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Allon White
Morgans for sale Lotus for sale Servicing Bespoke trimming
Morgans for sale Lotus for sale Servicing Bespoke trimming

November Newsletter

Hi

Well here we are with the penultimate newsletter of the year.

The news on the Morgan front is that the Aero 8 is now in production and at last month's Global Dealer meeting I saw the first production Aero 8 - and very fine it looked too!  Other news confirms that Morgan will be showcasing the EV3 (the electric 3 Wheeler) at the Geneva Motorshow, and with next year being the 80th Anniversary of the 4/4, might there be something to celebrate this...?

Is it too early to mention Christmas?  Probably it should have waited for another couple of weeks, but Morgan has a new Accessories brochure and a revamped online shop.  So if you're wondering what could go under that tree...

To visit Morgan's online shop (it's still work in progress with new products being added all the time) click on Morgan Shop

And as for our other favourite manufacturer, Lotus, the company continues to refine and improve its best selling car ever, the Elise.  The 'Sport' designation, last seen on the Esprit is revived and applied to the latest Elises, and with it comes reduced weight, revised interiors and assorted other benefits.  For a good write-up on the Elise Sport and Elise Sport 220, visit the rather good Lotus Forums website by clicking on New Elises

Although most of our dealership revolves around Morgan and Lotus, we also enjoy looking after an eclectic mix of other classic cars for our customers.  Testament to the skills and knowledge of our mechanics and coach trimmers who can turn their hands to most vehicles.  We've just finished working on a rather splendid pre war Aston Martin Le Mans and next month sees us taking in a 1940s Lagonda.  Then in January we have a 1950s Rolls Royce Silver Wraith requiring a full repaint and interior retrim - should keep us busy for a week or two!

Hope you enjoy the latest newsletter!

Winter workshop offer



As mentioned in our last newsletter, if you're thinking of having work done to your Lotus or Morgan over the winter months, be it upgrade work, restoration type work or just routine servicing, then now could be a good time to get in touch...

From now until the 29th February we're running a winter offer in our main service workshop.  This allows 20% off our normal labour prices as well as discounted rates on MOTs.  So some useful savings!

To find out more, or talk through possible work to your car, please call Mike or Julie on 01234 750205 or email workshop@allonwhite.co.uk

(Please note that this offer only applies to our main service workshop and not our coach trimming workshop)

DRIVE 7TENTHS Feature - the middle pedal

This is the latest in a series of articles by Neil Furber of DRIVE7TENTHS about driving technique.  So over to you Neil...

Last month’s feature started to consider changing gear. This month draws some focus to the brake pedal. This is, for sure, the most overlooked driver control in any car. Ironically, the brake pedal is perhaps the most important of all the controls in a sports car. Certainly, all drivers use it regularly and most use it too often in my opinion. It is not an on/off switch!

Triple F1 World Champion Jackie Stewart is often quoted when discussing braking technique.  Namely, "...it's not when you brake but when you take them off that counts. Most people don't understand that." Learning how to release the brake pedal is perhaps one of the most powerful tools for a driver wishing to unlock new skills and improved control.

So, what does the pedal do and how should it be used? For average road drivers, the brake pedal is used to slow or stop the car. Sadly, this is often as a harsh reaction to the car immediately in front doing the same. Drivers who have undertaken some ‘Advanced’ road driving will tend to leave more space, look further ahead and ease off the throttle pedal to slow the car earlier and more gradually. They tend to use the brake pedal far less than the average driver.

As covered in previous features, braking only in a straight line offers the maximum stability. Braking during or into a bend should only be done if intentionally to affect weight transfer. The brake pedal affects the balance of grip front to rear through weight transfer. For performance driving, this is perhaps more important than the fact it affects vehicle speed.

Significant fuel economy gains and reduced running costs can be achieved by easing off the throttle early instead of using the brake pedal where safe to do so.

