Octane Magazine

‘I’ve always been interested in the history behind a car, and this Bugatti really had a tale to tell. Not only that, it had been a favourite car of a good friend, and – better yet – it had broken the mould of perfect-plus cars always winning top conc

Editor-in-chief James Elliott james@octane-magazine.com Associate editor Glen Waddington glen@octane-magazine.com Art editor Robert Hefferon roberth@octane-magazine.com Markets editor Matthew Hayward matthew@octane-magazine.com Founding editor Robert

To take advantage of our special offer and get three issues of Octane for £5, either visit octane-magazine.com/subscribe or call +44 (0)20 3966 6695 Octane is available at the usual branches of UK shops, such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and indep

This arrive-and-drive event – entry includes a ‘hire car’ from the organiser’s fleet – covers 1468km over ten days and costs $4990 per person. The host country is known as ‘the Switzerland of Central America’, with its stunning landscapes. The keywor

Following the retirement of long-standing chief executive David Withers, Bicester-based StarterMotor – dedicated to introducing youngsters to classics – has appointed automotive industry specialist Steve Cootes as General Manager. Steve has previousl

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Austin J40 pedal car, eight important examples went on display in the famous Rotunda of the Royal Autombile Club for two weeks. Examples included an early Austin Pathfinder, a number of classic and unique J40s, and

A 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Speedster scooped The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award. Part of the collection of the late USAF Major General William Lyon, the rare supercharged version was uniquely bodied by Gurney Nutting. It qualified for the

As part of its ongoing celebrations of 20 years of stewardship by Dr Lawrence Tomlinson, Ginetta has launched its track-inspired, roadgoing Akula supercar, the concept of which was first mooted pre-Covid. Limited to 20 cars and powered by a naturally

The Rahmi M Koç Muzesi in Istanbul, an industry-focused museum with 150 vehicles, is to open a new exhibition simply called Horsepower. Opening on 26 November and running for up to nine months, the exhibition will feature 22-24 selected cars spanning

Bicester Motion has applied for permission to turn one of its hangars, the Grade II listed, 31,000sq ft Hanger 137, into a £2million e-karting centre with a two-level 500m track. The scheme would be carried out in partnership with TeamSport and, acco

The fast-growing Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week 3-6 October) has both strengthened and broadened its list of sponsors and partners. Watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne remains the key partner of Sunday’s showpiece 180-car Concours, and is joined by th

The Meyers Manx 2.0 EV pre-production dune buggy was unveiled at the Goodwood Revival Meeting on 6 September. The next-generation electric vehicle pays homage to Bruce Meyers’ original design while integrating state-of-the-art technology. Phillip Sar

Latest special exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA is ‘Driven to Win: The Automobile in Competition’. Taking place in the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery, it celebrates motorsport through racers from various disciplines, from 1913 Mercer

Thornley Kelham has revealed the second in its European series of restomods. After last month’s European RS comes the 25-off Paul Howse (re)designed, Jaguar XK-based European GT. The more muscular look sees the roofline lowered by 2.5in, the body is

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, the world’s first permanent motor museum when it was founded in 1952 by Edward Lord Montagu, has launched a new brand identity. Chief executive Jon Murden said: ‘It reflects the museum’s ambition to engage and i

The founder of the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum, which brilliantly focuses on engineering and technical development, has died. The French-born entrepreneur (he founded Polypack) was also a prolific author and famously recreated the Fardier by Cugnot,

The Royal Automobile Club has awarded the 2024 Segrave Trophy to 14-times Isle of Man sidecar TT winners Ben and Tom Birchall. The award, for outstanding skill, courage and initiative, has previously been won by a host of other motorcycling heroes in

The legendary founder of the So-Cal Speed Shop in Burbank, as well as a hot-rod and racing pioneer, has passed away at the age of 102. The former Flying Fortress radio operator was, with Dean Batchelor, the first to fashion a speed machine from a dro

Sometimes a project just gets the best of you and you have to put it off to the side for a while. That was the case with my 1927 Bugatti Type 38A. I acquired it well over 30 years ago and it was pretty far gone at the time. The supercharger, as well

This column is being put together a few days before I head back to the UK in readiness of a raft of events, the Goodwood Revival Meeting among them. The Pebble Concours d’Elegance is still fresh in my memory, as are all the many ancillary events that

