The beautiful BMW 507 will open the Goodwood festival of Speed, with Lord March driving it up the 1.16 mile hill.

Goodwood Festival of Speed founder, Lord March, will open this year’s event by driving up the hillclimb course formed by his driveway in a beautiful 1957 BMW 507 sportscar.

BMW is this year’s Honoured Marque and the central theme of the 2016 edition of the Festival of Speed will celebrate the German manufacturer’s centenary.

Lord March will complete the very first run up the 1.16-mile hillclimb at the start of the Moving Motor Show, part of the new Press & Preview day on Thursday, June 23.

The 3.2-litre V8-engined BMW 507 was driven by Hollywood stars Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley in its heyday but only 252 were ever built.

With a top speed of 122mph, the 507 was beautifully hand-built and, while it was priced £3,200 when it was first built in ’57, the rarity of the model now means that the example Lord March will drive up the hill is estimated to be worth around £2 million.

Lord March said: “I’m delighted that BMW has chosen to mark its centenary with us. Our magnificent central feature sculpture outside Goodwood House will celebrate BMW’s sporting success and I will be honoured to drive one of the rarest, and most beautiful, BMWs ever built to open what promises to be a terrific show.”

The BMW 507 and Lord March will take to the hillclimb track to open this year’s Festival of Speed at 9am on Thursday, June 23.

Jaguar to build the lost XKSS models when Brown's Lane Burned to the ground, so, more New, old Jags, Awesome !

• Ultra-exclusive sports car to be hand-built by Jaguar Classic
• All nine cars built to exact same specification as those made in 1957, replacing cars lost due to the Browns Lane fire
• Jaguar originally made the XKSS as a road-going version of the Le Mans winning D-type

Jaguar is to build the stunning XKSS as an ultra-exclusive continuation model.

Nine new XKSS’s - often referred to by experts as the world’s first supercar - will be hand built by Jaguar Classic to the exact specification as they appeared in 1957, replacing the cars lost due to the famous Browns Lane factory fire.

Tim Hannig, Director Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “The XKSS occupies a unique place in Jaguar’s history and is a car coveted by collectors the world over for its exclusivity and unmistakable design.

“Jaguar Classic’s highly skilled team of engineers and technicians will draw on decades of knowledge to ensure each of the nine cars is completely authentic and crafted to the highest quality.

“Our continuation XKSS reaffirms our commitment to nurture the passion and enthusiasm for Jaguar’s illustrious past by offering exceptional cars, services, parts and experiences.”

The original cars were earmarked for export to the USA, however, just 16 were completed before disaster struck. Now 59 years later, Jaguar is going to build the nine ‘lost’ XKSS sports cars for a select group of established collectors and customers.

The expertise gained during the construction of the Lightweight E-type project will be transferred to the construction of the nine ultra-exclusive continuations. Each one will be hand-built at Jaguar’s new ‘Experimental Shop’ in Warwick.

Every car will be constructed to the same specifications as those first 16 made in 1957 – every aspect fully certified by Jaguar. The price will be in excess of £1 million.

The story of the XKSS began following Jaguar’s three successive Le Mans victories in 1955, 1956 and 1957 with the all-conquering D-type.

After the hat-trick of wins, Sir Williams Lyons took the decision on 14 January 1957 to convert the remaining 25 D-types into road-going versions with several external modifications - creating the world’s first super car.

These modifications included the addition of a new higher windscreen, an extra door on the passenger side, taking away the divider between driver and passenger and the removal of the famous fin behind the driver’s seat.

The first deliveries of the new continuation Jaguar XKSS will commence in early 2017.

FIAT Announces that the second new generation 500 will be launched on the 4th July - party day.

• The New FIAT 500 is to be unveiled on July 4 2015
• July 4 is a significant date for the FIAT 500 – the original 1957 model and the 2007 FIAT 500 were both born on this date
• No other information is available at this time but full details will  be available on the day

On July 4 1957 the FIAT was launched to the Italian public. Developed by legendary engineer Dante Giacosa, the FIAT 500 was designed to be as affordable to buy and run as possible. 

It was small, not necessarily to avoid traffic congestion (post-war Italy was still an emerging economic and industrial force in the late 50’s so cars remained relatively rare) but because metal was expensive and the more of it that was used, the more weight the car gained and the more performance and fuel was needed to propel the car along. 

