QUAD-CITIES BRITISH AUTO CLUB 2016 Edition / Issue 6 7 July 2016
THE QCBAC
CONTENTS The QCBAC was also formed to promote interest and usage of any, and all British cars. The QCBAC website is at: qcbac.com The QCBAC 1
Board Meeting 1 BOARD MEETING
Queen’s English 1 The QCBAC board met on 5 July 2016 at El Mariachi Restaurante, Moline, IL.
The minutes for that meeting can be found on page 2 of this newsletter. Quotation 1 Discussed at the meeting were changes to the QCBAC Bylaws. The revised Future QCBAC Events 2 bylaws can be viewed beginning on page 4.
Other Car Club Events 2
Question & Answer 2 QUEEN’S ENGLISH Blagged: robbed Board Minutes 3 Lorry: truck QCBAC Bylaws 4 Oggy: pastry Knickers: underwear Car of the Month 8 Elevenses: mid-morning snack
British Auto News 13 QUOTATION
Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. - Will Rogers -
British Car Union 2013 – Palatine, IL
2012 QCBAC Heartland Autofest – Village of East Davenport, IA
Page 1 of 18
ANSWER FUTURE QCBAC EVENTS The only gadget originally written into the James Bond July Dinner 10 July 2016 4:00 pm movie script was the smoke Gunchie’s 2107 4th Avenue, Moline IL screen. The other gadgets August Dinner 14 August 2016 4:00 pm were added by the writers at Famous Dave’s 1110 E Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA the suggestions of crew members. For instance, the Our Premiere Event: revolving license plate was Heartland Autofest 6 Aug 2016 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Riverfront Park, Le Claire, IA (Beat the rush, register now!) added at the suggestion of director Guy Hamilton because he kept getting Congratulatins to Pegg Shepherd for winning a Top 100 award at the parking tickets. Quad City Cruisers South Park Car Show on 11 June.
Photo courtesy of Jim Shepherd
OTHER CAR CLUB EVENTS
Walcott Car Show 16 July 2016 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Meet at Courtesy Ford, 3921 West River Drive, Davenport, IA
Depart by 8:00 am to caravan to Walcott.
Oneida Car Show 30 July 2016 9:00 am – 3:00 pm NEXT QUESTION Meet at McDonald’s, 1800 36th Avenue, Moline, IL. Depart by 8:00 am.
1952 is an important year for Crossroads Blues Fest 27 Aug 2016 many reasons, for instance, my British Boots & Bonnets event Lyran Park, Rockford, IL birth year! It also was the first Route 6 Retro Road Trip 2016 16-18 Sep 2016. year that Bentley used a model Drive across Iowa Special Event in Davenport, 15 Sep 2016: name for their two door, "Cruise the Ones" event ends with a visit to Dahl Ford's Old Car Home aluminum, fast back version of the model “R” car. Bentley still uses that model name to this date. What was the name for that model of Bentley?
1947 Triumph 1800 Roadster – 2014 British Car Festival, Palatine, IL Page 2 of 18
MINUTES - QCBAC BOARD MEETING
El Mariachi Restaurante - Moline July 5, 2016 – 5:30 pm
Board Attendees:
Dave Bishop Carl Jameson Jeff Brock Jerry Nesbitt Larry Hipple John Weber
The Board met to discuss the following agenda items: • Review and approve minutes of the 5/10/2016 board meeting. • Quarterly review of financials. • Discuss details of Car Show preparations. • Review of Bylaws.
MEETING MINUTES
John Weber read the minutes of the 5/10/2016 board meeting. Minutes were approved by unanimous vote.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Dave reported the following account balances:
Checking 3256.48
CD 5221.23
Dave’s report was accepted by unanimous vote.
AUTOFEST • Larry reports that cones have been purchased and are currently being stored in his garage. • Larry has arranged to obtain the signs from Doug. We will need six barricades for signs and access control. • Jeff will contact Le Claire to see if they can supply the barricades and Larry will contact Bi-State in Coal Valley if they cannot. • Jeff is to contact the publicity chair to arrange for some advertising / announcements in advance of the show. • Larry advised that he has the ballots ready. • Jerry will contact the DJ to discuss speaker placement.
Page 3 of 18 BY-LAWS
John Weber read the draft revisions to the By-Laws. By-laws dated 7/5/2016 were unanimously approved as read.
NEXT MEETING
A date for the next meeting was not determined. Jerry will call it when appropriate.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30.
Respectfully Submitted: John Weber
BY-LAWS: QUAD CITY BRITISH AUTO CLUB, LLC
Approved: 07/05/2016, Moline, IL
ARTICLE I - NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1. This Organization shall be known as the QUAD CITY BRITISH AUTO CLUB, LLC.
Section 2. The purpose of this club shall be to provide mutual enjoyment for members and to preserve antique and classic British automobiles and motorcycles.
ARTICLE II – OFFICERS
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the following elected officers: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and 2 at large members. These are voting members on Executive Board motions.
Section 2. All officers shall be elected for a term of two years but may run again to serve additional terms.
Section 3. The manner of election of officers shall be as follows: At a membership meeting to be held in January, nominations will be taken from the floor and elections held at that time. Any member of the Club who is in good standing may be elected to serve on the Executive Board.
