Great Classic Cars

Say it with four wheels

2012-01-31T22:30:00.000-08:00

Forget flowers, if you want to give the gift of love make sure it has four wheels. Getting away on February 14th for Valentine's Day is more fun and more memorable when you give the gift to share - a day out in a stylish classic car. And prices start at just £95 - not much more than a decent bunch of flowers.

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we're seeing unprecedented demand for vouchers and car hire for Valentine's Day. As well as self drive hire packages we also offer a range of romantic gift experiences that combine our cars with Valentine-themed routes and lunch stops starting from our 10 bases across the UK.

Our fleet of romantic cars includes perennial love-themed favourites like our Alfa Romeo Spider and Jaguar E Type. Or why not treat him or her to a dream drive in their favourite car - with 70 to choose from we have everything from Morris Minors to the remarkable gullwing DeLorean which featured in the Back to the Future films.

To find out more about our Valentine's Day packages call 01527 893733 or click on the link on the home page at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Repair or bodge, the workshop connundrum

2012-01-31T00:09:00.000-08:00

Here at Great Escape towers mechanic Darren is on week two of the restoration of one of our 1972 Jaguar E Type convertible cars, which is based on our Yorkshire classic car hire fleet. This car has done sterling service for 5 years as a hire car but in 2011 customer feedback indicated that attention to the bodywork was overdue. At the first opportunity we brought it back to our Worcestershire workshop and set to.

Before Darren joined us in December we had received a quote of £2,600 to do the bodywork. The car was several different versions of Old English White, had the start of a serious rust problem on the front and rear valances and various stone chips that had turned brown and crusty. On firsty inspection this seemed a fair price for what would be a fairly extensive partial restoration.

When we got the car on the ramp at Worcestershire we realised that there was much more involved. The front valance needed cut away and large areas of new metal welded in (we considered a replacement panel but at £775 it was hard to justify). At the back the only sensible solution was to cut out the acres of rust and filler and fit new repair panels. Elsewhere the lower edges of the bonnet had large holes and the doors were going the same way. As with many similar projects, much of this wasn't immediately visible on casual inspection.

Planning out the job we realised that there was at least 10 days of labour, £500 in parts and at least the same again in painting. Either that £2,600 quote was going to be wrong or it was for a bodge. In the worst case it would have ended up being a £5,000 job, the excuse being 'we've found more than we expected.' Having spent £100,000 a year with garages for the last 3 years, this is a common excuse but it just doesn't wash with me anymore. A quote should be comprehensive and garages need to get out of the habit of expecting to change the price because they couldn't get the quote right in the first place. That's why I decided to take everything in-house and set up my own workshop.

So with the car on the ramp we set to work. The E Type was mechanically strong and the underside was refreshingly free of plating. But it had clearly been bodged and nursed along in the past. In particular the nearside rear valance and wheelarch were poorly reprofiled in filler, so we had to chop that all out. We ordered two rear valance panels from Martin Robey which arrived next day and Darren got to work. Fitting the offside panel was relatively straightforward but the nearside one requires the fuel tank to be removed. This is a simple task made complicated by the design of the E Type - removing it is fiddly. The repair panels went on easily and fitted perfectly, Robey even providing a convenient indentation to enable Darren to profile the old and new panels together with a light skim of filler.

The smaller holes on the doors and bonnet were repaired with new metal, leaving a conundrum over the front valance. The rust had destroyed the first 1-2 inches of the trailing edge of the valance on each side, meaning that the wheel arch line was lost. With a replacement panel out of the question we have decided to weld in new metal and then cut to the original wheel arch line using our second white E Type (which is based at our Worcestershire site) as a template.

We have also checked over the mechanicals of the car including overhauling the carburettors and replacing the nearside front manifold. This manifold was badly cracked following a historical bodge repair that had failed again. When we removed it we found the manfold had cracked several times in the past and been rewelded in three different places. V12 E Types have four manifolds, two on each bank, and strictly speaking you need to replace the two in line at the same time. This is partly because the replacement units are not an exact match for the originals. They are very difficult to remove and at £140 a time and based on advice from Jaguar specialists we work with, we decided to trial fit the single one by realigning the other manifold and the exhaust. A bodge? We don't think so. A bodge doesn't work long term, this solution will and it makes use of perfectly serviceable parts rather than replacing them.

There is another week of work before the car goes to the paint shop to be sprayed in a consistently white shade of Old English White.

When finished the Jaguar E Type will go back on hire with Great Escape Classic Car Hire's fleet in Yorkshire. To find out more call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/

5 classics, 1 great day

2012-01-19T22:20:00.000-08:00

Join us on our first classic car rally of 2012 and experience five of our favourite classic cars on some of our favourite driving roads through the Cotswolds. Places are strictly limited to ensure that everyone gets the maximum amount of time in the cars during the 8 hour trip.

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire rally is being held on the 24th March 2012, starting at our Cotswolds site near Stratford Upon Avon. The day starts at 9am and finishes at around 5pm, taking in over 120 miles of roads plus lunch at a great pub. The cars will include our new DeLorean DMC-12 gullwing coupe, Jaguar E Type, Jensen Interceptor, Aston Martin DB6 and MGB V8.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has been organising rallies and events for corporate and private clients for many years. We brought this experience to our private customer rallies in 2011 and have extended our diary of events in 2012 based on their popularity. They are a great way to experience several cars from our fleet without spending money on hiring each one for 24 hours. Many customers then come back and hire their favourite cars for more time.

The price for the Cotswolds Classic Car Rally on 24th March 2012 is £295 for 1 person or £545 for 2. A couple can attend with just one driver for £495. The price includes use of the cars, insurance, route notes, lunch and fuel. Places on the 24th March 2012 rally are strictly limited and selling fast - to find out more call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

2012 - a year of celebration

2012-01-18T00:11:00.000-08:00

What the heck do you buy the man who has everything? It's the cry across the land from households with 30th, 40th and 50th birthdays looming. At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we are regularly on the receiving end of this problem, as customers call us for ideas on how to treat the man in their life with a gift he'll really want and really appreciate.

Classic car hire his is a great way to celebrate a 30th, 40th or 50th (or even 60th or 70th) birthday because it is so unusual. And for 2012 we also have a number of cars on our fleet that are perfect for anyone born in 1962, 1972 or 1982. 2012 is the 30th anniversary of the DeLorean DMC-12 gullwing supercar, the 40th anniversary of our Jaguar E Type V12 convertibles and the 50th anniversary of the MGB - we have two cars built in 1962 itself and others from throughout the production run of this famous car.

Many customers specifically choose our cars because they were built in the same year that the birthday boy was born. They are also chosen to celebrate landmark wedding anniversaries - we have cars on our fleet from virtually every year between 1957 and 2000, so we generally have a car to suit most landmark birthdays and anniversaries.

Our fleet of MGBs, Jaguar E Types and our DeLorean can be viewed at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733 for more details. We have over 70 cars for hire from 8 conveniently located sites in Suffolk, Cotswolds, Shropshire, Yorkshire, Somerset, Lincolnshire, London, Oxford and Northamptonshire. Classic car hire can be bought for any car as a voucher, valid for 12 months or as a gift package experience. You can also book specific dates in advance of course.

Go quirky on your big day

2012-01-16T23:45:00.001-08:00

Your wedding day is the one chance in life to say 'stuff you lot, this is about me'. If that's exactly how you feel then Great Escape Classic Car Hire has some wedding cars that should fit the bill. If you want to be different on your big day then we understand it's not about white Rolls Royces and stretch limos. So we've built up a fleet of unusual and quirky wedding cars that can be hired on a chauffeur drive basis or self drive. And being different need not cost the earth - our hire prices start at just £145 for one of these retro, super-quirky wedding cars.

Our unusual wedding cars include Citroen 2CV, Morris Minor convertibles, Morris Minor Travellers and classic Mini Coopers. For those with deeper pockets we also have Jaguar E Types and Aston Martins. With 8 convenient locations our cool wedding cars are never very far from you - we have bases in Yorkshire, Midlands, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Bath among others.

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we have plenty of experience of hiring cars for weddings. We can provide the car on a chauffeur basis but we generally recommend self drive hire - where you find someone in the wedding party who can drive the car for you. This is always much more fun and generally cheaper. For self drive wedding car hire we also offer a special 36 hour wedding hire package. This means you can collect the car the day before the wedding and return it by lunchtime on the day after - so you don't have to pay for a full 48 hours, which you may not need. We realise that budgets are always tight so we hope this contribution helps.

Our retro wedding cars are available in a wide range of colours from traditional white to blue, green, red and burgundy. You can find out more about our cars on our website at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733 and we'd be happy to answer questions and offer advice.

Are you being served?

2012-01-12T00:03:00.001-08:00

Tesco sales down for Christmas, John Lewis sales up. How can two similar organisations with a similar breadth of products perform differently in the same market? There are doubtless many competing factors, but if my experience of both stores this week is anything to go by, customer service is the key.
Here are Great Escape Classic Car Hire customer service is top of mind right now because we are going through a thorough review of how we work with customers - everything from booking confirmation to vehicle reliability.
Here's what happened. The other evening I rushed into Tesco to get a small trolley of provisions to cover us for a few days. After struggling around the store with a shonky trolley whose wheels wanted to go in four directions at once I arrived at the self service checkout tills. Anyone who has used these monstrous devices knows that they take longer to use than the manned tills, but each time I convince myself it must, through power of logic, be quicker. It never is. Why do stores imagine that customers, who are not trained to operate tills, will process their shopping through a till faster than a trained till operator? Hmm

As I queued for the self service tills with my small trolley a member of staff suggested I use the '10 items or less queue' where there was, ironically, no queue. I pointed out it was '10 items or less' but she said 'no problem.' Fantastic, I thought. Here is an example of good customer service - a member of staff using their initiative to improve the customer experience.

So I rolled up to the empty 10 items or less till. "Sorry, 10 items or less" announced the till operator. "But..." and I explained I had been directed to her. "Sorry, 10 items or less. I can't process you with a queue like this." I looked round to observe the absence of other customers queuing at her till. Having now lost my place in the original 'self service' queue I had to roll my recalcitrant trolley all the way back down the shop and queue up with the normal tills, feeling shame-faced because to other customers it looked like I had barged in.

That is a very good example of poor customer service from an organisation that is giving staff very poor direction. Either Tesco is a flexible, customer service organisation that enables its customer facing staff to make judgements in the best interests of the customer, or it is a more rigid, controlling organisation with rules that are designed to smooth the customer service process. Either are valid, but lacking clear direction means conflict.

Conversely, John Lewis. I have consistently been amazed by John Lewis' customer service, whichever strand of its business I use. Here is a smart, well-presented, professional organisation that knows what its customer service strategy is. On Saturday my wife and I went to buy a couple of blinds for the house. The assistant we approached immediately stopped what she was doing to look at us (in itself a minor miracle in some shops). After checking the stock she explained that they had one blind available in the shop, the other was out of stock. but, she explained, she would check the online status if we would like to wait and see if we could order it online. The blind was available and she proceeded to order it for us using John Lewis' online website and our payment card. 3 days later, the blind arrived.

Now that experience in John Lewis works for customer and company. She could easily have said 'sorry, computer says no' because her job is to work in a shop and sell the stock there. Or she could have said 'sorry, we don't have one in stock, you'll have to buy it online.' That option would have been acceptable but hardly dazzling customer service. Instead she ensured we walked away with exactly what we wanted - because somewhere in the John Lewis organisation she knew this would be a possible outcome and she could achieve it for us.

We walked away satisfied and impressed, more likely to use John Lewis again. John Lewis secured two sales instead of one.

How John Lewis achieves this level of customer service I'm not sure. Certainly it's training and incentivisation schemes must be superb. But I suspect it isn't rocket science - most people want to do a good job. But they need clear direction. Obviously John Lewis has a clear customer service philosophy that permeates through the business on the back of some decent training and management regimes. Equally clearly, Tesco doesn't.

On an emotional level, I don't like Tesco but sometimes I have to shop there. I do like John Lewis and I shop there when I have to and when I want to. Which one do you think will succeed?

As we evolve the Great Escape Classic Car Hire customer service proposition over the next 2 months, this lesson will be high on our agenda. Nobody has a right to custom, it has to be earned.

All white on the day

2012-01-11T22:33:00.000-08:00

The trend towards self drive classic wedding cars has led to Great Escape Classic Car Hire adding more white classic cars to its fleet. The company now has 9 white classic convertibles available for self drive hire for weddings from its sites in Shropshire, Cotswolds, Yorkshire and Suffolk.

The white cars are ideal groom's cars to transport the groom and best man from home to church and then whisk the bride and groom from church to venue. The fleet of white wedding cars includes convertibles from the 1960s to 1990s such as Jaguar E Types, Triumph Spitfires, Porsche 911s, Morris Minors and Triumph TR6s.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire also offers a dedicated wedding package for couples that gives 36 hours hire. This enables them to collect the car on the day before and return it on the day after - without incurring the full cost of 48 hours hire, which they may not need. Prices start at just £200 for 36 hours hire, which includes 300 miles use, comprehensive insurance for 1 driver (extra drivers £25 each) and full UK breakdown cover. Most Great Escape sites also provide a delivery and collection service at extra cost.

Great Escape has a fleet of 70 classic cars to hire from 8 convenient UK locations. To find out more call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Save money on your wedding in 2012

2012-01-09T22:27:00.000-08:00

Here at Great Escape Classic Car Hire we're seeing a massive upsurge in demand for our self drive wedding cars this year. January is traditionally the month when customers start to book their wedding cars. But in previous years the majority have wanted chauffeur driven wedding cars for their big day. Now the trend is heavily in favour of self drive wedding cars, with the groom, best man or father of the bride enjoying the fun usually reserved for the chauffeur.

Great Escape is the UK's largest specialist provider of self drive wedding cars to brides and grooms. We operate a fleet of over 70 classic cars that are available to hire from 8 convenient UK locations. The choice available is massive, ranging from 1950s Morris Minors to modern Aston Martins, with everything in between including coupes, two seat convertibles and four seat saloons. We also have a massive range of colours available (as well as white) to suit any theme.

To make life easier for wedding couples and help them keep the costs down we offer a special 36 hour hire package. This means that they can collect the car on the day before the wedding and return it on the day after, without incurring the full cost of the 48 hour weekend package. Many Great Escape Classic Car Hire sites can also deliver and collect wedding cars to the venue.

You can find out more about Great Escape Classic Car Hire's self drive wedding car hire packages by visiting http://www.greatescapecars,.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Great Escape Cover Stars

2012-01-08T22:27:00.000-08:00

Two of Great Escape Classic Car Hire's most popular convertibles are the cover stars of two classic car magazines this month. Our Alfa Romeo Spider for hire in the Cotswolds, part of our fleet of 4 Alfa Spider hire cars, features in Classic Car Buyer and our MGB in Lincolnshire, one of 5 MGBs we have available to hire, features on the cover of Classic Cars for Sale.

The Alfa Romeo Spider was borrowed by Classic Car Buyer to complete an epic weekend trip to Scotland as part of a feature to see how easy it is to live with a classic car. The car performed faultlessly over 800 miles, which includes a trip to Peterborough and back.

The MGB heads a major feature in Classic Cars for Sale on the 50th anniversary of the MGB.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has the largest fleet of classic cars for hire in the UK, available from 8 convenient locations. You can find out more at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Better than money in the bank?

2012-01-04T22:18:00.000-08:00

Investing in classic cars for some feels like mixing business with pleasure. But with bank interest rates and stocks and shares on a rocky road since 2008, the old car market has been buoyant and investment cash flows into the sector.

If your budget doesn't quite stretch to a mint Miura, here are our top tips for appreciating classics below £10,000. The key at this level, where the car will be used, is to buy well. A poor car will cost money rather than make it. Watch out for our advice on what to ask buyers to ensure you buy well - on the blog shortly.

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we watch the classic car market daily to spot cars that our customers will want to hire. And we buy and sell classics for our fleet all the time. With £10,000 in your pocket here are out top picks for appreciating classics in 2012. Let us know what you think at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

1. Jaguar XJ6/XJ12 Series 1

The lovely old Series 1 XJ Jaguar has been slumbering for a while, stuck in the shadow of the iconic Jaguar Mk2. But as a new breed of buyers enter the market, who grew up with the younger car, it's the Jaguar XJ that is appreciating. Values for good XJs have skyrocketed over the last 12 months but there are plenty about so there are still lots of well priced cars. We think that XJs will go the same way as Jaguar Mk2s. The safe money is in a Series 1 (with the bigger radiator grille) with the 5.3 litre engine but the 4.2 is also worth a look. If your budget is tighter look at a Series 2 - the same car but with a smaller grille and for some reason less loved (misguided concerns about BL build quality that no longer apply after 40 years). We think this strange prejudice will mellow and prices will balance.

2. VW Golf GTI Mk1

The original hot hatch has been promising to appreciate for some time. There are surprisingly few unmolested, well maintained examples of the veedub around, which is seeing values for good cars increase. 12 months ago £3,000 would have bought a good one, now it's closer to £5,000. We think they'll go higher as buyers appreciate their reliability, useability and sheer capability. And with more children of the 1980s entering the nostalgia market for 'cars they grew up with' we expect demand for good cars to increase.

3. Peugeot 205 GTI

While we're on the subject of hot hatches, the more youthful 205 GTI is ripe for investment. Like the Golf, good cars are rare and now command serious premiums - this is usually a sign that the car is on the up. While average cars can be found for less than £1,000, decent 205 GTIs are around £4,000, significantly up on 12 months ago. Like the VW Golf, nostalgia will fuel this market.

4. BMW 6-Series Mark 1

The shark-nose Beemer coupe of the 1980s has lurked in the shadow of the earlier CS coupe for years. We're not sure why - it's a great looking car that's reliable and backed by a decent club and specialist repair network. The ones to go for are the M635, 635 or the Highline. There are plenty about and values have still to rise. We think they'll follow the CS, which has appreciated dramatically in recent years, despite expensive rebuild costs that don't really apply to the better built later car. Although beware - all 6-Series cars rust.

5. Jaguar XK8

In the world of youngtimer classics, not many people would put their money into a Jaguar as a sure fire investment. The big cats usually take years and years to climb out of the old banger world. But we think the elegant XK8 coupe and convertible are different because they look so good - plus the Jaguar brand is seriously on the up at the moment. We are already seeing a lot of hire demand in these cars, up significantly year on year, which suggests that interest is there. The reliability and sheer useability of these cars gives them very broad appeal. Good cars are already starting to rise, we expect that to continue as demand for decent cars outstrips supply.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has 4 out of 5 of these cars (all except the XJ6 sadly) available to hire from one of our 8 UK locations. To find try before you buy call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk.

