Keith Adams
It’s been the site’s busiest year so far – with more pages added, and more visitors coming to read them than ever before. If nothing else, it proves that there’s as much interest in the British car industry now as there’s ever been… and rightly so. There’s certainly been plenty going on – and here are the top 10 news stories, by number of readers, for your enjoyment.
1: Final Mini leaves Longbridge
Truly one of the more interesting stories to emerge in 2012, as a Mini enthusiast drags out the shell of a crumpled Clubman for a future restoration. Never has the restore vs preserve argument raged to fiercely.
2: Rover P8 breaks cover at the Heritage Motor Centre
We knew it existed, but had never seen it in the flesh. So imagine our disappointment when we see the Rover P8 for the first time looking bent and dishevelled by the bins of the Heritage Motor Centre. They’ve since confirmed its restoration starts in 2013.
3: Backbone of Britain breaks cover
We scoop the new Ford Transit doing what it does best in the outside lane of the M25.
4: Morris Ital time capsule for sale
Celebrated second-hand BL vendor extraordinaire, The Doctor, finds a near-zero mileage Morris Ital, and offers it up on eBay. It realises a good, stiff price, too…
5: Range Rover L405 picture clears
The most scooped car of 2012 – the fourth generation Range Rover – is spotted on the M40 and gives us the excuse to speculate on its specification. We were pretty much on the money, too.
6: First MG6 crosses the block in the UK
MG6 hits the auction scene in January, and fails to excite the buyers.
7: Production ready MG5 spotted in China
MG’s new Golf-rival blows its covers early, and sparks furious debate over its styling.
8: Pre-1960 cars to be MoT exempt
The government announces that pre-1960 cars will no longer require an MoT from November. Lots of hurrumphing from the classic car press ensues, but the law comes to pass, and the world continues to turn.
9: Yema F12 takes Maestro platform further…
Another Chinese facelift of the cast-off Maestro platform proves once again that you can’t keep a good car down.
10: MG5 latest images break cover on Facebook
More debate over the me-too styling of the MG5, and its future model development. Most people ask – when will we see it in UK dealers? And will it mean that the company will turn the corner here?
Is the Editor of the Parkers website and price guide, formerly editor of Classic Car Weekly, and launch editor/creator of Modern Classics magazine. Has contributed to various motoring titles including Octane, Practical Classics, Evo, Honest John, CAR magazine, Autocar, Pistonheads, Diesel Car, Practical Performance Car, Performance French Car, Car Mechanics, Jaguar World Monthly, MG Enthusiast, Modern MINI, Practical Classics, Fifth Gear Website, Radio 4, and the the Motoring Independent...
Likes 'conditionally challenged' motors and taking them on unfeasible adventures all across Europe.
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The most hated has to be the Bini Pac Man LOL
From this angle that Mini shell doesn’t look nearly so unsalvagable. Looks pretty much worth restoring to me.