Section 4. The Executive Board shall have the power to proceed in any manner as may in their judgment, serve the interests of the Club. The decision of the majority of the Executive Board on any question shall be binding until the next regular or special meeting of the membership, when such decisions may be approved, nullified or amended as provided for hereinafter.
ARTICLE III - DUTIES OF OFFICERS Page 4 of 18
Section 1. President - The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and of the
Executive Board. In the absence of the President from a board meeting, the Vice
President shall preside over the meeting. If both the President and Vice President are absent, the Board may appoint a temporary President to officiate the meeting. The
President will nominate and the Board shall approve all committee chairpersons, the Web Master, and the Editor(s) of the newsletter. The standing committees shall be Membership, AutoFest, and Publicity. Any other committee may be named that the President or Executive Board deems necessary. The President shall have all powers and duties usually vested in the President of an organization and power to decide all questions of equal division.
Section 2. Vice President - The Vice President shall act as President for conducting a meeting in the absence of the President.
Section 3. Secretary - The Secretary shall handle official correspondence of the Club and shall keep minutes of the Executive Board meetings and report on the proceedings by summary in the newsletter or by email to the members. The minutes of the meetings shall be kept in a bound book or in electronic format. If archived in electronic format, they shall be backed up as necessary. The Secretary shall perform other such duties that usually pertain to the office and those that may be prescribed by the Executive Board.
Section 4. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall collect and disburse the funds of the Club as may be ordered by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall provide a quarterly financial report to the Executive Board and an Annual Financial Report to the membership. The balance of the treasury must be submitted for inclusion in the Newsletter quarterly. The Treasurer will receive New Member information from the Membership Chairperson and shall collect all dues payable by Members.
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERS
Section l. People with a general interest in British Cars may apply for membership in the Quad City British Auto Club, LLC.
Section 2. Upon receipt of a properly executed application and payment of dues, the new members shall be accepted or rejected by the Executive Board. If rejected, the applicant’s dues payment shall be refunded.
Section 3. Termination of membership: The membership may be terminated by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board for conduct unbecoming a member of the British Auto Club, or other cause, upon giving the member in question full opportunity to hear and reply to the charges or reasons for such action. Any member whose dues are more than 60 days, in arrears shall be dropped from the roll. Any member who is in arrears to the club for any reason other than dues payment, shall be dropped from the rolls until the arrears are cleared. Members owing the club money shall be given 30 days to pay. Should the member in arrears appeal to the Executive Board, the executive board may extend this period for up to 90 days, provided that 2/3 of the Executive Board votes to do so.
Page 5 of 18
Section 4. Resignation of Membership: Any member may resign by tendering the resignation in writing to the Executive Board. No dues money will be returned to the resigning member.
ARTICLE V - MEETING OF MEMBERS
Section 1. Members shall hold a Meeting and/or Activity monthly when possible.
Section 2. Executive Board Meetings shall be held a minimum of one per quarter.
Section 3. Special Executive Board meetings may be called by the President or upon the request of three members of the Executive Board or six members of the
Club. At least five days’ notice shall be given for special Executive Board meetings. Such notice may be informal. At this meeting only the subject(s) that prompted the meeting will be discussed. See Article II, Section 4.
Section 4. Special membership meetings may be called by the president or upon the request of three members of the Executive Board or six members of the Club. At least two weeks’ notice shall be given to all members. The newsletter or email may serve as written notice.
Section 5. For purposes of conducting business at regular or special meetings of the Executive Board, two thirds of the board shall constitute a quorum. For purposes of conducting business at regular or special meetings of the membership, a vote of a majority of those present shall be sufficient to approve, nullify or amend Executive Board decisions and to deal with other items of business as may come before such meetings.
ARTICLE VI- Additional REQUIREMENTS
Section 1. We the members of the Quad City British Auto Club, LLC shall not be entitled to any individual or collective interest, participation, share, right and/or property right in and to the assets of the Club: but such assets shall be the indivisible property of the Club.
No dividends, pecuniary profits, stock dividends or payments of like manner shall ever be declared or paid the members of this Club thereof.
ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS OR ADDITIONS TO BY LAWS
Section 1. Amendments may be made from time to time by a majority vote of the members in good standing. The Executive Board shall give at least two weeks’ notice to all Club members stating the proposed changes. A newsletter or email can serve as notification.
Page 6 of 18 The following rules are to clarify and enhance the implementation of the By- Laws of the Quad City British Auto Club, LLC.
1. The report of the Secretary of the Club shall record the minutes and list the motions approved or rejected at the Board Meeting
2. Annual Financial Report: The Executive Board, at the Q1 Board meeting or before, shall appoint three (3) members to serve as an Audit Committee to do a previous year financial status review. The findings shall be reported to the Executive Board at the Q1 Board meeting. A statement of the findings shall be published in the newsletter after the report has been accepted by the Board. If the Executive Board so directs, an outside audit may also be conducted.
3. Members may question Executive Board decisions by submitting their rationale in writing.
4. The by-laws of the QCBAC, LLC shall be reviewed once every two (2) years during the term of an Executive Board. Should it be deemed necessary to amend the by-laws, the proposed changes shall be approved at a membership meeting and at least two weeks’ notice shall be given to all Club members stating the proposed changes. A newsletter or email can serve as notification.
5. The Web-Master for the Club shall be nominated by the President and approved by the Executive Board. The Web Site shall be listed in the newsletter. The Web-Site shall be updated on a regular basis.
