H & H Classic Motorcycle Auction

On 30th October, the National Motorcycle Museum will be host of the Classic Motorcycle Auction from H&H Classics. With over 265 classic motorcycles and vintage scooters up for sale, the auction will be one of the biggest bike auctions held by H&H. The bikes on offer actually cover more than 100 years of bike history and have an estimated value of more than £1.5 million!

Along with the wide range of bikes, the auction will also feature eight lots that are being sold for charity. These include paintings by children that have been done on unused fuel tanks from Norton Motorcycles. The proceeds from these will go to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Pass the Smile.

One of the highest-valued bikes is a Tony Jefferies 1972 Triumph Trident Ex Works Racer. This rare bike, one of just 8 ‘Lowboy’ framed bikes, is estimated to sell for between £45,000 and £55,000. It has been described by the Rocket 3 Owner’s Club as ‘probably the most complete and original of all the Works bikes’ and was part of Richard Darby’s (regarded as one of the world’s best classic Triumph restorers) collection prior to his passing in 2023.

A limited-edition 2005 Suzuki GSX-R750 K5, commemorating the late racing legend Barry Sheene, will also be up for bidding, with an estimated price of £10,000 to £12,000, alongside a 2021 Rickman Metisse Steve McQueen Tribute, one of only 300 produced, expected to sell for between £17,000 and £19,000.

Another restored bike in the form of a 1942 Indian 741 B, with an estimated value of £17,000 to £19,000 will be on offer, as well as a rare 1970 Indian Interceptor, one of only 25 ‘Floyd Clymer’ models ever made. This one has an estimated value of £21,000 to £23,000.

Other interesting lots include a 1975 Norton John Player Special, expected to sell for between £11,000 and £13,000, and a 1975 Suzuki RE5, offered without reserve, which has just five ‘push kilometres’ on the clock and is likely to be the last ‘brand-new’ Suzuki RE5 left to come to open market.

The auction will be open for public viewing at the National Motorcycle Museum from 1pm on Tuesday, 29th October, with further viewing available on the sale day, 30th October, from 9am.

More information and registration details can be found at www.handh.co.uk.

Restoring One Of The Oldest Surviving Buses

A fantastic local organisation, the Ipswich Transport Museum has just launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £100,000 to help them restore the oldest surviving Eastern Counties bus. The vehicle in question is known affectionately as the “Tinkling Tillings” due to the distinctive noise it used to make when it was moving.

The body restoration work is expected to begin in late 2024 or early 2025. Once completed, the bus will be featured in the museum’s collection and used for demonstration rides at special events.

The volunteers who run the museum have completed ambitious restorations like this before so this is a project they can certainly bring to life. They have previously completed major restorations of an 1880 Starbuck horse tram and 1903 Ipswich Electric Tram, and are currently restoring a 1930 Ransomes trolleybus.

Gibbs Aquada – The Amphibious Car That Almost Was

I recently heard about the Gibbs Aquada and, after a bit of research, thought it sounded like a vehicle that could have been something very special but, for whatever reason, it never reached anywhere close to its full potential!

Amphibious Cars

Amphibious cars have never quite worked out. If you look at the Amphicar, for example, they do indeed work on the road and in the water. However, they aren’t particularly impressive in either mode. That’s where the Aquada could have been the game changer.

Gibbs Technologies, based in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, was the brains behind the project that claimed to produce the world’s first high-speed amphibian (HSA), capable of over 100mph on land and over 30mph on water.

From the front, the Aquada had a look that could be compared to a beefed-up Mazda MX-5, largely because it borrowed its headlights from the MX-5. Inside though, it had a much more boat-like appearance. There were no doors, entry was boat-style, climbing over the side and the cockpit had three seats instead of the two you’re probably used to in a car. You could say it’s McLaren P1 style with the driver in a central position but that is probably taking it one step too far!

The Aquada was powered by a 2.5-litre V6 engine from the Land Rover Freelander which was positioned in the middle of the vehicle. It was rear-wheel drive and had a four-speed automatic gearbox, which delivered 175bhp, enough to get the Aquada from 0-60mph in around 8.5 seconds and up to a top speed of 110mph (on the road, obviously).

