DrivesToday contributor and racing driver Tony Dron has sadly died following a long illness. He had an extensive career in journalism as a highly respected writer, editor and author. I first met him in the 1980s when he was the editor of Thoroughbred & Classic Cars. I was producing Bialbero magazine for the Fiat Twin Cam Register and we were awarded a prize for the best club magazine. Tony made the presentation of a Parker pen set, which I still have today. Tony’s writing was always meticulous and accurate in detail.
In addition to his writing, Tony was a professional racing driver of some note, driving for Porsche and later historic Ferraris. Perhaps his best results in later years came racing the Ferrari 246 S from the Leventis collection at Goodwood. I was fortunate to have had several passenger rides with Tony in the Leventis Ferrari 330 LMB at Silverstone and on the Nordschleife. His driving style was always precise and disciplined but blindingly quick.
Tony married Charis Whitcombe, who many readers will recognise as one of the team in the early years of Auto Italia. He is a great loss to Charis, his family, journalism and the motor racing community and we extend our condolences.
As we run towards the end of the year it’s time to look forward to a new one full of classic car indulgence
We’re in an indulgent mood this month, and not just because we’re looking forward to the year-end overload of food, drink and socialising. After last year’s hiatus, we were treated to the welcome November ritual of trudging NEC show halls packed with fascinating cars and fascinated people. While the event was a little thinner than we’re used to, the addictive buzz remained, and there was more than enough to see. As I aimed my old BMW south on the home-bound M6 afterwards I was clearly carrying some of that atmosphere with me as my head span with all of the gleaming paint and interesting conversations I’d taken in. A fine way to end the UK show season, one that will set me and thousands of others up to deal with the long months of winter.
These past two years have forced us to think differently about many things and one positive legacy is the realisation that we have all too easily taken the things that matter to us for granted, or put off enjoying them for another day. That event that sounds so good, really must go one year. That car that I’ve always fancied, I’d like to own one at some point, or at least have a drive so I can tick it off the list. Well, the time to start ticking is now, and I recommend drawing up a list that covers the full spectrum of driving experiences, from raw roadsters to cool cabriolets, spiced-up saloons and more. We’re all naturally drawn to certain genres of car – for me it was always powerful, multi-cylinder grand tourers – but so many of the great joys of life can only be found by dragging ourselves outside of our comfort zones to where new favourites are waiting. Our seven bucket list choices each illuminates all that’s appealing about its own genre, presenting a richly textured set of experiences to explore.
If you’re struggling to try, buy or borrow any, you could always put yourself forward for one of our List features.
Have a great break and a better 2022.
The new year brings an imperative to explore a wider range of classics
Full-size luxury classics have been the orphans of the classic car world, but their unique appeal is growing.
Stars of film, music and industry spend fast-paced lives racing between helipads, parties, appointments and romantic liaisons in a dizzying blur of wild V12 supercar fury, right? In the public imagination maybe. Reality for such exotic machinery is a life of air-conditioned storage, punctuated by rare trips out for a spot of posing. The greatest jeopardy is not somersaulting off the edge of a hillside road after an intoxicant-fuelled party, but having the wrong detailing products applied by the hired valeter. To arrive at those appointments fresh and ready to perform, life’s high achievers will waft in air-conditioned, air-suspended luxury.
Greeting one’s followers with eyes out on stalks and shirt plastered to your back with sweat doesn’t create the right impression. James Hunt ran a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, as did baseball star Reggie Jackson and the Kennedys favoured Lincoln’s fourth-generation Continentals in assorted forms.
Don McLean has had two Bentley Arnages. Eddie van Halen and Sylvester Stallone had Lamborghini LM002s, giving the outrageous-looking but civilised ‘Rambo Lambo’ its nickname, and the notorious Kray twin gangsters liked a Jaguar MkX for its ability to exude an air of successful businessman, laced with a hint of menace in case anyone disagreed.
Of course, all of that luxury can make such cars intimidating to own as they tumble down the secondhand market into the hands of owners on sub-superstar incomes, shedding value like autumn leaves. Until, that is, they start to be appreciated for their uniquely pampering classic appeal. That’s where we come in, armed with the right knowledge and the urge for a different kind of classic car experience. Lamborghini LM002 values underline how more buyers are thinking big, and the other real estate in our test is becoming more expensive, but they still represent appealing value compared to their lesser-sized contemporaries.
Time to indulge ourselves.
Such decadence comes at a price, one that’s worth paying.
