Tag Archives: Car of the Day

Car of the Day .. Lotus Elan +2S!

In 1948, Colin Chapman CBE, founded one of the most iconic British racing car companies of all time. Lotus is profoundly known for, not only their Formula 1 team but for their 2 seater sports cars sold in the tens of thousands.

 

 

 

The Lotus Elan was the first Lotus road car to use a steel backbone chassis with a fiberglass body. This style of construction was to be repeated in subsequent Lotus models for nearly three decades.

 

 

In 1971 the Elan +2S was upgraded to include the Big Valve engine and then renamed to the +2S 130. This stunning example of the +2S is owned by one of our clients. The vehicle has undergone a full nut and bolt restoration and resprayed by a Lotus specialist in Lagoon Blue with a contrasting silver metal flake roof. Alongside the full restoration and paint job, the car has had a full interior re-trim, making this look as good as the day it rolled of the factory line in Norfolk. In fact, with under a thousand miles on the clock this may be one of the best examples of an Elan left in the country. Unfortunately, it’s not known how many rolled out the RAF based factory; however, it is estimated at roughly 3,300 with under 1,000 left on the roads today.


 

Give our fantastic Quotes team a call for quote on your classic car! Call us on 023 8026 8351!

Car of the Day..MG B V8!

The 1975 MG GT V8. A true British icon in the motoring world. Sporting a 3,258cc Rover V8 engine pushing the cars top speed at 125mph, impressive for the age!

 

 

The Rover V8 engine powering the MG first featured in the infamous Rover P5B. Widely known for being used by high-ranking government ministers and ex-prime ministers such as Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher. The engine even has royal roots with Queen Elizabeth the second, owning a P5B that also guest-featured on the BBC Motoring show “Top Gear”.

 

 

Although the short lived production line of the V8 variant only spanning 3 years, MG managed to produce 2591 models out of the factory in Abingdon, Oxford. The average price of the MG back then would only set you back £1,925! That’s a mere £16,901 in today’s money, not a bad price to pay for a lightweight, convertible, 2 seater sports car! Unfortunately, the fuel crisis following October 1973’s middle east war was the first domino to fall in the V8’s demise, as well as many other big engines of the time. The car was dropped in 1976 mainly due to the fuel crisis. However the legacy lives on as it is still the most popular modification of the MG, swapping it to the glorious Rover V8 engine.

 

 

A massive thank you to our client Mr B for letting us showcase his MG in the stunning Vermillion red paint.

 

Give our friendly team a call for a quote on 02380 268 351!

The Car of the Day is the Luxury Ford Zephyr Zodiac 1962!

 

The Ford Zephyr is an executive car that was manufactured by Ford of Britain. The Zephyr and its luxury variants, the Ford Zodiac and Ford Executive, were the largest passenger cars in the British Ford range from 1950 to 1972.

 

The Zephyr Zodiac or Zodiac Mark I was an upmarket version of the Zephyr launched at the London Motor Show in autumn 1953. It had two-tone paintwork, leather trim, a heater, windscreen washers, whitewall tyres, and spotlights. The engine had a higher compression ratio increasing the maximum power to 71 bhp.

 

 

In 1956, the Consul, Zephyr, and Zodiac were all restyled. The six-cylinder cars’ engines were enlarged to 2,553 cc with power output correspondingly raised to 86 bhp. The wheelbase was increased by 3 inches to 107 inches and the width increased to 69 inches. Top speed increased to 88 mph and the fuel consumption was also improved at 28 mpg‑imp.

 

 

Mr P has snapped some fantastic photographs of his 1962 Ford Zephyr Zodiac, the height of luxury. Mr P has insured his pride and joy through ourselves here at AIB with a bespoke classic car policy. The policy includes optional extras such as UK and EU breakdown cover, Motor Legal Expenses Cover up to £100,000, Courtesy Vehicles for the duration of repairs and Agreed Value.

 

 

If you have Ford Zephyr or another classic car would like covered under a specialist classic car policy, call our friendly motor team on 02380 268351 for a bespoke quotation.

Car of the Day…JBA Falcon

JBA has been building classically modelled cars since 1982. The original company, JBA Engineering, was named after the first letter of the surnames of the three partners that founded the company, Ken Jones, John Barlow and Dave Ashley. John Barlow later left the company and JBA Engineering continued producing kit car packages until 2004, when the company was sold. Since the sale no kit or factory-built cars have been made, and in 2007 JBA Engineering was dissolved by Companies House.

 

 

 

In 2008, JBA Motors set in motion plans to re-engineer and resurrect the JBA Falcon, and 2011 was relaunched at The National Kit Car Motor Show – Stoneleigh.

 

JBA Motors currently manufacture the BMW based JBA Falcon as both a kit package and as a fully factory finished car.

 

 

The JBA Falcon is a permanent fixture in the traditional roadster sector of the kit car market. It was one of the first Cortina-based kits appearing in 1982.

 

 

Here is a perfect example sent in by Mr K. The classic policy we offer cover agreed value, choice of repair and salvage retention. Mr K can sleep well at night knowing we have his lovely asset fully covered for any eventuality.

 

 

 

If you have a JBA Falcon that you need insured call our classic car/kit car team on 02380 268351 for a bespoke quotation offering all the optional extras with legal expenses cover, breakdown cover, excess protection, agreed value, choice of repairer, salvage retention and many more!

Car of the day… Austin Mini GT!

Today’s car of the day is Mr A’s classic Austin Mini GT.

 

 

Mr A’s Austin Mini GT has been insured with us here at AIB Insurance on a classic car policy meaning that his car is taken care of always. Agreed value is one of the many benefits that comes with a classic car policy as well as salvage retention.

