Talking Classics With Simon Benton

Simon Benton has always had a love of Minis. In particular, the first Mini he ever experienced – the one gifted to his Mother for Christmas in 1977.

For those of you who don’t know, Obie is a 1967 Austin Mini 850. However, this isn’t any ordinary Mini, because Obie has been fully converted into a Tesla-powered electric classic car. Before being converted by Electric Classic Cars, we were lucky enough to work on Obie in our Suffolk workshop.

We recently had a chat with Simon to find out more about his very special Mini.

The story of your Mini, Obie, has been heard by a lot of people. For those who haven’t heard it though, what makes Obie different to other classic Minis?

Whilst it looks like any other Cooper from the 60’s the main difference with this one is under the skin. This one is quiet, impossible to stall at low revs and has a bit more power than it did originally.

When you saw Obie in your parents’ garage in 2018, how long had it been since you had last seen it? And how did you feel coming face-to-face with the car again after so many years?

I hadn’t properly seen the car for nearly 30 years as it was buried in the family garage, effectively ‘hidden in plain sight’. I had started stripping it down for restoration in the early 1990s and I remembered we had no engine for it as the original had a cracked block and smashed gearbox. On uncovering it I knew the bodywork was really rotten from too many winters on salty roads and it would need extensive repairs but it would be worth saving. My sister and I learnt to drive in it in the 1980s and there are lots of memories associated with this little car.

How did that feeling compare to seeing your fully restored Mini, now with an Electric motor powering it?

Seeing the car again for the first time all finished at the 2021 London Classic Car show was quite emotional after so many years. This was the mini that got me interested in cars generally and the maintenance and tuning of them. Thanks to time in the garage with my father with this car, I learnt how to repair, service and tune minis and the many other cars I had too. The car now is super easy to drive for my daughters in street mode (100 bhp) yet offers fun on the circuit in track mode with 300 bhp.

What has surprised you the most about the newly restored electric Mini?

How clever and hidden the conversion has been, not impacting on the internal and external appearance of the car.

Are you planning any more work on the Mini?

Not at the moment as for now, it’s job done.

Are you planning any more restoration projects?

I’m always keeping an eye open, not sure what yet but it will likely be a bit different.

What is it like to drive?

Having raced minis in the past, this one now has the power these little cars deserve and need to complement their legendary handling. Running original suspension and drive through the front wheels, 0-60 is sub 5 seconds and the handling is great thanks to an improved 60-40% weight balance.

What do you like the most about Obie?

That it’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about restoring a classic car or undertaking a project like this?

Work out what you want from the project, how much time and money you can afford, setting a realistic budget. Add a contingency and a plan B in case things don’t go to plan.

Have you always liked Minis or was it more of a case that this Mini was special to you so you felt you had to do something special with it?

Both, I’ve always liked minis but this one was special as it’s the first one that got me hooked.

Do you think that this is something that could be done on a large scale as more and more people turn to electric vehicles, or do you think it’s better suited to passionate enthusiasts like you?

Yes, as a designer I can see that it definitely can be done on a larger scale if there is a public appetite as is now being demonstrated for minis by Recharged Heritage with the Paul Smith electric mini. These are less powerful than Obie but perfectly adequate for everyday driving.

What’s the most challenging thing about living with an electric classic car?

Future preservation – ie not using it in all weathers.  Minis just have to smell moisture and they start to rust!

Would you do anything differently if you could go through this process again?

Yes, too many things to individually list here but it would all lead to the same end result. We were one of the first to do this Tesla conversion and there was a lot of learning along the way!

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Talking Classics With Abigayle Andre (She Talks Cars)

Abigayle Andre, better known as She Talks Cars is a true car fanatic! She has a wealth of knowledge about all things cars and she has driven some very cool vehicles over the course of her personal and professional life.

We were fortunate enough to sit down with Abigayle and pick her brains on some car-related topics.

For those who don’t know, what is She Talks Cars?

She Talks Cars is what I’m known as. So it’s me! But it’s also the go-to place online to find out how to buy a car, save money on motoring along with general car tips, reviews and updates on what’s going on in the car industry. You’re also likely to find some videos of me goofing around too. She Talks Cars is on Tiktok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. 

Where did your love of cars come from?

Childhood! My dad and uncles loved their cars and I have always looked up to them. My Uncle Greg used to sell super cars and my other Uncle, Vernon would buy himself everything from Shoguns to Rollers. He’s not with us anymore but his love for cars and driving lives on in me. Our whole family are into their motors. Carribeans love cars! 

