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.

Pass Your Driving Test

It takes 45 lessons for the average learner to pass their driving test. With lessons ranging in price from around £25 per hour up to somewhere around £50 per hour, learning to drive is an expensive thing to do.

Even without the financial element, just the amount of time required for these lessons soon adds up. However, 17-year-old Josh Burford, from Lichfield, managed to come up with a strategy that allowed him to pass his test after just 5 on-the-road lessons and a little over a month after his 17th birthday.

He summed up how he did it in 12 steps:

1. Don’t wait until you’re 17 to start learning to drive
Josh had driving lessons with Young Driver from the age of 10. Because driving lessons take place on private property, they’re completely legal. They take place in dual-controlled cars with qualified instructors, as the aim is to learn in the same way you would at 17. Mock road systems are set up, and there’s other learners practising at the same time, so you get experience of other traffic. Josh had a lesson every couple of months or so, to keep his skills up, meaning that before he even became a teenager he knew how to work the clutch and the gears. As Josh explains: “When I had my first on-the-road lesson at 17, the instructor recommended I put straight in for my test.”

2. Apply for your provisional licence as soon as you can
You don’t need to wait until you’re 17, you can do that from 15 years and nine months. Do it early so there’s no hold-up when you turn 17 as you won’t be allowed to learn on the roads without one.

3. Ask around for recommendations of instructors
Look for an instructor you can build a rapport with and bear in mind some have very long waiting lists. It is worth contacting them a few months before your 17^th birthday to enquire.

4. Practice makes perfect
Josh explains: “In the 50 days between turning 17 and taking my test I practised with my parents when it was possible, just on day-to-day journeys we would have been making anyway. If they were taking a trip to the shops, I drove. It might only have been 10 minutes, but it all helps. And it meant I had to keep practising parking!”

5. Book your theory test as soon as you can – and make sure you prep for it
You can take your theory test at 17 as long as you have a provisional licence. Josh passed his theory test nine days after his 17^th birthday. Josh said: “Get the Highway Code and start reading it at least three months prior to your theory test. Do a little bit when you can, here and there. Also, use an app with theory test practice exams and hazard perception tests too.”

6. Pay attention as a passenger
It’s easy to zone out in the car or look at your phone. But pay attention and ask questions. Look at lane discipline and get a feel for roundabouts and more complicated road systems.

7. Book your test as soon as the instructor says you’re ready
You will need to pass your theory test first though. When Josh first applied for his driving test, he couldn’t get one for five months – which he booked so he knew he had it in the diary if all else failed.

8. Use an app to monitor for driving test cancellations
Josh used a paid-for app called Testi which issues alerts for cancelled tests. His directly booked test wasn’t until November, but after booking one in August via Testi, he then managed to get one in July,  which he took and passed.

9. Do your test somewhere you know
Josh recommends being somewhere you know: “There are reports that people are travelling the length and breadth of the country to find an earlier test. However, I wanted to be somewhere where there was a likelihood I would know the roads. Travelling hours away would have added to my stress levels.”

10. Spend some time getting to know your car
Are you confident about putting on the lights, windscreen wipers and so on? You may be asked to show these in the test and you want it to be as automatic as possible.

11. Use YouTube to help you prep
Josh explains: “I watched YouTube videos on the driving test routes near to me, so I could familiarise myself with them. Sometimes I went and drove them, other times I just watched a video. I think it helped me to stay calm in the test as it seemed a little more familiar, even though mine ended up being one I’d just watched online.”

12. Don’t panic
Josh’s final advice is about keeping your cool. He said: “If it feels like it’s all going wrong, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed – and if you have, use it as experience. You’ll know more about what to expect next time round.”