First Alvis Graber Drophead completed


T.G. John began manufacturing Alvis cars in Coventry in 1920. Coachwork was supplied by Cross & Ellis and Carbodies. In 1925 Alvis became the first car manufacturer in the world to design and race a front-wheel-drive model. A year later, the Alvis straight-eight FWD GP racing car lapped Brooklands at 121mph and in 1928 Alvis FWD models finished first and second in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The company started producing and marketing FWD cars that year.

Another world-first was achieved in 1933, when Alvis designed the world’s first all-synchromesh gearbox and started working on the first British car with independent front-suspension. After the World War 2, Alec Issigonis joined Alvis to design a prototype 3500cc V8 engine.

In 1968, the Alvis passenger car division was relocated to Kenilworth after 22,000 vehicles had been built; 50,000 works drawings, technical data sheets and correspondence files are stored there. Through wholly-owned Red Triangle, it continues to manufacture parts, service and restore Alvis cars for existing customers worldwide.

The first Graber Drophead is the latest Continuation Series model to be completed by Kenilworth’s The Alvis Car Company. One of two examples of the convertible grand tourer to be hand assembled by the 102-year-old car company, it is destined for a Japanese enthusiast, where the brand enjoys an enthusiastic following. Like all its pre and post war Continuation Series motor cars, it can be enjoyed on the road, with owners able to benefit from subtle improvements such as power steering, air conditioning, electronic engine management and upgraded brakes. Blending period style with improved reliability, comfort, performance and safety, the Alvis makes touring a more satisfying and appealing experience.

Like all six models in Alvis’ Continuation Series, each is carefully hand built at Alvis’ Works, home to the wholly British owned marque since 1967. Drawing on Alvis’ archive of over 25,000 drawings and 23,000 car records, each remains faithful to the original designs to retain their traditional character and quality, yet are emission compliant.

Crafted to a bespoke specification, the Graber Drophead uses one of Alvis’ straight-six three-litre engines, the blocks of which have been carefully stored at the Works since the firm paused production and moved to Kenilworth from Coventry 57 years ago.

With fuel injection, a 9.5:1 higher compression ratio, full electric engine management and the adoption of CNC machining to achieve tighter tolerances, Alvis’ engineers upped power by 32 percent to a healthy 172bhp and a potential top speed of 120mph. Additional and useful low down torque has also been extracted, now 209 ft/lbs, ensuring keeping pace with modern traffic is easy. Hand beaten over either traditional wooden bucks or 3D printed formers, the lightweight aluminium body, which takes over 2,500 hours to form and five speed manual gearbox ensures lively acceleration.

The Connolly leather interior and three layer hood, lined with English wool cloth, are trimmed by Alvis’ craftspeople in the Works. Before delivery, each undergoes a thorough road test that features elements of Alvis’ test routes around Warwickshire, which it has relied on since  the 1920s.

2024 is set to be a record year with three all new cars destined to leave the Works. Alongside the two Graber Dropheads, the first Continuation Series pre war Lancefield will also be destined for a Far East customer.

“The all-aluminium bodywork looks stunning up close, the engine runs faultlessly and the handcrafted interior is both comfortable and stylish,” explains Alan Stote, owner of The Alvis Car Company. “As a complete package, this Graber serves as a reminder that our manufacturing processes, which haven’t changed at Alvis since the early 20th century, still produce a product of the highest quality. And unlike so many continuation cars, we have ensured this can be enjoyed on the road.”

Prices start at £295,000 for pre-war Continuation Series cars with the Graber Super Coupé starting at £323,000, including a 3-year warranty.

Ford confirm its ‘goodbye’ to the Focus

By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse

Ford has reaffirmed its plans to end production of its top selling Focus model next year.

This is a car that has notched up over 16 million sales worldwide since its launch in 1998, including 1.5 million motors in the UK.

Despite widespread reports of a decline in drivers swapping over to electric cars, Ford say they are committed to an all EV line-up sooner rather than later.

