Classic Car and Motorcycle Show, Birmingham NEC 2013

Having missed this show in previous years this was my first time at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show . The NEC shows are always packed with machines to see and this is no exception with all the halls full with Cars and Motorcycles alongside an auto jumble and various presentations throughout the weekend. As usual I spent my time sketching and chatting with people about their machines….

1933 Bugatti Type 51A Roadster

(ink sketch)

I couldn't miss the opportunity to sketch this rare Bugatti, it was shown at Goodwood earlier this year but who knows when it will be shown in this country again. The bodywork on this Roadster has proved to be a mystery, no one knows who built it, it is believed to have been fitted in Paris before WW2, but that's as far as that side of the story goes. The other side to this cars story is even more exciting. The original chassis this bodywork was built on was from a Grand Prix car fitted with a supercharged type 38 engine, and campaigned by Madame Anne Cécile Itier. She competed for 5 seasons in more than 30 events with the car, one of the events being a race against a plane at the banked circuit at Monthlery, France. The original chassis and engine have now been removed from the roadster and rebuilt into the car as supplied to Madame Anne Cécile Itier.

1958 Fairthorpe Electron Minor MkI

(ink sketch)

This car caught my eye, not only with its interesting mouth shape but the small compact almost microcar look is always something that appeals to me. In the 50s a lot of small operations were building their own cars or providing kits for people to build their own in order to avoid purchase tax. Fairthorpe started out building microcars with motorcycle engines in the back, none of these survive today, or at least no one has found one yet. Fairthorpe then progressed to larger cars still using motorcycle engines and then onto cars like this Electron Minor. This particular car was built from by Frank Collins in kit form in late 1958 and was part of the Fairthorpe works team. The car runs a Standard 10 engine with twin SU Carbs. The car not only competed but took Frank and his wife to be all the way to Italy for their honeymoon. The car was sold on in '64 due to Franks expanding family and was not seen again for another 25 years. Franks son Martin had a chance encounter with the owner of the car at a kit car show in the late 80's. Martin bought the car back and completed the restoration in 2009. Frank passed away in September 2012 having taken his last ride in the car on a sunny afternoon 2 weeks earlier.

I'm always happy to see these small production cars and am grateful to the owners for keeping them going as without them the unusual history of these machines would be lost. 

For more information on these great little cars 

please visit the Fairthorpe Sports Car Club Website. 

GPO BSA Bantam

(ink sketch)

Having a love of Bantams myself I stopped at the BSA Bantam Club stand for a chat. I was more than happy when I was asked to sketch this GPO Bantam that belongs to Dennis. He learned to ride on a GPO Bantam and is now on an eternal quest to find his trusty GPO Bantam ALC 167B. If you know the whereabouts of this machine please get in contact.

1960 Austin Healey Frog Eye Sprite

 (ink sketch)

Another sketch request for the weekend was this Frog Eye Sprite. This may look like a straight Frog Eye but it has been modified to be more usable on long journeys, having a 1275 engine instead of the usual 948 and a 5 speed gearbox and many other improvements.  This car was completed in the nick of time for the 4th Austin Healey European Meeting and was  driven over night with the hood down to the meeting. The owners had never entered a concours event before but they were encouraged by friends to enter, and to their surprise they won their class, 2nd in Peoples choice and Overall Winner  this being the first time in the Austin Healey European History that a Frogeye Sprite has won Overall Winner over the Big Healeys but this has been so well done it is well deserved.

1963 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Series 1

 (ink sketch)

Another request from the weekend is this Series 1 restored by Performance Bodyshop. It's always a challenge to get the lines on this type of car correct, and I always enjoy the challenge.

More Photos….

CARS

 MOTORCYCLES

Car Insurance

When purchasing New Jersey car insurance there are many decisions you will have to make. You need to understand what kind of car insurance coverage you need and how much you can afford to pay. New Jersey car insurance will have no trouble meeting your needs but you, yourself, must know what you need in insurance for New Jersey driving before you purchase. Just keep in mind that there are many options for Nj insurance available with all the different companies selling insurance.

