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ON THE SHORES OF LAKE COMO, DREAMS OF A CLASSIC AUCTION

This is the time of year when my imagination takes me to Europe, as a spectator at the Monaco Grand Prix, and as an admirer of great classic cars at the Villa d'Erbe concours on the shores of Lake Como. I won't be attending either one due to a slight problem known as "lack of funds" but that won't stop me from dreaming. And it won't stop me from making fantasy bids at RM's Villa Erba auction, held in association with the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on May 25th.

The auction will be one to remember with only 40 of the very best classics sourced from around the world. I've chosen to feature four in today's blog, four that I'd be delighted to own, each one rare and unique. Leading off is the car shown up top, a 1929 Bentley 6½-Litre Sedanca de Ville by H.J. Mulliner. I have a special affection for any car born in the same year that I entered this world (yes, I'm that old/young) and this Bentley appeals to me for its elegance and for the statement it makes about its owner. It was Bentley's 1929 Olympia Motor Show car.

It has a single overhead cam inline six-cylinder engine with three SU carburetors, producing 180 bhp from 6,597 cc. A four-speed manual transmission, semi-elliptic front and rear suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes are part of the specification. The coachbuilder was H.J. Mulliner, of Chiswick, who designed it as a Sedanca de Ville with a Barker-patented "de Ville extension." Since 2007 the car has been on display at the Bentley factory in Crewe, as well as being shown in the Bentley Company's heritage museum.

No less than five Ferraris will be offered, including this 1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta 'Competizione' by Pinin Farina, a car with a fabulous racing history. It was one of three works 375 MM competition cars entered at the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans as an integral part of Ferrari’s manufacturer's championship team. It raced at the 24 Hours of Spa and the Carrera Panamericana, and won the 12 Hours of Pescara. It is the only works race car to have been driven in the World Sports Car Championship by three World Champions: Hawthorn, Ascari, and Farina.

The impressive specifications include a 340 bhp, 4,494 cc overhead camshaft V-12 engine with triple Weber 40 IF/4C carburettors, four-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension with transverse leaf springs, live axle with parallel trailing arms and semi-elliptic leaf springs, four-wheel drum brakes, and tubular steel frame. This fabulous Ferrari, a concours winner, has appeared at Pebble Beach, the Louis Vuitton Classic, and the Goodwood Revival.

If I were to bid on a car purely because of its appearance, I'd surely choose this 1930 Bugatti Type 46 Coupé Superprofilée. It was designed by Jean Bugatti, Ettore's son, who created some of the most beautiful cars the world has ever seen. It is based on the Type 41 Royale, a massive, ultra-luxurious car that Bugatti intended as the ultimate statement in motoring. The Type 46 retains some of the Royale's styling but in a more manageable size and a more affordable (relatively) price.

"La Petite Royale," as it is sometimes called, features a 140 hp, 5,359 cc SOHC inline eight-cylinder engine with three valves per cylinder, three-speed manual transmission, front semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension, rear inverted quarter-elliptic leaf spring suspension, and four-wheel cable-operated drum brakes. It rides on a substantial wheelbase of 138 inches.

While it's not unusual to see a Mercedes 300SL at an auction, you won't see one like this twice. The 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster has not only enjoyed a 5-year comprehensive restoration, it has been upgraded with contemporary technology to make it suitable for everyday driving. This includes changes to the valves and valve seats for use with unleaded fuel; a "123" electronic ignition system developed by a Dutch firm for F1 racing; and "Easydrive" electric power steering. Easydrive uses a hidden computer-controlled electric motor to assist steering effort and is manually adjustable according to the driver’s preference.

Originally delivered in Switzerland, it also includes a factory hard top and a new set of fitted luggage by Karl Baisch. The 2,996 cc overhead cam inline six-cylinder engine produces 240 bhp, delivered through a 4-speed manual gearbox. A coil spring independent front suspension, coil spring single-point swing axle rear suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes complete the basic specifications. Some 300SL collectors may baulk at the changes made to this car but if it means being able to drive it almost anywhere, anytime, well, that makes sense to me.

