Great Automotive Lives

You will probably certainly know the name of Henry Royce, but how much do you know about his life? He suffered a terribly deprived childhood and numerous early setbacks in his career.
Despite this and his terribly frail health he went on to forge a legacy like few, if any, others in the automotive world. This inaugural season of Great Automotive Lives started with Charles Rolls and so it should, and does, end with the great Henry Royce.
The following links relate to the Royce Landmarks as referred to in the "......footsteps" section of the pod. You're welcome:
Details of Royce’s long term home Elmstead and the annualpilgrimage made by Rolls-Royce enthusiasts to mark the death of this toweringfigure:
https://www.press.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/rolls-royce-motor-cars-pressclub/article/detail/T0382913EN/elmstead:-a-place-of-pilgrimage?language=en
Royce’s winter home – Villa Mimosa:
https://www.vrbo.com/en-gb/p483394
Claude Johnson’s neighbouring winter home – Villa Jaune:
https://www.vrbo.com/en-gb/p1789031a
The Henry Royce Memorial Window – Westminster Abbey:
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/sir-henry-royce
The final resting place of Royce’s ashes in the church atAlwalton:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9716454/frederick_henry-royce
The Henry Royce Foundation and archive:
www.henryroyce.org.uk.
Henry Royce statue in Derby:
https://batch.artuk.org/discover/artworks/sir-frederick-henry-royce-18631933-304719
Henry Royce blue plaque, Quarndon, Derby:
https://www.quarndon-pc.gov.uk/gallery/1206556
 
Great Automotive Lives is researched, written, presented, edited and produced by Andrew, the Classic Car Guy. I even make the tea, walk the dogs and clean the windows.
You can contact the podcast with your thoughts and comments at:
[email protected]
Enjoy! Come back soon.

Welcome to the second Great Automotive Lives - In Brief episode. Sir David Brown was a suave, impeccably turned out business man but he knew a thing or two about cars.
After the Second World War he answered a mysterious advert in the Times and here would start his Aston Martin adventure. Join me in a brief trot through the Great Automotive Life - In Brief which is David Brown.
This podcast is researched, written, presented, edited and produced by Andrew, the Classic Car Guy.
If you would like to share your thoughts, comments or racing tips with the podcast please email:
[email protected]
Enjoy!

William Lyons is a towering automotive figure and, seemingly, an eminently decent fellow to boot. From modest beginnings, this Blackpool lad forged a legacy that few can claim to match.
What was his secret? God knows, but, this podcast may provide a few clues as to how this reticent, even somewhat shy, northerner transformed himself from Bill Lyons to Mr Jaguar. It's well worth a listen.......but I am quite biased.
The following links relate to the Lyons Landmarks as referred to in the "......footsteps" section of the pod. You're welcome:
Fancy a peek inside William Lyons beautiful Wappenbury Hall? Sadly, sold now before you go hunting for your cheque book (……..ask a pensioner):
https://media.onthemarket.com/properties/2839277/doc_0_2.pdf
The last resting place of Sir William and Lady Greta:
https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/13130/
One of my favourite places, and coincidently awash withLyons stuff and the home of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust:
https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/
….and here is the Trust themselves:
https://www.jaguarheritage.com/
The Coventry Transport Museum, again a trove of Jaguar /Lyons treasure:
https://www.transport-museum.com/
Fancy a peek inside the Lyons’ family home beforeWappenbury? Sadly, also now sold:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/details/england-41078936-92948049?s=6c5fed9fa7f2293cdac1e310b984f92b0bf5597328107f34db0643a7bfb8a544
Browns Lane history and background:
https://www.jaguarheritage.com/jaguar-history/jaguar-locations/browns-lane/
Great Automotive Lives is researched, written, presented, edited and produced by Andrew, the Classic Car Guy. I even make the tea, walk the dogs and clean the windows.
You can contact the podcast with your thoughts and comments at:
[email protected]
Enjoy! Come back soon.

Welcome to the first of my condensed Great Automotive Lives - In Brief.
These are potted versions of great automotive lives for, likely, no other reason than the scarcity of reliable research material. Despite this, a truncated form like this, still allows me to share the lives of some lesser written about automotive heroes of mine.
There is no better inaugural subject than Malcolm Sayer, in my opinion. Most will know him, if at all, from his design of the Jaguar E Type. There's a lot more to the man than that, however.
Probably one of the most overlooked British automotive geniuses in the post-war period, this podcast - although condensed - aims to put that right a little. Enjoy!
If you have any comments, observations or even salacious gossip you can contact me at [email protected]
This podcast is researched, written, presented, edited, and produced by Andrew, the Classic Car Guy. If there is anything wrong with it, it's undeniably my fault. I preemptively apologise - I'm British - that's what we do.

Max Hoffman was the world's first, and probably last, of the great automotive importers, bringing at least 21 European marques to the vast North American post-war car market.
His influence went much deeper than that, however, successfully influencing the creation of some true landmark models. He was a controversial character, however, with ruthless methods bordering on the deeply troubling.
I'd be fascinated to learn of your views of Max Hoffman and the value, or otherwise, of his legacy.
You can contact the podcast via the following e-mail:
[email protected]
This podcast is researched, written, presented, edited and produced by Andrew, the Classic Car Guy.
The following links will steer you to some further information about some of the items mentioned in the podcast:
The Hoffman House:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Hoffman_House
The Hoffman Centre:
https://hoffmancenter.org/
Million Dollar Middleman book:
https://media.veloce.co.uk/2022/October/V5503/Max-Hoffman.html
Enjoy! Don't be a stranger!