6. The membership chairman’s duties consist of: a. Keeping an accurate record of members & spouses and their addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, etc. b. Give updates to the Treasurer and Secretary in the event of changes of address or name etc. c. The membership chairman shall, upon receipt of a new member application, submit the original application and money to the treasurer. d. The membership chairman shall set up a table for promotion of membership at the Annual Autofest. If the chairman is not able to sit at this table, it is his/her responsibility to make certain that someone is at the table at all times to promote membership and answer the questions of potential members. e. Any other duties the Executive Board President may assign in regards to membership.
8. The publicity chairman’s duties consist of: a. Publicity for the Annual Autofest. This publicity should include TV, Radio and Newspapers. b. Any other duties as the Executive Board President may assign in regards to Publicity.
9. The Newsletter chairman’s duties consist of: a. Preparing and distributing a monthly newsletter. b. It should be noted that the newsletter is the preferred method of communicating events and Executive Board actions to the members. Newsletters will be sent by email but can be sent by US Mail when an email address is not available.
Page 7 of 18 CAR OF THE MONTH
Bentley 4 ½ Litre (circa 1932) without supercharger.
I guess if I had been a true James Bond fan, then my British car of choice would have been the Bentley described in the Ian Fleming novels. According to Ian, James Bond's “spy” car was a grey 1933 Bentley convertiblefeaturing a 4.5 L engine with the Amherst Villiers supercharger. In the novels, no gadgets were installed as this was Bond's “personal” vehicle that is mentioned in Casino Royale as being a hobby that Bond enjoys working on. Its only armament, in the novels, is a .45 Colt Army Special revolver Bond keeps in the glove compartment.
Bentley Motors Limited is a British registered company that designs, develops, and manufactures Bentley luxury motorcars which are largely hand-built. It is now a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG. Now based in Crewe, England, Bentley Motors Limited was founded by W. O. Bentley on 18 January 1919 in Cricklewood, North London.
Cricklewood Era Before World War I, Walter Owen Bentley, and his brother, Horace Millner Bentley, sold French DFP cars in Cricklewood, North London, but W.O, as Walter was known, always wanted to design and build his own cars. At the DFP factory, in 1913, he noticed an aluminum paperweight and thought that aluminum might be a suitable replacement for cast iron to fabricate lighter pistons. The first Bentley aluminum pistons were fitted to Sopwith Camel aero engines during World War I.
In August 1919, W.O. registered Bentley Motors Ltd. and in October he exhibited a car chassis, with dummy engine, at the London Motor Show. Ex–Royal Flying Corps officer, Clive Gallop, designed an innovative 4 valves per cylinder engine for the chassis. The durability of the first Bentley cars earned widespread acclaim and they competed in hill climbs and raced at Brooklands.
Bentley's first major event was the 1922 Indianapolis 500, a race, dominated by specialized cars with Duesenberg racing chassis. They entered a modified road car driven by works driver, Douglas Hawkes, accompanied by riding mechanic, H. S. "Bertie" Browning. Hawkes completed the full 500 miles and finished 13th with an average speed of 74.95 mph.
Captain Woolf Barnato Captain Woolf Barnato acquired his first Bentley, a 3-litre in 1925. With this car he won numerous Brooklands races. Just a year later he acquired the Bentley business itself. The Bentley enterprise was always underfunded, but inspired by the 1924 Le Mans win by John Duff and Frank Clement, Barnato agreed to finance Bentley's business. Barnato held 149,500 of the new shares giving him control of the company and he became chairman. Barnato injected further cash into the business: £35,000 secured by debenture in July 1927; £40,000 in 1928; £25,000 in 1929. With renewed financial input, W. O. Bentley was able to design another generation of cars.
Page 8 of 18
The Bentley Boys The Bentley Boys were a group British motoring enthusiasts that included Woolf Barnato, Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin, steeple chaser George Duller, aviator Glen Kidston, automotive journalist S.C.H. "Sammy" Davis, and Dr. Dudley Benjafield. The Bentley Boys, favored Bentley cars. Many were independently wealthy and often had a military background. They kept the marque's reputation for high performance alive; Bentley was noted for its four consecutive victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1927 to 1930.
In 1929, Tim Birkin developed the 4½ litre, lightweight Blower Bentley at Welwyn Garden City and produced five racing specials, starting with Bentley Blower No.1 which was optimized for the Brooklands racing circuit. Birkin overruled W.O. and put the model on the market before it was fully developed. As a result, it was unreliable. 1929 Blower Bentley
The original Bentley model was the 3-litre, but as customers put heavier bodies on the chassis, a larger 4½-litre model followed. Perhaps the most iconic model of the period is the 4½-litre "Blower Bentley", with its distinctive supercharger projecting forward from the bottom of the grille. Uncharacteristically fragile for a Bentley it was not the racing workhorse the 6½-litre was, though, in 1930, Birkin remarkably finished second in the French Grand Prix at Pau in a stripped-down racing version of the "Blower Bentley". The 4½-litre model later became famous in popular media as the vehicle of choice of James Bond in the original novels, but this has been seen only briefly in the films. John Steed in the television series The Avengers also drove a Bentley.
Bentley withdrew from motor racing just after winning at Le Mans in 1930, claiming that they had learned enough about speed and reliability. The new 8-litre was such a success that when Barnato's money seemed to run out in 1931 and Napier was planning to buy Bentley's business, Rolls-Royce purchased Bentley Motors to prevent it competing with their most expensive model, Phantom II.