As mentioned, these are just four outstanding classics out of forty to be auctioned, but RM has been wise enough to make the entire catalog available for downloading. So click here and enjoy yourself and if fortune allows you to be a real, live bidder, good luck. I can, by the way, make myself available for a ride in that beautiful Bentley, born in the same year.

USED CAR LOT MYSTERY MACHINE: WAS IT A VAUXHALL 30-98?

It was the 1960s and I was driving my race car (a family sedan in disguise) to the track. We were about to pass one of those used car lots that inexplicably appear on country roads, miles from any town or city. I slowed just a little, curious about what might be on sale at low-rent prices. Suddenly I spotted a car so totally out of place it could have been from another planet. I hit the brakes and pulled over.

One thing was obvious. This was a sporting machine from a much earlier era. Decades earlier. By modern standards it was big and brutish, all engine and wheels, with two seats and a body that barely surrounded the internal mechanisms. It was silver, possibly unpainted aluminum. And at the top of the radiator sat a badge that read "Vauxhall."

At that point in my life I was aware of the Vauxhall marque but only as a British maker of small sedans. Owned by General Motors, the company was offering North Americans economy cars that looked more American than European. But I knew nothing of its history (it would be years before I began writing about classic cars) and never thought, for a moment, that Vauxhalls could also be race cars, or that the marque's origins went so far back.

If I'd been properly steeped in Vauxhall history I'd surely have known about the famous 30-98. The first 30-98 was built to satisfy racer Joseph Higginson's demand for a car to break the outright record at the famous Shelsley Walsh hillclimb, in return for which he would hand over a cheque for £2,000 to Laurence Pomeroy, Vauxhall’s Technical Director. Higginson’s car was completed on the evening of May 2, 1913, and the following day he set fastest time at the Waddington Fell hillclimb, convincing the factory that it was on to a winner.

Britain’s first car to achieve over 100mph, the 30-98 was built between 1913 and 1927, during which time 600 cars were produced at Vauxhall’s Luton factory, of which nearly a third survive today. And that's why 33 surviving models – around 20 per cent of the cars left in the world – recently charged up that same hill to celebrate the event that marked the debut of what was said to be "the first and best British sports car."

The famous hill was temporarily closed by Lancashire police for the occasion. Although regulations prevented cars being timed, the drivers were definitely aware of Higginson’s record (47.2 seconds on a rain-sodden track) and were determined to recreate his run as closely as possible. To say that those 33 cars were "driven with spirit" is an understatement. It must have been a stunning event to watch. And with those huge 4-cylinder engines, something to hear, as well.

I can't say for certain that the Vauxhall I saw on that country dealer's lot was a 30-98 but in my memory it appears to have been nearly identical. Unfortunately no one was there to explain the incongruity of an historic British sports tourer being surrounded by a collection of very ordinary used cars. It's a sight you would never, ever, see today.

You can, however, see images from the original run with video from the 2013 event by clicking here.

GREATEST ALL BRITISH CAR SHOW, VANCOUVER 2013

It can be hard to measure greatness but by most standards Vancouver BC's ABFM (All British Field Meet) must be one of North America's finest British car shows. The number and variety of automobiles (more than 600 in 61 classes), the uniqueness and rarity of some of those cars, the commercial displays, the lovely setting of Van Dusen Botanical Gardens; all combine for a very special day. For 2013 that date is Saturday, May 18th and it's one not to be missed if you enjoy British cars and live in British Columbia or nearby Washington.

Like most great car shows, the ABFM has its own official poster. This year it's as unique as some of the cars featured in the show, for the poster features four new paintings by Vancouver artist Bill Richards: an Aston-Martin, a Morris Minor, an Austin Healey, and a Vincent motorcycle. Widely known for his automotive paintings and drawings, Richards uses a mixed-media technique combining ink and watercolour on paper to produce a luminous effect. Examples of his recent work will be on display at this year’s Vancouver ABFM vendors area.

