According to Michael Ware, the former curator of the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, there are an incredible 143 car museums in the UK. No doubt they all have something interesting to offer, but we cut to the chase and persuaded him to pick his favourite five – see Curator’s Choice for the result.
The oldest vehicle displayed in the Grampian Transport Museum is the ‘Craigievar Express’, a steam-driven three-wheeler built in 1895.
| Publication Information |
|---|
| Cover Price: Free |
| Page Count: 16 pages |
| Subject: Aviation, Buses, Cars, Motorsport, People |
| Format: Digital (pdf) |
| Frequency: Quarterly |
| Publisher: British Motor Heritage |
| Car Museums |
Download British Motor Heritage’s Summer 2013 Motoring Classics Magazine below!
Motoring Classics Summer 2013
According to Michael Ware, the former curator of the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, there are an incredible 143 car museums in the UK. No doubt they all have something interesting to offer, but we cut to the chase and persuaded him to pick his favourite five – see Curator’s Choice for the result.
The Issigonis-penned Morris Minor is one of the darlings of the classic car world and remains a pleasingly affordable passport to the joys of historic motoring. British Motor Heritage dealer ESM Morris Minors is now the UK’s largest specialist catering solely for this ever-popular model, and the company’s history makes interesting reading.
Both Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb and the Brighton Speed Trials date back to 1905, making them among the oldest surviving motorsport events in the world. We review their histories, as well as that of Whitney Straight who was an outright victor at both venues during his fascinating ‘Boy’s Own’ life of racing and flying.
Zircotec, for which BMH is a newly-appointed Authorised Distributor, is a plasma coating system that was developed in the power industry but is now working wonders in the automotive field. It is as successful at solving all manner of heat-incited problems on classic cars as protecting the carbon composite bodywork of today’s F1 machines. See page seven for further details of this seemingly magical process, and page 16 for the chance to win examples of the product.
The Fly Navy Heritage Trust was the official charity at last year’s Goodwood Revival meeting and the display by their Hawker Sea Fury T20 was one of the airborne highlights of the event. Read about their tireless work on behalf of Britain’s naval flying past, present and future, and how you can support the Trust’s activities.
Enjoy!
Gordon Bruce, Editor
For all the latest news, offers and great tips… Motoring Classics
Dealer Spotlight: ESM Morris Minors
Unlike many members of the booming classic car trade, ESM’s Managing Director Graham Clayton is not a trained mechanical engineer, but a rock/pop musician who has always been into old cars.
Curator’s Choice
We asked Michael Ware, former Curator and Director of the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, to pick his favourite UK motor museums. Unsurprisingly, he found selecting five from c.143 pretty tough.
New Products From BMH
The company’s MD John Yea reveals all.
Coats Of Many Colours: Zircotec’s apparently rather magical plasma coatings were evolved in the power industry for the protection of nuclear reactor steam pipes
Their increasingly widespread use in the automotive world was prompted by Prodrive in 1993, who were experiencing exhaust incited heat problems with the Subaru rally cars – the drivers were suffering blistered feet and losing concentration at the wheel.
Born In 1905
Those with that distinction include Christian Dior, Henry Fonda and Howard Hughes. It was also the year the AA came into being and both Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb and Brighton Speed Trials were launched, making them among the oldest surviving motorsport events in the world, never mind the UK.
Missing Moniker: Marcos
Some people mistakenly believe the classic Morgans to have wooden chassis, but a manufacturer that did successfully employ such frames was Marcos.
Classic Character: Whitney Straight (1912-1979)
Few people are truly successful in one career. Whitney Straight, however, excelled in motorsport, aviation and business and the story of his colourful life reads like a readymade film script.
Motoring Classics in Motorsport
British Motor Heritage MD John Yea reports on the season’s early races.
Fairey Godmother
The story of the Battle of Britain is well enough known. Not so the much longer one for the Atlantic that waged for six long years. Throughout 2013, Fly Navy Heritage Trust (FNHT) is commemorating the vital part played in that conflict by the Fleet Air Arm and the role of the extraordinary Fairey Swordfish.
Zircotec Competition
Note: competition is now closed (Summer 2013)
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.
About Author
