Driving a Zagato Zele electric car flat out, four-up. How fast can we go? Below the Radar Cars 2024-12-28 | Zagato has created some fantastically valuable and desirable cars over the years, but when things turned sour for the Italian company in the early seventies, it decided to do something radical, and that was to introduce a tiny plastic-bodied electric car. Called the Zele, production lasted for almost two decades, with around 3000 examples sold. The Isle of Man Motor Museum owns one of the earliest surviving examples and here we take it out, four-up, to see what she'll do.Spoiler alert: it isn't fast...
Sampling the world’s only Ford Cortina Mk2 ambulance Below the Radar Cars 2025-04-07 | Ford made more than a million Cortina Mk2s, including saloons and estates, but just two ambulances were made. These weren’t built by Ford though; instead the work was done by independent company Herbert Lomas.Just one of the two Cortina ambulances is known to have survived. Originally built for building company Victor Hallam, it’s now in the hands of Richard Usher at the Great British Car Journey in Derbyshire. Based on a Ford Cortina estate, this unique ambulance is in superb condition and has just 23,000 miles on the clock. Here, Richard Usher tells all to Richard Heseltine.
The Derbyshire-built Paramount - driving a unique survivor Below the Radar Cars 2025-03-30 | First shown in 1949 but in production from the following year, the Paramount was the work of Bill Hudson and Sam Underwood, who set up a factory in Derbyshire to build a high-quality sporting tourer with Alvis power. They quickly turned to Ford engines for cost reasons, but just ten Paramounts were made before the company went bust.All was not lost though because the company bounced back, only to go belly up again soon after. But Paramount was a survivor and once more it returned, this time in Buckinghamshire and it made a few more cars before calling in the receivers for the final time.It’s reckoned that just one of the original cars has survived and that’s what we’re driving here. It’s now in the care of Richard Usher at the Great British Car Journey, which very aptly is based in Derbyshire.While this exclusive drive of an ultra-rare survivor should be excitement enough for you, we have even more than that to offer you, because making his Below The Radar presenting debut is fellow anorak Richard Heseltine. This is the first time he has ever presented anything; we’re both convinced that now this is live, Hollywood is sure to come knocking very, very soon.
Two introductions for the price of none Below the Radar Cars 2025-03-30 | It’s four years since I launched this channel, and I’ve uploaded almost 50 films in that time. As the world’s most reluctant YouTuber I’ve never introduced myself in that time, so I thought it was about time that I did just that. In this film, which is possibly the most inconsequential video clip on the entire internet, I’m offering you a very brief introduction, and while this was recorded on the spur of the moment with absolutely no rehearsing whatsoever, you’ll never notice.More importantly, and the main reason for uploading this film, is I’m also introducing fellow weirdo Richard Heseltine, who is joining me on the channel to front some of the films. It might have seemed a bit odd if the channel has gone from being fronted by one Richard and then another Richard pops up with no explanation. So here it is – two Richards for the price of none, telling stories about obscure cars. World domination is surely ours for the taking.
The EV of 1903 – driving the Columbia Electric flat out. Can we get to 15mph? Below the Radar Cars 2025-03-16 | At the turn of the last century, petrol, electric and steam were all vying for supremacy to power the cars that people were buying – not that the average person was in a position to buy a car. Among the electric contenders was the Columbia, a company which burst onto the scene in 1899, focusing exclusively on electric cars. But during the first decade of the 20th century demand for these declined, thanks to the convenience that the internal combustion engine offered. Spotting this trend, Columbia introduced a petrol-engined car in 1903 – just three years after the marque had become the biggest-selling brand in the US (selling EVs only, remember), and the first to sell 1000 cars.It was also in 1903 that the car in this video was made. Known as the Mark 31, this Columbia Electric is owned by Darren and Denis Cunningham at the Isle of Man Motor Museum. Here, Darren tells all about the Columbia and he takes me for a drive to see if we can manage to achieve the 15mph top speed that was claimed for the Columbia when it was new. Spoiler alert: we didn’t quite get that far.Remember there’s a website to go with Below The Radar, at www.below-the-radar.com, where you’ll find hundreds of stories of obscure cars, and lots of quizzes too, so you can see just how much you really know about cars.
