Very Subtle: Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato

Source: Aston Martin Club Spain, re-posted by Aston Limited

The beautiful Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato, spotted in Zurich, Switzerland.

Visiting Santa at The Suffolk Punch Trust

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Source: The Suffolk Punch Trust

This weekend we took a trip to The Suffolk Punch Trust to visit Santa and his Elves in the Grotto

We had such an amazing time and it’s a great place to visit with the kids, with lots to see and do.

…and of course, as always, we managed to find a classic vehicle or two!

The Oldest English breed

The Suffolk Punch horse is the oldest English breed of working horse. The Suffolk Punch Trust was founded to help protect the critically endangered Suffolk horse through its established breeding programme, raising public awareness and training a new generation of professionals to work with these iconic heavy horses.

The Trust has two large buildings housing a magnificent collection of artefacts. They show various aspects of rural Suffolk life, mostly in relation to Suffolk horses.

Heritage Museum

This exhibition hall contains lots of small items, many now housed here after the sad closure of the Suffolk Horse Society’s museum. The hall is divided into areas, each illustrating a different theme. These sections include:

• The history of the Suffolk Punch breed, the 250 year old Colony Stud and The Suffolk Horse Society.
• An area on Suffolk’s three big engineering firms: Ransomes of Ipswich, Garretts of Leiston and Smyth of Peasenhall – all leaders in making horse-drawn machinery.
• Artefacts showing the manual and child labour that was common in farming.
• Farriery displays showing the craft of the wheelwright and the blacksmith.
• An insight into rural life and what people did when not working on the farm.
• Info on the Suffolk breeds we have on the farm – plus equipment for keeping livestock.
• A look at the local industry linked with arable framing – brewing, malting and milling – and modes of transport in Suffolk, all dependent on horses.
• A collection of vintage grocery items from East of England Co-operative Society.
• A Ferguson tractor – a machine that spelt the end of the agricultural horse.

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Jem Wolfie: The Brunswick Club

Source: Instagram/jemwolfie

Check out the amazing artwork displayed outside The Brunswick Club in Melbourne, Australia.

Social media superstar Jem Wolfie, took to Instagram recently to show off the incredible piece to her 2.2m followers.

Coming Soon: 2009 MG TF 135 85th Anniversary

Coming soon we have our limited edition 2009 MG TF 85th Anniversary. Finished in Ice White with Aubergine  leather. One of only 50 cars produced this is a very unique and rare machine and with just 38000 genuine miles on the clock a great one for the collectors and investors.

Please excuse the wet weather and dirty marks on the car. It has just arrived from Sheffield to visit today but later in the month, when she is here to stay she will fully prepared, cleaned and detailed.

Autocar Review – MG TF 85th Anniversary by Richard Bremner

What is it?

This is the second limited-edition version of the reborn MG TF from SAIC-owned Nanjing’s MG Motor; the first was the TFLE500 that marked the rebirth of this ageing sports car and the resumption of car production at Longbridge.

The 85th anniversary being celebrated is of the MG marque itself, which continues to survive despite the traumas experienced by its multiple former owners and periods of dormancy.

A quick glance at this new TF, complete with fashionable stripes, assorted decals and new alloys is likely to have you concluding that this is yet another cynical limited-edition dress-up, but in fact, there’s a little more to this 50-model run.

What you get besides the stripes is a chassis that’s been revised to a surprising extent, this the key surviving element of a now-abandoned TF makeover that would have seen it receiving all-new skin panels, a new interior and very probably a relaunch as a new car.

Sadly this programme was killed by the recession (the only MG Motor project that Chinese owner SAIC has canned as a result of the downturn – but there are others under way) and the view that it would not have been possible to price this revised car high enough to recover the development costs. That’s a pity, because the TF still has strengths.

But what we are seeing are quite extensive chassis changes, which start with a switch to rear wheels that are an inch wider than the front pair, the first time the TF has run in this configuration.

