www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com SPRING 2017 MACH 2 THE ROAD MARVEL THE RISE AND FALL TOTHE STORY OFHELL THE OF CONCORDE

BOUNCING BACK Dealer Spotlight 3 M25 – The Road To Hell 4-7 Classic Motorsport 8 Classic Character 9 Missing Moniker 10-13 New News From BMH 14-15 Mach 2 Marvel 16-19 Above: A rare shot of the three Bristol 450s that won their class and the team prize at Le Mans in 1954

Motoring Classics reproduction in whole or any part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission of the publisher The very mention of M25 is sufficient and can actually work in harmony is strictly prohibited. The publish- ANGLO PARTS to bring some drivers out in a rash of when they really try. Our feature not only er makes every effort to ensure pink and yellow spots, so my advance reminds us what an amazing technical the magazine’s contents are correct 3 2 apologies for making it the cover story feat it was, but that civil supersonic 3 but can accept no responsibility Anglo Parts is the latest classic note that a further 23,000 items were is what we’d call the sensible sector for this edition. However, I hope you’ll flight has actually stood still since it was for any effects from errors enterprise to join the ranks of added to the inventory in May last year, of the classic car world, not that of agree that the statistics surrounding conceived. It even reports on the serious or omissions. ‘Approved when Anglo acquired a hitherto rather old 911s that are being restored for it do actually make pretty fascinating possibility of a Concorde taking to the air Specialists’. As its managing secretive specialist Jaguar operation in crazy money and sold for even crazier NB Motoring Classics is the printed reading and, who knows, after absorbing once again - and how good would that director Marc van de Vijver Holland. In addition to the more obvious prices. It is that of the £5,000 to and online publication of British Motor our feature you may see the motorway be?! remarked: “It was pointed out to us items are some no-longer-obtainable £100,000 British classics that people Heritage and its retail trading arm. in a whole new light the next time you’re that we were the only large quality parts for models dating back to are keen to improve, but equally keen locked solid somewhere along its 117 This issue’s Dealer Spotlight concerns supplier of classic British car the ‘30s – ie SS ones. Commented to use rather than store for investment Publisher: miles of asphalt and concrete – was that the pan-European concern of Anglo British Motor Heritage Limited, parts not on the list, so are happy van de Vijver: “Not all the stock had – cars permanently locked away in a pig that just flew by?! Parts, one of whose recent acquisitions to have put that matter right.” been computerised and there was no garages are no use to us. It is true Range Road, Cotswold Business is a little-known Dutch Jaguar retailer Park, Witney OX29 OYB, UK website, so it will take a while to fully that a lot of the MGBs have now been Our larger than usual Missing Moniker is whose stock turned out to include items Arguably the biggest such operator in optimise this very exciting opportunity.” restored, but they still need parts to Tel: +44 (0)1993 707200 devoted to that quintessentially British dating all the way back to the SS models Email: [email protected] Continental Europe following the recent keep them running and there are a marque Bristol. The additional three of the ‘30s. Add in the latest news from addition of an outlet in Switzerland, As can be seen, the business is lot of E-Types in rebuild right now.” pages are to do justice not only to its British Motor Heritage itself, as well as Anglo Parts boasts no less than 13 forging ahead, but the focus remains Editorial: unique history of trams, buses, taxis, details of its upcoming season of classic Gordon Bruce Associates branches spread over 12 countries; on product quality and availability and Further information on the fascinating aeroplanes and cars, but also the racing, and we hopefully have something including wholly-owned subsidiaries the provision of suitably knowledgeable Anglo Parts operation can be Email: [email protected] secret ‘dungeon’ that lies beneath its to help all of you through the remaining Web: www.gordonbruce.com in , and Holland. The staff. Said van de Vijver: “Our market found at www.angloparts.com. long-standing showroom, and winter evenings. business was founded in in houses details of every motorcar it’s Design and production: 1982 by MG enthusiasts Chris and ever made. Our Classic Character is Happy reading! Bruno Van Gestel and taken over by van Flipside Group an extraordinary gentleman who had a www.flipsidegroup.com de Vijver and partners in 2014. By last finger in just about every motoring pie year, the original premises had been of his time – yes, from being a founder completely outgrown, so the extensive of the AA to an ace racer on two, three contents were rehoused in a new central and four wheels, Charles Jarrott was pre- warehouse/headquarters building in Follow us on: eminent among the list of British-born Mechelen – a convenient stone’s throw @MotoringClassic automotive pioneers. Gordon Bruce from the Brussels-Antwerp motorway. Editor Motoring Classics Few post-war aeroplanes have evoked This now highly efficient set-up stocks such passion as Concorde – an aircraft 40,000 separate parts for classic that not only introduced military levels models of Jaguar, MG, Triumph, Austin- of supersonic flight to the world of the Healey, , Land Defender and passenger airline, but proved that Britain Morris Minor. Jaguar enthusiasts should M25 COVER PHOTO: A 6 TONNE BRONZE AFRICAN ELEPHANT HOME ON THE WORLD’S MOST CRAFTED BY MARK CORETH AT TRUNK ROAD! (PHOTO: MARK RICHARDS) FAMOUS

