Celebrating 50 years of the world's best-loved sports car: The Porsche 911 A new book celebrates the history of the Porsche 911, from its humble beginnings in post-war Germany to global cult status 1963: The very first Porsche 911 set the tone for the next 50 years, with its sloping back, distinctive circular headlights and slanted windscreen SPEC: Engine 2.0 litre Power 130hp Weight 1,080kg 0-60 9.1 seconds Top speed 130 mph Price £4,095 (about £68,000 in today's money) Beloved of celebrities the world over, and, like a Rolex watch or a tailored suit, one of the most enduring ‘I’ve made it in the world’ purchases, the Porsche 911 has surprisingly humble origins. In fact, the world’s most popular sports car is arguably descended from the Volkswagen Beetle. Porsche’s emergence as a carmaker in post-war Germany was inextricably linked to that of Volkswagen (it’s now part of the Volkswagen Group). Before the war, its founder, Ferdinand Porsche, had designed the Beetle, and in the late Forties the firm found success with the Beetle-derived 356. By the late Fifties, Porsche was in need of a successor to satisfy demand. After several years of intensive work – during which a larger four-seat option was considered – Porsche’s engineers had a prototype to reveal to the world. At the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show, they unveiled the car that would go on to sell over 800,000 units (and be driven into a truck by Lindsay Lohan): the 911. In fact, the car that Porsche displayed in Frankfurt was called the 901.The ‘911’ name arose because Peugeot claimed the rights to all three-digit model numbers with a 0 in the middle. So Porsche simply changed the 0 to a 1. On the inside, while there have obviously been technical advances, one basic element remains key to the car's identity: a counter-intuitive set-up that sees the engine placed right over the rear axle, driving the rear wheels. Famously, the 911’s design has barely changed in five decades. Line up any two models and you’re immediately looking at the same shape. The wheelbase might have been lengthened over time, the windscreen tilted back a few degrees, bumpers and spoilers added and taken away, but that silhouette remains.No other car looks so close to how it did in the Sixties. And on the inside, while there have obviously been technical advances, one basic element remains key to the car’s identity: a counter-intuitive set-up that sees the flat-six engine placed right over the rear axle, driving the rear wheels. For many years this made the 911 a challenging drive, as in overconfident hands or poor conditions it was liable to spin at a moment’s notice. Famous 911 drivers include U.S. chat-show host and motoring obsessive Jay Leno, David Beckham, Arnold Schwarzenegger and – in a recent departure from his lifelong love of Ferraris – Jay Kay. The most devoted celebrity fan, though, is surely comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who owns over 50 Porsches, including many 911s. The wheelbase has been lengthened over time, the windscreen tilted back a few degrees, bumpers and spoilers added and taken away, but the classic shape remains The Porsche is a 'wormhole of detail and specificity' says fan Jerry Seinfeld Says Seinfeld of his collection, ‘Oh, I know it’s insane. They’re an obsession. 'Top Gear wanted to have me on, so I had dinner with Jeremy Clarkson, but it turned out he didn’t like Porsches, so we had nothing in common. 'What do I like about them? For me to take you down that corridor would bore you to tears. It’s a wormhole of detail and specificity. 'I’ve driven a lot of other cars, but that’s only reinforced my impression that the Porsche is the only properly designed automobile. ‘My favourite is the 959 from the mid-Eighties, at the time the fastest production car in the world. There’s nothing like it. 'They cost about a million dollars each to produce and they sold at $250,000, so they were losing $750,000 a car. But it has a feeling of quality about it that’s unique.’ A legend in motorsport You can't make sports cars for over 60 years without acquiring a little racing experience: This 911-derived 935 won at Le Mans in 1978 Steve McQueen in Le Mans You can’t make sports cars for over 60 years without acquiring a little racing experience. Since the launch of the 356 in 1948, Porsche has clocked up a world record 28,000 race victories – not all in 911s, it must be said – including 16 wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The endurance-race heroics of the 1970 Porsche team were immortalised by Steve McQueen in the 1971 film Le Mans – in which he raced Porsche 917s, which can trace their origins back to the father of the 911, the Porsche 356. In 1978 the 911-derived 935 won at Le Mans. Nicknamed ‘Moby Dick’ after its whale-like elongated bonnet and tail, the 1978 model 935 is one of the most iconic cars to come out of Porsche’s motorsport division – and with a top speed of 235mph, one of the most ferocious.

World's fastest electric car revealed: 155mph two-seater will go 190 miles on a single charge - and cost £90,000 (allegedly) Set to take on Paypal billionaire Elon Musk's Telsa Roadster in the lucrative electric sports car market Only 999 of the cars, which can reach 0-62mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.7 seconds, will be built It can reach a top speed of 155mph, and drive for 190 miles on a single charge. The Detroit Electric SP:01 is the world's fastest electric car, and is set to take on Paypal billionaire Elon Musk's Telsa Roadster is the lucrative electric sports car market. Only 999 of the cars will be built, and the plans have been masterminded by a team of executives from Lotus, who set up the firm five years ago to revive the century old brand. Detroit Electric's two-seat all electric sports car SP:01, which can reach speeds of 155mph Boasting 155 mph (249 km/h) top speed and covering the 0-62mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.7 seconds, the SP:01 has a range of almost 190 miles between recharges which takes 4.3 hours according to the auto maker SP:01 SPECS Price: £90,00, $135,000 Only 999 will be made 155 mph (249 km/h) top speed 0-62mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.7 seconds Range of almost 190 miles Charging time 4.3 hours Detroit Electric, a startup electric-car maker reviving a brand that dates back more than a century, unveiled its first With a projected top speed of 155 mph, the Detroit Electric SP:01 is 'the world's fastest pure-electric sports car' the company says, adding the two-seater has a range of 'just under 190 miles' between charges. The $135,000, battery-powered sports car is to go into limited production in August. Founded more than five years ago, Detroit Electric enters a still-nascent market that is struggling to find buyers. One of its would-be rivals, Fisker Automotive, a hybrid-electric sports-car company that hasn't built a car since last summer, has hired a law firm to advise on a possible bankruptcy filing. The car will be built in the Detroit area at a dedicated plant with an annual capacity of 2,500, the company said Wednesday at a reception at its new headquarters in Detroit's historic Fisher Building. Detroit Electric plans to build only 999 SP:01's, which it says will be followed by 'a new family of all-electric production cars, including two other high-performance models that will enter production by the end of 2014.' The SP:01 appears to borrow heavily from the British-built Lotus Elise - no surprise considering a number of Detroit Electric executives previously worked for various affiliates of Lotus Cars. Versions of the Elise have been used by other low-volume carmakers, notably Tesla Motors, which based its $100,000-plus Roadster electric car on the Lotus chassis. The SP:01 will also see the revival of the century-old Detroit electric brand The SP:01 has a range of almost 190 miles between recharges which takes 4.3 hours according to the auto maker The SP:01 will also compete with the Telsa roadster, which previously held the record with a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h). Detroit Electric said the SP:01 was being introduced 'following a five-year development and road-test program.' The Detroit Electric brand had been dormant since 1939. Previously, it was used on a series of electric cars built in Detroit from 1907. The brand was revived in 2007 as a joint venture between China's Youngman Automotive Group - which tried unsuccessfully to acquire bankrupt Swedish automaker Saab in 2012 - and a small California-based electric-car company called Zap. The venture hired Lotus Engineering in 2007 to provide contract design and technical services. In late 2007, Albert Lam, the chief executive of Lotus Engineering, joined the venture as chairman and was named CEO of Detroit Electric in 2008. The Fisker Karma car, the other major rival in the the electric car stakes The new car will compete withe the Telsa roadster, pictured, but outpaces its top speed of 125mph with 155mph

A company based near Bradford has set up a production line, turning old 2CV wrecks back into new cars, and is also making new chassis... and sending them to France to keep the French cars alive

Prices for the 600cc deux chevaux are now rocketing with refurbished cars selling for £11,000

British company 2CV City pays around £300 for the scrap cars from all around Britain

In a true ‘coals to Newcastle’ story, one company based near Bradford, West Yorkshire, has set up a production line, turning old wrecks back into new cars, and is also making new chassis... and sending them to France to keep the French cars alive.

Tony Shields, 58, who owns 2CV City said: 'We sell nearly 300 chassis a year to the French - and a few of our refurbished cars too.

'French restoration leaves a lot to be desired. Over there, the MOT isn’t as stringent - they just seem to keep the cars in one piece by riveting new bits of metal to them.

'Twenty years ago, there were enough good ones around that they didn’t need refurbishing - good second-hand cars were retailing for up to £700.

'But now we’re paying £300 for scrap cars. We buy them from all over the country – and some from France too.

Tony Shields, 58, who owns 2CV City said: 'We sell nearly 300 chassis a year to the French - and a few of our refurbished cars too'

Mr Shields: 'French restoration leaves a lot to be desired. Over there, the MOT isn't as stringent - they just seem to keep the cars in one piece by riveting new bits of metal to them.' Above, a 1988 2CV Dolly, Plums and Custard. Fully restored and on sale for £10,995

Owner of 2CV City, Tony Shields, is seen with another classic French car

'Part of the attraction is their simplicity. Their electrical components are simple and people can work on them themselves.'We have about six cars in production at any one time. There are two levels of restoration on our cars. 'They cost between about £5,000 and £11,000 for a fully rebuilt car. 'We can’t get hold of old cars quick enough. We recently sold one to one of The Hairy Bikers!'Our fully restored cars are made with new body panels and many new or reconditioned parts.'They come with a 12-month warranty and, if well looked after, could last for another 15 years.