Cut the cost of classic car ownership

2012-01-03T08:18:00.001-08:00

One thing is for sure, if you own a classic car you’re not in it for the money. Joy comes at a price. Keeping a reliable and in good condition takes cash, sometimes lots of it. This can lead to all sorts of complications – tension, marital strive, scuffles with bank managers, or even worse.
There are many different ways to solve the problem. Lock it away in a darkened garage and forget about it. Sell it. Give it away. On a more practical note, some owners have thought about hiring their classic cars out. There is a buoyant market for self drive classic car hire in the UK, which can provide a useful income to justify owning a classic pride and joy. It also carries much less risk than many owners imagine. For enthusiasts looking for a sound investment, buying a classic car for hire can provide better returns (and more enjoyment) than a savings account.
The trouble is, to set yourself up to hire classic cars is an expensive business – you need a website, specialist insurance, card processing equipment and there are various legal requirements. Typically the break even point is six good hire cars, which requires a typical investment in vehicles of £80,000. It is all too easy to watch profitable car hire revenue dribble back into the overheads of running a small business. And as many people have found, running a classic car hire business may be a dream job but it requires a very broad range of skills, in particular marketing capability.
I started Great Escape Classic Car Hire in 2006 motivated by most of these factors. I began with an Alfa Romeo Spider and a Jensen Interceptor but quickly realised I had a problem. I had the skills to get the phone ringing, but not the capital to build the business with extra cars in order to make it sustainable. That’s when I received two phone calls that transformed the business. Two classic car owners approached me to hire their cars for them. Both had cars but a lack of space and a dilemma – their partners were keen for them to sell, but they couldn’t bear to part with them.
The success of this early foray into leasing in cars from owners – both owners are still involved with the business – led to me developing a range of packages for classic car owners seeking to hire out their cars. Today Great Escape is the UK’s largest classic car hire company with a fleet of nearly 60 classic cars for hire. Over half of those cars are hired on behalf of owners. This includes the largest range of classic Jaguars for hire in the world.
Our experience working with classic car owners for nearly six years has given us an insight into what works best for both parties. So we now offer owners two different ways to hire out their cars. Our Owners Package is aimed at enthusiasts who want to hire their car from one of our existing sites. This arrangement suits owners who lack storage, have bought a car purely as an investment or want an entirely hands-off approach to the hire process.
For owners who want to be more involved, we have developed an Operators Package. This arrangement effectively sets the owner up as a new Great Escape Classic Car Hire location, offering cars from their own home or a local storage unit. Operators are separate businesses linked to Great Escape like a franchise, but without the costs and cumbersome formalities of a franchise arrangement. Operators also have the opportunity to grow their hire fleet through cars that Great Escape sources from other owners who join us under an Owners Package arrangement. This option is popular with owners who are looking for a small retirement income or an additional income stream. If you enjoy meeting customers, then it is also a very rewarding experience.
The returns an owner can expect vary depending on which route they choose. Under the Owners Package we offer two remuneration options, which are dependent on the level of risk the owner wants to take. Our most popular package is a percentage payment, with the owner paying for the maintenance of the car. Alternatively, we can pay a fixed leasing fee with Great Escape then picking up all costs incurred during the hire and maintenance of the car. The Operators Package is more straightforward, with the owner being remunerated for the hire of the car and their work to prepare, handover and maintain the car.
The returns you can expect from hiring a classic car inevitably vary greatly. We know which cars work and don’t work on hire, and the ones that cost a lot to keep reliable and roadworthy. The different returns between a good hire car and an average one are considerable – a good hirer will return two or three times the rate of a savings account and will generally appreciate. When you are thinking about which car to hire it is important to decide whether you want to secure a good return on your investment or simply cover the cost of owning and enjoying a beloved classic. This decision affects your choice of car for hire and will enable you to properly assess the benefits you receive.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire does give you a head start with ensuring a good return. We have become the UK’s largest classic car hire company through successful marketing. Our website, http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ attracts over 20,000 unique visitors every month and is ranked at the top of page one on Google for all key search terms. Consequently, we consistently achieve hire rates per car that are well above the norm for classic car hire companies. Our relationships with event and experience companies, our advertising and our various unique initiatives to boost rental days means that when you put your car with Great Escape you are giving it a very good chance of success.
We have an established set of procedures and systems for managing hires through our network of locations. We use the car hire industry’s leading booking system to process all hires, whether online or by phone. This means that we effectively manage all hires for you and keep life simple, whether you are working with as an Owner or Operator.
Jaguars are consistently amongst the most popular – and profitable – cars for hire. Inevitably E Types and Mk2s top the list, but the XJS and XK8s – particularly the XKR – are growing in popularity. Other Browns Lane models such as the Daimler V8 250 and XJ6 are showing signs of becoming future classic hire cars.
When thinking about hiring out your classic car there are a number of issues to consider. From our perspective, the car must be presentable, reliable (which means it is receiving regular use) and largely standard. Ideally we are seeking cars in popular colours such as red, green, blue, white or silver.
As an owner you need to be mindful of the risks. The risk of loss or damage inevitably increases when you hire your car to someone else. However, in five years of hiring out cars for thousands of hire days I have only suffered one serious accident, which was resolved through our insurer. Our checks and controls ensure that we can always trace every hirer and we do not hire to boy racers. The relatively high price of classic car hire, plus a hefty insurance excess, tends to mean that customers are actually more careful than many owners are with their own cars. Inevitably, wear and tear commensurate with increased usage is unavoidable – stone chips and some car park damage are the most likely problems.
We have continuously refined our packages for classic car owners to ensure that they work in everyone’s best interests. And as a classic car owner myself I am acutely aware of the responsibility we have when we hire your car, whether you work with us as an owner or operator.
If you would like to avoid marital strife and find out more about hiring your classic car with Great Escape, including a personalised analysis of the costs and income, call or email me for an informal chat on 01527 893733 or graham@greatescapecars.co.uk.

New 2012 rally schedule announced

2012-01-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has announced its calendar of 2012 rally events for classic car enthusiasts. The unique events, planned and organised by Great Escape, give customers the chance to drive at least 5 cars from the company's 70 strong fleet over a day of driving.
Great Escape has been organising rallies and events for corporate clients for several years and began making this experience available to private customers in 2011. Following the success of those initial events the company has scheduled seven unique rallies at its Yorkshire, Cotswolds and Suffolk sites.
Each classic car rally includes at least 120 miles driving over 8 hours, lunch, fuel, insurance and the chance to drive at least 5 great classic cars. Unlike most classic car rallies, customers don't need their own car - they just turn up, grab the keys and get away.
"Our 2011 classic car rallies were very successful," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Customers enjoyed the chance to sample different classic cars during one day and share the experience with like-minded people.
"Our 2012 events calendar gives customers a much broader range of events to sample including some of Britain's best driving roads."
For more details on the Great Escape classic car rallies call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

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2011-12-22T00:24:00.001-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has extended the Christmas online Christmas gift buying season with free special delivery posting on all Christmas gift experiences and vouchers purchased before 12pm on 23rd December. This gives customers even more time to select a gift from the company's wide range of unique classic car gift experiences and vouchers.
The free special delivery posting option means that customers are guaranteed to get their gift vouchers in time for Christmas. Vouchers ordered before 12pm on Friday 23rd December will be sent Special Delivery for guaranteed arrival by 1pm on Saturday 24th December, Christmas Eve. The offer applies to all gifts of £100 or more after discounts.
Alongside the special posting offer, Great Escape Classic Car Hire is also offering 10% off all Christmas gifts and vouchers bought before Christmas. Some customers have already saved over £100 by taking advantage of this discount.
"We have had a really busy Christmas," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape, "with our online shop doing lots of business on gift ideas and packages.
"Buying direct from us means customers save a lot of money. The combination of our 10% discount and our free special delivery option will hopefully help out customers who haven't had time to sort out their Christmas presents until now."
To find out more about the Great Escape Classic Car Hire range of Christmas gifts and experiences visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.
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10% off and guaranteed Christmas delivery

2011-12-21T00:16:00.000-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has offered a lifeline for late Christmas shoppers with guaranteed delivery for Christmas. Any order placed before 12pm on Friday 23rd December is guaranteed to arrive before Christmas - even if the company has to send your gift by special delivery, free of charge.
Every Great Escape gift experience and package bought before Christmas qualifies for a 10% discount off the total order. The discount applies to purchases from Great Escape's online gift shop as well as gift experiences bought by phone. There are plenty of unique Christmas gift ideas and experiences to choose from.
Great Escape is the UK's largest classic car hire company with 70 classic cars to hire from 8 convenient locations.
"We have already given away thousands of pounds this month to customers who have benefitted from our 10% discount," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Our customers lead busy lives so by guaranteeing delivery for Christmas right up to 23rd December we hope to make their lives a little easier."
For more details on Great Escape Classic Car Hire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/
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Still time to order for Christmas

2011-12-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

If you're still wondering what to buy someone you know who as everything, there is still time. Great Escape Classic Car Hire, which has hundreds of gift ideas and experiences for sale online, is guaranteeing delivery before Christmas for all orders made up to 12pm on Friday 23rd December 2011. What's more, every booking qualifies for Great Escape's 10% discount across the board.
Great Escape, the UK's largest classic car hire company, is experiencing its best ever Christmas thanks to a host of new cars on its fleet and new locations to hire from. The company now offers over 70 classic cars for hire fro 8 UK locations. Customers can choose standard self drive car hire or pick from a wide range of gift experiences, including themed days and classic car rallies.
"We are experiencing our best ever Christmas," says Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Our gifts are often considered purchases so we want to ensure that our customers have as much time as possible to chose the best gift from our range.
"We guarantee delivery for Christmas - even if we have to send gifts by special delivery at no extra cost. Plus we're discounting every gift bought before Christmas by 10%."
For more details on Great Escape Classic Car Hire's range of cars, call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/
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New classic car hire site in Bathq

2011-12-16T10:04:00.000-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has extended its network with the addition of a new Bath fleet, located on the edge of the beautiful World Heritage City. The new location adds five of the most popular classic cars for hire to Great Escape's fleet.
The new Bath fleet includes classic cars by Jaguar, Morris, MG, Triumph and Austin Healey. Every car is available to hire by the day, weekend or week at our competitive hire rates, which includes insurance and full UK breakdown cover.
"A south west location has been top of our list for some time," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "The Bath fleet is perfect for accessing the Dorset coast and the South West and includes some of the most popular classic cars of all time.
"The new site will operate to our normal high standards for vehicle maintenance and customer service."
To find out about hiring one of Great Escape's new cars in Bath - which include Morris Minor Convertible, Triumph TR6, MGB, Austin Healey 3000 and Jaguar E Type coupe - call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Guaranteed Christmas Delivery

2011-12-15T00:33:00.000-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire is guaranteeing delivery of any gift voucher or experience for Christmas. So even if you leave it right to the last minute, we'll make absolutely certain that you get your gift in time for Christmas Day.
Great Escape Christmas gift vouchers and experiences and can bought online or by phone on http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or 01527 893733. Buy before Christmas and we'll take 10% off the total price - use discount code 'Christmas' when buying online.
"We are experiencing unprecedented demand for our gift vouchers and experiences," says Graham Eason of Great Escape. "But we've brought in extra staff and streamlined our processes to ensure that nobody is let down.
"We have never let anyone down for Christmas. Even if we have to send vouchers special delivery, we guarantee delivery by Christmas, at no extra charge."
Great Escape Classic Car Hire operates the UK's largest fleet of classic and sports cars for hire with over 60 cars available to rent from 8 convenient UK locations. For more information call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Stainless steel style

2011-12-13T00:12:00.000-08:00

We've cracked it. The holy grail of classic car hire is here - at Great Escape Classic Car Hire we now have a DeLorean DMC-12 available for self drive hire. No need for a chaperone or chauffeur - this is the only DeLorean that you can drive.
We have been looking for a DeLorean DMC-12 to add to our classic car hire fleet for several years. But limited supply and rising prices have meant we've had to delay the addition until now.
The DeLorean is one of the best known cars in the world. Made famous by the Back to the Future films, the DeLorean is also infamous for its back story of bankruptcy, double dealing and drug smuggling. Today the remarkable gullwing car with stainless steel bodywork can be hired from our Cotswolds site by the day, weekend or week. It is also available for self drive wedding car hire.
"The DeLorean attracts attention like an alien space craft landing on the street," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "This is a car that is not quite like anything else. Our customers have been asking us to add a DeLorean for some time - at last we have found a car that we're happy to add to the fleet."
For more details on the DeLorean for hire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/. Book a date or buy a DeLorean gift voucher before Christmas and save 10%.
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10% off our club for classic cars

2011-12-12T00:14:00.001-08:00

Great Escape, the UK's largest specialist classic car hire company, is offering up to £300 off membership of its new classic car club until 25th December 2011.
The Great Escape Club gives members access to Great Escape's full fleet of over 60 classic cars for hire from 7 UK locations. They receive exclusive discounts and benefits on hire. Membership comes in three different levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold - and starts at just £79/month. There is no joining fee and everything is totally transparent - no complicated points system, just straight discounts and added benefits.
"A Great Escape Club membership is a great gift that provides 12 months use of our classic cars from just £79 per month," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Buy before Christmas and you get 10% off every membership level, plus you can pay by direct debit over 12 months."
Great Escape has the widest and most diverse fleet of classic cars for hire in the UK, from Morris Minors to Aston Martins. With 7 convenient locations members can start their experience in the place they want to visit, rather than wasting time and mileage travelling from a city location.
Great Escape typically adds new cars to its fleet at the rate of 1 per month and has several new locations in the pipeline. To find out more call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
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Join our club

2011-12-11T23:57:00.000-08:00

Great Escape, the UK's largest specialist classic car hire company, is now offering a classic car club membership scheme for its customers. The new service provides discounts and exclusive benefits for customers across the company's 7 UK sites and 60+ fleet of classic cars.
The new Great Escape classic car club is the perfect gift for Christmas. Membership starts at just £900 per year or can be paid in simple monthly installments of less than £80 per month. Members get access to the full range of Great Escape classic cars, which range from Morris Minors to Aston Martins and an Ariel Atom, and they can collect from 7 convenient points across the country.
"Our classic car club is unique in terms of the range of cars we offer and the choice of starting points," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Members get discounts and exclusive benefits and they can start their hire from a convenient, easy to reach location. So they don't have to waste time and mileage travelling through a city."
From now until Christmas customers can get 10% off all three membership levels of the Great Escape Club. Just call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
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Christmas wonderland with a Morris Minor

2011-12-07T00:45:00.001-08:00

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire Morris Minor convertible for hire in Lincolnshire stars in a Christmas poster and advertising campaign by Clarks shoes. The car's bright red paint scheme and tan convertible top were specially selected by the production team to suit the design brief and complement the festive theme.
The Great Escape Classic Car Hire Morris Minor in Lincolnshire has previous featured in episodes of the BBC's Antiques Road Trip as well as advertising campaigns for various high street brands.
"We regularly provide our cars for advertising photoshoots," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "This job was fairly unusual as it involved creating Christmas 2011 in March 2011."
The project involved Great Escape transporting the car to the location in London and attending the photoshoot throughout the day. The job was confirmed at short notice but Great Escape has the logistical set up to enable it to respond quickly to this type of request.
For more information on hiring the red Morris Minor in Lincolnshire from Great Escape Classic Car Hire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
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The Jaguar E Type Shuffle

2011-12-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has reviewed and improved its fleet of Jaguar E Types for hire for 2012. The result is a more diverse range of cars for customers to sample from three different UK starting points.
We've taken the decision to pension off our long servicing Jaguar E Type V12 coupe in the Cotswolds because its condition and reliability had begun to deteriorate during 2012. In its place we've moved our popular Jaguar E Types Series 2 coupe from Suffolk to our Cotswolds base. In Suffolk we've added a new Series 1 E Type coupe 2+2, also in red, to replace the Series 2 car that is moving sites. Complicated stuff but it's all detailed on our Locations pages. Or call us any time on 01527 893733 and we'll provide more details.
The E Types shuffling means that we have an even broader range of Jaguar E Types for hire during 2012. The fleet now includes Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 cars and all body styles - 2+2, coupe and convertible. The Jaguar E Type cars are available to hire from our locations in Yorkshire, Suffolk and Cotswolds. Prices start at just £275 for 24 hours hire.
"We regularly review our fleet for condition and reliability," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Customers love the blue E Type but unfortunately its condition has deteriorated below what we feel our customers expect.
"Removing this car and adding the Series 1 car improves the range and quality of E Types we have on offer for hire."
The new Series 1 Jaguar E Type in Suffolk is a 4.2 litre car with manual gearbox, red paintwork and 2+2 body style. The car has currently being fully refurbished in time for hire in 2012, including a respray, new interior and various mechanical jobs.
For more details call Great Escape Classic Car Hire on 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/

Our best ever start to Christmas

2011-12-05T23:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas at Great Escape Classic Car Hire has started with a bang, with record sales of our classic car gift experiences and gift vouchers through our online Christmas gift shop and over the phone.

We have created loads of unique Christmas gifts starting at just £95. And every gift bought before 25th December 2011 qualifies for our full 10% discount. The Great Escape classic car gift packages are ideal Christmas gifts for men - partners, husbands or fathers. They are also great gifts for couples to share or for female petrol heads. They include standard classic car hire gifts, themed gift experiences, romantic weekend breaks and events and rallies.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has a fleet of over 60 cars available to hire from 7 convenient UK locations. The classic car fleet includes everything from Minis and Morris Minors to Aston Martins and Jaguar E Types.

The range of Christmas gifts and experiences can be bought online at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or by calling 01527 893733.

Claim 10% off for Christmas

2011-12-04T23:28:00.000-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire is offering 10% off classic car gift experiences and gift vouchers bought online or by phone before Christmas. The discount applies to cars booked for dates during 2012, all gift experiences in Great Escape's online shop and all gift vouchers.

To claim the discount just visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ and enter discount code 'Christmas.' Or call 01527 893733 to buy over the phone by credit or debit card.

The offer is available to all customers for all purchases made before 25th December.

60s style in Liverpool

2011-11-30T23:45:00.000-08:00

Three classic cars from Great Escape Classic Car Hire helped recreate Liverpool's 60s beat heyday when they were displayed at the BT Conference Centre.
The classic car hire company's Aston Martin DB6, Jaguar E Type convertible and classic Mini Cooper were on display in the conference centre's main hall as part of a major conference event attended by 1,000 people. The cars were chosen by the organisers to complement the 60s themed evening, which includes live music from a Beatles tribute band.
The event placed significant logistical demands on Great Escape because of the timescale, location of the cars and distance involved. Fortunately Great Escape has a network of classic car hire fleets across the UK and a fleet of trucks and trailers to transport them. This, together with Great Escape's management structure, meant that the company was able to deliver three cars to Liverpool on the same day, handle all legal and practical requirements of the venue and crucially provide the right cars suitable for the event from its 60+ fleet.
"We undertake a lot of corporate events," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape, "but this was easily the most unusually and technically demanding. We have provided cars for The Brits but that was just one car - this was for three cars so much more complex.
"Fortunately we have the experience, resources and range of cars to successfully support this kind of event. The event organisers were very pleased with every aspect of our service."
For more information on Great Escape Classic Car Hire's corporate events experience, call 01527 893733 and speak to Graham or Jamie. Or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
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See our Ariel Atom at Top Gear live

2011-11-22T23:45:00.000-08:00

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire Ariel Atom will be on display at the Top Gear Live event at Excel in London from Thursday to Saturyday. You can find the car on the Ariel stand and to celebrate we'll be running some special Christmas discount offers at the show. Just come along, ask for Crispin and we'll take 10% off the hire price - for vouchers or bookings.

The Ariel Atom for hire from Great Escape is available from our London site. Discounted hire prices start at £310 for 24 hours, which includes 200 miles use, comprehensive insurance and AA breakdown cover. The car is an Ariel Atom 245 with optional seat heaters and windscreen.

To find out more about hiring the Ariel Atom for hire from Great Escape Classic Car Hire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

New Midlands satellite site

2011-11-20T07:37:00.000-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has improved its service to customers with the creation of a new Midlands satellite site. The new location in Sutton Coldfield is home to our new Lotus Elan and gives Great Escape customers a convenient starting point north of Birmingham just off the M6.

Great Escape will relocate any local car to the new Midlands classic car hire site if it is more convenient for customers - depending on the length of hire, relocation may be free of charge.

The new Midlands location is a satellite of Great Escape's main Cotswolds site. Great Escape satellite sites tend to have smaller fleets with more limited facilities. They are generally run by some of the owners that Great Escape works with to provide cars to classic car enthusiasts.

"Location is one of the key determinates when customers are choosing a classic car hire supplier," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Our Midlands site makes the process of hiring a classic car simpler and easier for customers. We will happily relocate any car from our Cotswolds to Sutton Coldfield if it is useful to our customers."

For more information on the new Midlands classic car hire fleet and the brilliant Lotus Elan M100 convertible for hire, call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Classic car hire gets closer to London

2011-11-18T00:15:00.000-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has opened a new Northants Fleet that makes hiring a car near London simpler and easier. The new site, based near Milton Keynes, cuts the journey time from London by half compared to our Midlands site near Stratford Upon Avon.
The Northants Fleet opens with an eclectic range of classic cars including Citroen 2CV, Porsche 911, Mercedes SLK convertible and classic Mini Cooper in British Racing Green. We also have an immaculate Aston Martin V8 coupe available for chauffeur hire weddings.
Like every Great Escape car, the new Northants classic car hire fleet is backed by our comprehensive and transparent hire package, which gives 24 hours for every day you book, unlimited mileage (except Mini), comprehensive insurance and full AA breakdown cover.
"Our Northants Fleet is very easy to get to and a great jumping off point for excellent countryside and driving roads," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "We provide driving routes and recommendations for hotels, places to stay and places to visit."
The new Northants classic car hire fleet is available on a self drive basis for weekends and weekdays or self drive weddings or can be provided with a chauffeur for weddings. The Citroen 2CV is a full four seater and the Mini is the ultimate classic version with full leather and wood interior. The Porsche is the sought-after 993 air cooled version with space for 2 adults and 2 children. The Mercedes is perfect for relaxing weekends away.
Prices for the Northants classic car hire Fleet start at just £145 per day. For more details call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/. Book a date or voucher before Christmas and save 10% on your total hire cost.

Website marketing de-bugged

2011-11-14T08:17:00.000-08:00

This post strays a little from our usual four wheeled themes. But after a lecture from yet another cold-calling SEO company telling me how to optimise and improve the Great Escape Classic Car Hire site, I thought I'd share some simple words of wisdom for free.
I don't claim to be an expert but I have put the graft in over 5 years. Today the Great Escape site attracts 20,000 visitors every month and ranks in the top 3 on Google for every one of our key search terms. All that was achieved with some help from Mike Fieldhouse at RealityHouse and a lot of hard work.
In my experience, the effort put into marketing a small business in its first 3 years is at least 5 times more valuable than any other activity. After that it ranks equally with financial management.
Here are my 10 simple rules to website success.
1. Choose a relevant domain name - we hire classic cars, we should have put classic car hire in our domain name
2. Understand your customer - what are they looking for so what words will they put in Google?
3. Make the website journey simple - use Analytics to see which pages are most popular and focus on making them easy to find
4. Communication is king - fancy graphics and design have a role to play, but not if they get in the way of communicating clearly what you do and why someone should buy from you
5. Use social networking carefully - it can be time consuming so make sure you know what you're doing it for and what you are achieving
6. Use Google Adwords - you can't rank top for everything; target, target, target to maximise our budget
7. Do something every day - website marketing is a living thing; if you don't keep running, you'll get left behind
8. Always look around you - what is everyone else doing? What can you learn?
9. Listen - web marketing can feel like the sound of one hand clapping. Use Analytics, customer enquiries and customer feedback to learn what your web marketing is really doing and how it could be better
10. Enjoy it - if you don't enjoy web marketing, find someone who does. Otherwise it just won't happen

Money pit or money maker?