It was this kind of pragmatism which led to the adoption of a full-length canvas roof on early models (lighter and less expensive to produce than a metal roof) and also in the interests of costs and packaging, a rear-mounted, air-cooled, two-cylinder 479cc engine was chosen. 

Producing just 13hp, the 470kg FIAT 500 was capable of just over 50mph but, more importantly, it was extremely fuel efficient and required only the most basic maintenance.

At a time when the average Italian factory worker earned no more than 50,000 Lire per month the FIAT 500 cost 490,000 Lire when it went on sale, making it a considerable financial undertaking even with FIAT’s 20,000 Lire per month repayment programme. 

However that didn’t prevent the FIAT 500 being a massive sales success, amassing more than 3.6 million sales over its 18-year life cycle, during which it remained largely faithful to Giacosa’s original design and engineering principals.

The FIAT 500 evolved into the FIAT 126, which was subsequently replaced by the FIAT Cinquencento and Seicento city cars – all brilliantly packaged, fun to drive and commercially successful in their own right - but the original 500 never really disappeared from view in the way so many other cars do.

As cities became more traffic-clogged and parking ever more difficult, the packaging, low running costs and robustness of the original 500 meant many remained in daily use long after they rolled off the production line. 

Unmistakable looking with an appeal far beyond its functional origins, it was clear that the FIAT 500 had a special place in the public’s hearts and minds, and so on July 4 2007 the FIAT 500 was reborn – true to the philosophy of the iconic 1957 car - affordable and practical, of course, but also stylish and distinctive in a thoroughly modern package. 

The engine might have moved to the front and it may have had seven airbags and Blue&Me connectivity but its design was a perfectly-executed homage to the original car, bestowing it with the same universal appeal and instilling the same emotional connection in people, even those too young to remember the original car.

Marketed in 100 countries and with more than 1.5 million sales globally (UK sales will likely top quarter of a million in total by the end of the year) the next chapter in the FIAT 500 story is about to begin.

USA - FIAT launches a new, old 500, we have for 2015, the FIAT 500 1957 Edition, soft top too !

• FIAT brand builds on the success of the Fiat 500 1957 Edition with the addition of a cabrio version
• 2015 Fiat 500c 1957 Edition offers vintage Italian styling with open-air driving excitement, starting at $24,700 U.S. MSRP
• Limited-production model builds on the Fiat 500's storied past with unique exterior and interior design elements 
• Novel exterior appearance, three classic exterior colors, 1957-era body-color wheel design and vintage "FIAT" emblems pay homage to the historic Fiat Nuova 500

Just in time for the spring and summer top-down driving season, the FIAT brand today introduced the new Fiat 500 1957 Edition Cabrio. The FIAT brand continues to celebrate the storied past of the historic Nuova 500 with the addition of a cabrio version of the popular Fiat 500 1957 Edition, which was introduced in 2014. 

The Fiat 500c 1957 Edition features a premium dual-layer power-operated cloth top – a contemporary solution to the famous canvas roof on the original Cinquecento – designed to deliver all-season driving pleasure with the top up or down.

“We continue to expand the FIAT lineup,” said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand for North America. "The Fiat 500 1957 Edition celebrates the spirit of the original 1957 Nuova 500, and with the arrival of a cabrio version, we are adding open-air fun to the iconic Italian-designed Fiat 500 1957 Edition.”  

Pricing for the well-equipped limited-production model starts at $24,700 U.S. MSRP, just $1,900 more than a base Fiat 500c Lounge. The Fiat 500c 1957 Edition is available for orders now and will arrive at studios this spring.

With just the push of a button, the Fiat 500c 1957 Edition’s power-operated cloth top retracts up to the rear spoiler during speeds up to a best-in-class 60 mph (a midway point may be chosen by pressing the button anytime between). Press the roof button again, and the roof will neatly fold all the way open and tuck neatly behind the rear head restraints (up to 50 mph). 

The power cloth top offers even more technology. When the liftgate is opened for trunk access, the power-operated cloth top automatically retracts back to the rear-spoiler position to avoid any obstruction.

