Octane

THE LAST TIME a Porsche 996 featured on the cover of Octane was the October 2017 issue (172), when it was trumpeted with the headline ‘Bargain 911’. I remember it vividly because it was the issue immediately before I joined the team and was the best-selling in the magazine’s history. No pressure. Well, an awful lot has happened since then and, as Octane approaches its 20th birthday, it sometimes feels like an accomplishment just to have seen the past five years through. Of course, you all know about the pandemic and, while so many families suffered far more real and devastating losses, it hit us hard in myriad ways. You all know about Brexit, too, which from an Octane point of view was utter chaos at first but now seems to…

JONATHAN JACOB ‘Normally I don’t like shooting black cars, but the Bond Super Sport had plenty of kerb appeal to make up for it. Its curved rear was my favourite angle, and the brightwork was like mirrors all over the bodywork, making you work harder to minimise reflections.’ Jona’s fantastic photography accompanies Mark Dixon’s feature on pages 114-120. JULIAN BALME ‘Long before old cars consumed my life, I made my way in the world designing record sleeves – some of my finest work resides in the nation’s charity shops. It was through contacts in the business that I was able to spend a memorable evening in the company of my schoolboy hero, Jeff Beck.’ Gone But Not Forgotten: page 178. DAVE SELBY ‘Since I happened on the remains of an odd little Bugatti boat in 2008 I’ve…

1964 FERRARI 250 GTO Winning tale of the last built of Ferrari’s greatest legend PLUS Blast across the moors in a Porsche 911 racer after its epic restoration Getting a load of Crayford’s hot rod Mercedes 300SEL 6.3 estate Luminary collector Phillip Sarofim Ford Puma, modern-day sports car superstar – and bargain (Contents may be subject to change) Get 3 issues of Octane for just £5! To take advantage of this month’s special offer and get three issues of Octane for £5, either visit octane.co.uk/subscribe or call +44 (0)330 333 9491 and quote code DFEB23 Buying your issue of Octane – new and old PRINT ISSUE Octane is available at the usual branches of UK shops, such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and independents, as well as WH Smith High Street and Travel. You can order the latest magazine or a back issue,…

1-4 March Coppa delle Alpi Cars are flagged away from the Mille Miglia Museum in Brescia before heading north into the mountains of Italy, Switzerland and Austria. 1000miglia.it 2-4 March Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance Swifts, the famous Gothic Revival mansion in Darling Point, again welcomes some of the finest cars in Australia to its lawns, and hosts a Halcyon Auctions sale. sydneyharbourconcours.com.au 2-5 March The Amelia There will be no fewer than 32 classes at Amelia Island’s concours d’élégance this year, featuring everything from opulent coachbuilt rarities to board track motorcycles. ameliaconcours.org 3-5 March Antwerp Classic Salon The Jaguar E-type and Delage will both be honoured at the Antwerp Expo this time around. antwerpclassicsalon.be 8-12 March Highland Winter Warmer A four-day regularity rally around the Highlands on roads (including the famous ‘Corkscrew’, rising from Loch Ness) that are almost deserted. bespokerallies.com 9-11 March WinteRace A field of 70 pre-’77 cars; an expertly…

THE BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM at Gaydon, Warwickshire, could potentially double its exhibition space if ambitious plans attract the necessary funding. In an exclusive interview for Octane, managing director Jeff Coope set out his vision for the museum and its 65-acre site. Its development is likely to take place in five distinct stages, beginning with a 240-bed hotel, for which outline planning permission has already been granted. ‘There are surprisingly few hotels of any size between Stratford-upon-Avon and Banbury,’ explains Coope, ‘and the creation of a new 2000-home village opposite the museum entrance – for which ground has already been broken – and an accompanying technology hub means that accommodation is likely to be in great demand. Alongside the hotel, and the next phase of the museum plan, will be an EV super-hub. ‘Phase…