After an extensive consultation process, the Department for Transport has announced that they will legislate to introduce E10 petrol as the standard 95-octane petrol grade by 1 September 2021. They will also require the higher-octane 97+ ‘Super’ grades to remain E5 to provide protection for owners of older vehicles. This product will be designated as the ‘Protection’ grade.

The introduction of the 95-octane E10 grade and the maintenance of the Super E5 protection grade will be reviewed by the Government after 5 years to ensure they remain appropriate to the needs of the market. In relation to the E5 protection grade, such a review will examine market developments over the period. HM Government have sought to reassure FBHVC members and historic vehicle owners that, without a suitable alternative becoming available, it is highly likely the Super E5 protection grade would continue to be available.

Filling stations that stock 2 grades of petrol and supply at least one million litres of fuel in total each year, will need to ensure one product is the Super E5 protection grade. While not all filling stations meet these criteria, almost all towns across the UK will have a filling station that supplies the ‘Super’ grade and currently one major retailer, a national supermarket group, has committed to offer the product. The main exception to this is in certain parts of the Highlands, north and west coast of Scotland, which will be covered by an exemption process and allowed to continue to market the 95-octane E5 grade.

The Federation therefore recommends that all vehicles produced before 2000 and some vehicles from the early 2000s that are considered non-compatible with E10 - should use the Super E5 Protection grade where the Ethanol content is limited to a maximum of 5%. To check compatibility of vehicles produced since 2000, we recommend using the new online E10 compatibility checker: https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol 
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It should be noted that some Super E5 Protection grade products do not contain Ethanol as the E5 designation is for fuels containing up to 5% Ethanol. Product availability varies by manufacturer and geographical location and enthusiasts should check the situation in their location.

By Gar Cole.

Rebooked for the 8th May and fully in accordance with the new Road Map rules from the UK Government, the museum will be open to visitors with open top tram rides available and the cafe for provisions, however the indoor museum and display areas remain closed and social distancing of 2 metres will be enforced.

After the government's announcement earlier this week, we are very excited about the outlook for the show in November!

Over the coming months, we will be announcing more details about what's in store. From exhibitors, clubs, car displays, interviewees and of course the final line up of owners and vehicles in the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership competition - watch this space!

​To whet your appetite until then, why not revisit the great content from our 2020 Online Edition, or this past weekend's Reis Race Retro Revisited. Read on for more details....

It's taken us a while to get everything together, but at long last we can now bring you - just in time for Spring - our latest item of group merchandise - Enthusiasts Duo Car Window Shades, priced at £10.99 + shipping per pair.

Perfect for keeping the interior cool on those warm Spring and Summer days ahead, or just to fly the flag when you're out and about - and what better way to show your support for the Group at classic car events?

Offer is for a pair (2 shades). Please check sizes and details before ordering.

Sponsored by Richard Edmonds Auctions Ltd.

Next Saturday the 27th we are offering 51 motorcycles and 52 lots of spares (mostly Douglas-related from a local deceased estate including two vintage projects).  Aside from the two bikes photographed here, the sale also includes several classic Triumphs, five Harley Davidsons, a rare Douglas Endeavour and a Jawa ice racing/speedway bike. The full catalogue is now online, link below.

In light of the lockdown, all auctions in England at present must be closed to visitors, can offer online-only auctions and can offer a click and collect contactless service or delivery, although after the sale perhaps lockdown restrictions might have lifted for collections. So unfortunately there is strictly no viewing, our premises are closed. Although in-the-room viewing isn't permitted we can offer live video viewing, please call Richard at the office or email us if you would like to book a video inspection of any lot (contact details at the bottom of this email).

Telephone bidding is available for all lots as well as absentee bidding, there are no charges for either of these if booked directly with us. If you do plan to book a phone line we would ask you kindly to do this as soon as is feasible as we must plan staffing and would like to ensure we have enough phone operators. Online bidding is also available via www.the-saleroom.com, there's a link from our website.

