Marc's Classicar Blog

ClassicarGarage Youtube Channel

2010-01-26T18:40:00.004+01:00

Check out my latest entries on the ClassicarGarage Youtube Channel. I purchased new software today to create wide screen photo video's and 1080p HD footage for internal use!

Latest entries: 1958 Jaguar XK 150 OTS, 1968 Jaguar E-type 4.2 Litre OTS (roadster), two 1965 Austin Healey 3000 models, 1964 Volvo P1800 S, 1938 Talbot Lago T23 cabriolet with bodywork by Figoni & Falashi and a gorgeous 1974 Alfa Romeo Giula GT 1600 Junior!

http://tinyurl.com/classicarchannel

1976 Daimler Sovereign 4.2 Litre coupe

2010-01-24T15:59:00.020+01:00

Every time I see a beautiful Jaguar XJ coupe or it's sister the Daimler Sovereign coupe in perfect shape I feel the urge to own one... Driving a Rover P6 3500 V8 daily for almost 10 years now it feels like a proper 'upgrade'. Last July as I tested and photographed this Daimler I started to think about buying/owning one... again. This Daimler Sovereign 4.2 Litre coupe has it all; fantastic good looks, all the comfort I need, a manual gearbox, excellent roadholding, adequate power and speed, a large boot... and a tow bar as a bonus! I even like the colour sand yellow! Looking at all the details I daydream away about the beautiful front, those tiny yet elegant rear lights, the gorgeous chrome wheels, the brown leather interior and the twin chrome exhaust pipes... Why o why do I hesitate trading in my old Rover? Is the interior not snug and comfy enough compared to the Rover? Hmm could be. Is it the less appealing six cylinder engine opposite the tremendous and robust V8 the Rover has to offer? Yes, that is one reason... The most important reason is that I feel too young to own a Jaguar XJ or Daimler Sovereign coupe. The Rover P6 was advertised as 'the young mans Rover', other people around me laugh about it (Haha that's definitely not a young man's car!) but I can't help believing that kind of 1970'ies marketing talk... To buy or own a Jaguar XJ coupe/Daimler sovereign one has to be older than 42, or at least have some grey hairs to rave about. I have a feeling this story will be continued in about eight years... P.S. You do not have to remind me! Photo reportage, engine sounds and more information at: http://tinyurl.com/1976-daimler

See the magnificent chrome bright work and subtle details...

...the austere and comfortable interior

... and the beautiful lines. I would delete the aftermarket chrome wheel arch flares by the way!

1955 Austin Healey 100/4 BN-1

2010-01-24T15:07:00.011+01:00

This fantasic Austin Healey 100 materialises the essence of the 'Big Healey's' and the thoroughbred British sports car. A beautiful fluent two seater roadster body design, a long bonnet, a large and powerful cast iron engine, and simple rugged mechanics. The classic British sports car in it's purest form. A car like this one was presented by Donald Healey at the 1952 Earls court Motor Show.
Driving a Healey 100/4 BN-1 is quite an experience. The car feels rugged to the bone and you have to work hard shifting gears of the 3-speed manual gearbox with overdrive on 2 and 3. Not to mention the brakes and steering, they'll give you an exercise no gym teacher can match. This is not a car for SISSY's, it's a proper MAN's car! The 90 bhp four cylinder engine delivers massive torque and you feel it's pumping rhytm in your entire body. This car works all your senses, it gives so much thrills and impressions of speed, sound, cold, heat and smells of rubber, gasoline and oil that it overwhelms you. You are going to love it, inevitably! I drove this particular car twice, once in the year 2002 and now in July 2009. The experience was the same, tremendous, but: the price was up by 25% in 7 years! Photo reportage, engine sounds and more information at: http://tinyurl.com/1955-100-4

The 2660 cc. four cylinder engine. 90 bhp at 4000 rpm. Massive torque...

Rear side view of the 100/4. In front you see a red 1959 Austin Healey 100/6 BN-4.

