Classic car hire gets closer to London

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has opened a new Northants Fleet that makes hiring a car near London simpler and easier. The new site, based near Milton Keynes, cuts the journey time from London by half compared to our Midlands site near Stratford Upon Avon.
The Northants Fleet opens with an eclectic range of classic cars including Citroen 2CV, Porsche 911, Mercedes SLK convertible and classic Mini Cooper in British Racing Green. We also have an immaculate Aston Martin V8 coupe available for chauffeur hire weddings.
Like every Great Escape car, the new Northants classic car hire fleet is backed by our comprehensive and transparent hire package, which gives 24 hours for every day you book, unlimited mileage (except Mini), comprehensive insurance and full AA breakdown cover.
"Our Northants Fleet is very easy to get to and a great jumping off point for excellent countryside and driving roads," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "We provide driving routes and recommendations for hotels, places to stay and places to visit."
The new Northants classic car hire fleet is available on a self drive basis for weekends and weekdays or self drive weddings or can be provided with a chauffeur for weddings. The Citroen 2CV is a full four seater and the Mini is the ultimate classic version with full leather and wood interior. The Porsche is the sought-after 993 air cooled version with space for 2 adults and 2 children. The Mercedes is perfect for relaxing weekends away.
Prices for the Northants classic car hire Fleet start at just £145 per day. For more details call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/. Book a date or voucher before Christmas and save 10% on your total hire cost.

New online booking system

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we've made a major investment in our customer service experience with the launch of a new online booking system for classic car hire. The new system covers our entire fleet of 50+ cars and all of our UK sites. It is now even simpler and easier to book online using a system tried and tested by thousands of UK car hire companies.
The new system makes picking and choosing cars, locations and dates from Great Escape much easier. It automatically advises availability - or suggests alternatives - and calculates the price. The system also shows the car specification. Customers can then book securely online, so there is no risk of losing chosen dates and cars.
"We have been offering online booking since we started," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire, "because we want the experience to be simple, convenient and easy for customers. The new system is the best available and most popular in ther industry and provides a customer experience on a par with large international hire companies.
"With over 50 cars and 6 locations it is important for us to make selecting and buying classic car hire from Great Escape simple, easy and trustworthy."
To see the new online system and try it out visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733 for more details.
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Success at Silverstone

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire sponsored BMW 1600ti race car achieved another win at Silverstone in the hands of Tony Hunting, our Technical Director. The car, which is owned and co-piloted by David Cornwallis drove to the finish line despite a non-fault dalliance with another car on the track.
Tony, who manages our Suffolk site and maintains Great Escape's cars through his business GTR Classics, maintains the car for David. The BMW is an ultra rare 1600ti that has been lightened and prepared for racing, but is very close to standard specification.
Great Escape provides workshop space and contributes to the funding for the race car.

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BMW 1600ti ready for Silverstone

When Great Escape Classic Car Hire's Technical Director Tony Hunting brought the http://www.davidcornwallis.co.uk/ BMW 1600ti race car in for prepping at our Worcestershire workshop before its outing at Silverstone, it was a great opportunity for the team to get together before the camera with the car.

Great Escape MD Graham Eason, Operations Manager Russ Pemberton and Tony posed for a snapshot after the car had been fetled on the Great Escape ramp. The BMW runs in the Swinging Sixties championship co-driven by Tony with David Cornwallis, who owns the car and runs a company specialising in refurbished Thwaites dumper trucks. Great Escape provides sponsorship for the duo throughout the season.

The BMW's next outing is at Silverstone on September 16th when it will compete in the Swinging Sixties championship. The car required work to the exhaust and bodywork after a minor incident at Anglesey track.



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Russ joins the Great Escape team

Great Escape Classic Car Hire, the UK's largest classic car hire company, has appointed Russ Pemberton as Operations Manager based at its Worcestershire HQ. The new role has been created to improve customer service and coordinate hire activity across Great Escape's six locations.

Russ joins Great Escape after 32 years in the West Midlands police force. He is a lifelong classic Ford enthusiast and owns two immaculate Ford Escorts - a 1600 'big wing' rally car and a RS2000 road car. In his new role Russ will be responsible for the day to day operation of Great Escape including managing the bookings and enquiries office and organising vehicle logistics and maintenance.

The appointment of an Operations Manager reflects Great Escape's growth during 2011. Since 2009 the company has grown from a single site with 20 cars to 6 UK locations with a fleet of 50 classic cars for hire, the largest in the Britain.

"I am very pleased to welcome Russ to the team," says Graham Eason of Great Escape. "Our growth means we need someone like Russ to manage our day to day operations and ensure the business runs smoothly for the benefit of customers."

Great Escape was established in 2006 as a hobby business by Graham Eason. When Graham was made redundant in 2009 he was able to focus on the company's growth. Great Escape now provides cars for daily, weekly and weekend self drive hires, TV and advertising shoots and corporate events.

To find out more visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

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HMC Big Healey road test

By Great Escape Classic Car Hire road tester Matt Nichols
I don’t just ‘want’ this new Big-Healey in my life I ‘need’ it, and no not like my wife or daughter ‘needs’ a new pair of shoes to match their latest outfits, or my son ‘needs’ his electric guitar at every family gathering. No I really ‘need’ it. Because right now for me and OK they may argue in their case for them as well, this car is in my blood running through my veins making perfect sense and not something I am ready to have challenged by anyone, whoever they may be.

