The Road to Hell
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www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com SPRING 2017 MACH 2 THE ROAD MARVEL THE RISE AND FALL TOTHE STORY OFHELL THE M25 MOTORWAY OF CONCORDE BOUNCING BACK BRISTOL CARS 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 France 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 car 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. British Motor Heritage ‘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 Italy, Germany and Holland. The staff. Said van de Vijver: “Our market found at www.angloparts.com. long-standing London showroom, and winter evenings. business was founded in Belgium 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 A 6 TONNE BRONZE AFRICAN ELEPHANT @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, Mini, Land Rover Defender and passenger airline, but proved that Britain Morris Minor. Jaguar enthusiasts should M25 COVER PHOTO: 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 (Swanley). 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