1971 Citroen SM

2010-01-24T14:49:00.012+01:00

In the spring of 2009 I was surprised to be able to drive a Citroen SM in brand new condition at http://www.smithsveglia.nl/! What a delightful automobile, it drives as comfortable as nothing I experienced before. You sit deep in it and the futuristic dash is draped fluently around the driver. Driving the SM it feels like a sporty kind of limousine, as it is! The 170 bhp. Maserati V6 engine fits the personality of the SM perfectly. The car feels quite fast but it is certainly not a sports car. It's a fantastic GT or 'Grand Routier' and it is a shame Citroen does not build these kind of cars any more. In my opinion the SM is one of the most beautiful cars ever built! Full photo reportage, engine sounds and more information at: http://tinyurl.com/1971-SM

The interior is of a time less design, the SM handles soft and gentle, like driving a flying carpet.

The Maserati 2670 cc. V6 engine and the green 'pressure tanks' of the hydraulic suspension.

Save transportation of classic cars at Piet Mozes

2010-01-24T14:10:00.005+01:00

Since the year 2009 Piet Mozes Restorations has a tremendous trailer to pick up and deliver classic cars safely. In the picture you see my TR 6 in this Brian James trailer as it was delivered to my home! thanks Piet! See also http://www.pietmozes.com/

Triumph TR 6 update (2)

2010-01-24T13:59:00.005+01:00

In August 2008 my TR 6 was badly 'injured' during a havy hail storm. Ice blocks as big a chicken eggs battered the car with me sitting/driving in it! You have no idea how flexible a soft top is! I am glad it is made of strong PVC with fabric underneath since nothing came through! After the storm I saw hundreds of little dents and dings... The TR 6 was brought to Piet Mozes Restorations for immaculate damage repair. They took the car apart, pushed out the dimples and gave the car a perfect body job and magnificent new paint!

Triumph TR6 update

2008-01-03T13:59:00.000+01:00

For my Triumph friends an update on my TR6. The latest modification was the removal of the rubber bumper overriders. This could not be done without filling in the gaps, because the front would look too naked! I purchased a set of early 70'ies Lucas LR8 driving lamps with full chrome housings. They are fitted directly to the bumper with specially made 'adjustment plates'. Lately I found the original black covers for them on Ebay!

Other modifications made in the past can be seen in the other picture. Aluminium 'Alfin' drums at the rear look splendid with the new Panasport Racing wheels. I had the wheels painted 'Magic Black metallic'. The wheels are very light and you can feel it, just perfect!
All the work on my car is done by the Dutch TR specialist Piet Mozes http://www.pietmozes.com
Triumph enthousiasts worldwide should also check out the website-forum http://www.tr-freun.de If you can read German you will find shiploads of TR information here, a lot of photographs and TR lovers!!

Ferrari 275 GTB/4, 1967

2008-01-01T19:49:00.000+01:00

I will not say that my work is boring, see http://www.classicargarage.com/. Having driven and photographed over a thousand classic cars in the last seven years it is still a lot of fun... Just before Christmas 2007 it was one of these special days, I was going to hear and feel one of my favourites again: The Ferrari 275 GTB/4. In my opinion the most beautiful Ferrari GT next to the 250 SWB...EVER! On the Classicar website you can look at an extensive photo reportage and you can hear the V12 engine running.
On http://marctr6.hyves.nl/album/21055116/Video_s/64rC/video/159164045/0/9dyg/ you will find a videoclip.

DAF 555 rally car, 1969

2008-01-01T19:22:00.000+01:00

This year an important DAF 'works' rallycar was finished after a long restoration process. This car, with registration 70-78-MF, competed in the 1971 Targa Florio and was driven by Claude Laurent and Jean-Louis Haxhe. After the Targa Florio the car was modified as a 4x4 rallycross car. Drivers Jan and Harry de Rooy were unbeatable driving the 555 4x4 models. After 1974 the car was neglected and it moved from here to there. Finally it spend 8 years in an open container behind the Daf Truck museum. In the year 1999 the car was found by one of it's current owners and it has been restored to almost 100% original condition (1971 specification). Costs nor effort were saved to achieve this. More information and photo's about the DAF racing and rally history can be found here: www.rallydaf.nl.