www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com 1905 – 1986 effectively an 8-mile bypass Ring. However, pedants will tell • Ring roads round major cities are around Preston you M25 is not technically an orbital now commonplace – not so in 1905 motorway at all, as the Thames when, concerned about the • Plans to combine London’s proposed crossing at Dartford is achieved via appalling congestion in London’s north orbital (M16) and south orbital the A282 - this is to allow non- streets, a Royal Commission floated (M25) motorways into one giant ring motorway traffic to share the vital ‘The Road the idea of an orbital road around road (M25) were confirmed in 1975 crossing facility the capital at a radius of 12 miles and the first section, J23 (South from its centre Mimms) to J24 (Potters Bar), • 39 The total of public enquiries completed the same year required to deal with the many • The world’s first limited-access 4 objections to the motorway’s 5 To Hell’ highway was the Vanderbilt Motor • The then Prime Minister, Margaret construction. They ranged in length Parkway constructed on Long Thatcher, officially opened the from a single day to 97 spread over You may or may not know (or care!) that the infamous M25 motorway celebrated Island, New York and opened in completed M25 on October 29, 13 months and together numbered M25 1911. Italy was the first European 1986 by cutting a ribbon on the 700 – 6 for every mile of the its 30th birthday on October 29 last year. It is doubtful if any other road in history country to create a fast road section between J22 (London motorway has attracted an equivalent level of comment over time – much of it unrepeatable specifically for motor vehicles – the Colney) and J23 (South Mimms) 1926 autostrada that connected • 11 The number of years it took to in polite company – but, like it or loathe it, there is no way the country could now Milan with Varese. Germany’s first M25 by numbers build the motorway (1975-1986) sensibly function without it. Here Motoring Classics pays tribute to this unique official autobahn appeared nine • 6 The number of miles that prevents years later, between Frankfurt and M25 from being Europe’s longest • 147 The highest speed so far 117 miles of highway, the astonishing facts and figures regarding which arguably Darmstadt, while Britain’s inaugural orbital road – that honour belongs officially recorded on M25 was the justify their own edition of Trivial Pursuit length of motorway was opened in to the 122 mile Bundesautobahn 147mph achieved by Leslie Coe in a 1958 - now part of the M6 it was 10, better known as the Berliner Continued overleaf>

Above L to R: the motorway during construction; its official opening by Margaret Thatcher in 1986; M25 forms a 117 mile circle featuring 33 junctions; air ambulances are an all too regular sight