This article is only meant to scratch the surface so here are some key points on how to use the middle pedal:

  • Brake straight before bends to maximise stability
  • Finish braking before turning the steering wheel unless intentionally choosing to control weight transfer
  • Squeeze the pedal and, more importantly, ease off the pedal
  • Leaving more space to the vehicle in front and looking well ahead gives time to ease off the throttle early instead of braking late and hard
  • The more you use the brake pedal, the more it will cost you
  • In an emergency, use the brake pedal and ABS effectively (if fitted)
  • After reactive braking, ask yourself if there was a way you could have avoided using it by planning further ahead earlier

For further information about braking please click on Tutorial on Braking

If you have any questions or would like to learn how to use your brakes more effectively, please feel free to get in touch via the DRIVE7TENTHS website by clicking on www.drive7tenths.com/contact

Saturday Breakfast Club - Scalextric challenge

Allon White Sports Cars Breakfast Club Allon White Sports Cars Breakfast Club

Our very successful Breakfast Clubs have now been running for over 3 years.  They take place on the first Saturday of the month, kicking off at 9:30am with bacon rolls and hot drinks, followed by a talk or demonstration with a motoring theme at 10am.

For our next Breakfast Club on Saturday 5th December, we have our annual Scalextric Challenge.  Has anyone been practising?  Has the standard of driving improved from last year?  Come along and find out just how good you are and whether you could be in the running for one of our 'valuable' prizes...!!

All are welcome to our Breakfast Clubs - no need to book, but just turn up on the day.  Or for more information, including a list of the upcoming events, visit our website by clicking on Breakfast Club

Cars for sale

Morgan +4 SuperSports Lotus Elise 111R

Currently in our showroom we have an excellent range of Morgans for sale, from a rather special +4 SuperSports (a truly exhilarating drive) through to a brand new and unregistered 4/4 (ready to go and just waiting for its owner!)

On the Lotus front we have a much sought after version of the Elise - the 111R with the excellent Toyota 2ZZ engine producing a useful 189 bhp.  There's also an older, and rather good condition, standard S2 Elise.

As regards other makes, due in shortly are a Jensen-Healey, a Porsche Boxster S, and possibly a 40th Anniversary Caterham 7.

To find out more about our cars, please click on the links below:

Morgans for sale

Lotus for sale

Other makes for sale

Our used cars come fully serviced, HPI checked, have a new MOT (if applicable), and if sold for use in the UK have a 3 month warranty.

If you're interested in any of these cars, or would like advice on any aspect of Morgan or Lotus ownership, email sales@allonwhite.co.uk or call 01234 750205.

Other interesting classics - Jensen Interceptor

In this section - a regular feature of our newsletters - we look at interesting cars we've seen in our dealership or ones we'd maybe like to have...

This month it's the turn of the Jensen Interceptor.

In 1966 Jensen created what was to become one of the best British GTs ever built, the Jensen Interceptor. This spectacular new model catapulted Jensen into the upper echelons of supercar manufacturers.

Styled by Touring of Milan, the early bodies were built by Vignale in Italy before Jensen decided to build them in the UK. The stand-out feature that makes the Interceptor instantly recognisable is its curved glass hatchback, allowing significant access for touring luggage.

Initially the Interceptor was powered by a mighty 6.3 Litre Chrysler V8 that produced 330bhp and gave a distinctive rumble from its exhaust.

Then in 1971 the SP version of the Jensen was launched.  This had a 7.2 litre engine and the SP came from 'six pack', which was how the engine with its 3 dual choke carburettors (6 barrels) was known.  This engine produced 385bhp, gulped down 5 star petrol at about 14 mpg, and delivered performance of 0 - 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 145 mph.

Although manual gearboxes were available, most of the Interceptors were fitted with a 3 speed, Torqueflite automatic transmission.

Interceptors were available in Series I, II and III formats as well as the SP.  In addition, a very stylish convertible was launched in 1974, primarily for the American market.

As well as the 'standard' Interceptors, the technical star of the range was the Jensen FF (or Ferguson Formula) with 4 wheel drive.  This was the world’s first performance car with permanent four-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes (created by Dunlop for the Jensen).  It was launched in 1966 at the same time as the Interceptor and production continued up until 1971 and only in coupé form. A near clone of the standard Interceptor but with a longer wheelbase and modified chassis, it had twin vents in the front wings and a bonnet air scoop.

The effects of war in the Middle East were a major contributor to the Jensen Company falling on hard times.  Fuel shortages and a world-wide recession contributed to the company being placed into receivership in 1975 and production of the Interceptor ended in 1976.

Like for many cars of the era, corrosion was to become a major problem and has limited the number of cars still available.  However, find a good one and you have one fabulous motor car, though it will set you back £30-60,000.  An appreciating assett however, and one that is guaranteed to turn heads!

