Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

Deputy Editor at Classic.Retro.Modern.

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Freelance Writer at Motoring Research

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Articles

The Vauxhall Calibra was more than just an aerodynamic wonder

1 week ago | petrolblog.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

Coupés from mainstream manufacturers don’t stay fashionable for long. What’s hip and trendy today can ‘so past it, darling’ tomorrow. From Prada to Primark in the blink of an eye.
The Twingo Tintin was created without permission from Renault HQ

1 week ago | petrolblog.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

Thanks to Dimitri Urbain, the Renault Twingo Tintin will appear in issue 35 of Classic.Retro.Modern. as one of six of the best European special editions. Cars that were denied to us Brits, more's the pity. You'd be forgiven for having no prior knowledge of the Twingo Tintin, even if you're reading this in France. Sales were limited to Belgium and Luxembourg, where 900 (300 of each colour) were launched in 2001 to celebrate the release of the musical, Tintin – Le Temple du Soleil.
The cars your dad drove - and those he dreamed about

2 weeks ago | motoringresearch.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

Dads’ taxis © Ford Father’s Day has come around again – and what better excuse to explore the archives for cars your dad drove, along with those he dreamed about? In each case, we’ve selected the sensible and super options within the same range. Buckle up for a generous helping of nostalgia. BMW 3 Series © BMW If your father had reached middle management in the 1980s, he may have found himself driving a BMW 3 Series – preferably with six cylinders beneath its bonnet.
Revealed: Britain's least economical cars

2 weeks ago | petrolblog.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

Honest John, the website and not the man in the hat, has issued a press release that reveals Britain's most economical cars. Small petrol and diesel cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrid – the sort of cars that are one step up from buying a bus pass. Some of the figures are quite impressive. Take the Suzuki Celerio, which can deliver 70.2mpg, according to Honest John's Real MPG data, making it the most economical petrol car you can buy. Fancy a diesel?
Last chance saloon: Driving the Austin 3 Litre

2 weeks ago | petrolblog.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

The story of the Austin 3 Litre is a tale of missed opportunities. What if the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and Rolls-Royce alliance had moved to the next stage of development. Would it have fared better with V8 power and the introduction of Wolseley and Vanden Plas variants? Were its chances of success hampered by a lengthy gestation period and a bungled launch? We’ll never know, but the 3 Litre leaves you with a general sense of what might have been.
Space and pace: 25 seriously quick family cars

1 month ago | motoringresearch.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

The fastest family cars © JLR A family car definitely doesn’t have to be dull. On the contrary, some offer the speed of a supercar with the load capacity of a small van. They’re perfect for parents who enjoy driving and want a vehicle that ticks every box. Here, we’ve nominated many of our favourite estate cars and SUVs, with a focus on the new and nearly-new models. Strap in for a family-sized helping of performance and practicality.
The 25 most popular cars back in 1995

1 month ago | motoringresearch.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

Brit-popular in 1995 © Ford It was the year Pulp’s ‘Different Class’ album debuted at number one, while Blur and Oasis battled for singles-chart supremacy with ‘Country House’ and ‘Roll With It’. Meanwhile, the car market was a very different place. Using DVLA data, we’ll travel back to 1995 to reveal the 25 most popular cars on UK roads that year. These vehicles were everywhere in the mid-1990s, yet most have almost vanished today.
Striking Accord: Driving Honda's underrated and under-appreciated…

1 month ago | petrolblog.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

The destination is Simonsbath, in the heart of Exmoor. A 50-mile drive from my starting point on the north-western fringes of Dartmoor. Setting the sat-nav to ‘as the crow flies’ mode, I could be enjoying a flat white at the Exmoor Forest Inn within the hour. But thanks to the unique way in which the road network of Devon is constructed, following a crow to Simonsbath is almost impossible without the aid of wings. On a good day, it’ll take 90 minutes.
A 1995 Fiat Coupé 16v project car joins the fleet. Yes, really!

1 month ago | petrolblog.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

With thanks to Flavio, an early UK Fiat Coupé 16v has joined the Petrolblog fleet. It doesn't have a second gear, the ABS light is on, and there's a massive dent in the door – and that's the problems that we know about. Still, it has a wonderful engine and it looks fabulous.
Speed watch: Mk1 Skoda Octavia vRS on the roads of Wales

2 months ago | petrolblog.com | Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

I’ve always enjoyed crossing the River Severn. Be it over the original Severn Bridge or the Second Severn Crossing, hopping from England to Wales has invariably signalled the start of a holiday or the promise of a good drive on one of Britain’s best roads. Something positive. An event to look forward to. But to borrow a line from Bob Dylan, famously photographed waiting for a ferry to cross the Severn, the times they are a-changin’. Driving in Wales today can be a frustrating experience.