Octane

Octane is the authoritative guide to the best classic cars in the world.

As time goes by

FEATURING

FORD GT40 MEETS YOUNG PRETENDERS • On road and track in the heroic original and its now-iconic successors

Octane

Velocity International, 10-12 November

COMING UP… • Around the world, event organisers are gearing up for a busy year. Let’s take a look at what they have in store for us in 2022

GET OUT THERE! • There are dozens of tours, rallies and destination events on the calendar for 2022. We’ve done the easy bit by listing some here; you have the much trickier task of choosing between them all

FURTHER AHEAD… • Intrepid adventurers, start prepping your cars now for these long-distance challenges in 2023

Battle of Britain museums • Two Kent venues remind us of ‘Britain’s darkest hour’

New pressure group is tackling the authorities head on • How the trade at the heart of the £18bn classic car industry is using its voice to defend classic car lovers from the unintended consequences of legislation

NEWS FEED • SoCal gets hyper; more powerful Outlaws; archive’s home assured; Tridim in Paris; stylist’s artwork show; RM grows; MGB birthday race; last chance for E-type; Retro off; H&H news

Tony Dron b.1946

Sir Frank Williams b.1942

Bob Bondurant b.1933

The prized Mercury • Young electrician Finley Bones runs a bona fide Yank Tank

Commuting by car

Shami Kalra • The founder of Omologato watches is not just a confirmed petrolhead: he admits to being obsessive about all sorts of other things, too

JAY LENO • The Collector

DEREK BELL • The Legend

STEPHEN BAYLEY • The Aesthete

ROBERT COUCHER • The Driver

Different times

THE SECRETS OF MY EXCESS • It’s rare that someone sees a Ferrari Testarossa and thinks it needs to be more outrageous. But one man did, and the GTR by Gemballa was the result

BIG PIMPIN’ • Strap in, here are a few more of Gemballa’s wildest creations

LOST AND FOUND • This Aston Martin DB2/4’s Monte Carlo Rally history was deliberately buried. Decades on it was revived by the original owner’s son

CONVERTIBLE ASSETS • The Mercedes-Benz R107 is the longest-lived and most numerous of all the SL roadsters. Here’s the full story behind its 50-year success

WHICH IS WHICH • All those engines, all those codenames

The ultimate road movie? • It’s 50 years since Two-Lane Blacktop was released in cinemas. Mike Renaut examines why it remains the only film that truly satisfies car enthusiasts

BIG BABY • Conceived around Ford’s crossflow four, the Crosslé C5 held its own amid lightweight Lotus and Lola rivals. Then this one gained a V8…

Mike Kimberley • We know him as the driving force behind the Lotus Carlton and the M100 Elan, but the Evora, the Lamborghini Diablo and even the V12 E-type were on his watch, too

FIRST ACTION HERO • No other vehicle on the planet is more versatile than the Unimog. Let’s celebrate its 75th anniversary

MR UNIMOG • Simon Ward is keeping these unstoppable vehicles going – all around the world

CIRCUIT TRAINED • This 1935 Frazer Nash Shelsley has illustrious early history – but disappeared into obscurity. Now it’s back to tell the tale

CHEQUERED FLAG • Your 2022 guide to Historic motorsport

2021’s MAJOR HISTORIC MOTORSPORT WINNERS • Historic competition made a comeback during 2021, in all sorts of disciplines. These are the movers and shakers, in a variety of categories

ENDURANCE, THE EASY WAY • If you fancy a go at an epic rally but lack a car, logistics or both, you can hire one complete with event support

WE LIKE ALITTLE LEVITY • Spindly...