Month: September 2023

Peter Stevens is a legend in the automotive design community, known for his impeccable judgment that’s cast a huge influence across the industry over the years. With a career spanning […]

Keith Adams tells the little-known story of the three-seat Talbot-Matra Murena, a mid-engined sports car for the ‘masses’ that ushered its maker into a brave new world for the 1980s. Sadly, its […]

The industry norm for the mid-1980s was for a car design to last about three to four years before it received its first facelift.  In the case of the Maestro, […]

No British car since the Austin Allegro has sparked as many urban myths as the X-Type. We’ve heard them all and, if anything, they certainly prove to be a talking […]

Thirty-five years ago, Austin Rover Group unveiled the MG Maestro Turbo, which at launch was the fastest accelerating MG road car ever built. David Morgan tells the story behind the […]

The Rover 820 Turbo 16V was a last-gasp performance variation of the XX-generation. Supplanting the V6 Vitesse, this car predicted the R17-generation’s shift to the smaller engine.  Rover Special Products […]

Although few people realise it today, there was quite some history of development work on Austin Rover engines at Tickford. As the Technical Manager – Engines at Tickford, it was […]

Keith Adams tells the story of how Tickford helped Ford reinvent its iconic 1600E… In 1989, the Escort and Orion were coming to the end of their production run, and […]

Keith Adams tells the story of the Tickford Capri, and how it made it from drawing board to production… Back in 1981, former Gold Leaf Team Lotus and Yardley Team […]

Keith Adams tells the story of the Tickford-updated Triumph Stag from 1982. Would you have bought one? Tickford was asked in 1982 to upgrade a Black 1975 Triumph Stag for […]

Frazer established itself as a new car company in 1981, offering this fabulous-looking Tickford Metro, which was first shown at that year’s London Motorfair. The Tickford name was owned by […]

Keith Adams tells the story of the Ford RS200’s path to production, and Tickford’s role in the process.   The RS200 was a pure two-seater, mid-engined, four-wheel-drive car designed for Group […]

With a number of motoring publications suggesting the Discovery nameplate is increasingly lacking ‘brand equity’ compared to Defender and Range Rover, reading Mike Humble’s piece on how it is to […]

I had a strange moment recently. I was out and about, browsing the shops, minding my own business, when I get a tap on my shoulder, and a quiet, ‘Hey…’ […]

Mike Humble drives the very first Land Rover Discovery off the line. It’s a 1989 original, so he finds himself transported back in time… Disco number one: First among equals […]

Keith Adams reflects on the British designed, styled and engineered Nissan Qashqai, and how it changed everything – for better and for worse. Will history look on the Qashqai kindly […]

Keith Adams recalls 1983’s supermini newcomers, and how they permanently changed the way small cars would be viewed by buyers. Hop aboard as we recall the arrival of the Vauxhall […]

Continued UK production of the MINI has been confirmed – parent company BMW will invest £600m in the company’s firm’s factory in Cowley. The plant will begin production of the […]

Who doesn’t love an MG Montego Turbo? Our man Simon Weakley chats to Roger Neal, who’s just tracked himself down a wonderful, and very late example. Here’s the full story… […]

The Rover 75 would prove to be one of the hardest cars in the industry to facelift. That didn’t stop MGR Designer Lee Mitchell having a go with a re-nose […]

The spritual successor to the 1970 Range Rover was revealed at the 2004 Detroit Motor Show… Beguilingly handsome and with blue-chip credentials, it had a massive influence on the future […]