85-88 Yamaha Moto 4 80 Badger Shift Shifter Pedal on 2040-parts.com

The Mini is 50 years old today

  Today - 08/05/2009 - is the 50th anniversary of the first Mini rolling off the production line. To celebrate, and for a bit of free publicity (see, we’re playing the game) BMW has shipped the first Mini to roll of the production line back to Cowley to celebrate (picture at the bottom). 621 AOK, a Mini Minor, in Old English White, looks as fresh as the day it rolled off the production line half a century ago (although I wouldn’t mind betting it doesn’t have it’s original sills – they always rusted through – or copes with its original distributor and leads – one splash of rain and the car ground to a halt!).

Concorso Italiano 2013: the non-Italian cars

This year as part of Concorso Italiano 2013, a display was introduced for British cars – and it then grew to become anything that isn’t Italian. As a result there was a healthy dose of American, British, German and French metal (and plastic) on display. And just for good measure there was also space for some Japanese classics too.

2015 Volkswagen Passat: OFFICIAL

The new 2015 Volkswagen Passat revealed VW previewed the 2015 Passat back in May with a set of design sketches and the promise of a sleeker design, less weight and better economy with more room for passengers – and now it’s here. The 2015 Volkswagen Passat is the eighth generation of a car that VW always hoped would wipe the floor with the Ford Mondeo and steal sales from the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, but which has never quite hit the sort of home run the VW Golf has. But VW has tried hard with the 2015 Passat and delivered a car that looks Audi-slick and more upmarket, so perhaps the eight generation Passat will be the Passat to finally dominate the segment?