In Memoriam: Tony Dron
DrivesToday contributor and racing driver Tony Dron has sadly died following a long illness. He had an extensive career in journalism as a highly respected writer, editor and author. I first met him in the 1980s when he was the editor of Thoroughbred & Classic Cars. I was producing Bialbero magazine for the Fiat Twin Cam Register and we were awarded a prize for the best club magazine. Tony made the presentation of a Parker pen set, which I still have today. Tony’s writing was always meticulous and accurate in detail.
In addition to his writing, Tony was a professional racing driver of some note, driving for Porsche and later historic Ferraris. Perhaps his best results in later years came racing the Ferrari 246 S from the Leventis collection at Goodwood. I was fortunate to have had several passenger rides with Tony in the Leventis Ferrari 330 LMB at Silverstone and on the Nordschleife. His driving style was always precise and disciplined but blindingly quick.
Tony married Charis Whitcombe, who many readers will recognise as one of the team in the early years of Auto Italia. He is a great loss to Charis, his family, journalism and the motor racing community and we extend our condolences.
As we run towards the end of the year it’s time to look forward to a new one full of classic car indulgence
We’re in an indulgent mood this month, and not just because we’re looking forward to the year-end overload of food, drink and socialising. After last year’s hiatus, we were treated to the welcome November ritual of trudging NEC show halls packed with fascinating cars and fascinated people. While the event was a little thinner than we’re used to, the addictive buzz remained, and there was more than enough to see. As I aimed my old BMW south on the home-bound M6 afterwards I was clearly carrying some of that atmosphere with me as my head span with all of the gleaming paint and interesting conversations I’d taken in. A fine way to end the UK show season, one that will set me and thousands of others up to deal with the long months of winter.
These past two years have forced us to think differently about many things and one positive legacy is the realisation that we have all too easily taken the things that matter to us for granted, or put off enjoying them for another day. That event that sounds so good, really must go one year. That car that I’ve always fancied, I’d like to own one at some point, or at least have a drive so I can tick it off the list. Well, the time to start ticking is now, and I recommend drawing up a list that covers the full spectrum of driving experiences, from raw roadsters to cool cabriolets, spiced-up saloons and more. We’re all naturally drawn to certain genres of car – for me it was always powerful, multi-cylinder grand tourers – but so many of the great joys of life can only be found by dragging ourselves outside of our comfort zones to where new favourites are waiting. Our seven bucket list choices each illuminates all that’s appealing about its own genre, presenting a richly textured set of experiences to explore.
If you’re struggling to try, buy or borrow any, you could always put yourself forward for one of our List features.
Have a great break and a better 2022.
The new year brings an imperative to explore a wider range of classics
Full-size luxury classics have been the orphans of the classic car world, but their unique appeal is growing.
Stars of film, music and industry spend fast-paced lives racing between helipads, parties, appointments and romantic liaisons in a dizzying blur of wild V12 supercar fury, right? In the public imagination maybe. Reality for such exotic machinery is a life of air-conditioned storage, punctuated by rare trips out for a spot of posing. The greatest jeopardy is not somersaulting off the edge of a hillside road after an intoxicant-fuelled party, but having the wrong detailing products applied by the hired valeter. To arrive at those appointments fresh and ready to perform, life’s high achievers will waft in air-conditioned, air-suspended luxury.
Greeting one’s followers with eyes out on stalks and shirt plastered to your back with sweat doesn’t create the right impression. James Hunt ran a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, as did baseball star Reggie Jackson and the Kennedys favoured Lincoln’s fourth-generation Continentals in assorted forms.
Don McLean has had two Bentley Arnages. Eddie van Halen and Sylvester Stallone had Lamborghini LM002s, giving the outrageous-looking but civilised ‘Rambo Lambo’ its nickname, and the notorious Kray twin gangsters liked a Jaguar MkX for its ability to exude an air of successful businessman, laced with a hint of menace in case anyone disagreed.
Of course, all of that luxury can make such cars intimidating to own as they tumble down the secondhand market into the hands of owners on sub-superstar incomes, shedding value like autumn leaves. Until, that is, they start to be appreciated for their uniquely pampering classic appeal. That’s where we come in, armed with the right knowledge and the urge for a different kind of classic car experience. Lamborghini LM002 values underline how more buyers are thinking big, and the other real estate in our test is becoming more expensive, but they still represent appealing value compared to their lesser-sized contemporaries.
Time to indulge ourselves.
Such decadence comes at a price, one that’s worth paying.
Cool resto-mod car — like new era of tuning swap!