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

One thing is for sure, if you own a classic Jaguar you’re not in it for the money. Joy comes at a price. Like all classic motors, keeping a Jaguar reliable and in good condition takes cash, sometimes lots of it. This can lead to all sorts of complications – tension, marital strive, scuffles with bank managers, or even worse.
There are many different ways to solve the problem. Lock it away in a darkened garage and forget about it. Sell it. Give it away. On a more practical note, some owners have thought about hiring their classic cars out. There is a buoyant market for self drive classic car hire in the UK, which can provide a useful income to justify owning a classic pride and joy. It also carries much less risk than many owners imagine. For enthusiasts looking for a sound investment, buying a classic car for hire can provide better returns (and more enjoyment) than a savings account.
The trouble is, to set yourself up to hire classic cars is an expensive business – you need a website, specialist insurance, card processing equipment and there are various legal requirements. Typically the break even point is six good hire cars, which requires a typical investment in vehicles of £80,000. It is all too easy to watch profitable car hire revenue dribble back into the overheads of running a small business. And as many people have found, running a classic car hire business may be a dream job but it requires a very broad range of skills, in particular marketing capability.
I started Great Escape Classic Car Hire in 2006 motivated by most of these factors. I began with an Alfa Romeo Spider and a Jensen Interceptor but quickly realised I had a problem. I had the skills to get the phone ringing, but not the capital to build the business with extra cars in order to make it sustainable. That’s when I received two phone calls that transformed the business. Two classic car owners approached me to hire their cars for them. Both had cars but a lack of space and a dilemma – their partners were keen for them to sell, but they couldn’t bear to part with them.
The success of this early foray into leasing in cars from owners – both owners are still involved with the business – led to me developing a range of packages for classic car owners seeking to hire out their cars. Today Great Escape is the UK’s largest classic car hire company with a fleet of nearly 60 classic cars for hire. Over half of those cars are hired on behalf of owners. This includes the largest range of classic Jaguars for hire in the world.
Our experience working with classic car owners for nearly six years has given us an insight into what works best for both parties. So we now offer owners two different ways to hire out their cars. Our Owners Package is aimed at enthusiasts who want to hire their car from one of our existing sites. This arrangement suits owners who lack storage, have bought a car purely as an investment or want an entirely hands-off approach to the hire process.
For owners who want to be more involved, we have developed an Operators Package. This arrangement effectively sets the owner up as a new Great Escape Classic Car Hire location, offering cars from their own home or a local storage unit. Operators are separate businesses linked to Great Escape like a franchise, but without the costs and cumbersome formalities of a franchise arrangement. Operators also have the opportunity to grow their hire fleet through cars that Great Escape sources from other owners who join us under an Owners Package arrangement. This option is popular with owners who are looking for a small retirement income or an additional income stream. If you enjoy meeting customers, then it is also a very rewarding experience.
The returns an owner can expect vary depending on which route they choose. Under the Owners Package we offer two remuneration options, which are dependent on the level of risk the owner wants to take. Our most popular package is a percentage payment, with the owner paying for the maintenance of the car. Alternatively, we can pay a fixed leasing fee with Great Escape then picking up all costs incurred during the hire and maintenance of the car. The Operators Package is more straightforward, with the owner being remunerated for the hire of the car and their work to prepare, handover and maintain the car.
The returns you can expect from hiring a classic car inevitably vary greatly. We know which cars work and don’t work on hire, and the ones that cost a lot to keep reliable and roadworthy. The different returns between a good hire car and an average one are considerable – a good hirer will return two or three times the rate of a savings account and will generally appreciate. When you are thinking about which car to hire it is important to decide whether you want to secure a good return on your investment or simply cover the cost of owning and enjoying a beloved classic. This decision affects your choice of car for hire and will enable you to properly assess the benefits you receive.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire does give you a head start with ensuring a good return. We have become the UK’s largest classic car hire company through successful marketing. Our website, http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ attracts over 20,000 unique visitors every month and is ranked at the top of page one on Google for all key search terms. Consequently, we consistently achieve hire rates per car that are well above the norm for classic car hire companies. Our relationships with event and experience companies, our advertising and our various unique initiatives to boost rental days means that when you put your car with Great Escape you are giving it a very good chance of success.
We have an established set of procedures and systems for managing hires through our network of locations. We use the car hire industry’s leading booking system to process all hires, whether online or by phone. This means that we effectively manage all hires for you and keep life simple, whether you are working with as an Owner or Operator.
Jaguars are consistently amongst the most popular – and profitable – cars for hire. Inevitably E Types and Mk2s top the list, but the XJS and XK8s – particularly the XKR – are growing in popularity. Other Browns Lane models such as the Daimler V8 250 and XJ6 are showing signs of becoming future classic hire cars.
When thinking about hiring out your classic car there are a number of issues to consider. From our perspective, the car must be presentable, reliable (which means it is receiving regular use) and largely standard. Ideally we are seeking cars in popular colours such as red, green, blue, white or silver.
As an owner you need to be mindful of the risks. The risk of loss or damage inevitably increases when you hire your car to someone else. However, in five years of hiring out cars for thousands of hire days I have only suffered one serious accident, which was resolved through our insurer. Our checks and controls ensure that we can always trace every hirer and we do not hire to boy racers. The relatively high price of classic car hire, plus a hefty insurance excess, tends to mean that customers are actually more careful than many owners are with their own cars. Inevitably, wear and tear commensurate with increased usage is unavoidable – stone chips and some car park damage are the most likely problems.
We have continuously refined our packages for classic car owners to ensure that they work in everyone’s best interests. And as a classic car owner myself I am acutely aware of the responsibility we have when we hire your car, whether you work with us as an owner or operator.
If you would like to avoid marital strife and find out more about hiring your classic car with Great Escape, including a personalised analysis of the costs and income, call or email me for an informal chat on 01527 893733 or graham@greatescapecars.co.uk.

Celebrate 50 years of the MGB in 2012

2011-11-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire, which operates the largest fleet of MGBs for hire in the UK, has announced a series of events in 2012 to celebrate 50 years of its most popular hire car.
The company, which has MGs based in Suffolk, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Worcestershire, has created a series of unique experience packages for customers around the MGB’s 50th anniversary. These include an exclusive weekend package for the Blenheim rally and dedicated MG-themed touring days. Great Escape is also planning an MG-themed classic car rally around the Midlands and a charity Lands End to John O’Groats trip featuring four of the company’s MGBs.
“MGBs are our most popular hire car so we wanted to fully support the anniversary,” explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. “The B’s popularity never seems to wane and they are perfect hire cars – robust, reliable and easy to work on.
“Our packages are aimed at people who are considering owning an MGB or who are coming to Britain to join the celebrations and want to attend in a MGB.”
Great Escape Classic Car Hire’s MGBs typically travel over 10,000 miles every year. This year the fleet has made trips to Greece and the Scottish Highlands as well as several long holiday hires. The cars include three standard 1800cc MGB roadsters, a V8 roadster and a MG TD.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire was founded in 2006 and now operates a fleet of over 50 classic cars from 6 UK locations. Prices for standard self drive hire start at just £95/day.
For more details on Great Escape’s MGB anniversary packages call 01527 893733 or visit the Great Escape online shop at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
Great Escape is offering MG Car Club members 10% off the hire of any of its fleet of over 60 cars. Just mention the Club when you call.

The greatest driver's car of all time?

2011-11-14T01:53:00.000-08:00

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we live and breath classic cars. We like the well-known stuff like MGBs and Jaguar E Types, but we always like to seek out something a little different to bring our customers.
With our latest acquisition we think we've found a winner. In the 1990s Lotus built a brilliant convertible two seater called the Elan. It was expensive so nobody bought it. Now it's been virtually forgotten, except by diehard enthusiasts. They have discovered what we hope more will do now that one is on our fleet - the Lotus Elan M100 for hire in the Midlands is quite simply the best front wheel drive sports car of the last 25 years. That's a tall claim, but when you drive it you'll see why.
The M100 Elan is the Lotus you can confidentally drive more than 5 miles from home. It has bulletproof mechanics, it's built quite well and it is comfortable, spacious and rides superbly.
The latest addition to the Great Escape Classic Car Hire fleet is available to hire in the Midlands. Prices start at just £165 per day and include unlimited mileage, insurance and full breakdown cover.
"We're always on the look out for interesting cars to offer to our customers," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "One of the advantages of having a large fleet is that we can offer cars that are less obvious, such as the Lotus Elan M100.
"Anyone considering a car for the weekend or who wants to know what a great Lotus is like to drive, should grab the keys to this brilliant little car"
For more information call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Jaguar XKr road test review

2011-11-09T04:48:00.000-08:00

Try Before You Buy – 1999 Jaguar XKR 2+2 Coupe
by Matt Nichols

370 horse power. It’s got a nice ring to it hasn’t it. 370 horse power in a car that weighs in at just over 1700kg to give a power to weight ratio in the order of 210-220 bhp/tonne. Important in as much that it sits above the magical 200bhp/ tonne mark and therefore enough in a road car to let you know it is going to be quick without having to do any more calculations. Couple that to a massive 387lbs/ft of torque, an official 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds and an all too easy to reach top speed of 155 mph and you have the Jaguar XKR 2+2 coupe that, if you choose, will propel you up and down the A-Roads of Great Britain all day long at extremely high velocity. Slightly ironic then, once sat behind the wheel that the thought of racing anyone else off a set of lights couldn’t be further from your mind.

The reason, well this is a Jaguar after all, and as with many other cars from the same marque you find yourself being seduced by its charms and adopt a far more laid back style than something with this performance should engender. The gentle warble from the very British and new at the time 4.0 litre AJ-V8, Jaguar’s fourth engine derivative and first V8, quite literally purrs along combining beautifully with the ‘J-Gate’ 5 speed ZF auto to select gears that match your every need. The left hand side of the ‘J-Gate’ selector introduces engine braking and restricts forward gears to the first two, three, or four ratios for quick and controlled progress. With the right hand side offering conventional ‘D’ drive, ‘R’ reverse and ‘P’ park options. There is also a sport ‘S’ button which holds onto gears longer whilst in drive, a combination that seemed to work best overall during my time with the big cat coupe in its dark blue hue.

Which brings me onto this cars looks. It is stunning, particularly when viewed from the side and the colour of the Great Escape Classic Car Hire model really nails it, enhanced by an original Jaguar body kit that adds some more subtly aggressive styling cues around the edges. I am ignoring the miniature chrome Jaguar added to the front of the bonnet which thankfully is out of sight once sat inside. Get in and you wonder why Jaguar tried to copy Jensen’s Interceptor in terms of massive proportions on the outside and yet restricted space within. One or two adults on board, there is plenty of space to stretch out and room in the boot for any amount of luggage with soft bags in the back. Do what I attempted in embarking on a three hour round trip to the seaside with my wife, son, who at 14 years old is taller than me and ‘tweenager’ daughter and things can get a little too close for comfort. Inside is also where the Ford influence reveals itself the most, with familiar looking; ignition key, switchgear and central console. Still what you can say in their defence is that they all work brilliantly; cruise control, climate and CD changer, no classic car traits to report here then.

So what does 370 bhp and 387lbs/ ft of torque feel like? Well I’ve driven the quite mad TVR Tuscan which packs 360bhp into a much lighter frame and in theory at least touches 300bhp/ tonne. TVR’s horsepower claims were always optimistic though and the normally aspirated Speed Six unit is shy of 100 lbs/ft of torque, an often forgotten performance statistic that closes such gaps extremely effectively. Back in the Jag and the XKR’s auto-box, particularly whilst in drive mode, masks the immediate impact of applying such a large amount of twist through the 245 profile 18 inch rear tyres by apparently having to drop two or three ratios before anything remotely resembling acceleration can be experienced. Even knocking the box down to 2 on the left hand gate means if you are already rolling one down change is still required. Personally I’m amazed anyone got it to 60mph in the claimed 5.2 seconds when, as far as I can tell, it takes until 60mph to really get going. What is happening aurally though is still dramatic enough, like the drum roll before a grand finale.

What a finale as well, because when everything does finally connect, the correct ratio is selected, the supercharger starts its spine tingling banshee war cry, drowning out the already impressive V8 roar and the XKR sits back on its E-Type like haunches and heads for the horizon at a truly breath taking rate of knots. This is exactly what this sort of power and torque should feel like, acceleration that never lets up despite the ever increasing physical forces acting against such rapidly advancing progress. It is so strong that the only conclusion I can draw is that the claimed 155mph max is due to an artificial restriction, because there’s no way it ends at that point naturally. This car really shifts and what’s great is that the brakes and handling are all well up to the job. Better still ease your right foot back from where it was firmly embedded in the pile of the plush carpet and the first question the car asks is whether this is going to be the cruising speed today. Now that is Jaguar. This isn’t about acceleration after all. It’s more about high speed travel, arriving somewhere faster than anyone else and in comfort. Although I think my family would argue, as long as there are no more than two of you on board at the time.

Verdict
1999 Jaguar XKR 2+2 Coupe
Driving
Slightly light steering is disconcerting at first, but then tightens up nicely on fast flowing roads. Jaguar’s supercharged V8 is a gem.
Engine
Supercharged 4.0 Litre Jaguar AJ-V8 DOHC with variable valve timing.
Performance
Power: 370bhp
Torque: 387lbs/ft
0-60: 5.2 Seconds
Max Speed: 155mph
Brakes
Superb and well up to the job
Handling
1700Kg aside, XKR is true to E-Type handling characteristics of excellent ride, regardless of road surface, combined with relatively low levels of pitch and roll
Desirability
Appreciating asset that reflects close ties to DB7. Values still tantalisingly low at present
Pro’s
Those looks and that engine
Con’s
Buying: Avoid anything without Jaguar or specialist service history
Renting: None except remember the fuel gauge is not dropping as quickly as you feared only because it is connected to an enormous 20 gallon tank.
Overall
4/5

2011-11-09T04:33:00.000-08:00

Grace, Pace and just enough Space (For Two) by Matt Nichols
Sir William Lyons had a simple vision for his beloved Jaguar cars during the time he presided; grace, pace and space, and so the question is how do the beautiful 60’s E-Type, rectangular shaped 70’s XJS and retro styled 90’s XKR square up. Well one thing they do share in common is space, or more precisely a distinct lack of it, because all three offer a snug fit for two, with any notion of there being room for plus two more best translated as meaning plus two more bags, perfect then for that weekend getaway.
First impressions
E-Types are stunning cars that draw you in the minute you first clap eyes on them, and so unfortunately for the other two here, win your heart in an instant. Their long slender bonnets that hand over to curving rooflines, for the coupes at least, to then meet with the distinctive and equally curvy rear haunches. It doesn’t get any better and therefore any surprise that the newest Jaguar here, the XKR, takes many of its good looks from its granddaddy, albeit on a physically much larger scale. So what of the XJS a car that spanned the 21 year gap between E-Type and XK8 on which the XKR is based? Well back in the day straighter lines were in, and working on the basis that Ferrari were at it with the Daytona, Aston the same with the V8 Coupe and Jensen likewise with the Interceptor, I don’t think anyone can really criticise Jaguar for doing something similar. Of course looking back now it is all a bit academic with the E-Types being the clear winners of the beauty pageant, XKR second and XJS a distant third.Sat insideWithin the cabin is where everything starts to become a matter of taste and just how snug you want to be. Squeeze yourself into an E-Type and you face two stunningly large dials for engine and road speed with a surprisingly modern looking long row of rocker switches mounted dead centre on the dash between you and your passenger. There is no getting away with one thing though, as comfortable as they are once installed, E-Types are tricky cars to enter and exit from with tiny doors and extremely wide sills. If mobility is at all an issue, the cruel truth is looking at one from the outside may be as close as you get.This is where the later XJS and XKR derivatives come into their own, as both offer far easier accessibility from their more conventional interior design. The XJS is still low slung, but with plenty of room up front for both driver and passenger with pleasantries like powerful heating and ventilation systems and in the convertible, an electric folding roof. The XKR coupe offers similar, this time being more modern again, marred just slightly by the Ford sourced console and switchgear which thankfully falls below your eye-line whilst on the move. Surprisingly all three do share one thing in common; perfectly placed elbow rests either side of the driver, and so time now to hit the road.
Engine and exhaust note
When you do turn the key it’s the E-Types and XKR that truly deliver. Depending on which model you plump for depends on just how aural your experience is, as the Great Escape Classic Car Hire E-Types come with 5.3 V12 and smaller 6 cylinder engines with and without sports exhausts fitted. Volume levels therefore range from 1 to 10. The XKR has its own glorious sound in the form of a Jaguar V8 power-plant that rewards at tick-over with a distinctive throb giving way to the shrill of its supercharger as the loud pedal is fully depressed. Both are truly inspiring and completely different. The XJS on the other hand is much more ‘grace’ and the sleeper of the three as its V12 is almost completely silent until pushed really hard, with the only noise generated being that of wind passing quickly overhead when the roof is down.
Out and about
If you are after a relaxing and classy jolt around the countryside with something extra on tap if required then the XJS might just be for you. This car by its very nature is grace personified, combined with easy entry and exit as well as a heater so powerful you could probably drive to the north-pole roof down. The XKR takes away some of that grace and replaces it with much more pace, courtesy of its 4.0litre blown V8 that at 370bhp and 387 lbs/ft of torque is enough to see off any hot hatch and most other things up to Porsche, Ferrari and TVR standards. This car is extremely quick on fast flowing roads only needing to slow on tighter sections, largely due to its bulky 1700kg mass.E-Types on the other hand are lithe machines, particularly in 4.2 litre guise, and can be hustled along any road at any speed in relative comfort. The absence of body roll combined with comfort over virtually any road surface is a revelation with the only constraints being the car’s systems, such as the heater and fit of the roof around the windscreen, if a convertible. There is also the mild inconvenience of exhaust fumes being sucked into the cabin in the coupes, meaning a stop every 60 minutes or so is essential to preventing brain fade.
Ownership prospects
This is really a question about available funds, or maybe a gap that needs filling if you have a collection. The good news is that space aside, all three cars fulfil the ethos of grace and pace and so allow you to enjoy Jaguar ownership as its owner intended. E-Types provide the ultimate in classic car ownership in everything that means. Whilst XJS’s are now gaining recognition in their role in providing a basic platform for the later XK8, XKR and Aston Martin DB7 models and respected all the more for that with prices holding firm. XKR’s are now looking remarkable value for money for a car that is quite simply bonkers fast with an uncanny ability to cruise all day long at high speed. Each has something to offer, and so all three are cars Sir William should be, and I’m sure would be, extremely proud of.
Overall
An E-Type offers the ultimate in classic car ownership; the squarer XJS is for those on a tighter budget or for anyone who doesn’t quite bend and flex as well as they used to and the XKR serves as a useful halfway house both in terms of its looks and the investment required whilst providing serious pace to boot.
Driving
E Type - Incredible balance of cross country pace and grace, truly amazing for a 50 year old car
XJS - More grace than pace and so the XJS is by far the most refined of the three here
XKR - A supercharged V8 ensures this car wins the pace race, once the auto-box has done its thing
Engine
E Type -4.2 litre 6 Cylinder DOHC or 5.3 litre SOHC V12
XJS - 5.3 litre SOHC V12 with Lucas fuel injection
XKR - Supercharged 4.0 litre Quad Cam V8BrakesDisc brakes front and rear work well
Handling
E Type - Flat with hardly any roll, can be driven anywhere and rewards at any pace
XJS - Soft and cosy, best driven at a gentle pace
XKR - Comes close to E-Type but cannot hide its 1700kg mass in tighter corners
Desirability
All E-Types are sought after cars, Series 1 convertibles commanding the highest values, with later 2+2 coupes being the most affordable
XJS -Has suffered in the past but prices have now settled with interest on the increase
XKR - Just starting to be of interest now especially when compared to its higher valued cousin, the DB7.
Pro’s
E Type - Instantly recognisable fame
XJS - Accessible to more people and can be used all year round
XKR - Rocketship with some nice E-Type styling cues
Con’s
E Type
Buying: Tricky and potentially very costly to maintain
Renting: None
XJS
Buying: Not so tricky maybe, but still potentially costly to run and maintain
Renting: None
XKR
Buying: Same.
Renting: None
Overall
E Type - 5/5
XJS - 3/5
XKR - 4/5

Sun, sand and a seventies supercar

2011-11-09T01:26:00.000-08:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire's Jensen Interceptor took a trip down to Cornwall this week to take part in a photoshoot for Jack Wills clothing. The quintessentially British clothing brand chose the big British supercar bruiser because of its iconic 70s looks which match Jack Wills' classic lines.
We worked with the production team to help select the right vehicle for the shoot and to arrange the logistics at very short notice. Thanks to our investment in logistics equipment during 2011 we are able to transport any of our fleet of over 50 classic cars anywhere in Britain to tight deadlines. Our Operations Manager Russ Pemberton made the trip with the 1974 Jensen Interceptor using our truck and trailer set up and attended the photoshoot, which was located right on the beach at Boobys Bay near Port Isaac in Cornwall.
"We regularly work with TV, film and advertising teams to provide cars for shoots," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire. "We have invested in this area so that we are able to deliver vehicles to site anywhere in Britain at short notice and in a highly presentable condition.
"Our experience means we can help production teams make the most of our cars without the hassle of having to collect the car and maximising their time and budget."
For more information on Great Escape Classic Car Hire visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

The finest saloon car there should have been

2011-11-07T23:32:00.000-08:00

One of the perks of the job here at Great Escape Classic Car Hire is that we get to meet petrolheads on a daily basis. And a long chat with an enthusiast last night fired us up all over again about our Rover SD1 Vitesse. Sadly we've got to sell this car due to lack of space - something we regularly have to do with our cars, but with the Rover it feels increasingly like a real wrench.