1931 Buyout In July 1931, two mortgage payments were due which neither the company nor Barnato, the guarantor, were able to meet. On 10 July 1931 a Receiver was appointed. British Central Equitable Trust made a winning sealed bid of £125,000. British Central Equitable Trust later proved to be a front for Rolls-Royce Limited. Not even Bentley himself knew the identity of the purchaser until the deal was completed.
Barnato received £42,000 for his shares in Bentley Motors. By coincidence, he had bought a sizable stake in Rolls-Royce not long before Bentley Motors was liquidated. In 1934 he was appointed to the board of the new Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd. In the same year Bentley confirmed that it would continue racing.
The attempted total obliteration of Bentley Motors and its founder was an outcome of a long-standing vendetta between Hives and Bentley. The two engineers had completely opposing natures. The conflict begun in 1914 when Bentley was made official liaison between Government and aero engine manufacturers. Bentley may have been the better engineer, but his weaknesses were poor personal relationships and his inability to curb spending on development. The 8-Litre was acknowledged to be the better if more expensive car. He became patron of the Bentley Drivers' Club when Woolf Barnato's term as its president ended.
Page 9 of 18 Derby and Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce took over the assets of Bentley Motors (1919) Ltd and formed a subsidiary, Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd. Rolls- Royce had acquired the Bentley showrooms in Cork Street, the service station at Kingsbury, the complex at Cricklewood and the services of Bentley himself. This last was disputed by Napier in court without success. Bentley had neglected to register their trademark so Rolls-Royce immediately did so. They also sold the Cricklewood factory in 1932. Production stopped for two years, before resuming at the Rolls-Royce works in Derby. Unhappy with his role at Rolls-Royce, when his contract expired at the end of April 1935 W. O. Bentley left to joinLagonda .
When the new Bentley 3½ litre appeared in 1933, it was a sporting variant of the Rolls-Royce 20/25, which disappointed some traditional customers yet was well received by many others. W. O. Bentley was reported as saying, "Taking all things into consideration, I would rather own this Bentley than any other car produced under that name". Rolls-Royce's advertisements for the 1 3 ⁄2 Litre called it "the silent sports car," a slogan Rolls- Royce continued to use for Bentley cars until the 1950s. All Bentleys produced from 1931 to 2004 used inherited or shared Rolls-Royce chassis, and adapted Rolls-Royce engines, and are described by critics as badge-engineered 1935 "Silent sports car Rolls-Royces.
Crewe and Rolls-Royce In preparation for war, Rolls Royce and the British Government searched for a location for a shadow factory to ensure production of aero-engines. Crewe, with its excellent road and rail links, as well as being located in the northwest away from the aerial bombing starting in mainland Europe, was a logical choice. Crewe also had extensive open farming land. Construction of the factory started on a 60-acre area on the potato fields of Merrill's Farm in July 1938, with the first Rolls Royce Merlin aero-engine rolling off the production line five months later. 25,000 Merlin engines were produced and at its peak, in 1943 during World War II, the factory employed 10,000 people. With the war in Europe over and the general move towards the then new jet engines, Rolls Royce concentrated its aero engine operations at Derby and moved motor car operations to Crewe.
Standard saloons
Until sometime after World War II, most high-end motorcar manufacturers like Bentley and Rolls-Royce did not supply complete cars. They sold rolling chassis, near-complete from the instrument panel forward. Each chassis was delivered to the coach builder of the buyer's choice. The biggest specialist car dealerships had coachbuilders build standard designs for them which were held in stock awaiting potential buyers.
To meet post-war demand, particularly UK Government pressure to export and earn overseas currency, ollsR -Royce developed an all steel body using pressings made by Pressed Steel to create a "standard" ready-to-drive complete saloon car. The first steel-bodied model produced was the Bentley Mark VI: these started to emerge from the newly reconfigured Crewe factory early in 1946. Some years later, initially only for export, theRolls -Royce Silver Dawn was introduced, a standard steel Bentley but with a Rolls-Royce radiator grille for a small extra charge, and this convention continued.
Page 10 of 18
Assembled pressings from Pressed Steel Bentley Mark VI standard steel saloon, the first Bentley supplied by Rolls-Royce with a standard body.
Chassis remained available to coachbuilders until the end of production of the Bentley S3, which was replaced for October 1965 by the chassis-less monocoque construction T series.
Bentley Continental
The Continental fastback coupé was aimed at the UK market, most cars, 164 plus a prototype, being right-hand drive. The chassis was produced at the Crewe factory and shared many components with the standard R type. Other than the R-Type standard steel saloon, R-Type Continentals were delivered as rolling chassis to the coachbuilder of choice.
Coachwork for most of these cars was completed by H. J. Mulliner & Co. who mainly built them in fastback coupe form. Bentley Continental, fastback coupé body by H J Mulliner
Other coachwork came from Park Ward (London) who built six, later including a drophead coupe version. Franay (Paris) built five, Graber (Wichtrach, Switzerland) built three, one of them later altered by Köng (Basel, Switzerland), and Pininfarina made one. James Young (London) built in 1954 a Sports Saloon for the owner of James Young's, James Barclay.