In fact, Ford aim to offer all its European models in either electric or hybrid by 2026.

Ford Europe’s General Manager, Martin Sander said: “We are deeply convinced that EVs will be the future and we will see a significant increase in volume.”

It’s expected the last petrol-powered Focus will roll off the assembly lines in Germany in November 2025.

Looking back to this successor to the popular Escort, there is little doubt the Focus will become a future classic, starting with the ‘New Edge’ design of the early Mk 1 version.

It was a bold look that helped Ford win European Car of the Year in 1999. The Mk 1 ran for six years and offered 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litre petrol engines plus a 1.8 litre diesel option.

Many might be scrapped now, but with over 130,000 sold in its final year alone there are still good examples out there.

Whilst we lament the end of a great name, it’s also a good time to grab an early Ford Focus if you haven’t already got one? Models like the lively ST170 and RS models are rarer and much sought after.

Whatever your choice, prices are only likely to go one way.

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Race the Waves: Event review

My preference in motorsport is for historic rallying or circuit racing. These are high value cars in amazing condition and permanently at peril when they take to the track. So it is a puzzle to me that I keep being drawn back to Race the Waves where the cars look like they were nailed together in a shed. Perhaps it is because they are such a contrast that appeals.

The event (which is free to attend) is very informal and starts with a Thursday evening gathering of cars and bikes at Flamborough lighthouse. But as you drive around the Bridlington area you will see hot rods all over as they start to set up camp.

On Friday there is a press day in Bridlington old town where you can get up close to the cars and bikes and talk to the drivers. It is an opportunity to see how the cars are built which despite their appearance are finely crafted machines. I am fascinated by the belly tank racers, hand built from parts from a dozen different sources within a discarded aeroplane fuel tank.

The main event takes place over the weekend and the races take place on the beach by Bridlington Spa. We set off from our base in Driffield to the large car park for the park and ride and we hit our first problem here. The car park was closed because it was full, something unknown even in peak season. We turned around and headed for Bridlington town centre where we tried the council car park. This too was full but we hit lucky and snagged a space when someone else left.

Even in the height of summer I have never seen Bridlington so busy. This event, supported by a steam punk event and a food festival certainly pulled in the punters. East Yorkshire Council must have been thrilled with the turnout.

Despite it being a warm sunny day in Driffield the coast line was shrouded in a sea fret. Frankly it looked like a scene from a Mad Max film with roaring engines hidden in the mist with and occasional glimpses of crazy machinery.

Despite the lack of visibility the cars sprinted down the beach in pairs. The results seemed to be unimportant, it was all about taking part. And, when you needed a break there was a nearby display of some real quality classic cars, mostly American but not all.

Fortunately Sunday was bright and clear and the racing provided entertainment for the crowds of visitors and steam punk enthusiasts.

If you are looking for something a bit different, then I would have no hesitation in recommending this event.

TWR Supercat: Orders open


The order book for TWR’s limited production performance car is now open and coincides with the unveiling of the exterior design.

The TWR Supercat is a supercharged V12 powered Super-GT boasting more than 600 BHP and built from the legendary Jaguar XJS platform. It is the first of a new generation of cars from one of the most storied and celebrated names in motorsport and performance cars.

It is fitting that TWR has chosen a Jaguar as the first chapter in its contemporary history. Indeed, TWR has a long winning association with Jaguar and the XJS through victories in the most demanding motorsports environments in the world including Spa and Bathurst. The Supercat will be strictly limited to 88 individual builds a number chosen to celebrate the 1988 Le Mans win in the TWR Jaguar XJR-9.

TWR’s performance and motorsport DNA are evidenced in every element of the car. The selection of a manual transmission, weight-saving materials and an exhaustive testing, development and tuning programme all speak to the company’s commitment to delivering a dynamic driving experiences for those who desire a connected and analogue driving experience.