SLS Classic Rally 2007

2008-01-01T19:12:00.000+01:00

In August 2007 my friend John and I participated in the 15th SLS Classic Rally with the Triumph TR6. This rally took place from August 24 until August 26. We started on sports center 'Papendal' near Arnhem (NL). The rally took us through Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and back to the Netherlands again. The finish was on the Scheveningen Boulevard. A very nice event of which we do not want to miss the 2008 edition! http://www.historicrally.org/

Photo reportage on my ClassicarGarage website:

http://www.classicargarage.com/nederlands/paginas/galerie/SLS-2007/SLS-2007-det.htm

Hietbrink coachbuilding

2008-01-01T18:59:00.000+01:00

A visit to the workshop of Hietbrink coachbuilding is an impressive event for everybody who has ever been there. This bodywork artist is world famous for his restorations and recreations of original aluminium Ferrari bodywork. He also works on bodies of other makes if beautiful and exotic. As I visited Alwin Hietbrink he was just working on the famous Ferrari 250 'breadvan'. Through the years the car was given a new front which the owner wanted to be corrected by Hietbrink. The work was carried out using old photographs to recreate the original front. The sheeltmetal skills of this artist are just incredible. Look at the pictures or visit the website www.hietbrink.com

Mercedes-Benz Museum

2008-01-01T18:05:00.000+01:00

Heryby a few photographs of the new Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, Germany. On May 19, 2006 the museum was opened for the public. The museum was designed by the Dutch architects Berkel & Bos. 175 Merceds-Benz classics can be admired in this very impressive museum! www.museum-mercedes-benz.com

Beautifully restored Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster

2008-01-01T17:55:00.000+01:00

I visited the firm of Jaap Havik in Purmerend the Netherlands. Havik is a Mercedes-Benz restorer and they are supplier of new and used classic MB parts. I visited him for an interview about the firm and to look at the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster he just restored. In the night before my visit the last work was done on this fantastic automobile. www.jaaphavik.nl.

Porsche Classic Workshop

2008-01-01T16:04:00.000+01:00

For an interview with Stefan Nadj (chief Classic Technik) I visited Porsche Classic Workshop in Zuffenhausen (Stuttgart, Germany). The location is historically important because here the first Porsche cars were built!
Porsche Classic Workshop repairs and restores Porsche sportscars for clients. The department 'Classic Teile' takes care about the classic parts supply, production and reproduction. The firm works on every Porsche, for the factory museum and international clients.
http://www.porsche.com/international/accessoriesandservice/classic/garage/

Specialist working on the body of a Porsche 914/6. The mechanic in the picture used to work in the Porsche factory from the 1970'ies.

Modern Porsche Carrera GT, damage repair...

Mercedes Benz Classic Center

2008-01-01T15:34:00.000+01:00

Hereby some photo's of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Fellbach (Stuttgart, Germany). I visited the firm for an interview with manager Peter Spieth. Mercedes-Classic center is the restoration and classic parts branche of the Mercedes-Benz factory. The center presents top quality MB classics for sale and owners can contact the firm for restorations.

Rolls Royce enters rally 'battle'

2007-06-04T18:53:00.000+02:00

Sunday, June 3, I participated in a nice historic touring rally with some friends. This modest and social tour is organized by Altena Classic Service for ten years now. The rally is called "Slag om Ane" in Dutch which means "The battle for Ane" (Ane is the location where the firm is located.) Normally I would drive the Rover P6B V8 or the Triumph TR6 but my mind was set for an 'up class' classic experience and presence. A bright white 1971 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow was picked up at Imparts (www.imparts.nl) and I found a bright white linen jacket to complete the picture.

Cruise controlled and in a flash we were directed to the start location of the rally, did we drive or were we teleported by the Spirit of extacy? We will never know. Right from the start we realized why Rolls Royce would never give information about the engines power. The factory alway said 'sufficient' - we now know that is true - seeing the Austin Healey's, Mercedes SL Pagoda's and other sportscars shrinking to pinpoints in our mirrors!

We had a great time and we finished 7th of 42 participating cars. This without trip/twinmaster, or other aids. Just teamwork: a driver and a chief navigator at the front seats, Junior navigator calculating the distances in the rear seats (left or right depending on the actual speed and sharp bends in the road).

