A LASTING TRIBUTE TO HUGHIE HANCOX

Brand new Veloce book Triumph Production Testers’ Tales - from the Meriden Factory is reviewed in the December 2012 edition of Nacelle.

Long time Meriden worker and ace classic Triumph restorer, Hughie Hancox, describes everyday life in the Triumph Production Testing team from 1960 to 1962. A story packed with amusing anecdotes about the trials, tribulations and fun associated with testing Triumph motorcycles fresh from the production line. Includes guidance on fixing problems still found today on the 1960s models, plus previously unseen photographs of machines restored by the author. This is an intimate and entertaining account of Britain’s most famous motorcycle factory in its heyday. More info.

Sadly, Hughie Hancox passed away in August 2011 just after checking the proofs of this book.

WHAT'S THE STORY? PHOTOS OF THE LIVE STAGE AT NEC CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW 2012

Great to see Nicky West, Rob Stacey, Morris & Splonk having fun on the NEC live stage during the "What's the story?" feature last weekend. The Mini Minor to Asia Minor team were joined on stage by cheeky chappie presenter Mike Brewer (Mr Wheeler Dealer). Mike has recently joined the band of Veloce authors by writing Mike Brewer's The Wheeler Dealer Know How to be published in Spring 2013. Sounds like both books gained some great exposure at the event.

Click images to view full size

Photos from Bauer Media.

New! Mini Minor to Asia Minor - There & Back
By Nicky West. Foreword by Jean Christophe Novelli.
This is the story of an independent trek in a 50-year-old Mini – all the way to the Great Pyramid and back – with no assistance or support crew, to provide much needed funds and publicity for the Willow Foundation. Inspirational to others, the book includes practical advice on the car preparation and documentation required for such marathon drives, along with photographs of the Mini’s preparation and the amazing journey itself. More info.

From THE Master - Everything you need to know about buying, preparing, and selling modern classic cars!

The Wheeler Dealer Know How is written by Mike Brewer, the UK's most well-known car-dealing expert. In a career spanning almost 30 years, Mike has seen and done everything when it comes to buying and selling cars, and having established a successful career as a television presenter, is eager to share his knowledge, passion and enthusiasm.

Telling you all you need to know about buying, preparing and selling modern classic cars, this book guides you through the minefield that is the world of car dealing, and helps you avoid the pitfalls that await the unwary. Plus, with stories and anecdotes from Mike's time in the trade, you'll gain a fascinating insight into the world of wheeler-dealing. More info.

40% OFF VELOCE BOOKS THIS CHRISTMAS*

GET 40% OFF ANY VELOCE BOOK* up until the end of December 2012!

This discount code can be used when ordering direct from Veloce, either by phone on +(0)1305 260068, or via our website, by entering the discount code XMAS40 during the transaction.

*Offer closes midnight 31st December 2012. Offer excludes leather and limited editions, Veloce gift vouchers, Veloce apps, eBooks, other coinciding special offers and non-Veloce products. P+P extra.
Offer subject to availability.

STEVE WYATT WITH LOTUS MECHANIC CEDRIC SELZER AT GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2012

Cedric is probably wearing the same overalls as those he was wearing in 1964 in the photo on page 51 of Steve's book!

Motor Racing – The Pursuit of Victory 1963 to 1972
By Steve Wyatt.

Picking up where the first volume left off, this is a beautifully illustrated journey covering a period of ten years in motor sport. Moving year by year, this book is written from the perspective of a passionate motor sport enthusiast of the day. Features many previously unpublished photographs. More info.

FIAT 500 PASSES THE ONE MILLION PRODUCTION MILESTONE

The millionth Fiat 500 has just rolled off the Fiat Auto Poland production line. This iconic model, launched in 2007 and marketed in over 100 countries around the world – from Italy to Brazil, South Africa to Japan, and the United States to the Middle East – has also been produced at the Mexican plant in Toluca since 2011.

The milestone vehicle is a Lounge version ‘dressed’ in elegant three-layer Funk White and fitted with Fiat’s reliable 69 HP 1.2 engine. It is a unique car like all those produced so far. In fact, thanks to the thousands of possible combinations – combining exterior colours, interiors, engines, fuel systems and equipment – among the million units produced it is really hard to find two identical Fiat 500s.

A genuine expression of style and character, the Fiat 500 is an all-Italian invention created to satisfy everyone who loves to have fun and go anywhere behind the wheel of an exciting and charming car. Always a great ‘player’ in international markets, the Fiat 500 was recently revamped with the arrival of the 2013 range – hatchback and convertible versions – introducing six brand-new body colours, two new versions (Street and Colour Therapy) and other style details which enhance the fun-loving pop spirit of this iconic model. A genuine expression of Italian style and personality, the range today includes two versions (saloon and convertible), six trim levels (Pop, Pop Star, Colour Therapy, Lounge, Street and By Gucci) and five engine versions (1.2 69 HP, 0.9 TwinAir Turbo 85, 1.4 16v 100 HP, 1.2 69 HP EasyPower and 1.3 MultiJet 16v 95 HP).

The Fiat 500 has achieved major records in its segment thanks to its Italian design and the most sophisticated technology, as embodied by the revolutionary and multi-award-winning TwinAir engine. With more than 40 awards won internationally to date, the new car has proven since its launch in July 2007 that it is not merely a super-compact city car, but an authentic platform upon which Fiat is building a whole family of cars with technology and attention to detail worthy of a higher category.