The story of the only known Falcon Peregrine Below the Radar Cars 2025-03-04 | Just two or three Peregrines were made by Falcon, which existed for just a short time between the mid-fifties and mid-sixties. Only one Peregrine is known to have survived, and it’s been owned by Tony Thorpe for more than three decades, so he knows more than most about this low-key British marque that created a wider array of models than you probably realise. Here he talks about his car specifically, as well as that wide array of other models produced by Falcon.In the film Tony mentions that he has owned his Peregrine for “almost 30 years”, but this was filmed back in summer 2022, at the Specials Day that August, at the Cotswold Wildlife Park at Burford. You can tell it’s summer, and a very hot summer’s day at that, because I’m wearing shorts, and that doesn’t happen very often (you’ll be glad to hear).For some reason I’ve sat on this film for almost three years, along with a couple of others that I shot on the same day, so those will appear on this channel before long. They also show me in my shorts, so sorry about that. Some things you just can’t unsee.*Many thanks to Richard Heseltine for letting me raid his picture library for some of the period Falcon shots that are dotted throughout this video.
The Monica - Frances luxury car that never was Below the Radar Cars 2025-02-14 | After the demise of Facel Vega in 1964, French industrialist Jean Tastevin decided to create a sequel, in the form of the Monica, named after his wife. The project started in 1966 and ended in 1975, by which time around 35 cars had been built, most of them pre-production prototypes.Three of those cars are in the Isle of Man Motor Museum, owned by Darren and Denis Cunningham. Here I chat to Darren about those three cars, which include the first and second prototypes, along with the sixth car, which was never finished. The Monica story includes an array of designers, coachbuilders and engine providers, and even when the plug was pulled there was talk of Panther taking over the project. It’s another one of those fascinating what-might-have-been stories, and one that probably deserved to succeed.Remember, Below The Radar has a website at www.below-the-radar.com which has lots more stories and some quizzes too. Check it out - you might just discover something interesting!
Driving the Murena 429GT by Intermeccanica Below the Radar Cars 2025-02-02 | When Charles Schwendler and Joe Vos set out to create the world's fastest and most luxurious shooting brake, it was going to be so exclusive that it wouldn’t even be available anyone but themselves. They ran sports cars, but wanted something more practical for their weekends away in the mountains – so they created their own sporting station wagon which was made by Intermeccanica.Having built two examples of their menacing-looking shooting brake, Intermeccanica persuaded Schwendler and Vos to build a few more, so they decided to unveil their car at the 1969 New York Auto Show, where they supposedly took 200 orders. But in reality just ten Murena 429GTs were made, all of which survive, except one. Here we tell the story of the Murena 429GT and take a test drive, courtesy of the Isle of Man Motor Museum.
Humber Imperial V8: Lord Rootes factory-built luxury hot rod Below the Radar Cars 2025-01-26 | Most Humber Super Snipes and Imperials left the factory with a six-cylinder engine, but half a dozen prototypes were made with Chrysler V8s, and then a further half a dozen pre-production cars.Lord Rootes himself used to be chauffeured about in an Imperial V8, and it’s that car which now resides in the Isle of Man Motor Museum. Here, its owner Darren Cunningham tells all about it and he also offers some insight into some of the other special Humbers in the collection.
How Peel Engineering created BMCs production fibreglass Minis Below the Radar Cars 2025-01-20 | The BMC Mini was made in countries all around the world, including Chile, which started to make its own examples in 1963. By the end of 1965 around 300 steel-bodied Minis had been made in Chile, but in 1966 the Chilean government decided to shift the goalposts; from here on, all cars produced in the country would have to contain at least 45% local content. This would mean BMC having to be rather inventive…The solution was to work with Peel Engineering, which was commissioned to come up with a glassfibre bodyshell that could be made in Chile. The plan was to start production at the end of 1966 but it wouldn’t be until 1969 that the first plastic-bodied Minis would roll off the production line.Peel produced half a dozen prototype glassfibre bodyshells and one of them is in the Isle of Man Motor Museum. Not only that, but the museum also has one of the very few fully operational working prototypes, and here, museum director Darren Cunningham tells the story of how Peel worked with BMC to create the plastic-bodied Mini.