'They leave here as they would have left the factory – although we can fit a CD player and speakers if customers want them.'

Mr Shields employs six full-time staff and restores a variety of 2CV-based vehicles including vans and vehicles dating back to the 1950s.

They make chassis and have a huge selection of new and used parts.

He also sells a selection of other classic French vehicles.

Last week, he bought a black 60-year-old Peugeot van from France.

'It was a used by a funeral company – it was so ugly – I just had to buy it', he said.

Mr Shields employs six full-time staff and restores a variety of 2CV-based vehicles including vans and vehicles dating back to the 1950s

BIRTH OF THE 'TWO STEAM HORSES': A SHORT HISTORY OF THE 2CV

The French Citroen 2CV Dolly, from 1985

The prototype for the Citroen 2CV - 'an umbrella on four wheels' - dates back to the 1930s' design by engineer Pierre-Jules Boulanger.

Officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 1948, the name is an abbreviation of 'deux chevaux vapeur' -  which translates as 'two steam horses'.

Regarded as a simple, reliable vehicle, the economy car was produced by the French manufacturer up until 1990.

It was famously heralded as being able to be driven across a ploughed field without breaking the eggs it was carrying.

Over its 42-year production run, the car was a great commercial success - around 5million units were sold, including just over a million vans.

In 1981, a yellow 2CV was driven by James Bond in the film For Your Eyes Only, including a chase sequence through a Spanish olive farm.

From 1988 onwards, production took place in Portugal rather than France. This continued for two years until 2CV production halted.

Citroen 2CV owners and their cars arrive for the 16th World Meeting of 2CV Friends in the Scottish border town of Kelso in 2005; right, a patriotic 2CV in Paris, capital of

MOTORING NOW AND THEN The financial crisis and our ageing population has brought about an army of older workers who are turning to taxi driving, property development and cleaning to make ends meet. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today showed that the number of workers above the official retirement age has doubled since 1993, from 753,000 to 1.4million last year, with most of that rise coming since 2000. While some of the increase is down to the high number of baby-boomers reaching retirement, the figures also showed that the proportion of workers above retirement age was rising faster than the population generally - indicating that a higher proportion of this age group is staying in work than previously. Face of things to come: More of those above the retirement age are working - with taxi driving proving a popular choice among male pensioners. Some 7.6 per cent of those aged above the state retirement age were in work in 1993, compared to 12.0 per cent last year. DO OLDER WORKERS STEAL JOBS FROM YOUNGER WORKERS? It's a popular claim - surely if older people are staying in work longer it takes jobs from younger people, writes Andrew Oxlade. And how can this be in any way sensible or fair when youth unemployment has risen sharply during the financial crisis. But the overwhelming view from economists say is that this simply isn't true. In fact, they have a technical term for it: 'the lump of labour fallacy'. This, they say, is the belief that there is a fixed number of jobs in the economy. In reality, the economy expands, broadly, with the size of the workforce – one of the reasons for political acceptance of immigration. Analysis by the ONS showed that 39 per cent of workers above the retirement age are men and 61 per cent are women. This may reflect the lower levels of pension provision for women arising because of periods out of work to raise children, as well as generally lower employment benefits than their male counterparts. Around two-thirds of male workers in this group are in jobs classed as higher skilled, while almost two thirds of women are in lower skilled roles. There are higher proportions of part-time work and self-employment among older workers, reflecting efforts by older people to reduce their workload in a more gradual way, rather than switching directly from full-time work to retirement. The ONS report also suggested that improved standard of health were allowing people to work longer, but that lower incomes in retirement were also playing a part. The property boom and rise of private buy-to-let landlords - often older people who have seen their property wealth balloon - is reflected in the figures. 'Property manager' is included as one of the more popular roles being carried out by older men. The most popular jobs undertaken by men after the retirement age were farming and taxi driving, while there were signs that executive level workers were choosing to work longer with high numbers of marketing and sales directors, production managers and chief executives among older male workers. A woman's lot is harder, the ONS figures suggest, with common roles among older female workers including cleaning, administration assistance, care working and retail. Rise of the grey army: More people are working past the retirement age. People in, or close to, retirement have been faced with the prospect of a substantially reduced income thanks to the financial crisis. Pension funds have been reduced as stock markets have been battered by recession conditions in the world's developed economies. Additionally, the return on annuities - bought at retirement to provide an income for life - are at record low levels because yields on the assets that fund them, gilts, have been pushed lower by the policies adopted to combat slower growth in the economy.  However, while much of the motivation to stay in work is financial, campaigners for older people said that many were choosing to stay in the labour market for other reasons too. How older people work: There is a higher proportion of self-employed and part-time workers among older workers. Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of Saga, said: 'Many  older  people  are  increasingly  choosing  to  stay  at work, often part-time  so that they ease more gently into retirement.  If they feel fit and healthy and want more money, and are able to work, they are choosing to do so. 'Saga’s research shows that many of our over 50s already want to work past 65. 71 per cent  would like to work part time rather than retiring and in fact 7 per cent are  already  working  past  the age of 70. This isn’t just for the money - work  satisfaction,  feeling  useful  and  the social benefits we gain from working were key reasons that people wanted to continue.' The trend for older workers will continue, according to Tom McPhail, head of pensions research at Hargreaves Lansdown. 'This is an inevitable consequence of more and more people arriving in their 60s with inadequate retirement savings', he said. 'This trend will accelerate over the next few years; it presents a significant challenge to individuals and employers who will need to find ways to accommodate more flexible working patterns and later retirement ages.’ The state retirement age had remained steady - 60 for women and 65 for men - for many decades until increased life expectancy forced plans to raise it. The last Labour government drew up plans to equalise retirement ages between the sexes and then raise them for all over the coming decades. The Coalition government accelerated plans so that the retirement age will rise to 66 for both men and women by 2020. A further rise to 67 will commence in stages from 2026. Darren Philp, policy director for the National Association of Pension Funds, said: 'Our rapidly changing demographic is hitting home. Having more older people in the workforce will increasingly become the norm. 'The problem comes when people want to retire but end up stuck at work because they cannot afford to leave. With half the workforce not saving into a pension, this is going to become a painful reality for millions. It is vital that we get more people planning and saving for their old age, and that they start as early as possible.' Geographically, employment rates for older people in the regions was consistent with rates for the working population generally, with the South boasting the highest employment rates. However, the one exception was London. For the younger population, London only ranks eighth of 12 in terms of the employment rate, but for older people it has the 2nd highest percentage in employment, behind the South East. This may reflect the higher cost of living and the greater variety of jobs in London which might provide an incentive for older workers to remain in the labour market. ONS stidy shows a higher proportion of older workers in the affluent South East. When General Motors engineers and designers started work on the next-generation Corvette, they drew up the usual requirements for the star of American muscle cars. Killer looks. Big engine. Handles like a race car. But topping the list back was something at odds with the roar of the car's big V-8: Gas mileage. Green machine: The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has all the styling and power of the classic car with greatly improved gas mileage On the way: The new Corvette will arrive in showrooms this fall. The new Corvette could not be a gas guzzler. Stricter government rules were forcing a leap in fuel economy. If the car burned too much gas, it would trigger fines from regulators and never get built. 'There won't be a Corvette if we don't care about fuel economy,' said Tadge Juechter, the car's chief engineer. But the 2014 Corvette is here, the first all-new version in nine years. The king of American sports cars, driven by astronauts and celebrated in a Prince song, rolled out Sunday night in Detroit. It will arrive in showrooms this fall. To many fans, the new Corvette symbolizes the rebirth of America's auto industry after its near death in 2009, showing the world that it again can lead in technology, styling and performance — at a lower cost that European competitors. Getting there was tough for the 1,000-member Corvette team, which gave the car the code name 'C7.' GM's bankruptcy slowed development twice. Curves: The car's beautifully styled body should be the envy of any sports car enthusiast Rebirth: To many, the new Corvette symbolizes the return of America's auto industry after its near death in 2009. With each delay, new safety and gas mileage regulations forced changes. The Corvette team overhauled the car: aluminum replaced steel, super-light rivets held parts together, and the V-8 engine kicked down to four cylinders at highway speeds, saving fuel. All the changes helped it overcome nine years of government crash safety requirements that could have bloated the car. But even with the lighter materials, the regulations have pushed its weight to a little more than the current base model's 3,200 pounds. Always in style: The new car's fuel economy should be much better than the current base model's 16 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway . Still, it's an engineering achievement. The Corvette is so new that it only shares two parts with the current model. GM said testing is still being done on the car's fuel economy, but it'll be better than the current base model's 16 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. Juechter said the window sticker highway mileage won't reach 30 mpg, but he wouldn't be surprised to see some drivers get that or more. Body work: The hood slopes low to slice through the wind, while all the vents and scoops have functional purposes like cooling the brakes or transmission. The car's usual buyers — men in their mid-50s — will also notice dramatic changes on the outside of the two-seat car. The hood slopes low to slice through the wind. All the vents and scoops have functional purposes like cooling the brakes or transmission. On the back, designers took cues from the1963 Corvette, with a sloping roof that tapers toward the bottom. The car has a small Stingray badge on each side, complete with gills. And there's a more modern rendition of the Corvette's crossed-flag logo. A 6.2-liter small-block V-8 with 450 horsepower takes the car from zero to 60 mph in under four seconds. That's at least a few tenths of a second faster than the current base model. Engineers also redesigned the somewhat-chintzy interior, giving it a jet cockpit look with leather, carbon fiber and soft plastics. GM hopes the styling, performance and updated dashboard electronics will expand the car's appeal to younger buyers. The Corvette's been a favorite of adrenaline junkies for 60 years. Mercury astronaut Alan Shapard owned one from the first year — 1953. The company won't quote a price on the 2014 model. But Juechter said someone who bought the current version can afford the new one. The Corvette starts at $49,600. Sticker shock: The new Corvette starts at $49,600, roughly $30,000 less than its competitor, the Porsche. That is more than $30,000 below what GM considers its chief competitor, the Porsche 911. The car makes a decent profit for GM despite relatively low sales, Juechter said. GM wouldn't give sales targets for the new car. Last year it sold only 14,000 of the aging Corvettes, down from over 30,000 the first few years after the current version was rolled out. Porsche sold about 8,500 911s last year. The prospect of a new 'Vette has fans waiting anxiously, browsing the Internet for unauthorized photos or drawings. Thousands of aficionados live in the U.S., and even Europe and the Middle East. John Browning, 70, president of the Renegard Corvette Club of Hollywood, Fla., one of 600 such clubs in the U.S, said some Corvette lovers can't contain themselves. 'I've got one member, he just sold his '13 in anticipation, to wait for the '14,' said Browning. 'I think the Corvette is the icon. As far as I'm concerned you can't get a better deal.' 54 Olds could have “killed” the Corvette Thanks to John Stokes This is the car that in 1954 could have ‘killed’ the Corvette. So, Chevrolet, being GM’s big sales and profit division, campaigned to GM to ‘kill’ this car. When Chevy was coming out with its 6-cylinder sports car with its 2-speed ‘powerglide’ transmission and side curtains, there was a sports car from Olds with a big old V-8 engine with power windows. So, GM said, ‘no’ to Oldsmobile on building this car. 1954 Concept Old’s Rocket F88 – the only one in existence. John S. Hendricks (Discovery Communications founder), paid in excess of $3 million to acquire this 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 Convertible Concept Car. After spending decades as a collection of parts stuffed into wooden crates, the F-88 was reassembled. In 1954, the F-88 was a Motorama Dream Car, and was one of only two (or an unconfirmed possible three), ever created. The F-88 seen here is literally the only car left of its kind and was sold to John and Maureen Hendricks at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona , for an unbelievable $3,240,000. This acquisition made automotive history and is in the cornerstone of the Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum , in its own special room in a rotating display, worthy of the F-88!

