Retells the stories, revisits the settings and reveals the characters involved in what have been the most thrilling and iconic motor races between 1935 and 2011. Featuring such greats as Tazio Nuvolari, Stirling Moss, Juan Fangio, and James Hunt, to name just a few, the book also includes fan photos and memorabilia collected during the era, and personal experiences of many of these great events.
Reg May has put pen to paper to create a record of iconic and historic races, including such classics as the 1955 Mille Miglia, and the 1957 German Grand Prix – races that the author has heard and read about since his childhood, and that have left a lasting impression. With personal opinions, careful observations, and measured reflections on motor racing in general, Reg has added his own personal experiences of motor racing, and penned a volume that excites as well as informs the reader. Reg injects his infectious enthusiasm for the sport, whilst painting a vivid picture of each event and its backdrop, Racing with Heroes captures the atmosphere of these great races, immersing the reader in the action as history is made. More info. Available November 2013!
Would you like to lend your classic car for a movie?
Rita productions is looking for vehicles between 1960 and 1978 for the purpose of a movie that will be shot in the Vaud region of Switzerland, and particularly around Vevey.
The following vehicles are particularly required:
• Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I or II • 4-door Volvo 140 (black or white) • Ford Taunus Cortina or Break (dark colour) • Volvo 245 • Fiat 128 red • VW van or another brand (style road vehicle) • Police van (any model) • Police vehicles • Utility vehicles (snowplough, bucket truck, backhoe loader, other construction vehicle...) • Ships and boats
Also sought for figuration:
- All types of vehicles, cars, mopeds, motorcycles, trucks, tractors, bicycles. These vehicles must also date between about 1960 and 1978 maximum.
As Skyfall hits the big screen we have a fantastic James Bond themed photo from our favourite donkey, Splonk!
Splonk is the mascot that joined Nicky West & Rob Stacey in their adventure to Asia in a 50 year old 850cc Mini Minor. The subject of new Veloce book Mini Minor to Asia Minor - There & Back. Stay tuned to find out where Splonk will go on the next adventure!
Nicky West and Rob Stacey talking about their amazing journey to Egypt in a 50-year-old Mini. The 10 minute video also features celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli, who waved the pair off from Hatfield House and provided the foreword for the book.
New!Mini Minor to Asia Minor - There & Back By Nicky West. Foreword by Jean Christophe Novelli. This is the story of an independent trek in a 50-year-old Mini – all the way to the Great Pyramid and back – with no assistance or support crew, to provide much needed funds and publicity for the Willow Foundation. Inspirational to others, the book includes practical advice on the car preparation and documentation required for such marathon drives, along with photographs of the Mini’s preparation and the amazing journey itself. More info.
MINI takes to London streets ahead of the Games in homage to 1969 classic film.
MINI has released a short London 2012-themed film, paying homage to the 1969 classic, the Italian Job. The film, created to celebrate MINI's partnership with Team GB and ParalympicsGB, features a host of stars, including sporting legends Daley Thompson, James Cracknell, Jonathan Edwards and Matthew Pinsent, as they attempt to track down the perpetrator of a fictional night-time heist - racing-driver, model and car fan, Jodie Kidd.
Directed by Phil Churchward, the lead director on BBC's Top Gear and using key members of the show's production team, the action-packed film includes stunts performed in red, white and blue London 2012 special edition MINIs, against the backdrop of some of the capital's most iconic landmarks including the Houses of Parliament and Knightsbridge.
The film features several references to the original movie, including MINIs emerging from the same Park Lane basement as used in the 1969 classic, traversing down the Duke of York Steps off the Mall, and a chase through London's stunning Leadenhall market.
Double Olympic gold medallist, Daley Thompson, who masterminds the chase comments; "It's been a great experience being involved in The Britalian Job - everyone in the cast became completely immersed in their roles and with seven Olympic Gold medals between us, we were obviously the right team for the job!"
The film climaxes in one final dramatic stunt in which the three MINIs perform a ten metre jump in close formation in front of the Olympic Stadium, as their pursuit of the biker reaches its peak.
