Social spotlight 📱

Following firmly in the footsteps of restomods, ‘Safari’ conversions are gaining popularity. Porsche and Lamborghini released their own jacked-up versions of their own cars, we shared the Lotus Elise conversion recently, and now we can introduce the Nissan GT-R Safari. I like it. Perfect for the UK’s potholes and speedbumps.

Car of the week 💰

This is a replica (not sure that word does it justice) of an Audi Quattro SWB rally car. It was built by specialist Jamie Small and is available from Tom Hartley for…£149k. Road tax is only £220 a year though, so, that’s not too bad.

Small screen scene 📺

The most impressive manufacturer you’ve never heard of. Dallara have been responsible for building race cars for a number the Formula series, Indycar and Le Mans - so they are serious operators. They now offer their own roadcar, if you’re brave enough.

Hot off the press 📰

“As Renault prepares to open a massive new museum near Paris in 2027, it’s having to do some shuffling around of its collection of cars. We’re told that it currently consists of more than 800 vehicles from the French carmaker’s back catalogue, but the plan is to get that down to around 600 by selling off some of the duplicates.

And yet, some of the lots heading to auction in this first batch seem pretty first-rate to us, so we’ve been through the Artcurial Motorcars catalogue to pick out our favourites. The auction itself will take place at the site of the new museum in Flins-sur-Seine on 7 December, and apparently more than 90 per cent of the lots will be offered without reserve. Chance to grab a weird and wonderful bargain?”

Seen in the wild 👀

This is not a Defender Heritage edition, but it looks to be modelled on one. This is a 1989 Defender 90 that’s been significantly re-worked. It was sold in 2022 as a sort top but now takes a new form, hard to tell what might have been done to the engine and under-pinnings, but the interior was certainly upgraded. I really like the Heritage colour tone too. Not in the condition this one’s in, but it looks like you get could into a decent condition Defender of this vintage for around £15k.