Vintage 1929 Bentley becomes the most expensive British-made car ever sold after going for £5million at auction A vintage Bentley has sold for a record-breaking £5million making it the most expensive British-made car ever sold at auction. The legendary 1929 Bentley was sold for a staggering £5,042,000 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed today smashing the previous British-car record of £3.5 million paid in 2007 for a 1904 Rolls-Royce. Auction house Bonhams would not confirm the identity of the buyer, who was bidding for the Bentley over the phone. Record-breaker: A vintage Bentley has become the most expensive British-made car ever sold after it fetched a staggering £5million at auction Heyday: Sir Henry 'Tiger Tim' Birkin set a lap record in the red Bentley at Brooklands Outer Circuit in 1931 when it hit 137mph The bright red Bentley was once owned and raced by Sir Henry 'Tiger Tim' Birkin who set a lap record in the car at the iconic Brooklands Outer Circuit in 1931 when it hit a staggering 137mph. Birkin was one of the most famous of the Bentley Boys - a group of wealthy men who raced the British sports cars in the 1920s and 30s. His life was tragically cut short in 1933 in a freak accident after he burned himself on an exhaust pipe during a race. The burn became infected and he died from septicaemia at the age of 36. His iconic Bentley was later bought by the groundbreaking horologist George Daniels, who owned it until his death last year. Impractical: The 1929 vintage Bentley has just one seat and no storage room making it inconvenient for lengthy journeys Powerful: The Bentley Blower is one of only 50 made and boasts a 4.5 litre engine The Bentley - which has just one seat and no storage space - is part of the incredible George Daniels car collection being auctioned off at Goodwood in Sussex. Watchmaker George Daniels bought the Bentley and described it as the 'most exhilarating' car to drive The car, known as a Bentley Blower, was fitted with a 4.5-litre supercharged engine which developed 240bhp. Just 54 were built, with the sports cars capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in just 8 seconds. Classic car enthusiast Daniels loved the Bentley, once writing that 'for all its inconvenience it is a most exhilarating car to drive both on the road and track'. Malcolm Barber, Bonhams chief executive officer and auctioneer at the Daniels sale, said: 'The prices achieved for George Daniels’s cars today are a fitting tribute to one of the truly great artist engineers of the 20th Century. 'George was not only a fantastic craftsman who hand-made some of the world’s most desirable watches, he was also a car connoisseur held in immense respect throughout the vintage motoring world.' Doug Nye, a car historian, added: 'It is wonderful to see this iconic car’s true value recognised by the world market. 'The Birkin single-seater Bentley was, in effect, the Concorde of its time, the fastest car around the high Brooklands bankings. 'It was driven by a great British hero in Sir Henry Birkin and was the most glamorous racing car of the era.' Sleek: Mr Daniels, who died last year aged 85, also owned a Jaguar E Type V12 worth around £30,000 Smooth: A 1954 Bentley R Type Continental, worth an estimated £450,000, also went under the hammer Racer: A 1908 Itala Grand Prix Car was also expected to be a big sale at the auction Historic: The Maharajah of Bhavnagar's 1929 Bentley - worth an incredible £500,000 Vintage: A 1907 Daimler Type 45 also went on sale at the Bonhams auction The new McLaren P1 is to be fastest car ever built in Britain The car can hit 124mph in under seven seconds Also promises to be as environmentally-clean as family saloon he fastest car ever built in Britain with a top speed of 217mph is officially unveiled today. The McLaren P1 can rocket from zero to 62mph in under three seconds, hit 124mph in under seven seconds and 190mph in under 17. Believe it or not, it also promises to be as environmentally clean as a family saloon thanks to its ‘green’ petrol-electric plug-in hybrid technology.   Stunning: The McLaren P1, the fastest car ever built in Britain, has been unveiled today Fast: The car has a top speed of 217mph and can go from 0 to 62mph in under three seconds Rapid: The new McLaren can hit 124mph in under seven seconds. The red-hot two-seater, designed for use both on the road and race-track, will cost £866,000. And that’s without a carpet, which will be an optional extra on this purist sports car built at the firm’s state-of-the-art factory in Woking, Surrey. McLaren has already increased its workforce by 100, to 1,000, to build the car. A spokesman for the company said: ‘It is the most technologically advanced and fastest series production car ever to come from the UK.’ Modern: The McLaren P1 is said to be the 'spiritual successor' to the three-seater McLaren F1 Environmentally-friendly: The car's 'green' petrol-electric plug-in hybrid technology also promises to make it as environmentally clean as a family saloon Interior: The car will set you back £866,000, with carpets as an optional extra To maintain exclusivity, only 375 will be built. Half of those have been sold already, with some customers buying two. It is the ‘spiritual successor’ to the three-seater McLaren F1, launched in 1993 with a price tag of £600,000 but which now fetches up to £4million at auction. Exclusive: Only 375 of the cars are to be built and half of those have been sold already. Car-mad comedy actor Rowan Atkinson is expected to be at the head of the queue for the machine, having recently secured a £910,000 insurance pay-out to restore his McLaren F1 after he crashed it.The P1 is powered by a mid-mounted 3.8litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine developing 727 brake horse-power, which sits behind  the driver and passenger. It is connected to a lightweight 176bhp electric motor, and the company claims that the two work ‘seamlessly’ to keep down emissions. The total combined power of 903 brake horse-power – linked to a dual clutch seven-speed F1-style racing gearbox – is equivalent to nine Ford Fiestas. The engine set-up promises ‘instantaneous throttle response’, says McLaren. Lightweight batteries behind the driver store charge generated by the petrol engine but a plug-in charger can also be used to boost energy levels from empty to full in two hours. As a result the car produces zero emissions when running on electric power only and has a range of 12.5miles at an average city speed of 30mph. ‘That’s more than enough for an owner to enter, for example, a city-centre zero emissions zone, have dinner and return home,’ says McLaren. Overall, the McLaren P1 emits an average of 200g/km of CO2 – about the same as a Honda Accord 2.4litre family saloon. The rival Bugatti Veyron emits 559g/km of carbon dioxide while the Ferrari 458 averages 307g/km. Car-mad: Comedy actor Rowan Atkinson is expected to be at the head of the queue for the machine Dashboard: The car is to be launched officially at the Geneva Motor Show on March 5 Technology: McLaren says the P1 features Formula 1-derived race technology which increases speed and acceleration Power: The car's 'instant power assist system' propels the car from rest to 190mph in under 17 seconds Special date: The first deliveries of the car are planned for September 2 to coincide with McLaren's 50th anniversary. The P1 features Formula 1-derived race technology which the company says increases speed and acceleration. It has an ‘instant power assist system’ that propels the car, rocket-like, from rest to 190mph in under 17 seconds – more than 35 per cent faster than even the F1. The car will be launched officially at the Geneva Motor Show on March 5, with the first deliveries planned for September 2 to coincide with McLaren’s 50th anniversary. A company spokesman said: ‘Our goal is to create the best driver’s car in the world on both road and track. A maximum speed which is electronically limited to 217mph should be sufficient for most.’ McLaren's stunning new supercar, the P1 will have a staggering 903bhp The P1 has a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged engine which develops 727bhp. But it also benefits from an electric motor which adds a further 176bhp to the car's total output A spokesman for McLaren has called the P1 the 'most technologically advanced production car ever to come from the UK'