Graham Biggs, Corporate Communications Director at BMW Group UK, adds; "The Italian Job is a classic and this was a great opportunity and the right time to have some fun with it in London. We wanted to make an exciting short film featuring British sporting heroes and three MINIs as the stars, in and around some of London's greatest landmarks, as the city prepares for The Games. We hope everybody enjoys it."
James Cracknell, British rowing champion and double Olympic gold medallist, said; "It was great fun making this film and London makes such a brilliant setting for an action sequence like this. Seeing London begin its transformation for the summer Games and feeling the excitement building is tremendous. Everybody involved with this film wishes Team GB and ParalympicsGB the best of luck as the Games approach."
With so many different models and specifications to navigate, this book will help you get the Mini you want at the right price. Featuring over a hundred colour images, plus details of problems to keep an eye out for, it is an essential aid for the discerning buyer, providing insight into market and value data and predicting future collectable models. Owning a Mini can be a very sociable experience, and this book gives details of back-up and support organisations for BMW’s British–built baby. More info.
To mark the launch of the all new event at London ExCeL Top Gear Live is celebrating 40 years of the legendary racing film Le Mans at the exclusive Top Gear Live London Gala on 24 November 2011.
In celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary, which starred Hollywood legend Steve McQueen, guests will gain an unforgettable insight into Le Mans as they watch original clips, view stills and marvel at behind-the-scenes footage while sharing the memories of those who were there.
VIP guests will also be joined by Chad McQueen, son of the late Steve Mc Queen, and racing legends Derek Bell and David Piper, as they reminisce on the making of the film – where both risked their lives as they brought to life McQueen’s dream: to create the best, most realistic film about motorsport ever.
Le Mans, which used cutting-edge techniques and filmed largely live, featured the Porsche 917 and the Ferrari 512 and is remembered for its breathtaking footage from the actual 1970 race.
This iconic piece of cinematography, which featured 26 high performance cars, 41 stunt drivers and some 350,000 French speaking extras, uniquely captures the exhilarating atmosphere of arguably the greatest race on earth.
Guests will also have an exclusive opportunity to get up close to David Piper’s original 1969 Porsche 917 which will be on display at the gala event.
Tickets for the Top Gear Live London Gala are £425 + VAT per person, for further information or to make a booking contact the VIP Team on 0207 370 8341.
Coming soon from Veloce! Le Mans Panoramic By Gavin Ireland. The Le Mans 24 Hours is the ultimate endurance race, and a classic feature of the motorsport calendar. This book captures the sheer scale and drama of this legendary race as never before, using specialist panoramic photography to give an unprecedented wide angle view of how the race is entered, watched, won, and lost. It is a timeless tribute to the Le Mans 24 Hours. More info.
New! Preston Tucker & Others – Tales of brilliant automotive innovators & innovations By Arvid Linde. An automotive book like no other you've ever read! Guaranteed to surprise, intrigue, entertain and inform whether the reader is an automotive expert or a complete novice; altogether a memorable, eye-opening journey through our automotive heritage. Preston Tucker & Others celebrates those pioneering individuals with a radical, non-conformist approach to car design, from Preston Tucker and his Torpedo to Guy Negre and his zero-emission dream. Lavishly illustrated and intensively researched, this is also the story of the milestone inventions that have shaped today’s cars and automotive landscape. More info.
Amazing Land Rovers from blockbuster movies and hit TV shows will be attracting the crowds at this year’s LANDROVERmax! held at Stoneleigh Park from 28th to 30th August.
Transferring from the big screen to the showground is the Land Rover 110 used in Tomb Raider and driven by Angelina Jolie who played the amazing Lara Croft. While Land Rovers have featured in many films, including The Ipcress File, The Italian Job and Get Carter, Tomb Raider (2001) really put the world’s 4x4 in the limelight as Lara went in search of hidden treasure.
Also being shown is the dramatic City-Cab from Sylvester Stallone’s 1995 film, Judge Dredd. Based on the forward-control (cab over the engine as opposed to having a bonnet like conventional Land Rovers), 31 examples were made for the film, which was set in 2139. Featuring an all-new body design for the film, bodies were made from glassfibre and were built by Land Rover.