 

 

Mr A also received a discount on this policy because of the length of ownership on this vehicle. If you also have a classic car that you have recently bought or have owned for a long period of time and would like to get a quotation call our specialist quotation team on 02380 268351.

 

 

If you also have photos of your classic car and would like to share them, email them to info@aib.co.uk. Thank you Mr A for sharing your photos!

Car of the day…Austin Healey 3000 1967!

Today’s car of the day is Mr J’s Austin Healey 3000, 1967.

The Austin Healey 3000s are powered by a robust and torquey 2,912-ccstraight-six which is exactly what they were named after.

 

 

Originally built as a left hand drive vehicle, Mr J had his Austin Healey restored by Murray Scott Nelson, after having it imported from the USA, and it is now a right hand drive vehicle. Mr J took his Healey to Murray Scott Nelson as they are Austin Healey restoration specialists.

 

 

After having such delicate work done to his vehicle, it was only right that Mr J made sure his car was always going to be looked after and came to us at AIB to take out a classic car policy.

 

 

A classic car insurance policy means that Mr J gets a choice of repairer which means that only approved garages and approved parts will be used on his vehicle. The benefits don’t stop there, Mr J also has agreed value on his vehicle with his insurers, salvage retention and legal expenses cover.

 

 

If you also have a classic car and would like a bespoke quotation on your vehicle give our classic car team a call today on 02380268351. If you also have a classic car and would like to share your photos then email them to info@aib.co.uk.

 

Car of the day… Triumph GT6 1972!

Today’s car of the day is the Triumph GT6 1972.

The Triumph GT6 is a 6-cylinder fastback version of the Spitfire, styled by the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, and produced over 7 years from 1966 to 1973.

 

 

The 6-cylinder engine was tuned in the GT6 to develop 95 hp (71 kW) at 5000 rpm, and torque of 117 lb.ft at 3000 rpm. Its top speed was reported as being 106 mph and could accelerate from 0–60 mph in slightly under 12 seconds.

 

 

Mr G has his Triumph GT6 insured on a classic car policy here with us at AIB insurance. This means that Mr G has agreed value on his car as well as salvage retention.

 

 

Another benefit of the classic car policies is choice of repairer meaning that Mr G can choose where his car is taken and only have approved parts used on his car. If you have a classic car that you would like to have insured on this kind of policy, call our specialist team for a bespoke quote on 02380 268351.

 

 

If you have a classic car and would like to share your photos with us, email them into info@aib.co.uk.

Car of the day…Mercedes Benz 190E 1993!

Todays car of the day is the Mercedes Benz 190E.

In the early 1980s Mercedes decided its new small saloon, the 190, with its low-drag body and sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, would be the ideal base for a rally car to outfox the BDA-powered Ford Escorts and the Talbot Lotus Sunbeams that dominated rallying at the time.

 

 

Initially, buyers could choose only a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine model, with power steering, central locking and electric mirrors as standard. A year later however, a 2.0-litre diesel arrived, and a sporty 2.3-litre 16-valve flagship was announced in 1985.

 

 

The six-cylinder versions arrived in 1987, with the 2.6-litre 190E and 2.5-litre 16-valve arriving in 1988 when the range was slightly facelifted. Finally, a 144mph Evolution variant was imported in 1990. Mr W has his own Mercedes 190 E insured with AIB insurance on a classic car policy.

 

 

A classic car policy means that Mr W gets the benefits of agreed value on his car, salvage retention, choice of repairer and legal cover expenses.  Mr W can rest easy knowing that his car will be taken care of in a garage of his choice and knowing that only Mercedes approved parts will be used.

 

 

If you have a classic car that you would like to get insured on one of our classic car policies give our specialist teams a call today on 02380 268351. If you also have a classic car and have any photos you would like to share, email them to info@aib.co.uk.

Car of the Day… Lotus Elise S!

Today’s car of the day is the dazzling Lotus Elise S.

The Lotus Elise was originally set out to be named 111 (pronounced One Eleven) but last minute the Lotus chairman, Romano Artioli, decided to change the name to Elise after his granddaughter.

 

The Elise S, with its supercharged 1.8 litre engine is certainly quick; 0-60 takes just 4.2 seconds. Mr N’s Lotus Elise S is insured on a high net worth policy and came to us at AIB to ensure he got the best deal.

 

 

High net worth policies include agreed value, salvage retention, choice of repairer and legal cover expenses. This means Mr N can relax knowing that he has the choice of any Lotus approved garage that will only use Lotus approved parts for his car.

 

 

Do you have a high net worth vehicle that you would like to insure with us and know that you can rest easy knowing that it will be taken care of properly? Then give our specialist team a call for a bespoke quotation on 02380 268351.

 

 

If you also have a high net worth car and would like to share your photos with us, send them in an email to info@aib.co.uk.

Car Of The Day… Ford Escort RS 1983

The car of the day is the Ford Escort RS 1983.

Ford Escorts have dominated the British roads since global rally fame in the seventies. However, the Ford Escort RS1600i was the first RS Escort since 1980.

 

 

It was introduced in September 1981, and production ceased in July 1983. Ford planned to build only 5000 for homologation requirements, but it sold so well that 8659 cars were made (2600 sold in the UK).

 

 

Mr D has insured his Escort RS with us here at AIB where we can provide policies that offer agreed value, choice of repairer, legal expenses cover and salvage retention, perfect for classic cars!

 

 

If you also have a classic car that you would like a bespoke quotation for, call our classic car team on 02380 268351. Equally, if you have a classic car and have any photographs you would like to share, email them over to us at info@aib.co.uk.