Octane November 2018

IT’S DIFFICULT TO express quite how important the Lotus Elise was – and is – not only to the ever-ailing Norfolk company, but also to the sports car world in general. Yes, the underpowered MX-5 sparked the sports car revival, but the first generation of that car was a distinctly rearward-looking beast, taking all its cues and inspiration from the past – ironically from the Lotus Elan. Neither was the Elise the first to explore the mid-engined format in a small sports car, nor even to do so using the advanced Rover K-Series engine, which was the MGF’s honour, yet nothing that came out of the 1990s was as forward-looking as the Elise. It was truly a future-proofed car and that explains why it is still around 22 years later…

BART LENAERTS & LIES DE MOL ‘Driving two Cisitalias on the roof of Lingotto is like having Alcatraz to yourself. We hoped for a few laps on this holy ground, yet got an entire day. Italian anarchy, right? If Turin is paradise, this roof is Heaven on Earth.’ Bart’s words are accompanied by Lies’ wonderful photos on pages 120-130. PAUL CLARK ‘I first worked with Tony Dron over 35 years ago, so our reunion and interview for Octane was both a delight and a challenge: he’s a true gent, raconteur and racer, but I still count him as “my boss”. We reminisced for most of the day and I learned a lot to reinforce my own memories of great times.’ Turn to pages 114-118. MIKE DUFF ‘I grew up a…

The world’s premier historic motoring event pulled out all the stops for its 20th anniversary and the weather, which was near-Arctic at times in 2017, behaved impeccably. The 150,000 visitors were treated to a host of special celebrations including 70 years of the Land Rover, but it was some fantastic racing that really captured the imagination. An epic RAC TT Celebration was won by David and Oliver Hart in their AC Cobra. Give me Goodwood on a summer’s day… in ASSoCiAtion With…

‘THE CARS WILL BE BUILT FROM SCRATCH AT ASTON MARTIN WORKS IN NEWPORT PAGNELL. A REVOLVING NUMBERPLATE IS PROMISED’ ASTON MARTIN HAS revealed to Octane that it has already secured buyers for the entire run it is planning of ‘continuation’ James Bond DB5s. In fact, despite scepticism from some quarters, the company said it could have sold the allocation three times over. That is an astonishing result considering the cars will cost £2.75 million each and can’t be used on the road. The news that Aston was to build the Goldfinger cars with Eon Productions prompted a flurry of interest, especially when it was revealed that they would boast features designed by Oscar-winning Chris Corbould, the special effects supervisor on eight Bond movies. The cars will be built from scratch…

JD in administration Beleaguered high-end classic car dealer JD Classics has called in administrator Alvarez & Marsal. Earlier this year, collector Mike Tuke took JD Classics and former principal Derek Hood to court over 41 collector car deals. Hood founded JD Classics in the ’80s and built it up to be a behemoth of the classic car world from its Maldon, Essex, base and Mayfair showroom. Prosthetics tycoon Tuke invested over £40 million in classics via JD between 2009 and 2013 and, in finding for Mr Tuke in April, Mr Justice Lavender said Hood’s conduct was ‘deliberate and dishonest’. Hood later left the company, and Charme Capital Partners, which with co-investors bought a majority stake in JD Classics in 2016, installed former Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales. Mr Tuke’s lawyers state…

Awards finalists announced The shortlists have been announced for the 2018 Historic Motoring Awards in association with EFG Private Banking, ranging from mind-blowing restorations to the individuals and companies whose support keeps the classic car world thriving. Organisers received hundreds of nominations from experts and enthusiasts across the globe before whittling them down to the finalists for 17 categories. As Octane went to press, a committee of specialists and personalities from the classic world were selecting winners in all categories bar two: Car of the Year, which will be decided by a public vote, and the Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be awarded by a special jury. The winners will be revealed at a ceremony and dinner hosted by sports presenter and TV broadcaster Steve Rider at the Sheraton Grand…