Author Archives: AIB

The DeLorean Is To Make A Comeback

Do you remember the DeLorean DMC-12 sports car with the innovative gull-wing doors that was manufactured back in the early 1980s? Well, apparently, it is going to be “reborn”.

The DeLorean Motor Company was set up by an American called John DeLorean who had previously worked for General Motors and Chevrolet and the car was built in Belfast with a huge amount of financial support from the British Government. Some 9,200 cars were manufactured for the American market between 1981 and 1983.

As well as having the gulf-wing doors that opened upwards the bodywork was made in brushed stainless steel and it had a fiberglass undercarriage. The design of this sports car looked so far advanced that it was adapted to appear in the famous film Back to the Future as a time machine in 1985.

However, the car was not well received by critics and the production of new vehicles ceased. Mr DeLorean died in 1985 at the age of 80 and, interestingly, on his tombstone is engraved a DeLorean DMC-12 sports cars with both its gull-wing doors open.

Following changes in US legislation it is now more feasible for a small manufacturer to start producing the vehicle once again. DMC Texas, that has been repairing old DeLorean DMC-12’s, was granted the rights to utilize the trademark and name in September 2015 and intend to have the first new car rolling off the production line in 2017 and it is expected to sell for in the region of $100,000 with only 300 cars being built in its first year.

The original vehicle had a 2,849 cc V6 engine with a choice of a 5 speed manual gearbox or a 3 speed automatic. The manual version was capable of getting from 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds so it was not the quickest of sports cars. It had leather seats, electric windows, air conditioning and tinted glass.

Currently, DeLorean Motor Company is in negotiation with 4 engine suppliers and is considering using 4 and 6 cylinder turbocharged engines with 270 bhp and 350 bhp. Presumably these engines will be capable of improving the performance in comparison to the original vehicles. Larger wheels and brakes are being considered as are improved connectivity and entertainment systems.

We wish DeLorean Motor Company every success.

The Largest Private House In The UK

Now, if you were asked to name the largest private residence in the UK, many of you would say it was Buckingham Palace that is occupied, although not owned, by the Queen. In fact, this is not the case as the largest private home in the UK is actually called Wentworth Woodhouse and is located a few miles from Rotherham in South Yorkshire.

You may also be interested to know that, since around the middle of last year, Wentworth Woodhouse has been for sale through Savills estate agents for in excess of £8 million. It is a Georgian mansion built in the 18th century and sits in 82 acres of woodland and gardens.

The property was originally owned by the 1st Marquess of Rockingham and has 250,000 square feet of floor space of which 124,600 square feet is living space albeit some of the property is not presently habitable as it requires millions of pounds spending on it to restore it to its former glory. It is said to have the longest façade of any private home in the UK with a width of 606 feet.

It is believed to have at least 300 rooms and 5 miles of corridors. There is a marble saloon that, although not large at 60 square feet, was once felt to be England’s finest room of Georgian times. There was a stable block once occupied by 84 racehorses as horse racing was an interest of the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham.

Its last owner was the late Clifford Newbold who was an architect and bought the property in 1999 for around £1.5 million. He spent a considerable amount of money on partly restoring it but died last year at the age of 88.

His family decided that the property should be sold so this sounds like a wonderful opportunity for someone to take up the challenge of finishing off the good work Mr Newbold started although, from the sound of things, any new owner will need a large bank balance to not only buy it but carry out the repairs.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have insured many large family residences. So, if you would like a competitive home insurance quotation why not give us a call on 02380 268 351.

Introducing Our Newest Team Member – Jenna Stronach

Airsports Insurance Bureau is delighted to announce strengthening our Eastleigh team further with the appointment of experienced insurance professional, Jenna Stronach.

Jenna has many years’ experience within the insurance industry working both sides of the insurer and broker fence with her most recent position at as a Personal Injury & Litigation Claims Negotiator at Ageas. She joins our busy team where she will deal with every aspect of an expanding, predominantly high net worth personal lines insurance broker, including motor, travel, home and commercial insurance.

A delighted Jenna said:” I am really pleased that I have been successful and given the opportunity to return to the broker environment, especially with such a fast growing, positive company like AIB. I look forward to a long and prosperous career with the business and continuing to develop the high net worth motor and home book.

At AIB we pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and the professional relationships we are able to build with clients and insurer partners alike. We encourage our team to reach their full potential and give them the tools and resources for a rewarding career in a satisfying but demanding environment. If you are interested in a position with us please send your CV and accompanying letter to info@www.aib-insurance.co.uk

Jenna lives locally in Southampton and has a fear of raccoons and cats. She loves foreign travelling and has just returned from an extensive tour of Asia. A childhood fact about Jenna is when she was growing up she used to tell people she had a nut allergy, as she thought it made herself sound more interesting!