For classic car fans the Rover SD1 still sits somewhere between a cheap hot rod and a classic car. But values are rising fast as the stock of good quality cars dwindles - 10 years ago there were 20,000 Rover SD1s on the road, today there are less than 2,000.

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire Rover is one of the last of the homologation special Vitesse Twin Plenum cars, which pushes 190 bhp out of the 3,500cc V8 engine. Sitting in our garage under the low neon lights, we had to admit that this is one of the greatest saloon car designs of all time, one that still looks good today. And it came about entirely by chance. Designer David Bache had come up with a succession of traditional, rather pedestrian Rover designs for the British Leyland board. The head honchos, apparently, couldn't agree on the direction for a car that was supposed to replace the top end Triumph and Rover saloons, two brands with entirely different images. Frustrated, Bache apparently rushed out a sketch intended as a pastiche of the Ferrari Daytona, never quite expecting it to be accepted. It was, and the Rover SD1 was born. Like many design classics, the car looks so good because it went into production virtually straight off the drawing board.

The BL top brass had wasted so much time prevaricating that the SD1 was rushed into production virtually 'as is'. Consequently much of the detail design of the car is poorly executed. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the interior, which contains some clever ideas but, particularly in early versions, appears somewhat rushed.

The SD1 was British Leyland's ultimate own goal. Here was a practical, highly competent car that looked brilliant, particularly compared to the staid German competition. But these detail design failings and the input of BL's bean counters conspired to turn a shining star into a lemon. The accountants green lighted a brand new factory to build the SD1 then systematically went through the car and cut as much cost out as possible. Fairly enough, the car needed to be profitable. But they went too far, giving a premium market car the fixtures and fittings more befitting of an Allegro. Under the skin they reversed the technical innovations of the Rover P6 and made the SD1 basic and simple with a live rear axle and rudimentary suspension. These were good ideas adopted from Ford, except Ford kept on the right side of selling showroom shine to the masses. And people expected Fords to be simple and basic - Rovers were upmarket and advanced. Now they weren't.

The final nail in the Rover's coffin was truly woeful build quality. Although BL improved standards, particularly under Michael Edwardes' tutelage, the Rover SD1 was always significantly below market standards for executive cars, let alone much cheaper cars. It was almost as if Rover was trying to lose buyers.

Looking at the Rover SD1 Vitesse on a November night in 2011 much of this is history. Today it simply looks brilliant. Sure, the driving position isn't great, the steering is too light and the rear axle give as uncomplicated a ride and handling combination as it's possible to get, but it is these flaws that make the Rover great. That engine, that burble and that profile are an addictive combination.

For men of a certain age the Rover SD1 is the ultimate dad's car. Enjoy one now before prices sky rocket.

For more details on Great Escape Classic Car Hire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Is the MGB great with a V8?

2011-11-06T23:28:00.000-08:00

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we run the largest fleet of MGBs and our cars cover amongst the highest annual mileages for these cars in the UK. We have experience of running MGB roadsters MGB GT coupes and V8 and 4 cylinder versions of these cars. Since the V8 conversion is high on many MGB owners' wish lists and with the MGB 50th anniversary approaching we thought we'd share our experience of running the 3,500cc Rover engined car as well as the conventional 1800cc MG engine.

MG always envisaged a larger engined MGB and there are factory versions of the car with the 3-litre straight six 'Healey' engine (the MGC, in coupe and roadster styles) and with the 3,500cc V8 Buick-derived Rover engine (in MGB GT coupe style only). These factory-developed models were never particularly successful, feeling hurried and under-developed.

Several specialists created V8 versions of the MGB, generally more successfully. The Costello version was probably the best resolved - using the 3,500cc engine - and appears to have influenced the factory to create the MGB GT V8.

The 3,500cc Rover V8 in theory makes a wonderful addition to the MGB. It is lighter than the 1800c engine so sits better in the nose of the car, it revs easily and it adds a useful dollop of extra power, typically 50 bhp (an extra 50%). The Rover engine is one of the best engines of the last 40 years, being highly tractable with smooth power delivery and a wonderful burbling soundtrack. So it is understandable that many owners consider dropping a V8 into the MGB, particularly the MGB convertible.

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we have a 1971 MGB convertible V8 in burgundy metallic with a black leather interior. This car was retro-fitted with a V8 by a previous owner, although we're not quite sure who did the work. The V8 conversion does release a lot of the MGB's latent potential, providing brisk acceleration, a lovely soundtrack and the car is noticeably more nimble with less over-steer in corners. Our customers certainly love it, enjoying the extra power and the noise in particular. The Rover engine's ready torque and smooth delivery are a sheer delight that simply encourage down changes. Compared to the 1800cc engine, it feels willing and eager and yes, more sporting. Quite why MG didn't put more effort into a V8 engined version of the MGB, including a MGB roadster, is beyond us.

The problem, though, is that the extra power and improved weight distribution do tend to highlight the limitations of the MGB chassis. This is a beautiful car with a fairly antiquated chassis, but one that is quite well set up with 95 bhp and 1800cc at the helm. Sure, the steering is a little slow and the chassis doesn't like to be hurried, but the relative lack of power means that it is still great fun to drive because its limits can be explored at relatively low speed. That's an experience that is hard to replicate with a modern car.

The MGB V8, conversely, tends to highlight these limitations by the sheer ability of the 3,500cc engine. A proper V8 conversion in a MGB is about more than just replacing the engine. It needs suspension and handling improvements that match its increased performance. Racing versions of the MGB mean that such upgrades are available, albeit at a price. The MGB V8 at Great Escape Classic Car Hire has benefitted from such improvements, but it is not typical of most V8 conversions for sale.

Anyone considering a MGB V8 conversion should look very carefully at the extent of the upgrades to engine and handling but also pay particular attention to the quality of the installation. The MGB engine bay was not designed to take the V8 Rover engine, so it requires significant alterations to the chassis to accommodate the engine and the exhaust manifolds. Even with this work done, access to the engine bay can be extremely tight, turning simple repair jobs into lengthy tasks. On our own MGB we have also experienced significant problems due to poor work (we mean bodges) with breather hoses and other connections. This has led to reliability problems that have taken time to iron out - without access to a factory manual it can be difficult to trace exactly what the engine installer did and how to resolve it.

Any car that has been significantly adapted and modified after production poses a much higher risk to future owners than a standard factory car. It can, of course, provide much more enjoyment. Such cars do not benefit from the significant R&D investment required to get upgrades right and without a factory-approved 'map' to help rectify problems, issues can become expensive to resolve.

Much as we like the MGB V8 on the Great Escape Classic Car Hire fleet - and it certainly shows what the MGB could have been - as an ownership prospect we'd choose a spiced up 1800cc engined car any time. The MGB Owners Club offers endless options for extracting more performance and better power delivery from the 1800cc engine - these upgrades are relatively simple to install (compared to a V8 engine) and do not require significant adaptations to the car's basic structure. They're proven in thousands of applications and they are backed by lots of technical support.

For more information on hiring an MGB from Great Escape Classic Car Hire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Join our Club

2011-11-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

Great Escape, the UK’s largest classic car rental firm, has come up with another reason for enthusiasts to close the garage doors and hire a classic instead. The new Great Escape Classic Car Club gives members access to over 50 classic cars from 6 convenient UK locations, all for just £900 a year.
The new club covers all of Great Escape’s fleet including everything from Minis to Aston Martins, with collection from locations in Suffolk, London, Midlands, Shropshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Membership starts at less than £900 per year and provides discounts on normal classic car hire rates as well as exclusive extra benefits, free time in the cars, regular promotions and events. Members also get the first chance to drive new cars as well as act as test drivers, providing driving reports for other customers. There are three levels of membership offering increasing levels of discount on Great Escape’s standard price list. Members receive points based on the level of membership they choose – it’s very simple and easy to use and unlike similar clubs, there is no joining fee.
“Our classic car club gives members access to their own virtual garage,” explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. “They get to drive and enjoy some great cars across the country, without the cost and hassle of ownership.
“We’ve tried to make membership simple and transparent – no joining fees, no hidden charges and low starting prices. It is a great way to enjoy our classic car fleet – whether for yourself or as a gift.”

The Great Escape Classic Car Club is open to anyone to join provided they are aged 25 to 75, with a full UK licence and no more than 6 points on their licence. Members can choose to pay their subscription over 12 months by direct debit – starting at less than £79/month – or in one simple payment.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire was founded in 2006 and now operates a fleet of over 50 classic cars from 6 UK locations. Prices for standard self drive hire start at just £95/day.

Celebrate 50 years of the MGB

2011-11-02T00:35:00.000-07:00

We've created some unique classic car packages to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the MGB in 2012. The unique experiences complement Great Escape Classic Car Hire's existing MG packages and include themed MG driving tours and a special experience built around the MGB's 50th anniversary celebrations at Blenheim Palace on September 23rd.

The MGB 50th anniversary celebration packages are available to buy as gift experiences, with the dates selected later, or can be booked in full. They are available to buy online at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or phone 01527 893733.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire operates the largest fleet of MGs for hire in the UK including 5 MGBs and a MGTD. Normal self drive classic car hire starts at just £165 for 24 hours.

For more information call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

New online booking system

2011-11-01T01:11:00.000-07:00

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we've made a major investment in our customer service experience with the launch of a new online booking system for classic car hire. The new system covers our entire fleet of 50+ cars and all of our UK sites. It is now even simpler and easier to book online using a system tried and tested by thousands of UK car hire companies.
The new system makes picking and choosing cars, locations and dates from Great Escape much easier. It automatically advises availability - or suggests alternatives - and calculates the price. The system also shows the car specification. Customers can then book securely online, so there is no risk of losing chosen dates and cars.
"We have been offering online booking since we started," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire, "because we want the experience to be simple, convenient and easy for customers. The new system is the best available and most popular in ther industry and provides a customer experience on a par with large international hire companies.
"With over 50 cars and 6 locations it is important for us to make selecting and buying classic car hire from Great Escape simple, easy and trustworthy."
To see the new online system and try it out visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733 for more details.
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Christmas for classic car fans

2011-11-01T00:45:00.000-07:00

This Christmas we've got more gift ideas for classic car fans and bigger discounts for those who love them. Our gift packages start at just £95 and are available to buy online or by phone on 01527 893733. And until Christmas we're offering 10% off everything. Plus, because we supply the experience direct rather than through an online gift reseller you save even more.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire operates the largest fleet of classic cars for rental in the UK. You can start your experience from any of six convenient locations. In our Online Shop you'll find classic car gift vouchers, themed packages, getaway breaks and driving tours. Every package includes everything you need to enjoy your classic car to the full - insurance, breakdown cover and a full vehicle briefing.

To find out more about Great Escape's gift vouchers click here. Our Online Shop for classic car gifts can be found here. For more details cal 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Plans for new Jensen unveiled

2011-10-27T00:45:00.000-07:00

We've always loved the Jensen Interceptor. After all, it was one of the two cars that got us into classic car hire in the first place. So at Great Escape Classic Car Hire were interested to read the recent article in Autocar with Brendan O'Toole, the man behind the proposed new Jensen Interceptor to be built in Coventry.

O'Toole runs CPP, a specialist low volume car manufacturer and supplier to top-end brands. When we originally heard of CPP's plans to revive the Jensen brand with manufacturer at Jaguar's famous Brown's Lane plant, we were somewhat sceptical. After all, plenty of people have tried and failed to revive Jensen over the years. Back in 1976 it was lack of scale and volume that killed Jensen. So we couldn't quite work out how CPP could make low volume manufacture economical.

O'Toole seems to have a plan. CPP already has a track record in low volume manufacture and has assembled a high quality suite of suppliers who can provide the specialist skills that it cannot economically provide on its own. CPP argues that by bespoking its products it can be viable for any production run between 1 and 250 cars. As well as offering this service to the automotive industry, it makes sense for CPP to also offer fully complete products to the end market in specialist niches based around desirable brands like Jensen.

In principle, this looks like a much more workable solution than some of the previous attempts to create pure stand-alone businesses. The question is whether enough people want to buy a Jensen Interceptor in the 21st century. We love them and there's no doubt that they still excude charm and character. But a new Jensen Interceptor will have to update the hairy-chested medallion man image that stuck with the car in the 1970s. In short, the new Jensen needs to be cool and desirable. Just as Aston Martin quickly discovered that James Bond won't sell cars for ever, CPP needs to make the Jensen Interceptor as good as it can be for the modern market, not a car that just rests on aging laurels.

We are very excited about the new Jensen and we wish CPP all the best. In the meantime, if you can't afford a new one or can't wait until it arrives, try the original - we have two Jensen Interceptors to hire from our bases in Yorkshire and Cotswolds. For more details call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

New online booking system

2011-10-26T08:18:00.001-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has launched a new online booking system that makes buying classic car hire on the internet quicker, faster and easier. It can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in the world.

The new facility replaces Great Escape's previous in-house booking system and has been developed by the UK's leading car hire software provider. It enables customers to search cars by type, location, price and availability and provides full specification details for each model. Bookings can be completed online in a few minutes, enabling customers to confirm the car and dates and avoid disappointment.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has invested in the new system to improve the customer experience. Online bookings, particularly from overseas, have taken an increasing share of the company's overall sales so the investment in the new technology should help the company to grow further in 2012.

"We have the largest choice of classic cars to hire in the UK," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "So we need a simple online system that enables customers to select the right car and dates to suit them, quickly and easily.

"The new online booking system covers all of our sites and our entire fleet of 50 classic and performance hire cars."

The new online booking system has been launched in time for Great Escape to capitalise on the Christmas gift market.

For more details on the Great Escape range of classic cars for hire, call -01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Rewind to the 80s

2011-10-25T00:13:00.000-07:00

The 80s gets a bad rap as the decade of excess. Big hair, big shoulders, big spoilers on your car. But there's one 80s icon we've discovered that proves that in the era of bigger is better, less meant more.
We're talking about the Peugeot 205 GTI. Light and small with a minute 1600cc engine and pleasing lack of go-faster paraphernalia, we've just rediscovered how good the 205 GTI is. The Great Escape Classic Car Hire Peugeot has just returned from a few weeks of fettling that has returned the car to the B-road banzai it should be. Frankly, this is one heck of a car.
23 years since our 1988 car was built and we're not sure its combination of peppy, rev-happy acceleration and go-kart like handling precision have been bettered. Here is a front drive car that entertains along every inch of the road. The steering is super-direct, with plenty of feedback, and the handling is a delight. The 205 doesn't achieve handling greatness at the exclusion of driver input and skill, in the way that say a Mazda MX5 does. This is a car you have to drive, that has character and verve. And it will catch you out. The Peugeot's lift off oversteer is the stuff of legends - for good reason. Release the throttle mid-bend and chances are you're going to hit the greenery. But it's these flaws that make the MX5 great. There are plenty of faster cars that will get you from A to B more safely and with less effort, but that isn't the point of a driver's car.
Today the Peugeot 205 GTI has to be the ultimate classic car bargain. Good examples start at £1500. They're easy to fix, pretty reliable and economical too. And at that price, sacrilige it may be, but if it goes seriously wrong, scrap it. There are plenty about.
Having driven E Types, Jensens, Astons and Porsches that cost more to service than the Peugeot costs to buy, frankly I'm amazed more people haven't caught on to the Peugeot 205 GTI. We'd like to see more people hire this amazing little car - and at just £95 for 24 hours, including unlimited mileage, it must surely be the most enjoyable way for a classic fan to spend under £100.
The Peugeot5 205 GTI is available to hire from our Cotswolds site near Stratford Upon Avon. For more details call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Jaguar XJS for hire in Yorkshire

2011-10-24T00:08:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added a Jaguar XJS convertible to its hire fleet in Yorkshire. The new V12-engined car complements our existing XJ-S for hire in the Cotswolds. It is finished in red with a beautiful cream leather interior and walnut veneers.
The Jaguar XJ-S is experiencing a solid renaissance as classic car fans warm to its combination of elegant style, comfort and ease of ownership. This is reflected in its demand as a car for hire. It's perfect for a day or weekend away touring the Yorkshire Moors, Dales or coast in cosseting, svelte luxury. The combination of silky smooth V12 engine and one of the most unruffled rides this side of a Rolls Royce, plus the benefit of a full electric convertible roof, make time in the XJS a very relaxing experience.
The new Jaguar XJS convertible is available to hire from Great Escape's Yorkshire base, with collection from our Leeds site. Every hire day includes a full 24 hours use, unlimited mileage, comprehensive insurance and full AA breakdown cover. Prices start at just £195 for 24 hours.
For more information on the Jaguar XJS to hire in Yorkshire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

New MGB roadster in Suffolk

2011-10-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added a new MGB convertible in Teal Blue to its growing self drive rental fleet based in Suffolk. Available to hire from our central Suffolk location near Stowmarket, the 1975 original chrome bumper MGB convertible is available to hire by the day, weekend or week.

The new car is one of the last chrome bumper MGBs to be built at Abingdon by MG and combines Teal Blue paintwork with black leather interior. It has a standard 1800cc engine with stage 2 Oselli head (so it drives better than a standard car) and attractive period-style Minilite wheels. It also has the desirable manual gearbox with overdrive.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire's Suffolk fleet is ideally located for exploring the quite roads of the coast and countryside of Suffolk and within easy reach from London by car or train.

The new car joins the largest fleet of MG cars for hire in the UK, from Great Escape sites in Yorkshire, Cotswolds, Lincolnshire and Suffolk. Every hire day includes a full 24 hours use, unlimited mileage, comprehensive insurance for 1 driver and full UK AA breakdown cover.

For more details on the MGB visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Hardworking Morris

2011-10-10T06:15:00.001-07:00

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire Morris Minor Traveller lived up to its name recently when it travelled an astonishing 600 miles in 4 days. The back to back hires over the Goodwood Revival weekend in September tested the reliability of this 54 year old voyager. Thanks to a careful maintenance regime the car passed the test without fault.

The mammoth trip took in the Goodwood Revival, where the car was eligible for the exclusive pre-66 parking area, as well as a tour around the Cotswolds. The Morris Minor Traveller is very popular with customers who enjoy the nostalgia of driving a car that was many people’s first experience of family transport.

The Morris Minor Traveller is part of Great Escape Classic Car Hire’s fleet of 5 Morris Minors for hire in the UK. All cars can be hired on a self drive basis and prices start at just £145 for 24 hours. For more details on cars for hire and locations visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call 01527 893733.

Another successful event for Great Escape

2011-10-04T01:30:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire is celebrating another successful corporate event, this time for a group on a stag do. The classic car rental company provided a range of 5 cars for the group of 13 men to tour the Cotswolds in the late autumn sun. The company also provided a route with a treasure hunt – to add a competitive element – and suggested lunch stop.

The group drove a 100 mile route in a variety of classic cars from Great Escape’s Cotswolds fleet, including Alfa Romeo Spider, MGB convertible, Bentley T1 and even a Morris Minor Convertible. It was the fourth corporate event run by Great escape in just two weeks.

Great Escape regularly runs events for corporate and private clients and this experience means the company is able to cater for different budgets. Prices for corporate events including a tour, treasure hunt and lunch can start at as little as £145 per person.

“We tailor every event to the customer,” explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. “We have the right logistical support to ensure every event runs smoothly and a wide range of cars to accommodate all tastes and budgets.”

For more details on Great Escape Classic Car Hire’s corporate events packages call Graham or Jamie on 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk.