In realising this first, product, TWR has drawn inspiration from Tom Walkinshaw’s work with touring cars, Le Mans monsters like the XJR-9, XJR-15 and even the XJ220 supercar.

Order books officially open today and you can secure a build slot build slot with a £10,000 refundable deposit. Production will be strictly limited with first deliveries to take place in the fourth quarter of 2024.

As individual builds, all TWR clients will be afforded a full scope for personalisation. Therefore pricing will vary depending on individual specifications but will start at an indicative price of £225,000 excluding local taxes.


The new car is the first offering from the modern TWR, founded by Fergus Walkinshaw and business partner John Kane to build upon the legacy left by Fergus’s father, legendary constructor and racer Tom Walkinshaw who built the original TWR into a global motorsport and performance engineering powerhouse during the 1980-90s.

I have no doubt that this will be a quality build but if I was spending north of £225 000 I think there are others cars that I would be higher on my wish list. And if I were limited to a Jaguar then an E-Type would be my choice.

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German giant drops the ‘little’ ‘i’

By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse

In a break with tradition going back 55 years BMW is dropping the ‘i’ badge on future petrol cars.

The ‘i’suffix was first introduced in 1969 to the 2000 range to signify a fuel injection fitting.

But, over the years all BMWs have become fuel-injected making ‘i‘ a bit meaningless. Now, BMW has said the ‘letter’ will be used exclusively for its electric cars as a prefix on the model type.  

BMW brand management chief Bernd Körber explains: “We would like to keep the ‘i’ as an asset and keep it as a signature to indicate you are driving an electric car.”

The company admitted the move comes as customers become confused over its many appearances.

The ninth letter of the alphabet actually first appeared on the all-electric i3 in 2013 when BMW realised that ‘i’ could easily stand for ‘innovation’.

The change will begin with the new X3 M50 that replaces the previous X3 M40i and more combustion-engined models will follow.

The change will begin with the new X3 M50 that replaces the previous X3 M40i and more combustion-engined models will follow.

It seems another sign of the times, but at least we can revel again in the style of BMWs like the iconic 2002tii – double ‘ii’ for good measure!

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Donington Historic Festival: Event review.

The Donington Historic Festival is a regular event for Classic Yorkshire (CY) and this year it was even better value as CY was able to offer subscribers a 50% discount on ticket prices and infield parking.

Last years event was still hungover from Co-Vid and the displays were not as well populated as in previous years and the grids seemed thinner. But I am delighted to say that it is back on top form.

The infield displays were full and you could see everything from the ever popular MX5 to rare Japanese imports such as the Nissan Skyline. There were plenty of British cars from the Mini to the E-Type and exotica from Bentley and Ferrari. If you couldn’t find half a dozen cars you would sell your soul for then you have no feelings.

On track action was fast and furious with some bizarre combinations. Where else would you see an Austin Maestro racing against a huge American Plymouth.

Whatever your taste in cars the racing was sure to please. The Woodcote Trophy features pre 56 and pre 61 sports cars. Here you found a smattering of Jaguars (C Type, D Type and XK140) racing against tiny Lotus’s and a couple of Austin Healey’s.

Next up were the Historic Touring Cars with Rover SDI’s, Ford Capri’s and the inevitable Lotus Cortina’s. The Superformance Ferrari Club series presented Italian exotica with all manner of Ferrari’s from the Mondial to F355 challenge cars. Inevitably the more modern cars were out in front but its good to see them out on the track.

The pre 66 GT and Touring cars, pre 63 GT’s and Pre 61 sports cars all run together in a single race. Here you find TVR Grantura’s taking on nimble Lotus Elans, Cobra Daytona’s and Jaguar E-Types.

For those who like saloon cars the Pre 83 Touring Cars is the race to watch. Here you found Chevrolet Camaro’s pitched against Rover SDI’s, Ford Capri’s, Mazda RX7 and some delightful Alfa’s.