From the small screen is Buster – a 1986 110 owned by Top Gear presenter and Land Rover fanatic Richard Hammond. His example, which began life as a 3.5-litre V8, now runs a heavy-duty 4.5-litre V8 pumping out more than 200bhp, as well as running equally tough suspension. And if that V8 doesn’t offer enough of a soundtrack, there’s a mind-numbing sound system providing the tunes.
According to Richard, he estimates that he has blown £70,000 on it: "It cost more than a new Range Rover and is more expensive to run than a Ferrari Enzo but I always drive it with a big grin on my face."
The biggest star of the show however is the SAS Desert Patrol 110 model, used by the British Army in Iraqi and Afghanistan campaigns. In theatres of war the Land Rover is a vital tool helping soldiers and they have served alongside military personnel down the decades, becoming well-loved for their reliability and strength.
Buying a Range Rover, Discovery or Defender can be just the start of a wonderful adventure. This book shows the possibilities available to the owner, from big wheels and suspension lifts, under-body protection and tuning ideas, right up to how to convert the car into a high speed racer or an international expedition vehicle. With clear, jargon-free instructions, advice on events like family weekend green-laning, international expeditions and full-on competition, accompanied by colour photographs throughout, this is the definitive guide to getting the most from these exciting vehicles. More info.
A tribute to one of the most iconic and distinctive film cars of all time, the Batmobile, will be a focus of attention at the inaugural Historics at Brooklands auction in Surrey on June 2, when a faithfully re-created car goes under the hammer alongside a prestige portfolio of more traditional, first-class classic motor cars.
For one of Historics’ investors, Mark Perkins, the Lot holds particular significance, as he has owned the car since 1988 and is reluctantly parting with it.
One of only three existing steel-bodied versions, Perkins’ Batmobile – complete with dashboard-mounted television, rear parachute pod and Batphone – is accompanied by an extensive clippings file, having made numerous promotional appearances, including the Batman stage show in the United Arab Emirates in 1993, and a number of showings alongside Adam West, star of the original Batman TV show.
Based on a Lincoln Continental chassis and built to a similar specification as the original car in the Sixties, the car was finally completed in 1988, following input from renowned custom coachbuilder, Bill Chaplin. The car is extremely reliable and frequently driven, and is offered with a full year’s MoT test certificate as well as a UK V5 registration document.
Mark Perkins explained his reluctance to let the car go; “Classic cars, and this one in particular, should be driven to be enjoyed, and I’ve loved taking it on the road over the years. However, my work with Historics at Brooklands will leave me little time to do so in the future, and so sadly it’s time someone else derived pleasure of ownership.”
For more information, and to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction on the evening of June 2, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk. Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the evening.
Ferrari 250GT Spyder California which featured in Hollywood film to be sold
A replica of the Ferrari 250GT Spyder California specially created for the 1986 Paramount hit film ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ is to be sold at Bonhams Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobilia auction at 11am on 19th April at the RAF Museum, Hendon.
Only around one hundred genuine 250GT Spyder California’s were created by Ferrari between 1958 and 1963. Existing examples are very rare and expensive so Paramount chose to commission and build a replica for filming purposes. The film, voted by readers of Total Film magazine the 23rd greatest comedy of all time, follows Ferris and two of his friends skipping high school for a day and borrowing the Spyder California from one of their fathers. A young Matthew Broderick stars as Ferris who fakes illness to miss school, and convinces his girlfriend Sloane and his best friend Cameron to have a day of fun before they head off to their different colleges. The Dean of the school doesn’t believe Ferris’ deception and also becomes embroiled in their adventures. The film, starring this iconic car, was a huge hit (grossing over $70million in the US) and Broderick was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
Styled by Pininfarina, the classic lines of the car combine elegance and aggression, and it ranks alongside the Lusso as the ultimate expression of the Ferrari 250GT family. It was also a highly capable competition machine, as was demonstrated by Ginther/Hively winning their class at the Sebring 12 Hours in March 1958 on their way to finishing 9th overall, and Grossman/Tavano finishing 5th overall at Le Mans in June.
The car, estimated in this auction at £30,000-40,000 is ready to drive, so why not snap it up and have your own “day off.”
A Dodge Challenger R/T was famously used in Vanishing Point - the 1971 action-road movie starring Barry Newman.