To assist in the sinister machinations of the military-industrial complex, I used to visit Ford’s HQ in Dearborn. Even the address is magnificent: Henry Ford II World Center, One American Avenue. The building opened in 1956, designed by Chicago’s Ski

Kyalami Circuit in South Africa has long been renowned as a hard and fast racetrack. I know, having raced there… and having smashed my head on its tarmac more than once. Back in 1985, I watched Nigel Mansell take the win from pole in the Williams Hon

Ruark is a family-owned British company, passionate about sound and design. Its aim is to make premium music systems that look and sound fabulous, products that will enhance your home and life, including radios, compact active speakers and all-in-one

John Judd founded Engine Developments Ltd with Jack Brabham in 1971 and still oversees technical development. With expertise in V10s dating back three decades, Judd is the perfect guide to the pros and cons of ten-cylinder layouts. ‘When Formula 1’s

Although there had been a smattering of large diesel V10 engines used in trucks and buses over the years, the Dodge Viper was the first petrol-powered V10 road car. This ‘modern-day Cobra’ started with an 8.0-litre, 400bhp unit, moving to an 8.3-litr

‘Pebble Beach has always been about celebrating restorations – what they’ve done is given the award to someone who has done nothing to their car. It is unfair and disrespectful to all those who spent time, money and effort restoring cars for the even

• 1955 Jaguar XK140 • 1962 Norton Dominator• 1967 Triumph GT6• 1972 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport • 1989 BMW 320i Convertible• 1999 Porsche Boxster • 1981 BMW 323i Top Cabrio• 1998 Aston Martin DB7 Volante• 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLK200 • 1927 Alvis 12/50• 1927 Fo

NEVER MIND ‘fire up the quattro’, it’s more a case of ‘kick the Capri’ with this ’70s Vulcain. Better-known for its rather more refined ‘Cricket’ alarm watches, the La Chaux de Fonds company wasn’t afraid to move with the times to make bruisers like

IF YOU’RE WONDERING why the main image on this page that’s reviewing a book about Morgan is of a hand-drawn map and an aerial photo, it’s to show why this work deserves our Book of the Month slot: since 2009 the author has been Morgan’s archivist, so

There’s simply nothing to dislike about this beautiful book, written by Jonathan Wood and published in 2017. Like his previous award-winning book about Squire, it’s impeccably researched, beautifully designed and very nicely printed. Only two eight-c

RM Sotheby’s, California, USA, 17 August Gooding & Company, California, USA, 16 August RM Sotheby’s, California, USA, 17 August Mecum, California, USA, 17 August Broad Arrow, California, USA, 15 August RM Sotheby’s, California, USA, 17 August RM Soth

In the 1960s, Bob Peak tried his hand at producing a luxury GT, teaming up with Coco Chinetti, the son of Ferrari’s USA agent, Luigi Chinetti. Bob and Coco drew up a dramatic if slightly rotund car with gullwing doors and asked Giovanni Michelotti to

Classic Car Auctions, Stoneleigh Park, UK Classicbid, Grolsheim, Germany Ewbank’s, Send, UK Charterhouse, Sparkford, UK (motorcycles) Mecum, Indianapolis, USA Bonhams, Newport, USA Aguttes, Brussels, Belgium Bonhams, Knokke-Heist, Belgium H&H, Duxfor

THE AUDI R8 V10 versus the Lamborghini Gallardo – two Noughties heavyweights built under the same parent company, sharing an increasing number of parts as they developed, and with Coupé and Spyder options, plus various special editions. Neither is ra

Lamborghini built 151 of the first generation Countach between 1974 and 1978, and these remain the most highly prized among collectors. Styled by Marcello Gandini during his time at Bertone, the LP400 represents the model’s purest form, unadorned by

WITH THE RECENT launch of the exceptional new Aston Martin Vanquish, it seems particularly timely to consider the original, Newport Pagnell-built, V12 Vanquish – the Ian Callum-designed successor to the Virage that was launched in 2001 – as an undera

Although dune buggies are not particularly unusual, this original Meyers Manx is one of roughly 6000 Mk1 models built. Based on a ‘68 Beetle, it arrived in the UK from Florida in 2019. dukeoflondon.co.uk (UK) This charming Dauphine Gordini is offered

Prices are very much dependent on condition; while you might find a basketcase from around £1000, for a complete car that could be turned around expect something closer to £3000. For a runner in fair condition, prices seem to sit around £7000, althou