When purchasing NJ car insurance, there are some things the agent is bound by law to inform you. For New Jersey car insurance you have three coverage choices called "Insurance Scenarios". The car insurance agent this will let you know how each choice may affect your policy and what you pay for benefits if you happen to have an accident. He/She should tell you that you can cancel your car insurance anytime you want, for example, if you find better car insurance with another car insurance company.

You can also change the insurance coverage and policy limits for your car at any time, even if you are not close to your car insurance renewal. If you select options when you purchase New Jersey car insurance then it may pay off when you're ready to cancel there may be a refund if you cancel early. All New Jersey car insurance companies must give you back the refund within thirty days from the day you cancel your Nj car insurance.

New Jersey car insurance is divided into different coverages, but this is based on the type of claim that will be paid out to you or others. One is personal injury protection - this protects you or others depending on who is in the car at the time of an accident, and will pay the medical coverage regardless of which driver is at fault. Then there is liability car insurance that pays for damages incurred when you are at fault in an accident. This also covers any legal help that you will need if you are being sued. Within liability car insurance, there are also two types of coverage - bodily injury and property damage. Most New Jersey car insurance companies carry the same policies. These insurance policies pay for anyone that is hurt or die as the result of the accident you caused. You may think the cost of car insurance is high when you take out a policy in New Jersey, but it's nothing compared to what an accident would cost you if you didn't have any NJ insurance on your car.

Car Insurance - No Claim Less Pain

> Four in 10 UK drivers would rather pay for minor repairs than lose No Claims Discount on their Car Insurance. > More than a third expect a courtesy car after a write-off - but 78 per cent of UK policies don’t offer this as standard. More than 40 per cent of UK drivers would rather put their hand in their own pocket to pay for minor car damage than risk their No Claims Discount, according to comprehensive research from greenbee.com, the financial services arm of the John Lewis Partnership. In its survey of 1,448 UK adults in July, greenbee.com found that 43 per cent of people would only approach their car insurance provider after a minor mishap if it meant that they would not lose their No Claims Discount. But the research also reveals that some drivers - 10 per cent - would always claim no matter how minor the prang, with Londoners (16 per cent) most likely to demand their providers stump up for a small scrape or bashed bumper. When it comes to car catastrophes, however, it seems that many people are completely in the dark about their cover and could be heading for disappointment come claim time. While one in 10 admits to having no idea of the level of protection on their car insurance, UK drivers also have unrealistic expectations about what is covered as standard. More than a third of those surveyed (36 per cent) expect to get a replacement car if their car is written off, although less than a quarter - 22 per cent (47 out of 212) - of products on the market provide a courtesy car as standard following total loss. Of these, under half (43 per cent) only offer a replacement car for four days or less - Source: Defaqto’s Aequos database on 15 July 2008. With research showing that around 20 per cent of own-damage claims usually resulting in the car being written off, it appears many will be left unexpectedly without a vehicle and off the road following a major road accident. Despite their years of experience, older drivers look set to be the most disappointed, with almost half of those aged 55-64 (46 per cent) expecting to receive a replacement car if theirs was stolen or irreparably damaged, compared to just 31 per cent of 25-34 year olds. UK adults like to have their creature comforts at hand when it comes to car travel, carrying an estimated £327 of goods - from CDs and iPods to portable games consoles and make-up - in their cars. Five per cent of men drive with a staggering £1,000-plus worth of belongings with them. But with more than half of all drivers surveyed - 54 per cent - believing their insurance only covers goods up to the value of £250, the research highlights the need for drivers to ensure they have all their valued belongings kept safe and secure at all times.

