motornoter

Hi, I write Buying Guides for the UK classic car magazines and my next subject is the Stevens/Thomson era Esprit, 1997-2004. We need a representative example to photograph, with a keen owner who can talk about the ownership issues. The car should ideally be a V8, in a bright colour (yellow, red, blue) and in visually unmodified specification. Due to location of writer and photographer, if possible we need a car in central southern England - i.e. to the east of Bristol, south of Birmingham, west of London. The photo shoot takes place on a weekday, usually about three hours 10am - 1pm, and we come to you and find suitable locations for the static and action photos close to where you're based. The magazine will supply a CD of photos and copies of the mag when it's published, and you get to see your car looking stunning in print... We'd need to get the photos done before the end of September, if possible... Any volunteers out there, please?! I'd also welcome advice on points to look for when buying, and who are the best specialists to look after Esprits of this era - thanks... Malcolm McKay

Hi all I hope you can help! I've been asked to help source British classic cars for display at the splendid new event on the Goodwood estate, Vintage at Goodwood, on August 13-15. For this event, display cars should be absolutely standard or mildly period-modified, and Goodwood would particularly like a 1980s Esprit (model not important - it's the looks - so a bright colour would be fab), to be represented - so I'm hoping you can help us locate a suitable car...Vintage is not strictly a car event - it's a Music Festival + Celebration of British Style, Music, Culture and Design from the 1940s to the 1980s and is the brainchild of leading British designer Wayne Hemingway.There will be sections set aside for each decade with many big-name artists performing in each, a whole High Street of 'period' shops will be created specially for the event, there will be fashion shows, art, design... take a look at www.vintageatgoodwood.com for the full picture.For someone keen on the style and atmosphere of the time, it's unmissable and it seems likely it will become as much of a success as the Festival of Speed and Revival Meeting at Goodwood.We have a full complement for the 1940s, 50s and 60s, but are still looking for cars along the lines of the shortlist below, which I'm including in case you know owners of other marques that might like to join us (the shortlist is quite flexible, so please be free with suggestions but the emphasis is on mainstream not exotica). Cars should be brought down on the Thursday night to be on display in front of the 1940s/50s/60s/70s/80s areas until Sunday night/Monday morning: in return, Goodwood will provide with each car two tickets for the whole event (normal price £135 each!) and campsite passes. The idea is to park the car in a group of 10-12 outside the entrance for each decade zone and leave it there for the weekend while you go and enjoy the rest of the event, or head home and pick it up later if you prefer. The cars will be displayed much as the cars are for the Cartier concours at the Festival of Speed. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards Malcolm McKay Motoring Writer & Photographer9 Sycamore LeysSteeple ClaydonMK18 2RHTel 07711 901811 Vintage at Goodwood: Cars Shortlist 1970sAustin AllegroAustin MaxiBond BugFord Transit Mk1Hillman AvengerRange RoverReliant RobinTriumph Dolomite SprintVauxhall Viva HC 1980sAustin AmbassadorAustin MaestroAustin MontegoAston Martin LagondaJaguar XJ40Lotus EspritMetrocab (taxi)Morris ItalTriumph TR7Triumph Acclaim