Kieron Fennelly takes the wheel of a 32 year old BMW 5 Series – and rates it as a still-competent classic saloon. (All words and photographs by, and copyright, Kieron Fennelly.) The 1988-95 BMW E34 was the company’s third 5 Series and consolidated BMW’s reputation for this model as the class-leading executive saloon. By the time of the launch of the E34, BMW had three distinct model ranges, … [Read more...]
Features by Kieron Fennelly
Book Review: Porsche Boxster & Cayman 981 Series 2012 to 16
Book Review by Kieron Fennelly: Porsche Boxster & Cayman 981 Series 2012 to 16 Author: Brian Long Published by: Veloce Publishing: https://veloce.co.uk/ 192 pages (hardback) UK price: £55 UK price (U.S.A. price $80 USA price) ISBN: 978-1-787117-93-8 The 981 was the last of the line – the final naturally aspirated Porsche sports car (the concurrent 911, the 991, met a similar … [Read more...]
Suzuki Swace Motion – Road Test
Kieron Fennelly puts the Motion version of Suzuki's stylish Swace though its paces… In 2019, Toyota and Suzuki signed a technology-sharing agreement. For Toyota, the interest was Suzuki’s small car expertise, while Suzuki gained access to Toyota’s electric drive knowhow. In marketing terms, the agreement has spurned several ‘new’ models for both parties: Certain Suzukis are badged Toyotas in … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – Max Hoffman: Million Dollar Middleman
For Your Bookshelf – Max Hoffman: Million Dollar Middleman Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Author: Myles Kornblatt Published by: Veloce; https://veloce.co.uk/ 160 pages (hardback) UK List Price: £30.00 ($50) ISBN: 978-1-787115-03-3 Max Hoffman is well-known as the entrepreneur who introduced various European manufacturers to the USA in the post war years. Author Kornblatt recounts … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – Alvis Society – a century of drivers
For Your Bookshelf – Alvis Society – a century of drivers Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Author: David Culshaw Published by: Veloce; https://www.veloce.co.uk/ 224 pages hardback; 215 pictures UK Price: £50; U.S.A. price $80 ISBN: 978-787114-73-9 David Culshaw is to Alvis as Karl Ludvigsen is to Porsche: a committed historian whose knowledge has been gleaned over many decades. Like … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – Karl Ludvigsen’s Fast Friends – Stars and Heroes in the World of Cars
Karl Ludvigsen’s Fast Friends – Stars and Heroes in the World of Cars Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Author: Karl Ludvigsen Published by: Delius Klasing Verlag 190 A5 pages paperback/softback, or as an e-book UK Price: Paperback version available in the UK for £20.00 (and on the publisher’s website for 19.90 euros) ISBN: 978-3-667-11457-0 Karl Ludvigsen looks back over … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – Roger’s Run – a life on the edge
"Roger's Run – a life on the edge" Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Author: Roger Nathan Published by: Douglas Loveridge Publications 223 pages (hardback), with colour and black and white photographs UK List Price: £30.00 unsigned or £40.00 autographed; +£5 covers the postage. ISBN: 978-1-900113-15-1 Available from: Douglas Loveridge Publications, Moss View, 85 Warburton, Emley, West … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – Inside the Machine – an engineer’s tale of the modern automotive industry
Bookshelf – Inside the Machine Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Author: David Twohig Published by: Veloce: https://www.veloce.co.uk/ 192 pages (hardback, and also available in softback) UK List Price: £19.99 (hardback) ISBN: 978-1-787117-68-6 Graduating from Cork university, David Twohig joined Nissan in 1992. An electrical engineer, he does his ‘apprenticeship’ on the line at … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – “Triumph TR2, TR3, TR3A & TR3B – Your expert guide to common problems and how to fix them”
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Author: Paul Hogan Published by: Veloce: https://veloce.co.uk/ 144 pages, with 254 pictures (softback) UK Price: £19.99 ISBN: 978-1-787117-25-9 This quintessentially 1950s sportscar was arguably the best of its ilk, significantly quicker than the rival MGA and deservedly popular. It remains so today and most … [Read more...]
Ineos Grenadier – First Impressions
Kieron Fennelly gives his views on this classically-inspired tough-in-nature new four wheel drive machine… It was Ferry Porsche who, sixty years ago, famously said “I couldn’t find a sports car I liked, so I decided to build my own.” The man behind the Ineos Grenadier, Sir James Ratcliffe evidently had a similar idea. But unlike Porsche who saw his mission as developing his father’s consultancy … [Read more...]