Now available as either a hatchback or a cabrio, the 2015 Fiat 500 1957 Edition includes a sport-tuned suspension for improved handling, 16-inch forged aluminum wheels with a retro body-color design, throwback “FIAT” badging and a premium Marrone (brown) and Avorio (ivory) leather interior. The model is available in three classic exterior colors: Bianco (white), Verde Chiaro (light green) and exclusive Celeste (celestial blue).

About the Fiat 500 1957 Edition

There's a romance about Italian cars, brands, fashion and design that make goods from this artisan nation among the most coveted around the globe. Since 1957, the Fiat 500 has embodied all four, empowering the Cinquecento to become one of the most iconic automobiles of all time. Nearly 60 years later, and with sales in more than 100 countries, the Fiat 500 1957 Edition commemorates its roots in uniquely crafted detail.

Based on the Fiat 500 Lounge model, the 1957 Edition enhances its iconic silhouette with a vintage look, thanks to classic exterior colors for this limited-edition Cinquecento, including Bianco (white), Verde Chiaro (light green) or Celeste (celestial blue). 

Inspired by the 1957 Fiat "Nuova" Cinquecento, an exclusive 16-inch retro wheel design features a wide chromed lip, body-color accent and large center cap with historic "FIAT" emblem. For improved handling, a sport-tuned suspension and all-season performance tires are standard. Completing the look are throwback "FIAT" badges on the front fascia and rear liftgate.

Continuing the 1957 Edition's vintage look is an Avorio (ivory) interior environment contrasted by premium Marrone (brown) leather seats. Avorio accent stitching vertically crosses the seatbacks and seat cushions, while detailed stitching at the perimeter adds to the Cinquecento's craftsmanship. For added contrast, Grigio (grey) door panels feature a unique Avorio inner panel, while Marrone door armrests and shift boot (with manual transmission) are color-keyed to the leather seats for a harmonious look. 

An exclusive Avorio leather-wrapped steering wheel is hand-stitched with Marrone leather on the "inner ring," and features a retro "FIAT" badge, illustrating how the FIAT brand takes craftsmanship to heart. Adding to the historic theme is a uniquely styled key fob with Marrone casing and Avorio-painted "1957" graphic. For driving enjoyment, the six-speaker and 276-watt FIAT premium audio system with SiriusXM Radio is also included. 

   

The Fiat 500 1957 Edition features the innovative 1.4-liter MultiAir engine and C514 five-speed manual transmission, delivering an EPA estimated 31 miles per gallon (mpg) city and 40 mpg highway. 

With all FIAT products, engaging dynamics are essential, and the 1957 Edition includes a driver-selectable "Sport" mode on the instrument panel to unleash a more aggressive throttle map. Additionally, an optional six-speed automatic transmission with driver-selectable gear changes is also available. In Sport mode, the automatic transmission offers a more aggressive shift schedule and throttle map for improved engine responsiveness.

About the historic Fiat Nuova 500

The Nuova 500 was the fruit of a strategy designed to develop and revamp Fiat's product range, embarked upon by the company during World War II. While the city of Turin was still being targeted by Allied air raids, and the company's Mirafiori offices were occupied by German troops, Vittorio Valletta, 

Fiat Managing Director and later company Chairman (after the death of Fiat's founder Giovanni Agnelli), asked Dante Giacosa to start thinking of new cars that could go into production after the war. The result would be the Cinquecento, an automobile that delivered on its mission to provide efficient and affordable mobility during Italy's period of rebuilding and economic recovery.

The Fiat Nuova 500 was "the right car at the right time," and on July 4, 1957, the hatchback marked the rebirth of FIAT and its product range. Exactly 3,893,294 examples of the historic Cinquecento were built between 1957 and 1975, helping to provide an attainable car for Italians and numerous other Europeans. After 18 years of production, the last Fiat Nuova 500 was built on August 4, 1975, at the SicilFiat plant in Termini Imerese (Palermo, Sicily).

New FIAT 500 VINTAGE ’57 pays homage to its iconic predecessor.

• New FIAT 500 VINTAGE ’57 pays homage to its iconic predecessor
• Distinctly styled with unique 50’s-inspired detailing, including special wheels and historic FIAT badges
• High standard specification includes air conditioning, Poltrona Frau leather seats and Blue&Me connectivity
• On sale in the UK in April priced from £12,545
• FIAT 500X DDCT and FIAT Doblò Trekking also debut

The FIAT 500 has always been a celebration of its iconic predecessor, adopting not only the look but also the character and verve of the 1957 original. But now FIAT is taking that homage to a new level with the new FIAT 500 VINTAGE ’57 which is set to debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show (March 3).

