Category: British Motor Museum

1. HMC welcomes back the one of the world's largest gathering of BMWs!

   Posted on 1:01pm Wednesday 26th Jun 2013

   One of the world’s largest gathering of BMW’s will descend on the Heritage Motor Centre when it hosts the BMW Festival, a two day event on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 August.

   The event on the Saturday is for BMW Club Members only whereas the event on the Sunday is open to everyone. Around 3,000 BMW’s including M Power, Alpina, ZED, as well as modern, classic and modified models plus MINI’s will take part in this popular annual Festival, the highlight of the BMW events calendar.

   In addition there will be a trade village featuring numerous trade stands. The Club stand will feature the ‘Club Shop’, along with a huge BMW Tombola with a prize for everyone, all donated by BMW UK. Other exciting elements of the Festival include the National Concours final, a ‘Show & Shine’ competition, a ‘Cars for Sale’ section and large displays from the Club’s. There will also be a ‘Members’ dinner on the Saturday night when the awards for the Concours and Driving Challenges will be presented. Camping is also available on the Saturday night.

   Tom Caren, Show Manager for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “The BMW Festival is a fantastic day out and not just for BMW enthusiasts! You can see BMW displays stretching as far as the eye can see and entry to the Museum is also included in the ticket price. If you go to one car show this summer then make sure it’s the BMW Festival!”

   Tickets on the day cost £15 for adults, £8 for children (under 5’s are free), £13 for concessions and £42 for a family. Discounted tickets are available in advance from the BMW Car Club Office on 01225 709009 or www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

    www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

2. Lady Nuffield's 'Wolseley' restored at the Heritage Motor Centre‏

   Posted on 1:04pm Tuesday 25th Jun 2013

   In the centenary year of the production of William Morris, Lord Nuffield’s first motor car, the Heritage Motor Centre has teamed up with the National Trust to help preserve another car that played a part in his life story

   A modest Wolseley Eight dating from 1946 that his wife, Lady Nuffield, used as her every-day transport is about to receive attention in the Museum’s vehicle workshop.  The Wolseley normally resides in a small garage beside Nuffield Place, Lord and Lady Nuffield’s home near Henley-on-Thames.  Nuffield Place was taken on by the National Trust in 2012.

   Laura Gangadeen, House Manager at Nuffield Place said “We wanted to get Lady Nuffield’s Wolseley back in running order to help us promote the work that we are doing at the house, the home of William Morris and his wife for almost 30 years. We are delighted that the team at the HMC are able to help us out with the project.”

   Stephen Laing, Curator at the Heritage Motor Centre added “We are pleased to be able to assist the National Trust with the refurbishment of Lady Nuffield’s car. The extensive Morris collection here at the HMC very much complements Nuffield Place.  In particular, in the Museum we have William Morris’ own Wolseley Eight, almost identical to his wife’s car, which he used to travel back and forward to work at Cowley.”

   The car has now arrived at the Heritage Motor Centre and work will soon start to check it over and give it a mechanical overhaul.  The Centre is giving its time on the project free-of-charge and will also advise on the future upkeep of the Wolseley.  Once the work is completed, the car will return to its home as a regular feature at Nuffield Place.

   Nuffield Place home to William Morris, Lord Nuffield is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 – 16:00.

   To find out more information please visit

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

3. A classic surprise for 60th birthday celebration!

   Posted on 8:33am Wednesday 15th May 2013

   A classic car enthusiast was given a fantastic surprise to mark his 60th birthday. Steve Garrett and his wife Jacqui travelled up to Warwickshire from the south coast on Thursday 9 May to enjoy a few days away to celebrate his birthday.

   They were met at Berkswell Station by a gentleman in a 1926 Austin 12. After an enjoyable ride in the car they arrived in Kenilworth where Steve was given the keys to a Hillman Minx Deluxe Series IIIA. The car turned out to be his birthday present and not a hired classic car!