The story of the Citroën GS Birotor, with (slightly shonky) driving impressions Below the Radar Cars 2025-01-18 | Back in the late 1960s, car makers everywhere were embracing the Wankel rotary engine, which was seen as the way forward thanks to its inherent smoothness, flat torque curve, high power-to-weight ratio, low production costs and compact dimensions. Brands as diverse as General Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Rolls-Royce licensed the patent, and in the mix was Citroën, which in 1964 set up a joint venture with NSU (called Comotor), to develop the Wankel rotary engine together.NSU launched the Ro80 in 1967 and it didn’t take long for things to go badly wrong, with fragile engines leading to warranty claims galore. NSU would be swallowed up by Volkswagen, and it was all this that led to Citroën getting very nervous about introducing its own rotary-engined car, the GS Birotor, in 1973. Within a year Citroën had canned the GS Birotor and did its best to buy back as many examples as possible, to minimise warranty claims. As a result very few GS Birotors have survived, but the Isle of Man Motor Museum has one and here we tell its story – complete with driving impressions.On that note, the Citroën was handed over on its highest suspension setting which has coloured my driving impressions. Hence the disclaimer at the start of the video, so no need to keep pointing out that the bouncy ride is not right! Even if the second bit of the video isn't representative of the Birotor at its best, the rest of the story still stands. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment...
The story of Citroens first rotary-powered car, the M35, with some Tissier-bodied DS action too! Below the Radar Cars 2025-01-12 | In the 1960s Citroën teamed up with NSU to create Comotor, and it was this collaboration that led to the GS Birotor. But before this ultra-rare special GS came the M35, a series of prototypes that were run by members of the public to get their thoughts on whether or not Citroën was on the right lines.As the separate video on this channel shows, the whole rotary project ended in disaster for Citroën, but the M35 is where it all started, and this is its story.
The history of Peel Engineering - there was so much more than just the P50! Below the Radar Cars 2025-01-10 | If Peel Engineering is known for one thing it's the diminutive P50, thanks to the antics of Top Gear. But the company didn't just come from nowhere; it started out building boats before moving into cars, although the P50 wasn't its first product.Here, the Isle of Man Motor Museum's Darren Cunningham guides us through the different cars that Peel Engineering produced, including its first model, the P1000, the P50 and its successor the Trident, then its final vehicle, the BMC Mini-based Viking Sport.
The unique Fiat 126p SAM - the Polish car youve never heard of Below the Radar Cars 2024-12-26 | Reckon you know your Fiat 126s? Well here's one you almost certainly won't have seen before, because it's a home-built special courtesy of Marian Kotlicki, an aircraft mechanic and aviation enthusiast who lived in Poland. He owned just five cars in his entire life (he died in 2017), and he built each one of them.Built in 1985 with a glassfibre body, the swoopy rear-engined car is known as the SAM, which is a generic name given to home-built cars in Poland. SAM is acronym for Samochod Amatorski Motoru, or 'Motor's Amateur Car'. Motor was for many decades the only automotive magazine in Poland and in the late fifties it popularised home-built cars, coming up with the generic term SAM. As a result this car is registered as a Fiat 126p SAM.
Is it a car? The weird and (not so) wonderful Larmar Below the Radar Cars 2024-12-24 | Another video from the fabulous treasure trove that is the Lane Motor Museum, the Larmar was the world's narrowest car. If you can call it a car. A Peel P50 is positively corpulent in comparison - that's more than a foot wider.Made between 1946 and 1951, just a few Larmars were made and very few survive. This one has been restored to what must surely be better than when it was new.
