AlanBrand.com

I’ve always been a fan of Airstream trailers … this new two berth model, the Basecamp, would be perfect for British Car Shows and, though undeniably modern, I think it would look good behind Grace.

Halloween is nigh upon us, and I’m looking forward to all the “leftover” bite-size Mars bars. For those of you with richer tastes, how about the chocolate skull truffles available from Dean and DeLuca for a mere $100? They come in scorched caramel, chili pepper and bitter cherry with brandy flavours … oh, by the way, the pewter tray shown in the picture is available separately for another $75.

Are you in the “When in doubt, just buy a bottle” school of gift ideas, like me? How about half a dozen bottles of vintage Dom Perignon Rose bubbly packaged with 3 Champagne glasses in a perch skin and lambskin guitar case by Karl Lagerfeld? Make sure that you’ve got £70,000 room on your credit card before you pop into Harrods’ Room of Luxury.

[originally posted October 19th, 2007]

That excellent source of historical motoring images, motoring-history.com, has a special feature this week on Le Mans in the ’50s. If you find this too late to read the article (they change weekly), I have just received permission from them to reprint the article and some pictures in the next issue of The Ontario JAGUAR … what a pity that I can’t embed the video into the printed page!

A postcard radio based on original radios of the 1920s. It works without batteries and is tuned by moving a small metal plate, or coin, over the front of the radio.
Best of all (?) it features an image of Winston Churchill. £15.20 from mutr.co.uk

Reuters reports that the oldest surviving Rolls Royce - the fourth car ever built by Henry the engineer and Charles the money-man - is to be auctioned by Bonham’s in January for an estimated £2 million. Apart from its obvious value, I’m fascinated to hear that it is the only Rolls Royce that is qualified to enter the London to Brighton Run.

UPDATE: 4 December, 2007 : the sale for £3,521,500 broke two world records. This is the highest price ever paid at auction for both a Rolls-Royce and a veteran car (pre-1905).

The Klikk camera stand is a “legless tripod” that is on my Christmas List - small, light, and ready to go everywhere the camera goes.

[originally posted October 15th, 2007]

The New York Times featured the Series III Jaguar E-Type in today’s Collectible Cars page under the headline “When a Prince Turned Into a Frog“. Their conclusion? “Brilliant when introduced in 1961, the E-Type was past its expiration date 10 years later.” Perhaps a restoration to better than new condition is warranted after all?

[originally posted October 15th, 2007]

The MS Chi-Cheemaun arrived in Owen Sound, its traditional winter berth, yesterday afternoon. The ferry has been in Sarnia for the last two winters due to upgrades. Amy and I braved the chill and damp to join the crowd to welcome her “home”.
During the summer, the”Big Canoe” makes the 30 mile trip from Tobermory, at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, to Manitoulin Island. More details at the Ontario Ferries website.

I received an interesting e-mail recently …

e-mail from John Harden:

As a member of the Jaguar Affiliates Group of Michigan, I am communicating with all affiliate group headquarters around the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico to announce Harden Coach and Motor Company llc. We are the only authorized turn-key builder and kit supplier for the ‘Heritage’ C-Type, the LR XKSS and LR D-Type road/race replicas here in Birch Run, Michigan and the U.S.
For more information visit www.hardencoachandmotor.com or call John Harden at 989.493.5743 for details.

… sounds like a road-trip!