These models, including the American Tesla Roadster, feature the latest technologies, such as electric, hybrid, hydrogen and low-emission petrol and diesel power units. Green: American Tesla Roadster More traditionally, the London-to-Brighton veteran car run takes place tomorrow and celebrates the ‘Emancipation Run’ held on November 14, 1896. That marked the scrapping of the Red Flag Act, which limited the speed of cars to walking pace and required a man to walk in front of vehicles with a red flag. The first car leaves Hyde Park at official sunrise — 7.04am — and the event has attracted 572 entries from around the world, including the first Skoda car produced, a 104-year-old Voiturette dating from 1906. The oldest vehicle on display will be an 1894 Benz from GGermany. Other stars are likely to be the 1904 Darracq and yker from The Louwman Collection — better known as the cars that starred in the 1953 film Genevieve, as driven by John Gregson, Kay Kendall and Kenneth More. The 21st-century cars taking part in the inaugural RAC Brighton-to-London Future Car Challenge today will include the latest electric, hybrid and low-emission cars and light commercial vehicles. Among these are the Volkswagen Golf-e-motion prototype electric vehicle and the Nissan Leaf electric car, as well as Honda’s hydrogen-powered electric fuel cell vehicle, the Clarity. There will also be hydrogen fuel cell hybrids from Toyota and Mercedes-Benz. Vauxhall has entered its Ampera electric hybird car, while the UK-based Ecotricity has its 134mph Nemesis supercar. Starting at Brighton’s Madeira Drive, from 8am today, this event will use the traditional 60-mile veteran car run route, but in reverse. See futurecarchallenge.com and lbvcr.com for details. Small, perky and easy on the eye, the pocket and the environment, Fiat has just launched the TwinAir version of its best-selling 500 super-mini. The low-consumption 875cc two-cylinder petrol engine develops just 85 horse-power. Yet its top speed is still over a ton — 108 mph to be exact — and it will accelerate from rest to 62mph in 11 seconds. Fiat has just launched the TwinAir version of its best-selling 500 super-mini The car comes as London Mayor Boris Johnson removes the city’s Congestion Charge for sub-100g/km CO2 cars. A Fiat spokesman said: ‘The ruling means the 500 TwinAir, which emits just 95g/km CO2, will be one of the few petrol cars entitled to travel across the capital without incurring a charge.’ The new 100 per cent discount scheme for greener vehicles comes into force from January 4, 2011. Owners have to register their car for an annual payment of £10. The low emissions mean there’s no annual road tax (vehicle excise duty or VED) to pay and it averages 68.9 miles to the gallon, managing 57.6mpg around town and 76.3mpg when cruising. The Fiat 500 TwinAir starts at £10,665 for the TwinAir Pop and rises to £16,065 for the convertible 500C TwinAir by Diesel.

UK holiday discount drive sees 20% wiped off cost of a 'staycation' . A new campaign offering 20.12 per cent slashed off bills at participating venues will be unveiled by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday to boost 'staycations'. The scheme includes hotel accommodation, meals, guided tours and entry to attractions, with discounts funded by the industry. Staycation: The London Eye is one of the many attractions in the UK taking part in the 20.12 discount scheme Government officials said more than three million hotel rooms were already lined up under the project, which is being backed by a range of companies, including Butlins. Attractions, such as the London Eye and Alton Towers, are also taking part. Reduced prices will also be offered on stays on the Royal yacht Britannia, now moored in Leith, Edinburgh, and visits to Chatsworth, the historic house in Derbyshire. Tourists will be able to take advantage of the discount by using a dedicated website before the end of the Paralympics on September 9 to make bookings for this year and 2013. Mr Hunt said: 'With the Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games, this year is the perfect opportunity for more of us to holiday in the UK. 'With so much going on, and this fantastic new 20.12% discount scheme, it's a great opportunity to see what Britain has to offer.' Mr Hunt has travelled the UK, urging companies to take part in the scheme, telling them: 'It's now or never for London tourism. 'We will never have a year like 2012 to show the world that this is, quite simply, the most exciting, vibrant, cosmopolitan city on the planet. 'The inevitable moans and groans in the run up to an Olympics must not cloud the scale of the opportunity - including our biggest ever tourism marketing campaign to make sure we get a lasting benefit from being in the global spotlight.' The scheme will be promoted by a £3 million television advertising campaign – the first of its kind in the UK. The government hopes the 'holidays at home are great' campaign – launched by VisitEngland – will create 12,000 jobs, create 5.3million extra short overnight breaks, and generate £480million in extra spending over three years. VisitEngland’s Chief Executive, James Berresford added: '2012 offers the tourism industry an unprecedented opportunity to grow domestic tourism by inspiring Britons to take a holiday at home. 'Spear-heading the promotion will be a high profile TV campaign and specially devised website offering discounted offers of 20.12% off or better.'