I almost forget to mention the last team member residing under the white bonnet: his royal V8 highness supplied us with massive torque and effortless acceleration over a total distance of 450 kilometers in exchange for 120 litres of high octane petrol. Not bad for the tons of fun the Silver Shadow gave us. We express our compliments to the people of Altena Classic Service (www.altenaclassicservice.nl) for organizing this highly enjoyable event!

Jensen Interceptor III, 1974

2007-06-04T18:44:00.000+02:00

Last Saturday I received a phonecall from Wilco Beijer of Imparts, a Dutch specialist in British cars and spare parts. If I could spare a moment of my time to drive and photograph a 1974 Jensen Interceptor III. Why not ;-)?

It became a nice afternoon with the Jensen and it's owner. We drove for miles thru the countryside accompanied by the magnificent sound of the 7.2 litre Chrysler V8 engine.

With 325 brake horsepower under the throttle, superb leather seats, a beautiful dash and a power sliding roof the car proved to be a superb GT. A comfortable yet sporty Trans Europe Express. This fine car in excellent condition will be added to the ClassicarGarage sales collection shortly.

Rolls Royce Phantom I Super Sport

2007-06-04T18:21:00.000+02:00

At Geert Jan Peters Automobile Restorers, located in Kampen the Netherlands, a very interesting project can be seen. At the company a Rolls Royce Phantom I is being rebodied with a 'Jarvis experimental' bodywork. The original Phantom I was found in England in the year 2006. The car was fully original and came with the original factory book in which the production of the car is fully described. Every part of the car is numbered and is described in the factory book. They discovered that every part is still matching. With only one exclusion, the speedometer.

The owner wanted a Super Sport special and he decided the car should be exactly the same as the Jarvis Experimental. A very scarce original 'Jarvis' was photographed and measured all round including the curves of the bodywork. Also a lot of documentation and factory drawings were collected. The car was stripped up to the rolling chassis. Mechanics were overhauled where necessary and a new body was created by hand by a Dutch specialist. Originally the aluminium 'Jarvis' body features a wooden framework, this car was given a rigid steel structure. The steel frame was intensively coated against rust and to prevent electrolytical corrosion between the steel and the aluminium panels.

The interior and a lot of other exterior parts were also handcrafted.

In May 2007 the car was fully built up for testing. The body was not painted so eventual flaws could easily be corrected. The car was inspected and approved for road use by the authorities. After several hundreds of miles testing every detail was inspected and the car was taken apart again. Right now the Rolls Royce Phantom I super sport is being painted. After that the car will be build up to perfection. Look at www.ClassicarGarage.nl and visit the presentation of Geert Jan Peters Automobile Restorers. - To be continued when the automobile is finished!

Mobile 'office' and Rover P6B

2007-04-24T17:33:00.000+02:00

As I posted earlier this week I am travelling and working on several locations in the Netherlands. Right now I made camp in Aldeboarn in the north of the country!

Volvo P1800S

2007-04-24T17:24:00.000+02:00

This fine 1966 Volvo P1800S was tested and photographed today at Piet Mozes Restorations. The car is in superb excellent++ condition! The car will be added to www.ClassicarGarage.nl shortly.

Interview with mr. Westerman CEO State-of-Art fashion

2007-04-24T00:25:00.000+02:00

Today I had an interview with a true Porsche adept, mr. Westerman, owner and CEO of the fashion house State-of-Art. http://www.stateofart.com. The thrives inspiration from the car passion, classic Porsche cars and racing. Impressive paintings of the German artist Uli Hack are used to communicate the passion for fashion and speed. See http://www.ulihack.de. For mr. Westerman this is a busy week, Wednesday the new Mille miglia collection will be presented in Amsterdam and very soon the State-of-Art team will drive the 2007 Mille Miglia in Italy with three (!) Porsche classics! In the picture you see two very scarce Porsche 550 Spyder cars being prepared for this supreme event which starts on May 17, 2007! http://www.millemiglia.it. The interview will be published in the June issue of 'Onschatbare Klassieker magazine.

Interview with Rob Koch (Daf & Volvo car B.V.)