Featured marque at the ABFM this year is Aston Martin plus "A Century of Morris Motors, 60 Years of Austin Healey, and 85 Years of Vincent Motorcycles." It should be fascinating to discover the cars and bikes that will appear in those categories and I suspect that among them will be vehicles you and I have never seen before nor even knew existed. Personally I'm looking forward to that magic moment when the best of British cars bloom amid the beauty of Van Deusen Gardens on May 18th.

IT WAS JUST A MINOR LOVE AFFAIR BUT OH, IT WAS FUN

I'll freely admit that I'm infatuated with the Morris Minor and have been for decades. I must also admit that some of that fondness is the result of personal experience. I drove my first race in a dead-stock Morris Minor. Didn't have a hope of winning, just wanted to find out if I had what it takes. With my first ex-wife, two little daughters and a friend, we moved from Toronto to Vancouver (no Interstates) in that same Minor, overloaded with people and possessions. Two years later we moved back, this time in a well-used Morris Minor convertible. We lost a wheel while descending a montain road in Montana; no harm done.

A few months later I competed in my first hillclimb at the wheel of a buddy's Minor, this one appropriately modified for racing. I finished third. What made the Minor such a delight to drive was the roadholding, the result of a wide track, torsion bar front suspension, and rack-and-pinion steering. The engine wasn't powerful but that's of little consequence when you're having fun.

There was more Minor to come. My second ex-wife only agreed to a date when I promised to try and restart her car, abandoned in a parking lot with a dead battery. By co-incidence we were both driving Morris Minors. I was driving my first-ever new one, a convertible not unlike the car in the photo up top. We still exchange old postcards with illustrations of Morris Minors on the front.

I had no plans to feature the Morris Minor today but Nigel Matthews sent me a copy of an article he'd written about new cars being shipped in crates, which he offered as a follow-up to last week's blog featuring the birth of the import car market in Vancouver. I think you'll find it quite fascinating:

When Cars Rode in Wooden Crates

Wooden shipping crates and automobiles date back to at least 1908. Henry Ford was a firm believer in wasting nothing. He specified the type of wood and the dimensions of wood for use in the crates in which his suppliers shipped parts to his factories. When the crates were empty, they were dismantled and wood was used in various areas of the Model T car he was manufacturing. Ford also produced charcoal from the waste wood under the brand name Kingsford — still a leading brand used today in the U.S. and Canada.

Wooden crates and the shipping of automobiles from the U.K. led to Billy and Reggie Rootes venturing into the car-manufacturing business. They began taking control of struggling British car manufacturers and built a huge empire producing vehicles under the names Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam, Talbot, Commer and Karrier. In 1920, the Rootes brothers were the largest distributors of cars and trucks in Britain. Their U.K .distribution methods were so successful that they moved into worldwide distribution.

By 1927, 6,000 wooden crates were leaving their distribution centre in Chiswick. The majority of British car manufacturers were using Rootes to export their products, living up to their advertising slogan "cars packed, shipped and delivered to all parts of the world." The practice of shipping cars in wooden crates continued until the mid-1960s.

If you look closely at the image of the Morris Minor packaged and ready for shipping it was destined for Fred Deeley Motors, Vancouver, BC. Canada. You will notice that the wheels and tires were removed and placed inside the car to reduce the crate height. Above the Morris in the picture, you can see that the MG sports cars were low enough to leave on the wheels and tires.

In 1973, Japan’s K Line shipping company built the European Highway, the first roll on, roll off (RORO) purpose-built car carrier capable of carrying 4,200 automobiles. Today’s car carriers can accommodate 8,000 vehicles.

-- Nigel Matthews

[Morris Minor Convertible Photo: commons.wikimedia.org]

VANCOUVER INVADED BY FOREIGNERS

They were way ahead in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was the mid-50s and imported cars, still a novelty in most of North America, were already common in Canada's most beautiful province. There were several reasons for this. First, the end of WW2 had brought a large number of new immigrants, mostly English. Second, the combination of mild winter weather and great driving roads was an attraction. Third, Canada's link to Britain made it easier for Commonwealth residents to emigrate and find jobs. And finally, those New Canadians, as we called them then, were accustomed to European cars.

Today's blog is a look back at those times thanks to some fascinating photos unearthed by our associate, Nigel Matthews. Up top is a view of the Lions Gate Bridge at rush hour (the bridge has been much modified since then but the backups still remain). Most of the cars in this shot are Detroit products but if you look closely you can spot the intruders, just beginning to make themselves known thanks to motorcycle dealer Fred Dealey, who'd obtained an Austin franchise to sell cars.

This is the Dealey showroom and service center on West Broadway, with a nice selection of Austins parked alongside. Look closely and you'll see an A90 Atlantic hardtop.

The actual showroom wasn't very large but neither were the cars, which included an Austin A40 pickup and an Austin A40 sedan, with a curvaceous Austin A70 Hereford "woodie" in the background. Very few Herefords were imported and it's unlikely any survived, at least not in North America. (The kids would have loved that racing pedal car.)

I'm not quite certain about the car Fred Deeley is driving as a promotion in a local parade. It could be an Austin or an MG, or even a one-off from Deeley's shop but if it still exists, this two-seater would be eligible for vintage racing.

There's no doubt about the car in a crate, obviously a Morris Minor newly arrived from the factory in Cowley, just outside Oxford. Other makes sold at the dealership included Morris, MG, Triumph, Austin Healey sports cars, and Jaguar. Fred Deeley acquired much of the foreign car business in Western Canada but when offered the distributorship of a certain odd-looking German import he turned it down. Deeley had no lack of foresight but even he could make a mistake.

I can't conclude this blog without mentioning the Deeley family motorcycle business. Fred Deeley began selling Harley-Davidson motorcycles in 1917, making it one of the oldest dealerships in the world. His son, Trevor, who took over the motorcycle division, had a distinguished record. He became the only civilian to ride with the Vancouver City Police Drill Team, was invited to serve on the board of directors for Harley-Davidson, becoming one of just three non-Americans on the board.

Trevor Deeley was inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall Of Fame, the BC Sports Hall of Fame, and the American Motorcycle Association Heritage Hall of Fame Museum. He also created his own museum in Vancouver featuring Trev's collection of vintage & antique motorcycles, with over 250 classic bikes from different manufacturers.

 

WHY I WON'T BE IN PALM BEACH FOR THE BARRETT-JACKSON AUCTION

I recently spent two weeks in Florida but I'm glad I'm not there now. This has nothing to do with the weather nor does it reflect my opinion of the state and its friendly people. It's all about my inability to resist certain classic automobiles, dozens of which will be offered at Barrett-Jackson's annual Palm Beach auction on April 4th to 6th, featuring the William Munday collection.

Among them is a 1988 Jaguar XJ12 Vanden Plas sedan. It's one of those cars I can't resist, just as I find it hard to turn away from almost any Jaguar. Yes, I've heard all the negative things about older Jags (although I tend to blame the owners, who have no idea how to maintain a thoroughbred) but to me Jaguars are beautiful, sophisticated, elegant. Their suspensions are supple yet provide good roadholding. The engines make a lovely sound. And they win races.

There is not a great demand for older XJ sedans so I believe this one will go for a very low price in spite of what appears to be its excellent condition: possibly less than $10,000. So why am I happy to be 3000 miles away from the bidding floor? Because I've already owned two XJ sedans, one a 1986 V12 and later a 1987 XJ6. I loved those Jaguars but not the men who sold them to me, characters I knew and trusted but who lied about the provenance. Fortunately I sold them for very little loss.