It Is Time To Give Online Auto Insurance Quotes A Thought

If you think you are paying more than you should be on your car insurance, it is time to give online auto insurance quotes a thought. They are easy to obtain and operate in a simple, efficient way. It is mandatory for motorists to have basic insurance, at least to evade many of the medical and legal implications caused by accidents. This keeps irresponsible drivers in check and ensures that every driver responsible for an accident can compensate the affected party. Getting reimbursement from an uninsured driver can be hectic and often results in endless legal suits. It is very easy to obtain online low auto insurance rates. Visit a comparison site and enter the information required. Personal details needed include your name, age, address, type of car and your driving record. Submit this information and you will receive low auto insurance rates from different insurance companies/agencies. Select the quotes that suit you from the number and do some research on the companies. Seek to determine who offers excellent service at the cheapest price. This is a quick process that takes only a few minutes and can help you save more than 40% on car insurance. This is not a little amount, because in a year it runs into several hundred dollars. If you are insuring more than one vehicle, you have savings in the thousands. Choose your quotes carefully and engage your choice company to see if they can make any further adjustments to suit you. Insurance rates change frequently. Make it a habit to compare low auto insurance rates every six months so that you can begin planning your policy renewal in good time. Remember that the earlier you renew your policy the better. The last minute rush on renewal always costs more.

Auto Car Loans - Your Options

Shopping for auto car loans is just as important as shopping for the car that you like. People have a lot of choices in choosing a lender who offers car loans to help them buy the car they desire.

Selecting An Auto Loan Financier

People can always approach their local bank to secure an auto loan, but may dread the lengthy application process, the many questions they have to answer and the documents that they may have to prepare and submit. The whole process of financing can become a very daunting task indeed.

People also approach car dealers who offer financing options too. This does not give the customer much choice regarding the interest rate and they may not negotiate with the dealer as much as they can when they secure a amount from a third party lender. When customers have been pre-approved by another lender, they can confidently negotiate better rates with the dealer and ask for discounts too. They get to shop for a lender who offers them better rates, enabling them to repay the loan easily and become debt free faster. Customers do not have that luxury when they opt for dealership loans.

People also use credit unions to finance their car loans. They are said to be fast in granting a loan as compared to banks, but not as fast and convenient as getting a loan from an online lender.

There are several online lenders offering auto car loans at amazing rates. People find that the interest rates offered by various lenders differ and that if they take the time to search, they will indeed get a reputable company, offering them an instant amount at the lowest rates possible.

The common factor that most lenders consider is the credit profile of the customer. So take time to ensure that you have a credit score above 680, ensuring that you get a amount at the lowest rates possible. If not, work on improving your credit record before applying for a loan to buy a car.   

                 

                                       

People use collateral to secure their loan such as property, or their vehicle. Since the auto car loans are secured, they usually get low interest rates enabling them to make payments easily. People with bad credit can also secure loans to buy a car; they may have to pay a sub prime rate, but may consider refinancing their car loan at a later date.

Getting a loan is the easy part, paying it back takes some determination and commitment from you. If you carefully consider your financial situation and select the lender offering terms and rates that you are comfortable with, getting and repaying auto car loans is relatively easy.

Ford Ranger Insurance

Ford automobiles are known for the cheap insurance options they attract. Being powerful, sturdy and cheap enough to run, Ford is an attractive choice for reliable car seekers who can't spend a lot. That way, the Ford Ranger tops it all.

While the cost of the Ford Ranger insurance vary according to the usage it is intended for, its low maintenance costs and high levels of reliability counterbalances the shooting rates. However, the balances may get disrupted if a buyer's credit scores do not reflect decent figures and facts.

Now, insurance is a very confusing subject and though a sturdy car like the Ford Ranger does more than half the talking to the insurance companies itself, the rest i.e. taking a decision, at the end, depends upon the buyer. The Ford Ranger require only a few basic yet important coverage, which are not enough for the insurance companies to make a decent profit. Hence, while selling Ford Ranger insurance, the company may include extra coverage; hence, a buyer must know and understand what different coverage means and the benefits they bring.

Agreed getting as much insurance coverage is good for the car and its owner, but why go for anything that comes along, if there is no specific need for it? Of course, getting coverage against a customized, fancy sealed beam headlight costing over $1000 a pair requires paying extra dollars, but not keeping things intact set by the factory. Instead, put those thousand dollars for covering the financer (if the car is on a loan), get a no-fault liability coverage (you cannot guarantee you will not run over your neighbor's fence accidentally), a fire and theft coverage (it's tough to steal because of excellent security features but it's not fireproof or weatherproof), protection from vandalism and a medical coverage, if there is no health programs covering the owner. With a no fault Personal Injury Protection or PiP, the insurance can be claimed against any damage regardless of the person responsible for it and for dire emergencies, a towing coverage might save a lot of pain.