www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com Porsche in 1992 but, before the million per mile. As with most such 21-year old Stephen Cameron in a advent of speed enforcement major projects, the total had been road rage incident on the slip road of devices, maverick supercar owners grossly underestimated and started Jn3 (). He had previously regularly circuited the motorway out at £632 million killed a police officer and been at night, averaging over 117mph per involved in the famous Brink’s-Mat lap; including halting long enough to • 2.1 The number of millions of trees bullion robbery pay for the Dartford Crossing! and shrubs that were planted at the road’s completion • 3.5 The number of million tons of • 234 The number of bridges that asphalt used in the road’s construction span the highway – an average of 2 • 4 The quantity of service stations every mile serving this 117 mile highway, • 6 M25 passes through 6 police namely: South Mimms, Thurrock, districts: Metropolitan, Thames Valley, 6 • 5 M25 passes through a total of Clacket Lane and Cobham – an , Essex, Surrey and Hertfordshire 7 5 counties (Kent, Surrey, average of 1 every 30 miles Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire • 2 The number of days in 1998 that and Essex) • 284 The miles of crash barrier poor 84-year old William Allen spent originally erected trying to locate the junction nearest • 10606 The number of lights to his daughter’s house originally installed • 454 The number of accidents on the motorway during its first year • 2002 The year Iain Sinclair’s book • 88000 The daily total of vehicles of walking M25 was published – you’ll the motorway was intended to carry. • 33 The motorway features 33 be pleased to hear he didn’t tread the This quickly proved to be a gross junctions – an average of 1 every motorway itself, but created what he underestimate and these days the 3.5 miles described as ‘acoustic’ footprints figure averages more like 170,000 OTHER RANDOM FACTS AND FACTOIDS and can top 260,000 – the busiest • 5000 The frightening number of • 1.7 The approximate number of section is J14 (Poyle ) to J15 ravers that were known to assemble hours it would take to drive M25 at • Chris and Sue Glazier of Ashford, • Animals that have been rescued the water to Sydney and the collector (Colnbrook) in M25 service stations waiting for the national speed limit – whether you Kent, not only held their wedding from the motorway include swans, who’d commissioned it at a cost of details of suitable venues in the late could ever now find the road reception in an M25 service geese, deer, horses, £300,000. More apt use of the world’s • 2 The number of million tons ‘80s/early ‘90s. It was the sufficiently traffic free is another matter! station, but spent the evening sheep and dogs most notorious trunk road is surely of concrete it took to create motorway’s role in these illegal circling the motorway in a luxury hard to imagine! the highway gatherings that inspired Sevenoaks’ • 2 The motorway currently has 2 coach, complete with bespoke One species that has yet to need electronic dance musicians Phil and tunnels – the 650m Holmesdale one honeymoon suite retrieving from M25 is the elephant. If we’ve failed to quench your thirst • 1989 The year of Chris Rea’s hit Paul Hartnoll to name their east of Jn25 (Waltham Cross) and the song ‘The Road To Hell’. He reputedly band ‘Orbital’ 470m Bell Common one east of Though very lifelike, the one gracing for detail of Britain’s premier car park, penned it while stuck in traffic at Jn26, that cuts through the northern • Police once discovered an elderly our front cover was in fact a full then ‘M25 – A Circular Tour of the Jn15 (Colnbrook). In 2010 the sheet • 49 According to Sat/Nav producer tip of Epping Forest. If the current lady cycling the wrong way along size sculpture crafted by artist Mark London Orbital ’ by Ray Hamilton and of paper concerned was auctioned Tom Tom, the longest tailback so far plans for an extra Heathrow runway the slow lane of the Godstone Coreth. When photographed, the 6 ‘Travelling M25 Clockwise’ by Roy for the benefit of the Teenage Cancer experienced on M25 occurred on July proceed, a third tunnel will be created section (Jn6-Jn7) of M25 – she tonne bronze was plodding its way Phippen may do the trick. Trust. In addition to the now famous 29, 2011. At 49 miles it caused reputedly had one hand on the round M25 from Essex towards lyrics, it apparently carried details of queues from J19 (Watford) to Jn5 • 1.5 The record number of laps of handlebar and the other on her hat! Southampton, before heading across an Indian takeaway and a reminder to (Sevenoaks) M25 undoubtedly stands to Capital ‘phone Brenda’! Radio’s ‘Flying Eye’ Russ Kane who, in • 1 The number of Greater London his 20 years (1984-2004) of • 2959 The number of illuminated boroughs not enclosed by M25 – reporting on London’s traffic from signs with which M25 was originally for some reason, just poor old North the relative sanity of the station’s Top L to R: the Cobham services were recently added to make a total of 4 – one approximately every 30 miles; the Thames crossing at Dart- equipped Ockenden twin-engined aircraft, clocked up 1.5 ford is achieved with help from the A282; the junction of M25 and M23; a lone car braves the snow. Above L to R: deer cross in safety as the million miles in 10,000 hours of flying traffic thunders by below: motorways can be a welcome sight for an aircraft in distress; but a dodgy place for geese • 909 The motorway’s build cost in • 1996 This was the year career £millions – ie approximately £7.5 criminal Kenneth Noye murdered

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Lieutenant Colonel Charles British Motor Heritage MD John Yea previews his coming racing season Jarrott OBE (1877-1944)

Last year provided plenty of fun Our season kicks-off with a Touring It often feels as if our pasts were shaped by just a few racing, and the intention is to Greats track day at Goodwood Dates for the diary! individuals, as the same monikers surface again and repeat the fun in 2017 whilst on March 30. There follows an June 3/4 - a real treat, as we travel to improving our performance; A40-only race meeting at Brands Zandvoort, Holland, for two Equipe GTS again. Certainly, if you investigate the pioneering days particularly from the driver! We will Hatch on April 9, and then an races on the historic Grand Prix circuit; of motoring and motorsport, the name Charles Jarrott concentrate on Julius Thurgood’s A40 appearance at Donington as another first for me with another great quickly rises to the surface. HRDC calendar with both the part of the Spring bank holiday track tried MGB and Austin A40, adding weekend meeting. Next up is June 10/11 – a run on the Snetterton Born and educated in London, he was The following year he campaigned a similar from competition at the end of 1904 he’d appearances in Equipe GTS with the May 28 HRDC meeting on 300 circuit with the A40 in the Touring articled to a solicitor before focusing on Panhard in the Circuit du Nord. Hubcap established himself as one of the very Greats and the MGB in the Allstars the MGB when there are no clashes the Silverstone National circuit, wheeled competition. Racing bicycles to hubcap with Marcellin’s Darracq at the best of Europe’s pioneer motorists. His June 17/18 - the MG Car Club’s annual gave way to fearsome motorised tricycles, finish, he inadvertently flattened Paris’ countless other claims to automotive fame - we will again be providing some when the MGB will join the fray MG Live! event on the Silverstone Grand astride which he contested some 50 events Commissaire de police. Initially feared dead, include being: a founder of the AA, Society 9 sponsorship for the latter series. for the first of the year’s Allstars Prix circuit with two Equipe GTS races races. The rest of our packed in 1889, winning many. Four-wheeled sport the good officer proved only shaken and of Manufacturers & Motor Traders and

8 for the MGB Following a season’s experience season currently looks as follows: July 8 was yet to take off outside France, but Jarrott was credited with a fine 2nd place. Olympia Motorshow; President of the Motor - back to the Snetter the possibilities began forming in young His finish on the ensuing Paris-Vienna race Cycling Club; Chairman of the Junior Car of the A40, the winter plotting has circuit for an Equipe GTS raceton in 300the MGB resulted in a major upgrade to the July 16 Jarrott’s mind on witnessing the start of the was equally meritorious, as it was achieved Club; and a partner in motor dealer Charles - off to Castle Combe with the 1896 ‘Emancipation Run’, now known as the only after binding the failing of his Jarrott & Letts. During WWI he served in the rear suspension and a determination HRDC for Touring Greats with the A40 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. 70hp Panhard together with legs ‘borrowed’ Royal Flying Corps. His book, ‘Ten Years of to maximise engine power and and Allstars with the MGB August 5 from his hotel bedroom furniture, and Motors and Motor Racing’ is a predictably fully exploit the driveability. The - the Silverstone National It could be a circuit with the MGB in Equipe GTS By 1900 he was working for tyre industry smuggled out within his trousers. absorbing read. A40 will be our prime focus, September 24 founder and sometime Tory politician with which we’ll be contesting good year - HRDC and races -for Mallory both thePark A40 with the Harvey du Cros, who held the UK franchise Jarrott’s greatest competition success all the Touring Greats races. and MGB for Panhard et Levassor, through which was outright victory on the 1902 Circuit Above: Jarrott puffs a cigar aboard his September 30 Jarrott magically conjured up a 40hp des Ardennes, having started in a lowly Wolseley, 1904. Below: Jarrott and J - a mystery Silverstone fingers crossed! race for the MGB in Equipe GTS - watch model for his first four-wheeled race; the 34th position. His only serious accident W Stocks at rest in Athy, Ireland, while this space for an exciting development gruelling 691-mile 1901 Paris-Berlin event. was aboard a Napier in the 1903 Gordon members of the Napier team that contested in the historic calendar! His competition number was 13, which Bennett race, when steering failure caused the 1903 Gordon Bennett race – Jarrott

October 15 - the season finale at Panhard countered by spraying the car the car to somersault at 60mph - amazingly retired following a major accident (Photos: Donington with HRDC races for both green – France’s lucky colour, apparently. our hero sustained only cuts, bruises and a MPL, National Motor Museum) the MGB and A40 He finished a fighting 10th. broken collarbone. By the time he retired

Photo - Jeff Bloxham

www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com MISSING MONIKER Temporarily Bristol The quintessentially British marque Bristol has been missing from the sales charts since 2011, but is due to bounce back with a new high-tech offering during 2017 – reason enough, we felt, to delve That same year, White launched petrol- British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, and when it came the works was 10 into the history of this extraordinary business, whose roots date back to the Bristol Tramways powered taxis, whose quiet, reliable which rapidly became the world’s largest the largest single aircraft manufacturing

Company of the 1870s. operation quickly supplanted Bristol’s aircraft manufacturer. plant in the world, with a floor area of 11 many horse-drawn cabs, and by 1911 some 2.7 million sq ft. The Beaufighter Born of working class parents, George he was its Managing Director and the He then further integrated Bristol’s Bristol Commercial Vehicles was building Its first successful design was the Bristol fighter/bomber, a development of the White departed the education system following year revolutionised the city’s transport network with a fleet of buses coaches, lorries, vans and even hearses; Boxkite, the production of which began in Blenheim, was used extensively by the in 1870 aged 14, and while employed tram system by replacing its horses but, appalled by their quality, created his as well as the aforementioned trams, a former tram shed at Filton in June 1910. RAF, Commonwealth air forces and USAAF. as a junior clerk by solicitors Stanley and steam engines with electric power. own commercial vehicle division to build buses and taxis. A one-stop shop for A month later the Whites formed a flying Successful post-war projects included Wasbrough was appointed Company The innovation quickly spread to Bath, quicker, more reliable equivalents; the first integrated transport, the company was school with premises at Brooklands and the Britannia , Bristol Freighter Secretary of Bristol Tramways. By 1894 Cheltenham, Swindon and even London. was the C40 that hit the road in 1908. soon exporting its products to Europe, the Larkhill on Salisbury Plain – highly regarded, transport plane, Sycamore and Belvedere Below: Concorde legend Brian Trubshaw poses with an USA and even , while on the home the operation was responsible for 308 helicopters and development work for example of the iconic aircraft and his personal Bristol 603. front it was said the firm could provide of the 664 Royal Aero Club certificates Concorde. In 1959, Bristol’s airframe Top right L to R: a Bristol tram in motion; a 1908 example mobility for every Bristol resident, from issued between 1910 and 1914. division became part of the British Aircraft of the Bristol-made C40 bus. Bottom right L to R: Bristol ‘cradle to grave’. Corporation and its engine operation was charabancs packed to the gunwales; a Silver City Bristol Come WWI, the Frank Barwell-designed merged with to form Freighter loading for take-off BRISTOL TAKES TO THE AIR was one of the first fighter . ALL PHOTOS FOR THIS FEATURE COURTESY OF aircraft to enter service, while the later AND OTHER SOURCES A recognised philanthropist, George White two-seater became a PREPARING FOR PEACE was accorded a baronetcy in 1904. The stalwart of the Royal Flying Corps and then wealth of his success allowed him to the RAF. Following the war, the company To overcome the dramatic loss of business indulge his son Stanley in his passion was restructured and renamed the Bristol following the 1918 armistice, Bristol had for the motorcar. The family purchased Aeroplane Co., while Cosmos Engineering hastily undertaken the construction of car a Leon Bollée and it was in 1908, during was purchased and formed the basis of bodies for Armstrong Siddeley and bus one of their many trips to the factory a new engine operation - by 1929 Bristol- and coach ones for the sister business at Le Mans, that Stanley and his uncle made aero units powered over half the of Bristol Tramways. The manufacture of Samuel witnessed one of Wilbur Wright’s world’s aircraft, and broke the world a light car (the Bristol Monocar) was also first European demonstrations of powered altitude record five times between 1929 considered, but only two were ultimately flight. They reported back to Sir George, and 1937. produced. Having assumed control of the who was quick to grasp the potential of business from his father, Stanley White this ground-breaking invention and within The White family prepared assiduously was determined to have a more structured two years he and Samuel had founded the for the possibility of a second world war, Continued overleaf>

