Cars...

Welcome to the first in our Manly March pictorial series: Cars.

Most guys love cars, whether it be tinkering under the hood and restoring old engines, or test driving that latest stylish sports car. We can all remember our first car, and the pride with which we drove around in it, no matter how beat up it was. It was probably more functional than fashionable; though most of us now own a vehicle which is a happy compromise betwixt the two. Some may even be fortunate enough to own more than one, or even one for every occasion...

whether it be off roading on the farm with One's muddy all wheel drive Range Rover...

or a arriving for cocktails at this week's trendiest bar in One's sleek black shiny town car

Men have an option to demonstrate their own unique style - something which the ad agencies love to exploit....

The hurried businessman...

The bachelor off to the lake house for the weekend...

or the retired couple's Sunday Picnic.

It doesn't matter whether you are into the classics...

or the modern...
BMW

BMW originated from the Rapp Motorwerke aircraft engine manufacturer in 1917. After the end of WWI in 1918, BMW was forced to ceased aircraft engine production under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The company shifted into motorcycle production in 1923, and into automobiles in 1928.

I have owned several BMWs and Audis, and have been much happier with the Audis all ways round...

Audi

Audi has it's origins in 1899 when August Horch established a motor car company in Cologne. After being pushed out of the company after its creation, and subsequent companies he formed, he finally created the brand Audi (because he was no longer able to trade under his own surname as it was deemed a patent of his previous companies). He choose Audi - the singular imperative form of Audire - to listen (Horch is German for Hark / Listen).

In 1932 Audi merged with the original Horch company, along with DKW and Wanderer to form the Auto Union - hence the four rings which make up the Audi symbol, with the motto Vorsprung durch technik (progress through technology).

We now move on to the luxury cars. One should be so lucky...

I enjoy driving, and can't imaging taking a back seat (mind you, there are no traffic jams in the country)

And just when One thought One had spent enough money on One's car - thinking it was the ulmimate accessory, it turns out even it has its own accessories...

Many luxury car manufacturers have co-designed and manufactured their own brand of Swiss watches in order to complete the 'lifestyle' options for their exclusive customers. Bugatti takes that idea to the next level, with their exclusive watch complete with dashboard holder...

But then Bugatti takes everything to the next level. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the ultimate in performance: a 1001 hp, 8 litre, 16 cylinder engine with 1250 Nm at 2200 rpm, a top speed of over 400 km/h, four turbochargers and permanent four-wheel drive. The Veyron debuted at the IAA in Frankfurt in September 2001. Only 300 are made per year.

The accessory which makes the most sense to me is the umbrella compartment. Rollers have a concealed umbrella in the frame of the door. No hassle about where to keep that wet umbrella, or how to alight elegantly in the rain without man-handling your brolly out of the interior...

Then there are the others...

Masserati

The Maserati brothers Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore and Ernesto were involved with car manufacturing from the beginning of the 1900s. They built 2 litre Grand Prix cars for the Italian manufacturer Diatto. In 1926 Diatto suspended its production of race cars, leading to the creation of the first Maserati and the founding of the Maserati Marque. In 1968 the company was bought by Citroen, then by de Tomaso in 1975, then by Fiat in 1993, which sold 50% of the company to Maserati's long time rival, Ferrari. In 2005 it was split off from Ferarri and sold to Alfa Romeo. Complicated!

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo was founded as Societa Anonima Italiana Darracq (SAID) in 1906 by the French automobile firm of Alexandre Darracq, with some Italian investors. It has always been known as a grand prix and sporting manufacturer. It is now owned by the Fiat group. of note is the fact that Enzo Ferrari founded the Scuderia Ferrari racing team in 1929 as an Alfa Romeo racing team, before becoming independent in 1939.

Ferrari

Despite its grand racing pedigree, for me Ferrari will always be the cliche of the mid-life crisis. Perhaps that's why it's symbol is a prancing stallion! (although I'm ashamed to admit that I rather fancy their V4 Motorcycle...

Bentley and Rolls Royce

In 1884 Henry Royce founded an electrical business, and mechanics. He created his first car, the 2 cylinder Royce 10 in 1904. Later that same year he met Charles Rolls, and together they formed the Rolls-Royce Ltd.

I find the partnership remarkably touching, Royce coming from a struggling family up north who ran a failed flour mill, and who himself only had 1 year of formal education. Rolls couldn't be more different. He was born in Berkley square, London, the third son of the 1st Baron of Llangattock. He attended prep school, then Eton, before going on to matriculate at Trinity College, Cambridge.

When WWI broke out it became apparent that a luxury car manufacturer like RR would be vulnerable, so they turned their attentions to building aircraft engines for the war. This led to the necessary expansion of their Derby factory. The company made it through the war. Large cars like its Silver Ghost were gas guzzlers, and so they developed the RR 20

Above: The Silver Ghost

Below: The smaller Twenty

In 1931 Rolls-Royce acquired the smaller rival car maker, Bentley. Soon after WWII the standard Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars were often identical apart from the radiator grille and a few other minor details.

Jaguar

The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in 1922 by 2 motoring enthusiasts, William Lyons and William Walmsley.

Above: An SS Sidecar

By 1935 they had developed the SS Jaguar, a 2.5 litre saloon, with 2 sports models, the SS90 and SS100. The name was changed to Jaguar after WWII to avoid the unfavourable connotations of the initials SS.

Above and Below: Subsequent Jags

In 1968 they merged with the British Motor Corporation, subsequently subsumed into Leyland, which was later nationalised as British Leyland. As such the company was listed on the LSE in 1984. It was later acquired by Ford in 1989.

Above: The classic torpedo shaped Jag that has become an icon

Below: The modern Jag coupé

Mercedes

The Mercedes Benz first appeared in 1926, under Daimler Benz, but has its origins in Daimler's 1901 Mercedes nad Karl Benz's 1886 Benz patent motorwagen (regarded as the first automobile).

Every car needs a home...

even if you have no room for a garage that should not deter you from collecting cars if you so wish...

Thanks for reading the first post in the Manly March series. Tune in tomorrow for Fashion Friday.

Addendum:

Dear Millie - Although in no way a definitive list of manufacturers - how could I Ieave out Aston Martin! Here are a few pics just for you...

Above: The Aston Martin Vantage

Below: The Aston Martin Vanquish

Above and below: Their sporty DBS

Something a little more classic - their 007 DB5, first used in the James Bond film Goldfinger in 1964 (although in the novel Ian Flemming had Bond driving a DB Mark III, but when the film came out the DB5 was their latest model)...

Other classics...

their 1937 4 seater sports...