The 215/40 16 rear rubber compares with 195/45 16 tyres up front, and combines with roll stiffness that has been increased by 40 per cent with the aim of improving the TF’s (already good) on-the-limit progression. Reducing roll better controls a quirk of the MG’s suspension geometry, its roll-centre migrating more than is desirable when body-roll builds up. So when it gets to the limit, says senior engineer Ian Pogson, ‘It strokes your cheek rather than slapping it.”

Thicker Eibach anti-roll bars and upgraded Bilstein dampers generate the extra roll resistance. There are no changes to the TF’s electric power steering, but the chassis alterations are claimed to improve feel, while SAIC’s Longbridge engineers reckon that the TF’s supple ride has largely been preserved.

What’s it like?

Better and worse, in truth. The MG’s primary ride over big bumps is tighter and more fluently controlled and its responses are a little sharper, but its previously above-average ability to soak up sharp shocks has been compromised.

So over the typical British B-road, where it has always excelled, there’s now some patter and crash over small bumps, and a bit of kickback through the steering wheel that wasn’t there before. These disturbances aren’t uncomfortable, but they do damage its refinement.

On the positive side, this TF is a sharper weapon in fast-charged bends, and on a track it’s likely to be more responsive, more progressive, better controlled and more fun. The steering responds more consistently too, although turn-in could still be sharper.

In other respects this is the TF that we know so well, with its odd and (for the tall) cramped driving position, low-rent furnishings, and lack of sophistication. That said, the feeling that you are conducting a machine, rather than a highly insulated transportation device, is part of its appeal, and a key reason why it provides surprising entertainment, especially given its grippy, capable handling, and willing engine.

Source: MGTF: Your guide to MG cars and the MG TF

There’s something to celebrate. Something exciting. Something fun. Something British. It’s the 85th Anniversary of the MG marque.

Yes, we’re doing it in true MG style. We’re honouring this milestone in motoring history, the incredible achievements on road and track, the beautiful iconic cars and the fact that MG cars are still made right here in the UK by MG Motor. We’re marking the occasion with the launch of a limited edition MG TF 85th Anniversary.

The MG TF 85th Anniversary is truly a driver’s car. A car for the connoisseur. For people who take their fun as seriously as they take handling and performance. Who love that wind-in-the-hair experience of top down driving.

The MG TF 85th Anniversary has the classic mid-engined rear wheel drive layout for near 50:50 weight distribution. And the 1.8 litre multipoint fuel injected engine. Of course, the MG TF 85th Anniversary has to be a really special car to mark the occasion. Which is why it benefits from a special suspension and handling package making it even more sure-footed and responsive through bends, more controlled and confident than ever.

It looks special too. Really special. There are 3 spectacular metallic body colours – Enigmatic Silver, Intense Cassis and Ice White. All 3 colours unique to the MG TF 85th Anniversary. And there are head-turning, rally-style asymmetric stripes running purposefully over the bumpers, bonnet and boot. And new breathtaking, boron finish “Twist of Pepper” alloy wheels. Plus “85” decals on both doors and on the rear. And that’s just the outside.

Inside are stunning Aubergine leather seats with matching door casings. “85” logos are to be found on the chunky alloy gearlever knob and sill tread strips. A windstop is thoughtfully provided too. Then when you want to ease back on the throttle and chill, you just flick on the air conditioning and that classy CD tuner ICE system. Cool music to your ears.

The MG TF 85th Anniversary. A real excuse for a celebration.