The VINTAGE ’57 is a contemporary interpretation of the stylistic features that gave the original its distinctive identity. Finished in pastel colours with a contrasting white roof, spoiler, antenna and mirror covers, the most distinctive element of the new FIAT 500 VINTAGE ’57 is its 16-inch vintage alloy wheels, a nod to those used on the original 500 but updated and refined for contemporary tastes. The wheel centres feature the historical FIAT logos, a subtle touch that’s repeated on the front and rear badges.

The retro theme of the FIAT 500 VINTAGE ’57 continues inside with a white dashboard; historic FIAT logo in the steering wheel boss and tan-coloured Poltrona Frau leather seats with ivory leather 'half-moon' inserts and "500" embroidery in tan.

There’s nothing retrospective about the FIAT 500 VINTAGE ’57’s standard technologies though: air conditioning; Blue&Me™; seven airbags, Start&Stop system, ESP with ASR/MSR, HBA and Hill Holder. Available in the UK in April, the new FIAT 500 VINTAGE ’57 will be available with the petrol-powered 69hp 1.2-litre as well as the award-winning 0.9 TwinAir 85hp turbo petrol engine. Prices for the FIAT 500 VINTAGE ’57 will start from £12,545 when it goes on sale in April.

Produced since 2007 in Poland and since 2010 in Toluca (Mexico), the FIAT 500 is now sold in more than 100 countries world-wide, spearheading the brand’s return to North America. More than 1.5 million have been produced.

Other FIAT vehicles debuting at the Geneva Motor Show include the FIAT 500X with DDCT, a six-speed, dual dry-clutch transmission paired with the front-wheel drive 1.4 MultiAir II 140 HP engine that combines the responsiveness and driving satisfaction of a manual with the ease-of-use and economy of a traditional automatic transmission. Also on display for the first time is the new FIAT Doblò Trekking with standard "Traction+" system for improved traction control on slippery surfaces and light off-road conditions. 

New side mouldings, model-specific diamond-cut 16-inch alloy wheels, rugged new front and rear bumper inserts as well as a raised chassis and functional sump guard set the Doblò Trekking apart from its siblings.

Stored 30 Years: 1957 Jaguar XK140 MC OTS Project

This 1957 Jaguar XK140 MC OTS (chassis S812895) has been parked in a garage for 30 years and will need work as a result, but is said to be fully matching numbers and complete. The front passenger side corner has taken a hit at some point, but the engine is said to turn freely. MC’s (SE’s in their home market) were fitted with a C-type head, 2” sand-cast SU H8 carbs, heavier torsion bars and twin exhaust pipes, making this one an ideal restoration candidate. Find it here on eBay in Bayonne, New Jersey with a $55k Buy-It-Now.

Silver or dove gray paint looks like it could be original but has seen better days, and the partially repaired front end damage will necessitate a respray anyway. Trim and accessories seem mostly intact, though the taillight lenses are missing or have been busted out. Our main concern here is rust, especially as the rockers and lower extremities of the car aren’t shown. The car is said to be straight aside from the corner, and if corrosion free looks like it’d be a relatively easy refurb.

The interior is covered in musty, busy floral carpet that we wish would have been stripped in order to get a better assessment of the floors’ condition and also to prep it for something less terrible. Veneers are shot, but switchgear and instrumentation seem to be all there if likely in need of internal repair. Leather seems dirty but free of tears or rips, and though the padding underneath will need replacement the hides themselves are probably very serviceable. The top and side curtains look pretty good and may be useable as well.

The seller speculates that the car will start easily after a fuel system cleaning, but even so we’d still want a full teardown. It may turn over freely but that doesn’t mean bearings, seals, valve guides and other perishable parts have weathered the years intact. A full re-wire is another big job to budget for, as are brakes and suspension overhauls. Even if it is relatively rot-free there will be plenty of systemic jobs to tend to, but we’d rather shell out for all of them than pay for a new chassis and extensive body repair.

XK’s are wonderful driving, beautiful old cars, and these MC’s are particularly special. Though we say it often it bears repeating—we hope this car avoids over-restoration and another three decades consigned to storage.

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