The Money Shots

Photography by Benoit Guerry

It's hard not to be awed by those fortunate people with great talents. Be they diagnosing automotive faults, turning a truly great phrase or cooking a memorable meal, the world is certainly a better place because of them. 

The art of France-based photographers Vincent Prat and Benoit Guerry is simply stunning in its subject matter and detail. The duo seem to be enthralled with objects of speed and those who drive and care for them. They recently submitted a portraiture study of a Sunbeam S7 Deluxe motorcycle to the always-fascinating Retronaut web site and it is indeed a work of art. 

This 1954 bike is painted the exclusive Deluxe color called Mist Green. The studio lighting and dark backdrop make the old motorcycle positively glow from within. 

Take a few moments to browse the collection containing these images and then wander over to the Guerry &Prat Images web site. Your visit won't be a short one.   

New Orleans British Car Day

The best intentions oft times go awry and my plans to attend the always-excellent British Car Day sponsored by British Motoring Club New Orleans had to be put aside for the needs of my family. This meant that I missed out on the opportunity to co-pilot with Mike Darby in his MGA as well as missing the fine hospitality of our Louisiana friends.

SABCC president Richard Cunningham took along his video camera and recorded snippets of the day including the group's departure from west Mobile and traveling to the Crescent City. Check out the video - it's almost as good as being there. 

The Loyal & Ancient Order of the Sacred Ocatgon

Groucho Marx famously said that he wouldn't want to be a member of any club that would have him as a member. In my case, however, I am pleased to be accepted by almost any group not on some government watch list. One group that I've found is the Loyal and Ancient Order of the Sacred Octagon, a Facebook-only group that posts in a small corner of that huge web site.

Founded a couple of years ago by Birmingham, Alabama resident and Grand Poobah for Life David Lavies, the Facebook group is designed to appeal to MG owners in particular and British car enthusiasts in general. From time to time, the Gr. Poobah deigns to bestow noble titles on select members of the group while anyone that is accepted for membership (read that as "everyone") is advised to "gird your loins in preparation for the visit of wrench wenches."  

There are a number officially-approved products (Old Speckled Hen ale being one, of course) usually approved by the only official that matters: the Grand Poobah for Life. Heck, we've even got official gear to show your loyalty - and maybe your ancientness.

The Ancient Order is worth checking out for a few laughs and to scope out photos and questions submitted by the Knights and Ladies of the order. Sign on to your Facebook account and search for The Loyal and Ancient Order of the Sacred Octagon. When you do, tell 'em that Sir Rodney McDonald (Grand Duke of the Eastern Shore & its Environs) sent you.  

Another Fine 50 Year Old

Last year, the classic British car enthusiast world celebrated the half-century anniversaries of the Jaguar E-Type and the MK I MG Midget. This year is a continuation of the golden anniversary of the golden age of the British auto industry with the 50th birthday of the MGB and the Triumph Spitfire.

For those Spitfire enthusiasts sufficiently deep of pocket, the car reputed to be the 1962 Earls Court Motorshow stand car is up for sale in Switzerland. The current owner of chassis #1 (FC1) is open to offers for the car. An ad in the UK-based Classic and Sports Car magazine shows a photo of a white car in rather nice condition. An email link is helpfully provided. 

Any guesses as to how much it will go for? 

An Austin for the Ages

A nondescript Austin Westminster played a small part in an act both historic and horrific and it is on display in Ho Chi Minh City in Viet Nam. 

Courtesy Robbie DeGraff

The act in which it played a part was the stunning self-immolation of Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk protesting the South Vietnamese government's suppression of activities and freedoms by non-Roman Catholic religions. Petitions of grievance presented to the government of President Ngo Dinh Diem were routinely ignored and the Catholic minority in South Viet Nam continued to receive preferential treatment in policies of taxation, military promotion and political appointments. 

Copyright, Malcolm Browne

Thich Quang Duc sought to bring these grievances to the public eye and decided to perform an act that would literally be seared into the eyes of the world. He chose to set himself aflame in protest and the act was caught in a series of photos by journalist Malcolm Browne.

But about that Westminster.It's the car that carried Duc to the street fronting the Cambodian embassy in Saigon where he set himself aflame while chanting Buddhist mantras. 

The Austin is on display in Ho Chi Minh City and Robbie DeGraff wrote an excellent story about it for Hooniverse. Do check it out.

SS 100 Instruction Manual

The Old Car Manual Project is a site I look in on frequently. The site's supporters are constantly sending scans of manuals, sales brochures other classic car related papers and they've added a very interesting one from 1934.

Most British car enthusiasts know that Jaguar's beginning can be traced back to the Swallow Sidecar Company, a maker of motorcycle sidecars and upscale auto bodies for humble chassis. Eventually Swallow started producing complete cars with a number of major components bought in as was the custom at the time for small carmakers. The marque name they chose was 'SS'.

Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, SS built some beauties that were great value for the money. With stunning looks and reasonable performance, the SS models set the policy for Jaguar's post war offerings. But about that name. The followers of a short man with a cookie duster mustache well and truly ruined the term 'SS' for years to come.

The SS management team cast about for a suitable name and eventually settled on a previous SS model name to carry the hopes of the company: Jaguar. 

The manual that I wanted to share with you is for the 1934 SS 100 model. Part owners manual, part shop manual, the publication is fascinating reading. Follow this link to start browsing the book. It has been scanned into image files with succeeding images linked by "NEXT" navigation links. It's a bit tedious but well worth the effort.

A Future Triumph?

The Autocar web site is reporting that BMW - the owner of the Triumph marque - has been granted an EU trademark for the use of the wreath logo on automobiles and a wide range of products including personal goods like clothing, handbags, etc. There has been no concrete plan for a Triumph-badged car announced yet, but with the global success of MINI under BMW stewardship, I wouldn't be too surprised to see it come to light.  

In addition the Triumph name, BMW holds rights to the Riley marque. 

BMW has no relationship with the Triumph motorcycle concern

Read the Autocar story here.