Classic American March 2022

When I was 16 I was lucky enough to be packed off as an exchange student to Raleigh, North Carolina, where I spent a year going to high school and living with an American family. It was probably the best year of my life – well, being 16 or 17 how could it not be?! However, one thing that struck me was the family (the Olasons) had an old blue Ford F100 pick-up (I’d hazard a ’70 or ’71) that was almost like family. It was christened Ol’ Blue and sat out in the back yard all year round, oozing a bit of oil here and there, but starting on the button day in, day out. Ol’ Blue was 17 years old, which in the Eighties was prehistoric and probably…

The eleventh edition of The Scottsdale Auction presented 90 collectors’ cars and spanned all eras, from a 1902 Darracq single-cylinder tonneau from the famed Harrah Collection to a 2012 McLaren MP4-12C. The sale took place on the lawns of Scottsdale’s Westin Kierland Resort on Thursday, January 27. Probably the biggest star of the event was the ‘third character’ from the 1988 multi-award-winning road drama motion picture Rain Man, a distinctive 1949 Buick Rain Man Roadmaster Convertible. It was offered direct from the ownership of Dustin Hoffman, who acquired the car after filming wrapped. Despite an estimate of $150,000-250,000, the Buick sold for an eye-watering $335,000! “The car had a very strong visual presence in the film and was featured throughout. It became a character. Dustin, Tom Cruise, and the ‘49 Buick. In…

The Drink was established in 2020 after starting out as a small bike and car meeting back in 2015 organised by Mark Phillips and Dave Gurney at the Green Dragon Pub in London Colney, Hertfordshire. After running out of parking space it moved in 2019 to the Broadlakes Social Club and rapidly started attracting a variety of American car and custom and vintage bike owners, becoming known as a weekly meeting of like-minded petrolheads and enthusiasts. In 2020 things really took off during the hot summer after many lockdown restrictions were lifted, with 80 cars on a Tuesday night and 300 bikes on Wednesday evenings. Again, a move was on the cards to allow for this growth and in 2021 The Drink moved to the Crooked Billet pub in Colney Heath,…

Iconic oil brand Gulf Oil Supply Company Ltd, part of Gulf Oil International Ltd, has announced that it has appointed a new Distributor, Rossmore Lubricants, to represent Gulf Lubricants throughout the UK & Ireland. Rossmore Lubricants has signed an agreement to become the sole Importer & Distributor of the Gulf range of lubricants for these key markets and will look to commence activities before the end of 2021. With a current strong base in Ireland, the business has over 35 years of lubricant distribution experience with premium brands and, in the UK, over 30 years of direct selling experience within the Distribution, Franchised Workshop, Independent Workshop, Motorcycle and Heavy-Duty sectors. Dr Ayham Ammora, Commercial Director, Gulf Oil Supply Company, said: “Gulf is an iconic brand with over a hundred-year history, inextricably…

MAGflex Utility Inspection Lamp Cost: £32-£34.95 Available From: Amazon, Argos, Halfords & other motor supply stores Rated: 8/10 Although this is marketed as a professional ‘Inspection lamp’ for commercial use by garages and workshops, it’s actually doubles up as one of the best torches we’ve ever come across. But the cleverest bit is that this lamp can also be used hands-free, as it has two adjustable magnetic bases and dual hanging hooks. This allows it to provide illumination without needing to be held in place, meaning it is ideal for placing under the bonnet, on the underside of vehicles or on ramps, acting as site light to illuminate a large work area. Ring’s MAGflex Utility Lamp has wide-angled illumination and emits up to 1000 lumens of white light, for optimal vision, so you can position…

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show, held in Las Vegas, Nevada (the SEMA of the electronics and technology world) GM and its AV subsidiary Cruise announced that they are “pursuing a comprehensive path to autonomous mobility with the aim to deliver the first personal autonomous vehicle from General Motors as soon as mid-decade”. GM hasn’t offered any specifics on this future personal AV; however, it would seem likely that such a vehicle would utilise the self-driving technology which is currently being developed by Cruise for its ‘robotaxi’. Cadillac is at the vanguard of AV adoption at GM and aims be the first brand to adopt GM’s upcoming Ultra Cruise system, which will promise hands-free driving in all but 5% of driving situations. Ultra Cruise will be offered on the full-size Cadillac…