New! Dodge Challenger & Plymouth Barracuda – Chrysler's Potent Pony Cars, a brand new book by Dodge specialist Peter Grist is an in-depth look at the highly collectable and much sought after cars that captured the imagination in the 1960s and 1970s when they featured as stars of both the big screen and drag strip.
This new book follows a chronological journey through the development of pony cars from the 1960 Valiant onwards. Fascinating design concepts and evolution are incorporated, featuring all sub-series and models. The book boasts 375 mainly colour pictures, including fresh new photos of original vehicles and rarely seen archive pictures and period adverts.
An interesting commentary about the Porsche 908 camera car by Steve McQueen on the set of cult movie Le Mans.
Stock News! Porsche 908 – The long distance runner By Jörg Thomas Födisch, Jost Nesshöver, Dieter Rossbach, Harold Schwarz and Rainer Rossbach is now in print and available to buy!
The most famous racing drivers drove it, and, for a long time, it was a guaranteed winner for Porsche: Now, finally, the first comprehensive work about the 908 has been published in the English language. The authors portray the fascinating history of the Porsche 908 racing car, and clearly explain its complex technology. Racing history is fully documented, and detailed statistics enable the reader to quickly look up all of the racing data. In addition, there are little-known anecdotes and contemporary reports from eye-witnesses and drivers. A wealth of contemporary, previously unreleased images evoke the fascinating atmosphere and excitement of the great seventies racing era. Excerpt from the book: In the mid-1960s, McQueen got the idea to make a racing movie. The formula was a simple one: the film would be about a race car driver and a single race. He would be the driver, the race would be the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both were to be genuine; McQueen would actually enter the Le Mans race. McQueen spared no effort in preparing himself for the event. In late 1969, he bought a retired 908 works racer, which had been rebuilt in Zuffenhausen as a Flounder. After three local sports car races in California, the car was entered in the 12 Hours of Sebring. McQueen’s co-driver was Peter Revson (February 27, 1939-March 22, 1974), one of America’s top drivers. In 1971, Revson would become Can-Am Champion; in 1972 and 1973, he was a Formula 1 McLaren works driver, winning two Grands Prix. In 1974, Revson was killed while testing a Formula 1 Shadow. Just before Sebring, McQueen was injured in a motocross accident, and had to start the race with his left foot in a cast. Nevertheless, both he and Revson were extraordinarily fast. After the works 917s and Ferrari’s 512S entries experienced numerous technical problems and accidents, in the last hour of the race it looked like McQueen and Revson had a chance for an outright win. The very idea that a racing actor could humiliate the world’s elite drivers of sports and prototype cars was too much to bear for Mario Andretti in the last surviving works Ferrari. The Italian-American pulled out all the stops, and succeeded in catching the McQueen/Revson Porsche in the final minutes of the race, relegating them to second place. Later, Andretti spoke of this win as the one that brought him the greatest satisfaction, even though McQueen was more celebrated for his second place finish than Andretti was as winner! Three months later the actor did not appear at Le Mans after all; the film company vetoed his entry. The star of the film could only experience the real race as a spectator. His 908/02, converted to a camera car, was driven by Herbert Linge and Jonathan Williams. According to the script, Steve McQueen, aka ‘Michael Delaney,’ drove a Gulf blue Porsche 917 short-tail to second place. But that’s another story ...
Very pleased to announce the much anticipated Veloce book the Lamborghini Miura Bible by Joe Sackey is now in print.
The ONLY book on the Lamborghini Miura to be published in the past twenty six years – and enthusiasts agree it is long overdue. Written by a world-renowned authority on the subject, featuring, among other things, a never-before-published factory chassis production register, technical illustrations, studio-supplied images and exclusive interviews with the designers of the car: this is essential reading for any Lamborghini fan.
and what better way to celebrate the release of this book than to enjoy the opening sequence from the cult movie The Italian Job from 1969 with Matt Munro singing "On Days Like These" as a Lamborghini Miura glides through the Alps. Unfortunately, it can't be said that 'No Miuras were harmed during the making of the film' and the squeamish may want to look away at the end of this clip!