As a beautifully retro styled sports car from 1999 the HMC model looks just like an original late 1960’s Healey 3000, whilst at the same time sounding like a roll-out TVR, revealing its compelling old-new theme. For instance, the steering has a new power assisted lightness combined with old-school directness ensuring every apex is touched with just a hint of lock as the front of the car fully commits to each one of your driver inputs. An experience further enhanced with the equally new fully independent rear suspension that in turn combines brilliantly with the period wire wheels to doggedly hang onto each direction change once the inevitable slack has been taken up. Put simply this car rocks, closing the gap perfectly between real drivers machine and modern in-car systems and going some way to explaining why I very nearly drove constantly for the entire 24 hours I had it. Even the lights worked well and heater sublime with the roof down under a rapidly cooling late summer’s night sky.

The HMC MKIV is a car that was given official recognition by the Healey family as a successor to the original ‘big’ Austin Healey 3000 (MK111). It copies its predecessor’s classic styling, this time in GRP, with the only obvious visual differences being the slightly flared front arches and newer interior trim. The classically styled lightweight body also hugs a modern tubular chassis and all-round independent suspension with disc brakes and aurally pleasing 3.9 litre Rover V8 engine. The dashboard mixes a touch of old world walnut, Smiths dials and chromed toggle switches, that include two for the heated seats, which for me nails just how perfectly well old and new worlds are joined together.

I will also forgive this car its Ford heater controls and vents simply because; a) they sit below or to the side of your natural eye line and are rarely clocked, b) sourcing chrome equivalents would completely disguise the control knobs, and c) they work so damned well, I had to switch them off at times regardless of how cold it got outside.The truth is I only returned this particular car to Great Escape Classic Car Hire on the promise of a test drive in a recently refurbished and scrummy looking bright red 4.2 Series 2 E-Type.

In my personal journey of ‘Try before you buy’ I wasn’t 100% clear what I was looking for but the HMC Healey has come closest to date combining jaw dropping classic car looks with more modern running gear, construction and systems. Even the tiny period rear view mirrors work well for goodness sake. Details like the piping over the front arches, blue over cream paint, wire wheels and small circular auxiliary lights all add to the picture perfect concept of a classic you can use regularly without the potential pitfalls of other completely original cars. Shame on everyone then this side of the pond, that most were exported to Germany.

In terms of classic car traits a few appeared to have been built in. All of the pedals are offset to the right, along with a good couple of inches of travel in the brake pedal before resistance is found, leaving enough of a gap to the throttle pedal to ensure any toe and heel attempts are completely thwarted. When you first have to brake you can therefore experience a slightly disconcerting moment when you think you must be pressing the wrong one given its position and free flowing motion, I had to look down at least twice.

There was also at the time of driving a cold idle issue, the idle being conspicuous by its absence, but once over the initial car park embarrassment this is short lived. The only other minor point is that this car’s slammed to the ground stance means the exhaust will drag on bumpy B-roads and whilst exiting garage forecourts, causing the need to slow down or lift until the terrain smooth’s back out again. Overall the fact that when I did finally park up, in the Clifton area of Bristol, I had 3 separate conversations with 3 people in as many minutes; one from someone who had owned an original Big-Healey, is pretty much all you need to know. Put simply this car works on every level and is well worth a go.

HMC Big-Healey MKIV
Driving
The steering and independent rear end combine to create a unique and rewarding experience that has to be experienced to be believed
Engine
Rover 3.9 litre V8 delivers useful torque low down before revving freely up to the 5,500rpm maximum. All accompanied by a truly pleasing soundtrack
Performance
Strong but not wild, I think if it were mine I’d find ways to get a few more horses up front
Brakes
Discs all round are well up to the job once you’re accustomed to the initial take-up slack in the brake pedal
Handling
You’ll never miss an apex and the rear is difficult to unstick in the dry with the car tipping into corners very nicely. I would need some track time to explore what happens at and beyond the limit but on the road I’d give it full marks
Desirability
Interesting one this as most left our shores to be exported to Germany and so other than being extremely rare in the UK, very difficult to call. I’d have one tomorrow though
Pro’s
Classic car looks combine with modern systems to create a compelling ownership prospect
Con’s
Buying – Take an expert along with you just in case. A TVR specialist may prove valubable if an HMC equivalent is difficult to find, as the main components are very similarRenting – Other than returning the car afterwards, absolutely none.
Overall
5/5

Jaguar Mk2 on John Bishop's Britain

Great Escape Classic Car Hire's 1965 British Racing Green Jaguar Mk2 saloon will feature on John Bishop's Britain, scheduled to air on 6th August 2011. The car features in a comedy sketch written by the comedian to appear in his popular Saturday night BBC1 television show.

We worked with the production team to provide the Jaguar at very short notice. We had to rework our vehicle logistics schedule in order to accommodate the request, fortunately without letting any customers down.

Great Escape Classic Car Hire regularly provides classic cars for television and film companies as well as advertising agencies. Our cars have appeared at The Brits and various films and documentaries for the BBC and Sky as well as numerous magazine and advertising shoots. We have full trailer and truck facilities for simple, reliable delivery and collection and can provide staff during the shoot to prepare and manouvre the vehicles.

The Jaguar Mk2 is for hire in the Cotswolds. It is one of three Jaguar Mk2 cars on the Great Escape Classic Car hire fleet. The company has a range of 50 classic cars for hire from 6 UK locations. For more details visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Red Hot Twins

Living on the edge of some beautiful countryside here at Great Escape HQ, I love great drivers cars. So our latest additions to the fleet are a bit of an indulgence really.