This rare 1928 Mercedes, unearthed after 60 years sitting in a garage without seeing the light of day, is expected to sell for a staggering £1.5million at auction. Described as the supercar of its generation, the 'S' Type model was one of the world's fastest vehicles when it rolled off the production line in 1928, easily reaching speeds in excess of 100mph. And it’s Ferdinand Porsche designed engine and hand crafted chassis made it one of the earliest luxury sports cars ever mass produced. Incredibly despite having been locked away since the 1950s, it still runs perfectly. Rare find: The unrestored 1928 Mercedes S Type was unearthed after 60 years sitting in a garage Nippy: The S-Type model was one of the world's fastest cars when it rolled off the production line in 1928 easily reaching speeds of 100mph It has been owned by the same family from new and experts have hailed the discovery one of the most considerable automotive finds, with unrestored cars of its type extremely rare. The cobweb clad car - first registered on the roads in May 1928 - is set to go under the hammer at Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival sale on September 15. Automotive expert, Rupert Banner, said: 'At a time when motor cars in original condition and with impeccable provenance are appreciated more than ever, this one-owner car offers an unrepeatable opportunity for collectors. Upholstery: The car's untouched interior. It is now going under the hammer at Bonhams' Goodwood Revival sale on September 15 Find: Experts have hailed the discovery one of the most considerable automotive finds with unrestored cars of this type extremely rare 'It has literally been off the radar. No one knew such an untouched and archaic this old existed. It is an incredible find.' The unidentified owners grandfather - a pioneering British motorist - was one of the earliest buyers of the Mercedes ‘S’ Type, which sparked mass production due to its popularity. And according to the cars unworn handbook, it was sold under the order number 38130 and bought from The British Mercedes Ltd in London. Detail: The unidentified owners grandfather - a pioneering British motorist - was one of the earliest buyers of the Mercedes 'S' Type, which sparked mass production due to its popularity The motors dark battleship grey bodywork was crafted by London-based coachbuilders Cadogan Motors. Described as a time warp, the convertibles original blue upholstery is still intact. The car re-established Mercedes’ reputation for building fast, luxurious and high quality motorcars. Serial number: According to the cars unworn handbook, it was sold under the order number 38130 and bought from The British Mercedes Ltd in London Built to last: Incredibly despite having sat in a garage for 60 years the Mercedes still runs perfectly A spokesman for Bonhams said: 'This newly discovered 1928 Mercedes-Benz 'S' Type Sports Tourer is almost without precedent. 'Motor cars of this type and age have rarely been in the same family ownership from new. 'It is expected to sell for more than £1.5m. In for the long haul? The electric car with a 500-mile range could finally match petrol power for distance QBEAK concept vehicle uses bio-methanol to boost its battery life Novel chassis contains six modules instead of one fixed battery Innovative in-wheel electric motors can deliver top speed of 75mph Green, they may be. But electric cars have struggled to overcome one of the main shortfalls that put buyers off - an inferior range to their petrol-powered rivals.  That may be about to change after a new electric car was unveiled that promises to go 500 miles (800km) before the battery needs recharging. This would be far more than one of the current leaders in the field, the battery/ gasoline Chevrolet Volt, which can do around 375 miles (600km) on one charge-up. Going the distance: The QBEAK electric car which promises to go 500 miles before the battery needs recharging On the horizon: A battery/fuel cell demonstration model of the QBEAK is expected to arrive sometime in 2013. The Modular Energy Carrier concept (MECc), created by three Danish companies, uses bio-methanol to bolster its battery life. Mogens Lokke, CEO of ECOmove, designers of the innovative 'QBEAK' car said bio-methanol was far better than diesel or gasoline because it produces substantially less carbon dioxide. 'In combination with the way we built the car, which is really lightweight (425 kilograms), we can get the 500-mile range,' he told CNN. A bio-methanol/ water is converted by the fuel cell to create electricity, while waste heat from the process powers the car's heating and cooling system. One right royal potential owner: Prince Charles has a look inside one of ECOmove's electric concept cars during a visit to Denmark earlier this year Keen interest: Prince Charles and Camilla were both given the low-down on the new designs when they visited Vitus Bering Innovation Park in May. It also benefits from a innovative chassis design which has really pushed the technology forward. 'Instead of putting in a fixed battery, we have built in (six) modules that can be fitted inside the chassis. We can use battery power in the modules or any other kind of energy source,' Lokke said. The award-winning QBEAK also uses patented in-wheel electric motors to deliver a top speed of 75mph (120kph). The car caught the attention of royalty earlier this year when Prince Charles and Camilla paid a visit to Denmark. Driver: A novel chassis design means it will contain six electric modules rather then a single fixed battery Imminent: The QBEAK project hopes to launch a battery-powered model with a range of 186 miles this year. They both climbed into the QBEAK car when they arrived at Vitus Bering Innovation Park in May. Mr Løkke, introduced the e-car and its many features, while the royal couple listened attentively. Prince Charles promised to follow ECOmove in the future and said that he finds the QEAK-concept very interesting. 'This is indeed a fantastic opportunity for us to spread the message about ECOmove and our e-car QBEAK to a wider audience', he said. According to Mads Friis Jensen from Serenergy, the designers of the fuel cell, bio-methanol is a cheap and abundant fuel with a short carbon chain. Challenging petrol: The award-winning QBEAK also uses patented in-wheel electric motors to deliver a top speed of 75mph (120kph) Green machine: The car's fuel cell converts a bio-ethanol/ water mix into electricity to power the battery. Compared to gasoline, bio-methanol production can cut CO2 emissions by more than 70 per cent. The U.S. Department for Energy (DOE) says direct methanol fuel cells are not hampered by the storage problems that affect other green fuels like hydrogen because as a liquid it's easier to transport and supply through current infrastructure. The QBEAK project hopes to launch a battery-powered model with a range of 186 miles (300 kilometers) later this year. The battery/fuel cell version is expected to arrive sometime in 2013. Wrapped around a tree, nose down in a ditch and dangling precariously over water. Fascinating photos from the 1920s and 30s show the dramatic and tragic side effect of the golden age of American motoring. The pictures were taken in and around Boston, Massachusetts by Leslie Jones, who was staff photographer at the Boston-Herald Traveler newspaper from 1917 to 1956. Mr Jones captured everything that happened in the city for five decades and when he died in 1967, his family donated a vast collection of 34,000 prints to the Boston Public Library. They included these fascinating photos of vintage car wrecks from the great motoring boom. Motor cars became affordable to the masses for the first time in the 1920s. By the end of the decade a Model T Ford cost $298, just a fraction of the $1,200 it cost in 1909. The introduction of hire purchase also made it much easier for members of the public to buy cars, and by 1929, 20 per cent of Americans were on the road. Ford, Chrysler and General Motors were all competing for the boom in business and by the time the depression hit in 1929, Ford was producing more than one car every minute. Technology meant these early cars were capable of achieving speeds of up to 50 miles per hour - but safety measures were nowhere near as advanced as they are today. Add in the fact drivers didn't need to pass a test before they got behind the wheel, and it's easy to see why accidents were frequent and often spectacular. A rusty 103-year-old electric car rendered obsolete by the invention of the automobile is tipped to sell for £50,000 as it has turned out to be way ahead of its time. While electric cars are being hailed by many as the future of transportation today, a rudimentary version was being manufactured in the early 20th century. Looking like a cross between something from the Wacky Races and a golf buggy, the car had a top speed of just 25mph. Dodo, a 103-year-old Detroit Electric Model D that was thought for a century to be an evolutionary dead end has emerged for auction - and has now turned out to be way ahead of its time The six foot tall recharging station for the Detroit Electric Model D, which gave the car a range of 100 miles on a full charge. It had a range of 100 miles but had to be plugged into a giant 6ft tall charger before every journey. Manufacturing came to an end in the 1920s when the mass production of the petrol car left it trailing in its wake. The 1910 Detroit Electric Model D that has now emerged for sale would have cost £1,500 at the time, the equivalent of £85,000 today. Modern-day electric cars such as the Nissan LEAF are now priced at around £25,000. In the early 20th century, the electric car was preferred over the early petrol versions as it was simple to operate and was a lot quieter. Henry Ford, founder of The Ford Motor Company, bought two Detroit electric cars for his wife Clara for this reason. Rupert Banner, a car specialist at auctioneers Bonhams, said: 'Electric cars are all the rage now but Detroit Electric was doing very well with them 100 years ago. 'The company became the most successful manufacturer of electric cars and this is a very early version of what they produced. 'They were very popular into the 1920s. 'This one still has the same interior it had back then and has been well preserved. 'It's like stepping back in time.'It has been in a museum for a number of years now. Experts at Bonhams say the car is relatively easy to restore, and could soon be in full working order. 'It's a very interesting car and it still has its original transforming unit with it, which is extremely rare. 'It looks like something you could power an entire grid with these days, it is so big. 'Once the petrol car came in the days of the Detroit Electric Model were always going to be numbered. 'People could go longer distances and there were now no limitations, which especially in a country as big as America, made all of the difference.'Detroit were unquestionably the most successful at the electric cars though, that is without question.' The 103-year-old Detroit Electric Model D that was thought for a century to be an evolutionary dead end but has now turned out to be way ahead of its time. The car comes with its original charger and experts believe it will provide a straight forward restoration project for the new owner. Detroit Electric was an American automobile brand produced by the Anderson Electric Car Company in Detroit, Michigan. It went defunct in 1939. In recent years Detroit Electric has been in negotiations with companies in China and Malaysia about reviving the brand. The car will be sold at auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, US, on January 17. The 1910 Detroit Electric Model D was a popular vehicle for thousands of motorists in the early years of the 20th century before the widespread production of petrol cars rendered it obsolete. The car, which has been in a museum for the past decade, is expected to fetch £50,000 when auctioned by Bonhams this week. It really is hands free! Self-driving Mercedes-Benz is unveiled - and it should be available within seven years Car will be able to hand control back to the driver in difficult situations Group recently demonstrated autonomous driving on a 100km road Volvo,General Motors, and Volkswagen are working on similar technology Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz and Smart cars, has announced that it will start selling a self-driving car by 2020. It is thought the car will be able to drive on its own in most situations but will still hand control back to the driver during difficult situations such as dealing with traffic lights. The move could help Daimler regain its position as the leading luxury car market from its rival BMW. Scroll down for video... It is thought the car, which will be able to drive on its own in most situations, will still hand control back to the driver during difficult situations such as dealing with traffic lights. ‘We want to be the first to launch autonomous functions in production vehicles. You can be sure: we will accomplish that in this decade,’ said Daimler head of development Thomas Weber. The technology featured at this week's Frankfurt car show but won’t come to market for another 10 years. The German car maker has been working on improving its driverless technology over the past few years and recently became the world’s first car manufacturer to demonstrate autonomous driving in rural and urban traffic. Last month, a Mercedes Benz S 500 Intelligent Drive research vehicle, drove autonomously through a 100-kilometre-long route from Mannheim to Pforzheim in Germany. Last month, a Mercedes Benz S 500 Intelligent Drive research vehicle drove autonomously through a 100-kilometre-long route from Mannheim to Pforzheim in Germany The driverless S-Class was able to deal with some difficult situations involving traffic lights, roundabouts, pedestrians, cyclists and trams particular challenge for autonomous vehicles is the way in which they communicate and interact with other cars. Coming to an agreement with an oncoming vehicle on who should proceed first around an obstruction is something that requires a very great deal of situational analysis. 'Where a human driver might boldly move forward into a gap, our autonomous vehicle tends to adopt a more cautious approach,' said  Prof Ralf Herrtwich, head of driver assistance and suspension systems at Daimler. 