Born on this day in 1929, today we remember Mike Hawthorn, the UK’s first Formula One World Champion in 1958 and the 1955 Le Mans winner. In this fantastic on-board footage, join the man himself for a lap of La Sarthe. Footage by Duke Video.

“The Range Rover was a design made with conviction and ingenuity, one whose technical intelligence matched its aesthetic purity.” ‘Rise of the SUV’ by Stephen Bayley, The Road Rat Edition 16. 🔗tinyurl.com/435py6y6

1970 Range Rover ‘Velar’ photographed by Jake Curtis.

“The BMW M5 arrived in 1984, just after the M635CSi, but BMW only made 2241 in total, compared to more than twice as many as coupes.” Dan Norris of classic BMW specialist Munch Legends in ‘Origin story’ The Road Rat Edition 11. 🔗tinyurl.com/492s7err Image by BMW.

He won Le Mans in 1970 with guile, bravery, quick-wittedness and resilience. Battling terrible rain (and the mumps) he drove his short-tail Porsche 917K to victory. Happy 84th Birthday Richard ‘Dickie’ Attwood.

Images courtesy of Porsche.

Some are genuine off-road utility vehicles, others geared towards a ‘lifestyle’ imagined or real. The original Ford Bronco is a key design in the history of the SUV.⁠ Images by Ford Archive. Stephen Bayley in The Road Rat Edition 16.🔗tinyurl.com/435py6y6

Whether efficiency or outright speed the quarry, air remains the most devilish of impediments for cars. Conquering it obsesses engineers and designers alike. (Paolo Carlini/Pagani) and Mercedes-Benz EQXX (Mercedes-Benz). The Road Rat Edition 13.🔗tinyurl.com/4kn8t59f

Calling all Porsche fans! We’ve put together a bundle of five editions — 2, 4, 7, 10 and 13 — all of which feature Porsche stories by our world leading writers and photographers, for the price of just four. Visit The Road Rat shop to secure yours: 🔗tinyurl.com/bdzzf75p

Back in the day, few could match Maserati for glamour. 1970 Maserati Ghibli SS captured by Joss McKinley for ‘From the Sublime’ in The Road Rat Edition 11, by Stephen Bayley.
Edition 11 available here:🔗tinyurl.com/492s7err

This week in 1984, Ferrari unveiled the 288 GTO at the Geneva Motor Show. Styled by Leonardo Fioravanti of Pininfarina, it was available in just one colour – signature Rosso Corsa.
📸:Ferrari

When the XJ-S launched in 1975 it was praised for its engineering and damned for its looks.

Read the full story by Richard Porter in The Roat Rat Edition 12, available from the link here. 🔗tinyurl.com/dx2et42h

Photography by John Balsom.

Farewell Marcello Gandini.
1938-2024

In ‘Rise of the SUV’ in The Road Rat Edition 16 (on sale now), Stephen Bayley ponders how a niche utility vehicle became the mainstream. 1970 Range Rover ‘Velar’ photographed at West Wittering Beach by Jake Curtis.
Edition 16 is available here:🔗tinyurl.com/435py6y6