Hoping you and your loved ones are keeping safe and well, we miss seeing you here and look forward to speaking/emailing with you and seeing you in person as soon as possible.

​Richard, Tora & the team 

#classicsforcarers
Classics for Carers, the national stay-at-home motor show which has already raised £17,500 for NHS Charities Together, is coming back on 20 March 2021.

This time the target is to raise £13,000, which is enough to build an NHS well-being pod in which staff can take a break, as well as giving enthusiasts an opportunity to share their classic cars with locals and online communities, whilst showing support for the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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It will be the third such event, during which owners buy event plates and stickers, affix them to their classic cars and bikes and on 20th March, display their vehicles at home so passers-by can enjoy them, as well as posting photos on social media to be appreciated by the wider motoring community, using the hashtag #classicsforcarers.

​Click the "Tell Me More" button below for more information or the "Buy Plates and Stickers" button to place an order so you can take part in this campaign to support the NHS.

Unsurprisingly the ongoing Covid situation continues to affect public events and we are very sorry to tell you that the Gloucestershire Vintage Steam Extravaganza planned for this Summer has been called off. Hopefully it will return next year.

A decision has also been made to postpone our visit to Crich Tramway Museum on March 27. The revised date is Saturday 8 May and we can only hope the later date will enable this event to go ahead.

All being well, we will once again visit Crich Tramway Museum to display our cars on the iconic cobbled street. Starting at 10am, entry is free to drivers of classic cars but passengers will pay normal admission price. In order to help boost funds for the struggling museum we politely request that all our drivers pay a voluntary £10 entry fee if travelling alone.

Gar Cole and the team organise a range of classic car events every season for members to attend, from the prestigious world-leading Practical Classic Classic Car and Restoration Show and the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show (both at the NEC) to formal static shows in fields to organised driving tours in beautiful areas of the country. It almost goes without saying that Covid-19 is still affecting public events, so please do check with Gar and the team before travelling.

These events are not limited to pre-85 British motors as they are also open to members of our sister group, Pre-Millennial Motors which includes cars, bikes and commercial vehicles from every country in the world built before the year 2000.

We're a friendly lot and would love to see you at an event or two - you can even come if you don't own a classic at all as there are usually spare seats going (just ask first!). All events with the exception of the major commercial shows are free to enter, but you will usually be responsible for your own food, fuel and insurance as well as any accommodation that may be needed.

​Any questions? Just ask Gar Cole - he's the font of all knowledge as far as group events are concerned.

To view the up-to-date list of official group events, please click the button below.

At Lancaster, the insurance policies we can arrange for Buildings and Contents mean you can be safe in the knowledge that your home and belongings are covered.

All risks are considered and policy benefits may include; buildings cover up to £1m, contents cover up to £100,000, alternative accommodation cover as well as accidental damage cover, bicycle cover and cover for your
possessions whilst away from the home*.


​To find out more information and see how we can help you, call the team today on 01480 400903 or visit www.lancasterinsurance.co.uk
​*Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may vary between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. An additional charge may be payable.

One of our all-time best-sellers, the Enthusiasts Grille Badge is now held in stock & available for immediate despatch. 

​New for 2021
For the first time, we can now include on request a stainless steel badge bar clip with fixing screws.

Our Grille badges are a bit special, being manufactured by a West Midlands-based company with 35 years’ experience. Each badge is handmade and finished, the body is steel. After being cut out they are stamped with the logo designed by our own Gar Cole in 2017. The red, blue and white enamel paint is added by hand, then after heat treatment in the furnace they are plated with rose gold. Each badge is then polished using a finishing wheel.