Volvo XC60 T6 Recharge – Road Test
Kieron Fennelly test drives Volvo’s XC60 mid-size, all wheel drive plug-in hybrid SUV… In 2010, Ford sold its Volvo subsidiary to the Chinese auto maker Geely. A decade under the auspices of the blue oval constrained Volvo as much as it did Jaguar, but Ford’s disciplined product planning schedule did leave the Gothenburg firm with a positive legacy of new models. Under a Geely which has granted … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – “BMW M3 & M4 – The Complete History of These Ultimate Driving Machines”
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Author: Graham Robson Published by: Veloce: https://veloce.co.uk/ 253 pages (hardback) UK Price: £40.00 BUT check Veloce’s website – currently they advise “Get 35% off until further notice when quoting ‘STAY-INDOORS-AND-READ’!” ISBN: 978-1-787115-79-8 Originally compiled in 2013 to celebrate 25 years of the BMW M3, this new edition brings the story to … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – “VW Type 4 411 and 412”
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Author: Marc Cranswick Published by: Veloce: https://veloce.co.uk/ 184 pages (hardback) UK Price: £35/$60 BUT check Veloce’s website for special offers on their books – currently they advise “Get 35% off until further notice when quoting ‘STAY-INDOORS-AND-READ’!” ISBN: 978-1-787151-22-4 This book’s subtitle is ‘the final rear-engined cars,’ the 411 and … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – “The Boy – Stirling Moss, a Life in 60 Laps”
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Author: Richard Williams Published by: Simon and Schuster: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/ 306 pages (hardback) UK List Price: £20.00 (but may vary with retailer) ISBN: 978-1-4711-9845-8 Moss died in 2020 and this book is the first able to look back on his whole life. More has been written about Stirling Moss than any other British racing driver, … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – Allard – The Complete Story
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: Allard – The Complete Story Author: Allan Allard and Lance Cole Published by: Crowood Press 240 pages; paperback Price: £40/$60 BUT current price on Crowood’s website (at 15th April 2021) £32 (and e-book version also £32, including vAT). https://www.crowood.com ISBN: 978-1-7850-0559-6 Most enthusiasts will have at least a vague knowledge of … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – Ford (UK) Cars 1945 to 1995: A Pictorial History
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: Ford Cars (Ford UK Cars) 1945 – 1995: A Pictorial History Author: David Rowe Published by: Veloce Publishing; https://veloce.co.uk/ 160 pages; 330 pictures; paperback Price: $27.50 US; £16.99 UK – BUT check current figure for this title with the publishers; https://veloce.co.uk/store/Ford-Cars-p290695576, as special offers may apply. For example, at … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf: Jaguar F-Type – The Complete Story
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly Title: Jaguar F-Type – The Complete Story Author: Andrew Noakes Published by: Crowood Press Ltd www.crowood.com 192 pages (paperback), with 254 colour and 30 mono photographs ISBN: 978-1-78500-731-6 Price: £25.00 (but £20.00 if bought via the Crowood website, and for the E-book Edition, including VAT) The question Jaguar enthusiasts ask most often is … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf: Superfinds (previously unseen 1960s and 70s photographs of exceptional cars)
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: Superfinds (previously unseen 1960s and 70s photographs of exceptional cars) Author: Michael Kliebenstein Published by: Porter Press International 420 pages (with 900+ photographs); hardback ISBN: ISBN 978-1-907085-89-5 Price: £90.00 This sumptuous book is a compilation of the roving photography of Corrado Cupellini, a pioneering classic car … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf: Alfa Romeo T33/TT33 – The Remarkable Story of 115.72.002
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: Alfa Romeo T33/TT33 – The Remarkable Story of 115.72.002 Author: Ian Wagstaff Published by: Porter Press International 128 pages; hardback ISBN: 978-1-907085-34-5 Price: £30 The tenth volume of Porter Press’s much admired ‘Exceptional Cars’ series deals with another Italian sports racer, but for once this is not a Ferrari, but an Alfa Romeo. … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf: Shadow: The Magnificent Machines of a Man of Mystery
Reviewed by Kieron Fennelly. Title: Shadow: The Magnificent Machines of a Man of Mystery Author: Pete Lyons Published by: Evro Publishing 464 pages; hardback ISBN: 978-1-910 505-49- Price: £75 / $90 The man of mystery is of course Don Nichols whose dramatic looking Shadow racers were such a feature of Formula 1 and the Can Am series in the 1970s. Born in 1924, Nichols was old … [Read more...]