I've gone and added a couple of B-road banzis to the Great Escape Classic Car Hire fleet in the form of an early lightweight Peugeot 205 GTi and a late model Saab classic 900 Turbo 16 valve. From 1988 and 1989 respectively, these bright red 1980s motoring icons are just brilliant to drive and leave us all here grinning from ear to ear. So I've put them on hire and hope our customers love them too. Otherwise I'm stuck for excuses to tell my wife why we've got them. So come on, bag a drivers delight bargain - because these cars are available to hire at the lowest prices we've ever offered. Just £95 for a full 24 hours of unlimited mileage fun.

The Peugeot 205 GTI is a car I grew up with and the Great Escape version is the purist's delight. It's obviously red, with a nice red carpet inside, and features the peppy 1600cc 105 bhp motor that gives the nimble little Pug better balance and roadholding than the more powerful 1900cc lump. Performance is brisk rather than startling by modern standards but the 205's roadholding is frankly astonishing - the steering feel and handling make this car hugely entertaining at any speeds. Just watch out for the lift off oversteer!

The Saab 900 Turbo is an entirely different proposition. The Great Escape car is the full fat 175 bhp 16 valve turbo version in elegant three door form with red paintwork and in true 1980s style, plenty of black body cladding. Inside it's luxurious with full leather, electric sunroof and cruise control. For a front wheel drive car the Saab is superbly balanced with communicative steering, well spaced gear ratios and tonnes of power. We recently drove back to back with a 1980s 911 and the Saab easily cleaned its nose against the bigger engined, more powerful Porker.

Both of our new 1980s hot hatch hire cars are available to rent by the day, week or weekend. Prices are just £95 for either car for 24 hours or £16o for a 48 hour weekend. That includes unlimited mileage, insurance and full AA breakdown cover. For more details call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/

Bristol Fashion

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added an elegant Bristol 411 in burgundy with a tan interior to its UK classic car hire fleet. The new car is available to hire from Islington in London.
Bristol cars are amongst the most exclusive and luxurious cars of the last 40 years and make Rolls Royce and Bentley cars appear positively mass produced. Hand built to highly exacting standards, Bristols are more British than roast beef and just as enjoyable.
The new Great Escape Bristol 411 for hire is a stylish 4 seat coupe similar in ethos to the Aston Martin DB6. It is available to hire by the day, week or weekend. Every hire day includes a full 24 hours use, 150 miles per day, breakdown cover and comprehensive insurance. It is available to hire from Great Escape's new base in Islington, London.
"Bristols are amongst the most exclusive classic cars ever made," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "For those in the know they are highly desirable. We're very pleased to offer one to hire from a very convenient London location."
For more details on the Bristol 411 for hire in London call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
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Follow your leader

Prince William and Kate Middleton have given the official seal of approval to the latest wedding trend - self drive wedding car hire. They drove themselves on the big day in an Aston Martin DB6 like the one for hire from Great Escape Classic Car Hire.

Self drive wedding car hire has been growing significantly in popularity over the last couple of years and now it has been given the Royal Seal of Approval. William and Kate drove an ultra-rare Aston Martin DB6 Volante convertible on their big day - to huge approval from the crowds.
The appeal of self drive wedding car hire lies in the flexibility it offers and the relatively low price. Chauffeur hire means rigids timings and a higher price. Self drive hire also gives the groom or best man a chance to have some fun at the wheel, adding an extra dimension to the big day.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire is the largest provider of self drive wedding cars in the UK. The company's fleet includes an Aston Martin DB6 like the one driven by William and Kate, as well as Morris Minor convertibles, Jaguar E Types and Morse Jaguar Mk2s.
"Self drive wedding car hire is increasingly popular with couples," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "It is much more flexible than using a chauffeur and you get to share the experience of driving the car.
"Our cars are easy to drive and we offer dedicated self drive wedding packages that are designed to make the logistics of hiring a car as simple as possible."
For more details on hiring a classic car from Great Escape for your wedding call 01527 893733 or email graham@greatescapecars.co.uk.
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Simple, honest pricing

It's a fact - classic car hire is a rapidly growing leisure experience in the UK. After all, what can be more enjoyable and memorable than a day out in the great British countryside behind the wheel of a beautiful be-chromed classic car?

Classic car hire appeals to people who adore classics as well as people who just like them. It's the simple way to find out whether the car you like is a car you could own - or a cheap and fuss-free alternative to actually owning one or more classic cars.

The popularity of classic car hire has led to a growth in companies offering classic cars for rental across the UK. These companies generally offer a small fleet of 3-6 vehicles, although some like Great Escape Classic Car Hire are much larger. The advantage for customers is that this means much greater choice, plus the advantage of dealing with people who share the passion.

But there is also a downside. The wide choice of classic cars for hire from different, generally small companies means that the prices and package on offer vary significantly. Quite simply, what you get for what you pay is not always the same.

I have been running Great Escape Classic Car Hire for 5 years. It is now the largest classic car hire company in the UK. Here's my advice for anyone considering hiring a classic car or buying a classic car rental voucher as a gift. I've tried to make it as objective as possible and it's definitely not a sales plug for Great Escape. Because what every customer wants from their package will vary.