What made you set up She Talks Cars?

I used to work for Audi UK and VW UK as a customer relations manager, so I’ve always been the go-to person in my circle when it comes to cars.

But I left the car industry years ago. She Talks Cars came about in such an unintentional way- but it feels like fate. 

Just before lockdown I got a new car. It was always in and out of the garage with issues and because of that I had quite an impressive stream of courtesy cars. Then Lockdown happened and the situation with my car continued. This time I was given a Range Rover Velar as a courtesy car. My business was closed at the time due to restrictions and I thought it would be fun to review the car. I also thought it would be helpful to people who couldn’t test drive due to restrictions. 

It turns out it was fun to do and helpful to others. It grew from there. 

What are your predictions for the future of the automotive industry?

I think the obvious one is that we’re going to see more electric cars on the road… including more legislation to dial down the amount of ICE cars driving around. I ‘hope’ that’s coupled with more support for people to get into an electric car, better charging infrastructure, accessible infrastructure and support for private companies to get involved and make it happen. Oh and lower VAT on public electric charging! Government… if you’re reading. 

It’s also no secret that we’re also going to see the agency model rolling out in many manufacturer main dealers over the next few years. 

This could spell the end for smaller franchises and competitive pricing for consumers. I hope that’s not the case. 

I think new players with alternative solutions to car ownership are going to enter the market… there will be more car subscription/car sharing and alternative ownership services in the future in my opinion. Particularly in big cities.

Do you think there is still a place for classic cars as we move into the future?

I bloody hope so. It’s history! It should be protected and preserved. 

I think the premium to run one and keep it on the road will increase though. 

There’s also the rise in converting classics to electric too which is exciting… if done respectfully of course. 

Are there any upcoming cars you’re particularly excited to see launch?

I’m looking forward to seeing Porsche’s new fully electric Macan and the Lotus Eletre. And the Tesla Cyber Truck if it ever surfaces. There’s some cool stuff coming out. 

Obviously, we love classic cars – are there any classics that catch your eye?

There are many classics that catch these eyes! I’ve got eyes bigger than my pockets. 

I love classic Mercs and Porsche. 

We have a 930 turbo but I’d really like to add a Pagoda 230SL and a Porsche 964 to the gang. I’d better get saving then eh? 

What are your goals for She Talks Cars?

The constant goal and my ‘why’ is to help people become the expert on buying a car and looking after the one they buy. 

I want to grow the reach and audience so I can help more people. 

My personal goal aside from this is to present more TV and make more creative content. I really enjoy it! 

How can people find out more about She Talks Cars?

By joining our community of course.. which is on Tiktok. 

But you can find me on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. The website will be back in 2023… so watch this space!

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Talking Classics With Nigel Bromley

Nigel Bromley is the Head of Brand Marketing for Lotus and a very good friend of Bridge Classic Cars. We recently had the chance to pick Nigel’s brain about all things Lotus and classic cars.

Nigel has been in the automotive industry for a long time so it was great to also hear his thoughts on the future of the industry and where classic cars might fit in.

You’re currently Head of Brand Marketing for Lotus, what does a typical day at Lotus look like for you?

I am really lucky to have a fascinating role at Lotus, I work with amazing people and I enjoy virtually everyday. I start about 8am, I’m not a good morning person and need several cups of tea to get going. I tend to finish about 6pm and go for a walk with my wife and our dog. And then I might return to a few emails after supper. But everyday is different – a combination of our day to day activity, progressing projects, and liaising with colleagues in other departments and our global colleagues. What is great is to feel the passion for Lotus from colleagues as far afield as Dubai, to Michigan to Shanghai. When you work with our design teams, or our engineering and manufacturing teams, you want to do their efforts and ideas justice.

What was it that led to your passion for cars?

A spring day in 1976, when my Father returned home from a new job in his new company car, an Alfa Romeo Alfasud. In the beige wasteland of the mid,  when everyone had Allegros and Avengers, it was the most beautiful and exotic thing I had ever seen. It was a massive improvement on the outgoing car, which was a Morris Marina estate, which even as a young child I knew was pretty terrible.

The Lotus Emira recently won Sports Car of the Year – what is it that makes that car stand out from the rest?

This was an award that we were delighted to receive and it was a genuine honour to collect the award on behalf of Lotus.