TF 85th Anniversary: Specifications

(Mid engine, rear wheel drive configuration)

Kerb Weight

1180 Kg

Heating and Ventilation

“On/off” air conditioning with recirculation control, 4 face vents and 4 speed fan

Interior

Aubergine Leather seat facings and bolsters
Silver finish/aubergine door inserts
Leather trimmed steering wheel
Silver alloy gearknob with TF 85 logo
Leather gearlever gaiter and handbrake grip
Driver’s heel mat and left footrest
Driver’s sunvisor, passenger’s sunvisor with vanity mirror
Armrest incorporating cubby box with lid, cup holders and sunglasses slot
Ashtray and cigar lighter in console
Carpeted boot
Windstop
MG branded floor mats

Electrical Features

Twin 70mm projector halogen headlamps
Electric windows with one shot down facility on driver’s side
Heated door mirrors with powered adjustment
Courtesy operated interior lights with switch-off delay
Glove compartment, boot and loadspace lamps
4-diode LED reading lights in mirror
Front fog lamps and twin rear fog guard lamps
Two-speed wipers with intermittent wipe
Panel light and console illumination rheostat

Instruments and Controls

Analogue clock, Speedometer with digital odometer.
Tachometer.
Fuel gauge.
Temperature gauges for oil and coolant.
Warning lights for: brake system failure/handbrake on; main beam; direction and hazard warning indicators; low coolant; low oil pressure; no charge; rear fog lamps; SRS airbag warning; ABS failure, EPAS fault, Coolant temperature overheat, service indicator display, gear change light and boot open warning; Orange illumination for instruments and CD/Tuner

Body and Exterior Trim Features

Enigmatic Silver, Intense Cassis or Ice White metallic paint finish85th Anniversary graphics on doors and brushed effect door sill finishers
Asymmetric striping to bumpers, bonnet and boot
Rear parking sensors
Body colour moulded front bumper with bright mesh
Body colour side intake grille surrounds with bright mesh
Body colour door handles and mirrors
Tinted glass
Large diameter twin stainless steel round tailpipes
Woven acrylic fabric black hood with tinted glass rear screen and heated rear window
Tonneau cover

Wheels

16″ “twist of pepper” alloy wheels in Liquid Boron finish manufactured by Rimstock®
Instant mobility system comprising sealant gel and electric pump
Front tyres: 195/45 R16
Rear tyres: 215/40 R16

In-car Entertainment

Clarion® single slot CD/Tuner with MP3 connectivity
2 front speakers and tweeters, 2 rear speakers
Rear mounted aerial

MG TF 85th Anniversary fuel consumption

mpg (L/100km): Urban: 25.4 (11.1), Extra Urban: 46.3 (6.1), Combined: 35.8 (7.9).
CO2 mass emission (combined) 185 g/km.
The fuel consumption figures were obtained in tests carried out in line with the Passenger Car Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions Information Regulations 2001 (Refl ecting EU Directive 80/1268/ EEC as amended by 2004/3/EC). However under normal use, a car’s actual fuel consumption figures may differ from those achieved through the test procedure, dependant on driving technique, road and traffic conditions, environmental factors and vehicle condition.
Mid engine, rear wheel drive configuration

Engine & Transmission

N Series, 1.8 16v 4 cylinder dohc
Engine Capacity: 1796cc
Power: 135PS/99.3kW @ 6,750rpm
Torque: (NM/rpm) 165 NM @ 5,000rpm
0-60mph: 8.4 secs
Top Speed: 127mph/205kph
Five speed manual gearbox

Brakes

Front: ventilated front discs and 4-pot callipers
Rear: solid discs and callipers
Electronic anti-lock braking system

Suspension

Independent suspension all-round
Coil springs and gas fi lled mono-tube Bilstein® dampers. Equipped with Eibach® uprated Sports anti-roll bar set
Double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension

Steering

Electronic speed sensitive power assisted steering
Tilt adjustable steering wheel

Safety

Driver’s airbag
Passenger’s airbag
Height adjustable head restraints
Door side intrusion beams
Seat belt pre-tensioners activated by airbag electronic control unit
High tensile steel tubes in windscreen pillars
Impact absorbing front and rear end structure
Laminated windscreen
Centre high mounted stop lamp
Locking and Security
Remote central door and boot locking with superlocking
Locking fuel filler cap
Key and remote operated boot release
Bonnet release located in boot
Thatcham category 1 perimetric/volumetric anti-theft alarm and immobilisor

Fuel

Recommended Fuel: 95 RON unleaded
Fuel tank capacity: 55 litres