Tag Archives: Classics at the Castle

Ashes To Ashes – Audi Quattro

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I have to confess I have not watched a whole episode the British Broadcasting Corporations (BBC) science fiction police drama ‘Ashes to Ashes’ which ran from 2008 to 2010, I never seemed to be at the right place at the right time, but I have enjoyed some of the trailers which feature a bright red early version of the Audi Quattro.

Audi Quattro, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

According to official records the registration JLY751V as seen on the Ashes to Ashes Quattro actually belongs to a 1979 Nissan New Sunny quite the opposite of the 200 hp performance beast seen here at Sherborne Castle last year which is a slightly later version of the car seen in the TV series.

Audi Quattro, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

The Audi Quattro was launched in 1980 featuring a great rumbling 200 hp five cylinder turbo charged motor and permanent all wheel drive which at the time was a novelty reserved almost exclusively for off road vehicles, however with the strap line “Vorsprung Durch Technick” “Forward Through Technology” Audi almost single handedly, with the aid of a healthy competition program, convinced the public of the benefits of permanent all wheel drive to traction, handling and safety. As DCI Gene Hunt says in this linked trailer for the third and final Ashes to Ashes series “You’ve either got it my friend, or you haven’t.”

Audi Quattro, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

I was surprised to learn that only 11,452 Quattro’s were built between 1980 and 1991, but this was the niché model aimed at the performance market that opened up the permanent all wheel drive concept up to a much wider public. I’ll leave you with a link to a funny clip that shows the Ashes to Ashes Quattro in action with a sound track taken from a 1980 edition of Top Gear soon after the car was launched which starts at 30 seconds in.

Thanks for joining me on this “Ashes to Ashes” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Peripatetic Exile – Daimler 32 hp Straight Eight Limousine

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Daimler received royal patronage in 1902 from King Edward VII and it was to maintain the Royal Warrant of Appointment as motor manufacturers to the Royal family until 1950 when the husband of the then Princess Elizabeth ordered a Rolls Royce.

Daimler 32 hp Straight Eight Limousine, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

Today’s featured Daimler Straight Eight is reputed to have been built in 1937 for the recently abdicated King Edward VIII and his wife who were exiled in France.

Daimler 32 hp Straight Eight Limousine, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

The car remained in France until it was sent to Park Ward by a titled owner for ‘minor revisions’.

Daimler 32 hp Straight Eight Limousine, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

In the 1960’s this Daimler was sent to Minnesotta by a US Airman and it was poorly restored by a subsequent owner in the 1990’s.

Daimler 32 hp Straight Eight Limousine, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

The straight eight motor has a capacity 4.624 litres 282 cui and remained in production from 1936 to 1953 and is rated at 32hp by multiplying the square of the diameter of the cylinders, in inches by the number of cylinders and dividing the sum by 2.5.

Daimler 32 hp Straight Eight Limousine, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

The current owners, vintage-wheels.co.uk, found the Daimler at the Hershey auctions in Pennsylvania and had her restored to her present condition 2000.

Daimler 32 hp Straight Eight Limousine, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

wintage-wheels.co.uk offer the Peripatetic Exile for hire at weddings and for filming.

Daimler 32 hp Straight Eight Limousine, Classics at the Castle, Sherborne

A recent television credit includes appearances in several episodes of the British Broadcasting Corporations (BBC) detective series staring David Suchet as Belgian peripatetic detective in exile ‘Poirot’.

Thanks for joining me on this “Peripatetic Exile” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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The Straight 6 V8 – Aston Martin DBS #DBS/5636/R

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Brett Rupert George Robert Mark Anthony Andrew Sinclair, 15th Earl of Marnock better known as Lord Brett Sinclair followed a traditional aristocratic path through Harrow School, Oxford University, the Guards Regiment before dabbling and failing as a Grand Prix driver moving into race horse ownership.

Aston Martin DBS, Sherbourne Castle, Classics at the Castle

While on holiday in the South of France he ended up destroying a hotel bar after meeting and fighting with a self made oil millionaire from the Bronx called Danny Wilde. To avoid a ninety day prison sentence the Judge persuades the two playboys to help him put right some ‘errors of impunity’.

Aston Martin DBS, Sherbourne Castle, Classics at the Castle

Brett Sinclair owned this 1970 Aston Martin 6 cylinder DBS which bears his personalised registration number while Daniel Wild drove a Ferrari Dino 246 GTB.

Aston Martin DBS, Sherbourne Castle, Classics at the Castle

Thus was set in motion one of the most expensive, British, television series with Roger Moore playing the refined role of Lord Brett Sinclair and none other than Tony Curtis playing the gruff role of Daniel Wild. However as can be seen Lord Sinclair’s car has the wheels ….

Aston Martin DBS, Sherbourne Castle, Classics at the Castle

and badges usually found on the Aston Martin Aston Martin V8 DBS.

Aston Martin DBS, Sherbourne Castle, Classics at the Castle

In fact in every respect apart from the 6 cylinder motor the car used by the production company was a V8 DBS spec.

Aston Martin DBS, Sherbourne Castle, Classics at the Castle

It turned out that having agreed to supply the latest V8 DBS spec model, along with a works mechanic to look after it, Aston Martin were unable to keep up with the demand for V8 motors and so decided to supply an V8 DBS upgraded DBS with straight six motor without telling anyone at the production company.

Aston Martin DBS, Sherbourne Castle, Classics at the Castle

The registration BS1 was used with the consent of the real owner of the registration Circus impresario Billy Smart, the real BS1 still belongs to the Smart Family. While the original PPP6H registration on the DBS, which accidentally appeared in one episode of The Persuaders, is the one with which the car still appears when driven on the open road.

Aston Martin DBS, Sherbourne Castle, Classics at the Castle

While The Persuaders was a big success in Europe it failed to capture the imagination of it’s intended American audience and so it died after just one season. Just as well for Roger Moore as there was a vacancy for the role of James Bond waiting to be filled.

Thanks for joining me on this “Straight 6 V8′ edition of “Gettin a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at a pick up. Don’t forget to come back now !

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