Classic Motor Cars

​Study time will soon come with a dash of motoring history for one well-heeled home decorator, with the upcoming Porsche 70th Anniversary Auction to see a writing desk featuring original 911 panels go under the hammer.

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance featured 300 extraordinary cars and motorcycles on the lawns of the 10th and 18th fairways this year. We have chosen just 20 of the best to focus upon.

The Chicago Auto Show is a laid back, informative event with manufacturers and dealerships showing off their latest models for the new model year as well as a glimpse of what's to come. Here are some highlights from this year's show.

Jaguar Classic has re-started production of its D-type race car, with the first prototype being shown today at Retromobile in Paris. Just 25 new D-types will be built, completing the 100 units originally planned for production in 1955.

Restorations of classic cars are in vogue at the moment, and Shelby American is keen to get in on the action. The team behind the 1965 GT350R, dubbed the Original Venice Crew, will build 36 recreations of that car with an independent suspension setup originally designed by Ford in 1964.

There's a new Phantom coming, and Rolls-Royce has big plans for the launch. Historic Phantoms will be rolled out for an exhibition celebrating the car's illustrious history in London – and the latest addition is a big one. If the paintwork didn't give it away, this Phantom V belonged to John Lennon.

Rolls-Royce is gearing up to unleash a new Phantom this year, and has big plans for the celebration. ​The brand will be rolling out legendary examples, including Hollywood heroes and military workhorses. Now, Rolls-Royce has revealed a Phantom II owned by Sir Malcolm Campbell will also be on show.

The engines have been turned off after another Goodwood Festival of Speed, leaving just a faint fog of tire smoke around the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex. Check out our gallery for a closer look at the pick of the priceless cars on display.

The Lister Knobbly is a legend in the motoring world, but the legend has been confined to the race track for the past 60 years. Now a continuation version of the classic racer has been converted for use on public roads.

Classic cars have a certain romance about them, but owning one isn't all sunshine and roses. One possible way around common problems is to rebuild a classic car today, sticking to the original blueprints to ensure authenticity. That's the approach Aston Martin has taken with the DB4 GT Continuation.

San Diego's Zelectric has become well known for electrifying iconic Volkswagens in the form of its ZelectricBug and ZelectricBus. Now it's turned its attention to a high-performance electric Porsche 911 prototype and a beautiful cherry red electric Karmann Ghia prototype.

Australia's Motorclassica is not yet known in the same context as the world's two largest classic automotive shows, Retromobile in Paris and Techno Classica in Germany. Judging from our experiences at the event which finished yesterday, it soon will be.