Stay cool in the city in the heatwave

2011-09-30T02:39:00.000-07:00

Enjoy the extended summer with the coolest thing around London - an Ariel Atom for hire from Great Escape Classic Car Hire. Available to hire from our London fleet based in Islington (we can deliver it free of charge anywhere within the M25), the Atom is the perfect way to get the wind in your hair - and grab some late summer attention.
So fast is melted Jeremy Clarkson's face and with a singular dedication to excitement, the Ariel Atom is the most exciting car on our 50-strong classic and performance car fleet. It can be hired by the day or weekend and prices are the lowest in the UK - just £345 puts you and a friend or partner behind the wheel of this amazing memory-maker. Our price includes 200 free miles, insurance and full AA breakdown cover.
For more details call 01527 893733 or visit our website at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

80 not out

2011-09-29T23:31:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I'd have welcomed the Government's plans to increase the motorway speed limit to 80 mph. When I was schlepping up and down the motorways doing 50,000 miles a year I'd have welcome the relaxation of a limit that seemed entirely designed to generate points on licences.
Today, running Great Escape Classic Car Hire, I've changed my perspective a little. Nowadays me and my team drive over 50,000 miles a year up and down the motorways, but always with a car trailer attached. It changes your approach somewhat. With a trailer you're limited to 60 mph and the inside or middle lanes. Trucks have similar geographical restraints but are limited to 56 mph. As we trundling along on cruise we see major problems with this situation, which an increase in the speed limit for cars would exacerbate.
The fundamental problem on motorways is the relative speed between vehicles. Cars travelling at 70 mph versus trucks limited to 56 mph mean that the passing lanes regularly get cut down to one rather than two, as trucks struggle to overtake trucks. Cars travelling at at least 70mph have to squeeze past overtaking trucks, which causes bottlenecks behind the trucks (and resulting risk taking) and blind spots in front of them (particularly dangerous at motorway slip roads where cars race on to the motorway and across the lanes).
For trucks and trailers stuck at a maximum of 56 mph or 60mph, cars travelling at 70 mph or more pose significant dangers, unfortunately ones that few car drivers fully appreciate. Trucks and trailers need space to manouvre, but cars travelling at higher speeds rapidly close gaps to nothing, turning a safe manouvre into a dangerous one. Trucks and trailers often depend on the foresight of drivers to enable them to manouvre, whereby cars move over a lane to provide space.
Increasing the car speed limit will widen the speed gap between cars and trucks and therefore increase the safety risk in these situations.
Instead of increasing motorway speed limits, the limit on trucks needs to be addressed. Trucks are perfectly capable of travelling faster safely. Giving them a maximum speed that is closer to cars would improve safety for everyone. It would balance the relative speeds between cars and trucks, thereby reducing the risk of bottlenecks and impatience, and enable trucks to overtake each other faster and more safely. A 62 mph limit for trucks, equivalent to 100 kph, would move cars and trucks to safe relative speeds. It would barely impact on fuel economy and is small enough not to impact safety.
The car speed limit should remain at 70 mph. Put frankly, there are too many dangerous drivers already travelling safe in their euroboxes - increasing their ability to speed puts everyone at risk. 70 mph is a quick, economical and safe speed. I'm not a self righteous safety freak. I love driving fast cars fast and I was the one always travelling at 85 mph in the fast lane. But once I got a sat nav and realised that the extra 15 mph never got me there quicker, it only cost more in fuel, I slowed down and started to enjoy the drive.
The danger with motorways is relative speed. Increasing the gap between trucks and cars is a recipe for disaster.
Graham Eason, Great Escape Classic Car Hire, 01527 893733

What's the best 10k garage?

2011-09-28T23:49:00.000-07:00

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we have the great privilege of being able to work with many different types of classic cars. We often get asked by customers what the best classic car is or to recommend a classic car for weekend or everyday use.

What we've actually learned after 5 years is that one classic car in the garage is not quite ideal. If you have a convertible then you can only use it in Britain's variable summer. If you have a coupe you want a convertible when it's warm and a saloon when friends and family come over.

So we started to think what garage we'd create with a notional £10,000, which seems to be the sum most people have in mind to spend.

Rather than spend £10,000 on a nice TR6 or MGB,. we'd prefer to put it into 3 or 4 classics that fit the mood and the situation 365 days a year. By splitting your budget across more than one car you can also chop and change the fleet to suit your mood - without making a drastic change. Ok, so you might argue, the cost of owning the cars will increase if you have 3 or 4. There will be extra insurance and storage costs and perhaps additional road tax costs. Maintenance costs may also increase based on increased use of your fleet throughout the year. If these are hurdles for you we suggest you adjust your £10,000 budget to take this into account. But in our experience the additional costs are relatively small and offset by the enjoyment your cars will bring.

For us at Great Escape, the ideal classic car garage would have to cater for summer weather, cold or inclement weather (so that we can extend the driving season), an everyday commute car (so we can actually use one of the cars daily) and a family and friends weekend getaway car. So here's our first shot at our ideal 365 day per year classic car fleet:

Classic Convertible

A great, fun two seater convertible is a must for any classic car fleet. You can pick up an average MGB for £4-5k or a very nice Alfa Romeo Spider S3 or S4. Stick with either of these common, reliable models with good club support and your convertible will be easy and cheap to maintain.

Drivers Car

A convertible is for sharing, a driver's car is for those days when you just want to drive, without worrying about making a passenger seasick. There are plenty of sweet handliing 80s classic hot hatches around that deliver just that - they'll never be cheaper and they are more reliable than their 70s counterparts thanks to innovations like electronic ignition. The Peugeot 205 GTI (in 1.6 rather than heavyweight 1.9 guise), the increasingly rare Alfasud Ti, VW Golf Mk1 or Mk2 or Mk3 Escort XR3 or RS1600i. Good examples of these cars all start at less than £2k.

Classic Commuter

Your Drivers Car can double as your Classic Commuter if you're working on a tight budget, but if you want something more soothing and relaxing for the trip to and from work then there are plenty of great commuting cars. A good commuting car needs to be relaxing, distinctive and reliable. For us here at Great Escape Classic Car Hire it has to be a slat front Saab 900 Turbo 16S - bulletproof build quality, ultra reliable and very comfortable. Our 1990 example has covered 213,000 miles, cost £950 and looks the business. Alternatives include VW Corrado, Fiat Coupe and 1990s Alfa GTV, particularly in 3 litre 24v form.

Family & Friends Ferry

Call them old smokers or luxobarges but there is something about an old 70s or 80s executive saloon. They're very cheap and ideal for weekend day trips with family and friends - a chance to share your hobby with generally reluctant kith and kin. There is plenty of choice around the £2k mark, which would bag you a nice Series 2 or Series 3 Jaguar XJ6, Mercedes W123 saloon or estate, Citroen CX or a Mark 2 Ford Granada (obviously a Ghia X or a S).

So there you have it. Tell us what you think or if you've already gone down this route, let us know what's in your garage.

Success at Silverstone

2011-09-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire sponsored BMW 1600ti race car achieved another win at Silverstone in the hands of Tony Hunting, our Technical Director. The car, which is owned and co-piloted by David Cornwallis drove to the finish line despite a non-fault dalliance with another car on the track.
Tony, who manages our Suffolk site and maintains Great Escape's cars through his business GTR Classics, maintains the car for David. The BMW is an ultra rare 1600ti that has been lightened and prepared for racing, but is very close to standard specification.
Great Escape provides workshop space and contributes to the funding for the race car.

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New MGB in Worcestershire

2011-09-26T10:16:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added a second MGB convertible to its hire fleet in Worcestershire, located on the edge of the Cotswolds. The new car is a 1973 roadster in Old English White with black interior, chrome bumpers and a manual gearbox with overdrive.
The new MGB complements Great Escape's existing MGB V8 engined convertible. Both cars are available to hire on a self drive basis by the day, weekend or week. Prices start at just £165 for 24 hours, including comprehensive insurance, full AA breakdown cover and unlimited mileage.
"The MGB is one of the most popular classic cars of all time," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "This year we found that we could have regularly double booked our V8 roadster. So it made sense to add a second car, but this time in white with a standard 1800cc engine to give our customers some variety.
"We expect the white car to be very popular for weddings as a groom's car."
Great Escape Classic Car Hire operates the largest fleet of MGBs for hire in the UK including MGB roadsters and GT coupes and MG TD. The company has over 50 classic cars for hire in the UK from 6 convenient locations.
For more details call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
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Should I hire out my classic car?

2011-09-25T23:55:00.000-07:00

As summer turns to autumn, classic car enthusiasts across the UK are preparing their cars for the winter lay up. For many time-starved enthusiasts it's also a timely opportunity to ponder the perennial classic car dilemma - should I keep it or sell it? With so many competing demands on our time, opportunities to spend quality time with your classic car can be hard to come by.

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire in early autumn and January we see a sudden increase in enquiries from owners who want to hire out their cars. So we've put together a helpful informaton pack that is designed to enable enquirers to decide whether hiring out their classic is right for them. You can request a pack by calling Graham or Jamie on 01527 893733.

If you're considering hiring out your classic car, here are some pointers to help you decide if it's right for you.

Your objectives in hiring cars will dictate what cars you hire and how we hire them for you. Classic car hire can be a way to cover the cost of a classic car you own or a way to buy a car you might otherwise not be able to justify. But if you are looking for an investment then we would recommend a different selection of cars. Classic car hire can also be an useful way to earn a second or third income or a small retirement income to supplement your pension. At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we have structured different models to suit these different goals.
It is important to be aware of the risks in hiring your classic car. Although the risk of damage or loss is significantly less than most people expect, it remains the biggest challenge when considering whether it is right for you. At Great Escape we have systems that ensure our cars are cared for by customers but we cannot eliminate the risk If you are worried about other people driving your cars or consider the possibility of damage too great, then perhaps classic car hire is not for you. Alternatively, if you accept the risk and are happy that the insurer will repair the car to the same or better than condition, then you will sleep easy when your car is on hire. We generally prefer not to hire out cars that are in concours condition or are highly prized possessions. Good cars for hire are in good cosmetic condition, perhaps with some defects, but are mechanically reliable. Reliability is difficult to achieve with a classic car because most cars are used sparingly - they may seem reliable until they are subjected to hire mileages.
There are no right or wrong cars for hire but some cars are much better than others. When considering the potential of a car, it is important to bear in mind your objectives. If you are happy to merely cover the cost of hire and maintenance then you will have a wider choice of cars to consider. If you want more of an income or a return on investment then your scope is more limited. At Great Escape we have years of data to demonstrate which cars work well and we have a large wish list of cars we would like to add.
We have developed an information pack for classic car owners to help them decide which option for hiring their cars is best for them and an income/cost model to help analyse the returns. For more information call Graham or Jamie on 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
Great Escape is the UK's largest classic car hire company with a fleet of 50 classic cars for hire from 6 UK locations. We have 5 years experience of hiring cars on behalf of owners and we operate the largest fleet of leased in cars.

A New Jensen Interceptor for 2014

2011-09-21T09:50:00.001-07:00

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we love the Jensen Interceptor. Ok, so build quality wasn't brilliant and the electrics have a life of their own (when they have a life), but there is just something about these big, brutal grand tourers that is hard not to love. So when we got wind that they're about to make a brand new one - not just a reheated version of the old one - we got very excited.

The plans involve a group of companies coming together, at Browns Lane in Coventry no less, to build a brand new all-aluminium chassis, aluminium body grand tourer that evokes the style of the 70s original. The plans sound credible to us as they have the input of some established names and the permission of the owners of the Jensen and Interceptor brands. Work, they say, is at an advanced stage.

We know the enduring appeal of the Jensen from our experience of hiring them out. We hire out two Jensen Interceptors from our Yorkshire and Cotswolds sites and they are always amongst our most popular cars. A well sorted Jensen such as either of the cars we hire is a wonderful car to tour around. And the styling inside and out is delightful.

So good luck to the team behind the new Jensen. We'll provide updates as we hear them on this blog. For more details on the Great Escape Jensen Interceptors for hire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

70 people, 30 cars, 6 days, 3 events, 1 Goodwood

2011-09-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

The team at Great Escape Classic Car Hire is starting to unwind after its most successful Gopdwood Revival ever. Great Escape provided 30 cars to various corporate and private clients during the Goodwood Weekend in September, with a 100% reliability rate across the fleet.
The company organised three major events for corporate clients during the show and also provided a large number of cars to private self drive hire clients from its bases in Yorkshire, Cotswolds, London and Suffolk. This included two events from Winchester and Chichester which involved Great Escape's specialist logistics partner providing dedicated articulated trucks to move the vehicles.
"The Goodwood Revival gets biggers every year for us," says Graham Eason of Great Escape. "We ran three corporate events during the Revival and also provided self drive hire to private customers on our busiest weekend of the year.
"The fleet was 100% reliable and ever customer came back satisfied. I am pleased that we are able to successfully support and manage activity on this scale."
Great Escape Classic Car Hire is the UK's largest classic car hire company with a fleet of over 50 vehicles for self drive rental from 6 UK locations. For more information on Great Escape's corporate and private client packages, call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
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2012 hire fleet announced

2011-09-13T08:34:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has finalised its self drive hire fleet for 2012. The 50-strong fleet will only be slightly altered for 2012, with the loss of two cars and a few other cars moving to new Great Escape locations. You can view the new fleet by clicking on the Locations button at the top of the Great Escape website and selecting each location.
"We try to keep our fleet consistent year to year," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "This means that customers who buy vouchers or plan to hire a car from us are not unnecessarily surprised.
"However, we review our fleet each year to maintain the best balance of cars at each location. We also look at our fleet and replace some cars with more popular models.
"For 2012 we will be adding in several new cars, which we will be announcing over the next few months."
For more details on Great Escape Classic Car Hire visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.
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Cropredy Bridge Garage open day

2011-09-11T04:09:00.000-07:00

When the call came that the Great Escape Classic Car Hire dark blue Jensen Interceptor was ready for collection after some bodywork, we decided to combine the trip to Cropredy Bridge Garage near Banbury with the Jensen specialist's open day.

Cropredy has been through some varied times recently but the open day proved that this longstanding marque loyalist is back to full strength. Jensen Interceptors in various hues lined up alongside CV-8s and ultra rare Jensen Healey GTs. Inside the workshop we spotted the pair of blue and white Interceptors that recently featured on Top Gear, plus an awesome burgundy Interceptor R, complete with its Corvette engine and bespoke interior. Elsewhere an autojumble was laid out. The Open Day was busy and we met up with Terry Carney, who runs the Great Escape Lincolnshire site. Like the rest of the Great Escape team he is a car nut and has a project Jensen Interceptor in his garage.

The team at Cropredy Bridge had repaired the Jensen superbly. The car recently had a close shave with a handrail, which damaged the front valance. We took the opportunity to also refit the windscreen, which was prone to leaks. With the windscreen fixed we will now be refurbishing the seats and fitting the new carpet set that we bought months ago. So for 2012 this blue Jensen Interceptor will be in better shape than ever.

For more details on Cropredy Bridge visit http://www.cropredy-bridge.co.uk/. For more details on the Great Escape Jensen Interceptor for hire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/

Melt your face like Clarkson

2011-09-07T00:01:00.001-07:00

We've posted some new pictures of our brand new Ariel Atom for hire on our main website at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/. This latest addition to our performance car hire fleet is currently based in London and can be hired for road use. We'll even deliver it anywhere within the M25 for free - or further afield for a small charge.

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire Ariel Atom for hire is an Atom 245 fitted with the 2 litre Honda V-TEC engine. The Atom is an out-and-out race car but we've fitted a couple of concessions to comfort to make it bearable for prolonged road driving. These include a windscreen and heated seats.

The Ariel Atom is available for hire by the day, weekend or week. Prices are the lowest in the UK and include 200 miles use, insurance and full AA breakdown cover. For more information visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

New classic car photos online

2011-09-05T00:10:00.000-07:00

We've added new professional images of our Yorkshire classic car hire fleet to the Great Escape Classic Car Hire website at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/. The new shots of the 1967 Porsche 911T, Jaguar E Type V12 Convertible, Mercedes 300SL, Jaguar Mk2 and Jensen Interceptor were taken in and around Harrogate near our Yorkshire site.

The majority of our customers base their decision on the information that we provide online. So it is important that we provide high quality images and descriptions so that they can make informed decisions. We invest several thousand pounds a year in photography any all of the cars featured on the Great Escape Classic Car Hire website are the actual cars that customers can drive - we don't use library images.

For more information on Great Escape visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

BMW 1600ti ready for Silverstone

2011-08-25T06:57:00.001-07:00

When Great Escape Classic Car Hire's Technical Director Tony Hunting brought the http://www.davidcornwallis.co.uk/ BMW 1600ti race car in for prepping at our Worcestershire workshop before its outing at Silverstone, it was a great opportunity for the team to get together before the camera with the car.
Great Escape MD Graham Eason, Operations Manager Russ Pemberton and Tony posed for a snapshot after the car had been fetled on the Great Escape ramp. The BMW runs in the Swinging Sixties championship co-driven by Tony with David Cornwallis, who owns the car and runs a company specialising in refurbished Thwaites dumper trucks. Great Escape provides sponsorship for the duo throughout the season.
The BMW's next outing is at Silverstone on September 16th when it will compete in the Swinging Sixties championship. The car required work to the exhaust and bodywork after a minor incident at Anglesey track.

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Classic Cabrio Comparison

2011-08-24T00:45:00.000-07:00

MGB V8 v’s Alfa Spider by Matt Nichols
When it comes to choosing an entry level two seat convertible to savour on high days and holidays then included on your short list should be Alfa’s 105 platform based Spider and MG’s model B. Both cars are available from Great Escape Classic Car Hire so you can ‘Try before you buy’ and in performing this comparison I chose their 1991 Series 4 Alfa Spider and 1971 MGB V8. The age gap may seem quite stark but the origins of the run out model Italian go all the way back to the 60’s and despite its plastic body kit and more modern interior design, it has a similar front engine rear wheel drive chassis set up to the MG.
First impressions
The acid test here is when both cars are presented to you with the keys in the ignition, which one do you get in and drive away, tricky isn’t it? The Alfa attracting you with its air of sophistication and Mediterranean flair, whilst the MGB sits there quintessentially British, albeit appearing much older in looks and styling. Which way you go I think will be a mixture of your preferences on country, era and abilities with a spanner? Buy an MG and you would be bonkers to think that you’ll never have to lift the bonnet yourself whilst with the later fuel injected Alfa you could easily step into ownership planning to rely on a single visit to a specialist each year for servicing and an MOT.
Sat inside
If your personal car compass was faltering on initially approaching these two sports cars then I guarantee you’ll either stay sat inside the MG or immediately get back out and run to the Spider. Because although the Alfa has fingers in both old and new world pies the seating position and interior design are all bang up to date. Conversely the MG is locked in a time warp combination of low slung seat, tiny windscreen, sweet smelling leather and mix of traditional dials and switches. If that doesn’t do it for you, or you don’t enjoy the handbrake pressing into your left leg then the Alfa is probably a more suitable place for you to be.
Engine and exhaust note
Now I have to admit straight away this is slightly unfair on my part in choosing an MG with a Rover V8 and raucous exhaust fitted. Press the starter button on this car and it goes up several star ratings instantly courtesy of the guttural throb emitted out the back, echoing off of every building, wall and bridge you pass under. The oversized engine also delivers lots of delicious torque from the off to provide great cruising and overtaking ability. OK so the Alfa is on the back foot in giving away four cylinders and 1500cc, but its 2.0 litre twin cam is no slouch providing equally strong cruising ability and a sporty, albeit far more subtle, exhaust note. The Spider just misses the inevitable punchy acceleration and overtaking ability the extra power gives the MG. If the latter were a more conventional 1800cc model then maybe the tables would get turned, so best keep an open mind in this department.
Out and about
On the highway these cars start to feel much closer in era with both delivering their power through live back axles. The MG’s ride crashes more over broken road surfaces whilst this particular Alfa squeaked its way along, possibly due to a warn bush or something requiring a spot of lubrication. Surprisingly it’s the MG that feels more modern, save for its steering which has a slightly odd artificial feel, being the same static or on the move despite the absence of power assisted steering. The Alfa’s newer shape and cockpit hide its original underpinnings very well indeed as on the move this car feels every bit a classic dominated by the heavy live axle that is firmly weighted to the road. The sensations you get inside the car are largely from the rear body being pushed around by the connecting rods and bars that hold the axle in place enhanced further by some slack introduced over time. The MG definitely has it on dynamics when pushing on, the Alfa being much more refined, but both transport you back in time whilst on the move.
Ownership prospects
Alfa Romeo is the first choice of car for many enthusiasts and collectors and it is not difficult to understand why. There is something, DNA if you like, that draws you in allowing your heart to rule your head on any purchase. Alfa’s are cars you fall in love with and get passionate about and the Spider fits this mould perfectly being less risky than some models as many have lived their entire lives safely stowed during winter months. Also when you buy one the chances are it will be an original specimen and not modified in anyway. MGB’s on the other hand, with some exceptions of course, will have had at least one re-build by now and therefore inevitably ‘improved’ in some way. This one received a Rover V8 and 5-Speed gearbox, whilst others will have got power steering or uprated suspension and converted from rubber to chrome bumpers, or given a set of period wire wheels. I think therefore in choosing between the two cars you can either tread the relatively low maintenance path of an up together Spider or the continuous improvement path that virtually every MGB in the land must find itself on at some point in its life.
Overall

As weekend tourers both cars will do a job for you and so your decision should be based on exactly how you would prefer your classic car experience to pan out. Handy with a set of spanners and keen to have a go, get stuck and make changes to the car then the MG is the car for you with excellent access to parts and panels. Simply want a car to drive and enjoy whilst leaving the oily bits to others then an up together Spider should fit into your life very nicely, particularly if you have a warm and dry place to keep it when not in use.
Driving
MGB - Great dynamics, although the ride can crash over bumps at times
Alfa - A lot of fun and feeling every bit a classic despite its relative newness
Engine
MGB - 3528cc Rover V8 combines well with the 5 speed gearbox delivering both punchy acceleration and great cruising ability
Alfa - 1962cc twin cam engine and 5 speed also work well together in the mid-range, although lack a few horses to be on a par with the MG’s V8.
Brakes
MGB - Discs up front and drums at the rear start to struggle when pushed
Alfa - The all-round servo assisted disc brakes on the Alfa are brilliant
Handling
MGB - Very little body roll and firm ride mean you can corner confidently at speed
Alfa - Perhaps the biggest surprise of all, agile and engaging
Desirability
MGB - Prices vary massively with original matching numbers chrome bumper cars changing hands at well over £10,000
Alfa - Good Series 4 Spiders are holding strong at around £8,000 with original Series 1 cars also fetching well over £10,000
Pro’s
MGB - Entry level classic car that offers its own unique British sports car experience with easy access to parts and panels
Alfa - Fun car for any occasion that comes with classic Alfa DNA
Con’s
Buying a MGB: None really, just with so much choice out there make sure you get the right one for you Renting: None
Buying an Alfa: Mechanicals are robust and reliable, but rust can be an issue, so make sure it’s a good one Renting: None
Overall
MGB - 4/5
Alfa - 4.5/ 5

