Post-Covid road trips: Where are you headed with your classic this Summer?
Now that lockdown, quarantine, and pandemic restrictions are all a distant memory, classic car enthusiasts can finally begin to think about travelling again and enjoying their pride and joy on a stunning mountain pass or coastal cruise. To help with that, in this month’s blog, we take a look at five of the best roads, routes, and trips that are perfect for petrolheads.
If you’re someone who loves to climb breathtaking alpine passes and admire miles and miles of views, you’ll love this route. Switzerland’s famed Furka Pass is a high mountain road connecting the towns of Gletsch and Realp, featuring a total elevation of 2,429 metres. It’s regarded as one of the best passes in Europe, famed for being used in the James Bond film Goldfinger in 1964. Just over an hour’s drive from Andermatt, this road is perfect for any enthusiast craving a twisting route with switchbacks, offering some truly incredible vistas.
You may be more inclined towards warmer weather, and it just so happens that Italy features a beautiful route bristling with motorsport history. From Brescia to Rome and back, the iconic Mille Miglia race route presents 1,000 miles of the best roads in Italy. Originally established in 1927, this open-road endurance race made marques such as Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo famous, and remains one of the most well-known racing events alongside the Targa Florio or Carrera Panamericana. While the 2022 event took place last month, the route is made up entirely of public roads, allowing enthusiasts to relive the race at their own speed. For added authenticity, you could even drive the route in a period-correct car (the race is only open to vehicles produced before 1957) such as a Jaguar XK120, Porsche 356, or something even more exotic.
Rest assured, we haven’t forgotten about France; how about recreating the legendary Tour Auto? Like the Mille Miglia, Tour Auto is a five-day event held to celebrate the original Tour de France Automobile, which was held from 1899 to 1986. Revived in 1996, this historic race event covers approximately 1,500 miles of French countryside after its competitors set off from Paris, with 2022’s edition having headed to Le Mans, Bordeaux, Pau and finally Andorra. The 2022 route is available here and offers drivers a gorgeous journey through the west of France.
Rather opt for a staycation in the UK? A firm belief of ours is that every petrolhead should drive Scotland’s North Coast 500, or NC500 as it’s otherwise known, at least once in their life. This 516-mile route is arguably the UK’s best driving road and provides a fantastic mix of beaches, mountain passes, beautiful valleys, quaint fishing villages, and quiet coves, as it encircles almost the entire Scottish coast. Since the COVID-19 lockdowns of the past two years, it has seen a surge in attention due to its beauty and accessibility for UK tourists nearly all year round.
Finally, if you’re thinking of a shorter weekend trip, the UK’s Malvern Hills might just be perfect. Situated in the west of England, they boast spectacular scenery and a plethora of winding lanes and valley roads. Additionally, for the true petrolhead experience, be sure to visit the Morgan Motor Company, which has its main factory and Experience Centre in Malvern Link. Here you can learn about Morgan’s design and manufacturing process, and even hire a Plus Four. We’re pretty tempted by that offer ourselves…
What’s your ideal classic car road trip? We’re quite partial to reliving events like Tour Auto or the Mille Miglia – there’s something about seeing those iconic cars battling it out in stunning scenery. Fancy working for a historic race firm or classic car specialist and having the chance to experience these events? We have an extensive network of clients from across the automotive industry. Get in touch with us at info@marcbrunel.com for more intel and the latest automotive career opportunities.
– Akash Cheeda
