How many people can you fit in a Fiat 500?

More than you think, is the answer – as this series of images, known as 'Cars and Bodies' (by photographer Yann Rabanier), rather alarmingly illustrates...

California squeezin'

Juxtaposed against typically Californian backdrops with more than a hint of mid-century kitsch about them, a range of modern and classic vehicles is used to explore the theme of mobility (or the distinct lack of it) in the world’s major metropolises.

Human traffic jam

With support from architect Thomas Cestia and videographer/director Romain Dussaulx, the still-life sardine-can-style arrangement of the subjects is designed to ‘represent the human traffic jam that exists in cars’. Sweaty, hot and uncomfortable? You bet. A range of other cars, including a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet and a Volvo V70, is used to remind us just how much time we spend in everyday traffic. If you think the photos are amusing and perhaps even a little disturbing, check out the accompanying video below.

Photos: Yann Rabanier - (cropped for use on Classic Driver, please view originals at carandbodiesproject.tumblr.com)

Find a car in the Classic Driver Market to fill the space in your collection.

‘Ace III’ BMW R100 – Kevil’s Speed Shop

Thankfully, life has its little sure bets. Those things you can trust in with an unwavering faith because you knowthey’ll come through for you. Warm baths. Steak and chips. Cold beer on a hot day. They’re classics because they never let you down; no matter where you are or how you’re feeling. But we think it’s time to add another classic to that list – BMWs made by Kevil’s Speed Shop in Devon, on the English Riviera. It seems to us that they just can’t put a foot wrong. And here’s another great build of theirs. Just don’t ride it while you’re drunk, eating or naked.

The bike was commissioned by ‘David,’ who’s an entrepreneur based in bonnie Scotland. “It’s the third one of our limited Edition Ace BMW Cafe Racer Models,” Says Kevin, Kevil’s main man. “We only build one of these per year, owing to the amount of time taken to hand make and polish all the alloy. It’s one hell of a job.”

The original Ace bike was a 2013 build which was used in the Belstaff promotional movie starring David Beckham. Luckily for Dave, the bike was then purchased by Belstaff as a gift for him to celebrate his GQ man of the year award 2013. Some guys have all the luck. Especially the rich, handsome ones.

“So my customer decided to get in touch with us and commission a BMW R100 version. Although it’s similar to the original build, it does differ from the original and the Ace II because it has the more powerful 1000cc engine from an RS model. It’s also sporting polished rims, a mini fairing, speedo, our own under-slung exhaust system. It makes this model even more individual, and all of the brightly polished alloy work was expertly hand fabricated by our Devon team.”

Kev says that this was a total, ground-up rebuild that saw every single part of the bike renewed, replaced, upgraded, rewired, restored and refinished. Every. Single. One. “It’s the same with all our BMWs. We don’t leave anything to chance so our customers get a very cool, very sound modern classic.”

As mentioned, the bike sports a Kevil’s polished alloy Cafe Racer tank, a matching polished signature alloy seat unit and headlight cowl that contains a rather on-trend ‘halo’ headlight. Ducati Scrambler, eat your heart out.

Then there’s an underslung 2-into-1 stainless exhaust system, a mini megaphone silencer, two polished deep valance wheel rims, a Motogadget ‘Motoscope Pro’ speedo and a sweet set of clip-on handle bars to finish the overall look.

“We took the ‘Ace II’ to Wheels and Waves last year in Biarritz,” say Kevin. “It drew plenty of admiring glances and positive comments. So we’re pretty confident that this bike will make a great addition to David’s growing collection of vehicles.” Great addition? With the classic looks this build has, we’d be surprised if the rest of the vehicles didn’t pack it in and look for a new home out of sheer embarrassment. Nice work, boys.

via PIPEBURN

Bristols return to Bicester Heritage

Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce and Bentley are often labelled the ‘Best of British’. But what about Bristol, a company with arguably the most patriotic history of any British car-maker? We gathered eight quite different examples at Bicester Heritage to examine their contemporary appeal…

Cars for Paul Smith, Peter Sellers and Jimmy Carter

Bristol Cars came to be as the result of a brief takeover of British car manufacturer Frazer-Nashimmediately after WWII, and was operated alongside the commercial vehicle and aeronautical divisions with which it shared the Bristol name. Initially using reworked BMW straight-sixes, Bristol Cars eventually went on to employ American V8s (and more recently, V10s) in their creations, which became representative of the powerful, yet somewhat eccentric nature of the aristocratic community that embraced them. Famous owners included fashion designer Paul Smith, Peter Sellers, Jean Simmons, Stewart Granger, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and the former Prince of Thailand – whose Surf Blue Bristol 402 convertible we brought along to the shoot. Shame the Spitfire he flew couldn’t have joined us, too.

The haunting hangars of Bicester Heritage

It’s by no coincidence that we’ve chosen to photograph our charming gaggle of Bristols at the site formerly known as RAF Bicester. Abandoned by the Royal Air Force in 1976 (albeit serving as a contingency hospital during the Cold War era), the site is currently being restored in order to serve a second life as Bicester Heritage: a mecca for classic car enthusiasts, with its history-steeped outbuildings housing an increasing number of dealers, restorers and other associated businesses. The large hangar now taken up by storage firm Historit once played home to a fleet of Bristol Blenheim bombers – and that’s not the only association between these two stalwarts of British aviation (and later, motoring) history.