If you are into classic aircraft then the Spitfire flyover is something not to be missed. Personally I would like to see the addition of a historic rally stage and more retail but that’s just me.

I could go on listing the races but I think you get the picture. For more details take a look at the website https://www.doningtonhistoric.com/.

I hope that this review has given you a taste of the event and that you might pencil in 5th and 6th May 2025 for your visit. With luck we will be able to get a discount on entry for Classic Yorkshire subscribers. If you run a club then you can register with MSV and have a display of your own.

You can view the results of all the races on the link below.

https://www.tsl-timing.com/event/241851

Buy Senna’s Honda NSX.

F1 Legend and three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna’s personal Honda NSX has gone up on sale this week for a whopping half a million pounds.

Considered one of the sport’s greatest drivers, Ayrton Senna dominated Formula One in the late 80s and early 90s, winning a total of 41 races and a hattrick of world titles with McLaren. Senna tragically lost his life at Imola during the San Marino Grand Prix on May 1st 1994 however his legacy continues to live on, with many in his home country of Brazil still adoring him.

Senna’s red Honda NSX which has just gone up on sale is the Brazilian icon’s most famous NSX car that he owned as was kept at his Portuguese home and he was photographed washing the car in 1991. The red NSX also featured in the film “Racing is in my Blood” which showed Senna lighting up the back wheels with a wheel spin. Senna also owned two other NSX cars, a personal one in black in Brazil and another black NSX purchased for him by his manager Antonio Braga. As part of the 25th anniversary of Senna’s tragic passing in 2019, the red Honda NSX was taken to the Imola circuit and driven by Giancarlo Minardi in front of a packed out venue of Senna fans.

Built for speed and precision, the NSX boasts a powerful engine, responsive handling, aerodynamic design and delivers an exhilarating driving experience for those getting behind the wheel. 

The car currently has just over 39,100 miles on the clock and was first registered in 1991.

The full listing being sold by Robert McFagan on the Auto Trader website can be viewed online here: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404088417999

Celebrating Nissan’s first Z-car


By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse

Growing up in the seventies one of the stand out sports cars on the road was the Datsun 240Z.

Launched in 1969, this elegant two-seater caught its European rivals ‘on the hop’ and would take the US by storm.

For those of you unfamiliar with ‘Datsun’, this was the name used by Nissan Motors for many years – car production starting in 1931.

Datsun would go on to be a significant player in the global car market right up to the mid-1980s when Nissan decided to badge future cars in their own name.

But, let’s go back to Datsun and the impact of the first of the ‘Z’ line-up. The Datsun 240Z was the export version of the Japanese model, the Fairlady Z.

With its long nose and short tail it shared more than a hint of the Jaguar E-Type in its styling.

Under the bonnet, the car had a punchy 2.4 litre inline-six engine capable of generating 151 bhp and reaching a top speed of 125 mph.

Soon, the 240Z would be known for its top-notch performance and its entry into the sports market proved a ‘game-changer’ for the Japanese car-maker.

In the UK tough import duties hindered sales. To buy a ‘Z’ would set you back £2,300, a lot more than an MGB GT or Ford Capri.

But, it was a different story in the North American market where it represented great value and notched-up nearly 150,000 sales.

By 1974, the 240Z would pave the way for the bigger engined 260Z and a year later the 280Z (released in the US only).

The Z-series has continued ever since at Nissan, but that early sporty Datsun will be long remembered for its undoubted impact.



Wings and the summer of 72.

Another piece of rock ‘n’ roll and classic car history is about to hit the auction market. But you will need a substantial garage and a big wallet if you want to make it yours. Open for pre-bids now, is the restored 1972 Wings tour bus, used by Sir Paul and Linda McCartney during the Wings Over Europe Tour in the summer of 1972.