 We can beat your everyday car insurance quote
 
If you insure your classic vehicle with us, and providing you fit the scheme criteria, we guarantee to beat your renewal price for your modern daily driver, whether that is from your current provider or a competitor. This means you can enjoy the benefit of having your classic and your modern daily driver under one roof. Our insurer panel understand your passion for motoring and the care and dedication you put into your classic car and keeping it safe and as such have made this pledge to our classic car insurance customers.

With many of us spending more time in our everyday cars, ensure they have the right cover in place too. Speak to the team today on 01480 400 903 and challenge us to beat your renewal price.

We are pleased to let you know we have today reopened our online shop. A great range of merchandise is available from stock and can be seen here.

​Regarding deliveries, Royal Mail advises that both UK Domestic and international mail services have resumed and are operational although for the duration of pandemic restrictions some additional delays on top of usual delivery times are to be expected.

Written by Gar Cole.

On behalf of the Admin team I'd like to offer our condolences to the family of long-time member John H Page. John sadly passed away over the Christmas period; he was a lovely chap and very knowledgeable about cars , especially his beloved Rover P4 that he called SBO.

Whilst not lucky enough to have met him I did share many an online laugh with him. John was blessed with a very dry sense of humour peculiar to his generation; for example he posted the picture below of himself one time with the caption ' I'm sure you would all prefer Pamela Anderson, well you'll have to make do with me '

​It obviously struck a chord with everyone as the photo received over 600 'likes' and went on to be the most popular post of the year. John expressed his surprise by saying ' I never thought I'd be a pin up at my age '

We will give John himself the last word with just a few of his posts in the group over the past year or so. They reflect what mattered most to him - first and foremost his family and of course his lovely Rover, SBO.
Rest In Peace, John.

We wish you an abundance of blessings this year and success in your collecting.
In terms of sale planning, we're taking each quarter as it comes and so have the following sales diarised for this quarter:

• Classic and Vintage Motorcycles: 27th February
• Petroliana and Automobilia: 6th March
• Vintage and Classic Cars and Spares: 27th March

If you can't wait until then then please take a look at our other saleroom www.chippenhamauctionrooms.co.uk where we're holding an enamel signs and early advertising sale at the end of the month.

Venues and timings tba nearer the time plus any Covid rulings of the time and how we'll be applying them to the sales. We're ploughing ahead and will hold all these sales and will endeavour to ensure the lots can reach you if we're not able to see you in person. We'll also be offering video viewings and whatever is needed to reach as many of you as we can and bring back that auction experience you're used to. 

If you're not already, do follow our Instagram or Facebook pages as these are so easy to update and so are the first place we head to when we've items to showcase.

Hoping to see some of you in person this year, it's really part of the whole collecting experience! Back in the office tomorrow, do call us if you have any items you're considering entering for the sales.

All the best
The Edmonds' and team

The Admin team wishes all our members a very happy New Year with hopefully a return to a full but safe and enjoyable classic car events calendar. The official group events already lined up are shown below.

This summary of all currently confirmed future group events is updated on a monthly basis. Click on an image for details of an event. Only available to members of, "Enthusiasts of British Motor Vehicles Built Before 1985".

We are delighted to report that the 2021 Enthusiasts calendar was met with universal approval and the final order tally shows that 105 copies were sold - more than three times the total sales for the 2020 calendar.

We'd like to thank all the proud members who entered photos of their classics - there would be no calendar without you - and also to all those who bought copies - thank you!

Most of all, our huge thanks and appreciation go to group sponsor Phil Allin of Alvaston Press, who not only designed and printed the calendar for us, but also managed the very slick order despatch operation. Many thanks Phil - your loyal support and expertise is greatly valued.

... a last chance to enjoy again all the photographs featured on the calendar (unless you bought a copy of course, in which case you will be enjoying them for the next 12 months!)

With that in mind, we bring you our brand new Enthusiasts Duo Car Window Shades - perfect for keeping your classic cool, looking cooler and also useful for finding your car in large car parks! We're still working on the final details but we hope to make our shades available to buy online early in the New Year - watch this space for news.