The 1952 R Type Continental has essentially the same engine as the standard R Type, but with modified carburation, induction and exhaust manifolds along with higher gear ratios. After July 1954 the car was fitted with an engine, having now a larger bore of 94.62 mm (3.7 in) with a total displacement of 4,887 cc (4.9 L; 298.2 cu in). The compression ratio was raised to 7.25:1.
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Crewe and Vickers
The problems of Bentley's owner with Rolls-Royce aero engine development, the RB211, brought about the financial collapse of its business in 1970.
The motorcar division was made a separate business, Rolls-Royce Motors Limited, which remained independent until bought by Vickers plc in August 1980. By the 1970s and early 1980s Bentley sales had fallen badly; at one point less than 5% of combined production carried the Bentley badge.
The Bentley logo on a 1998 Arnage
Under Vickers, Bentley set about regaining its high-performance heritage, typified by the 1980 Mulsanne. Bentley's restored sporting image created a renewed interest in the name and Bentley sales as a proportion of output began to rise. By 1986 the Bentley: Rolls-Royce ratio had reached 40:60; by 1991 it achieved parity.
Volkswagen AG vs. BMW AG In October 1997, Vickers announced that it had decided to sell Rolls-Royce Motors. BMW AG seemed to be a logical purchaser because BMW already supplied engines and other components for Bentley and Rolls-Royce branded cars and because of BMW and Vickers joint efforts in building aircraft engines. BMW made a final offer of £340m, but was outbid by Volkswagen AG, which offered £430m. Volkswagen AG acquired the vehicle designs, model nameplates, production and administrative facilities, the Spirit of Ecstasy and Rolls-Royce grille shape trademarks, but not the rights to the use of the Rolls-Royce name or logo, which are owned by Rolls-Royce Holdings plc. In 1998, BMW started supplying components for the new range of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars—notably V8 engines for the Bentley Arnage and V12 engines for the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph, however, the supply contract allowed BMW to terminate its supply deal with Rolls-Royce with 12 months' notice, which would not be enough time for Volkswagen to re-engineer the cars.
BMW paid Rolls-Royce plc £40m to license the Rolls-Royce name and logo. After negotiations, BMW and Volkswagen AG agreed that, from 1998 to 2002, BMW would continue to supply engines and components and would allow Volkswagen temporary use of the Rolls-Royce name and logo. All BMW engine supply ended in 2003 with the end of Silver Seraph production.
From 1 January 2003 forward, Volkswagen AG would be the sole provider of cars with the "Bentley" marque. BMW established a new legal entity, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, and built a new administrative headquarters and production facility for Rolls-Royce branded vehicles in Goodwood, West Sussex, England.
Bentley Azure Mulliner 2003 Final Series
Page 12 of 18 In April 2005, Bentley confirmed plans to produce a four-seat convertible model—the Azure, derived from the Arnage Drophead Coupé prototype—at Crewe beginning in 2006. By the autumn of 2005, the convertible version of the successful Continental GT, the Continental GTC, was also presented. These two models were successfully launched in late 2006.
Bentley sales continued to increase, and in 2005 8,627 were sold worldwide, 3,654 in the United States. In 2007, the 10,000 cars-per-year threshold was broken for the first time with sales of 10,014. For 2007, a record profit of €155 million was also announced. Bentley reported a sale of about 7,600 units in 2008. However, its global sales plunged 50 percent to 4,616 vehicles in 2009 (with the U.S. deliveries dropped 49% to 1,433 vehicles) and it suffered an operating loss of €194 million. As a result of the slump in sales, production at Crewe was shut down during March and April 2009. Though vehicle sales increased by 11% to 5,117 in 2010, operating loss grew by 26% to €245 million. Vehicle sales in 2011 rose 37% to 7,003 vehicles, with the new Continental GT accounting for over one-third of total sales. The current workforce is about 4,000 people.
Current Models In 2016, with 97 years of heritage, Bentley offers four models, the pinnacle Mulsanne, the Flying Spur sedan, the Continental, and the new Bentayga.
Motorsport A Bentley Continental GT3entered by the M-Sport factory team won the Silverstone round of the 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series. This was Bentley's first official entry in a British race since the 1930 RAC Tourist Trophy.
BRITISH AUTO NEWS
Aston Martin: (6/1) Aston Martin says it has over 200 parties keen to buy the as-of-yet unnamed car, which is already double an initially indicated production run of 100 units. Aston Martin and the Red Bull Racing Formula One team have partnered to develop the hypercar, which according to International Business Times will be priced from £2.5 million, or about $3.66 million. Chiefly responsible for the design will be legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey. Deliveries won't start until sometime in 2018, at the earliest. Though it's yet to be confirmed, there's a chance Aston Martin will preview the design at the United Kingdom's Goodwood Festival of Speed starting June 23.
(6/22) The second model in Aston Martin’s brand renaissance has been spotted testing at Germany’s Nürburgring. The new Vantage sits lower, has a shorter wheelbase and overall looks sportier and more focused. Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer has described the car as being the option for track enthusiasts. He also confirmed it will continue to form the basis of Aston Martin’s endurance racing program. The finer details are heavily camouflaged but we're told Aston Martin’s slinky DB10 sports car developed for the James Bond movie Spectre is a good indication of what’s to come. A digital instrument cluster will feature at the front of the cabin and buyers should be able to select from either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic. Also helping to differentiate the cars will be the addition of- aV 8 engine in the Vantage, with Aston Martin’s new twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V-12 reserved for the DB11 and next-generation Vanquish. The -V 8 will be a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG. Underpinning the car is the same bonded aluminum structure found in the DB11. The new structure promises less weight, increased rigidity and better packaging. Sales of the new Aston Martin Vantage should commence towards the end of 2017. The $138k starting price for the current model is a good bet for the lower bound of the new model's pricing.