'This sometimes results in comical situations, such as when, having stopped at a zebra crossing, the vehicle gets waved through by the pedestrian – yet our car stoically continues to wait, because we failed to anticipate such politeness when we programmed the system.' The research vehicle was equipped with production-based sensors for the project. Developers taught the technology platform to know where it is, what it sees and how to react autonomously. With the aid of its highly automated 'Route Pilot', the vehicle was able to negotiate its own way through dense urban and rural traffic. The driverless S-Class was also able to deal with some difficult situations involving traffic lights, roundabouts, pedestrians, cyclists and trams. Existing technology already partly automates driving to assist during, for instance, traffic jams, by maintaining a safe distance with the car in front. In July, the UK government said it will allow driverless cars on public roads for the first time during trials to take place this year. During the ground-breaking road tests, an expert will have to remain in the driving seat. Scientists at Oxford University are working with Nissan in Sunderland to create ‘robotcars’ that can drive themselves independently using details of the road they are driving on stored in on-board software. The Nissan self-drive Leaf electric car is controlled by an iPad, and the Oxford team behind it claim the technology could be installed in mainstream cars as a £60 option.Mercedes unveils S500 Intelligent Drive The future: Most big car-makers are already developing self-drive technology and incorporating elements of it into cars already on the road Cameras and lasers built into its chassis map a 3D model of its surroundings when it is driven manually, which is fed into a computer stored in the boot. The car can then ‘remember’ routes. It prompts the driver via an iPad on the dashboard to engage the autopilot and, at a touch of the screen, the car assumes control. A laser at the front scans 164ft ahead 13 times per second for obstacles, such as pedestrians, cyclists, or other cars in an 85-degree field of view. If it senses an obstacle, it slows and comes to a controlled stop. The driver can tap the brake pedal to regain control of the vehicle from the computer. Sweden’s Volvo, Vauxhall’s U.S. parent General Motors, and Germany’s Volkswagen are also working on the technology. Honda's fast, cheap and reliable sports car from a golden age of engineering: Cash Cars on why the S2000 has future classic potential The Honda S2000 is a fast and capable roadster from a golden age of old-school engineering. It proved popular in the UK and if anything its reputation has grown with the years. Now the S2000 looks to have hit the bottom of its depreciation curve - buy a good one for under £10,000 and it should hold its value and reward you with many miles of high-revving fun, says Tony Middlehurst in our Cash Cars column. Honda's S2000's party trick was a high-revving engine but it also won the hearts of motoring fans and reviewers with its sharp handling and a good one now costs less than £10,000 What’s your favourite engine type? The low throb of a big V8? The creamy whizz of a mid-sized V6? Or the never-gets-old shove of a heavily turbocharged four?  For some, it’s none of the above. It’s the high-revs scream of a sporting Honda. You can pretty much pin it down to that one company because, apart from the rotary-engined Mazda RX-8, which likes to stop starting when it gets hot, no other affordable brands offer that exotic whiff of life at 9,000rpm. More than one Honda pulls off that trick, too. They generally have an R somewhere in their name, but there’s one model that doesn’t. We’re talking about the S2000 roadster, on sale between 1999 and 2009, and popularised not only by Gran Turismo and Fast And Furious but also by the world’s motoring press. Some of you may raise a whippersnapper’s eyebrow at the idea of investing in a Japanese sports car that hasn’t been available new since 2009. Uncle Bob, our in-house expert at picking out slow depreciators, will put you straight on that if you’ve got ten minutes to spare and the price of a pint in your pocket. Cash Cars  Cars lose money. As a general rule that’s true, with depreciation eating up thousands of pounds of the price you paid. However, it doesn’t have to be the case. Savvy buyers can pick up cars that will not only retain their value, but could be sold for more down the line.  In our new Cash Cars series we look for those that fit the bill, read more: Audi A8: Luxury at a bargain price Mercedes SL: R129 about to shineFor a start, he’ll tell you that there were more S2000s on UK roads in 2018 than there were in 2017. That means there’s still a strong demand for them, either as imports or restoration projects. Then Bob will outline why that might be. He will talk about the Honda Blackbird 1100 motorcycle in his garage. In a 2019 car, an engine of a similar size will produce somewhere between 100bhp and 130bhp, depending on turbo boost.  Eighteen years ago, Bob’s non-turbocharged Blackbird came out of the Honda dealership with over 165bhp. It remains totally reliable to this day, despite Bob’s efforts to burst it. The point being that Honda knows how to make performance engines that don’t go pop. +10 No turbo here: The normally aspirated VTEC 2 litre engine produced up to 247bhp and had a red line at 9,000rpm. It was good for 0 to 60mph in six seconds Depending on where you bought it, the S2000’s normally aspirated VTEC 2-litre engine produced between 237bhp and 247bhp at a bonkers 8,300rpm.  In terms of horsepower per litre, it was the most powerful non-turbo engine ever, but 20 years on S2000 engine failure remains about as common as spotting a unicorn. As he slams down his empty glass, Bob’s final piece of advice to you will be to check out the prices of other turn-of-the-century or earlier Japanese performance cars like the Nissan R34 Skyline, Toyota’s Supra and Honda’s own NSX. The S2000 gives you 0-60mph in six seconds, a 150mph top speed, classic rear-wheel drive independent double wishbone-suspension handling, a slick six-speed manual gearbox, 50/50 front/rear weight distribution, a limited-slip differential and a really cool driving environment – all at prices starting from a measly £3,500. Interested now? OK. Let Bob tell you the many pluses – and the surprisingly few minuses – of Honda S2000 ownership. +10 The S2000 had an optional removable hardtop, handy for the British weather - and the snow if you dare to head there in a rear-wheel drive sports car, as Honda did for the press shots Honda S2000s: The good stuff If you want roadgoing fun in a traditional format rear-wheel drive sports car, your choice isn’t that wide. There’s the Porsche Boxster, BMW Z4, Nissan 350Z or Toyota GT86 – or you could do what everybody else does and get a Mazda MX-5. There’s no harm in that. MX-5s provide affordable fun and will always put a smile on your face. But, unlike the S2000, an unmodified MX-5 won’t get you giggling like a loon as you hang onto the lower gears in search of that 8,300rpm power peak and 9,000rpm redline. For an example of what we mean, here’s an S2000 giving Porsche 911s and Nissan GT-Rs a run for their money at the Nürburgring.  The S2000’s aluminium 1,997cc 16-valve four-cylinder engine is all about power. With a mere 152lb ft torque at 7500rpm, and the famed VTEC kick coming in at just under 5,900rpm, it’s not so much Lee Marvin as Lee Evans. You’ll be working that aluminium gearknob hard, but that’s no hardship. For a slightly more relaxing drive, post-2004 facelift UK models came with a less manic power curve, courtesy of a new intake manifold and a drive-by-wire throttle. Or you could try to find a US spec AP2 model with a slightly larger 2.2-litre engine. As long as you look after your S2000 with regular oil changes – ideally every six months or 6000 miles – the motor is tougher than Bob’s old boots. It runs a timing chain rather than a belt, which is good, but the chain tensioner can wear out, which is not so good. It’s an easy fix though. Some cars swig oil at a fair rate, which you might see as a good thing as that means it’s always using fresh oil. The most important point is that S2000 engine failure is practically unheard of, which is remarkable given its high-revving nature. +10 Honda's S2000 added to its character with a digital speedometer and rev counter in an arc above it - tempting drivers to head for that golden 8,000rpm level The VTEC variable valve timing system has a strong reputation too. If it suddenly stops working, it could be down to a too-low oil level: the car’s electronic brain will respond to that by taking VTEC offline. Clever folk, those Honda engineers. Chassis-wise, S2000s are very sensitive to properly set up suspension. If you’re feeling slighty disappointed by the handling, and your suspicions are being confirmed by uneven tyre wear, a professional suspension alignment will bring rich rewards. So will greasing the double wishbone suspension bushes, something Honda reputedly didn’t bother to do at the factory. Odd folk, those Honda engineers. The S2000 cabin is a delight, with comfy leather seats and an LCD strip tacho plus digital speedometer dash that still sets a standard for clarity and style. Climate and stereo controls are within a hand’s span of the steering wheel - a layout that a few of today’s designers might care to study. Although the electrical mechanism for the soft top rarely gives trouble, you’re almost bound to see some rub wear or even tearing of the fabric in the section behind your shoulder. If it’s gone too far, you should be able to source a replacement hood for about £500. Rattling hood catches are easy enough for an owner to replace. +10 Inside the S2000's cabin was snug but comfortable and had ergonomics that put many modern day cars to shame Honda S2000s: The not so good stuff The very first S2000s were a bit skittish under pressure, especially in bad weather, and they also liked to follow longitudinal ruts (tramlining). That was all down to less than brilliant original equipment tyres and slightly mismatched springing and damping. As a stopgap measure, Honda tweaked the suspension in 2002. In 2004 they brought in additional suspension and body stiffening mods, along with bigger wheels (up to 17in from 16in) and slightly slower steering. That was a really significant step forward. A post-’04 car is a good bet if you can afford one, though one downside of the facelift is a slightly fussier look to the front and rear ends. VSA stability and traction control was added to the options list in 2006, and to the standard equipment list in 2008, when the suspension was again reworked to sharpen up the handling. +10 Keep an eye on the bodywork if you want your bargain second hand Honda S2000 to remain this fresh, as rust can be a threat (plane not included) As regards the body, the usual Japanese recipe of poorly-rustproofed steel (only the bonnet is aluminium) means you do need to keep a close watch on creeping rot, especially in the hard-to-inspect areas behind the rear wheelarch liners. Putting problems right there won’t be cheap. MX-5 owners will be familiar with that phone call from the MOT inspector to say that their car has failed on a seized brake caliper. S2000s get that too. Given the type of use that S2000s experience, it’s perhaps not that surprising that the synchromesh on the higher gears can wear out on well-used cars. The cabin is well put together, but the trim and hinged cover for the stereo head unit has a habit of coming loose. Finally, never buy an S2000 without trying one for size. If you’re on the lanky side, the driving position will be cosy to say the least, and if you have a GT model with the hard top you may have to leave your top hat at home. +10 There were almost 8,000 Honda S2000s that came to the UK and more than half that number are still on the road, indicating popularity. Prices have fallen to a point at which they have now stalled, indicating it may be near the bottom of the depreciation curve. Honda S2000: Bob’s three to think on In the UK, we got nearly 8,000 of the 110,000 Honda S2000s built between 1999 and 2009. Believe it or not, there are still 4,300 or so of the little blighters running around on UK roads. Some of those will be imports, but it’s still a very impressive survival rate. Two years ago, prices of clean, road legal, moderate-mileage S2000s started at around £6,000. That’s still the case today. For that sum you’ll get an MOT’d car with 120-130,000 miles and maybe the factory hard top. This apparent plateauing of values suggests that S2000s aren’t going to go much lower, but as Bob will tell you, cheaper cars are always available. As with anything in life, it comes down to how much of a risk you want to take. Fixable issues like an odd whine from the back end or a soupcon of suspension clonk will drop the entry price down to something nearer to £4,500. Bob managed to find one for £3,500. That was a 226,000-mile example with a tired clutch (about £400 plus labour) and a bit of rust on the door and rear wing, mind ye. On the other hand it did have the hard top and a fresh MOT with no advisories. At the top end of the market, last-year (2009) cars on private sale start at around £14,000, with low-mileage dealer cars approaching £16,000. These prices are pretty comparable to the ones you’ll pay for average-mile Porsche Boxsters of a similar age, although the spread of Porsche prices will be a bit wider depending on mileage. BMW Z4s are quite a bit cheaper than both, but neither the four-cylinder or the six-cylinder Zeds can compare to the Honda or the Porsche when it comes to refined mechanical thrills or handling delicacy. Earlier on we mentioned the worthiness of post-’04 cars. Post-2007 S2000s are also a good shout if your budget will stretch to £9,000-£10,000 for a moderately miled-up one because they come with even sweeter steering and a smoother power delivery – although you might not necessarily see that as a plus point if you’re an old-school VTEC fanperson. +10 This Honda S2000 on sale through eBay is a private car with just 75,000 miles on it 2002, Honda S2000, £7,000 or make offer Here’s a nice earlyish (2002) private car that’s done 75,000 miles, was serviced six months/100 miles ago, and has a brand new MOT certificate with no advisories. Despite being undersealed it does have some arch rust and it also has the back-end whirr that is usually a duff wheel bearing. On the plus side it comes with a hardtop and a separate protective top.  +10 This Honda S2000 is on sale with a dealer on AutoTrader  and has the post 2004 suspension upgrades 2006, Honda S2000, £8,995 As noted earlier, post-2004 cars are worth having for the factory upgrades to the suspension, wheels and steering. This blue 2006-er is well into the desirable era and apart from some light rusting noted on a brake pipe ferrule – hardly a dealbreaker, as most cars of this age will be similarly afflicted – and some light oil misting to one of the rear shocks it looks like good value at under £9,000. Especially as it’s a GT with the hardtop.  This rare Honda S2000 is the Edition 100, on sale through Pistonheads for a spicy £22,000 2009, Honda S2000 Edition 100, £22,000 The most expensive S2000 you’re likely to see (if you can find one) will be a final-year Edition 100 in Grand Prix White with red leather and graphite alloys. With only 100 of these made, you’ll need over £20,000 for a low-miles example. Here’s one Bob has managed to find. It’s done just 25,000 miles and is a bit out of his normal price bracket at £22,000.

