Author Archives: AIB

VW Campervan Could Sell For £120,000

The iconic classic Volkswagen campervan has often caught the eyes of people as it drives past occupied by a family travelling to spend a week’s summer holiday on a campsite by a sandy beach in Devon or Cornwall. Well, one of these vehicles is shortly coming up for sale at an auction and may sell for as much as £120,000 – that is more than a brand new luxurious Range Rover Vogue Autobiography! Split Screen VW Campervan

The split windscreen, 1957 Volkswagen Type 2 Samba 23-Window Microbus is being auctioned by Bonhams at The Goodwood Festival Of Speed Sale on the 24th June 2016 with an estimated sale price of between £80,000 to £120,000.

Back in 2005, this particular model was imported from the USA by its current owners. During 2014 and 2015, an awful lot of restoration work was carried out on this classic vehicle. For instance, it has a 1,500 cc air cooled engine that has been rebuilt, the steering box has had some restoration work carried out on it, an extensive overhaul of the braking system has been undertaken and the bodywork has had a great deal of tender loving care including being repainted in Sealing Wax Red and Chestnut Brown. The seats have been re-trimmed and the sunroof replaced. Even some of the glass panels have been renewed. The condition of the campervan is now excellent.

Following the restoration works being completed in June of last year it has been taken to a few shows.

This particular model is highly sought after and it is quite likely that, should it be sold at the above auction, it will break the record set last year when a campervan similar to the one mentioned above achieved a price of £91,100.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have arranged suitable motor insurance on similar vehicles so, if you are the proud owner of one, why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a member of our experienced, friendly team who will discuss your requirements and arrange to obtain a competitive quotation without any obligation on your part.

Simply Porsche Event – A Great Day Had By All!

On Sunday 5th June, the fourth Simply Porsche event took place in Beaulieu at the historic National Motor Museum and it will come as no surprise to our many clients to read that AIB Insurance were in attendance once more. With so many Porsches on display covering many decades, a number of motoring stands to look at as well as your ticket also providing access to the museum if you arrived in your Porsche you are sure to have enjoyed a superb day out especially as the weather was so kind to us.

The huge selection of Porsches to admire included the likes of the 911, 914, 924 and 928 classics and more recently manufactured models such as the Cayman and Boxster. In fact, as the 924 had been around for 40 years and the Boxster for 20 years, these models were parked in a group. It was a tremendous opportunity for lovers of this elite sports car to meet and talk with like-minded individuals.

Hopefully, you will have taken the opportunity to participate in the People’s Choice Awards by casting your vote as to which you felt was the most popular Porsche attending the event. As well as being presented with a prize and trophy the owner of the winning vehicle proudly drove their Porsche at the front of a line of Porsches within the grounds.

Yet again, the ladies of AIB Insurance were well received by a number of our valued Porsche owner customers at our stand who have kindly favoured us with arranging their specialist motor insurance to cover their beloved sports cars for many years. We met several long- standing customers who have attended this event on more than one occasion but it was also lovely to meet some clients for the first time. We are sure that you will agree, to be able to “put a face to a name” is undoubtedly beneficial to everyone.

We look forward to meeting you at next year’s Simply Porsche event.

Classic Early Twentieth Century Electric Vehicles To Be Auctioned

Now, you may have been unaware that electric cars are not a recent innovation although it has to be said that as far as today’s motorist is concerned it is only in the last few years that such vehicles have started to grow in popularity. However, it was back in 1884 that the first rechargeable battery powered electric car was built in London that was capable of being used on a daily basis.

In fact, towards the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century, electric cars were more popular than cars using conventional fuel to help power their engines. This situation changed during the early 1900s with cars propelled using fuel being much more widely used. One of the reasons for this was that the later type of vehicle could travel further distances than electric vehicles.

It wasn’t until the late 20th century that we have seen electric cars gain in popularity and this would appear to be likely to continue in the future as more and more car manufacturers enter this market.

Well, if you are a classic car enthusiast, you may be interested to read that a couple of electric cars built in the early 1900s are going to be auctioned at Historics at Brooklands on the 11th June 2016.

A 1907 Victor High Wheel Electric Runabout that had spent many years in a museum in the USA but was later exported to this country is available to bid for on the above date. It has had its battery system updated although the electric motor dates back to 1919 and is capable of travelling a distance of around 65 to 75 miles before needing re-charging. It has wooden wheels with solid rubber tyres and black leather upholstery. It has an estimated price of between £30,000 to £40,000.

The other electric car being auctioned is a 1906 Pope-Waverley Victoria Phaeton. It too originates from the USA but a few years ago was exported to the UK where it had its batteries and charging system updated. It can travel up to 50 miles between charges. The seating is done in upholstered fabric. It has delightful electric coach lamps. It is estimated that it could sell for between £30,000 to £40,000.

So, if you are interested in classic electric vehicles, you may wish to attend the above auction and consider bidding for one or indeed both of them.