Family fortunes

Upon arrival, we’re greeted by a cheerful young chap named Philip White. As the business development manager at Bicester Heritage, he’s no stranger to overseeing shoots at his place of work, photogenic as it is – but this one holds plenty of personal weight, as his grandfather was one George S.M. White. For those unfamiliar with the name, George was the brains behind Bristol’s move to expand into the automotive arena in the immediate post-War years. In turn, George S.M. White’s grandfather (Sir George White) was responsible for not only founding the Bristol Aeroplane Company, but also pioneering the idea of the ‘motor bus’ in the early 1900s.

The meals on the bus...

You might have been wondering why a behemoth of a bus looms large over our congregation of elegant Bristols, so, allow us to introduce you. Her name is Ruby, she was born in 1968, and she was one of a fleet of rear-engined Bristol RELH coaches each capable of a genuine 100mph, delivered new to the UK bus operator, ‘Red&White’. She’s also pretty good at hosting lunch meetings, as we soon found out. While scoffing, we discuss the demands of restoring such a vehicle with its loving owner Jonathan Radley, who remembers the exertions of removing each of its 47 timber-framed seats himself, in order for them to be re-trimmed. He also shows us some of the complementary vintage suitcases he sourced for its luggage racks from antique markets, at which point Philip discovers that one bears the name ‘George F. White’. As some say, it’s a small world…

Closed ranks? Not any more...

Speaking of which, the community of Bristol owners is often regarded by outsiders as one with closed ranks – a typecast perpetuated by tales of late ex-owner Tony Crook refusing to sell cars to those who didn’t meet his prerequisites. That’s simply not the case today, as Philip White explains: “In the early days, the company was very open, embracing its links to aviation and holding events, open days and suchlike. Recent years have seen the company return to this open-armed approach. In my experience, the owners are all very nice – they just appreciate the cars for their style, limited production numbers, and the company’s aviation background. Today, the company styles itself as the car division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, which is a nice pointer to its history.” And, much to our surprise, the cars are just as approachable as the ownership circles that regard them so highly.

A gentleman’s supercar?

Particularly impressive is the 400 (the black car pictured), Bristol’s first production model. Despite being produced in 1949, the controls are light, the two-litre six repeatedly fires up on command, and it even has the staple quirk or two that make it a Bristol. In this case, it’s the metal chain that secures the ‘suicide’ door to the bulkhead, acting as a failsafe against you being unceremoniously ejected if the primary lock fails during a spirited hillclimb. At the other end of the chronological scale, the Fighter is equally ‘Bristol’ in character. As Bristol Cars’ sales director Ian Wallace readies its Dodge Viper-sourced V10 engine, we prepare ourselves for auditory Armageddon – but in true understated Bristol style, our ears are met only by a subtle thrum that conceals the promise of its abundant power. Perhaps the only gentleman’s supercar of the Noughties?

Ever-widening appeal

As we marvel at the characterful assemblage, Philip ponders whether the charm of classic Bristols might soon widen their appeal. “I think the elegant, understated and sometimes quirky look of the cars will increasingly appeal to a younger generation in the coming years. Take the 1960s V8s – they represent incredible value for money, and possess a rare appeal in comparison to more mainstream marques. For example, the outlay required to buy a 964 or 993 Porsche 911 could get you a golden-era, ‘best-of-British’ Grand Tourer with four seats, plenty of comfort, and bags of power. Personally, I’d love to smoke around London in a 1968 410.” With that, he takes a look at his 1940s Omega (the very watch his grandfather wore as the first 400s rolled off the production line), giving us the universally recognised ‘it’s getting late…’ signal. Our time might be up, but we have the feeling the allure of Bristol ownership will prosper long into the future.

Photos: © Amy Shore for Classic Driver

Several of the cars pictured above are currently for sale via the official sales department of Bristol Cars, as you can see below. You can also find several other classic Bristols for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

OXBLOOD: URBAN RIDER’S BMW STREET SCRAMBLER

It’s not often that a color inspires a bike build—and certainly not a color such as ‘oxblood.’ But that’s how this BMW police bike came back to life.

After an engine rebuild in the mid-90s, it was decommissioned and put into storage for 18 years. Then Will Starritt of the London motorcycle gear store Urban Rider spotted it—and decided to press the BMW back into service.

“The idea was to explore the proliferation of the word ‘oxblood’,” he says. “I’d never heard that word until last year, when we saw several leather products using it as a color description—such as Roland Sands jackets.”

It turns out that ‘oxblood’ doesn’t literally mean staining leather with the blood of a beast: it’s a traditional color that caught a second wind around three years ago, being a burgundy with an extra hint of dark brown and purple.

Urban Rider may focus on selling gear, but Will and his business partner Andrew are confirmed petrolheads who enjoy building the occasional custom. So they took the R80 back to bare metal and started work, with the help of mechanic Len Harvey.

The bike is now sporting one-off stainless headers, a GP-style silencer, a modified sub-frame and a one-off single seat unit built by Lee at Viking. The seat unit can be removed and replaced with a twin seat, as shown below.

Other classy details include a Monza-style petrol cap, Renthal bars, a compact lithium-ion battery, a Daytona headlight and speedometer, and a stunning paint scheme by Willy at One Off Design.

It’s an elegant twist on the current vogue for ‘street scramblers’: German engineering with a dose of classic English style. If it gets your blood racing, you’ll be glad to know that ‘Oxblood’ is for sale: contact Will via the Urban Rider website.

Urban Rider | Facebook | Images by Gary Margerum

via BIKEexif