Classic and Collector Car News, Features and Interviews.
Today marks a milestone for Take to the Road with the publication of our 100th post. It seems like only yesterday that we featured our first car (our Volvo P1800S film) so it has come around fast. So what classic car have we chosen for our 100th post? While researching for this article we decided we wanted something a bit special. Something unique. So we have chosen to feature a…
Launched in 1953 at the Turin Motor Show, the Lancia Appia was the Italian marques entry level family saloon. Named after the Roman Appian Way, the four door saloon shared many features with the more expensive Lancia Aurelia but was more basic in design. It debuted with a revolutionary, narrow angle, 1.1ltr V4 engine designed by Vittorio Jano (who would later design the Ferrari Dino V6). Despite producing just 38BHP,…
For me the De Tomaso Pantera is one of the ultimate super cars from the 1970s. It offers a driving experience that is rather different when compared to its other Italian rivals of the era. And it just looks and sounds amazing. It is a very simple statement to make but that, I feel, sums up the Pantera. As is normal for most petrolheads, I have a top ten list…
Gilbern is not a name that immediately springs to mind when you think of classic British sports cars. In fact not many people know about the former car maker that hailed from Wales. And even fewer are aware of its exciting two seat, rear engined sports coupe project from the 1970s. Founded in 1959 by Giles Smith and Bernard Friese, Gilbern was Wales’ only car maker. Both the former butcher…
The MG MGA is one of the most beautiful British sports cars ever created. There is a wonderful elegance to its lines and its low slung profile gives its a real sporting look, both in roadster and coupe form. When launched in 1955 at the Frankfurt Motorshow, the new two seater sports car replaced the ageing MG TF which had stayed in production for 19 years. The MG MGA represented…
Last year we stopped by St Christopher’s Classic Car Show in Orpington in Kent. It was a nice sized show with a great cross section of classics on display. And the event was all for a good cause, raising money for St Christopher’s Hospice. Last time round we didn’t take our Bertone x1/9 Gran Finale to the show as it was being worked on and wasn’t ready for showing. But this year…
Facel was one of France’s greatest ever car manufacturers. Founded by Jean Daninos in 1939, the company started life as a military aircraft component maker in 1939 before moving into customised coach building in 1948. During this period they made body panels for a wide range of manufacturers from Delahaye to Panhard, Simca and also Ford France. They even supplied components for Massey-Ferguson tractors. The car world was therefore taken…
The sight of an abandoned classic car is something we automotive enthusiasts find hard to take. Seeing an old car parked up and neglected just doesn’t sit right with us. “It shouldn’t be parked out in the open it should be in a garage” are the first thoughts that spring to mind followed by “it should be on the road and not left like that”. Then other thoughts spring forward…
Fiat is well known for making small affordable cars but is less known for its larger luxury car efforts. You could argue that the Turin outfit were slightly jinxed when it came to the lack of success with their larger cars. One such car that didn’t sell very well but deserved to do so was the Fiat 2300S Coupe. Design of the new luxury coupe was entrusted to Ghia and…
For many the Jaguar Mk2 was one the all time great luxury saloons of the 1960s. History however has tended to forget that the story of the Mk2 began with the Jaguar Mk1. Launched in 1955 at the Earls Court Motorshow, the Jaguar Mk1 was actually never officially called a “Mk1” and was instead marketed as the Jaguar 2.4 Litre. The name “Mk1” was applied retrospectively when the replacement Mk2…