Back to the future Healey style

2011-08-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire's fleet added to its growing tally of music video appearance with the HMC featuring in rap star JK's new video. Shot around a retro Back to the Future theme, the producers decided the iconic 1960s style HMC Healey for hire in Shropshire was perfect for the video.
JKhas just launched one of the fastest selling Bhangra albums in UK history and is filming a video to accompany each of the tracks. The video was filmed over 24 hours by a local production team from Wolverhampton. They chose the HMC because of its iconic 1960s styling and stand-out metallic blue and cream paintwork.
The shoot, which took place in and around the West Midlands, was originally scheduled for early August but had to be postponed due to the riots in the region.
Great Escape regularly provides classic cars for film, TV, video and advertising shoots.
"Classic cars are very popular props for music videos," says Graham Eason of Great Escape. "We are one of the UK's largest providers of classic cars for videos. Our cars have been used in rock, rap, folk and pop music videos."
For more details on the HMC Healey for hire in Shropshire click here or call 01527 893733.
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60s GT Shoot Out

2011-08-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

Aston Martin DB6 v’s Jensen Interceptor by Matt Nichols
Which of these do you secretly aspire to be, film star or rock star? Not sure, then consider this for a minute or two. Do you at times find yourself swanning around the house, curtains drawn of course, assuming the appropriate posture and delivering killer lines from your favourite films? Or instead do you sometimes wait until your other half is going out and then as soon as the door clicks shut, pump up the volume on the stereo and start playing along to a heavy metal band from a bygone era using the only instrument of choice, air guitar? Answer that and my work here is done, DB6 for budding Bond’s and an Interceptor for all you Motorhead, Judas Priest, Aerosmith and Whitesnake wannabes. The Aston is a handsome and smooth operator that is instantly recognisable as the carriage of secret agents everywhere, with the Jensen hiding its intoxicating and loud big block V8 habit beneath an otherwise classy looking 70’s frame.
First impressions
With all the changes at the rear of the car, the front of an Aston Martin DB6 is identical to the DB5 used on films like ‘Gold Finger’ and so as you approach the car for the first time in the metal I guarantee you will feel like the man himself. You’ll also most likely break into an involuntary smile and start jabbering nervously or unable to speak at all, pretty much the same as you were on your very first date, such is the aura surrounding this car. The Jensen on the other hand is cloaked in mystery as when it was new it came and went in what seemed like a heartbeat, even though in actual fact it was around much longer than its counterpart here. Interceptors are rare things, seldom viewed close up and your first thoughts are largely taken up absorbing its sheer size and wondering how they managed to make it with so little room in the back. Quickly followed by a moment of realisation that a beast lurks within, as the key is turned and 7.2 litres of American iron stirs itself into life. These two cars are like Roger Moore meeting Ted Nugent.
Sat inside
The DB6 is instantly recognisable from all the films it appeared in. You are required by law to prod every bit of it to test whether anything moves or opens to reveal launch mechanisms for rockets, the passenger seat ejector button, or the oil spray nozzles underneath the rear bumper. With everything pressed and tapped, sit inside and you realise the true age of this car in examining the binnacle directly in front of you that envelopes the main dials and switches. It would seem that the lines between aircraft and motor vehicle were still fuzzy when this interior was designed, as the DB6 has more than a whiff of Piper Cub about it immediately behind the distinctive and apparently inverted three spoke steering wheel. The Interceptor on the other hand has what appears to be an Italian supercar of the same era look to it, as all the dials along its wide dashboard are pointing directly at the driver. There is also an almost race car like steering wheel which is quite bizarre in a car that weighs in at nearly two metric tonnes. The differences are distinct and it’s the Jensen that really impresses, being much more Maranello than Midlands.
Engine and exhaust note
There can be only one winner here and as much as I love the subtlety of Aston’s very British straight six, accompanied by some traditional background transmission noises at low speeds, the Chrysler unit in the Jensen is a monster with more torque on tap at tickover than its all-round disc brakes can contain. The whole car rocks to the beat of the purposeful idle and when you do let go of the reigns and pull away the Torqueflite automatic gearbox quickly responds with two quick gear changes confirming what you probably already gathered, you only need one forward gear in this car, unless of course you plan to point it skywards and drive straight up to the moon, in which case it might just need to drop back down one ratio.
Out and about
This is where both cars confirm their true purpose in life as continental cruisers, being comfortable and relaxed places to be with several hours passing before you even consider taking a break. Both therefore prove that cruising is not the preserve of modern and up to date machinery and was available 40 years ago, it just came at a premium that’s all. In terms of differences then it’s more about preferences on how you prefer to pass through towns and villages. Choosing between an instantly recognisable star of the big screen, or as the overly loud rock star from that band, what were they called again, Jensen, oh that’s right.
Ownership prospects
One of these cars is going to set you back in the region of £100,000, the other in similar condition around a quarter of that, less if you shop around. One is a true thoroughbred and brings with it everything that means including servicing, maintenance and repairs. The other built in the UK in the 70’s and yes all that brings as well. The size of your purse and most likely cut of your cloth will ultimately determine which of these cars you buy, but the Jensen is not the poor relation by any means offering much of what the Aston does and in some ways more.
Overall
An Aston Martin DB6 with known history is a solid investment with values only likely to increase providing a superb cross country driving experience and a warm response from everyone who sees it, young and old. Jensen prices vary tremendously and with most having undergone some sort of major refurbishment quality depends on the wealth and generosity of the owner at the time. On the road an Interceptor is a truly awesome car and will suck you in with its mix of Anglo-Italian styling and American drag car soundtrack and performance.
1967 Aston Martin DB6
1974 Jensen Interceptor
Driving
Aston - Polished cruiser that only requires you to take a break every couple of hours
Jensen - Matches DB6 cruising ability with attitude when you stir the beast under the long bonnet into life
Engine
Aston Martin 3995cc in line six cylinder engine, with DOHC and Triple SU Carbs carried straight over from the DB5
Chrysler 7,212cc V8 OHV and four-barrel carburettor
Brakes
Aston - brakes do require some adjustment and a very firm press indeed. Leaving more time and space is the safest option
Jensen - brakes work well right up to the point of actually stopping when the torque from the engine has to be overcome as well
Handling
Beautifully weighted once the front of the car has settled into corner, and so best enjoyed with a ‘slow in and fast out’ driving style
Surprisingly good on fast flowing corners, but if the terrain gets bumpy so can the back of the car allowing the Panhard rod acting on the rear axle to start to affect the overall balance and steering
Desirability
This Aston is right up there no question, although purists still insist on a DB4 or DB5 and so they are where the really serious money is
Looks the part and with residuals nowhere near as strong as the Aston, much more accessible as well
Pro’s
Stunning classic British grand tourer that makes you feel like James Bond
Big beautiful cruiser that stirs your sole with it’s excellent V8 motor, inspiring interior and cossetting ride and comfort
Con’s
Buying an Aston Martin DB6: With aluminium body panels and the unique Superleggera construction onto a spaceframe chassis it’s all about hidden horrors. Project cars have been known to require six figure investments to bring them back up to scratch Renting: None
Buying a Jensen Interceptor: Some potentially expensive maintenance tasks given both the tight fitting big block V8 and large expanse of leather inside. You also need to be mindful of poor repairs by previous owners lacking the necessary funds to do the job properly Renting: None
Overall
5/5
4/5

Choosing the right E Type

2011-08-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster v’s V12 Coupe v’s 4.2 Coupe
by Matt Nichols
Comparing three Jaguar E-Types from Great Escape Classic Car Hire is a bit like choosing from the menu at your favourite restaurant. You already know you’re going to have a memorable meal you just have to make your final decision on exactly what it is going to be. In our case a classy white Series 3 V12 roadster, Series 2 Coupe with a 4.2 litre Jaguar straight six engine looking absolutely stunning in red, and the rather menacing dark blue Series 3 Coupe with a later fuel injected XJS V12.
First impressions
Other than all being E-Types, which of course guarantees your full attention from the off, my eye is most drawn to the two coupes with their distinctive roofline and intriguing sideways opening rear hatch. Of the two it’s the red series 2 car that wins, being an absolute stunner in its bright red paint and red leather interior along with distinctive triple wiper blades. The midnight blue car looks far more aggressive, something that only gets confirmed when the engine is started waking everything within a mile radius courtesy of the quad tail pipe exhausts. The roadster is the least dramatic but looks ever so classy in white with its contrasting black leather interior. Get up close and peer inside and you find that all three cars have the same steering wheel, dashboard and related switchgear, not to mention wide sills and narrow door openings in which to squeeze through to get in, despite all three cars being based on the longer 2+2 platform. Early 2 seat cars must be really tricky to get in and out of.
Sat inside
Once installed, and without the engine running, the cars have a very similar ambiance; the Series 2 Coupe being completely enclosed, Series 3 Coupe slightly more open with its Webasto sunroof and Series 3 roadster literally with the sky as the limit. The most comfortable of the three is the Series 2 Coupe following some recent fettling, with all three having the same well placed arms rests on the doors and central consul between the driver and passenger seats. My only gripe is that there is nowhere to park your left leg once clutch duties have been dispensed with. I do however love the large analogue dials that relay messages about on your speed and engine rpm as well as the long line-up of switches in the centre of the car for everything from side lights to map light and washers to wipers. The two main light switches are also separately encased and bang in the middle of the dash with the wiper/washer switches immediately to the right, so that all the primary controls are easy to locate even in the dark, clever stuff.
Engine and exhaust note
Turn the key in the dark blue late series V12 coupe and it sounds as though you are on the start-line at the Goodwood Revival, such is the intensity of noise echoing all around you. The Series 2 Coupe follows this with its own slightly tamer, but still very appealing 6 cylinder growl, whilst the white roadster is as quiet as a mouse by comparison despite also packing a V12. As all three sound so different it would appear that you can ask your E-Type to play any tune you like by picking the appropriate pipes for it to play through, something that is worth keeping in mind.
Out and about
Driving the three cars is where further similarities are confirmed, such as the long narrow bonnet, peachy handling, decent brakes and absence of any body roll. The latter point catches me out every time I take the wheel of one these outstanding British classics. No body roll and yet a cosseting ride that is kind to its occupants over road imperfections, speed bumps and other related disturbances. How did they do that, as it is unbelievably good? The differences that do come into play are all based on your final choice from the menu in that restaurant. Maybe you played it safe with a traditional roast or in this case the roadster which offers a lovely relaxing ride with the wind whistling through your hair as you navigate from place to place at a gentle pace. Or were you tempted instead by a special from the board and pleased to discover that the Series 2 Coupe with its smaller 4.2 litre engine satisfies in equal measure to the V12 roadster bringing with it an increased deftness born out of the lighter lump up front. If not then did the spiced prawns get you drooling, as you donned your race overalls and charged away in the Series 3 Coupe with its more powerful XJS V12 engine and angry cry from the four exhaust pipes that exit the rear of the car? Leaving the other two cars and for that matter pretty much everything else on the road at the same time trembling in your wake whilst struggling to keep within the speed limits
Ownership prospects
Jaguar E-Types have always represented a significant investment of anyone’s time and money, particularly given their quirky construction, and arguably increasingly so these days with advancing years. Cream of the crop are series 1 roadsters commanding the highest values with Series 2 Coupes in 2+2 guise offering the best opportunity for an entry level purchase. In terms of driving experiences I’m yet to have a poor one, so if in you’re in the market I think just get the best car you can for the money so you can spend as much time as possible enjoying it, without getting too hung up on precisely which model it is. After all, they are all priceless gems really and great menu choices.
Overall
Offering the ultimate in classic car ownership experience E-Types are instantly recognisable by virtually everyone who sees one. Roadster and coupe configurations mean you can choose what style of car to go for whether, fully open, fully closed or somewhere in between. Early series 1 roadsters are the most valuable, followed by 2 seat V12’s with 2+2’s bringing up the rear. Not that it matters particularly as all E-Types are truly wonderful places to be and in which to enjoy the great outdoors. Now where did I see that advert for a Series 2 Coupe in red with a tuned 4.2 litre engine for £25,000?
Driving
The smoothest of the three with excellent road manners and the bonus of open air motoring
Proves you don’t need a V12 delivering a lighter and nimble feel on the road
Later XJS engine and performance exhaust combine to make a thrilling proposition
Engine
5.3 litre SOHC V12 with four Zenith-Stromberg carburettors
4.2 litre DOHC Straight 6 with either twin Stromberg (US) or triple SU’s (UK)
5.3 litre SOHC V12 with Lucas fuel injection
Brakes
Disc brakes front and rear work well
Handling
Smooth and refined
Light and nimble
Exhaust noise accentuates its natural race car feel
Desirability
Series 3 V12 Roadsters are up there and only behind series 1 cars in terms of value
Lowest of all E-Type values in 2+2 form although still appeals
All V12 E-Types are sought after cars although the later engine in this car may divide opinion
Pro’s
All E-Types are universally revered with V12 roadster values holding strong
Great entry into E-Type ownership with the smaller engine giving nothing away to the heavier V12’s
Fairly unique racing E-Type for the road, truly awesome
Con’s
Buying: Tricky and potentially very costly to maintain Renting: None
Overall
5/5
5/5
5/5

Russ joins the Great Escape team

2011-08-12T23:46:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire, the UK's largest classic car hire company, has appointed Russ Pemberton as Operations Manager based at its Worcestershire HQ. The new role has been created to improve customer service and coordinate hire activity across Great Escape's six locations.
Russ joins Great Escape after 32 years in the West Midlands police force. He is a lifelong classic Ford enthusiast and owns two immaculate Ford Escorts - a 1600 'big wing' rally car and a RS2000 road car. In his new role Russ will be responsible for the day to day operation of Great Escape including managing the bookings and enquiries office and organising vehicle logistics and maintenance.
The appointment of an Operations Manager reflects Great Escape's growth during 2011. Since 2009 the company has grown from a single site with 20 cars to 6 UK locations with a fleet of 50 classic cars for hire, the largest in the Britain.
"I am very pleased to welcome Russ to the team," says Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Our growth means we need someone like Russ to manage our day to day operations and ensure the business runs smoothly for the benefit of customers."
Great Escape was established in 2006 as a hobby business by Graham Eason. When Graham was made redundant in 2009 he was able to focus on the company's growth. Great Escape now provides cars for daily, weekly and weekend self drive hires, TV and advertising shoots and corporate events.
To find out more visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.
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Jaguar E Type 4.2 road test

2011-08-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

By Matt Nichols
If you’re struggling to make sense of aspects of modern living then I may have found the perfect tonic for you in the form of this magnificent bright red Jaguar E-Type Coupe. I drove this car on roads I am very familiar and at times get completed frustrated with, and yet I had one of those enlightening moments in this car when suddenly everything made sense. Viewing the world through the tiny windscreen, triple wiper blades and achingly long vented bonnet whilst firmly gripping the thin rimmed wooden steering wheel, I re-tuned into and got Britain once again. The countryside was perfect and able to be enjoyed at 60mph, a speed which also felt just right, as did 30mph which was no longer the unnecessary delay it often feels, but instead an opportunity to absorb some fine architecture and realise that life is good when you’re in such excellent company.
I’ve previously had the pleasure of driving two other E-Types from Great Escape Classic Car Hire and this car confirmed that in the same way bumble bees shouldn't be able to fly with their large bodies and tiny wings but of course they do. E-Type's, being so long and narrow, shouldn't handle and yet they do. In fact the handling is sublime. This red 4.2 Coupe moves from bend to bend with hardly any slack and virtually no body roll. In any other car that would also mean a bumpy ride, but not in an E-Type as all road imperfections are glossed over like Dulux’s finest without any hint to suggest anything was there in the first place. So much so I guarantee you will start to question how that is possible in a car over 40 years old and without a magnetic damper in sight. This coupe also comes with the trademark brakes that although require a firm press and whole leg movement will easily lock both fronts at 60-70mph. Better still the brake pedal draws level with the throttle pedal once depressed and so perfect for a quick sideways flex of your right foot and a cheeky little downshift blip of the engine.
The luxurious red leather interior offers room for your passenger to stretch right out once they’ve made it in through the narrow door and over the wide sill, a gentleman would of course look away, and also provides a splendid place for you both to enjoy the journey ahead. The long bonnet, which is further accentuated by the red paint was fully appreciated by Mrs Nichols at the time of testing, I did of course offer my own theories as to why that might be, but apparently it was definitely just the bonnet she was referring to. There are no rear seats on this strict two seater but there is an attractive and practical hatch, only missing some period luggage for a complete 60’s weekend break experience. Luckily there is still the 40 year old indicators to enjoy, which make a distinguished grandfather clock ‘tock’ noise from the relay located somewhere behind the passenger glove box.I did have one question before driving this car, which is do you need a V12 in your E-Type to make it a real one and I can categorically advise that you do not. The 4.2 litre DOHC straight six in this car is superb, providing a very purposeful growl when you decide to push on or overtake as well as offering such range in capability you realise four gears are all that is required. Better still, whilst on the move you need just one gear, 4th, something that makes a mockery of more up to date machinery with 6, 7 and even 8 available these days. How did we allow that to happen, because in this car I found myself staring in disbelief at the rev counter at times when from 30–70mph at no point did the dial climb above halfway, quite brilliant.
In terms of classic car traits the absence of power assisted steering means that 3 point turns can easily extend to 4-5 which is no issue, except for maybe a slight reddening of the gills if anyone happens to be watching at the time. Some exhaust fumes can make it into the cabin, which was the same as the V12 Coupe I drove, so just keep a window open, and there is a slight knock in the left hand rear of the car as drive is taken up, which I understand to be quite normal. Other familiar E-Type traits include a snatch of synchromesh when going back down from 4th to 3rd gear, something double de-clutching helps smooth once mastered. But these are all minor points and I think now surely regarded as features on a car of this age. Also, if you’ve read other reports and picked up on a minor obsession I have around whether the clock works or not, then all I can advise is remember to wear your watch.
This beautiful and bright 4.2 E-Type Coupe is the first classic I’ve driven and thought seriously that in the right circumstances I could quite easily use every day, and do you know, I think if I did the world would never cease to be a truly wonderful place.

1969 E-Type 4.2 Series 2 Coupe
Driving
Sublime, feeling light, nimble and tight and never crashing over bumps
Engine
Potent 4.2 litre DOHC 6 cylinder unit proves your E-Type doesn’t have to be a V12
Performance
Max Power: 265 bhp @ 5500 RPM Max Torque: 283 lb ft @ 4000 RPM0-60mph: 6.1 seconds

Top Speed: 150mph
Brakes
Superb, a firm press of the pedal means you can, if required, lock the front wheels at virtually any speed
Handling
One of life’s and arguably physics mysteries, how a car so long and narrow can handle so well
Desirability
Series 2 E-Types are the least well loved, which translates into a great opportunity for entry level ownership
Pro’s
It’s an E-Type
Con’s
Buying: OK so it’s not the purists favourite, but make sure it’s a good one and you’ve still got an icon in your garage Renting: None
Overall
5/5

1020bhp lines up at Great Escape

2011-08-09T23:59:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire lined up its fleet of four Jaguar E Type cars for a rare photoshoot this week. The cars, which are normally based in Yorkshire, Worcestershire and Suffolk, gathered in Worcestershire for the first time in 5 years.
The Great Escape brace of white Jaguar E Type V12 convertibles, E Type V12 coupe and E Type 4.2 coupe have a combined horsepower of over 1000bhp from 36 cylinders. Our Worcestershire site is normally home to one white convertible and the V12 coupe. The rare gathering occurred when we pulled in our second white E Type from Yorkshire for a customer and our red 4.2 Series 2 E Type returned from the garage after a £5,000 refurbishment. The white car will return to Yorkshire shortly and the red car will rejoin the Suffolk fleet at the end of the week.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire has the largest fleet of classic cars for hire in the UK, including the widest choice of Jaguar E Types for hire in the world. Demand for E Types for hire has soared in 2011 thanks to the 50th anniversary of the car's launch in 1961.
"It was a rare treat for us to have all the E Types in one place," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Lining up these cars together just demonstrated how beautiful the E Type is - whether in Series 2 or Series 3 guise."
For more information on Great Escape's fleet of classic cars for hire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

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Good weekend for Tony

2011-08-08T23:53:00.000-07:00

Tony Hunting, who runs Great Escape Classic Car Hire's Worcestershire workshop and manages our Suffolk site, had another good weekend's outing in the Great Escape-sponsored BMW 1600ti. Co-driving with David Cornwallis in the Classic Sports Car Club Championship's Swinging Sixties Group B class, the trio of drivers and car posted another good result at the Anglesey round of the championship.
The BMW team is very hands on with all vehicle prepping and maintenance carried out by David and Tony. The car carries a FIA certificate and is eligible to race in various historic championships including Goodwood.
During the Anglesey weekend the BMW was punted off by a Porsche 911 so will require some bodywork repairs over the next couple of weeks.
Anglesey was the car's first outing with its new Great Escape Classic Car Hire logos in place.

