My week in cars

MONDAY

To Warwick University for a moving commemoration of the life of Peter Horbury, described by someone eloquent as “the quiet king of car design”. In a long career, Horbury had a finger in many design pies, but he will always be best remembered for his reinvention of Volvo over a dozen magic years from 1992, which still guides the brand today.

It was fascinating to see who attended. His family had already held a similar event in the US, but people arrived for this from all over Europe – as well as from China, where Horbury was working when he died.

It was sad, but there was amusement, too, because everyone had a Horbury story. As his wife Elisabeth put it, he loved a joke and “would do almost anything” for a laugh. But the most affecting thing was the reading of a letter from Geely founder Li Shufu, filled with respect and gratitude and regret for a lost friendship.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON

This year, I’ve spent large lumps of my car-loving life at either Bicester Heritage or the British Motor Museum (BMM), mainly because I find both of them extremely welcoming. Today it was the latter: despite another bout of ropey weather, they staged their usual monthly free-for-all Gaydon Gathering (the second Tuesday from 5pm; see you next time).

Matt Prior and I had just finished recording a podcast in which one wise listener posed the fascinating question: which 40-year-old classic would you choose as a daily driver to swerve London’s ULEZ charge? With no more than a minute to think, I said Ford Capri V6. A couple of hours later, the beautiful white Mk1 pictured above arrived to confirm it.

I failed to meet its owner; I would like to have complimented him or her on a terrific car. On the right tyres, I’ll bet it’s still great to drive, too.

TUESDAY EVENING

Into the museum at 7pm for a much more intimate gathering. Michael Ani, founder and boss of the London-based Makkina car design consultancy, regaled BMM’s membership with the inside story of the recently revealed Triumph TR25 concept, built to mark the 25th anniversary of his business, which for client-confidentiality reasons usually stays well under the radar.

As you may have read, the TR25 is a modern interpretation of the 1952 Triumph TR2 ‘Jabbeke’ speed record breaker, and the two cars are now displayed side by side in the museum.

One of the project’s many fascinations is that BMW, which owns the Trium