Classic Car Hire Checklist

1. Hire periods

Some classic car hire companies offer 24 hours hire and others offer AM to PM hire. Many 24 hr hire companies will also offer AM to PM at a discounted price if requested. Decide which works best for you. 24hr hire enables you to make a break of the trip but you need to make sure the car is securely parked overnight.

2. Insurance

Most classic car hire companies include insurance within the hire price. An excess usually also applies - some companies request this in full as an insurance deposit, others just take card details as security. As the sum can be large this is an important consideration. You should check what the insurance covers and any additional liabilities you may have. These are usually contained in the terms and conditions and can include liability for loss hire income in the event of the car being damaged. At Great Escape we used to include this clause but removed it after feedback from customers. We have separate insurance cover for this liability so the customer is not charged.

3. Vehicle condition

The cost of classic car hire varies considerably. Classic cars are by their nature old vehicles that require continuous maintenance. So experienced classic car hire companies carefully balance the price they charge against the maintenance they incur - too cheap and the car will be very popular and wear out quickly, increasing the risk of breakdown for customers. Too expensive and nobody will hire it! I recommend being wary of companies that appear too cheap - experienced classic car hire companies do not make this mistake because it does not benefit their customers. I believe customers would prefer to pay a little more to hire a car that is in good condition, properly maintained and above all reliable

4. Reliability

Don't be afraid to ask a classic car hire company to prove how reliable their cars are. At Great Escape we hire out our cars hundreds of times every year and we have spent thousands of pounds getting our cars to a reliable standard. As a result our breakdown rate is less than 2% of all hires.

5. Breakdowns

Classic cars by their very nature are less reliable than modern cars. For some customers, this risk is all part of their experience. For others it is a significant inconvenience. If the worst should happen, what will your classic car hire company do? You should ask this question when you book. Some classic car hire companies offer breakdown cover but you should check their terms and conditions to see what this covers - several companies only provide free breakdown within a certain radius of their site and they may charge you if you misuse the service. Great Escape, along with all other HCHG members, provides full nationwide AA cover - wherever and however you break down, we will sort it out free of charge

6. Mileage limit

When comparing prices between classic car hire companies it is very important to consider mileage limits. Some companies, like Great Escape Classic Car Hire, provide all inclusive prices with unlimited mileage. Other companies offer mileage limits, which can often be as low as 100 miles per day. Where a mileage limit is offered you should consider how you plan to use the car - excess mileage charges of £1/mile are not uncommon.

7. Beware short hire periods

Some classic car hire companies offer half day hires for low starting prices. Customers should take care when buying these type of packages because of the high cost of maintaining these cars. Over 35% of all our hire income goes into maintaining our cars. When you also take into account VAT and insurance it is easy to see why classic car hire can be expensive. To offer a low half day price at Great Escape we would have to find savings in how we maintain the cars. And we don't want to make that short cut

8. Time in Business

When you book your classic car hire experience you should ask how long the company has been in business. Many of the companies involved in classic car hire are small businesses and they can come and go relatively quickly. This is particularly important when buying vouchers, which are usually valid for 12 months - you don't want to find the company has gone out of business before you can redeem it. Great Escape is part of the HCHG and we put all voucher sales into a secure separate bank account.

9. Vehicle unavailability

It is a sad fact of classic car hire that sometimes cars breakdown and cannot be made available for your hire day. When you book your experience, check what happens in the event that the company cannot provide your car. At Great Escape we have the UK's largest fleet of classic cars so we are well placed to provide an identical alternative or a very similar vehicle. If we can't provide the car you booked then we will give you a free day in another car and let you rebook the original car free of charge.

Classic car hire is all about a great day out. But like anything, you get what you pay for. By following some simple checks on insurance, hire periods, breakdown cover and vehicle condition, you can guarantee a memory that will last a lifetime.

For more details on Great Escape Classic Car Hire or for advice on hiring a classic car call Graham on 01527 893733 or email graham@greatescapecars.co.uk

Our first car rally - what our customers said

Great Escape Cotswold Car Rally - by Matt Nichols

Ten eagerly expectant teams assembled at Great Escape Cars northern Cotswolds base at 9:00am on Saturday 26th March to be greeted by hot tea and coffee, bacon sandwiches, croissants and perhaps most importantly of all a truly mouth watering selection of classic cars that had been assembled for this inaugural event. The main plan for the day was to navigate 120 miles in a circular loop starting and finishing at the Great Escape Cars main business unit taking in some of the most stunning scenery and picturesque towns and villages this part of the world has to offer whilst enjoying a fine selection of motor vehicles en route.The day itself was split into six pre-defined stages, each providing varied driving experiences from fast flowing routes right through to single track lanes so that each team could experience their allotted cars in different ways.

The event format, which was similar in style to the corporate days Great Escape Classic Car Hire organises (one for the employee suggestion scheme at work maybe…!) gave each of the ten teams the chance to get behind the wheel of half a dozen classic cars over six stages, each lasting on average 45mins and covering around 20 miles. As a bonus, because with 6 stages and 10 cars no one would be able to drive every car, there was an additional open session after the final stage where teams could take out any of the cars for a spin regardless of whether they’d driven them or not earlier in the day. So all things considered, and with the prospect of a tasty lunch included as well, there would be no losers on this the very first Great Escape Cotswold Car Rally.

