Or-fab 84400 Rocker Side Armor 84-01 Cherokee (xj) on 2040-parts.com

MINI celebrates 100 years of car production in Oxford

MINI will be celebrating a century of car production in Oxford on 28th March 2013, 100 years since the first Bullnose Morris Oxford was produced. It’s 100 years since the first Bullnose Morris Oxford rolled out on 28th March 1903, since when 11,655,000 cars have been built – with as many as 28,000 people employed in its heyday – and even Tiger Moth planes and Iron Lungs built alongside 80,000 repairs to Spitfires and Hurricanes during WWII. What is now MINI’s Plant Oxford was founded by William Morris – and Morris Motors kept control until 1952 – and has been owned and run by BMC, then British Motor Holdings (when Jaguar arrived), British Leyland (when Leyland Trucks, Triumph and Rover joined), nationalisation in the 1970s saw a variety of names, Rover Group arrived in 1986 and was subsequently privatised and sold in 1994 to BMW.

Porsche GT3 RSR updated for 2009

The venerable 911 continues to succeed in great part because Porsche lavishes so much love and care on it. Constantly developed, and used to race in the real world, the Porsche 911 is the most perfect example of ‘Motoring Evolution’. One big area Porsche utilises to develop the constant progression of the 911 is its racing teams and cars.

Aston Martin sells 38% stake to Italians to raise cash

Aston Martin today announced a deal with Italian private equity fund Investindustrial, securing a £150m investment to own a 37.5% stake in the business. Aston Martin hopes this should secure the long-term future of the beloved but hitherto financially wobbly sports car maker. Together with the new owners, it announced a £500m investment in future product.