Even in the water, it wasn’t exactly slow – it could reach speeds of 30mph which, again, is much more appealing than most other amphibious vehicles.

Why The Aquada Didn’t Quite Make It

Despite its impressive design and capabilities, the Gibbs Aquada faced several challenges that, ultimately, would lead to its disappearance. Perhaps the main issues were in the build and production.

Building a vehicle that functions as both a high-performance car and a speedboat is no easy task, and the price tag reflected that. At launch, the Aquada was priced at over £150,000, putting it out of reach for most drivers.

On top of that, regulatory issues posed significant hurdles. As the Aquada had to meet both automotive and maritime regulations, the process of getting it approved for road and water use was complex and time-consuming. These challenges, combined with the high production costs, limited the commercial success of the Aquada, and production eventually had to be stopped.

The Future Of Amphibious Vehicles

While the Gibbs Aquada may not have become a mainstream vehicle, it does go to show that things that are said to be impossible can be done. What I find most exciting is that there are still some examples of the Aquada floating around (excuse the pun!)

To me, that means its journey might not be completely over and, at some point in the future, someone might try to finish the Aquadas story. If that happens, we still might see them out on the road and in the water.

Specifications of the Gibbs Aquada

Aston Martin DB12 Goldfinger Edition

To celebrate 60 years of the Aston Martin and James Bond relationship, Aston Martin has released the DB12 Goldfinger Edition. Limited to just 60 units, this car has been created by Aston’s personalisation and bespoke service – Q by Aston Martin.

DB12 Goldfinger

It was back in 1964 when the DB5 first appeared alongside James Bond in Goldfinger. That provided the inspiration for the new DB12 colour scheme of Silver Birch. The colour makes the Goldfinger Edition look great but, this is taken one step further with 21” multi-spoke wheels with a diamond treatment finish, black brake calipers, and bespoke gold side strakes. There’s also a a special Aston Martin logo in silver with black enamel and a chrome ‘Q’ fender badge

Inside the DB12 Goldfinger Edition, you get fluted leather Sports Plus seats that feature a Prince of Wales check perforation, much like a traditional James Bond suit. This pattern extends to the door inserts, headliner, and treadplate. If that wasn’t luxurious enough, you also get 18k gold-plated accents on the drive mode rotary dial, roller controls, and gear selector!

If you’re a James Bond fan, then you’ll appreciate the ‘eight of hearts’ embroidered onto the driver’s sun visor, a reference to the iconic pool scene in Goldfinger where the card plays an important role.

DB12 Specification

The Aston Martin DB12 Goldfinger Edition is powered by a 4.0-litre V8 Twin-Turbo engine, producing a power output of 680PS (approx 671hp) and 800Nm of torque.

The DB12 also features Aston Martin’s latest infotainment system, developed entirely in-house and, for the Goldfinger Edition, the Bowers & Wilkins halo audio system comes as standard.

VIP Treatment

Each DB12 Goldfinger Edition comes with a collection of bespoke gifts. These include a custom car cover, a luxury key presentation box, and a Silver Birch Speedform model. One of the most unique offerings to new owners is a 35mm film strip from the iconic Furka Pass scene in Goldfinger. To add even more exclusivity, a limited-edition golden copy of Aston Martin magazine is included too.

Additionally, owners will receive a magnum of 2007 vintage Champagne Bollinger. The champagne is individually numbered and presented with four exclusive Bollinger 007 glasses, housed in a bespoke Globe-Trotter Air Cabin Case. The case even mirrors the design of the car, featuring a Silver Birch exterior and Prince of Wales check interior.

“The partnership between Aston Martin and the James Bond franchise is something that is always treasured. It is an incredible occasion to be able to recognise six decades of this partnership with an extraordinary special edition, and pay homage to the very first—and perhaps most famous—Aston Martin Bond car.”

Marco Mattiacci, Aston Martin’s Global Chief Brand and Commercial Officer

Aston Martin’s Next Generation

The DB12 Goldfinger Edition is part of Aston Martin’s next generation of vehicles, which began with the introduction of the DB12 in 2023. This generation also includes the new Vantage, the DBX707, and the recently unveiled Vanquish.

Deliveries of the DB12 Goldfinger Edition are set to begin in the second quarter of 2025.