Page 13 of 18 Bentley (VW): (6/10) Bentley is readying a new generation of its Continental GT expected on the market next year as a 2018 model. The designers have once again gone with a soft-top roof. And it’s clear that the car’s lines have been inspired by Bentley’s impressive EXP 10 Speed 6 concept unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The taillights feature a large oval-shaped element also borrowed from the EXP 10 Speed 6. Underneath the sheet metal is the modular platform known as the MSB that makes its debut in the new Porsche Panamera. It brings significant weight savings as well as compatibility with alternative powertrains. The core powertrain in the new Continental GT including the convertible will be a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W-12 with an output of at least 600 horsepower, up from the 582 hp found in the current model. A GT Speed Convertible is also planned and should deliver more than the latest model’s 633 hp. The sole transmission is expected to be an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive should also be fitted as standard.
Elemental: (6/7) There’s no shortage of lightweight track specials hailing from the United Kingdom. After all, that’s where we got classics like the AC Cobra and Lotus Seven. The segment has seen a resurgence in recent years thanks to companies like Ariel, BAC and KTM and their respective Atom, Mono and X-Bow models. Now we have Elemental ready to join the fray.
Elemental was established in 2012 with the aim to develop a cutting edge and lightweight track car. Its first product is the RP1, which we first saw as a prototype two years ago. The production version was revealed this week ahead of an official debut at next week’s 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Compared to the original prototype, Elemental tells us the car's carbon fiber tub now has better material quality, fit and finish, and aerodynamic efficiency.
The tub only weighs 143 pounds and features a feet-up driving position just like a contemporary Formula One racer. Also borrowed from F1 is a comprehensive aerodynamics package that includes underbody elements that help the RP1 generate upwards of 880 lbs. of downforce at speeds of 150 mph. Note, this is achieved with a street-legal ride height. Elemental says even more downforce is possible with a more aggressive setup.
Suspension on the RP1 can be easily adjusted and there is also a traction control system with five modes that control various traction and engine map settings. The modes range from road to full race setups. Customers have two powertrain choices with the RP1; a base option with a turbocharged 1.0-liter 3-cylinder delivering 180 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with as much as 320 hp on tap. The latter will see the RP1 rocket from 0-60 mph in just 2.8 seconds. Details on pricing and availability in the United States are yet to be revealed. (From Glen: If you have to ask about the price, you can’t afford it.)
The 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed will run from June 23-26 on the grounds of Goodwood House in the south of England. For more coverage on the event, head to our dedicated hub.
Jaguar / Land Rover (TATA): (6/6) A Chinese automaker notorious for copying European automakers' designs is being taken to court by Jaguar Land Rover. The British company has been successful in barring Jiangling from selling the X7 in a number of markets outside of China. It is rare for a foreign firm to win a court case in China, though, especially one over copyright violations. The X7 has been on sale since last year, but JLR has held off on legal action, in part because Chinese consumers react negatively to foreign firms taking their domestic companies to court. If JLR wins, a flood of lawsuits from other European automakers over copycat designs in China could be inevitable such as Porsche, whose Macan was recently cloned by Zotye.
Page 14 of 18 (6/7) Nine buyers have ponied up $1.5 million each for the right to buy a new 1957 Jaguar XKSS sports car. How is this possible? In the mid-1950s, Jaguar was planning a road-going version of its D-Type racing car, but it subsequently pulled out of motorsports in 1956. A number of incomplete D-Type chassis were sitting at the company's Browns Lane assembly plant and Jaguar planned to build 25 examples of what it called the XKSS, a lightly modified racing car designed for American buyers. However, a fire broke out at Browns Lane and destroyed nine of the cars in various stages of completion. Jaguar Land Rover Classic, meanwhile, made waves back in March at the New York International Auto Show when it announced plans to finish the series with nine more cars priced at $1.5 million each—a bargain compared to the originals valued up to $30 million. But don't look to head down to your local Jaguar dealer to place an order for one. They were all spoken for, not long after they were announced.
(6/7) The all-new Jaguar F-PACE helped propel Jaguar Land Rover to its best ever May, with retail sales of 44,946 vehicles, up 18% on May 2015. This is the company’s fifth consecutive record-breaking month. Jaguar Land Rover sold 245,100 vehicles in the first five months of 2016, 23% up on the same period in the prior year. The Jaguar F- PACE, which is designed, engineered, and manufactured in the UK, has seen impressive results this month, with more than 3,000 vehicles sold worldwide. The new family sports car is the company’s fastest selling Jaguar ever.
(6/13) Land Rover is set to emulate BMW’s niche-oriented lead with the introduction of a new sloped-roof SUV tipped to be called a Range Rover Sport Coupe. Land Rover already has the Range Rover Evoque Coupe in its lineup, but the British automaker plans to add a second of the coupe-like SUVs. Code-named L560, the vehicle looks to be even more on-road oriented than the already decidedly urban Range Rover Sport. Underpinning the vehicle is thought to be the aluminum-intensive platform of the Jaguar F-Pace, although the new Land Rover is slightly longer than its Jaguar counterpart. The larger size is necessary as the vehicle is designed to bridge the wide gap between the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport in Land Rover’s luxury-oriented lineup. The engineers were benchmarking the vehicle with a BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.