British Motorbike Sells For World Record At Auction

If you are a classic motorcycle enthusiast then you may well be aware that the Brough Superior motorbike is known as the Rolls-Royce of such modes of transport. It is an extremely desirable, sought after motorcycle with only ten of the Brough Superior 750cc BS4 models being built of which only seven remain.

Well, last year, eight Brough Superior motorcycles were discovered in a Cornish village. Apart from the BS4 model the collection also included the SS100, SS80 and the 11-50HP models. They were manufactured back in the 1920’s and 1930’s but these were in need of restoration having been found in barns either whole or in pieces and covered in dust.

The last owner of these classic bikes had owned them since the 1960s but he sadly passed away last year. It is believed that they have not been on the road for around 50 years.
The unrestored motorbikes recently came up for sale at a Bonhams auction of collectors’ motorbikes being described as “ The Broughs of Bodmin Moor”.

The 1938 Brough Superior 750cc BS4 model was expected to fetch in the region of £80,000 to £120,000. Well, there was obviously so much interest in this bike that it eventually was sold to a bidder from Germany for £331,900. This is a world auction record not only for a motorbike manufactured in Britain but also for the Brough Superior model.

There were a number of other classic motorcycles sold at the auction some of which also broke world records.

If you are the proud owner of a vintage motorbike and the insurance for the vehicle is shortly coming up for renewal then why not get in touch with us here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 and speak with a member of our experienced team who will gladly arrange to provide you with a classic motorcycle insurance quotation without any obligation. We look forward to hearing from you.

As If Skydiving Isn’t Risky Enough!

If you are a skydiver then you will be aware of the many risks associated with the sport. For instance, your parachute may fail to open in which case it is quite likely that you are going to die upon hitting the ground or you could end up parachuting into a wooded area that could result in your serious injury or even death. Whilst every precaution is taken to avoid such instances, they do happen, albeit infrequently when you consider the number of skydivers that take to the skies on a daily basis.

Well, you may be interested to hear of an incident that took place on Thursday 12th May 2016 in California that could have resulted in the death of 17 skydivers none of whom had even jumped from the plane. In fact, it may have been a problem with the plane that resulted in these skydivers lives being placed at risk.

Shortly after taking off with the pilot and 17 skydivers on board the Cessna 208 got into difficulty due to what may have been a problem with the engine. The appropriate authority is currently investigating the cause of the incident. As a result, the pilot had to take evasive action and try to make an emergency landing.

During its descent, unfortunately a truck was clipped by the plane albeit the occupants of the vehicle were unharmed. It landed in a vineyard but tipped over onto its back before coming to a halt about 50 feet from someone’s home.

The occupants were, with the exception of the pilot whose nose was bloody, unharmed although they were no doubt somewhat shocked in view of what had happened. The skydivers must have remained as calm as they could because they put their helmets and seatbelts back on as they waited for the plane to make an emergency landing in the vineyard.

Let’s hope that none of our skydiving clients or anyone else for that matter finds themselves in a similar situation. It is possible to view a video on the Internet of part of the incident that was taken by one of the skydivers.

Classic Jaguar C Type Could Fetch £3 Million Plus

They say that classic cars have been a good investment in recent years. Well, that would certainly appear to have the potential to be the case for a 1953 Jaguar XK120C ‘C-Type’ Sports-Racing Two-Seat Roadster with the registration number POV 114.

The above classic sports car has been in the same family’s hands since 1963 when it was bought by Guy Griffiths a racing photographer for what was then a substantial sum – £635. Well, what an investment that may turn out to be because the vehicle is to be auctioned at Bonhams Monaco Sale that takes place at the Fairmont Hotel in Monte Carlo on the 13th May 2016 with an estimated sales price of between £3.2 million to £3.9 million.

It has driven at high speed around many a racing track but possibly its most famous race was the 1953 Le Mans 24-Hour event. The sports car finished in 9th place overall – a considerable achievement.

Apparently, a Jaguar C type sports car as detailed above is highly sought after so there will no doubt be a considerable amount of interest when auctioning commences. The car has been well maintained and is in roadworthy condition. It has attended a number of classic car events and been taken out by its current owners on day trips.

The vehicle is almost in its original condition with some sensible changes made to the oil pipes and brake lines from a safety point of view plus it has four-point seat belts. It also has flashing turn indicators. It comes with its original log book.

None other than the famous racing driver Sir Stirling Moss has been extremely complimentary about the Jaguar C Type.

So, if you are a classic car enthusiast with quite a bit of money then you may wish to get along to the auction and enter into the bidding for this vehicle that has a wonderful racing pedigree. If you are successful in buying the car then don’t forget to make sure you get it insured. Here at AIB Insurance we will gladly provide a free, no obligation classic car insurance quote.

Introducing Tony Johnson – – Our Newest Team Member

We are pleased to welcome Tony Johnson, who joins our team in Eastleigh as one of our Insurance Consultants.

Tony has a decade of industry experience, having worked for insurance broker firms in Portsmouth, before moving to Swinton’s in 2013 – initially working in Waterlooville before moving to the Fareham branch.

