Meryl outside the Two Bridges Hotel Dartmoor

Filming at the Two Bridges Hotel Dartmoor

 

 

Filming at the Two Bridges Hotel.

Mike Coombes from the Two Bridges Hotel contacted me several weeks ago to see if they could use Meryl for a promotional video in return for working together offering classic car hire to visitors to Dartmoor. I thought this was a great idea, the Two Bridges is a beautiful Hotel right in the heart of Dartmoor and what better way to enjoy the Moors and South Devon than in a classic or modern open top car. We had to wait a few weeks for the weather to be kind but last week promised some real Devon sunshine so the filming was set up for Thursday afternoon. The filming was being done by Wildhorse Films and covered a number of scenarios with the guests arriving, having lunch, dinner etc. We did a number of sequences filming Meryl driving across the Moor and the arriving at the Hotel over the famous two bridges. The sun shone and Meryl really looked the part. On the second day the film crew used a drone to film Meryl from the air, This was fascinating, but it also attracted a crowd which we tried to disperse or shoot around. I hope the results are as good as it all looked from where I was standing. I am really looking forward to working with Mike at Two Bridges offering Self Drive Classic Cars to the Hotel guests as part of the excellent facilities available at the hotel - including the best cream tea in Devon!

Finally I get to drive my Boxster!

I bought the Boxster last year as part of my revamped hire fleet and since driving it to Ivybridge it has been languishing in my storage unit as Devon gradually resembles Venice. Last week, however, the weather people promised sunny but cold and as I planned a trip up to Staffordshire this seemed like a great opportunity to give the Porsche a run. I have driven a number of classics in my classic car hire business including a TVR Griffith 500 and a 911sc but I have never driven a mid-engined car so I was looking forward to experiencing the Boxster. There was a Land Rover I wanted to take a look at in Winkleigh so this gave me an excuse to take the long way across Dartmoor. I set off early afternoon and made my way to the A38. As I joined the traffic I took a moment to look around me at the Boxster environment. Like the 911, the Boxster has the rev counter right in the middle of the dash, I love that sense of focus, with the speedo to the left and the fuel and temperature to the right. There is a digital read out for the speedo which is good as the speedo is in increments of 25 mph and is not really much use. I like sports cars to have lots of instruments so I was a little disappointed by the Boxster’s lack of dials to look at but it’s a minor gripe as the rev counter and digital speed readout are all you need. The leather seats are great and the driving position is excellent, it is better than the TVR’s crampt interior which cocoons you between the door and the huge transmission tunnel and deep dash. It is more like my old 911 except they have given the pedals back to the driver. As a convertible the Boxster does not have the light airy feel of the 911sc coupe but it is a comfortable place to be.

I left the A38 for the A382, not the fastest route but it runs up over Dartmoor. Sadly I found myself shackled to a coach followed by white van man so I’m not in for a spirited drive. Even so I used the opportunity to get used to the Boxster’s excellent steering and general handling. The road narrows and widens as if it’s breathing and progress is slow. After a while the coach turned off and white van man puts his foot down. I guess he was spurred on by the sight of me in his rear view and there is no way he was letting some flash git in a Porsche get the better of him! It was quite comical watching the van lurch into the bends so I kept a safe distance in case he binned it. We come to a rare straight bit of road so I change for 5^th to 3^rd, the bark from the engine actually made me jump and the Boxster growled into life and catapulted me past white van man. By the time I had gathered my wits I was on top of a right hander and was relieved that the Boxster has superb brakes, a firm positive pedal that hauls the little car down without fuss. Then the driving gods smiled. The sky was blue the air was cool and the tarmac was dry, there was no one behind to hassle me and no one in front to inhibit progress and the A3124 was laid out before me like a carelessly dropped ribbon on the gently undulating Devon countryside – now we can have some fun. I’m no racing driver and a couple of out of control spins on the public highway have made me more like Captain Slows cabin boy than James Hunt but this was irresistible. I know I would have enjoyed this road in my TVR or 911 but the enjoyment would have been slightly tempered by the fear that the grim reaper was waiting for me just around the bend. One slip, brake late, lift off and your mine! I know the Boxster is not as powerful but progress was quicker than anything I can remember and the reaper never came to mind. The Boxster is well screwed together, the steering is perfect and the handling is a bit of a revelation to me. It is as if it was talking to me “push on Steve, don’t worry I won’t let you down” and it didn’t disappoint, the last time I had this much fun ….. Well, better leave that one.  Sadly my driving pleasure was interrupted by the lady in my sat nav. Who decided that the quickest way to Tiverton was down a narrow muddy pot hole ridden country lane, not the Boxster natural playground.

Soon we came to the A361 and passed Tiverton to the M5. I thought that this was the end of the fun and I now faced 3 hours on the M5 in a soft top car. But Lady Boxster had another surprise in store. I guess rag tops have come a long way since I rattled up the M1 in my MGB my neck aching from the icy draughts and my right side soaking wet as the rain sprayed in between the window and the roof. The Boxster’s more luxurious lid is a snug fit and at motorway speeds there seemed little wind noise and no draughts, I could still hear my ipod picking its way through a selection of rock classics. 5^th gear is ideal, 70 requires less than 3000 rpm and it only takes a gentle press of the throttle to jump into the outside lane if I need to overtake. I realised I had been driving the Boxster for over 3 hours with hardly a break so I stopped at the next service station. I picked up my medium cappu and headed for a window seat so I could keep an eye on my Porsche. What’s happening? Does this mean I care? Well yes it does. I am usually pretty strict with the hire fleet, if a car does not do enough hires in its first year I sell it on – but not this one. I don’t care if no one takes Lady Boxster out, I’m keeping her.

Moving to Devon

Self Drive Classics Ltd is moving its car hire operation from its original base at Hamstall Ridware near Lichfield to Ivybridge in south Devon. Self Drive classics was established in 2004 and has been successfully hiring classic cars to customers from all over the UK for the past 11 years. The move to Devon is largely for personal reasons but it does give us the opportunity to refresh the business and a great excuse to go out and buy some more cars. 

The theme has been expanded to now include more modern sports car and a few 'fun' cars to make the holiday even more special. We have added a Porsche Boxster and an Alfa Romeo GTV spider for those who want style and performance and a little more comfort than you get in a 60's MG. For the surfer dudes and fun lovers we have a great Jeep Wrangler with a fully removable roof and sides so you can make the most of the Devon sunshine with the security of a full roll cage (also useful for attaching the surfboards). 

The classic fleet is getting refreshed too we expect to add a few more popular classics so watch this space.

As well as classic and sports car hire we have set up www.devonclassicweddingcars.co.uk offering a 1965 Zodiac, a 1968 Mercedes 250se and a Morris Minor convertible as chauffeur driven wedding cars in the south Devon area. Perfect for those who want to do things a little different to the usual wedding. 

The wedding cars and web site are all up and running and we expect to have the hire business established by next spring. 

We want to thank all of those wonderful people who have supported us over the years, spares suppliers, mechanics, specialists and, of course, the hundreds of happy customers who have experienced our classic cars over the past 11 years. So if any of you find your self in Devon then please pop in and say hello!

Why Classic Car Hire Is So Popular For Fans Of The Austin Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite

When the Austin Healey ‘frogeye’ Sprite was introduced in 1958, a brand new trend was started when sports car driving became available to the masses. This 2-seater sports car was designed by Donald Healey, with the purpose of being an affordable model “a chap could keep in his bike shed”. Its reasonable price combined the huge grin created by its ‘frogeye’ headlights and grille made sure it was an immediate hit in the motoring world.

Over 50 years later and 42 years since production of the ‘frogeye’ Sprite ceased, this small, quirky British classic continues to capture the hearts of many. Though the Austin Healey Sprite as well as the MG Midget range continued to develop, whilst keeping the original idea alive, it is the ‘frogeye’ Sprite that remains the most loved due to its ‘fun’ appeal and appearance. Due to the continued enthusiasm all over the world, more and more drivers consider classic car hire to fulfil their dream of experiencing the legendary little car.

For those fans not lucky enough to be members of the ‘frogeye’ owners club, classic car hire is an exciting opportunity. By hiring a car, fans are able to enjoy everything that they love about the ‘frogeye’ Sprite, for a reasonable and affordable price, just like it was originally meant to be. For motorists, there is nothing better than journeying through the quiet British roads for a day, or even a weekend in the legendary Sprite, greeting other cars with a friendly smile.

Hiring a ‘frogeye’ Sprite, or another popular British classic car allows people to truly enjoy driving, and experience the freedom of motorists of the past. Alongside the popularity of ‘frogeye’ hire, more and more people are also looking to enjoy another British favourite, the MorrisMinor. One of the longest running British production cars, built from 1948 to 1971, the ‘Magic Moggie’ as it is known as by diehard fans, can also be enjoyed for a reasonable price for those craving a true British motoring experience.

If you would like to learn more about hiring a classic car, feel free to visit www.selfdriveclassics.co.uk 

  

Now Is The Time To Relive Those Motoring Memories

It may seem strange to say but the best time to get out there and hire a classic is Spring or Autumn and for me Autumn is just about perfect. Many times I have had customers return from a summer hire lobster red from a days open top motoring in the summer heat! There is nothing quite like the cooler autumn air, the classics love it and they let you know just in the way they run so much more sweetly. The roads a quiet compared to summer and the Derbyshire and Staffordshire countryside is just stunning. We always seem to have good weather in September and October - often better than July and August! So now is the time to really enjoy that classic car day out. There are plenty of places to visit and most are not quite as busy as the school holiday months. So if you are thinking 'perhaps I have left it too late' then think again as now is the best time the hire a classic car. Give us a call on 07918715039 or 01889504040 and see what we have to offer.

Self Drive Hire Is a Must For A Summer’s Day

We’ve been really lucky with the weather recently and although none of us know how long it is going to last, there is nothing like taking to the open road and enjoying motoring whilst the summer is here.  Whether you get the top down on your cabriolet, or simply wind down the windows to enjoy the warm breeze, driving is great fun at this time of year.

One way to make driving even more fun is to hire a classic car to take a trip down memory lane and enjoy motoring from a bygone era.  We’ve got a great range of vehicles to choose from if you want to go for the self drive option – great if you want to get behind the steering wheel yourself .  Our self-drive cars include the Jaguar E Type, Triumph Vitesse, Morris Minor and MG TF.  Or if you’d rather have the luxury of being chauffeur driven, perhaps for your wedding day or a special gift, we offer motoring classics such as the Rover P5, Citroen DS and Lotus Esprit.

Your enjoyment of classic motoring needn’t end there as we also offer a range of classic car gifts and accessories.  We’ve got driving gloves so you can keep your hands warm on cool driving days, classic car gift vouchers to treat that special someone, bits and bobs to help you tinker about with your own classic car and glovebox essentials so that you can enjoy a day trip and know that you have everything you need on board.

Enjoying classic cars is often a much more than a hobby but whatever level you enjoy classic motoring make sure you enjoy it during the long days of summer.

Driving as a luxury rather than a necessity

When we dream of driving a classic car, rather than showing off to our friends, the thought that most appeals is often the freedom of traveling the British country roads, with the roof down, steering clear of the everyday horrors of traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and traffic jams. The sense of escapism may seem to be unattainable to many, but there is a simple prospect to join that select collection of classic car owners, if only for a week, a long weekend, a day or even just an afternoon.

Today, the classic car experience is not restricted only to owners. It’s so simple to hire a Morris Minor and take yourself back to 1948, replacing your anger at urban traffic with the independence and hopefulness of post-Second World War Britain. Rental allows you to get back to treating driving as a luxury rather than a stressful necessity.

Both men and women are taking up the prospect of touring their favourite British counties in style, taking advantage of car rental to trade in the constant traffic reports of congestion on the M6 with the growl of a good old fashioned engine.  What better way to spend a holiday, or weekend getaway?

If a week, or weekend seems too long a time to indulge, classic car hire could create the perfect romantic afternoon, an exciting gift for a friend, or even be one of the highlights of your wedding day.  The idea of driving may not be part of everyone’s dream, but in that case, the opportunity to be chauffer driven may be something that they have long fantasised about. With the ever increasingly popularity of School leaver’s proms and balls, Frogeye Sprite car hire could create a much more dramatic entrance than the usual Limousine or Hummer.

Hiring a classic car may not be as satisfying as owning one, but without having to worry about restoration or maintenance, with insurance included in the rental price, it can be an affordable option that gives you the true enjoyment of driving without taking the experience for granted.