(6/21) Jaguar engineers have been spotted evaluating a test mule for an SUV sized above the current F-Pace. Tipped to be called the J-Pace, the new SUV is thought to be Jaguar’s first contender in the burgeoning segment for electrified luxury cars. According to Autocar, which has photos of the test mule, the new SUV will come exclusively with electrified powertrains, making it a potential alternative to plug-in hybrid versions of the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE as well as electric SUVs like the Tesla Motors Model X and upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron. The test mule is said to be fitted with a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain, though such an option is likely pegged for Europe only. A gasoline-electric setup would almost certainly be developed for China and the United States. And it’s possible an electric setup is also in the works.
(6/28) With a Nürburgring Nordschliefe lap of 7:46.36 and a 213 MPH top speed, the XJ220 was once the fastest production car in the world. Just 275 examples were built from 1992 – ’94, with each selling for 470,000 pounds (then, $900,000), which makes the fee-inclusive $357,500 paid last week in Santa Monica for a low-mileage 1994 Jaguar XJ220 from the former Riverside Auto Museum almost seem like a bargain. The green over tan example sold in Santa Monica last week came with service records dating to 2004, and showed just 8,700 kilometers (5,400 miles) on its odometer.
Lotus: (6/23) Ready to humble some of the fastest cars that money can buy, two of the greatest, most extreme Lotus models ever produced, the Lotus 3-Eleven, finished in matt and gloss Black color scheme and the Lotus Elise Cup 250 in Red, have driven off the production line for the first time at the famous Hethel factory.
Page 15 of 18 3-Eleven: Showing clear intent for the Lotus high-performance sports cars of the future, the 3-Eleven is the company’s quickest and most expensive series production car ever. The 3-Eleven offers a giant-slaying power-to-weight ratio, thanks to a revised V6 supercharged engine developing 460 hp, to provide in excess of 500 hp per ton. It is capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds before reaching a maximum speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).
Elise Cup 250: With the Lotus Elise recently crowned as Readers’ Champion during the Autocar Awards, this latest version of the legendary car is the faster ever - with a 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 154 mph (248 km/h). Powered by a new higher-output version of the supercharged, 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine, the Elise Cup 250 boasts 243 hp. However, in order to make the most of its power, it’s shed 21kg compared to its predecessor, to weight just 931 kg. Customers wanting to cut weight still further, and so boost performance, can select the optional Carbon Aero Pack to reduce the vehicle’s mass to 921 kg.
(6/28) The very first production Lotus Elite, bought new by jazz legend Chris Barber, and recently restored for Channel 4’s “For the Love of Cars”, will be auctioned by Silverstone Auctions at the Silverstone Classic Sale on 31th July. The very first Elite produced as a proper production vehicle rather than a pre-production prototype, this 1958 Lotus Elite Series I, chassis 1009, was displayed at the 1958 Earls Court Motor Show. It was then purchased by one of Colin Chapman’s most favored customers and personal friend, Chris Barber, in December 1958. The car has an incredible race history, with Barber racing it extensively for five seasons in top level international sports car racing in both the UK and Europe. As well as competing in three consecutive Tourist Trophy races at Goodwood in 1961, 1962 and 1963, the Elite raced at the Nürburgring and in the British Empire Trophy. During this period, it was also driven regularly by Sir John Whitmore, the ‘Racing Baronet’, who famously broke the class lap record at Spa using ‘CB23’ while on his way to class victory in the Grand Prix GT Support Race of 1962.
McLaren: (6/7) McLaren's Special Operations will build a glossy, carbon fiber-finished version of the company's 675LT Spider inspired by a similar-finished P1 hyper-car it displayed at this year's Geneva Motor Show. The McLaren Limited Edition MSO Carbon Series LT might have a wordy name, but it is composed of 40 percent more carbon fiber than the existing 675LT Spider. McLaren says the special edition's retractable roof and tonneau, its A-pillars, its engine cover, and its rear deck are all composed from carbon fiber, adding to a host of panels made from the strong and light material elsewhere on the vehicle. A special glossy finish covers the carbon fiber for a unique effect, while 650S GT3-inspired functional louvers integrated into the front fenders will also help it stand out. The limited edition model features as standard three track cameras as part of the McLaren Track Telemetry package that's normally optional. If you're looking for your own Limited Edition MSO Carbon Series LT, you'll have to wait for them to hit the used market. All 25 set to be built have already been sold.
(6/22) It’s only been a year since McLaren revealed the first of its Sports Series models, the 570S, but already the automaker’s entry-level range is close to matching the variety on offer in the pricier Super Series. Already this year we’ve been treated to the more practical 570GT and competition-ready 570 GT4 racer, and now McLaren has revealed the 570S Sprint. Power comes from the familiar twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 though McLaren says output has been “optimized,” suggesting there could be more than the standard 570S’s 562 horsepower. Additional upgrades include oil and cooling systems designed to handle track duty; a wide splitter up front and canards attached to the bumper; a fixed rear wing; center-locking magnesium wheels shod with Pirelli racing slicks, and an available air jack. The 570S makes its formal debut on June 24 at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom. Pricing starts at £148,000 (approximately $217,680) and deliveries are due to commence in 2017.
