complementing the existing period buildings.”
Motor lodges
Future plans include the building of so-called ‘motor lodges’, allowing individuals to stay within the ‘resort’ with their car and adjacent to the circuit. It will complete the transformation from a derelict site into a thriving business community.
Today, Bicester Heritage is home to 35 businesses with a collective turnover of over £20 million and is the UK’s only hub for historic motoring excellence.
Details of the planning application can be found on the Cherwell District Council website.
Fans of Apple’s MacBook computer are expected to dig deep for the ‘MAC 800K’ registration at the current DVLA auction.
The registration is one of 500 being offered at the latest Timed Auction, with reserves ranging from £250 to £2,500. If you fancy showing the world how much you like your laptop, ‘MAC 800K’ comes pre-loaded with a £250 reserve.
Anybody keen on Apple products needs to bid on @DVLAAUCTION for the number plate MAC 800K. Starts 10am #MacBook
It puts us in mind of the registration on show at the Haynes Motor Museum, with a 1987 Bentley Continental Convertible displaying CAR 800K – or CAR BOOK – a reference to the publishing business famous for producing the Haynes Manual.
If Apple products aren’t your thing, and you fancy something with a little R&B flavour, how about ‘WH17 NEY’, which is offered with a £400 reserve. You have One Moment in Time to place a bid – the 10-day sale commenced on Monday and will reach a conclusion on Wednesday 15 August.
Pinball wizards might prefer ‘TO11 MMY’, with other name-based plates including ‘CA11 THY’, ‘MA17 HEW’, and ‘PA11 ULS’.
For registrations with a touch of automotive flavour, how about ’25 FER’ or ‘MC18 REN’?
Alternatively, if you think personalised plates are a bit ‘RUB 115H’, you can tell the world courtesy of a registration with a £250 reserve.
Jody Davies, DVLA Personalised Registrations’ senior sales manager, said: “We only planned to hold four Timed Auctions this year. However, with the ever-growing demand from our customers and the incredible array of registrations available has enabled us to add a fifth into our calendar.”
‘700 O’ leads the way
At lunchtime on Tuesday 7 August, ‘700 O’ led the way in the online auction, with a price of £6,510 – some £4,000 more than its reserve. If you’ve had enough of Porsche 911 fever, maybe ‘911 BS’ will float your boat – current price a bullish £6,010.
Registrations without a bid include ‘900 BJ’, ‘1967 BC’, ’59 DES’, ‘3000 GL’ and ‘HAC 3T’.
As for ‘MAC 800K’ – that has risen to just £780. Still, it’s cheaper than a new MacBook Pro…