To parade this car in front of me would be like tempting a hungry mongrel with a 16-ounce steak. I would lose all sense of logic as I fancied displaying my Jag in British car shows, with no regard as to how I was going to get it from Florida back to Vancouver Island, BC. Madness? Yes, but wait... consider Barrett-Jackson's description:

"1988 Jaguar XJ12 Vanden Plas: Original paint, 3-speed automatic, power steering, power brakes, fuel injection, sunroof, trip computer, Canadian car, no winter driving, always garaged, owned since 1990, well maintained, excellent condition inside and out, vehicle was eight years in Canada, four years in storage and 12 years in Florida. Radio replaced with modern Kenwood to facilitate iPod connection. Tires have approximately 4,000 miles on them."

A very tempting opportunity but only a fool places want before need, so I will be locked in my apartment April 4-6. Do not call. Do not knock. Do not attempt to enter (unless you bring a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue and a box of tissues). Oh, and did I tell you the car is being offered at no reserve? Sigh...

THE FASTBACK IS BACK. BUT WILL IT SUCCEED?

Have you noticed that those "touring" and "grand touring" models that various manufacturers announced over the past couple of years have one thing in common? They're fastbacks. Why? Because aerodynamically and aesthetically the fastback has always been a symbol of speed and these new grand tourers are meant to suggest quick, comfortable, performance driving. (Which would be fine if slower cars got out of the way and if there wasn't a radar-equipped officer hiding behind every tree.)

That led me to comment on this week's Classic Driver newsletter. Its lead story is all about fastbacks, both old and new. Being an English site, Classic Driver includes a number of British and European cars, ignoring, with one exception, North America, where the fastback once reigned as top model for several major manufacturers, convertibles excepted. Well, perhaps we can forgive them since no Detroit manufacturers are currently offering a fastback, nor are they advertising a grand touring option.

Classic Driver begins with the following: "The fastback bodystyle delivers the rare phenomenon of adding practicality and sporting intentions in one fell swoop."

I would agree although it can have some disadvantages, primarily reduced rear seat headroom along with a less spacious trunk. Our friends then continue with appropriate praise for six outstanding fastback designs. (Classic Driver's text has been abbreviated here.)

France: Citroën SM
"The SM was a variation of the lauded DS, and featured a similarly aerodynamic profile and 'magic-ride' self-levelling suspension. However, it also had a V-6 Maserati engine. Its characterful, Robert Opron-styled body also means it possesses the same contemporary coolness as the DS."

Italy: Lamborghini Espada
"The quirky Espada was penned by Bertone’s Marcelo Gandini, who had partially desensitised the public to its unconventional proportions with the Marzal concept a year earlier."

Great Britain: Bentley R Type Continental by H.J. Mulliner
"The elegant Mulliner-bodied R-Type Continental is arguably one of the sweetest spots in the distinguished heritage of the Crewe-based manufacturer. With just 207 built, each is special in its own right."

Czechoslovakia: Tatra T87
"As a successor to what is commonly known as the first aerodynamically-focused production car, the Tatra T87’s evermore streamlined shape made it the 'bahnstormer' of its day, with near-100mph capabilities."

Germany: Porsche 356 Coupe
"As the car that put Porsche on the map, the 356 needs little introduction. This Pre-A, centre-creased windscreen example might not offer quite the same rear headroom as some of the other fastbacks we've unearthed, but the panache it provides in return plays its part as a counterweight."

USA: Ford Mustang Fastback
"The fastback has since become one of the most desirable iterations of the archetypal pony car, and was apparently the main design inspiration behind the contemporary version."

Preparing this blog found me wondering which car I would select as a fastback favorite. Difficult, because there are many to choose from, right down to the humble Volkswagen Beetle. But after a few minutes reflection there was no doubt about the winner, the fastback coupe that Enzo Ferrari once described as "the most beautiful car in the world." That car is the Jaguar E-Type (top).

