Octane May 2020

FOR ANY MAN-MADE ‘product’ to fend off pretty much all technological advances for more than half a century and yet still be manufactured, and still be in massive demand, is impressive. To do that at the same time as spawning thousands of imitations (from the wonderful to the woeful) is, as the French say, the bomb. We are not just talking influential or iconic here, we are talking eternally youthful, uniquely regarded and, even though endlessly copied, never bettered. Think Dualit toaster. You can count on your fingers and toes the number of modern design icons that have reached such exalted status, yet we have at least one incontrovertible example in this issue. Traced from its true genesis in the AC Ace-Bristol (the engine mounts for the V8 had been…

CHARLIE MAGEE ‘The studio isn’t the most obvious location for these brawny sports cars but once you start moving them around their perfect proportions and sheer muscularity come to life. Side by side, you get a chance to see how evolution works, from early Ace to final Cobra, pecs and all.’ Cobra, genesis of the legend: pages 58-72. JON PRESSNELL ‘I’ve written two books on Citroëns and have always been interested in advertising – in fact I briefly worked as a copywriter in Paris. So I jumped at the opportunity to interview Jacques Séguéla, the man behind so many Citroën campaigns. He proved a tough cookie, but with a nice sense of fun.’ Meet the French ad legend on pages 94-102. MATTHEW HAYWARD ‘I’ve always idolised the Nissan Skyline GT-R,…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH Aston Martin marks the 70th anniversary of the Vantage name 27 February The term Vantage was first applied to a hot Aston Martin DB2 in 1950 and since then more than 36,000 cars have ‘worn’ the name, now synonymous with performance upgrades. To celebrate its 70th anniversary, Aston set up a special photoshoot at Bicester Heritage using variants mainly loaned by owners. Weeks in the planning, it took place over two days at the end of January. This ‘V’ shot alone took half a day, photographer Max Earey using a scissor lift to get the necessary height. RACE RETRO, 21-23 FEBRUARY The way this event at Stoneleigh Park has positioned itself at the very heart of the British historic motorsport community is impressive and was epitomised this…

3-5 April The Flying Scotsman This year’s event begins just outside Crewe, and the entries include some two-dozen Bentleys. Ninety-six cars in total will take the high road to Gleneagles. endurorally.com 3-5 April Veterama Hockenheimring Germany’s Hockenheimring hosts a giant autojumble that attracts some 20,000 visitors each year, and upwards of 2500 traders. veterama.de 4-11 April Rallye TransMaroc Beginning and ending in Marrakesh, but this rally takes entrants about as far from big-city tarmac as it is possible to get, through mountains and into Morocco’s desert. You can hire a 4x4 if you don’t own one, and receive sand-driving instruction. zaniroli.com 16-19 April Gran Premio Terre di Canossa Italy has more than its share of great regularity rallies, and this one takes crews through some attractive parts of the country’s…

‘JUST A STIFFNESS COMING ON… in the shoulder. Due to the altitude, no doubt.’ One of the cornier lines from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, delivered deadpan by the flash-in-the-pan George Lazenby in his sole outing as 007, while a guest at Blofeld’s mountain-top clinic. Destination for an Aston DB9 road trip in Octane 155, Blofeld’s clinic is now a revolving restaurant called Piz Gloria, perched on the very tip of the Schilthorn mountain. Besides being able to eat and drink while you take in a breathtaking 360o view, you can also visit the Bond World interactive exhibition and watch scenes from OHMSS on a huge cinema screen. It’s nearly a vertical mile from the village of Mürren, on the lower slopes of Schilthorn, to Piz Gloria at the top,…

IT’S OFFICIAL. From some time in 2021, the precise date yet to be finalised, Britain’s fuel forecourts will be selling petrol with up to 10% ethanol. It won’t be an alternative to what’s on offer at the moment, although that was one of the Government’s earlier proposals. Instead the new fuel, termed 95 E10, will replace the existing 95-octane standard unleaded (95 E5), which has up to 5% ethanol. Scare stories following the announcement on 4 March, itself the result of a consultation begun in July 2018, predict catastrophic failures of rubber fuel-system components, corroded carburettors and petrol tanks, and the disappearance of cars unable to use the new fuel. Disquiet has been fuelled by curious top-ten lists of cars at risk, owing to their inability to use E10. They…