Stunning vintage car was later owned by Warner Brothers It appeared in films such as Inside Daisy Clover and The F.B.I. Story Will go under the hammer at Blenheim Palace this Saturday A car which belonged to one of the biggest names in the history of Hollywood cowboy films is set to fetch more than £130,000 when it goes under the hammer in a UK auction. With its impressive Hollywood history and a whopping a 7.7L engine, the incredible Rolls Royce Phantom I Playboy Roadster is expected to cause a stampede of interest from film buffs around the world. Auctioneers estimate the hammer will fall in excess of £120,000 for the 1927 model once owned by Tom Mix, one of Hollywood’s finest stars during the 1920’s. Star car: This stunning Rolls Royce Phantom I Playboy Roadster, which belonged to silent movie cowboy Tom Mix, is expected to sell for £130,000 at auction Cowboy Tom was the biggest names of the Hollywood silent film generation, appearing in a staggering 291 films between Between 1909 and 1935. He bought the car in 1933 and  spruced it up with the latest features to ensure that it was special enough to be driven by a star such as himself. Former owner: Actor Tom Mix appeared in a staggering 291 films between Between 1909 and 1935 The headlights were lowered, the wings underwent a radical updating, a fog light was added and an ultra-modern radio was built into the dash. Despite being 85 years old, the beautiful motor still has a top speed of 90mph enough to send any bidder sailing happily into the sunset. The lot is due to go under the hammer at Coys specialist motor auction this Saturday at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, and has been drawing lots of attention from film fans with enough cash to splash. Potential bidders have also been impressed by the chance to own a car with such a dazzling Hollywood history outside of the US. Tom was fatally injured in a car crash with his other classic car, a Cord L29 in 1940 but this was not the end of the Rolls’ big screen roles. Warner Brothers snapped up the car after Tom’s death and it spent the next three decades making appearances in some of their classic films. The Hollywood great Robert Redford got behind the wheel of the Rolls Royce in the 1965 film Daisy Clover. Since then two collectors have carefully maintained the Phantom to the pristine condition that it’s now being sold in. Coys’ auctioneer, Chris Routledge said: 'The valuation on this car is about what we’d expect but because of the brilliant history that comes with it, the sky really is the limit for how much this car will sell for. Stampede: With its impressive Hollywood history and a 7.7L engine the vintage motor is drumming up a lot of attention from film buffs around the world The beautiful car will go under the hammer at Coys specialist motor auction this Saturday at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire Horsepower: The Roller's massive 7.7L engine is in pristine condition At the wheel: The car was driven by Robert Redford in the 1965 film Daisy Clover Custom job: Film star Mix personalised the car by lowering the headlights and updating the wings. A fog light was added and an ultra-modern radio was built into the dash Film producers Warner Brothers snapped up the car after Tom's death and since then two collectors have carefully maintained the Phantom 'It’s the only car of this type in the world so we’ve had a lot of interest from Japan and America. 'The only reason that we have this car is because it’s coming from a deceased estate, otherwise it’s unlikely that anything of this sort would ever come up for sale. 'It’s always fascinating in this line of work when a car like this comes up for sale. 'It’s very exciting especially because of it’s California and Hollywood links.' THE TRAGIC DEATH OF HOLLYWOOD'S FIRST WESTERN MEGASTAR Thomas Edwin 'Tom' Mix  was Hollywood's first western megastar appearing in an incredible 291 films between 1909 and 1935. A real-life cowboy, he worked as a ranch hand and was an excellent shot and and expert with a lasso. His first film The Cowboy Millionaire, was released on October 21, 1909 after which his popularity exploded. As his fame grew he was able to command hefty sums for his appearances. Screen cowboy: Tom Mix riding his horse in 1925 after he had become Hollywood's first western megastar Married five times, his style would go on to define the Hollywood western genre and influence future screen cowboy's such as Ronald Reagan and John Wayne. It was on the afternoon of October 12, 1940, that the 60-year-old Mix, was driving another of his cars, a 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton,on Arizona State Route 79 near Florence. He had been visiting Pima County Sheriff Ed Nichols in Tucson but had stopped at a gambling and drinking den the Oracle Junction Inn, He was reportedly driving at around 80mph when he rolled the car into a gulley. On the package shelf behind him was an aluminum suitcase containing  a large amount of cash as well as traveller's cheques and jewels. It reportedly slammed into back of the head, shattering his skull and breaking his neck. He was killed instantly. There is a small memorial stone marking the site of his death and the nearby gully is named 'Tom Mix Wash'. Mix famously appears on the cover of the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band designed by Peter Blake. Tom Mix on the cover of the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band designed by Peter Blake New Jaguar soft top roadster on sale from next Spring from £55,000 Porsche rival is 14ft 8in in length and does 0-60mph in four seconds F-Type being seen as 'spiritual successor' to E-Type of the Sixties Jaguar today unveiled its sexy new two-seater F-Type roadster – the spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type sports car of the 1960s. The uncompromising convertible designed to take on the might and performance of Germany’s Porsche is to have its official unveiling at next week’s Paris Motor Show, some fifty years after the car which inspired it. Jaguar Land Rover bosses say their British challenger will  go into direct competition with the likes of  Germany’s Porsche 911 – causing some to dub it the ‘Porsche-buster.’ The 'Porsche buster': Jaguar's new two- seater F-Type roadster, the spiritual successor to it's iconic E-Type sports car, has been released 50 years after the original went on sale Shrouded in secrecy: The new F-type as disguised prototype at Goodwood. The official reveal in Paris next week is heralded as a 'truly significant day' by the motoring giant The scintillating  sports car with contemporary styling and a particularly cute rear will offer drivers a  choice of two 3-litre V6 or an even more powerful 5-litre V8 engine fitted to an eight-speed gearbox offering blistering performance and superb handling. New Jaguar F-Type Price: From £55,000 On sale: Soft top roadster from next Spring Hard-topped coupe from 2014 Built: Castle Bromwich, Birmingham Length: 14ft 8 inches Width: 6ft 4 inches Height: 4ft 3 inches Weight: 1.6 tonnes Seats: 2 Engines: 3 options Supercharged 5.0 litre   V8 (495PS) Two supercharged 3.0 litre V6 (340PS and 380PS) Top Speed: around 190mph 0-60: Just over 4 seconds. MPG:  circa 30mpg C02: from around 200g/km The F-Type is being seen as the ‘spiritual successor’ to the E-Type of the 1960s, but is pitched as a truly 21st century car in terms of design, technology and performance. It will sit in size below the  larger XK grand-tourer sports car but is expected to give a massive ‘halo’ effect to the whole Jaguar brand. The higher performance F-Type  models  will accelerating from 0-62mph in less than five seconds and have top speeds well  in excess of 155mph and in some cases nudging 190mph. The open-topped roadster  will cost  from  around £55,000 when they goes on sale in Spring. A hard-topped coupe version  is expected to follow in late summer 2014. Jaguar released some early official photographs after some of the images and details leaked out. Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar global brand director, said the F-Type's launch in France will be a ‘truly significant day’ as the firm returns to the sports car market. He said: 'As its sporting forebears did in their era, the F-Type will break new ground by delivering stunning sports car performance while vividly demonstrating Jaguar's cutting-edge engineering technologies and world-class design excellence. Ian Callum, director of design who created the car and has promised to buy one for his heirs out of his own money , added: ‘A true sports car needs to be pure in both its purpose and its form; to have the opportunity to produce such a car for Jaguar has been a privilege both for myself and for my team.’ Iconic: The original Jaguar E-Type was manufactured by the car giant between 1961 and 1974 A 'proper' sports car: The original Jaguar E-Type was 'pure in both its purpose and its form'  Lean, green, speedy machines: Porsche and BMW unveil hybrid supercars that are built for racing - but are MORE efficient than a Toyota Prius The Porsche 918 Spyder can reach 60mph in less than 2.8 seconds, while the BMW i8 takes 4.4 seconds to reach the same speed BMW's hybrid supercar can do 113 miles per gallon and Porsche's can travel 72 miles on the same fuel Porsche said its car is the fastest street-legal car to complete the 12.8 mile Nurburgring track but it is over five times as expensive as the BMW Supercars are not usually known for their fuel efficiency, but both Porsche and BMW have debuted hybrid vehicles that are less thirsty at a petrol pump than a Toyota Prius. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show, the Porsche 918 Spyder can reach 60mph in less than 2.8 seconds, while BMW's futuristic i8 takes less than 4.4 seconds to reach the same speed. But the sleek sports cars are designed to be fuel efficient as well as fast. Porsche's Spyder can also do 72 miles per gallon and is almost a third more fuel efficient than the Toyota's Prius, while the BMW i8 is even less thirsty as it can manage 113 miles per gallon. Scroll down for video Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show, the Porsche 918 Spyder can reach 60mph in less than 2.8 seconds proving its racing credentials. But the sleek sports car can also do 72 miles per gallon and is almost a third more fuel efficient than the Toyota's popular hybrid model - the Prius BMW has finally taken the wraps off its much-teased hybrid supercar, which has a top speed of 155mph and is capable of doing 113 miles per gallon. The futuristic i8 is the car manufacturer's 'most advanced' sports car PORSCHE 918 SPYDER SPEC Top speed: 211 mph but 93mph when purely electric Acceleration: 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds Body: The two-seater car is made of carbon fibre Drivetrain: The model is a parallel full hybrid comprising a 4.6 litre engine and hybrid module with electric motor Engine: The V8 provides 608 horsepower and together with the electric capability has 887 horsepower Energy supply: Lithium-ion battery and mains-compatible plug-in charger Range: 18 miles when purely electric AC charging times: Less than 7 hours using a household socket and 2 hours on an industrial socket Price: £537,000 Porsche's £537,000 offering is a carbon fibre supercar with a plug-in hybrid drive, making it the latest racing car manufacturer to try and make more eco-friendly cars sexy. The company said: 'Never before has a supercar designed for everyday use offered such an impressive dynamic performance combined with the fuel consumption of a compact car.'The car was designed from scratch to be a high-performance hybrid and is 'virtually silent' like most electric vehicles. It combines a combustion engine with an electric motor system to boost its performance. The Spyder has a top speed of 211 miles per hour - 93mph when solely using the electric motor  - and has a V8 engine, which combined with its electric capability, provides 887 horsepower. Wolfgang Hatz, member of the Porsche AG Board of Management in charge of research and development, said: 'We promised a great deal with the 918 Spyder, namely to redefine performance, efficiency and driving pleasure. We have kept our word.' Porsche 918 Spyder unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show The Porsche 918 Spyder is displayed at the 65th Frankfurt Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. The car has a plug-in hybrid drive, making Porsche the latest sports car manufacturer to try and make more eco-friendly cars sexy Wolfgang Hatz, member of the Porsche AG Board of Management in charge of research and development, (not pictured) said: 'We promised a great deal with the 918 Spyder, namely to redefine performance, efficiency and driving pleasure. We have kept our word' When let loose around the famous racing circuit, Porsche said that the 918 Spyder completed the 12.8 mile track in just six minutes and 57 seconds. The hybrid car shaved 14 seconds off the previous Nurburgring record for a street-legal car, making it the fastest super car built for normal roads to race the course. Dr Frank Walliser, head of the 918 Spyder project, said: 'The radical hybridisation of the 918 Spyder from the very outset is what made this record possible. 'The Nordschleife is and remains the toughest measure of a super sports car. Posting a time of 6:57 minutes, we have achieved a result of which the development team and everybody at Porsche can be rightly proud.' Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller, left, and former rally driver Walter Roehrl show off the 918 hybrid sports car at the motor show. When let loose around the Nurburgring, Porsche said that the 918 Spyder completed the 12.8 mile track in just six minutes and 57 seconds The 918 Spyder hybrid car shaved 14 seconds off the previous Nurburgring record for a street-legal car, making it the fastest supercar built for normal roads to race the course. Chairman of the board of Porsche AG, Matthias Mueller is pictured in the car HOW DO THE CARS COMPARE? The Porsche goes from 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds, while the BMW takes 4.4 seconds The BMW is more fuel efficient travelling 113mpg, while the Porsche can do 72mpg With a top speed of 211mph, the 918 Spyder is faster than the i8, which is limited to 155mph The largest difference is the price. Porsche's 918 Spyder costs £537,000, while BMW's i8 costs £99,845 BMW has finally taken the wraps off its much-teased hybrid supercar, which has a top speed of 155mph and is capable of doing 113 miles per gallon. The futuristic i8 is the car manufacturer's 'most advanced' sports car ever and is powered by a relatively small 1.5 litre turbocharged engine which, combined with an electric motor, generates 362 brake horsepower. This gives the plug-in hybrid a 0 to 62mph time of just 4.4 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. While it is fast, the i8 also claims to be 'green' and emits just 59g/km of carbon dioxide as well as being fuel-efficient for a sports car. Power from the petrol engine goes to the rear wheels while the electric motor goes through the front. The car is capable of being driven in electric mode for 22 miles at a top speed of 75mph and BMW claims the i8 can have its battery charged from zero to 80 per cent in less than two hours. The i8 is powered by a small 1.5 litre turbocharged engine which, combined with an electric motor, generates 362bhp. This gives the plug-in hybrid a 0-62mph time of just 4.4 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph When fully charged and with a full tank of fuel, the four-seat i8 can be driven for around 310 miles before needing to be topped up. BMW has been teasing the arrival of its more eco-friendly supercar for a long time with drawings of concept cars, but has now confirmed the car will go on sale in July next year and will cost £99,845. Making its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the distinctive car looks like a new member of the BMW family but has upwards-opening scissor doors and daring details like its 'iBlue' neon trim on the grille, 'side skirts' and back bumper. While it is fast, the i8 also claims to be 'green' and emits just 59g/km of carbon dioxide as well as being fuel-efficient for a sports car. When fully charged and with a full tank of fuel, the four-seat i8 can be driven for around 310 miles before needing to be topped up Talking about the design, the company said: 'The structure of overlapping and interlocking surfaces contributes to the unmistakable appearance of the BMW i8. This layering principle allows aerodynamic forms to be wrapped up in a progressively styled package.' The body is made of carbon and aluminum and the mixture of colours apparently show off the way the air flows over the car, while its shape means there is no need for a spoiler. The company said: 'The new BMW i8 combines the performance of a sports car with the fuel consumption of a small compact car, boasting impressive efficiency and sustainability without forfeiting driving dynamics. Talking about the design, the company said: 'The structure of overlapping and interlocking surfaces contributes to the unmistakable appearance of the BMW i8. This layering principle allows aerodynamic forms to be wrapped up in a progressively styled package' 'No compromises, but rather the optimal combination of driving pleasure and responsibility. 'The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that brings together the advantages of electro-mobility and innovative engine technology. 'The result is an extraordinarily dynamic driving experience - with extremely low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.' The i8 began its life as a pure concept car six years ago and there were no plans for production, according to Top Gear. The interior is as edgy as the exterior of the new car. The i8 has 'glass cockpit all-screen instruments' and lightweight seats as well as the distinctive neon blue trim seen on the outside of the car