Thoughts for winter...

With winter coming (or has it in fact arrived?), some thoughts on problems encountered or questions we’re often asked.

If you’re planning to lay up your car or not use it very often, it’s worthwhile investing in a ‘batter conditioner’ to keep your battery charged up and in top condition.  We like the CTEK units – for more info click on CTEK Conditioners

Make sure your anti-freeze is up to strength – this applies whether you’re planning to use your car or lay it up.  To learn more, click on Anti-freezes

The job that tyres do gets tougher in winter.  At the very least make sure they've plenty of tread (1.6mm is the legal limit, but 3mm is a better winter minimum) and the pressure's right.  Even better, consider winter tyres - for a good article by the BTMA, click on Winter Tyres

We're always happy to carry out free winter health checks to ensure your car is ready for winter. This covers off key areas like anti-freeze strength, tyre pressures and condition, windscreen wipers and checks and tops up all fluid levels.  If you'd like to book in for one of these, please email mike@allonwhite.co.uk

If you’re planning to lay up your car over winter, then our website gives some useful pointers as to how best to do this – click on Winter Storage

Should you not have a suitable garage in which to store your car, why not consider a specialist car storage company?  A local company we recommend - based here in Cranfield - is Storacar.  See www.storacar.com

Finally, if you're planning some upgrade or renovation work to your Lotus or Morgan, why not do this over winter?  We find many owners don't use their car much over winter, so an ideal time to have it 'off the road' whilst the work is done.  Also, as mentioned earlier in the newsletter, we're offering a 20% discount on our workshop labour rates between now and the 29th February.

And finally...

Lewis Hamilton might have come clean about recently pranging a stationary vehicle – as much to stop others from making “a quick buck” over the revelation – but it set us thinking.  How many other high profile drivers may have wished they’d done it differently?

  • Let’s begin with Ed Balls and his hit and run… Okay, the victim was a parked car at a Labour shindig, but do you believe he didn’t know he’d damaged it when the other car needed repairs?  And with previous form for driving through a red light (3 points), speeding (fine & awareness course) and using the mobile phone when driving (fine), he looks questionable.
  • And surely the final nails for Chris Huhne were hammered when his wife took his penalty points on her driving license?  At a cost of a marriage, custodial sentence and his constituency.
  • Princess Anne’s license has been peppered with penalty points for speeding, but when is a police car, not a police car…?  Spotting a patrol car, near her home, she assumed it was her escort and speeded past slower traffic to make herself visible.  Well, how was one to know that these blue flashing lights were one’s retribution, rather than one’s protection?
  • Footballers may be renowned for cars that match their flash salaries, but how about their insurance? It was estimated that insuring 23 year old Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ferrari 599 GTB cost in excess of £40,000.  Which would have increased to 6 figures after he crashed it 2 days later in a tunnel near Manchester airport.
  • And spare a thought for Rowan Atkinson.  Oh the embarrassment of driving your £600k McLaren F1 up the back of a Rover Metro. Not to mention the follow up trip through an Oxfordshire hedge in 2011. The ensuing insurance claim of £910,000 was the biggest single payout at the time.  But it must have been worth repairing as earlier this year the car was put up for sale at £8million.
  • Who can forget Nicole and Papa from the Renault adverts?  Lesser known is that “Nicole” (Estelle Skornik), didn’t have a driving license, nor that she crashed the Clio during filming. As she puts it, "Yes, I had an accident, because I did not remember that in front of the car there was the wall."
  • And finally… “The Beast”, Barack Obama’s runabout for presidential visits, may be fully armoured, with 5” glass, 8” doors, grenade launchers, fire fighting equipment and oxygen tanks - but it’s not invincible.  In 2011 a large bang was heard as the limo became stuck on a ramp as it tried to leave Dublin’s US Embassy.  Click on - The Stranded Beast - for the footage.

Contact us

If you want to talk to us on any sports car related issue, please contact Allon White Sports Cars by:

Phone: 01234 750205
Email: sales@allonwhite.co.uk
Website: www.allonwhite.co.uk

Kind Regards

John

John Bellenger
Allon White Sports Cars Ltd
 

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Allon White Sports Cars Ltd
119 High Street, Cranfield, Beds, MK43 0BS
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