Tim Pitt

On the road in the new BMW iX3.

The first cars will arrive in UK showrooms this Saturday. The 469hp four-wheel drive version goes on sale first, priced at:

50 xDrive: £57,750
50 xDrive M Sport: £60,250
50 xDrive M Sport Pro: £61,750

BMW i8 Roadster is also on display in Farnborough.

Like the i3, a car that now feels ahead of its time.

Dare I suggest they’re a bit of a bargain, too? Used prices start from £26,000 for an i8 coupe…

I thought it was BMW UK’s heritage E30 M3 from a distance, but this immaculate 1990 325i Sport is arguably even cooler.

Powered by a 170hp 2.5-litre straight-six, it came with a limited-slip diff, M-Technic bodykit and 15-inch BBS rims. And headlight wipers! 😍

The 1602 Elektro was BMW’s first electric car.

A prototype demonstrated at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich used 12 lead-acid batteries and a 32kW Bosch motor.

It supported the Olympic marathon, but couldn’t complete the full 26.2-mile distance on a full charge…

Here’s where it all began for the Neue Klasse.

The 1800 was introduced in 1961 and helped establish BMW’s reputation for small, sporting saloon cars (as opposed to slow-selling limousines and bubble cars like the Isetta).

‘While modern cars do their utmost to isolate you from the driving experience, the Lancia welcomes you in with open arms.

‘Like a shaken-up bottle of San Pellegrino, it fizzes with effervescent energy.’

Read my review of the Lancia 2000 Berlina in the new issue of Auto Italia magazine.

I was on the judging panel for this one. The list is a bit US-centric, inevitably, but hopefully worth a read.

Now live on Robb Report: robbreport.com/motors/cars/...

Sorry for the slow response, Antony. This is the third CS Mustang I’ve driven now, and definitely the best resolved. Maybe having the MagneRide dampers (standard on the Dark Horse) helps. Still doesn’t feel outrageously quick for 800hp, though…

Honda Accord spotted in Kenley.

A first-generation 1982 saloon (Honda also offered a hatchback) with the 80hp 1.6-litre engine.

Last MOT was in 2023, on 57,238 miles.

Spotted a new Corvette ZR1 at Clive Sutton.

Not officially imported here – unlike the Stingray, hybrid E-Ray and Z06 – its vital stats are pretty spectacular: 1,064hp, 828lb ft, 0-60mph in 2.3 sec and 233mph.

Yours for £425,000 in this spec – although this one is now sold.

Inside Clive Sutton’s new Mustang CS800DH.

This demo car’s had the full Alcantara treatment – including the headlining. Other, less blue specifications are available…

Recaro seats are heated and cooled. There is also an MGW short-shifter for the six-speed manual gearbox.

Styling add-ons for the Sutton Mustang CS800DH include a splitter, side skirts and vented front wings – all made from carbon fibre by Anderson Composites.

The car is lowered on Steeda springs with stock Ford MagneRide adaptive dampers.

Wheels are bespoke 20-inch Vossen alloys.

Under the hood (sorry, bonnet) of the Sutton Mustang CSH800DH.

Ford’s 5.0-litre ‘Coyote’ engine gains a Whipple supercharger to boost power from 453hp to 800hp. Torque is up to 642lb ft.

A bespoke Borla ATAK exhaust adds some decibels to the V8 soundtrack, too.

Sorry Jim, I missed this. Yes, it’s a new car built from scratch using the original Tipo 33 blueprints, and powered by a new old stock Maserati V8.

Saddled up in the Ford Mustang CS800 DH.

Tuned by London-based American car specialist Clive Sutton, its 5.0-litre V8 is supercharged to 800hp.

Prices start from £135,000, including a brand new RHD Mustang Dark Horse.

‘An open-gated manual shifter sits proudly at centre stage, with no infotainment to be found. Who needs it with eight intake trumpets screaming inches behind your head?’

Read my review of the beautiful R33 Stradale by Automotive Artisans.

Now live on Robb Report: robbreport.com/motors/cars/...

‘The flat-six barks like an angry doberman, then settles to a tense, brooding idle. Tuned by Litchfield, it gains larger turbos, an Inconel exhaust and an ECU remap to achieve 920hp at 7,300rpm.’

Read my RML GT Hypercar review in Copacetic magazine.

New issue in the shops now!

Jaguar XJ6 spotted in Caterham.

Slowly being reclaimed by nature…

First drive of the new Wood & Pickett Mini by Callum.

Amaranth Purple paint looks blue when it catches the sunlight. Formerly chromed parts such as the bumpers and grille are ceramic-coated.

Reviews coming soon to MiniWorld magazine, Robb Report, City AM, MSN Cars and more…

The third Wood & Pickett Mini is now in build.

Paint looks like a retro BL shade, but is actually Porsche Bahama Yellow.

Ian Callum says they originally planned to build fewer than 10 Minis, but he’s been surprised by the W&P’s popularity. The order bank now runs to 27 cars.

A look inside the Wood & Pickett Mini.

Quilted seat trim was stitched in-house by Callum. The custom dashboard is walnut and leather, with piano key switches in billet aluminium.

My favourite detail? The window winders, which are repurposed as up/down electric window controls.

Under the bonnet of the Wood & Pickett Mini by Callum.

Fuel-injected A-Series now displaces 1,380cc, with a new cylinder head, high-lift rockers, uprated cooling, a custom ECU and a stainless steel Maniflow exhaust system.

Power output is somewhere between 100 and 110hp.

Wood & Pickett Mini’s Amaranth Purple paint is the same colour as the original 1997 donor car.

It’s had a completely new shell from British Motor Heritage, however, complete with Cooper Sports Pack arches and bespoke 6.5x13-inch Callum alloy wheels.

Here’s the second W&P Mini by Callum – and the one I’m here to drive.

Known as ‘Purple Myrtle’, it was commissioned by a comedian called Paul Smith (not that Paul Smith, confusingly).

He is planning a three-month road trip around Europe shortly after taking delivery this week.

Test mule for the Wood & Pickett is this Mini 40th special edition.

All donor cars must be post-1996 models with the 1.3-litre fuel-injected MPi engine.

Callum can convert your car or source a suitable donor. Minis can also be imported to the US under the 25-year rule.

Aston Martin Callum Vanquish 25.

A restomod redesigned by Ian Callum, with a 580hp 6.0-litre V12 and (in this car) a torque converter auto ’box instead of the original automated manual.

Here’s my review from 2020 on Robb Report: robbreport.com/motors/cars/...

Here is the first Wood & Pickett Mini by Callum – built for David Gandy.

Production of this restomod is already underway in Warwick, with prices from £75,000.

Options include a five-speed gearbox, air conditioning, an Audison sound system and a reversing camera.

Paying a visit to Callum Designs in Warwick – and meeting founder Ian Callum.

Here is one of the Skye prototypes, now wearing all-terrain tyres.

The ‘off-road sports car’ has two electric motors and a 42kWh battery, giving 250hp, 4WD and 170 miles of range.

Yours for approx. £80,000.

‘I began my education in Turin, surrounded by coachbuilders and the legacy of masters such as Gandini and Giugiaro.’

James Male speaks to Andrea Mocellin, designer of the reborn Bertone Runabout – a roadster inspired by the 1969 concept car.

Now live on MR: www.motoringresearch.com/features/ber...

‘While coupe versions of the 911 generally command higher prices than convertibles, the opposite seems to be true for the 356.’

Read my in-depth Porsche 356 buyer’s guide, from pre-A ‘Gmünd’ originals to the Carrera models and Speedster.

New on 9WERKS: 9werks.co.uk/articles/ult...