Sir Alec Issigonis would surely be amazed and delighted by the number of original Minis that have survived around the world. Of course their longevity relies on a range of loyal suppliers, not least British Motor Heritage itself and our dealer Mini Spares, whose impressive profile you’ll find on the opposite page – recession, what recession?!
Items of Petroliana now also appeal to the non-motoring fraternity, but remain a favourite of the car folk too, as there is nothing better for decorating their motorhouses.
| Publication Information |
|---|
| Cover Price: Free |
| Page Count: 16 pages |
| Subject: Cars, Motorsport, People |
| Format: Digital (pdf) |
| Frequency: Quarterly |
| Publisher: British Motor Heritage |
| Automobilia |
Download British Motor Heritage’s Autumn 2012 Motoring Classics Magazine below!
Motoring Classics Autumn 2012
Sir Alec Issigonis would surely be amazed and delighted by the number of original Minis that have survived around the world. Of course their longevity relies on a range of loyal suppliers, not least British Motor Heritage itself and our dealer Mini Spares, whose impressive profile you’ll find on the opposite page – recession, what recession?!
We’ve chosen Gordon-Keeble as the Missing Moniker. How sad that production ceased at only 100 units, but how marvellous that 95 of these exciting and very rapid GT cars still exist today. Duncan Hamilton is our Classic Character this time around, whose extraordinary life story could have been lifted straight from a Boy’s Own Annual, and whose exploits make the Grand Prix drivers of today appear decidedly dull. If you haven’t read his hilarious autobiography Touch Wood!, arm yourself with a copy immediately.
Classic car owners can never have too much useful advice about the care and maintenance of their steeds, and in this issue we explode a few myths and impart some interesting facts about both oils and tyres. Automobilia is a subject close to many enthusiasts’ heart, but is an ever-changing scene. You may view the contents of your loft in a different light when you’ve digested what our experts have to say.
Gordon Bruce, Editor
For all the latest news, offers and great tips… Motoring Classics
Dealer Spotlight: Mini Spares
Nearly 5.5million classic Minis were built between 1959 and 2000, with examples of Issigonis’s masterpiece making their way to all corners of the world. Many of these still exist courtesy of specialist suppliers, of which BMH dealer Mini Spares is by far the biggest.
Heritage Happenings
British Motor Heritage MD John Yea brings us up to date with the Abingdon Museum’s new MG feature and his company’s latest product lines.
The MGB returns to Abingdon. Watch the MG being brought into the building!
Motoring Classics in Motorsport
British Motor Heritage MD John Yea reports from the cockpit.
Missing Moniker: Gordon-Keeble
Motor described the GK1 as an ‘electrifying four-seater’ while Cars & Car Conversions found the later IT version to be the ‘fastest accelerating car we have ever tested’, so how come only 100 Gordon-Keebles were manufactured?
Classic Character: Duncan Hamilton (1922-1994)
He crashed numerous cars and aeroplanes, did his best to drown an admiral, and his dog held up a critical wartime convoy for four days by eating top secret naval documents, but Duncan Hamilton was also one of Europe’s most successful racing drivers of the post-war period, and penned the funniest motor racing autobiography ever written, Touch Wood!
Synthetic oils and classic cars don’t mix?
We asked the UK’s largest independent online retailer of performance oils, Opie Oils, for their opinion on this widely held view. You may be surprised at their answers.
Re-Collection
Automobilia has existed since the dawn of the motorcar, but tastes are forever changing. We asked two experts what’s hot and what’s not.
Black, Round & Surprisingly Interesting
Tyres are a distress purchase – nobody buys them for fun, and most of us save money on them where we can. However, Motoring Classics would admit to a new view of these funny black round things, following a chat with Longstone Tyres.
British Motor Heritage
British Motor Heritage Limited was established in 1975 to support owners and the marketplace by putting genuine components for classic British cars back into manufacture, using original tools wherever possible. Since 2001, when the company was acquired from BMW, it has been successfully run as an independently owned company.
British Motor Heritage is the largest organisation of its type in the world. With access to unparalleled knowledge, authentic production information and original drawings and patterns, the company manufactures previously unobtainable body parts for British classic cars.
It occupies a unique position since it assembles 32 derivatives of body shells and has built total production volume of over 7,000 for the MGB, MGR V8, MG Midget, Austin-Healey Sprite, Triumph TR6, Original Mini and Mini Clubman using original press tools and assembly jigs.
Website: https://www.bmh-ltd.com/
Tex Automotive
Tex Motor Accessories have been manufactured in England for over fifty years, and many of our products are still produced in our factory in Witney on the original tooling.
Since their first appearance on British cars in 1947, Tex products evolved over the years to keep in step with changing car designs. The current range includes wipers and mirrors that were original equipment on a huge range of Austin, Ford, Morris, MG, Triumph, Vauxhall, etc. from 1974 to 1983.
Tex are also major distributors of the Renovo car care product range (specialising in hood refurbishment) and Samco Silicone hose Kits.
Website: https://texautomotive.com/
Motoring Classics is the printed and online publication of British Motor Heritage and its retail trading arm.
Motoring Classics reproduction in whole or any part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.
The publisher makes every effort to ensure the magazine’s contents are correct but can accept no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions.
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