Octane

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

A world of surprises

FEATURING

THE WORLD’S MOST ORIGINAL DB6? • An extraordinary survivor that took expert Stephen Archer’s breath away

Octane

Goodwood Members’ Meeting, 9-10 April

COMING UP… • A selection of highlights from a calendar that suddenly seems to be more full than ever

The Caister Castle Car Collection • Hidden away in Norfolk is a museum with a suprisingly eclectic selection of exhibits

Qatar’s car culture celebration • New exhibition is just a preview of the Gulf state’s spectacular plans

New Healey is built for the modern age • Envisage and JME Healeys re-imagine it as a… Caton

NEWS FEED • Russell Brookes’ rally cars take to the stage; Lightning GT on show; Ferrari tech drawings six decades late; a concours for ladies, another in Coventry; Reims restrictions; Bugatti bequest

Win a day at the Revival • Enter our prize draw to win two tickets for the Sunday at Goodwood’s world-famous September race meeting

Silverstone on your doorstep

Obituaries

Writ’ on the side • Signwriter Terry Smith rescued a forlorn Fordson 5cwt van, restored it and has used it for his business ever since

The first drive home

Donald Osborne • TV presenter, classic car appraiser, CEO of the Audrain Newport Concours and Automobile Museum, Italophile – and trained opera singer

JAY LENO • The Collector

DEREK BELL • The Legend

STEPHEN BAYLEY • The Aesthete

ROBERT COUCHER • The Driver

Mini insurance? Maxi premium

MILAN’S MYSTERY MACHINE • From the ashes of war arose a unique Alfa Romeo V12 engine. Its survival in an equally mysterious body is a saga unknown until now, as Karl Ludvigsen reveals

THE ALVIS THAT APED AN ALFA • Ever wondered why the Alvis TB14 looked so radically Continental? Karl Ludvigsen has a plausible theory

BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT • Summer’s on its way, so what better than a luxurious convertible for the season? Robert Coucher considers these two horseless carriages, both with the Royal seal of approval

THE OTHER HALO CAR • As The Saint, Roger Moore made a certain Volvo famous. But this Marcos screamed into shot in 1969, and now it’s back in the limelight

MARCOS HERITAGE – A NEW CHAPTER • New owner ready to launch restored and uprated GTs

THE BIG ZBOROWSKIS • Two generations of aristocratic yet reckless racing drivers – without whom we’d have no James Bond, and no Aston Martin

Barry Treacy • If you wanted to add bling to your car in the 1970s, Wolfrace Slot Mags were your top option. And this is the man behind them

PREFERRED CARRIER • Used in every theatre of World War Two, the Universal Carrier has a Ford flathead V8 and is small enough to fit in a domestic garage. Could it be your next classic?

Same difference • BMW has bought out Alpina – so how might Alpina’s future products differ from BMW’s own M-cars? Comparing the fastest versions of the E39 5-series will give us some clues

GREAT ESCAPES • Your guide to motoring adventure

THE 2022 CALENDAR • Short tours, marathon rallies and destination events to look forward to

Alfa Romantic • Experience Italy’s most beautiful coastline out of season to avoid the summer crowds – and to make the most of a classic Alfa Romeo

Pit stops • They can be a destination for meeting up with like-minded friends, or just a place to break your road trip. Meet the new breed of culinary classic car hubs

Prancing Horse to Dead Horse • A Covid-beating, 26,000-mile DIY epic, off-roading in the snow, driving to the far north of Alaska… it’s Brian Whalen’s incredible adventure in, yes,...