The line up of cars also provided huge variety in driving experience, even the two Series 3 E-Type Jaguars on offer couldn’t have been more different with the first, an original white V12 roadster suiting Jaguar purists, whilst the black coupe fitted with a later fuel injected XJS V12 engine coupled to a sports exhaust finding favour with those who preferred something a bit rawer. The words rocket and ship both springing to mind. Elsewhere a Jensen Interceptor covered off the big V8 coupe end of the spectrum, whilst the svelte like Alfa Spider took a lot of people by surprise in just how good it was on the road despite its modest power claims.A rare by anyone’s standards XJ6 Coupe caught me out the most and I personally think delivered the most complete Jaguar experience combining classic and coherent styling with cosseted ride and comfort whilst pulling you along with the legendary Jaguar straight six motor. Completing the Brownshill line up was an earlier 3.8 Mk2 and a later XJS convertible. Stuttgart was also represented in the form of a mint air cooled 911 Carrera Targa in gleaming white, a car that served as the perfect reminder of what this mark was really all about before middle aged spread and obsessive horsepower battles with Italian supercar manufacturers took over. With the left field choice on the day delivered by none other than a Rolls Royce Silver Spirit giving passengers the chance to choose whether they rode up front or sat in back…‘left here James’.

Last in the line up and by no means least was a late entry only there to fill the shoes of a second 911 that was unable to participate, but one that generated a huge reaction from everyone who got the chance to drive it, enter one TVR Tuscan in pearlescent paint. A car best described as a road legal GT2 racer minus roll cage and harnesses, truly awesome.

A far more conservative Mercedes 300SL performed the role of trailer car, just in case of breakdowns, of which happily there were none.Teams each had a route map with spare copies stored in all of the cars and before setting off everyone was advised where the next meeting point would be and roughly how long it would take to get there. To maximise driving pleasure whilst minimising the number of things to remember in swapping from car to car, all driving advice was delivered on a one to one basis at the start of each stage.

Teams were then left feeling confident about how to operate all of the different alarm systems and, for convertibles, roof mechanisms whether electric or manual.The day ran like clockwork with everyone respecting the arrival times at each stage and only too willing to share their own experiences and views on the cars they’d driven thus far. A momentum also seemed to build, particularly in the afternoon, with each changeover being quicker than the last as teams were eager to start their next stint of classic car driving.

Everyone I talked to throughout the day left on a high, even the lunch at Washbourne Court in Lower Slaughter was superb with most dwelling on their favourite car, TVR, E-Type Coupe and 911 Carrera featuring strongly here, as well as the cars that had surprised them the most, with the Alfa Spider a clear winner in this category. The Great Escape Cotswold Car Rally is certainly something to look out for in the future and offers a lot of advantages from satisfying basic petrol head needs and desires with the wide selection of cars on offer that in turn may also help narrow choices on which cars to rent out for longer durations. As well as providing the opportunity to exchange views whilst enjoying the company of others, the day also came with the additional selling point to those nearest and dearest of the promise of lunch at a suitably selected hotel and restaurant.

Overall this event ticked all the boxes and so comes highly recommended.

Verdict: 2011 Great Escape Classic Car Rally

Cars

The range of cars on offer was quite superb, from the raucous V12 E-Type Coupe and totally full on TVR Tuscan right through to the Jaguar XJ6C, a car to be enjoyed best at a much more relaxed pace.

Routes

Good planning coupled with some luck on the day meant that except for a hold up going into Stow the roads selected were incredibly free of traffic and able to be enjoyed to the full. Pro’s

Fine selection of very well prepared cars from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 00’s (TVR) driven across well chosen routes with like minded enthusiasts to share your experience with.

Cons

None that I could see.

Overall 4 out of 5

Customer Quotes

“What a fantastic day it was. My son and I loved it”. Peter Geary.

“The Alfa Spider. Having driven a ‘72 GTV Coupe, I was very keen to see how the Spider compared. A real surprise package and I have to say a great all rounder”. Peter Geary.

“The lovely Jag MK 2 3.8. That lovely straight 6 engine and I remember thinking that no car would look better against the Cotswold back drop than the elegant lines of this car. Pure Morse. The temptation to do a bank job 60's style was very tempting indeed - roaring off into the mist like one of the Krays. A lovely car with an interior that would do a gentleman’s club justice. Better than I thought it would be for such an old girl”. Peter Geary.

"The TVR. Sheer raw power, a brute of a car, Oh my god, raw and unforgiving, one moments lapse of concentration and that would be it. What a drive, the slightest move of the wheel sent the car off in a different direction, the noise, the drive, everything about this car made you grin. I still haven't got all of the adrenalin out of my system bonkers fun”. Peter Geary

Great Escape gets moving

Great Escape Classic Car Hire is starting 2011 by moving its Worcestershire HQ to larger premises to cope with its expansion. The company has taken on more administration staff and added a new on-site servicing workshop.
The new site in Astwood Bank near Stratford Upon Avon is just 3 miles from the old Worcestershire site so just as convenient for the Cotswolds and easy to reach from the M5, M40 and M42. It has space for the Worcestershire fleet's 20 vehicles as well as increased office space. Great Escape is also installing its own vehicle servicing workshop operated by a specialist classic car mechanic. This facility will support all of the Worcestershire cars and coordinate servicing and maintenance of the rest of Great Escapes 50-car fleet.
The move means that Great Escape can consolidate its growth during 2010 with better administration and further improvements to fleet reliability.
"We grew very quickly during 2010, which inevitably put a strain on the business," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire. "The new unit, servicing facilities and additional administration staff enable us to maintain the high standards of customer service that are vital to our business."
Great Escape Classic Car Hire is the UK's largest classic car hire company with a fleet of over 50 classic and sports cars for rental from 6 UK locations. For more information call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/.
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V12 Dilemma

