Octane November 2019

A whole new classic niche industry was kicked off by Henry Pearman at Eagle E-types when he started offering not simply restored E-types, but Jaguars consciously rebuilt as better-than-new, whether standard or modified. We are not talking continuation cars – factory or otherwise – of extreme rarities, but about applying modern skills and technology to more-mainstream greats so they could benefit from a second life even longer and more rewarding than their first. This was going way beyond ‘mere’ restoration and it caught on. It is very telling that, after the E-type, the second model to attract similar treatment was the ‘Pagoda’ Mercedes, an unparallelled all-rounder that also achieved its iconic status through popularity rather than rarity. It’s an obvious choice, really, being a stunning classic that is beloved by…

Stephen bayley ‘Long before I knew what “design” meant, I had seen a Mercedes-Benz 230SL. You could not improve it by adding or removing a single element. Somehow, it manages to be both austere and voluptuous. Desirable, too. Now I know what “design” means, I know the Pagoda is as good as design gets.’ Stephen isn’t alone. See PAGES 68-81. matthew field ‘I first saw The Italian Job sometime back in 1985 when I was just four years old. A life-long love affair with the movie began and since then I have written two books on the subject as well as a feature-length documentary for Paramount. Thirty-four years later it is still my favourite movie!’ Read about the Italian Job cars, PAGES 108-116. JameS millS ‘I’ve attended the launches of…

Goodwood Revival 13-15 September The sundrenched 2019 Revival Meeting will live long in the memory of visitors for the ferocity of the racing, the galaxy of stars and all the theatre and attention to detail with which the event has become synonymous. There were special celebrations for Sir Jackie Stewart in the 50th anniversary year of his first F1 title, as well as the Mini, while Dane Tom Kristensen again lit up the track. One of the most popular off-track features was the painstaking re-enactment of key scenes from The Italian Job. CONCOURS OF ELEGANCE, 6-8 SEPTEMBER This spectacular event at Hampton Court Palace has cemented its status as the UK’s – and probably Europe’s – premier concours. Overall winner was a polished Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost (top right), while Octane…

29 September Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride At events all around the world, owners of classic motorcycles head out en masse, wearing their very best strides, to raise money for prostate cancer research. gentlemansride.com 5 October Swiss Classic British Car Meeting Morges on the shore of Lake Geneva will welcome some 1600 British cars on 5 October, and will roll out the red carpet for anyone arriving in an Alvis, Bentley or Mini – three marques celebrating big birthdays this year. british-cars.ch 5-6 October Prescott Anglo-American Autumn Classic Yank tanks usually take centre stage at Prescott’s Autumn Classic, but this year British cars are invited to join the party, which will feature action on the hill, a ‘show ’n’ shine’, a wall of death, and live music. prescott-hillclimb.com 6 October Bicester Sunday…

IT’S FINALLY HERE. More than three years after the last traditional Defender left the production line, Land Rover has officially launched its replacement. Packed with technology and priced to match, its unveiling at the Frankfurt motor show on 10 September sent shockwaves through the media. The new Defender has not entirely broken with the past, however. There are obvious design cues in the stepped shoulders of its rear wings, the inset bonnet and, indeed, its general profile. As with the old model, it will be available in 90 and 110in wheelbases (actually nearer 102 and 119in), the latter suspended on air bags, the former on steel coils or (optionally) air. Excitingly, for those who worry that Land Rover has forgotten its roots, there will also be a Commercial variant of…

FERDINAND KARL PIËCH, who died on 25 August at the age of 82, was the Genghis Khan of the European motor industry: ambitious, autocratic, intolerant, ruthless, an unstoppable force. He built an empire by gobbling up automotive brands, gathering wives and concubines and fathering far more than the average quota of offspring en route. It has been suggested that Ferdinand Piëch’s relentless drive and ambition were the result of disappointment that he was not born a Porsche. He was born of a Porsche but fathered by a Piëch, and much of his life was spent at odds and in rivalry with his Porsche cousins. When relations became particularly difficult, Wolfgang Porsche was known to needle Piëch by referring to him as a ‘non-namebearer’. Piëch’s grandfather, Professor Ferdinand Porsche, had two…