#BrownCarGuy – News, Views & Reviews!
Every day, millions of motorists pull into petrol stations across Britain, glance at the pumps and make a decision that feels sensible. “I’ll treat the car to the premium stuff.” After all, it costs more, so surely it must be better? Well… not necessarily.
The car industry has always been cyclical. Sales rise and fall. Models flop. Companies merge, split, collapse and occasionally rise from the ashes. Automotive history is littered with famous names that simply disappeared, particularly here in Britain where once-proud marques have become little more than museum exhibits or nostalgic memories. What’s different in 2026 is that we’re witnessing something arguably more alarming.
At a recent event, I was chatting to somebody who works within the legacy car industry. It doesn’t matter which manufacturer, because this relates to the industry as a whole – it’s something bigger, broader and potentially catastrophic for the entire car industry. What this person told me was that, in terms of marketing and PR budgets, their focus now is very much on product rather than brand. And I understand why. These companies have cars to sell, EV targets to hit, emissions legislation to satisfy, ZEV mandates to survive, shareholders to soothe and showroom traffic to somehow summon from the ether. But I also think this strategy could be a fundamental, frightening and potentially fatal mistake.
If there is one event that perfectly captures the sheer breadth and brilliance of car culture, it is the London Concours. Returning to the beautiful lawns of the Honourable Artillery Company in the heart of the City of London, the 2026 edition celebrated its 10th anniversary in spectacular style, bringing together more than 120 extraordinary vehicles spread across nine curated classes. From cutting-edge hypercars and poster-car dream machines to rally legends, American muscle, tuner specials and exquisitely reimagined classics, this year’s event was an automotive feast unlike any other.
The 2026 Enfield Pageant of Motoring turned out to be an absolute treasure trove of weird, wonderful and wildly creative machinery, reminding us why grassroots car culture remains far more entertaining than yet another identikit crossover launch with mood lighting and an app subscription for heated seats. This year’s event was packed with everything from beautifully preserved classics to utterly unhinged custom creations, including a chopped and Audi-powered Vauxhall Victor FB, stunning American cruisers, rat-look survivors proudly wearing decades of scars, and hot rods that looked ready to drag race Satan himself.
There was a time when cars didn’t need mood lighting, over-the-air software updates, lane departure nags, adaptive personalities or a touchscreen larger than a student bedsit television simply to survive the school run. There was a time when a humble hatchback existed purely to provide practical, affordable and dependable transport, and somehow, almost accidentally, managed to become charming in the process. This 1988 Nissan Micra GSX Automatic is one of those cars.
There was a time when even children could identify cars instantly. In fact, I was one of those annoying little kids who could recognise a car from half a mile away, at night, purely from the headlights. A Jaguar XJS looked like a Jaguar XJS. A Saab looked like a Saab. A Citroen looked like it had arrived from the future after taking a wrong turn somewhere near the Eiffel Tower.
Somewhere between haunted roads, electric cars, and the eternal fight between influencers and journalists, a very honest discussion broke out. In the latest BrownCarGuy Therapy Session Podcast, I was joined by Jeff Bailey – long-time motoring writer, serial car buyer, and author – and Imthishan Giado, my partner-in-crime from our Car Middle East and Motoring Middle East days. We didn’t plan to solve the mysteries of the universe, but somewhere between the nostalgia and the banter, we might just have done that – or something…
The Brands Hatch GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS – May 2025 – was a proper feast for fans of fast metal, rare classics and raw car culture. I was there all weekend soaking it all in, and I’ve bundled up every last rev, roar, and rear-end slide for your viewing pleasure.
You don’t notice it at first. The chatter. It’s pathetic, then it’s amusing, then it’s mildly annoying. But it’s background din. Easily drowned out by the thrumb of a V8 at barely above idle. Irksome but insignificant.
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