The story of Le Carabe; contender for the smallest car ever made Below the Radar Cars 2024-12-23 | In 1936, Frenchman Hippolyte Delimal attempted to create the world's smallest car. Known as La Carabe, or 'Ground Beetle', his tiny contraption was claimed to be capable of 118mpg, and had a top speed of 24mph.Hippolyte documented the trials and tribulations of building Le Carabe, and it was that 63-page manuscript that allowed Jeff lane and his team to build this replica Ground Beetle.For more on the story of Le Carabe, check out www.lanemotormuseum.org/collection/cars/item/le-carabe-replica-1936
Mercedes 130: the forgotten predecessor to the 170h Below the Radar Cars 2024-11-20 | It's reckoned that there's just one Mercedes 130 in the UK, and it's owned by Ian Tisdale. Here, Ian tells all about his 130 (including what is seemingly the world's most complicated transmission to use), as well as how it compares with the Tatra T97 that he also owns, and which is reviewed elsewhere on Below The Radar.The car is currently for sale on Car & Classic: carandclassic.com/auctions/1934-mercedes-benz-130-w23-8WK278
Exploring Rodger Duddings incredible collection of 450 cars Below the Radar Cars 2024-06-09 | One of the world's most prolific collectors, Rodger Dudding has amassed more than 450 cars since the late 1960s. Known as Studio 434 and based in Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, Rodger's collection is astonishingly diverse and includes all sorts of rarities, as well as plenty of more mainstream (but no less desirable) classic cars. And of course there are the 24 Aston Martin Lagondas, the car with which Rodger is most usually associated.I spent some time with Rodger at the end of 2023, chatting about how the collection came about and what some of his favourite cars are. In this video you can see just some of the 450-strong collection - and also find out why you need to go and take a look at it all yourself.
Monica 560 - talking to the man who owns THREE of Frances luxury car that never was Below the Radar Cars 2024-03-28 | When I visited the Isle of Man Motor Museum in 2023 I filmed a brief video with museum owner Darren Cunningham, because that's all I had time for. He owns the first two prototypes made, along with the unfinished car number 6.The plan is to put together a more complete video when I return to the museum in 2024, but after the unexpected popularity of my recent museum overview, and viewers saying the Monica is the car they most want me to cover, here's a short taster of what will follow later this year.
Custom Cloud: the Chevrolet that thinks its a Rolls-Royce Below the Radar Cars 2024-03-18 | In the mid-1970s, Florida-based Jon Tedesco hit upon the bright idea of dressing up Chevrolet Monte Carlos as Rolls-Royces, and unsurprisingly the project was doomed to fail.Tedesco called his created the Custom Cloud, and predictably just a few were made. One survives in the Isle of Man Motor Museum, and here, museum owner Darren Cunningham tells all about this kitsch confection.
Below The Radar heaven - automotive obscurities galore in the Isle of Man Motor Museum Below the Radar Cars 2024-03-16 | Darren and Denis Cunningham have built up what must be the premier collection of obscure cars (and other vehicles) in the UK. In this film we take a look at what's in the collection, including no fewer than three Monicas, a quartet of Fiat Samanthas and an eyebrow-raising four Facel Vega Excellences. Well, four might be stretching things a bit because some of them are hardly what you'd call pristine...
The story of the Clan Crusader Below the Radar Cars 2024-03-13 | Ex-Lotus men Paul Hassauer and John Frayling tried to sell their affordable GRP-bodied coupé with Imp running gear, but the project was hit by a series of problems and relatively few were made before the project went belly up. But the Clan Crusader was sold on and revived, only to go through multiple iterations before morphing into the Alfa Romeo-engined Clan Clover in 1984. Sadly that project also failed after just 26 cars had been made.Here, Clan Owners' Club chairman James Spencer tells all about the Clan Crusader and its many iterations. He was interviewed at the NEC classic car Show in Birmingham, hence the rather noisy background...
The unique Ferrari Testarossa targa built by EBS Below the Radar Cars 2024-01-28 | In 1985, one lucky American Ferrari enthusiast was lucky enough to be in a position to commission Belgian coachbuilder EBS to convert a brand new Testarossa into a unique targa.The car is now owned by an equally lucky Adam Bartlett, who in this video provides some insight into what EBS got up to and also what this one-off Ferrari is like to drive.
Jeff Lane tells the story behind the Scootacar Below the Radar Cars 2024-01-12 | Looking as though it might topple over at any moment, the three-wheeled Scootacar was made in Leeds between 1957 and 1964. Few were made and very few survive, so the one in Jeff's collection is quite a rarity...
Jeff Lane tells all about the Zundapp Janus Below the Radar Cars 2024-01-06 | For just two years (1957-1958), Zundapp produced the bizarre Janus mid-engined microcar, which was symmetrical across its centre. Here, Jeff Lane of the Lane Motor Museum tells its story.