Perhaps the best way to sum up would be the citation from the judges, who included a number of highly respected motoring writers and commentators, who praised the Lotus Emira as “not just brilliant to drive but also marks a new chapter in the manufacturer’s history as its final petrol car. And while Lotus has a fine history of making true drivers’ cars, the Emira marks a quantum leap for the brand in terms of technology, comfort and refinement.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!

What does the future hold for Lotus?

We are evolving from a UK-based sports car company into a global performance brand. So, it’s a thrilling time to be at Lotus.

Some at Hethel have referred to Lotus as being a 74 year old start-up, by which we mean the mentality of the people here being extraordinarily creative, flexible, and quick at doing things. We will be able to look back on this period with pride that we were all part of the revolution at Lotus and will help rethink the motor industry, just as we have done over the years. What does the future hold? Well we are half way through our strategic plan, Vision80, which will see us deliver in total six all new models by 2026. We are on track as we have launched or unveiled three of them already and so there are another three to come in the next 36 months. That focuses the mind…!

What classic cars catch your eye?

I have been lucky enough to own a few classics such as TVRs and Classic Range Rovers – so I must like V8 engines that never (ahem) breakdown! When I’m not talking about cars at work, I often go to classic car meetings and enjoy the fantasy of dreaming about other cars I’d like to own, often with some of my friends who are lucky enough to own classics of their own – Tony Bourne its all your fault! I’m not answering the question am I? I’d like an AlfaSud for nostalgia reasons, a P38a Range Rover Holland and Holland because it’s so bad it’s brilliant, a Series III Land Rover because it’s heroic, a Ford Fiesta XR2 (Mk2) because I had one as a young man, a Lotus Elan Plus 2 because it’s underrated, a Mini Cooper because its cool, Aston Martin DB7 Vantage because of Andrew Noakes’s book. I’d also like an Esprit and an Elise Mk1. Only things stopping me are lack of money and lack of space. And I’ve singularly failed to win a car with Bridge Classic Cars…come on Molly I thought that Scirocco was mine!

The future of the motor industry seems to be moving quickly towards electric, how is Lotus responding to this?

As I touched upon earlier, we have a global strategy that we are following, called Vision80, which outlines an ambitious growth trajectory, with significant achievements to date.

Do you think there is still a place for classic cars in an electric future?

Of course. I firmly believe that there is a place for classic cars. It is our industrial heritage, and where the car has come from and where it is going is what makes this industry so interesting and exciting. Personally I can see both co-existing happily. People still ride horses don’t they.

Bridge Classic Cars and Lotus partnered last year to give away a very special Lotus Elise, for those who don’t know, what made that car so special?

We are closely aligned with Norwich City Football Club. We donated one of the last Lotus Elise to the Canaries’ charity – the Community Sports Foundation and it was a competition prize that was run by Bridge Classic Cars who managed the competition and conducted with us a very efficient and effective campaign for which we are very appreciative. £100,000 was raised to enable even more people in the region and from around the county to benefit from the wonderful work of the Community Sports Foundation which provides inclusive environments for people with disabilities. The car is unique with elements of the NCFC club crest on the bodywork and the club crest on the footwell mats on both the driver and passenger sides. It was won by a Lotus and Norwich fan which was perfect and a lovely send off for the iconic Elise which was in production for 25 years.

What car are you most looking forward to seeing launch in the near future?

Our next few cars are stunning. Lotus has such an exciting future, just keep watching over the next few years. I will give you a clue – we have already launched the world’s most powerful and quickest hypercar, the Evija which is an EV, followed by the Emira, our last petrol car. We have unveiled the new hyper SUV, an EV called the Eletre. The next car, Type 133 is something very beautiful indeed.  

The Lotus Elan just turned 60, how did you celebrate?

We celebrated this wonderful and iconic sports car’s Diamond Anniversary with a very down-to-earth gathering of Elans at Hethel a few weeks ago, which was close to being 60 years on from the car’s unveiling. More than 60 examples gathered for a ‘Picnic at Hethel’. Cars from the early Series 1 through to the last of the Elans, the +2S 130, joined from all over the UK. It was great fun, a fitting tribute and one of the largest gatherings ever seen of solely Lotus Elans. It was a friendly and informal way to celebrate the legendary sports car that not only transformed Lotus, but changed the world’s sports car market forever.

Where can people find out more about everything Lotus related?

Our website www.lotuscars.com and whichever social channel you enjoy we have an account from Instagram to LinkedIn – we are even the fastest-growing car brand on Tik Tok!

Enjoyed Talking Classics With Nigel Bromley?

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