For more information on Great Escape visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

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HMC Big Healey road test

2011-08-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

By Great Escape Classic Car Hire road tester Matt Nichols
I don’t just ‘want’ this new Big-Healey in my life I ‘need’ it, and no not like my wife or daughter ‘needs’ a new pair of shoes to match their latest outfits, or my son ‘needs’ his electric guitar at every family gathering. No I really ‘need’ it. Because right now for me and OK they may argue in their case for them as well, this car is in my blood running through my veins making perfect sense and not something I am ready to have challenged by anyone, whoever they may be.

As a beautifully retro styled sports car from 1999 the HMC model looks just like an original late 1960’s Healey 3000, whilst at the same time sounding like a roll-out TVR, revealing its compelling old-new theme. For instance, the steering has a new power assisted lightness combined with old-school directness ensuring every apex is touched with just a hint of lock as the front of the car fully commits to each one of your driver inputs. An experience further enhanced with the equally new fully independent rear suspension that in turn combines brilliantly with the period wire wheels to doggedly hang onto each direction change once the inevitable slack has been taken up. Put simply this car rocks, closing the gap perfectly between real drivers machine and modern in-car systems and going some way to explaining why I very nearly drove constantly for the entire 24 hours I had it. Even the lights worked well and heater sublime with the roof down under a rapidly cooling late summer’s night sky.

The HMC MKIV is a car that was given official recognition by the Healey family as a successor to the original ‘big’ Austin Healey 3000 (MK111). It copies its predecessor’s classic styling, this time in GRP, with the only obvious visual differences being the slightly flared front arches and newer interior trim. The classically styled lightweight body also hugs a modern tubular chassis and all-round independent suspension with disc brakes and aurally pleasing 3.9 litre Rover V8 engine. The dashboard mixes a touch of old world walnut, Smiths dials and chromed toggle switches, that include two for the heated seats, which for me nails just how perfectly well old and new worlds are joined together.

I will also forgive this car its Ford heater controls and vents simply because; a) they sit below or to the side of your natural eye line and are rarely clocked, b) sourcing chrome equivalents would completely disguise the control knobs, and c) they work so damned well, I had to switch them off at times regardless of how cold it got outside.The truth is I only returned this particular car to Great Escape Classic Car Hire on the promise of a test drive in a recently refurbished and scrummy looking bright red 4.2 Series 2 E-Type.

In my personal journey of ‘Try before you buy’ I wasn’t 100% clear what I was looking for but the HMC Healey has come closest to date combining jaw dropping classic car looks with more modern running gear, construction and systems. Even the tiny period rear view mirrors work well for goodness sake. Details like the piping over the front arches, blue over cream paint, wire wheels and small circular auxiliary lights all add to the picture perfect concept of a classic you can use regularly without the potential pitfalls of other completely original cars. Shame on everyone then this side of the pond, that most were exported to Germany.

In terms of classic car traits a few appeared to have been built in. All of the pedals are offset to the right, along with a good couple of inches of travel in the brake pedal before resistance is found, leaving enough of a gap to the throttle pedal to ensure any toe and heel attempts are completely thwarted. When you first have to brake you can therefore experience a slightly disconcerting moment when you think you must be pressing the wrong one given its position and free flowing motion, I had to look down at least twice.

There was also at the time of driving a cold idle issue, the idle being conspicuous by its absence, but once over the initial car park embarrassment this is short lived. The only other minor point is that this car’s slammed to the ground stance means the exhaust will drag on bumpy B-roads and whilst exiting garage forecourts, causing the need to slow down or lift until the terrain smooth’s back out again. Overall the fact that when I did finally park up, in the Clifton area of Bristol, I had 3 separate conversations with 3 people in as many minutes; one from someone who had owned an original Big-Healey, is pretty much all you need to know. Put simply this car works on every level and is well worth a go.

HMC Big-Healey MKIV
Driving
The steering and independent rear end combine to create a unique and rewarding experience that has to be experienced to be believed
Engine
Rover 3.9 litre V8 delivers useful torque low down before revving freely up to the 5,500rpm maximum. All accompanied by a truly pleasing soundtrack
Performance
Strong but not wild, I think if it were mine I’d find ways to get a few more horses up front
Brakes
Discs all round are well up to the job once you’re accustomed to the initial take-up slack in the brake pedal
Handling
You’ll never miss an apex and the rear is difficult to unstick in the dry with the car tipping into corners very nicely. I would need some track time to explore what happens at and beyond the limit but on the road I’d give it full marks
Desirability
Interesting one this as most left our shores to be exported to Germany and so other than being extremely rare in the UK, very difficult to call. I’d have one tomorrow though
Pro’s
Classic car looks combine with modern systems to create a compelling ownership prospect
Con’s
Buying – Take an expert along with you just in case. A TVR specialist may prove valubable if an HMC equivalent is difficult to find, as the main components are very similarRenting – Other than returning the car afterwards, absolutely none.
Overall
5/5

Jaguar Mk2 on set with John Bishop's Britain

2011-08-05T01:12:00.000-07:00

Our Operations Manager Russ Pemberton is currently recovering after a late night film shoot for John Bishop's Britain down in Surrey. Russ spent 9 hours on set on Thursday 4th August with our 1965 Jaguar Mk2 for hire in Worcestershire, plus 5 hours driving time to and from the location in Surrey.
The Jaguar Mk2 was used as part of a sketch about John Bishop's youth which is scheduled to air oon 6th August 2011 on John Bishop's popular BBC1 programme. The car sported a special B15 HOP registration plate for the shoot.
"We arranged the car for the shoot at very short notice" explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire. "Fortunately we have the staff and transport facilities to enable us to do this sort of job anywhere in the UK."
To see how the Jaguar Mk2 looked on set visit the Great Escape Classic Car Hire Facebook page by clicking here. We currently have nearly 2,500 followers on Facebook who receive updates on what we're up to and special discounts.

Jaguar Mk2 on John Bishop's Britain

2011-08-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire's 1965 British Racing Green Jaguar Mk2 saloon will feature on John Bishop's Britain, scheduled to air on 6th August 2011. The car features in a comedy sketch written by the comedian to appear in his popular Saturday night BBC1 television show.

We worked with the production team to provide the Jaguar at very short notice. We had to rework our vehicle logistics schedule in order to accommodate the request, fortunately without letting any customers down.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire regularly provides classic cars for television and film companies as well as advertising agencies. Our cars have appeared at The Brits and various films and documentaries for the BBC and Sky as well as numerous magazine and advertising shoots. We have full trailer and truck facilities for simple, reliable delivery and collection and can provide staff during the shoot to prepare and manouvre the vehicles.

The Jaguar Mk2 is for hire in the Cotswolds. It is one of three Jaguar Mk2 cars on the Great Escape Classic Car hire fleet. The company has a range of 50 classic cars for hire from 6 UK locations. For more details visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Il Lavoro Italiano Event

2011-07-30T01:38:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has teamed up with Prestige Promotions to offer the remarkable Il Lavoro Italiano (that's Italian for The Italian Job in case you wondered). From Kent to Maranello, home of the Prancing Horse Ferraris, this amazing top class tour takes in the Alps and Italian Lakes for some truly stunning driving.

The package includes ferries, 5 star quality hotels, dining, breakdown cover and comprehensive tour notes.

If you're lucky enough to own a classic or super car already you can take that. Alternatively we are offering special packages involving any of our fleet of 50 classic cars for hire. Start from any of our UK locations or we'll deliver the car to the start point at Lenham.

The tour runs from Sunday 11th September to Friday 16th September 2011. Places are very limited. To find out more call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ to view our range of cars.

E Type coupe back after rebuild

2011-07-27T00:11:00.000-07:00

We've got our beautiful 1970 Jaguar E Type 4.2 coupe back after a 3 month, £5,000 refurbishment by a classic Jaguar specialist. The car will rejoin Great Escape Classic Car Hire's rental fleet in Suffolk based near Stowmarket.

The Jaguar E Type has been a popular part of our hire fleet for several years but we took the decision earlier this year to withdraw it and treat it to a major overhaul. The work included some attention to the rear suspension, engine overhaul, new tyres and a brake refurbishment. The work was entrusted to a specialist and has improved the car significantly. We have begun testing the car and it runs beautifully with a sweet and smooth engine and surefooted roadholding.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has the largest fleet of Jaguar E Types for hire in the UK including two V12 convertibles, one V12 coupe and the 4.2 litre coupe. Jaguar E Types can be hired from Great Escape locations in Suffolk, Cotswolds and Yorkshire. The perfect way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Jaguar E Type.

You can find out more about the Jaguar E Type for hire by visiting http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Weekend Challenge for Alfa Spider

2011-07-25T00:55:00.000-07:00

One of Great Escape Classic Car Hire's Alfa Romeo Spiders took on a challenge last weekend (23rd and 24th July) put down by a classic car motoring journalist. Phil Wheedon of Classic Car Buyer and Classic Car Mart borrowed our 1992 burgundy Alfa Romeo Spider Series 4 for a trip to Scotland and back over 48 hours, via his home in Peterborough, for a forthcoming feature. We were happy to oblige because we were 100% confident in the car's reliability.

The 19 year old Alfa Romeo Spider performed faultlessly throughout the journey, which included Phil returning from Scotland with the hood down all the way. Although we will be checking the car on the ramp following this epic journey, there are no reported faults on the 65,000 mile car.

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we work extremely hard to improve the reliability of our fleet of cars, of which the average age is over 30 years old. We operate a strict maintenance regime for every vehicle and we have invested in an in-house workshop at our main Worcestershire site. This has improved vehicle turnaround and enables us to ramp check every car on a regular basis. Our other sites have similar arrangements with local garages.

"Our breakdown rate is less than 2%," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire. "That is pretty remarkable considering that our cars cover over 5 times the average classic car mileage and very nearly the average motorist's mileage."

Every Great Escape classic car is covered by full nationwide AA breakdown recovery. Unlike some classic car hire companies, Great Escape does not charge for vehicle repair and recovery from anywhere in the UK.

For more details on the Great Escape fleet visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

BBC Top Gear loves the Jensen Interceptor

2011-07-25T00:41:00.000-07:00

The BBC Top Gear television programme can be a fickle thing but when it finds something it loves, it praises it to the heavens. So it was that last night (Sunday July 24th 2011) the Jensen Interceptor found itself in the programme's radar beams as Clarkson and co doffed a floppy hat to the car of the 70s.

In a lengthy feature dedicated to the Jensen Interceptor the Top Gear team tested one of the new Jensen Interceptor S models and then created their own TV detective programme in homage to the fantastic 70s fastback, complete with fulsome moustaches. This pastiche featured three Jensen Interceptors from our friends at Cropredy Bridge garage in Banbury, who do all the fettling on Great Escape Classic Car hire's own Jensen Interceptors.

We're proud to say we've always loved the car that Jeremy Clarkson said has the best name ever put on a car - Interceptor. The Top Gear feature captured everything that is wonderful about these stylish grand tourers - the retro individualism of a car that is now so out of kilter with modern times. Our customers love it too - our two Jensen Interceptor cars are amongst the most popular hire cars on our fleet.

You can live the Clarkson dream by hiring a Jensen Interceptor in Yorkshire or Worcestershire for the Cotswolds. Prices start at £245 for 24 hours and include unlimited mileage, comprehensive insurance and full nationwide AA breakdown cover. For more details visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Great Escape cars at Silverstone Classic

2011-07-25T00:35:00.001-07:00

The extremes of Great Escape Classic Car Hire's fleet took pride of place at the Silverstone Classic on the weekend of 23rd and 24th July. Our white 1972 Jaguar E Type V12 convertible, which also features on magazine covers this month, took part in the E Type 50th Anniversary parade lap in the hands of celebrity DJ Simon Hirst, while our 1988 Peugeot 205 GTI circuited the track with a customer on the Retro Run event.

"We are really pleased to see customers making use of our cars in this way," says Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Lapping Silverstone in a classic car has to be one of life's real achievements."

The Jaguar E Type convertible and the Peugeot 205 GTI are part of the UK's largest fleet of classic cars for hire. Prices start at just £95 for 24 hours, including unlimited mileage, comprehensive insurance and full UK breakdown cover.

For more information visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Try before you buy Alfa Romeo Spider

2011-07-20T03:05:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire road tester Matt Nichols tries out the Alfa Romeo Spider

Do you sometimes wonder what makes a car a classic car? It’s not as though there is a straight forward definition, or line drawn somewhere out there in the sand. Some cars just seem to naturally gravitate to being classics, whilst others pick up provenance along the way, possibly from appearing in a film, or perhaps owned by somebody famous. Look around some more and you find another group that have had to go out and win big time to gain entry, often facing severe adversity in races and rallies across the globe before finally being recognised and appreciated for what they are.

The Alfa Romeo Spider, although gaining recognition in the film ‘The Graduate’, seems to fall into a fourth category, one that is arguably the most difficult to gain entry. A category where cars are simply born and live out their entire lives as classic cars, spread in this case over an incredible three decades. Because for over 27 years, Alfa’s pretty two seat sports car was held in the highest esteem throughout the world and across all four mildly tweaked generations that culminated in this roll out series 4 derivative. On the surface surprising, but then to some degree easier to understand when you look up the original recipe and recognise some of the key ingredients; pure Alfa DNA, gorgeous Pininfarina styling and classic front engine and rear wheel drive layout. All topped off, like the icing on an already impressive cake, by something that is no means guaranteed from any car, classic or otherwise, one that is grin inducing fun to drive.Quite how good this car is to whiz along with the roof down is perhaps the biggest surprise of all, particularly when your overwhelming pre-conceived idea is that of a car demonstrating form over function. Or one some might refer to as having a strong feminine appeal. Not a bad thing, just not necessarily an image that conjures up the right impression of a true driver’s machine. Which just proves how wrong you can be?
Having spent a day driving the Great Escape car I have to admit that although there is forgiveness in the chassis and suspension, which certainly helps prevent a sudden diversion to the nearest dentist immediately after every speed bump, there is also something else that you discover when pushing on a bit. Thankfully not the disappointing wooliness that I was expecting, instead a lovely deftness around how weight is transferred from both left to right and front to rear delivering real driving pleasure that can be enjoyed at any speed.As a consequence I am now convinced that this car’s hidden brilliance is as a direct result of it being rear wheel drive, because it constantly reminds you that there are two ends to consider.
From the slight shimmy over minor undulations to the way it hooks itself up into corners. On a car of this size the sheer mass of the live rear axle means that unless provoked, it is basically stuck to the road. What you feel sat in the cockpit is therefore as a result of the solid steel bars that connect the axle to the rest of the car. If the Spider were front wheel drive it would loose that feeling, and arguably its proper sports car credibility. Personally I reckon maintaining this layout represented a great call from Alfa, a landmark decision that also meant the Series 4 Spider was the last mainstream Alfa to use a front engine rear wheel drive layout before the Fiat chassis era finally took over.
Navigating both slow and fast sections of the highway I cannot hide my unexpected appreciation and respect for this diminutive Alfa sports car, from its great looks, both inside and outside the cockpit, to the pace you can maintain whilst rolling along with barely a tickle on the throttle pedal. Look at the dash and think it too modern, then eyeball the front wings, or right hand rear flank through the drivers mirror and you’re immediately transported back in time. As you are every time the rear of the car reminds you of its presence over bumps and undulations, truly sensational.In terms of classic car traits there are very few, namely a squeaky rear end and very slow drivers side electric window, but these minor points aside, the roof is the best I’ve experienced, controls light and easy to use, brakes brilliant, gearbox a delight, indicators that cancel themselves, and as I now appreciate most unusual of all, a clock that still works. No adjustments are required from driving cars from a more modern era either, the fuel consumption is very good and better still it requires only normal unleaded.
This really is a car that can be enjoyed by everyone, whatever you drive or have driven before, delivering a truly fun day out, so go on you know you want to.
Verdict
1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Series 4
Driving
In one word 'fun'
Engine
Alfa's 1962cc twin cam engine works particularly well in the middle band (3,000-4,000rpm) whilst in fifth gear travelling at 60-70mph
Performance
Max Power: 120 BHPMax Torque: 122 lbs/ft0–60 mph: 9.4 secondsTop speed: 118 mph
Brakes
The all round servo assisted disc brakes on this car are brilliant
Handling
Perhaps the biggest surprise of all, agile and engaging
Desirability
Series 1 and 2 values are the highest and on the rise, which bodes well for later models. Series 4 car values are holding strong with the less well liked rubber bumper Series 3 models the cheapest buy
Pro’s
Fun car for any occasion that comes with classic Alfa DNA
Con’s
Buying: Mechanicals, as long as well maintained, are robust and reliable, but sadly the steel used by Alfa during this time was not the best, so be careful Renting: None
Overall
4.5/ 5

Moggy Minor cover star

2011-07-20T02:25:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire's cute 1962 Morris Minor convertible graces the cover of August's Practical Classics magazine as part of a major feature on 4 seater convertibles. The car is photographed alongside 3 other classics on the seafront in North Norfolk, a perfect setting for this most relaxing and sedate of open top tourers.
We work regularly with classic car magazines to provide cars for photoshoots. On this occasion we delivered the Morris to Peterborough using our dedicated transport facilities and then collected it a couple of days later from Kings Lynn.
The Practical Classics team were very complimentary about the car and the article mentions how the Morris consistently received the most attention throughout the shoot. Although the car didn't win the back-to-back road test, it did come second, pipped only by the larger Corsair.
"The feature looked at the best 4 seater family convertible for the summer," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "The Morris is a very good choice for anyone with a family because it is spacious, very easy to drive, easy to own and attracts huge amounts of attention. Our customers always report seeing the brighter side of life when they're behind the wheel."
Great Escape Classic Car Hire has three white Morris Minor convertibles available to hire in the UK, based in Worcestershire, Yorkshire and Suffolk. A red car is also available in Lincolnshire. The cars can be hired by the day, weekend or week and prices start at just £145 fully inclusive of insurance, breakdown cover and unlimited mileage.
For more details visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.
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Aston Martin DB6 road test

2011-07-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

Try Before You Buy – 1967 Aston Martin DB6

by Matt Nichols
If you’re reading this then maybe you fancy being James Bond for the day, enjoying film star status and associated admiring glances from everyone who sees you driving this instantly recognisable silver DB6. Nothing wrong with that, and if it is the case then I recommend planning as many opportunities to park in public places as you can. Equally it could be that you just want to spend some time with a thoroughbred car from Great Escape Classic Car Hire and so once again no problem, because this 1967 Aston Martin DB6 will perform both roles equally well.

Now before we go any further and get all ‘anoraky’ about exactly which car Britain’s number one secret agent was given the keys to by long suffering Q, let’s all get into a room, close the door and in whispered tones agree, OK yes it was in fact a DB5, before considering the differences between the two cars. Sit in the driver’s seat taking in the beautiful dash and frontal view whilst listening to the 4.0 litre 6 cylinder engine and there is absolutely no difference at all. Because like watching Kylie Minogue in concert in the 00’s, back in the 60’s when planning the move from DB5 to DB6, Aston Martin’s whole focus was on the rear.
The changes, which until pointed out would appear to be quite subtle and largely a refinement of the previous model, provided more headroom in the back, a longer wheelbase, larger boot, race car inspired Kamm Tail and stiffer rear chassis. All brought about from a slight deviation to the full Superleggera aluminium body uniquely formed onto a tubular frame, to one that used some steel adding the grand total of 8Kg. So yes I think piloting this beautiful DB6 you can quite justifiably feel like 007, I know I did. Or just choose to relax and enjoy classic car driving from a bygone era and wonder why the bloody hell we stopped making motor cars like this in the first place.Sat inside this surprisingly low slung GT Coupe, in which your legs seem to stretch horizontally in front of you, smell the leather and absorb the aircraft styled dashboard, and it is difficult not to break into an involuntary smile. Are you really in an Aston Martin DB6 and about to put the key into the ignition, start the engine and drive away? The good news is that starting it is easy, achieved by simply swinging the choke lever all the way across to its ‘Start’ position, pushing the gear selector forwards against an invisible switch and turning the key to bring the engine into life. Follow this by a couple of blips on the throttle to clear the engines throat and it will settle into a fast and smooth idle. Waiting for everything to warm up provides a great opportunity to become familiar with the location of vital temperature and pressure gauges as you by now grin uncontrollably. Yes you really are behind the wheel of a DB6 and about to set off.
As soon as you’re ready to go it is just a case of selecting Drive (D1) whilst covering the brake pedal, releasing the counter intuitive ‘fly-off’ handbrake, if left on, and pulling away to instantly discover how well this classic Aston will purr along both quietly and comfortably with only a little more noise than a modern car, all of which thankfully comes from the gloriously resonant 6 cylinder engine and signature background whine of the transmission, absolutely superb. There is also the lovely feel of the large diameter thin rimmed three spoke wooden steering wheel, assisted by very well judged power steering.
Once out on the open road you don’t really miss this car being a manual, other than maybe nowhere to hide an ejector seat button (damn!). Because although the acceleration has been diluted slightly, as the car is well over 40 years of age anyway, driving this classic is probably no longer about achieving competitive 0-60mph times, if it ever was in the first place. Instead the DB6 is best appreciated as a Grand Tourer and more about what you do once you get to 60mph, at which point you are in a great position to work with the car in dealing with the road ahead. Fast bends soon become a joy and once over the shock of how far the skinny tyres allow the front of this 1500kg car to move around you find yourself gradually getting braver and braver. Also, with mid-corner adjustments being quite tricky to pull off the old adage of ‘slow in and fast out’ could not be more appropriate. The auto box, which is lightening quick at getting into top gear, and doggedly determined not to go back down until at a virtual standstill means you are apparently locked in third gear whilst cruising along. This is where the engine really comes into play by delivering large shovelfuls of torque providing strong acceleration on straight sections of road accompanied by essential power through the twisty bits to keep some weight over the back axle on this thoroughbred British GT.
When you do need to slow down there are the usual options of lifting or braking and then once around 40mph you have an additional option to bring into play the Low (L) gear, just one click down from D1, which drops the car a ratio whilst providing additional benefits in the form of permanent engine braking. This works particularly well around town and whilst descending steep hills providing a routine that enables you to be fully engaged in the overall driving experience. For me returning from back up from L to D1 seemed to work best on a very light throttle which helped avoid the forced auto-box change feel like you are sat in the carriage of a train being shunted around a siding.
It’s normally at this point in these reviews I like to dwell on what we call classic car traits, just so you know what to look out for, or consider on the day. With the DB6 there are a couple, as you’d expect, but the only one you need to take any serious note of is the brakes. Because never before have I seriously considered the benefits of doing one legged squats in the gym for 3 months leading up to driving a car, that is until I had to stop for the first time at the entrance way of Great Escape Cars business unit. The pedal was solid enough and allowed me to press very hard indeed and thankfully the car did stop safely. It just didn’t seem to stop anywhere near in proportion to how hard I was pressing. That said I only had to learn that lesson once and funnily enough never forgot it or had a problem again, as I just left ample room to slow the car down.
All in all I loved my time with this DB6, its jaw dropping good looks and attention it generated, which ranged from a thumbs up from the youthful driver of a lowered BMW 3 Series to my ‘slightly’ more mature neighbours walking helplessly towards it like zombies in the dark saying ‘…that’s a…a…a…’ yes it is an Aston Martin DB6, lovely isn’t it? To the superb way this car does A-Road Britain in true classic British GT style. I really hope you decide to have a go in this car, because life is short and despite messages to the contrary on the big screen by the man himself, you do in fact only live once.