Good luck Jenna and welcome on board!

Jaguar E-Type Competition Car Could Fetch £900,000

If you are a fan of the Jaguar E-Type and are keen on racing cars then you may be interested to read that a rare classic sports car is to come up for auction in April and it is estimated that it could fetch between £700,000 to £900,000.

There were only seven of the Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Competition Roadsters built to a particular specification back in 1961. Interestingly, they were also the very first E-Type cars built for competing.

The vehicle in question has the registration number “9 VPD” and is a delightful dark blue colour. The Coombs racing team had two of these sports cars with the one that is coming up for sale normally being retained in the paddock. However, it first got its chance to race in the Scott Brown Trophy back on the 23rd July 1961 when it was actually loaned to another team who had a problem with their own vehicle.

Its present owner has had the Jaguar E-Type since 2002 since which time it has been lovingly restored. It even has an “outside lock” bonnet.

In July 2005 the car took to the track again in the Silverstone Classic Festival that many of you will have heard of and may have had the pleasure of attending. In 2006 it took part in the Spa 6-hours race and did well in becoming the class winner. The car has also been driven by Tony Jardine an ex-rally driver who also had a career in Formula One management.

The Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Competition Roadster has a 265 bhp engine and is capable of reaching 150 mph and can get from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 6.4 seconds.

So, if you are interested in purchasing this wonderful classic sports car then why not get along to the H & H Classics car auction that takes place on the 20th April 2016.

Biggest Quarterly Increase In Car Insurance Premiums In Five Years

Whilst motorists have benefitted from a significant drop in fuel prices in recent months there has been a progressive increase in car insurance premiums in 2015. This is borne out by the Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index that is powered by Willis Towers Watson.

The above index shows that the average cost of fully comprehensive car insurance went up by 7% in the final quarter of last year when compared with the third quarter of 2015. This resulted in an average premium of £672 per annum – up from £629 per annum in Q3 2015. The last time that such an increase was seen was back in the fourth quarter of 2010 when premiums rose by the same percentage.

When you look at the figures over a twelve-month period, premiums have risen by an average of 13% between Q4 2014 and Q4 2015. This means that motorists are paying on average an extra £78 per annum for fully comprehensive car insurance when compared with a year ago.

When you look at the data more closely, it is interesting to see that it is females that are 71+ years of age who have suffered the most from increasing premiums over a twelve month basis. Ladies in that age bracket saw their premiums rise by an average of 19% between Q4 2014 and Q4 2015. Men in the 61 to 65 age bracket saw their premiums increase by an average of 10% in the final quarter of 2015 with this being the highest percentage rise when comparing Q3 and Q4 2015.

It is also interesting to see that female motorists aged between 17 to 20 saw the lowest increase in premiums both between Q3 and Q4 2015 (3% quarterly rise) and between Q4 2014 and Q4 2015 (4% annual rise).

On a regional basis, it is motorists in Northern Ireland that have seen the biggest increase in the average cost of comprehensive car insurance. In Q4 2015 premiums went up by 9% and rose by 18% in the twelve months to Q4 2015. The average premium for this level of cover in Northern Ireland is £810 per annum. The most expensive region in the UK is in Inner London where premiums average £1,085 per annum.

So, if your car insurance is coming up for renewal or you are looking for such cover for the first time, why not get in touch with AIB Insurance on 02380 268351 and speak with one of our friendly, experienced staff to see if we can find you a competitively priced, tailored deal on your motor insurance.

Tandem Skydive Guinness World Record Attempt Planned

A number of our clients are keen skydivers enjoying their sport in various locations not only in the UK but overseas as well. Some skydivers take part in competitions, others take to the skies purely for recreational purposes and there are those that may only go skydiving on the one occasion having received a gift of a skydiving experience for their birthday or Christmas.

However, there are also those that take part in skydiving for the benefit of one or more charities. Well, if you are interested in going skydiving for a charity but would also like to take part in an attempt to break a skydiving world record then you may wish to read on.

That is because a company by the name of Skydive Buzz Ltd is organizing an attempt to set a world skydiving tandem record that has never been attempted before. The occasion, weather permitting, is to take place on the 20th June 2016 at Dunkeswell Airfield, Nr Honiton in Devon.