Officers examine a car that has wrapped itself around a tree, spilling its interiors onto the street in Boston in 1933

Passersby try to figure out how this car ended up nose-down in a trench in Boston's West End. A glance at the rough, dirt-covered road provides a clue

The scene of an accident in 1935. Information with the photo reveals a car stolen by joyriding children crashed into a lawyer's car, killing him

Giving a rare glimpse of the day's fashion, a group of men look over a crumpled car that sits by the side of a residential Boston street

Crowds pose for photographer Leslie Jones alongside a mangled and burnt out wreck in Boston in 1933

A police officer poses next to a car that flipped over manoevring around corner in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1935.

This truck stood no chance when it came into contact with a tree on a rural Mass. road, disintegrating on impact - leaving just the steering wheel intact.

A fireboat struggles to haul a car out of the Fore River in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1933. They succeeded, but couldn't save the three passengers, who drowned

This car came out loser in a battle of wills with a trolley bus on Boston's South End in 1932

Children peer out of the undergrowth as photographer Leslie Jones captures a nasty wreck smoulding by the side of the road in Hingham

Crowds watch in awe as a car is winched out of the Charles River in Cambridge, Mass in 1933. close to the Harvard University campus

Taken in 1934, this photograph shows a truck balancing on a bridge in Dorchester by just one wheel. Workers from the Walter Baker & Co chocolate factory rushed out of the building in the background to watch

Another angle from the same accident shows how close the truck is from toppling into the water

This car remarkably survived a collision with a utility pole in Cambridge, Mass - with just a mangled bumper to show for the crash

The driver of this car was unlikely to have survived this collision. The wreck is wrapped entirely around a tree, which sits in the driver's position

The shell of a truck is pulled from the Charles River after it careered off the Harvard Bridge

Photographer Leslie Jones had to part crowds of onlookers to capture this accident in downtown Boston. An out of control car collided with a shopfront, smashing windows and ending up on its side

Local businessman Byron Harwood and Byron Grover were hurt when their car collided with a bus in Waltham, Mass. in 1921. They were lucky to survive this nasty looking wreck. Their car certainly didn't

Taken in 1934, this photo shows a car that skidded out of control on ice-covered roads and wrapped around a tree in Auburndale, Mass.

A truck collideded with a bus and flipped over in south Boston, stopping just before it smashed into a cafeteria storefront

Another view of the same accident shows eager children posing with the upturned truck. it also demonstrates how close the vehicles came to nearby buildings

A Cudahy Packing Co. truck is hauled out of Fort Point Channel, which separates South Boston and downtown Boston

Even public servants weren't immune to accidents. An early mail truck came out loser in this battle with a tree on the tree-lined Commercial Avenue, Boston

Sitting in a Boston wrecking yard, this cross section of a wreck shows how basic car interiors were in the early days of motoring.