Verdict
1967 Aston Martin DB6
Driving
Ultimate classic GT driving experience that is best suited to the fast flowing A Roads that adorn our green and pleasant land
Engine
Aston Martin 3995cc in line six cylinder engine, with DOHC and Triple SU Carbs carried straight over from the DB5
Performance
Max Power: 282 BHP @ 5500 rpmMax Torque: 280 lbs/ft @ 4500 rpmWeight: 1498kg0–60 mph: 6.5 seconds (Manual)Top speed: 150 mph (Manual)
Brakes
There may be servo assisted disc brakes front and rear, but the brake pedal has to be pressed very hard indeed. Selecting Low (L) on the auto-box helps shed the last 30-40mph
Handling
Beautifully weighted once the front tyres have carved their groove into the corner and so best enjoyed with a ‘slow in and fast out’ driving style
Desirability
This Aston is right up there no question, although purists still insist on a DB4 or DB5 and so they are where the really serious money is
Pro’s
Stunning classic British grand tourer that makes you feel like James Bond
Con’s
Buying

With aluminium body panels and the unique Superleggera construction onto a spaceframe chassis it’s all about hidden horrors. Project cars have been known to require six figure investments to bring them back up to scratch Renting: None
Overall
5/5

2011-07-09T01:24:00.001-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has introduced a new range of low cost 1980s classic cars for hire. Based at the company's Cotswolds HQ, the new cars are available to hire with the best value hire package on the market.
The range of new cars are from the 1980s and include a Saab 900 Turbo 16S, Peugeot 205 GTI, VW Golf GTI Mk1 and Rover SD1 Vitesse. Prices are just £95 for 24 hours use or £160 for a 48 hour weekend, including unlimited mileage, comprehensive insurance and full nationwide AA breakdown cover.
"Our customers want to drive the cars they remember from their youth and 1980s classic cars are the next thing in classic car hire," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "We've put together a range of iconic classic cars from the 1980s and by sheer chance, most of them are finished in period bright red.
"Some people are a little sniffy about 1980s classic cars but the Saab, Peugeot, VW and Rover are simply brilliant drivers cars. We can offer them so cheaply because they are more reliable than our older fleet - so they cost us less to run."
For more details on the new range of low cost classic cars to hire from Great Escape Classic Car Hire visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.
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E Type cover star (again)

2011-07-09T00:44:00.000-07:00

For the second time in a month a Great Escape Classic Car Hire Jaguar E Type graces the cover of a magazine celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E Type. This time it is the turn of our elegant white Jaguar E Type convertible V12 Series 3, which features on the cover of Classics Monthly's heavyweight tomb dedicated to the E Type Jaguar's 50th anniversary.
The £10.99 book, which covers the entire history of the Jaguar E Type, buying guides and driving experiences of every single model, has been specially produced to celebrate the E Type's anniversary. The book features a lengthy article on the Great Escape Classic Car Hire Series 3 E Type, with plenty of stunning images and a very complementary write up by Classics Monthly's Deputy Editor James Page. He starts a sceptic and comes away from the experience feeling that perhaps the Series 3 E Type, with its turbine-smooth V12 engine, is the best E Type of them all.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire regularly provides cars to magazines and TV and media organisations for photography and video shoots. We have four Jaguar E Type cars on our fleet including a 4.2 litre Series 2 coupe, a V12 coupe and two Old English White Series 3 V12 convertibles. Each car is available for hire on a self drive basis for weekends, weekdays and weddings.
For more information on Great Escape Classic Car Hire visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.
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Where are the whale tales?

2011-07-03T03:05:00.000-07:00

The 1980s. Big hair, big shoulders and big car spoilers. Nothing said 'sporting pretensions' quite like a large, fat rubber spoiler stuck on the back of your humble hot hatch. At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we've just added a Saab 900 Turbo with a full fat whale tale spoiler on the back. As we sit and stare in wonder at this iconic 80s throwback, we can't help wondering where all the fun and spoilers disappeared to?

Modern cars concentrate on low profile tyres, lowered suspension and little eyebrow roof spoilers to say 'speed' but it's all just a little discreet for us here at Great Escape. There is something endearingly innocent about the family sports cars of the 1980s, whose sporting adenda generally had some sort of purpose.

The whale tale spoiler that ended up adorning the rear ends of so many cars started life on production Porsche 911s. Pioneered on touring cars to increase rear end downforce and stick the front engined cars to the ground, it was Porsche that popularised the idea. The name reflects the design of the 911s spoiler, a massive assemblage that fitted over the engine cover and was intended to reduce the 911's famous tendency to create 911-shaped holes in hedges.

The popularity of the 911 whale tale led to plenty of copies, of which the classic Saab 900 turbo was the most obvious. Any saloon car with sporting pretensions suddenly had a rubber spoilerm, including the Cavalier SRi, Alfasud Ti and of course the XR3i. The Ford XR4i took the idea further with a massive appendage, which was later refined and enlarged for the Cosworth versions of the XR3 and XR4. Even the Porsche 928 got in on the act with a much-enlarged spoiler for the S4 version, replacing the wimpy S2's lip spoiler. The competition to get bigger and bling-er was made in the name of aerodynamics, a concept that car designers and marketers 'discovered' in the 1980s, after years of making 3-box bricks.

The whale tale spoiler was initially provided in unpainted rubber finish because manufacturers couldn't crack the paint technology required to cover a flexible surface. Many tried, resulting in flaking bumpers and spoilers a few years down the line.

The whale tale had it's day when insurers decided everyone was having too much fun and they needed to charge us for the pleasure. Insurance premiums for anything with a spoiler and GTI logo suddenly rocketed, resulting in manufacturers drastically toning down the external sporting paraphernalia.

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we loved that era when designers had free reign to create great looking cars outside the dictates of insurers and before legislation strangled design scope. The whale tale spoiler seems to embody that spirit.

We've got a classic whale tale Porsche 911 for hire on our fleet as well as a brilliant Saab 900 Turbo with Aero bodykit. You can sample the whale tale effect from £95 for 24 hours. For more details call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.

Red Hot Twins

2011-06-30T08:57:00.001-07:00

Living on the edge of some beautiful countryside here at Great Escape HQ, I love great drivers cars. So our latest additions to the fleet are a bit of an indulgence really.

I've gone and added a couple of B-road banzis to the Great Escape Classic Car Hire fleet in the form of an early lightweight Peugeot 205 GTi and a late model Saab classic 900 Turbo 16 valve. From 1988 and 1989 respectively, these bright red 1980s motoring icons are just brilliant to drive and leave us all here grinning from ear to ear. So I've put them on hire and hope our customers love them too. Otherwise I'm stuck for excuses to tell my wife why we've got them. So come on, bag a drivers delight bargain - because these cars are available to hire at the lowest prices we've ever offered. Just £95 for a full 24 hours of unlimited mileage fun.

The Peugeot 205 GTI is a car I grew up with and the Great Escape version is the purist's delight. It's obviously red, with a nice red carpet inside, and features the peppy 1600cc 105 bhp motor that gives the nimble little Pug better balance and roadholding than the more powerful 1900cc lump. Performance is brisk rather than startling by modern standards but the 205's roadholding is frankly astonishing - the steering feel and handling make this car hugely entertaining at any speeds. Just watch out for the lift off oversteer!

The Saab 900 Turbo is an entirely different proposition. The Great Escape car is the full fat 175 bhp 16 valve turbo version in elegant three door form with red paintwork and in true 1980s style, plenty of black body cladding. Inside it's luxurious with full leather, electric sunroof and cruise control. For a front wheel drive car the Saab is superbly balanced with communicative steering, well spaced gear ratios and tonnes of power. We recently drove back to back with a 1980s 911 and the Saab easily cleaned its nose against the bigger engined, more powerful Porker.

Both of our new 1980s hot hatch hire cars are available to rent by the day, week or weekend. Prices are just £95 for either car for 24 hours or £16o for a 48 hour weekend. That includes unlimited mileage, insurance and full AA breakdown cover. For more details call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/

Jaguar E Type cover star

2011-06-30T04:19:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire's 1971 Jaguar E Type coupe V12 for hire in Worcestershire is the cover star of the July issue of Classic Car Mart.
The magazine, which regularly works with Great Escape, chose the dark blue car to illustrate a feature on 'Bargain E Types' to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E Type. The later Series 3 E Type, particularly in coupe form, is relatively cheap to buy compared to its earlier cousins - despite the fact that it features one of the greatest mass-produced engines of all time, the Jaguar 5.3 litre V12.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire provided the Jaguar E Type to the magazine for photographs, which are used prominently on the cover and throughout the magazine article. The car's dark blue finish, black leather interior and sunroof make it a particularly attractive example of the later Series 3 E Type Jaguar.
"We work hard to maintain the high standards of our vehicles," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape, "so it is satisfying that Classic Car Mart felt this car was good enough to feature on its cover.
"2011 is a great time to experience a Jaguar E Type as it is the car's 50th anniversary."
For more information on hiring the Jaguar E Type V12 coupe in Worcestershire call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/. Great Escape Classic Car Hire operates the largest fleet of classic cars for hrie in the UK, including a fleet of 4 E Types ranging from a Series 2 4.2 litre coupe to a late model Series 3 V12 convertible.
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Time Traveller in Yorkshire

2011-06-28T02:37:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added a Morris Minor Traveller to its hire fleet in Yorkshire, in the processing making its hire fleet the largest in the county. The new car is ideally located for visiting the Dales and Moors and features subtle upgrades to make it more enjoyable to drive in modern traffic.
The Morris Minor Traveller to hire in Yorkshire is finished in burgundy with a cream leather interior. Externally the car looks exactly as it left the factory but it benefits from a larger 1275cc engine (a common upgrade on Morris Minors) and a five speed gearbox. The Morris also has heated electric leather seats taken from a luxury Jaguar.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire already has a standard Morris Minor Traveller to hire on its Cotswolds fleet.
"The Morris Minor Traveller is very popular car with hirers," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "It is a very nostalgic car and just evokes a certain era. So it is well suited to touring Heartbeat country."
The Morris is available to hire for weddings or weekends away and can be hired by the weekday, weekend or week. Prices start at just £145 for 24 hours and include a full 24 hours use for every hire day, unlimited mileage, comprehensive insurance and full AA breakdown cover.
For more details on the Morris Minor Traveller for hire in Yorkshire visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.
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Brits star for the Germans

2011-06-27T05:14:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire is celebrating after successfully staging one of the largest corporate events involving classic cars ever staged. The major corporate event for Toyota involved over 20 British sports and saloon cars and 100 people travelling a 140 mile route between Manchester and Derbyshire.
The event for Toyota's top German sales people took 6 months to plan and resulted in very positive feedback from the UK event management company for Great Escape's professionalism and the quality of its cars.
Great Escape provided a wide variety of classic cars for the German guests, ranging from an Aston Martin DB6 to a Morris Minor convertible. The company provided full vehicle familiarisation - assisted by interpreters - and back up in the form of three staff and two car transporters with spare vehicles. Despite the rigorous timetable and the large number of guests, just one car suffered a mechanical fault, which was quickly remedied by Great Escape with no disruption to the day.
"We have organised similar events but on a smaller scale," explained Graham Eason of Great Escape. "This event was on a much larger scale but its success depended on the same factors - careful planning, high standards of vehicle preparation and ample support on the day."
Great Escape Classic Car Hire is the UK's largest classic car hire company. The company operates a fleet of over 50 cars from sites across the UK including London, Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Suffolk and Lincolnshire.
For more details visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Break for the Border

2011-06-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

It's a tough job but someone has to do it. This week at Great Escape Classic Car Hire we've been hooning around Mid Wales looking for great driving roads. It's all part of the planning for our Break for the Borders rally on July 2nd, creating a 200 mile route that will delight and entertain our customers.

The route cuts across to Ludlow, runs down through the Welsh Borders then back across the Malverns towards our base at Astwood Bank. It's a demanding but beautiful drive with some brilliant driving roads, including two of our UK favourites - the B4520 from Builth to Brecon and the B4521 from Abergavenny to Ross on Wye. These meandering switchback roads are always traffic free yet technically demanding for drivers - with beautiful scenery for passengers.

Our weapon of choice for this trip was a 1989 Saab 900 Turbo 16. This often-overlooked 80s classic is surely one of the era's greatest everyday driving cars. Values are finally beginning to rise as more fans begin to appreciate the dynamic balance of the chassis and the jaw-dropping performance of the blown 2 litre. For a front wheel drive car, the Saab is beautifully poised with excellent weight balance and sweet steering and controls. Our car was one of the 16 valve H engine full pressure turbo cars developing 175 bhp. Back in 1989 this was believed to be the maximum power that could be delivered through the front wheels.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire still has a couple of places left on its Break for the Border rally. For more details click here or call 01527 893733.

High Rolling in the Capital

2011-06-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added a classic chrome bumper 1970s Bentley T1 to its hire fleet in London. The car uses the same body shape as the more common Rolls Royce Silver Shadow and is finished in dark blue with a cream interior.
The new addition means Great Escape's London fleet has grown to three vehicles in a matter of weeks, with further vehicles planned. The company has focussed on high end vehicles that are ideal for touring the capital or for turning a night out at the theatre or a restaurant into a real occasion. Alongside the Bentley Great Escape also has an Aston Martin DB6 and Bristol 411 for hire.
"The Rolls Royce Silver Shadow shape is everyone's idea of a classic Rolls Royce," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "We opted for the Bentley version because it is much rarer and we wanted a particular colour combination. This car is discreet but luxurious."
The new car is available to hire with Great Escape's comprehensive hire package, which includes a full 24 hours use for every hire day, 150 miles use per day, comprehensive insurance and full UK breakdown cover.
Great Escape is the UK's largest classic car hire company with a fleet of over 50 vehicles to rent from multiple UK locations.
For more information visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.
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Bristol Fashion

2011-06-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added an elegant Bristol 411 in burgundy with a tan interior to its UK classic car hire fleet. The new car is available to hire from Islington in London.
Bristol cars are amongst the most exclusive and luxurious cars of the last 40 years and make Rolls Royce and Bentley cars appear positively mass produced. Hand built to highly exacting standards, Bristols are more British than roast beef and just as enjoyable.
The new Great Escape Bristol 411 for hire is a stylish 4 seat coupe similar in ethos to the Aston Martin DB6. It is available to hire by the day, week or weekend. Every hire day includes a full 24 hours use, 150 miles per day, breakdown cover and comprehensive insurance. It is available to hire from Great Escape's new base in Islington, London.
"Bristols are amongst the most exclusive classic cars ever made," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "For those in the know they are highly desirable. We're very pleased to offer one to hire from a very convenient London location."
For more details on the Bristol 411 for hire in London call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
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Try Before You Buy MGB V8 Roadster

2011-06-07T02:18:00.000-07:00

by Great Escape road tester Matt Nichols
I’ve always thought of early chrome bumper model MGB’s as an affordable alternative to the E-Type Jaguar. Back in the day they were sports cars built for the masses and these days that translates into an excellent entry into classic car ownership. The MGB is a sort of scaled down version of the Jaguar where everything has been slightly reduced from the width of the sills, which are not as wide or for that matter as tricky to clamber over, thanks to the more conventional chassis layout. Then there is the stylish dashboard, which is only a few dials and switches shy to be on a par. So OK it doesn’t quite have the sophistication and panache of an E-Type but then equally there are the much reduced running and maintenance costs when compared to its upmarket cousin.
Sit in the Cotswolds based MGB V8 and you know straight away that you are in a classic British sports car from the sweet smell of leather and a seated position that leaves you particularly close to the road and rubbing shoulders with your passenger. It is cosy no question but at the same time once inside there is plenty of space to give the driver enough elbow room to firmly hold and turn the thin rimmed steering wheel devoid of power assistance. And the passenger lots of lovely leg room to stretch out and enjoy the ride. Behind both seats is also some very useful space to stash soft bags and coats for an overnighter or weekend break if you don’t fancy your stuff sharing the boot with the full sized spare wheel and tyre.
Safely installed, roof down and the fixed seat belts suitably adjusted you find yourself peering underneath the sun visors and through the tiny windscreen giving the sensation of the car shrinking around you and feeling closer in size to the smaller Midget. Press the throttle a few times, turn the ignition key before thumbing the starter button in the centre of the dash, and the car grows back up in size once more as the silence is broken by the glorious resonance of the Rover V8 motor. An engine that generates a noise that has been turned up several notches by the single exit sports exhaust. Suddenly E-Type analogies seem far less appropriate and baby TVR ones much closer to the mark. This MGB is starting to come alive and we haven’t even turned one of its lovely looking 15” alloy wheels yet.
On the move I can confirm that Great Escape Classic Car Hire has done it again with this cracking Nightfire red MGB V8 convertible combining classic car styling and looks with the newer retrofitted Rover SD1 engine and 5 speed gearbox. The drivetrain combination enables you to purr along in a 30mph zone whilst listening to and sharing with passers-by that lovely V8 warble. Then enjoy a rewarding, best taken at half throttle, climb back up through the meaty feeling gearbox to snick it into 5th and cruise at 60mph with no more than 2,500rpm dialled in once back out on the open road. Keeping up with modern traffic is therefore no problem at all and slower road users easily despatched with overtaking manoeuvres that can be executed in 3rd, 4th or 5th gear depending on how much road you’ve got to play with.
This car genuinely travels along at a decent pace with no real effort offering great style and reasonable comfort. The distinctive engine note tracks your journey as you navigate country lanes and save for the crashing noises that indicate a broken road surface or dreaded pothole the ride is firm but not uncomfortable. There isn’t much body roll either and keep some power on through the bends and the 195 profile tyres hold on particularly well giving a nice neutral front to rear balance that marks this MGB V8 out as a very well sorted car. The non-assisted steering is also well judged and seems to feel the same whether stationary or on the move. In terms of classic car traits the only ones I experienced were the indicators not always cancelling themselves and a tendency for the engine to try and stall at junctions, something I compensated for by a couple of blips on the throttle under braking, any excuse to hear that glorious engine note once more.
Having started with pre-conceived ideas about how this car might feel out on the road the only conclusion I can draw is that it is very much its own car. The MGB V8 has a harsher ride than the E-Type Jaguar's I’ve driven and a soundtrack more akin to the TVR Tuscan. The handling is a joy and the ability to effortlessly cruise at 60-70mph quite uncanny. The heater works well with the roof down, a roof that also appears to fit nice and tightly once back up again. All the controls are easy to use and overall I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this classic British sports car and if in the market myself I think I might go all out for a V8 with Sebring body conversion fitted with slightly wider versions of the 15” alloys on this car just to fill the arches.
Verdict 1971 MGB V8 Convertible
Driving
Low revving V8 means decent pace can be easily maintained over a wide range of roads without any real effort. Ride can get a bit crashy if the road surface has broken up.
Engine
Rover V8 works well mated to the 5 speed gearbox and performs best in the mid-range
Performance
Surprisingly quick if you want it to be, but personally I think best driven as a characterful tourer
Brakes
Brakes are a match for keeping up a good pace but push on a bit harder and you may need to start the process of slowing down a bit earlier than you might say in a modern car
Handling
Very little body roll and firm ride mean this car will corner confidently at speed. Worth keeping some throttle on all the way through the bends so that everything stays nice and tight
Desirability
Prices are on the up with good ones fetching decent money these days
Pro’s
Entry level classic car that offers its own unique British sports car experience and easy access to spares
Con’s
Buying – The usual and with so much choice out there make sure you get the right one for you
Renting – None.
Overall 4/5