JustBritish

This year’s Silverstone Classic, 20-22 July, looks to be the most entertaining and action-packed yet. Staged at the world famous Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire just two weeks after the Santander Formula 1 British Grand Prix, the Silverstone Classic is already established as the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival – and this summer’s event is all set to break yet more records.

Once again both Silverstone’s National and new International Wing pits and paddock complexes will be maximised to house more than 800 of the world’s finest historic racing cars with a packed schedule of races all staged on the full Grand Prix circuit. Adding to the spectacle more than 7,000 classic cars will be displayed over the weekend on the infield with many hallowed marques celebrating important milestones in their evocative histories.

Other highlights include live rock concerts, a special star-studded celebrity race, air displays, a vintage fun fair, a host of retail opportunities and rally car rides plus the exciting new interactive AA World automotive theme park. With so much to experience at the Silverstone Classic, it’s no surprise that advance ticket sales are 31 per cent up on the same period last year – itself a record.

“The Silverstone Classic just gets bigger and better every year with even more for all ages to see and do,” confirmed Event Director Nick Wigley at today’s (Wednesday 9 May) media preview at Silverstone. “The quality and quantity of our grids and car club displays is second to none while our new partnership with the AA is playing a significant role in extending the event’s massive appeal to an even wider family audience. We thought last year’s blockbuster was going to be hard to match but, with so many unmissable highlights already confirmed, it’s clear that this summer’s festival is going to be the best yet.”

A rusty Mini sold for 40,250 pounds ($65,382) at auction by Bonhams on Monday, April 30, — beating the price of a shiny Pontiac convertible once owned by Keith Richards.

The corroded 1959 Mini was described by Bonhams as the oldest surviving unrestored car of its type. It beat the 37,950 pounds paid for a dark-blue 1950 Chieftain Silver Streak used by guitarist Richards at a time when the Rolling Stones recorded “Exile on Main Street” at his south of France home in the early 1970s.

Both cars were bought by private U.S. buyers at an auction at the RAF Museum in Hendon, England. Classic cars often get a premium if they have interesting stories attached to them, such as famous owners, years spent in storage before being discovered in original condition.

The Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon, registration number XLL 27, was the eighth car of its type to come off the production line at Longbridge in May 1959, three months before the official debut of the Mini on Aug. 26 of that year, according to correspondence from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust. It had a presale estimate of 12,000 pounds to 15,000 pounds.

One of the largest private collections of Lotus cars will be dismantled in June during the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the annual motoring celebration at the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England.

The collection of 24 Lotuses consigned by Bonhams is owned by the Dutch textile magnate Olav Glasius, who in addition to being a collector is a vintage-racing enthusiast and the chairman of Lotus Club Holland.

The British sports-car marque will be this year’s featured brand at the Festival of Speed, an honor rendered somewhat inelegant by Lotus’s financial troubles. This month, Dany Bahar, chief executive of Lotus Cars, told Evo magazine that development of new models was being held up for three months as the company awaited either an infusion of cash or a sale by its Malaysian parent, Proton.

In a telephone interview, James Knight, the group motoring director of Bonhams, called the Glasius Collection “a tremendous selection of what Lotus is all about, with competition, road and concept cars.”

“There is no duplication in the Glasius Collection,” he added. “Each car is a bit of Lotus history.”

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I rarely point out auctions on eBay. In fact, I don’t think I have ever done it before. But, this 1953 Lanchester is just too gorgeous and someone needs to buy it, fix it back up, take care of it, and love it like it deserves. Such a gorgeous car.

I have absolutely no knowledge of this auction, car, or its owner. I have no vested interest in this. I just wish I could make that beauty mine!

According to the auction, “The Lanchester car company was owned by Daimler. The last Lanchester made was in 1957. This car was imported a few years ago. It is right hand drive. It has a Delaware title. The car was on the Isle of Mann till 1998. [The seller] bought her with 16000 miles on her. If you are over 6 feet tall, plenty of room. It has a pre select gear box which is kinda like a semi automatic. It is a 4 cylinder 2 litre motor.”

On April 22, this year’s Drive It Day to promote use of classic and interesting cars, Vauxhall is opening its Heritage Centre containing about 70 historic cars from all eras.

There is free entry between 10am and 4pm, during which any classic car owners can partake of light refreshments and the opportunity to see one of the largest manufacturer’s heritage collections in the UK.

Vauxhall’s Heritage Centre can be found on Park Street, Luton LU1 3HG, behind the main Griffin House headquarters on Osborne Road, where there is ample parking.

The annual Drive It Day, which is organized by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, encourages owners and enthusiasts to take their own classic out on the road to celebrate motoring heritage at its finest.

It was launched to celebrate the Thousand Mile Trial in 1900 in which 64 cars set off from London on a three-week reliability test promoting the motor car and its reliability. All owners of non-modern cars are encouraged to take to the roads to demonstrate how many classics and interesting cars are still on the road today.

Having opened a new facility in Goldhawk Road, West London this week, Nicholas Mee & Co says it is the first ever high-street, officially endorsed, Aston Martin Heritage showroom.

The company was established 21 years ago and held a party to celebrate the opening, with guests including Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez and Director of Works Service and Parts Operations, Kingsley Riding-Felce.

Riding-Felce said: “Aston Martin takes its heritage very seriously, and it is crucial that current and prospective owners of our Heritage models are able to receive the kind of levels of service and specialist knowledge that is expected of the Aston Martin brand.

“Up until now our heritage network has not had such prominence in London and it is wonderful to see Nicholas and his team investing so heavily in the future of Aston Martin’s Heritage business.”

Nicholas Mee added: “It seems essential to us that Aston Martin Heritage has a dedicated showroom in the heart of London. These premises will be London’s focal point for showing and dealing in these beautiful, collectable cars. Perfectly located at a central point between Heathrow and Mayfair, our new high street showrooms offer collectors, buyers and sellers an ideal environment to showcase their cars.”