When Octane was launched in 2003, the cornerstones of its philosophy were superb design and photography plus game-changing cars and stories. Here are just a few highlights…
ARCTIC ROLLS, ISSUE 181 Over the years, the intrepid Harry Metcalfe has assumed the role of Octane’s adventurer in chief. Of his many escapades, driving a £4000 eBay-purchase Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow to the Arctic Circle was right up there with the best. Photo Justin Leighton
200MPH FERRARIS, ISSUE 200 This story for our 200th issue was years in the making and only possible because of the cooperation of a visionary owner. John Barker picked the long straw to drive them all. Photo Matt Howell
THE HOLY TRINITY, ISSUE 217 Sometimes amazing stories fall in your lap! For this once-in-a-lifetime triple test of McLaren F1, Porsche 911 GT1 and Mercedes CLK GT1, James Cottingham of DK Engineering had the idea, the cars and even booked the track. We sent along Henry Catchpole and Andy Morgan to enjoy his motoring largesse. Photo Andy Morgan
RECREATING THE JAGUAR E-TYPE’S LEGENDARY 1961 ROAD TEST, ISSUE 150 Thanks to generous owner Peter Neumark, for issue 150 Mark Dixon found out if an E-type really could top 150mph in a benchmark autobahn run.
Photo Matt Howell
LANCIA ACROSS THE USA, ISSUE 231 When Filippo Sole wanted to drive his 1930 Lancia Dilambda 3000 miles coast-to-coast across America he invited Octane’s Italian correspondent Massimo Delbò to ride shotgun.
Photo Evan Klein
STEAM TRACTOR ROAD TEST, ISSUE 187 Martin Gurdon was at the helm for our heaviest (ten tons) and slowest (12mph) road test, a fine example of Octane’s reverence for all things motive – not just cars. Photo Paul Harmer
RETURN TO LE MANS, ISSUE 232 Le Mans. At night. In a priceless first-generation ex-Carrera Panamericana W194 Mercedes Gullwing. The Octane man lapping it all up was Glen Waddington.
Photo Craig Pusey
BARNFIND OF THE CENTURY, ISSUE 140 Naturally, only Octane was on the ground and on site in 2015 to bring the full story of the Baillon Collection, the greatest barnfind of this century and perhaps of all time. Glen Waddington and Matt Howell couldn’t believe their eyes.
Photo Matt Howell
SILVER ARROWS AT KLAUSEN, ISSUE 041 Some 70 years after their first meeting in the Klausenrennen, Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows reconvened exclusively for Octane’s David Lillywhite and Mark Dixon.
Photo Mark Dixon
TESTAROSSA TO THE SAHARA, ISSUE 144 Harry Metcalfe went exploring again, this time recreating a famous 1995 Car adventure in a Ferrari 512M. Photo Justin Leighton
REVEALING THE ITALIAN JOB MIURA, ISSUE 143 Who else should put an end to decades of speculation over the true identity of The Italian Job Lamborghini Miura than Mark Dixon in his meticulously r