www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com a Bristol 405 poses in front of a ; in 1954, Bristol 450s won the team prize at both Reims (pictured) and Le Mans; the Kensington showroom with Bristols 411 and Bullet immediately prior of to refurbishments;the start with the time showroom warp basement, where details of Kensington every Bristol ever the made reside, Mans; Le plus lots of and other company history (pictured) Reims both at prize team the won 450s Bristol 1954, in Britannia; Bristol a of front in poses 405 Bristol Above LtoR:a www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com 12 Above LtoR:aBristol400contestingtheRallyInternationaldesAlpes;Belvedere hoversbehindaBristol403;photoof403production infullflow;thenew-for-2017BristolBullet. a standaloneentity. resold andtheBristolCarDivisionbecame fell out, was the parties following the production of the first cars, However, byJanuary1947,immediately secured andthefuture lookedbright. and their famed six-cylinder engine were manufacture theBMW326,327and328 War ReparationsBoard, therightsto ofthe thesupport Frazer Nash.With the endamarriagewasforged with were allapparently considered, butin ERA,LagondaandLeaFrancis Martin, purchase anexistingmaker. Alvis,Aston division, forwhichitwasintendedto White) had proposed a car manufacturing 1941 Stanley’s son(anotherGeorge More germanetoourstory, asearly high-speed metalhullednavalboats. of aluminiumframedprefabs and This ultimatelyincludedthemanufacture employed cometheendofWWIIhostilities. plan inplaceforthe70,000now

by theairintakesofBristol’s Brabazon design ofthe404/405wasinspired aficionado Leonard Setright,thenose market -according tothelateBristol far, Bristol’s onlyjourneyintothefour-door Touring ofMilan,whilethe405was,so ensuing 403were styledbyCarrozzeria The distinctly more modern 401 and wood. unmistakably Britishblendofleatherand and Tojeiro. Thecar’s interiortrimwasan Arnolt, Cooper, FrazerNash,Lister, Lotus andracingcarsfromvarious sports AC, only allBristolmodelsuntil1961,but units oftheperiod, which powered not 328 engineintooneofthefinest2-litre Bristol developedthealready impressive streamlined thanthatofthe327,while aircraft gradeBristolbodywas more on thelongerchassisof326.The should be a four-seater saw it based many differences. White’s insistenceit ancestry isself-evident,butthere were Bristol’s the400,and firstoffering, Place apre-war BMW327alongside Simon Draper. collector andVirgin Records’ co-founder which theseday’s belongstoarch Bristol fund anddestroyed allbutoneofthecars, donated itsprizemoneytothedisaster the company’s competitiondesires -it people duringthatmeetinghelpedquash rosy but, the tragic accident that killed 84 derivatives of1955.Thefuture looked in1954,asdidtheopen-topped Sarthe won theirclassandtheteamprizeatLa failure. However, atrioofrestyled coupes challenging looksandsuffered engine pair thatranatLeMansin1953had was with the 450. The into motorsport To datethecompany’s only direct foray BRIEF FORAY INTOMOTORSPORT unit. place ofBristol’s venerablesix-cylinder its first modelto feature aChryslerV8 in up to the plate, hence the 407 became engines and it was time for Bristol to step were boastingeverbiggermulti-cylinder airliner engines.Bythe‘60s,luxurycars who seetheBulletasapublicshowcase company Bristol briefly owned in the ‘40s), there isactuallynodirect linktothe nowadays ownedbyFrazerNash(though completion ofthecircle, Bristol Carsis firm’s carproduction. Inanapparently neat to 2017beingthe70thanniversaryof catalogue. Only70willbemade,anod design cues from the company’s back carbon-bodied Bulletthatfeatures distinct story –the£250,000,BMWV8-powered, latest chapterintheextraordinary Bristol The order book is now open for the NEW CHAPTER found theirwayintoproduction. the proposed 225mphturbovariantever been made.Rathersadly, noexamplesof standard Fightersare thoughttohave a headytopspeedof210mph-just13 normally aspiratedversionwaslimitedto the V10engineofChryslerViper, the the gullwing-doored Fighter. Powered by production wassuspendedin2011 The company’s lasthurrahbefore allcar Tina Turner, Richard Branson, Bonoand meet hisapproval, asdidKingHussein, For sure, topurchase aBristolyouhadto Rolls-Royce showroom inBerkeleySquare. to dress upastrampsandsitoutsidethe long. Rumourhasitheoncepaidpeople the showroom hehadpresided overforso 2007, afterbeingreportedly lockedoutof in 1973andthenleftamidacrimony company in1960.Heassumedfullcontrol before becomingadirector ofthe selling Bristolsfrom agarageinCaterham was aMarmitecharacterwhobegan Street. Asuccessfulracingdriver, Crook corner ofitsjunctionwithKensingtonHigh Westernhas occupiedjusttheNorth Kensington’s AddisonRoad,butforyears franchises, thebusinessstraddledWest andSimca also servedtheFiat,Abarth erstwhile soleagent,thelateTony Crook, landmark. Inthedayswhencompany’s The Bristolshowroom isaLondon technology. therefore boastitslatest‘rangeextender’ for itsinnovations.The2018versionwill very excitingfuture toitsfascinatingpast. As thingsstandBristollookssettoadda the company’s one-timeaircraft division. crafted inpenandinkbyaMrRevellof never madeitintometaletc;allsuperbly of proposed facias, bespoke models that reams ofexquisiteartist’s impressions drawings towindtunnelmodels;also made, buteverythingfrom manufacturing contain thehistoriesofeveryBristolever filing cabinetsandplancheststhatnotonly basement –atimewarptreasure trove of direction. Sotooisthelittleknown company’s more contemporarynew undergoing a makeover to reflect the As wewrite,thefamousshowroom is crafted in70years–lessthan40ayear. c.2,700 examplesofthebreed havebeen requirement explainwhyonly maypartly reputedlyMichael Winner did not. This even Liam Gallagher, among others – www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com

