Hagerty, an automotive lifestyle brand and a leading specialist insurance provider focused on global automotive enthusiasts, looks back at period car accessories. Their automotive experts list 7 ‘must haves’ from a time when car styling was widespread, and upgrades were seen as an essential way to add comfort and individuality to a meagre standard specification. The list isn’t exhaustive and … [Read more...]
Features
Newslines 22 July
With new multi-million pound backers from the Middle East, Aston Martin is giving its marque a new marketing strategy and reworking of its iconic winged badge. Designer Peter Saville has restyled the badge which is still produced in the Birmingham jewellery quarter. Channel Tunnel traffic has soared and pushed its operator’s income 206% over the previous 12 months when pandemic restrictions … [Read more...]
$30M Ferrari icon damaged at Le Mans Classic
The charismatic one-of-one Ferrari ‘Breadvan’ became the most distinguished casualty of the 2022 Le Mans Classic – 30th June/3rd July – at the ultra-fast La Sarthe circuit, writes Ken Davies. The uniquely rebodied Ferrari 250 GT, conservatively valued at $30M, crashed backwards into the protective tyre wall on the Mulsanne straight during the race. No other car was involved, and the accident … [Read more...]
Reducing risk of plunging fleet values
The vast majority of fleets purchase vehicles outright and then dispose of the assets privately once they have no more uses vehicles, a study has revealed. According to RAM Tracking’s Vehicle Buying Survey 2022, just 41% of fleets said they defy fleet conventions and purchase vehicles outright. The second most popular method of funding vehicles is via a leasing company and the third most popular … [Read more...]
Tolls to replace lost fuel duties and taxes
Road tolls are back on the Government's agenda. The fleet sector needs to start having a constructive discussion about the likelihood of road charging being introduced in the future and the kind of scheme it would like to see, says FleetCheck. Peter Golding, managing director at the fleet software specialist, said that the rapid growth in electric vehicles expected over the next few years – and … [Read more...]
Holiday crawl begins this week
Huge jams are possible on UK roads at the end of this week as the summer getaway begins in unprecedented heat, says the RAC. Parts of the M4 in South Wales, the M5 in the West Country, M25 around London and the main roads to North Wales, the Lake District and popular coastal spots are expected to be the worst. The RAC is urging every driver to check their car now before setting off, plan a route … [Read more...]
Wash your car but be considerate in this weather
As high temperatures swept across Britain and set new records this week, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has asked motorists to be considerate with their use for washing vehicles. “During the hot spells, we always try to encourage our customers to make an extra effort not to waste water and most importantly, that they don’t waste it,” the company said in a statement. “If customers are looking to … [Read more...]
Softening of demand for cars is concerning
The cost of cars is by far the top priority for car-buyers as the cost of living crisis bites, according to new findings from Close Brothers Motor Finance’s Dealer Satisfaction Survey. Almost three quarters of dealers (74%) put the cost of the car at the top of the list of customer priorities when looking to buy, followed by the mileage (26%). Other priorities included extras like the sound … [Read more...]
‘None for the road’ is one way to reduce accidents
Potentially millions of motorists could be unknowingly getting behind the wheel while over the drink-drive limit if they socialise this weekend. That’s according to research commissioned by the UK’s leading independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, which has revealed that up to four in ten drivers (42 per cent) of the 1,004 motorists surveyed do not know the legal drink-drive limit in … [Read more...]
Newslines 15 July
Mercedes-Benz will continue holding a stake in Aston Martin through an investment fund. Aston Martin said today it was looking to raise £653 million pounds through a right issue to shareholders, bringing in Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund as its second-largest shareholder after the Lawrence Stroll controlled Yew Tree Consortium and Mercedes-Benz AG will together invest £335 million pounds … [Read more...]