It is not uncommon for car enthusiasts to collect books and most of them that I know are avid readers on a variety of subjects. Perhaps there is something about an appreciation for archaic automotive technology that also lends itself to a deep and abiding affection for the printed word. For as long as I…
Could it have been my unsuccessful attempts to buy a dilapidated Morris Minor Traveller at the tender age of 13, much to my parent’s horror? Or was it when John Noakes (Blue Peter fame), in his series, ‘Go with Noakes’, placed an advert in a shop window selling his beloved Morris Minor Convertible? I didn’t…
A Michelotti MG? More than one. Really? Most of us never knew about the connection between the prolific Italian designer and MG from Abingdon. In a strange twist, Giovanni Michelotti – who would become famously associated with Triumph for his landmark work on the Herald, Vitesse, TR4, Spitfire, GT6, Dolomite, 2000 and Stag – found…
Before the Mini made its mark as one of the most iconic British cars ever produced, Sir Alec Issigonis had already established a sterling reputation for brilliance with the Morris Minor. The first car built in the United Kingdom to sell more than one million units, the landmark Minor has been hailed as a design…
Even for ardent enthusiasts, it’s often surprising to find out that the overwhelming majority of British sports cars were exported to the North American market. In the early days of Austin-Healey and the Triumph TR in particular, for every car that was reserved for the home market at least ten headed overseas. For these reasons,…
Sometimes, especially when we find ourselves far from home, we tend to forget about those things and places closest to us. We’re not immune from this tendency as we explore new places in our travels and become smitten by the previously unexplored. This past weekend, however, we had the opportunity to reconnect with an old…
Long before the Austin-Healey Sprite “Mk I” entered into legend for its amicable appearance, many considered its styling to be odd – even stylist Gerry Coker was nonplussed with the fixed headlights – and plans were made to combine the many virtues of the car with more attractive styling. In 1959, Innocenti – famous for…
Widely considered to be the most successful Sprite ever built, WJB 707 was constructed as a Works Rally Car by the BMC Competitions Department for use in the upcoming Tour de Corse with Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom behind the wheel. Upgrades included disc brakes, wire wheels and an improved suspension but a gearbox failure…
The Demola Healey was constructed by Carosserie Demola in Belgium for a minor noble named Barron Van Assche. The body was attached to BN1 chassis number 150649 and reportedly took four months to build. The car was presumably sold later on to an individual that fitted a blower to the engine and installed Alfin brake…
Born in Turin, Italy in the last year of World War I, Virgilio Conrero served as a mechanic in the Regia Aeronautica during the next global conflict. He established the Autotecnica Conrero in 1951 and was one of the most successful Alfa Romeo and Lancia tuners (though often overshadowed by the work of Abarth) and…