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British Motor Heritage and FROM Tex Sales Performance BMH Last year was a record sales year for both British Motor Heritage Ltd. and Tex Automotive Ltd., with the Managing Director John Yea reveals all combined order intake exceeding £5 million for the first time. Our presence at the NEC show resulted in unprecedented interest in our products – a fact confirmed by the level of Motoring Classics sales, and MK1 Mini Bodyshell Mintex Brakes the fact that we completely ran out of brochures and the previous issue of We are delighted to announce the as required. For example the rear side panel and was very well received. Since then If you attended last year’s Goodwood and appropriate for, the design and launch of our eagerly-awaited BMH goes through no less than seven separate considerable effort has gone in to Revival meeting you are probably aware capabilities of classic vehicle braking this very magazine. replacement bodyshell for the Mark 1 press operations involving different tools addressing the salient comments made, of the strong presence by Mintex, who systems. As a consequence, there are Mini. The culmination of considerable before the finished article is complete. Our plus an investment in tooling to improve have developed a classic range of two grades of friction material available 2017 has got off to a cracking start, research and investment in tooling has solution was to remove some of the blocks both the product and the manufacturing replacement parts. This attendance for most applications. Both greatly so we hope and believe we are doing finally allowed us to, as accurately as from the tool that forms the door shut, process. As a result we are planning to reflected the seriousness of their entry improve braking performance, and what our customers want. possible, produce this iconic external- and then use unique new ones to finish commence build of the first production into the sector, and the strength of their have been designed to minimise squeal; hinged, sliding-window Mini shell. the revised panel to MK1 specification. batch in April this year, with delivery product offering. We were privileged a frequent problem when combining scheduled for May/June. The price of the to share their stand at Goodwood and modern compounds with old technology As experts know, there are considerable We have used the later cross-member bodyshells from this first build is £9,950, are also very pleased to be appointed brake hardware. Both compounds have

differences between this and later bodies assembly on the front bulkhead, as the including VAT, and we are inviting orders as a distributor for the Classic market. also been formulated to minimise the 15 - eg smaller door aperture with different cost of retooling for such a non-visual which will be confirmed on receipt of a 25 amount of brake dust generated and 14 door step profiles, smaller rear and rear part would have been prohibitive. We are percent deposit. We envisage this first build Mintex is a very long standing brand have been developed with extensive side windows, and different cant rails, also omitting the rotodip hole in the rear being limited to a maximum of 15 bodies. that is now part of TMD Friction; a real world testing in classic vehicles. floors, sills, front and rear parcel shelves, seat squab, as we expect a number of major OEM brake supplier that includes and switch panel. We already list the MK1 these bodyshells will be used for historic Just to demonstrate how enthusiastic we such well-known brands as Textar, I can personally vouch for their doors, rear panel, bonnet, inner wing motorsport. We are indebted to M-Machine are about this project we will be building DON and Pagid. Mintex has developed performance credentials as I have used valences, boot lid and an array of smaller who are permitting us to use their MK1 our own Historic FIA race Mini Cooper S, the Classic range in association them for a whole season in the BMH parts. Even so, to complete the bodyshell floor and sill pressings, as the cost of and also using the prototype bodyshell with Questmead, who are leading racing Austin A40. required a great deal of extra work. retooling these items would have made to rebuild the poor old road specification wholesalers for the motorsport sector. the whole project financially unviable. Cooper S that we cut up as a master for Our approach has been to use the major some of the new tooling! The development process has seen the panels from our tools for the later models The prototype bodyshell was displayed at application of the latest technology, of Mini, and then amend the press process the NEC Classic Car Show in November but in a way that is sympathetic to,