Originally chosen as the tour bus for their 1972 summer tour, the double-decker bus quickly gained worldwide fame and became the epicentre of an extraordinary family and band adventure. As Sir Paul and Linda McCartney, along with the rest of the Wings band, traversed over 7,500 miles across nine countries and 25 cities, the summer of 1972 became a pivotal moment for the band. The tour garnered the attention of the world’s media and marked the rise of Wings after the glory days of The Beatles. The bus wasn’t merely a space for rest and transportation it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that a number of hit songs were potentially written within it, including the iconic Bond theme “Live and Let Die” recorded later that same year (1972).

Now a symbol of both rock and road, with its psychedelic colour scheme mirroring The Beatles’ 1960s Yellow Submarine album cover, the bus, registered as WNO 481, still retains features from its heyday, upholding its originality and offering a glimpse into the era of ‘swinging Sixties’, Carnaby Street, and the universal message of peace and love. Sir Paul McCartney’s affection for buses and the decision to have an open-top upper deck setup for the European tour is reflected in his words: “If we’re gonna be in Europe in the summer going to places like the south of France it’s just silly to be in some little box all day gasping for air so we came up with this idea to have an open deck, upper deck kind of thing. We’ve got some mattresses up there so we can just cruise along, fantastic, it’s great, just lie around and get the sun.”

Just as [John] Lennon’s Rolls-Royce and the notable cars of other [The] Beatles members carry the weight of history, tour buses tell a different story, and bear witness to the behind-the-scenes magic that fuels the onstage brilliance. This essence is perfectly encapsulated in the Wings tour bus, still adorned in its psychedelic colours, and restored to how it would’ve been when the McCartneys and the rest of the band toured Europe over the summer of ’72. Let’s also not forget that out of all the other [The] Beatles cars, this vehicle is one that can actually be owned, driven and enjoyed.

The bus is in restored condition, aiming for an authentic representation of its 1972 tour specification. In the interior, meticulous attention to detail was applied to recreate the era’s atmosphere, with the revamped space now featuring wooden bunk beds, reflecting the sleeping arrangements for the band members’ children. The lower cabin is adorned with bright yellow curtains, providing a distinct contrast to the exterior’s psychedelic paint scheme while a bespoke cover for the upper deck proudly displays ‘1972 Wings Tour Bus’ graphics on the roof. Powered by a Gardner 5LW 7-litre diesel engine paired with a manual transmission, this tour bus still has many miles of road left to travel.

The bus is further accompanied by an official license that permits the display of artwork, logos, the names of Paul and Linda McCartney, family photos taken on the bus and more, with the license transferring to the new owner upon successful purchase.

Car & Classic’s online auction will begin on 22 April and run until 29 April. The auction team estimates that it will sell for between £150,000 – £200,000 and invites all interested parties to register their pre-bids via the auction link here: carandclassic.com/auctions/1953-bristol-ksw5g-paul-mccartney-and-wings-1972-wings-over-europe-tour-bus-nY10ln.

Calling all clubs.

The historic element of the classic car industry continues grow with new events coming along all the time. Motorsport Vision and Motor Racing Legends have announced the inaugural Snetterton Classic on SAT 29 – SUN 30 JUN 2024.

Fans can travel back in time at the Snetterton Classic this summer when a sumptuous selection of retro machines takes to the 300 circuit.

The event will include a three-hour showpiece from the Royal Automobile Club Pall Mall Cup, a race for pre-’66 GT cars and 1950s sports-racing machinery. Other highlights from the MRL portfolio include Pre-War Sports Cars, Pre-’63 GTs, the Historic Touring Car Challenge and the RAC Woodcote Trophy and Stirling Moss Trophy.

The line-up also includes three grids from the Historic Racing Drivers Club: Gerry Marshall Trophy, Allstars and Classic Alfas and the Jack Sears Trophy. GT4 Challenge completes the programme.

Off-track there are displays for Car Clubs and Pre-2000s Private Entries, with every display vehicle allowed to take part in the Parade Lap on Sunday evening. The paddock will be open to all so spectators can get up and close to the race cars and their drivers, and even more is to be announced soon!