[Fastback photos: Classic Driver; Jaguar: takeyoshimages.blogspot.ca]

1967 AUSTIN-HEALEY, A CAR TO WATCH IN FORT LAUDERDALE

Any enthusiast who likes the English sports cars of the 1950s and 1960s – and I will unabashedly admit I'm one of those – has to love the Austin-Healey. It represents everything we admire, from appearance to performance to the little quirks that gave it so much personality. Which makes this 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Roadster a car worth bidding on at Auction America's Fort Lauderdale sale on March 22-24, 2013.

I've never owned a Healey but my history with the marque goes back a long way and includes some unusual associations, beginning with a first sight of the car at the Abbotsford, BC sports car races in the 1950s. The owner wasn't competing but his car certainly attracted attention in the paddock as most spectators had no idea what it was. A demonstration of the car's acceleration was a bit of a letdown for the onlookers; the original 4-cylinder engine was combined with a 3-speed transmission, hardly the best match for performance. That would soon change, of course.

Two years later I found myself driving an aluminum-bodied Healey 100S in full race trim. Not on the track but across town in Toronto at the request of the owner, Jim Ferguson. With no muffler, racing windscreen, leather straps across the hood and numbers on the side it attracted a huge amount of attention whenever I pulled up alongside a streetcar. (Luckily there were no police in the neighbourhood.) Ferguson drove that car in Ontario's inaugural professional races at Edenvale, his primary opponent being Hollywood screen actor Jackie Cooper in an identical Healey. It was my first paying gig as a track announcer, so I got to call the race.

Meanwhile my father, who'd never shown any interest in sports cars, surprised me by purchasing an Austin-Healey. I assumed that, as an automobile journalist and budding racer, he'd at least offer me a test drive. No such luck. Instead he let my stepmother use the car. She promptly ran it into a tree.

The Healey to be auctioned appears to have a far more interesting history than mine. It was picked up at the dock in Long Beach, California in October 1967 by the current owner, who used it for five years then parked it for eight more. With 67,000 miles on the clock it was totally restored in 1982. According to the auctioneers this was in preparation for the New York Auto Show, at which Donald Healey wanted to present this "upgraded" version of his Austin-Healey for marketing in the United States. That's news to me as I find it hard to believe that Mr. Healey ever had such plans.

Nevertheless the car is fully documented and in spite of having been driven for only 2400 miles since 1982 has again been refurbished to perfection by the same restorers, Global Healey in Poughkeepsie, NY, including handmade German canvas top, chrome wire wheels, re-veneered walnut dashboard, special wood steering wheel plus Connolly leather hides for a high-quality interior including handmade Wilton wool carpet. Offered with no reserve, it could be a bargain if everyone's looking the other way. Don't laugh. It happens.

AUCTION FEATURES THREE SUNBEAMS, ONE PRECIOUS MEMORY

Funny how a car name can take you back to another time. Nigel Matthews sent me the above photo of a 1963 Sunbeam Harrington LeMans, to be sold at Brooklands Historics’ spring sale on Saturday March 9th. The moment I saw it my personal time machine returned me to an August evening in 1963 when I was testing cars for Canada Track & Traffic magazine.

My drive was a bright red Alpine Series 3 roadster. The four-lane road ahead of me, Toronto's Bayview Extension, a twisting uphill climb of about half a mile, was, and still is, like a country road in the middle of the city and on that night we had it to ourselves. The top was down, the pavement lit by a full moon. Perfect conditions in which to test roadholding and performance.

What I remember most, however, and which my passenger commented on favourably, was just how civilised the Alpine seemed when compared to other sports cars we'd been driving. Handling was balanced and uncomplicated, the ride suitable for both city routes and back roads. The interior was remarkably comfortable. The top was smooth and tight fitting when up, hidden by a metal tonneau when down. And the Alpine featured windup windows in a period when some cars still had side screens. Fifty years later I can still read the results of that road test for I have a copy of the September, 1963, magazine in front of me. There were a few criticisms but overall it was a rave review.

