The 1998 British International Motorshow

David Martynski 06/08/2014 | 0

The 1998
British
International
Motorshow

Lotus unveil their latest lightweight 340R concept car. No weather protection just a cut down screen to keep to rain off and 170 bhp to make this an ideal fast road and track car

The finest products of the motor industry were on display at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. There is something reassuring about the Motor Show, it remains a great British institution that is somehow both comfortably familiar and dynamically new. This show had some exciting new models to announce from Rover and Jaguar in particular. Rover 75 and Jaguar S Type could make the claim to be ‘car of the show’ as they both attracted a great deal of attention. Combining the latest technology with retro styling and quality craftsmanship seems to sum up the design strategy behind these new models from Rover and Jaguar. There was a strong retro feel about many of the cars on the stands at this year’s show, with Audi and Porche presenting new wine in familiar bottles. It was good to see Jensen return to car production and to discover that many of the small specialist companies are still providing innovative and exciting sports cars.

Polished aluminium Caterham 7 SLR still looks great after all these years

Jaguar S Type ‘Star of the Show’

You provide the power for this Lamborghini

Old familiar ‘Frogeye’ face of the Healey Sprite
conceals a spaceframe chassis and Ford running gear

Quentin Wilson prepares his piece to camera
on the Jaguar stand

Rover 75 high quality specification with lots of chrome. The chrome strip along the waist integrated into the chrome door handles in a style reminiscent of the MG Magnette Z series

Dare to be different, the Walklett brothers of Ginetta fame have produced this exciting sports car. Available as convertible or gullwing coupe with Ford Zetec 2 litre power to give a 0 to 60 time of 4.7 seconds (supercharged or 5.4 (naturally aspirated)