   Not only did Steve have an iconic classic car to celebrate his birthday but two days later he was able to attend the nostalgic Gaydon Spring Classic at the Heritage Motor Centre when friends and family joined them for a celebration.  Hundreds of Vintage, Veteran and Classic cars converged at the popular and nostalgic event which took place on Sunday 12 May. Steve’s son-in-law, who kept the car immaculately clean at the event, was also instrumental in helping to search for it.

   It so happened that Jacqui and Steve's first date was in 1971 when they were playing tennis after school and Jacqui suffered a sprained ankle.  Steve cycled to his brother's to borrow his Hillman Minx and take Jacqui to A&E. That particular Hillman Minx happened to be exactly the same colour as the one given to him for his 60th birthday!

   After the Spring Classic, Jacqui and Steve then spent a long romantic weekend at a National Trust Cottage at Upton House near Banbury where the car looked very much at home...

4. Hundreds of vintage bikes ride together for nostalgic Banbury Run!

   Posted on 8:40am Thursday 9th May 2013

   Over 600 Veteran and Vintage motorcycles will ride together when the Heritage Motor Centre hosts the 65th nostalgic Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run™. 

   For the first time the event will run over two days with a Vintage Training Day taking place on Saturday 15 June offering Vintage Virgins the chance to ride Veteran & Vintage Motorcycles in a safe “off road” environment. The main Banbury Run™, which will take place on Sunday 16 June, is the largest gathering of pre-1931 Motorcycles & 3 Wheelers in the World.

   The Banbury Run™ is aimed at those who enjoy the thrill of riding with other Vintage, Veteran & Pioneer bikes. Visitors can see the bikes in all their glory as they set off for their annual Run around the countryside. The exact route is kept top secret until the day, but we can exclusively reveal that it will venture through the villages of Cropready, Knightcote and Arlescote. In addition to the Run, there will also be Club and Trade Stands, over 100 Autojumble pitches and special interest displays.

   Tom Caren, Show Manager for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “The Banbury Run is a fantastic day out and we’re delighted to be hosting it again with the Vintage Motor Cycle Club.  All the machines were manufactured before 1931 and to watch them ride together is a really wonderful spectacle to see!”

   The Museum will be open from 9am – 5pm with the Banbury Run™ beginning at 10am. Tickets costs £15 for adults, £8 for children, £13 for concessions and £42 for a family with museum entry included to entrants and spectators. Discounted tickets are available in advance online. Gift Aid Season tickets, Tesco Club cards or any other promotional offers are not valid on this day.

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

   For more information about the Vintage Training Day contact Sam Brown [email protected]

5. 'Back to the Future' replica car on display at Heritage Motor Centre!

   Posted on 10:42am Wednesday 20th Mar 2013

   The Heritage Motor Centre has just taken delivery of a new famous exhibit – a recreation of the DeLorean car that starred in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Back to the Future’.

   The car, which arrived on Monday 18 March, is on loan from its owner indefinitely and looks set to be a star attraction whilst on display. Although a replica from the film, the car has all the kit including the flux capacitor and the dash board is signed by Christopher Lloyd who played the original Dr Emmett “Doc” Brown in the film. The owner uses the car to raise money for charity and will be attending some of the major events at the HMC dressed up as the “Doc”, whom he incidentally closely resembles!

   Amid a glare of media interest, the first DeLorean cars left the Northern Ireland factory in January 1981 built for the American market. Sales in America were disappointingly low and the company subsequently collapsed. Made famous by the Back to the Future films and infamous by the exploits of its creator, the car is like no other. Just over 9,000 were built and most are in North America. Only a handful of right-hand drive models exist, primarily in England, Ireland and Australia. The car has gullwing doors meaning the doors go up rather than out in a space no larger than 13".

   Stephen Laing, Curator at the Heritage Motor Centre stated” We are delighted to have the infamous DeLorean car on loan to us from its owner. The car already caused a great stir when it arrived and I’m sure it will prove to be a very popular exhibit!”

   Entry fees to the HMC Museum are: Adults £12, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £10 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children). 

   www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk