TOURING THE UK IN A CLASSIC E-TYPE

If you haven’t done it, you should. We just did, Shirley Ann and I, touring the UK in a classic sports car. For us, it was a red 1964 Series 1 Jaguar E-type coupe hired from Vintage Classics (www.vintage-classics.co.uk). Located in Melksham, Wiltshire and some 90 minutes from London’s Heathrow Airport, the company also rents other tasty classics including Austin-Healeys, Daimlers and Alfa Romeos.

Concentrated in the West of England, our tour included a combination of motorways, rural roads and country lanes. These provided the driver with a variety of speed challenges and his passenger with the odd exciting experience! The tour route included the coastal highway on the south side of the Bristol Channel, up the 6 km hill at Porlock and across the gorse-lined open roads of Exmoor. In and out of towns in Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Wiltshire. the route continued across Salisbury Plain all in beautiful sunshine. Wherever we stopped, the Jaguar drew admiring glances from passers-by. Some even spoke to us. One said. “My dad worked in the Jaguar factory. He probably built your car.” Another said. “I used to have one of these – a roadster, but along came the family and I had to sell it.” And yet another asked, “How long have you had the E-type?” I just couldn’t admit it was a rental, so I replied, “Well, I only got it yesterday!”

Later we drove into the New Forest, an area of protected woodland populated by more ponies and sheep than people. The town of Beaulieu is renowned for its glorious Abbey, the National Motor Museum and a company specializing in classic cars of all makes and models. We stopped there to see, under cover in a huge showroom, examples of Mercedes, Jaguar, MG, Triumph, Austin-Healey and Rolls-Royce. The examples appeared to be either restored or in exceptional original condition priced accordingly. Along the route, we stayed in delightful B&Bs, ate (and drank) in picturesque pubs (just like the ones in the travel brochures!) and met a wonderful assortment of people. We arrived back where we started with the E-type unscathed and with memories of what we had just experienced that will last a lifetime.

Vintage Classics cars can be hired from one day to a whole week. Each rental is inclusive of comprehensive insurance and breakdown cover. Maps and suggested route plans are included. The company is to be recommended.

John B.