automobiles
the story
British automobiles embody a rare union of engineering excellence, refined design, and enduring character. From the handcrafted elegance of Aston Martin to the spirited charm of the Mini, these marques have defined motoring style across generations.
Revered for their performance and the icons who drove them, they remain symbols of individuality and timeless appeal—though we’ve also added a touch of American muscle and a flash of European supercar brilliance to our stories, for good measure.
purveyors
articles
The Vanquish 25 Shooting Brake
Ian Callum reimagines his famed Vanquish 25, crafting a bespoke coachbuilt shooting brake that masterfully blends rare elegance, exhilarating performance, and practicality.
Meyers Manx & The Thomas Crown Affair
The original script called for a Jeep, but McQueen’s instinct for style and performance gave him the authority to swap it for something far more fitting.
The Wood & Pickett Mini by CALLUM
The result of a groundbreaking collaboration between the legendary coachbuilders Wood & Pickett and CALLUM—the renowned design studio founded by Ian Callum CBE.
girl power
Aubrey Automobiles has unveiled ‘Aubrey 001’—a bespoke restoration of a 1973 Land Rover Series III 109 station wagon, completed with meticulous attention to heritage and detail.
McQueen's Magnificent Seven
Steve McQueen owned—and often parted with—an extraordinary array of cars. We revisit seven of McQueen's machines that commanded attention and impressive sums at auction.
radford returns
David Brown, the owner of Aston Martin, commissioned the legendary British coachbuilders Harold Radford to convert his beloved Grand Tourer into a Shooting Brake.
First Love: Porsche 356 Series
You may forget the name of your first childhood crush, but the car that first captured your heart is never forgotten. For Elliot Mason, it was the Porsche 356.
The Incredible History of R.S. Williams
British automotive luggage house Brexton has been revived by Motoluxe with a five-piece set, custom-fitted to David Gandy’s 1964 Porsche 356C.
brexton returns
British automotive luggage house Brexton has been revived by Motoluxe with a five-piece set, custom-fitted to David Gandy’s 1964 Porsche 356C.
007 Aston Martin Owners
From rock stars to royalty, the Aston Martin DB5 has drawn a remarkable roster of owners. Here, we spotlight seven—alongside the cars they called their own.
The Prettiest Car
For classic car enthusiasts, The Italian Job remains irresistible—from the 'Aranico' Lamborghini Miura gliding through the Alps to the red, white, and blue Minis tearing through Turin.
Metal Underwear: Peter Sellers' Car Collection
British movie legend Peter Sellers had a passion for cars that bordered on obsession. It is said that by the age of 39, he'd owned over 80 vehicles.
The Ace & The Alvis
Flying ace Douglas 'Dogsbody' Bader became a devoted Alvis enthusiast after the war, owning several models throughout the post-war years—including the elegant TD21 pictured above.
The Persuaders: Aston v Ferrari
The two marques embraced their roles in The Persuaders, knowing that glamorous settings, charismatic leads, and a vast audience would be good for business.
Beautifying the beautiful
How does one improve upon the Ferrari Lusso—a rare beauty by any measure, with just 351 examples produced during its brief run from 1962 to 1964?
BMW 507: The Car That Almost Killed The Company
Founded in 1912 as an aircraft engine maker, the company now producing over two million cars a year nearly collapsed developing the very model meant to secure its future.
An Aston Fit For A King
The DB2 was the first Aston Martin to bear David Brown’s initials, later evolving into the DB2/4 with improved performance and the practicality of occasional plus-2 seating.
Toyota 2000GT: The Rarest Bond Car
Some, including Daniel Craig, argue that the most desirable Bond car isn’t what you'd expect—but the ultra-rare Toyota 2000GT, a Japanese sports car of remarkable exclusivity.
The Beatles "Radford" Minis
Pleased with his band’s success, Brian Epstein is said to have bought each member a car in appreciation—choosing the ever-popular Mini... each personalised by Radford.
Bond Will Be Back - in a DBS
The original DBS was conceived as the DB6’s successor, designed to house a forthcoming V8 the DB6 couldn’t accommodate. Touring of Milan was commissioned to style the new model.
Magnificent Seven: The original DB Astons
In 1946, a newspaper advertisement offered a “High Class Motor Business” for sale. On enquiry, David Brown discovered the company in question was Aston Martin.
Saint or sinner: the Volvo P1800
I considered buying a Volvo P1800—made famous by Roger Moore in The Saint—but was advised against it: “They rust,” I was told, “from the inside out.”
The Jaguar XK Series
Jaguar’s XK range fused cutting-edge engineering with timeless design, producing some of the most iconic and desirable sports cars of the 1950s—a golden era for British motoring.
Aston Martin DBR1 Recreation
Widely regarded as the most important Aston Martin, the DBR1 made history in 2017 when one of just five examples sold at public auction for an astonishing $22.5 million.
The past guides the road ahead
We cherish the heritage of British brands—but we’re not alone. Several carmakers have recently embarked on remarkable journeys to revive their historic legacies.