It is not by chance that the Fiat 500 has introduced many innovations and achieved important records in its segment. It was the first to offer seven airbags as standard; the first car offering a range of over one million possible customisations; the first car only 3.55 metres long to win a prestigious 5-star EuroNCAP crash safety rating; the first car to offer the advanced ESP system with all its engine options; the first car to offer 100 original specially designed accessories; and the first Fiat Group car to be powered by the revolutionary two-cylinder TwinAir engine family.

The new products also arrived thick and fast: Abarth 500 (March 2008), 500 by Diesel (September 2008), 500 Pink (June 2009), 500C (July 2009), Abarth 500C (March 2010), 500C by Diesel (June 2010), 500 TwinAir (July 2010), 500 Matt Black (September 2010), 500 two-tone (December 2010), 500 and 500C by Gucci (in April and August 2011, respectively).

Since the day that it was first launched, the Fiat 500 has captivated both the public and international critics alike. Launched at the end of 2010 in the United States and produced at the Toluca plant in Mexico, today the Fiat 500 is the leader in its class. In October it marked its eighth consecutive month of growth.

Taking a closer look, sales of the Fiat 500 in North America have increased by 109%, while the Cabrio version marked an increase of 21%. In total, more than 73,000 vehicles have been registered in the North American market since 2011, of which 42,000 were registered in the first 10 months of 2012.

If we consider the European market (EU27 + EFTA), in 2008 the Fiat 500 achieved the 13.9% share record and the following year it recorded top sales volumes: approximately 186,000 units. An interesting fact: the Fiat 500’s forerunner of 1957 – with more than 3.4 million units produced until August 1975 – took four years of production to reach 180,000 registrations.

The last piece of data confirming the roaring success of the 500 is the Official Fan Page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/fiat500). It has collected about 300,000 visitors from around the world, a global community of enthusiasts who interact daily with the proposed contents and share opinions and images on the model that more than any other inspires warmth, style and maximum freedom of customisation.
Source: Fiat

Fiat 500 & 600 - The Essential Buyer's Guide
By Malcolm Bobbitt.
The essential guide to purchasing a baby Fiat, which allows both the novice and accustomed Fiat enthusiast to appraise a potential purchase with professional confidence, identifying what to look for in order to acquire the right car at the right price. With Malcolm Bobbitt's concise and easy-to-follow guide, packed with sound advice and backed up by specially selected illustrations, the route through checking a car's provenance is made so much easier. This is YOUR passport to joining the Fiat community and a must for any potential small Fiat owner. More info.

28 MINI FANS CRAM INTO THE RECORD BOOKS

A team of gym members from East Sussex have today smashed two Guinness World RecordsTM for the number of people inside both a classic Mini and a 2012 MINI.

28 flexible ladies crammed their way into the MINI Hatch at Potters Fields Park, London as part of the eighth annual Guinness World Records day. The team broke their own previous record of 27 people, which they set in Eastbourne last year.

The ladies made full use of every inch of space available in the MINI, including the dashboard, the footwells and they even managed to squeeze four people in the boot.

As soon as they celebrated their first record the ladies dashed off to the ITV studios to attempt the second record live on This Morning, where by squeezing a staggering 23 ladies into a classic Mini, they managed to beat the previous record by two people.

Today more than 400,000 people around the world are taking part in record-breaking events for the eighth annual Guinness World Records Day, which commemorates the day in 2004 when Guinness World Records became the world's best-selling copyright book.
Source: MINI

New from Veloce! New Mini – The Essential Buyer's Guide
By Martyn Collins

With so many different models and specifications to navigate, this book will help you get the Mini you want at the right price. Featuring over a hundred colour images, plus details of problems to keep an eye out for, it is an essential aid for the discerning buyer, providing insight into market and value data and predicting future collectable models. Owning a Mini can be a very sociable experience, and this book gives details of back-up and support organisations for BMW’s British–built baby.
More info.

HISTORICS OFF-ROAD ROYALTY

Auctioneer honoured to offer ‘The Queen’s Land Rover’

Historics at Brooklands – the auctioneer of fine classic cars and vehicles of distinction – has been given the royal seal of approval by the Ministry of Defence, to auction ‘The Queen’s Land Rover’ at its forthcoming sale at Brooklands, on Saturday 24th November.

Commissioned for the Queen and owned by the MoD, the 1978 Land Rover ‘Royal Review State’ V Series III was intriguingly modified in April 1979 by REME Central Workshops in Donnington, to include a traffic light system allowing the Queen to signal the driver to stop, slow or start.

Having covered just 1,892 miles from new, this unique feature, as well as double rear doors and rear retractable step, remain in place and in full working order, setting this Land Rover aside from the other 440,000 Series III models built between 1971 and 1985.

Offered at auction with an estimate of £15,000 to £18,000*, Historics last sale of 2012 represents a unique opportunity to acquire a very rare and desirable piece of motoring heritage.

Commenting on the consignment, Historics’ Auction Director Edward Bridger-Stille noted: “We are excited and honoured to be entrusted with the task of finding a new home for such a unique vehicle.

“We pride ourselves on bringing distinctive vehicles to auction, and despite prolific production of the Series III Land Rover, it’s highly unlikely one like this will ever come to auction again,” he concluded.
Source: Historics at Brooklands