Page 16 of 18 MG (SAIC): (6/23) This time last week, MG Motor’s new SUV, the MG GS, went on sale. Since then almost 40 have been registered, orders have been taken, deposits are being made and handovers are just around the corner. Prior to announcing any details about the car, members of the public interested in hearing about the GS were given the opportunity to put forward their suggestions for trim level names. These names depict the grades of a model and differentiate the features and equipment available. Almost 2,000 names were sent in. Those that were mentioned more than once were pulled into a list and the final decision was made by MG’s creative team. The trim level names were revealed last week, along with the pricing for each one. The three chosen names were: MG GS Explore (entry level), MG GS Excite (mid-level) and MG GS Exclusive (top level).
Mini (BMW): (6/6) Over half of the world’s Minis are boys, with the most popular name being Marvin, according to the world’s first ever Mini Census. The survey, carried out by the organisers of Mini World Live, which takes place at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northants, on July 10, 2016, received responses from Mini owners all over the globe, including places as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Malta and the USA. The results show that in total, 51% of the world’s Mini population is male, 35% are female and 14% are neither – although anyone who’s ever owned a Mini knows it’s more than just a car.
Among the boy Minis, the most popular names are Marvin, Tommy (Cooper) and Jack, although there’s a developing trend towards the names Dave, Stuart and Bob, made famous by Minions – The Movie. Girl Minis tend to follow a more alliterative tone, with Minnie (perhaps unsurprisingly), Mollie and Millie being the three most favoured names.
(6/17) The third-generation Mini is a marque of the BMW family and thus subject to a premium level of design, engineering, and execution. The new Minis ditch past engines developed with PSA for a new family of modular BMW gasoline and diesel engines with three, four, and six cylinders. The smooth and quick manual, makes driving this front- drive car a summer treat. About 20 percent of buyers are expected to go manual. The chassis is stiffer and there is an optional Dynamic Damper Control system with normal, sport, and eco modes. Whichever you choose, the Mini has not lost its signature go-kart handling. It is a true convertible and top-down driving is relatively protected from the wind; no need to put the windows up. The car is bigger—4.5 inches longer, 1.7 inches wider and almost an inch higher— providing 25 percent more cargo capacity for a less-cramped 7.6 cubic feet, or 5.7 cubic feet with the top down. The convertible in Cooper trim starts at $26,800 including destination, the Cooper S starts at $30,450, and the John Cooper Works takes you to $36,450. Average transaction price is around $30,000.
Morgan: (6/8) AR Motorsport Morgan Challenge 2016 – Silverstone GP. A 29 car grid headed to Silverstone (5/6/16) as part of the MGLive! event run by the MG Car Club. The cars were on the Historic GP track, a much longer and more challenging circuit that was set to produce some great racing. An incident free start saw Keith Ahlers disappear into the distance and dominate from start to finish, lapping all but the top 8 of the grid. The top 4 finishers in the race reflected that of qualifying, with Russell Paterson finishing just in front of son Elliot to take 2nd place overall. Another fine display of driving from Elliot Patterson saw him take another Class B victory and 3rd overall.
(6/13) The Morgan Motor Company was awarded the Manufacturer of the Year at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber Business Awards. The annual awards are set up to identify and award the brightest and best businesses within the two counties, with awards being presented across a number of different categories.
Rolls Royce (BMW): (6/23) Rolls-Royce Motor Cars celebrates the largest gathering of Rolls-Royces in the world this weekend at the 57th Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Annual Concours and Rally. The spectacular setting of Burghley House in Stamford, Lincolnshire provides the perfect backdrop for a record number of motor cars, with over 1000 heritage and contemporary Rolls-Royces attending the event.
Page 17 of 18 (6/27) Rolls-Royce celebrated a successful Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend, with a stunning ascent of the famous Goodwood Hillclimb, defying challenging weather conditions.
Wraith Black Badge. The most powerful and dynamic Rolls-Royce in history, Wraith Black Badge effortlessly ascended the Hillclimb during the Supercar Shootout, placing it ahead of entrants from McLaren, Aston Martin and Ferrari, amongst others. Wraith completed the 1.16-mile course in 65.05 seconds and recorded a speed of 94.8mph as the car crossed the finish line, proving that it is not necessary to sacrifice luxury for speed. Wraith was driven by Festival of Speed favorite, Justin Law.
Ghost Black Badge. The Course Car this year was a Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge, resplendent with LED race lights and Goodwood decals. The car was seen at speed between each Hillclimb Run throughout the weekend.
TVR: (6/5) TVR will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2017 in the best way possible: by unleashing an all-new, back-to- basics sports car. TVR head Les Edgar indicated that business negotiations with Gordon Murray and Cosworth proved to be exciting and motivational. Les believes that the electronics in modern supercars can diminish the driver’s experience. “Personally speaking, I’d rather feel through the seat of the pants what’s happening with a car than be informed by a computer display.”, he stated. The 2017 TVR will be similar in size or possibly a little bigger than the last generation of TVRs. The chassis and hard points were all confirmed a year ago, and the body stylists haven’t been allowed to impinge on that in any way. It’ll be a British sports car - powered by a big engine, rear-wheel drive, great looks, lots of noise.
Bonus item: See if you can find a hidden British word in this newsletter.
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