The Miura used in the Italian Job may have been ill-fated but the new Veloce book provides a must have companion at a much more affordable price than the real thing!
A smart owner has masterminded his own fundraising mission to Italy making over £5,500 for charity. Nathan Kift, who was accompanied by his step-brother Craig Jackson, drove his 2003 smart fortwo pulse coupé over 2,100 miles to Venice and back in aid of Gloucester Royal Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). The duo were inspired to take on the seven-day driving marathon after Nathan’s son spent time in the care of the SCBU. The smart fortwo was said to have performed superbly, especially when it came to fuel economy and crossing the Alps.
Find out more about smart cars in the Veloce book the little book of smart by Paul Jackson. A fascinating tale, told succinctly and in an entertaining style, and complemented by full colour photography throughout. Click here for more info.
Although Steve McQueen did his own motorcycle riding, there was one stunt he did not perform: the hair-raising jump over a fence to escape the Nazis in the famous scene in the cult classic The Great Escape. This was done by McQueen's friend Bud Ekins. Bud is one of the many stars mentioned in the new Veloce book Off-Road Giants! – Heroes of 1960s Motorcycle Sport by Andrew Westlake.
If you can recall watching motorcycle scrambles and trials on your black and white TV during the 1960s, then this is the book for you. It’s a trip down memory lane as the author recalls boyhood journeys in his big brothers ex-GPO van to watch the stars in action, some of the world’s best, including scramblers like the Sharp brothers, Badger Goss and Ivor England, trials riders Gordon Jackson, Max King and the Kendalls, and great all-rounders like Ken Heanes, Johnny Giles and the American Bud Ekins. Not only does it include the star riders, but also the main British manufacturers of the time like BSA, Triumph, James, Greeves, Metisse, Cheney and Wasp, the latter two of which are still in existence to this day. However, the book isn’t just about bikes – it’s about the people and their stories from illustrious and successful careers on two and three wheels, which makes for a thoroughly interesting and captivating read.
Fantastic feature in Octane Magazine's latest issue! the largest number of genuine 007 cars ever photographed in one location! The classic and performance motoring magazine, dedicates 19 pages of its November issue (on sale September 24) to feature nine of the actual cars that have helped to define Bond over his 46 years of cinematography.
Quantum of Solace, set for release in cinemas on October 31, is the 22nd film in the 007 series and sees the return of Daniel Craig as the spy with a licence to kill in his Aston Martin DBS.
The full list of bond cars in the magazine feature are as follows:
Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965)
Toyota 2000GT from You Only Live twice (1967)
Aston DBS (1960s) from On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Lotus Esprit Turbo from For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Citroën 2CV from For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Aston Martin V8 from The Living Daylights (1987)
Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day (2002)
Aston DBS from Quantum of Solace (2008) and Casino Royale (2006)
It doesn't get much better than cool cars in the movies..
"This book will most definitely liven up a coffee table but it will also fill a niche for those who love obscure trivia or those late night movies". Review from Octane, October 2007
ALSO! BOOK OF THE MONTH - Top Gear magazine Nov '07 ... AND No.6 Channel4's 4Car Top 10: car books for Christmas 2007
A 1996 Jaguar XJ Executive Saloon owned by Pink Panther film star Herbert Lom (who played French Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus) will be offered for sale in the next ‘Classics from BCA' sale, to be held at Blackbushe on Tuesday, 22 July.
The ‘Classics from BCA' sale will also include around fifty other interesting and collectable vehicles on offer on the day. A few examples are 1982 SEAB Flipper II Microcar, 995 Aston Martin DB7, 1982 Mercedes-Benz 380 SL, a 1990 BMW 316i Automatic and a 1972 Triumph Stag.
The Blackbushe auction centre is located on the A30 between Camberley and Basingstoke. Catalogue details and illustrations are displayed at www.bca-classics.co.uk
source headlineauto.co.uk
For people thinking of buying Jaguar cars, Veloce have buyer's guides for all XJ models available now and some are forthcoming. click covers for more info.
awesome collection! some very amusing ads etc and all very interesting. Normally £199 plus delivery. Soon to be EXCLUSIVELY available from us , plus a £34.99 book for £199.99