Is it a plane? Is it a car? The fascinating story of the Fascination Below the Radar Cars 2023-12-25 | Jeff Lane tells all about the 1969 Fascination, which when unveiled in 1969 was marketed with the slogan 'Tomorrow's car today'. One of the most bizarre-looking cars ever created, the Fascination was truly a product of the Jet Age.Sorry for the distortion with the sound. This was the first time with my new microphone set and I thought I'd set it up correctly. Turns out I needed to turn down the gain a bit...
Jeff Lane tells the story of the almost-unique Plasticar Rogue Below the Radar Cars 2023-12-12 | Just two Plasticar Rogues were made in the mid-1950s; one prototype and one production car. The latter example is in the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, and here, Jeff Lane tells all about it
Tatra T97 - the baby pre-war Tatra that youve never heard of Below the Radar Cars 2023-12-06 | Tatra Register UK chairman Ian Tisdale fills us in on the only Tatra T97 in the UK.
Delving into the collection of Jeff Lane, the man with a slightly bonkers 550 cars! Below the Radar Cars 2023-10-31 | In May 2023 I travelled to Nashville to meet Jeff Lane, the man behind a most incredible 550-strong collection of unusual cars. Within the Lane Motor Museum are microcars, prototypes, one-offs and low-volume cars, many of which you'll never have seen - or possibly even heard of. It's the perfect destination for any Below The Radar fan. This seven-minute film gives an overview of what's in Jeff Lane's collection - but with so many cars to cram in I can give only a flavour.The first outing for my new microphone set-up, the sound is a bit distorted so apologies for that. Turns out that monitoring in real time doesn't necessarily highlight sound glitches as they arise...
The story of the Simca Monte Carlo Below the Radar Cars 2023-03-19 | At the November 2022 NEC classic car show, Simca Monte Carlo owner Kel Vine tells the story of what looks like a Fiat 500 Jolly. But it isn't one of those because it was something quite different (but admittedly kinda the same...), produced with Simca badges, and it's one of just three known survivors worldwide.
The one and only Triumph Herald hatchback Below the Radar Cars 2023-01-07 | Chris Gunby tells the story of his unique Triumph Herald hatchback, designed and built by Michelotti in Turin.For a full gallery of this unique car, check out the article on the Below The Radar website: www.below-the-radar.com/triumph-herald-hatchback
The story of the Mumford Morris Marina convertible Below the Radar Cars 2023-01-06 | At the November 2022 NEC classic car show, Morris Marina owner Tim York tells the story of these seventies rag-tops, made in small numbers by British Leyland dealer group Mumford
The story of the Panther J99 Below the Radar Cars 2023-01-06 | At the November 2022 NEC classic car show, Derek Benson from the Panther Car Club, spills the beans on the unique Panther J99.
Gary Longstaff talks about the Trojan 200 Below the Radar Cars 2022-12-15 | Gary Longstaff owns a rather bonkers 14 Trojans and Heinkels. Here I caught up with him on the Heinkel & Trojan Club stand (heinkel-trojan-club.co.uk) at the 2021 NEC classic car show, where he told me all about these oddball microcars.
Gavin Argent talks about the Velorex 350 Below the Radar Cars 2022-12-15 | Gavin Argent owns one of the few Velorex 350s in the UK. Here I caught up with him on the IFA Club stand (wp.ifaclub.co.uk) at the 2021 NEC classic car show, where he told me all about his fascinating fabric-bodied three-wheeler.
Colin Corke talks about his Innocenti Regent Below the Radar Cars 2022-12-15 | Colin Corke owns the only Innocenti Regent in the UK, and one of a tiny number that have survived worldwide. Here I caught up with him on the Allegro Club International stand (allegroclubint.org.uk) at the 2021 NEC classic car show, where he told me all about his incredibly rare car.
Chatting to Chris Gunby about the only factory-built Triumph Vitesse coupé Below the Radar Cars 2022-12-15 | The Triumph Sports Six Club (TSSC) owns the only Triumph Vitesse coupé ever made by the factory. Here I caught up with TSSC chairman Chris Gunby on the Triumph Sports Six Club stand (tssc.org.uk) at the 2021 NEC classic car show, where he told me all about this unique car.
Kevin Hagger talks about his Vincent Hurricane Below the Radar Cars 2022-12-15 | Kevin Hagger owns one of the few Vincent Hurricanes ever made. Here I caught up with him on the Club Triumph stand (clubtriumph.co.uk) at the 2021 NEC classic car show, where he told me all about his car.