Tony, who lives in Fareham supports Manchester United Football Club, he was born 9 weeks premature, he hates sponge (??!) likes strawberry flavour things but not strawberries and has met Mike Tyson, Kat Von D and Sir Alex Ferguson.

AIB Office Manager, Nigel Gould, said,

“Another great addition to our team in Eastleigh. Tony has the experience to help us further expand our client bank and offer exceptional customer service levels to our new and existing clients.”

Over 4 Million Vans On Roads In The UK

For the first time on record the number of vans on roads in the UK has exceeded the 4 million mark. Apparently, as at the end of 2015, there were 4,007,331 vans on our roads based upon the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Motorparc Vehicles in Use (UK) data.

This was an increase of 4.3% last year, with the previous figure as at the end of 2014 having stood at 3,842,017 vans. In 2013 there was a 2.1% rise to 3,706,351.

It is also interesting to note that last year there were in excess of 370,000 new vans registered in the UK. Furthermore, in the first quarter of this year there was a rise of 1.2% in the number of new vans being registered.

One of the reasons why there has been an increase in demand for new vans is believed to be due to the growth seen in the number of purchases being made online by the public in the UK. Whether a shopper is buying a new shirt via the Internet or ordering their weekly shopping from one of the major supermarkets all these items have to be delivered. In fact it is estimated that, on an annual basis within the UK, some 45 billions miles are driven by vans.

Another interesting statistic is that by far the most popular colour of van in the UK is a white one with those accounting for 57% of such vehicles. In second place is silver with 11.4% and in third place is blue with a 9% share. Of course, we are sure that it does not surprise you to read that the white van is the most popular colour chosen by the owners of such vehicles.

Apparently, if all vans in the UK were parked one behind the other they would cover a distance equating to 28 times the AI’s length.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have been able to arrange competitively priced van insurance for many of our customers. So, if you would welcome a no-obligation quote, why not speak with a member of our experienced and knowledgeable team on 02380 268 351.

Capri Driven In The Professionals Sells For World Record Price

Many of you will have watched the TV series called The Professionals that featured on ITV between 1977 and 1983. You will remember that the main actors regularly came up against criminal and terrorists and, needless to say, always came out on top.

Well, William Bodie (real name Lewis Collins who regrettably died in 2013), who was one of the stars and CI5 agents in the program, drove a 1978 Strato Silver Ford Capri 3.0S in several episodes of the second series of The Professionals. It will not come as a surprise to read that whilst the vehicle was being filmed it had a fake number plate “UOO 303T”. What a lot of people will not be aware of is that several other almost identical Ford Capri 3.0S’s were also used in the series. Bearing in mind the “rough” time that this car had when Bodie was at the wheel that was probably just as well.

Anyway, the classic Ford Capri 3.0S with around 77,300 miles on the clock was lovingly restored a couple of years ago and came up for auction on the 20th April 2016 at the H & H Classics auction in Duxford, Cambridge but with its real car registration plate of “VHK 495S” It had been expected to achieve a sale price somewhere in the region of £35,000 to £45,000.

However, no doubt helped by the fact that it had appeared in a number of episodes of The Professionals, it was actually sold for £55,000 – significantly more than had been anticipated. Furthermore, for a 3-litre Ford Capri, that was a world record. Who knows whether that world record will ever be broken in the future?

Let us hope that the proud new owner of this Ford Capri has arranged suitable insurance on the vehicle. In that respect, if you are a classic car owner, why not get in touch with us here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 so that we can discuss your requirements and provide a competitive classic car insurance quotation from the extensive panel of insurers that we use.

Is This The World’s Most Expensive Truck?

Can you imagine spending over $1 million (£700,000 plus) on a truck? Well, whilst the price has not been revealed, that is just what Sultan Ibrahim Ismail from the state of Johar in Malaysia is rumoured to have done!

He has had Mack Truck Australia custom build a luxurious Super-Liner truck at their factory in Brisbane in Australia. It has taken a year to complete the work and it would appear almost no expense has been spared. It is by far the most expensive truck that the company has ever been commissioned to build with the most costly one prior to this reported to have been in the region of $350,000.

The truck has been bought specifically to tow the Sultan’s luxury speedboat and the colour scheme of blue, white and red matches that of both modes of transport that are the colours of the Johar flag.

Needless to say, the truck is extremely well fitted out. Its custom design includes a double bed that folds out, cooking grill, granite worktops, it has not one but TWO flat screen TVS, a fridge (possibly to keep the champagne chilled) and it even has a sun deck to accommodate the usual chairs, table, parasol and barbeque to enjoy some al-fresco dining on delightfully warm days and nights.

Mack Super-Liner trucks claim to be renowned for their power, torque and also their fuel efficiency.

Here at AIB Insurance, whilst we have yet to insure a truck rumoured to be worth over $1 million, we have arranged truck insurance on numerous vehicles over the years. Therefore, if you run a haulage business whether that operates either one truck or a fleet of several dozen, why not get in touch with one of the professional team in our office on 02380 268 351 and we will gladly obtain a competitive truck insurance quotation for your consideration.