www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com project would soften his resolve to keep us CONCORDE BY NUMBERS consume as much fuel as a family car out. It did not! However a draft treaty to build The facts and figures surrounding this does in 6 months the aeroplane was nevertheless signed wonder of the skies are arguably as • Concorde was fast enough to overtake in November 1962 – 10 years before we impressive now as they were 40 years ago: the sun and, in some months, arrived

were finally granted membership of the before it took off – passengers could • For environmental and political reasons club we are now desperately trying to leave! literally buy back time the Americans blocked Concorde flights There was much common ground between • The plane’s high-speed generated such from London to New York until the two sides, the main disagreements intense heat that every surface, even November 1977, but once operational being over the size and range of the aircraft the windows, were warm to the MACH2 MARVEL they shaved over 4.5 hours off the and its name - Concord(e) means union or touch by the end of a flight. The nose subsonic equivalent. It still holds the To this day, Concorde remains the only supersonic airliner to have achieved credible commercial harmony in both languages, the dispute was temperature could rise as high as 127 record for the fastest flight from New operation and the world has been a far poorer place since it was forced into retirement in whether it should be spelt with an ‘e’ (ie the deg C and the airframe stretch by up to York to London by a civil aircraft - 2 French way) or without (the British way). 10 inches October 2003. Motoring Classics charts the rise and fall of one of the most amazing aircraft hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds ever made and reports on the increasing hope that one might yet take to the skies again • Concorde’s Rolls-Royce/Snecma Early interest in the aeroplane was shown Olympus engines were a highly- • Concorde speeds take some believing by airlines from America, Australia, Belgium, developed version of the Bristol- even now: Below: with a take-off speed of 250mph, it didn’t take Scope for supersonic passenger planes to the Americans, who by the mid-‘50s Canada, China, Germany, , Iran, Japan Siddeley units that powered the - Maximum – 1,362mph/Mach 2.04 long for Concorde to hit the sky. At 187mph, landing dates back to the early ‘50s, when much were busy developing the and the Middle-East, as well as the two bomber. They are the only civil airliner (ie over twice the speed of sound) was pretty quick too! Opposite, clockwise from the research was conducted to overcome and Douglas DC-8. Westminster saw manufacturing nations. However, by the powerplants so far equipped with a - Cruising – 1,349mph top: Brooklands’ fully-restored Concorde G-BBDG in all the opposing requirements of high little point in competing with them, time commercial flights commenced in ‘military style’ afterburner system - Take-off – 250mph its glory; a Concorde on the tarmac in Alaska; speed aerodynamics and low speed but felt there was considerable kudos 1976, the world had endured the first oil • The main structural material for the - Landing - 187mph in manufacture at Brooklands lift for take-off and landing. So when to be gained from being first in the crisis and all but four airlines had lost interest Concorde airframe was the aluminium the Ministry of Supply requested the door with commercial supersonic in purchasing examples, and only British • It could reach an altitude of 60,000 feet alloy Hiduminium R.R.58. Speeds above ALL PHOTOS FOR THIS FEATURE COURTESY OF formation of the Supersonic Transport flight. It transpired the French were BROOKLANDS MUSEUM AND OTHER SOURCES Airways and Air France eventually did so. A from where passengers could clearly its Mach 2 capability would have Advisory Committee in October 1956, thinking along not dissimilar lines and total of 20 Concordes were manufactured required the use of more exotic (and view the curvature of the earth 17 16 there was already sufficient knowledge the economies of a joint project were – three development and seven operational • Fuel consumption was 5,638 gallons to justify the creation of a test bed immediately self-evident. aircraft for each airline. per hour, and during taxiing it would Continued overleaf> aircraft – the Handley Page HP.115. Ironically, it was the time Britain was Britain had been in the vanguard of sub- seeking admission to the Common sonic passenger planes with the ground- Market, which was under the control of breaking Comet, but fatal Charles de Gaulle, who viewed British crashes due to a flawed membership as a Trojan Horse for design had handed the lead in US influence. The British Government this sector believed that joining forces over a supersonic aircraft