Malcolm Dudley owns the sole Frisky Sprint built. Here he talks about it. Below the Radar Cars 2022-12-15 | Malcolm Dudley owns the only Frisky Sprint ever made. Here I caught up with him at the 2022 NEC Practical Classics Restoration Show, where he told me all about his car.
Talking to Kevin Ward about his Simca 1200 S Below the Radar Cars 2022-12-15 | Kevin Ward owns one of the very few Simca 1200 S coupés in the UK. Here I caught up with him on the Simca Club UK (simcatalbotclub.org) stand at the 2022 NEC Practical Classics Restoration Show, where he told me all about his car.
Talking to Alex Goffe about his Zaporozhets 968 Below the Radar Cars 2022-12-15 | Alex Goffe owns one of the very few Zaporozhets 968s in the UK. Here I caught up with him on the IFA Club (wp.ifaclub.co.uk) stand at the 2022 NEC Practical Classics Restoration Show, where he told me all about his Zappo.
Triumph Fury - interview with owner Jane Weitzmann Below the Radar Cars 2021-05-21 | Several of the cars featured on Below The Radar are owned by Jane Weitzmann. With the film about her Triumph Fury being the most popular film on this channel I decided to create a second film, this time talking to Jane about her ownership experiences of this unique Triumph prototype.
The story of the Fiat Gamine Below the Radar Cars 2021-04-24 | Marketed as a Fiat but built independently by Italian coachbuilder Vignale, the Gamine was based on the Fiat 500 but it looked a whole lot quirkier.This film looks at the story of the Fiat Gamine with input from long-term Gamine owner Jane Weitzmann.
The story of the Toyota Sports 800 Below the Radar Cars 2021-02-20 | Everybody knows that Honda built an S800 in the sixties, but did you know that Toyota did too? This is the story of how it evolved from the Publica Sports concept of 1962 and went into production - but for the Japanese market only.
The story of the Triumph Fury Below the Radar Cars 2021-02-13 | The Triumph Fury was a unique prototype designed by Giovanni Michelotti, which could have sat between the Spitfire and TR4/5/6.Featuring monocoque construction instead of a separate chassis, the Fury was fitted with Triumph's familiar 2.0-litre straight-six engine.This film tells the story of the Triumph Fury and it accompanies the feature which you can find on the Below The Radar website at www.below-the-radar.com
The story of the BMW 600 Below the Radar Cars 2021-02-13 | The 600 was an evolution of the Isetta and it was the car that was supposed to save BMW. But instead it pushed the company further into the red. BMW hoped to sell 400,000 examples of the 600 each year but fewer than 35,000 were made in a relatively short production run because this compact four-seater was too expensive relative to its rivals.This film accompanies an article on the Below The Radar website which you can find at www.below-the-radar.com.
The story of the Unipower GT Below the Radar Cars 2021-02-09 | The Unipower GT could have been a world beater. It should have been a world beater as it was the sports car that had it all - pace, looks, quality and relative affordability. But poor management led to the project foundering after just 71 cars had been built. This is the story of how it came about - and how the Unipower GT met its demise.
Below The Radar promotional video Below the Radar Cars 2021-02-07 | An overview of what Below The Radar is all about. It's the website that takes you beyond the motoring mainstream and you can find it at below-the-radar.com.
The story of Richard Dredges Triumph Vitesse Below the Radar Cars 2021-02-07 | To many people the Triumph Vitesse isn't a car that's below the radar, but in this film long-term Vitesse owner Richard Dredge tells the story of his love of Triumph cars, which goes back to the 1980s.Watch the film here or read the article on www.below-the-radar.com - where you'll find hundreds of other articles on obscure cars.
The story of the William Towns-designed Interstyl Hustler Below the Radar Cars 2021-02-07 | The Williams Towns-designed Hustler was one of the most incredible cars of the 1970s, and in this film Richard Dredge takes a look at how the Hustler came about as well as how it evolved.Focusing particularly on a timber-bodied Hustler Six, Richard also looks at some of the other 72 variations on the theme that William Towns came up with.Watch the film here or read the article on www.below-the-radar.com - where you'll find hundreds of other articles on obscure cars.