2007-04-22T01:18:00.000+02:00

For next months issue of 'Onschatbare Klassieker Magazine' May 2007, I had a long and very delightfull conversation/interview with mr Rob Koch. From 1964 until 1973 he was chief of the DAF sportscar division. This Dutch car manufacturer participated succesfully in Formula 3 racing, the rally competition and rally cross. Daf managed to finish with both cars in the 1968 London-Sydney rally. This was the heaviest rally ever held. Daf managed to finish 17th and 56th. After DAF was taken over by Volvo of Sweden Rob Koch became chief styling at Volvo Car B.V. in the Netherlands. Under his supervision the Dutch design team won the contest of Volvo project G-13 (a compact front wheel drive Volvo for the American market.) This resulted in the Volvo 480 ES. After the 480 ES Rob was responsible for the 440, 460, the S40 and the V40. In the year 1993 he retired. People from the Netherlands and Belgium can read his story in two chapters, the first part next month! Website of the Dutch Classic Car Magazine http://www.okm.nl

Interview Smiths-Veglia fine classic automobiles

2007-04-22T01:01:00.000+02:00

For the April issue of the Dutch 'Onschatbare Klassieker Magazine' I visited and interviewed mr. Robert Fluttert of Smiths-Veglia. This company sells beautiful classic automobiles from the fifites and sixties of the twentieth century. We took a little spin with his fine AC ACECA which you can see in the picture (with Robert Fluttert). The firm sells exclusive classic cars of outstanding quality for private persons on commission basis. Like the red Porsche 912 and the blue metallic Maserati Indy you see in the other picture. The cars at this firm are evaluated, tested and photographed by yours truly and technically inspected by Gabor Konkali, a very skilled technician. This year Smiths-Veglia celebrates it's 5 year jubilee. Visit the website to have a look at the beautiful classic cars and hear the engines running! http://www.smithsveglia.nl

Interview with Han Brouwers

2007-04-22T00:43:00.000+02:00

For the April 2007 issue of the Dutch 'Onschatbare Klassieker Magazine' I interviewed Mr. Han Brouwers. As an accountant he has two passions; accounting and (racing) classic cars. He has quite a collection, lamongst others a Citroën DS, a Rolls Royce Phantom, a Talbot 105 racing car and even a scarce Triumph TR 8 in brand new condition! In the picture you see him racing his Talbot-Lago T26 GS 'Le Mans' car. A very scarce specimen of which only seven have been built.
Mr. Brouwers is chairman of the Dutch Vintage Sportscar Club. People with prewar sports-, racing cars and post war 'barchetta's' like the Jaguar C-type and D-type can join this club.
website http://www.dvscc.nl

Lets fill the blog with classic cars and more...!

2007-04-21T23:47:00.000+02:00

Well the blog seems to work properly! This week I will start to publish classic cars which are being tested, evaluated and photographed for my website. I also have an interview for the magazine I write for, who knows maybe something unexpected happens that can be published overhere! This week, starting April 24, I will live and work a little different. Normally I drive from job to job through the Netherlands, one day here, go home, the other day there. This week a 'mobile office' will be coupled with my classic 1975 Rover P6B. The mobile office is a 25 year old classic caravan from which I will live and work! The weather will be nice so why not combine work and pleasure? Tuesday I will drive to the north of the country (Friesland) and Thursday I will drive to the south east (Limburg). Found some nice camping spots!

March 21: Press day at Goodwood House

2007-04-21T22:52:00.000+02:00

On this beautiful day the Goodwood events of 2007 were presented with a lot of impressive sports- and racingcars. The cars raced the circuit and the rally track.

March 20: Railton-Napier

2007-04-21T22:43:00.000+02:00

Photographed in the Brooklands Museum

March 20: Brooklands racetrack

2007-04-21T22:35:00.000+02:00

Historical important location. Built in the year 1907 and not in use anymore. Many land speed records have been ertablished here. Nowadays the remains of the circuit and the hillclimb track can be admired. The old clubhouse and the other buildings on the premises are in use as museum. Racing and record cars, motor cycles and aeroplanes can be admired. You can see the impressive Railton-Napier record/racing car and te Concorde aeroplane