It's a tough choice that has surely agitated many over time. Was the Jaguar V12 engine better fuel injected in the XJS or carb-fuelled in the E Type? Ok, maybe it isn't one of those chicken and egg lying-awake-at-night conundrums but surely finding out is more fun. Which is why at Great Escape Classic Car Hire we've created the V12 Dilemma weekend (and not the Chicken & Egg Dilemma Weekend).
Our V12 Dilemma, which is available to buy online in our shop or by calling 01527 893733, puts you behind the wheel of a Jaguar E Type convertible and Jaguar XJS convertible for the weekend - 24 hours in each car. We provide the route and accommodation, you just turn up. In the year of the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E Type there can't be many better ways to sample the best Jaguar engine ever made.
The V12 Dilemma is available from Great Escape Classic Car Hire's Cotswolds base. The cars are a 1973 Jaguar E Type V12 convertible in Old English White with manual gearbox and a 1988 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible with automatic gearbox.
To find out more visit the Great Escape shop or call 01527 893733

Bigger fleet in East Midlands

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has finally launched our full 2011 fleet for our new East Midlands site. It's taken a while to sort logistics but we've now got a range of classic hire cars that we think suits most tastes. Although we're still struggling to decide on a name for this new base - East Midlands is accurate but it doesn't quite express the many places you can reach quickly, such as the Derbyshire Dales and unspoilt East Coast. So we're working on it.

In the meantime, East Midlands site it is. Which is handy to get to from the M1 and A1 and easy to reach exactly those places we just mentioned.

The new East Midlands fleet includes seven classic cars ranging from a Morris Minor to a Rolls Royce and covering Aston Martin, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo and MGB in between. We've included some old favourites like the Jaguar Mk2 and MGB convertible alongside some less familiar classic hire cars, such as the Aston Martin V8 coupe and Rolls Royce Silver Spirit. All cars are available to hire by the day, weekend or week. Our prices are totally transparent - so the price you see is the full price you pay and includes everything you need to fully enjoy the car. So we include a full 24 hours use, unlimited mileage (except the Rolls Royce), comprehensive insurance and of course full AA breakdown cover nationwide.

You can find out more about our East Midlands classic car hire fleet on the Great Escape website at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call 01527 893733.

Driving a classic hire car with confidence

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we've just spent several thousand pounds renewing our AA nationwide breakdown cover. This covers every one of our 50 classic cars for hire and every hirer. It means that wherever you go - and with our unlimited mileage package, it can be virtually anywhere - you're guaranteed of full breakdown support, whatever happens.

When you're hiring a classic car for the day or weekend we're pretty sure you want complete peace of mind After all, it's a big day - our cars are often hired for weddings, anniversaries and birthdays - so you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. So while the level of breakdown cover offered by your hire company is often easy to overlook - or you naturally assume it is in place - it remains a very important consideration when choosing a classic car hire company.

The reliability of our classic car fleet is vital to our business. So at Great Escape Classic Car Hire we spend at least 35% of all hire income on maintaining our cars. In 2011 we're even setting up our own in-house servicing department to further improve the levels of reliability. Our cars cover very high mileages for classic cars and our breakdown rate is very low. But no matter what we do and how much we spend we can never guarantee 100% reliability. That's why we invest thousands of pounds every year in providing full nationwide AA breakdown cover with our cars.

Unfortunately not every classic car hire company offers full nationwide breakdown support. While every member of the Historic & Classic Car Hirers Guild (including Great Escape) offers full breakdown cover, hidden in the small print of some companies' terms and conditions are clauses that make the customer responsible for recovering a broken down car. Some companies offer no cover at all while others only offer limited cover within a certain distance from their sites. If you venture outside a given distance from the collection site you may be liable for the recovery cost. You may also be liable for the breakdown company's call-out charge.

"Classic car hire is a real treat for those lucky enough to experience it," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire. "We want everything to go as smoothly as possible. But, along with every classic car hire company, we can't guarantee the reliability of old cars.

"That's why we provide full nationwide AA breakdown cover with every car. So if there is a problem, wherever our customer is they'll get full support. We believe it is wrong to expect the customer to be inconvenienced or financially penalised if the car breaks down.

"It is our responsibility to look after the customer."

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire AA recovery package is also supported by the company's own local recovery system. If a customer experiences a problem with a Great Escape car near to base, Great Escape is committed to attending quickly and where possible bringing an alternative car to the customer, so that they can then continue their journey.

"If we can we'll take a car out as quickly as possible to local customers," explains Graham Eason. "We then wait for the AA so that the customer doesn't have to Or we'll recover the car using our own trailers."

Great Escape is the UK's largest classic car hire company and has been named as one of the Heart of England's best tourism experiences. The company operates 50 cars from 6 UK locations. For more details visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Try before you buy - 1974 Jensen Interceptor by Matt Nichols

Freelance journalist Matt Nichols recently hired our Jensen Interceptor for a weekend. Here's his verdict.