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expensive materials) such as titanium, THE BEGINNING OF THE END down by the flight engineer. Now too far to Heathrow on October 24, 2003 and the THE FUTURE Enthusiasts keen to see Concorde return to as proposed for the stillborn Concorde had suffered a few alarming down the runaway to stop, and still on a last journey of all, from Heathrow to Filton, Brave attempts were made to save the air can support the project by joining the Boeing 2707 incidents, but no fatalities until the crash of collision path with the 747, the pilot had no Bristol on November 26 of the same year. Concorde from retirement, not least that club – see www.clubconcorde.co.uk. • The high angle of attack required to Air France Flight 4590 in 2000. The causes option but to take to the air, even though by Virgin boss Richard Branson, but when gain optimum lift for landing and take- are still disputed, but are now generally the take-off speed was too low and only the 18 of the 20 Concordes made still exist, most they failed it was assumed the big white Incredibly, the only other supersonic airliner off led to the design of the Concorde’s accepted to have been a series of human starboard engines were fully functioning. Full of which are displayed at museums in the bird would never grace the skies again. to enter commercial service to date was distinctive drooping nose – without it errors and misjudgements. A popular control was never attained and barely 1.5 UK, France, and the US. The British Airways However, it seems all may not be lost. the Russian Tupolev Tu-144 (nicknamed pilots would have been unable to see theory suggests a 12 inch undercarriage minutes from take-off, Flight 4590 crashed development plane G-BBDG (202) was Step up Club Concorde, an organisation Concordski!), which actually took to the the runway spacer omitted during service caused the into the Hotelissimo hotel at Gonesse, killing acquired by the Brooklands Museum in 2003, comprising former Concorde pilots, sky shortly before Concorde but was retired • Concorde accommodated 92-128 plane to track to, and beyond, the edge all 100 passengers and 9 crew, plus 4 since when it has been restored to former charterers, frequent fliers etc, which: after two crashes and just 55 commercial passengers and a crew of 9 – 2 pilots, of the runway, putting it on a collision path people on the ground. glory and forms the basis of the museum’s flights. However, at least three supersonic 1. Has £30 million of secure funding to 1 flight engineer and a cabin staff of 6 with an inbound Boeing 747 containing ‘Concorde Experience’, that includes a business jets are reputedly now on the acquire a Concorde and employ it as • The total number of flights made by President Jacques Chirac, and breaking a Temporarily grounded, the remaining virtual flight piloted by Chief Concorde horizon – the Spike S-512, Virgin-sponsored a visitor attraction by the London Eye – Concorde was 50,000 over 27 years, runway light that was then partially ingested Concordes were uprated with burst-resistant Pilot Captain Mike Bannister (see www. Boom, and Airbus related Aerion AS2. the launch is planned for early 2019 during which 2.5 million passengers by the number one engine. The payload tyres and Kevlar fuel tank linings, but within 2 brooklandsmuseum.com/concorde) - Furthermore, Airbus has filed patents for a were transported was reportedly 6 tonnes too high and days of them re-entering service the terrorist additional options even run to getting married 2. Hopes interest in the above will inspire hypersonic airliner dubbed Concorde-2, that • Concorde made it possible for Phil the centre of gravity too rearward. Under attacks of 9/11 decimated passenger on the plane! Brooklands also has the world’s the funding of a project that could ultimately will reportedly reach Mach 4.5, bringing Collins to perform Live Aid concerts normal circumstances, Concorde would numbers by over 50 percent. Though the last remaining Concorde simulator, while see one of the other 18 remaining aircraft New York within just one hour of London. in both London and Philadelphia on have been airborne before Flight 4590 (still aircraft were still paying their way flight by Concorde G-BOAF (216) will become the return to the sky for air displays, corporate The spirit of Concorde is clearly alive the same day. At 110, the aircraft’s trying to attain take-off speed) ran over a flight, the loss of revenue meant it would be centrepiece of Aerospace Bristol when it events and private charter and well! oldest passenger carried was Charlotte titanium alloy strip dropped by a preceding impossible for the airlines to recoup their opens to the public at Filton this summer. Hughes from Cleveland. Diana Ross Continental Airlines DC-10. This burst a tyre, investment in the post-accident upgrades, was once arrested before boarding the the debris from which ruptured one of the let alone support the huge cost of keeping Opposite, clockwise from top left: you pays your money and….Concorde in temporary Pepsi livery; what pilot wouldn’t want to try this office for size? The final flight – G-BOAF over the Clifton suspension bridge on its way to Filton, November 26, 2003; the innocuous-looking titanium strip that plane, having assaulted a security fuel tanks, leading to a fire; at which point the plane airworthy long term. Concorde’s famously burst the tyre of Air France Flight 4590. Above, clockwise from top left: a Concorde flight was like no other; Concorde accompanied officer who’d attempted to search her the number 2 engine was unadvisedly shut last commercial flight was from New York the Red Arrows on several occasions; the machmeter says it all; the Aerion AS2.

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Drink Champagne on Concorde Lunch with a Concorde Pilot Fly the Concorde Simulator Enhanced Technical Tours Weddings on Concorde Private Functions Afternoon Tea www.brooklandsmuseum.com [email protected] +44 (0)1932 857381 ext. 237