The Harrington LeMans, based on the Series 2 platform, introduced radical new coachwork that did away with the Sunbeam's fins in favour of a sloping rear, or what we, in North America, called a fastback. It was a limited production car, with just 250 examples built, intended to create a more aerodynamic shape and, with engine modifications, better performance.

It was the fastest Sunbeam you could buy prior to the Sunbeam Tiger, which was powered by a Ford V-8. The 1840cc engine combined with twin choke Weber carburettors gave 140bhp with overdrive on third and fourth gears, while a 1:37 ratio rear differential and fourteen-inch Minilite wheels assured excellent handling. The Le Mans tag was added as a result of Sunbeam’s winning "The Index of Thermal Efficiency" Trophy at Le Mans in 1961.

It will be offered for sale at the same time as a modified and restored 1964 Sunbeam Tiger and a 1968 Series 5 Alpine. While the Tiger is a fabulous car and the Harrington the best-performing 4-cylinder Sunbeam, I'd be happiest with that Series 5 roadster, a perfect drive for a summer's evening on a winding empty road.

VINTAGE CARS ON TV SET HEARTS TO BEATING

If you're a regular visitor to Marque1 you'll have noticed my affection for period television series (mostly British) that feature vintage automobiles. Did anyone see the final scenes in Downton Abbey, Series 3, where Matthew writes off that classic AC sports car... and himself? It was enough to make a grown man weep, while at the same time guaranteeing he'll be watching Series 4 six months from now.

Among my favorites is Heartbeat, a  British police drama set in 1960s Yorkshire and broadcast in 18 series between 1992 and 2010. Fortunately it's still being carried by public service networks in the US and Canada. Some are rewinding back to the start, others are following later series. It's so much fun that the viewer doesn't care. Play it again, Sam!

Since its inception the show has featured vintage 60s cars, mostly of the everyday type that would have been common in the fictional town of Ashfordly in the North Riding of Yorkshire, whose "patch" also includes the nearby village of Aidensfield, a fictionalised version of the real-life village of Goathland in the North York Moors, where the series is partly filmed. Our cover shot is Aidenfield Garage, operated by "Bernie Scripps" (Peter Benson), undertaker and proprietor.

Marque1 correspondent Nigel Matthews, also a fan, took a moment from the arduous task of judging at some of the world's great concours d'elegance to forward photos of Heartbeat cars from earlier series.

This AA sidecar would have been ridden by an Automobile Association mechanic responding to minor emergencies. I've yet to see it in the series but, while catching up on BC's Knowledge Network, it's sure to appear eventually.

On the other hand, who could resist this milk float (probably battery-powered) delivering door-to-door, Monday through Saturday? Not me, for during our time in London, the driver left fresh quarts at our doorstep.

Not every car in Heartbeat came from the economy class. The beautiful Jaguar 3.8 graced several scenes as did a lovely Rolls-Royce owned by Lord Ashfordly, the area's stuffy upper-class property owner.

Oscar Blaketon, played by Derek Fowldes, is one of two characters who stayed with the series from beginning to end. First, as a crusty police sargeant, briefly as the post office manager, finally as a pub owner. His first set of wheels was a Morris Minor (above) but as the series progressed he drove a more modern Ford Anglia.

Perhaps the most loveable character was "Greengrass," a scruffy rogue (Bill Maynard) with a scruffy dog who was determined to change everything he saw into a money-making opportunity. He rarely succeeded and became Oscar's nemesis. This trusty old truck was his working tool.

Heartbeat has helped me while away many a Saturday evening and although the show may be oscure to many North Americans it was a huge hit in Britain. As a car guy I liked that it featured vintage cars most folks could afford to own. If you're a Heartbeat fan, drop us a line in the Comments box. We'd love to hear from you.