Display car applications are now OPEN! Clubs and owners can enjoy free admission to the event, as well as a prime parking spot inside of the venue.

CLICK HERE to complete your application.

How the Morris Minor nearly made a comeback

By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse

Secret plans to relaunch the iconic Morris Minor have been revealed.

In an exclusive from Autocar, they report that plans were drawn up 20 years ago for a new-look Minor as competing bids were made to take over the collapsed MG Rover Group.

The return of the Morris Minor name was stored in plans led by the Shanghai Automotive Industries Corporation (SAIC) and Magma Holdings, founded by ex-Ford of Europe boss Martin Leach.

This would have been the third resurrection of the Minor, going back decades.

The first Minor was manufactured by Morris Motors Ltd between 1928 and 1934. The second generation of the model ran from 1948 and 1971 when it would become the first British car to reach one million sales.

In 2005, the successful bidder for the Midlands giant would pick up the rights to the Morris and Austin names as well as MG and Rover.

Leach’s idea – not revealed in the formal Magma-SAIC bid for MG Rover – was to launch a new-look Minor and revive the Morris brand.

In a twist of fate, SAIC-Magma lost out to the Nanjing Automobile Corporation bid, who would soon after merge with SAIC.

Ironically, the plans to bring back the Minor came as a new wave of retro models enjoyed a boom with the likes of the BMW Mini and VW Beetle capitalising on their strong brands.

Was this a lost opportunity to revive a popular British classic? Quite possibly.

New Gordan Murray car launched

British vehicle manufacturer Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) has announced the 25 commemorative names to be paired with the 25 T.50s Niki Lauda chassis. Each of the track-only T.50s supercars will celebrate Gordon Murray’s rich racing heritage with their names commemorating the dates of his first 24 Grand Prix wins at different circuits, and a special endurance race victory.

The debut of the T.50s Niki Lauda prototype took place on 13 April at the 81st Goodwood Members Meet where more than 15,000 track spectators enjoyed the first outing of the race-spec car revving through to its 12,100 rpm redline.

The T.50s Niki Lauda is an uncompromising track-only supercar that enhances driver engagement even further than its road going sibling. Lighter still than the T.50, at less than 900 kg, the more powerful (772 PS) T.50s will utilise every one of the GMA V12 engine’s screaming 12,100 rpm to deliver a one-of-a-kind on-track driving experience.

While the T.50s shares the same central driving position at the T.50, it is a completely new car from the ground up including its monocoque, and every carbon fibre body panel. Priced at £3.1m (before taxes), the T.50s features a 1,758 mm-wide delta wing, which works with the rear-mounted fan, a new front splitter, underbody aerofoil, and adjustable diffusers to generate up to 1,200 kg of downforce.          

The T.33 is similarly lightweight, tipping the scales at just 1,090 kg. The lack of mass ensures the model is agile and responsive, characteristics delivered through a perfectly balanced chassis and carefully tuned suspension, accessed through precise steering and a satisfying six-speed manual shift. Packaged with the 617 PS 3.9 litre Cosworth GMA.2 V12 engine that revs to 11,100 rpm, the focus for T.33 is to deliver the brand’s characteristic ‘driving perfection’ alongside a V12 soundtrack like no other.

The T.33 mule debuted at the Goodwood Circuit is named James, a tradition dating back to 1990 when Gordon set up McLaren cars and chose names for the F1 mules. Naming the first F1 mule ‘Albert’ after the road next to the original McLaren Cars HQ, the team continued the ‘English kings’ theme with the arrival of ‘Edward’. GMA named the T.50 mule ‘George’, while T.33 continues the tradition with mules ‘James’ and ‘Charles’ already conducting development work, and ‘Henry’ on the way.

For more information about GMA, the T.50s Niki Lauda, T.33, or the brand’s other supercars, visit GordonMurrayAutomotive.com.