Das weltweite Magazin und der Marktplatz für Oldtimer-Enthusiasten – von Enthusiasten.
Das weltweite Magazin und der Marktplatz für Oldtimer-Enthusiasten – von Enthusiasten.
Here we are again, at the start of another new year. Where does the time go? It seems like only yesterday that we were getting excited for 2023 and all the events that were promised for it, and now they're all over and done and we're making plans for 2024. And what a lot there is to do! As soon as the Christmas holidays are over, we'll be back to work, and our first international show is less than two weeks away. From January 11-14th, we'll be able to come and find us at InterClassics Maastricht, where we'll be exhibiting a replica of the 1896 Ford Quadricycle and a twin-engined Ford Model A special.
After that, we'll be looking forward to Salon Rétromobile in Paris from January 31st to February 4th, where again we'll have an excellent collection of veteran and vintage cars on display. There'll be countless more events from then on, but one of the most important will be the Vintage Revival Montlhéry on May 11-12th, which will be marking the centenary of the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry. Also marking its centenary is the Sunbeam Motorcycle Club—the club for all pre-war motorcycles—with a special gathering at Brooklands on March 17th.
The Montlhéry and SMCC centenaries aren't the only cause for celebration, either. Perhaps you've remembered that 2024 also heralds 130 years since the first ever city-to-city motor race, the Paris-Rouen, 120 years since the first Rolls-Royce went into production and 100 years since the first MG did likewise. All of these landmark anniversaries will be marked in their turn, so there should be something for everyone to look forward to.
Until then, let us wish you all a happy New Year, and we hope you have as much fun as the girls in the Austin Seven! See you at Maastricht!
Anthony Green adds an interesting point, picked up and added to by Mike Costigan, in so far as there are a number of Austin 7's which have been subject to misattribution ! Sometimes this is just a misinterpretation of facts, sometimes not.
The late Bryan Purves, who was a friend of mine, once told me that, when he was researching 'The Austin Seven Source Book', some of the information he received was dubious, or that a certain amount of dissembling was evident. Also, for some reason, a number of people who could have helped to resolve certain issues did not do so. A sad state of affairs in my view, as it does not help in establishing a true history of a car that, in all its forms, holds an important place in the history of motoring.
I digress. We have still to establish the true identification of the car and its passengers.