Car

1974 Jensen Interceptor Mk111

Supplied By

Graham Eason

Great Escape Classic Car Hire
Tel: 01527 893733

http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/
Located

Suffolk, Dorset, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Yorkshire24 hr Hire Cost: £245.0048 hr Hire Cost

2 days, £445.00 (1 day - £245)

Additional 24 hours

£175.00

Security Deposit

£750.00 (Not pre-charged to card)
Having just spent the day with a 1974 Jensen Interceptor MK111 on a 250 mile circular route starting and ending in Worcestershire and taking in Bristol, Chepstow, Monmouth, Symonds Yat, Ross-on-Wye, Pershore, Evesham and Inkberrow, I feel strongly inclined to announce at every opportunity ‘This is your captain speaking, cabin crew please prepare the aircraft for take-off’. Because after the success of the day spent with the Alfa GTV I booked the Jensen, this time from Graham Eason at ‘Great Escape Classic Car Hire’ in order to compare driving one of the smallest 2+2 coupes from the 1970’s to one of the biggest. The Interceptor has also intrigued me from when I very first saw it appear in various films and as a lover of interior car designs I was smitten a long time back by the array of dials, vents and switches that expand its vast dashboard. Couple this to a 7.2 litre Chrysler engine and lazy 3 speed Torqueflite automatic gearbox and you get one car hero I just had to meet.
The particular Jensen Interceptor we had did not disappoint either, except of course for the slight chink in otherwise near-perfect armoury, I am of course referring to the 14mpg we averaged, or to put it another way travelling 250 miles consumed £100 worth of fuel. So I won’t be mentioning the E-word again because we all know that it’s a conversation stopper in this company. The aircraft analogy I started with works best in describing the way the car launches, reminding me of take-off in a commercial airliner, from the great swell of power as the turbines start to roar, to the slight delay as engine noise translates into actual forward momentum followed by the feeling you get sat inside as the pace increases almost exponentially that by the time terminal speed is reached the sheer size and mass of the thing means absolutely nothing will stop it, truly awesome.
In fact whilst driving along I found myself looking for situations where having just burbled through a town or village with the auto-box insisting on finding 3rd gear at just over tick-over, particularly in one case when sat behind an E-Type Jag at a set of traffic lights with the combination of very loud V12 and V8 engines meaning that passers by didn’t quite know what to do and ended up staring in disbelief with their mouths wide open. To then exit and on spotting the national speed limit signs either floor the throttle for the full kick-down experience of never ending thrust, or instead opt for the half throttle approach that keeps the box in 3rd gear to produce that lovely wobbly V8 sound as the engine purrs its way along before lifting again for the next corner or restricted speed area. Both equate to instant forgiveness of the Interceptor’s drink problem replaced instead by a new self-indulgent and potentially very expensive big-block V8 habit that is extremely intoxicating.
I also got accustomed to having to firmly press the large double width brake pedal at times because even from the off as soon as you select D on the auto-box the engine wants to, and lets face has the necessary torque to, drag the whole car forwards at walking speed without even a tickle of the throttle pedal. This initially caught me out when getting off the drive particularly with very cold and ineffective brakes requiring a very firm press indeed, making me feel like someone trying to keep control of a fresh four or six horse stage coach eager to get going shouting things like ‘woooo’ and sloooo’ whilst pulling on the reins with all their might. On the move this scenario repeats itself as you approach junctions and roundabouts especially when shedding off the last 5-10mph when it’s not only the near 2 ton mass the all round disc brakes have to cope with but also the shove from the engine fighting to maintain forwards momentum. In the end I either just snicked it into neutral, or if on a slow roll 2nd or 1st gear which all proved to be good, rein-like solutions.
Having tuned into both the acceleration and retardation aspects of this big coupe focus next shifted to understanding its handling capabilities and general road manners. I already knew it was big and heavy and as a marque came with absolutely zero motorsports history to hark back to, but the biggest surprise of all was just how well it dealt with corners whether one at a time or navigating left-right combos. Because the Jensen does it rather well, a credit to its 1950’s chassis design, meaning huge pleasure can be taken in placing it on the road with surprisingly low levels of under or over-steer despite the mass. In fact the only time things started to get a bit carried away were on stretches of road that caused the car to pitch front to back as the Panhard rod, acting on the live rear axle, oscillates the back of the car in a sideways arc as the weighty body bounces up and down. In these situations there is no choice but to lift and allow things to settle back down, although bump-steer aside the car was a pleasure to wind through the A and B roads of Worcestershire through to Wales and back again.
It was definitely a memorable day with the only small gripe being the lack of cabin ventilation meaning if it rains, which it did, then things get steamed up despite the impressive maritime styled knobs located on the wide central console indicating temperature and fan speed options. Jensen and time have both helped resolve the problem to some extent with electric windows that don’t always close properly leaving an inch or two’s worth of fresh air to circulate and help maintain vision. That said we thoroughly enjoyed our time with the Interceptor and what really did it was a combination of the cosseting comfort and ride, overall look and feel, dashboard switches and dials, massive V8 under the long square bonnet and easy going auto-box hiding the devil that lurks inside that comes out to reap havoc every time you prod it hard enough with your right foot, quite superb.
Matt Nichols

Verdict
1974 Jensen Interceptor MK111
Driving
Ticks all the boxes as long as you stick to decent sized and relatively smooth A and B roads and can live with the 10-14mpg.
Engine
Gentle until aroused when it becomes the beast from hell with a V8 soundtrack that should be bottled and sold to every petrolhead in the land
Performance
7,212cc V8 ohv four-barrel carburettor
300-330 bhp through the rear wheels
380 lb/ft torque at 3,000 rpm
3 speed Torqueflite automatic gearbox
1980 kg kerb weight
135 mph top speed
7.5 Secs 0-60 mph
Brakes
Brakes worked well, although keeping it in D wouldn’t let it drop below 5-10mph, whilst N, 1 and 2 all provided better options when crawling or coming to a stop.
Handling
Surprisingly good on fast flowing corners, but if the terrain gets bumpy so does the back of the car allowing the Panhard rod acting on the rear axle to start to affect the overall balance and steering.
Desirability
Looks the part although arguably because Jensen chose Chrysler over an in-house or British sourced motor residuals are nowhere near as strong as counterparts from the same era. We’d have one in a flash though.
Pro’s
Big beautiful 2+2 cruiser that stirs your sole with it’s excellent V8 motor, inspiring interior and cossetting ride and comfort.
Con’s
10-14 mpg and if you’re in the market some potentially expensive maintenance tasks given both the tight fitting big block V8 and large expanse of leather inside.
Overall
4/5

Classic car hire prices held until February 2011

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we've decided to extend the season of goodwill by delaying the VAT increase on our prices until February 2011. So you can still buy gift vouchers and book classic car hire for any of our fleet of 50 cars from any of our 6 locations at 2010 prices.
"We decided to extend our 2010 prices and absorb the VAT increase as a gesture of goodwill," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire. "Times are tough for everyone and the VAT rise doesn't help. Our decision to offer a Christmas discount proved very popular with customer so we decided to extend the season of goodwill."
Great Escape Classic Car Hire operates the largest fleet of classic cars for hire in the UK from locations in Suffolk, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Yorkshire, East Midlands and Dorset. The fleet covers classic and performance cars from the 1950s to 2000s.
For more details call 01527 893733 or visit www.greatescapecars.co.uk
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Don't let the chauffeur have all the fun

For the second year running here at Great Escape we've noticed a significant trend towards self drive hire when brides and grooms book cars for their wedding. January is the busiest time for wedding bookings and it seems that wedding couples are turning away from chauffeur hire in favour of more flexible self drive hire options.
A chauffeur driven white Rolls Royce, Bentley or Jaguar has for decades been the staple of the wedding car hire world. But today couples are increasingly seeking something different - and in the current straightened economic times, something crucially cheaper. The development of flexible self drive wedding car hire packages by companies like Great Escape Classic Car Hire has enabled brides and grooms to cut their costs - and get behind the wheel of more interesting and varied cars.
Self drive hire wedding car packages for couples have many advantages. It means they can access a much wider range of classic cars for hire, typically including a range of colours and models. The range of chauffeur wedding cars available tend to be very similar whereas self drive cars are much more varied, ranging from Morris Minors to Aston Martins and retro cool 1970s and 1980s models like Ford Capris and Jensen Interceptors. Alongside the wider range of cars, self drive is also much more flexible than chauffeur hire. The hire period is generally 24 or 36 hours, rather than a strict 5 hour waiting time. The hirer is also in full control - so if the timings change on the day (which they usually do), the chauffeur isn't standing around tutting. This can lead to a more relaxed and enjoyable day. And by replacing the chauffeur, a family member, Best Man or the groom gets a chance to share the fun of driving the car.
Self drive wedding car hire is also considerably cheaper than chauffeur hire, and offers much more use of the car. Self drive packages from Great Escape Classic Car Hire start at £145 for a Morris Minor or £225 for a popular Jaguar Mk2. Comparable prices for chauffeur hire are usually 50-75% more.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire has developed new services to assist wedding couples with integrating a self drive wedding car into their big day. These include a 36 hour hire period, which enables the couple to collect the car on the day before and return it the morning after, without having to pay for a full 48 hours that they may not need. We also provide a delivery and collection service - often couples prefer to collect the car but the logistics of parties and honeymoons make returning the car difficult. So we will pick it up after the event for a small fee.
"We are finding that couples increasingly want a totally unique day," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire. "The internet has given people choice and made it easier to get it. Self drive wedding car hire is cheaper, more flexible and, frankly, more enjoyable than chauffeur hire. I think this is why we are seeing an increase in demand."
"We do still offer a traditional chauffeur hire service, " he adds. "It's still the right choice for many people who want a straightforward and traditional car service."
For more information on Great Escape Classic Car Hire's range of cars visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk. For details on its wedding services call 01527 893733 or visit Great Escape's wedding car pages.

Shop til you drop

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has launched its online shop specialising in classic car breaks, driving experiences and automobilia. The range of products are perfect gifts - package prices start at just £125.
We have developed a range of exclusive classic car breaks and experiences that are only available from Great Escape. We've used our experience working with large corporate clients to bring you some genuinely different and unusual packages, such as our Double Oh James Bond break and our English Gardens holiday.
The new packages and experiences are for sale alongside vouchers for our classic car hire. We have a fleet of 50 classic cars available to hire from 6 sites across the UK in Yorkshire, Suffolk, Cotswolds, Dorset, Shropshire and East Midlands.
Great Escape is also developing a range of automobilia including diecast models, posters, photographic prints, keyrings and clothing that can be bought on its own or to complement a Great Escape gift voucher. The new automobilia range will be launched in January 2011.
"Our new online gift shop for classic car breaks and experiences includes unique packages direct from the provider," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape. "They are availabe to buy as gift vouchers valid for 12 months. We have developed partnerships with several local providers and used our experience of great driving routes to create some genuinely unique packages. Prices start at just £125."
For more details on the Great Escape shop visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.
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