It is hoped that a Guinness World Record can be achieved for the most tandem skydives from a height of 15,000 feet above sea level within a period of 24 hours. At the same time, those skydivers taking part will be able to raise money for their chosen charity from a vast selection of worthy causes available. It is hoped that in excess of £70,000 can be raised for the charities.

Skydive Buzz Ltd is looking for 333 skydivers to take part. Jumps can only take place during daylight but those participating will hopefully enjoy freefalling for a minute during the 15,000 foot descent. The company uses three Beech 99 aircraft to take the skydivers up in.

If you are interested in taking part, you can find out more information including the cost by visiting Skydive Buzz Ltd’s website www.skydiveukltd.com. We wish all those taking part in the world record attempt every success and a safe landing.

Which Car Will Win The “What Car? Car Of The Year Awards 2016”

There are so many makes and models of cars available to buy in the UK that it is often difficult for the motorist to make the right choice. Many of you will have read reviews of vehicles carried out by What Car? and some will have used these to help in deciding on a particular vehicle.

Well, in January, What Car? in Association with Warranty Direct will announce the winner of their prestigious Car of the Year Awards 2016. A long list of 138 cars have been fortunate to be nominated for this award with 21 of the cars being manufactured in the UK. Apparently, those that are on the list have only been placed there because they have met strict criteria.

The cars have been put into various categories – city car, small car, family car, electric car, coupe, estate car, MPV, hot hatch, convertible, small SUV, large SUV, compact executive car, large executive car, sports car, and luxury car. There is also a safety award as well as a reader award.

Some of the cars in the city car category include the Fiat 500 and Vauxhall Viva. The small car category includes vehicles like the Audi A1 and Mini Cooper 5dr. The family car category includes cars like the Skoda Octavia and Ford Focus. The electric car category includes vehicles such as the Audi A3 e-tron and the VW Passat GTE. Within the coupe category you will find cars like the Bentley Continental GT and Seat Leon SC. The estate car category includes many vehicles including the Ford Mondeo and BMW 3 Series Touring.

The MPV category includes cars like the Ford C-Max and Seat Alhambra. In the Hot hatches category you will find cars such as the Ford Fiesta ST and Honda Civic. The convertible category includes the likes of the Citreon DS3 Cabriolet and Fiat 500C.

The small SUV category incudes cars like the Nishan Qashqai and the Renault Kadjar. The large SUV category includes vehicles such as the Audi Q7 and the Volvo XC90.

Within the compact executive car category you will find cars such as the DS 5 and the BMW 3 Series. The large executive car category includes vehicles like the Audi A7 Sportback and the Porsche Panamera.

The sports car category includes cars like the McLaren 570S and the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT. The luxury car category includes the likes of the Jaguar XJ and the Rolls-Royce Ghost 11.

Those featuring in the safety award category include such vehicles as the Audi A4 and the Honda Jazz. Within the reader category there are cars like the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Toyota Prius.

The full list can be found on the What Car? website.

Aston Martin Sells For £9.45 Million

Aston Martin is known the world over for producing top of the range executive cars that are sleek and fast and catch the eyes of passers-by. The added benefit is that they are manufactured here in the UK so it is something that we can be proud of. Their cars also feature in James Bond films.

Well, recently, a classic Aston Martin DB4/GT Zagato that was built way back in 1962 was sold at auction by Sotheby’s in New York at their “Driven by Disruption” sale for a mouth-watering £9.45 million. It was adapted in Italy by Zagato making it lighter and more aerodynamic. You may be interested to read that was a world record for a British built car being sold at auction although it had been hoped that it would fetch in excess of £10 million. The previous record was a McLaren F1 that went for £8.8 million earlier in 2015.

If you had bought that car when it was brand new you would have paid £5.470. We are sure that you will agree it has increased substantially in value and just goes to confirm that many classic cars have proved to be a wonderful investment.

This particular Aston Martin was one of only 19 built. It comes in green leather with a wooden steering wheel. It had a 3.7 – litre engine producing an incredible 314 bhp that was capable of rocketing from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 6.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 154 mph. Certainly not a classic car for the faint hearted to be at the wheel of.

You may be interested to read that here at AIB Insurance we have insured many classic cars of varying values. So, if you would like to receive a no-obligation quotation, why not give one of our friendly, experienced team a call on 02380 268 351 and we will be happy to do all that we can to assist.

20 Adventure Holidays That Were Not Available Twenty Years Ago

To celebrate 20 years of offering their budget airline service, easyJet has produced a list of twenty adventure holidays that they say were not available to do when they first took to the air all that time ago. Below we highlight the top 10: –

1. Stand-up paddle boarding – this involves propelling yourself along using a paddle from a canoe whilst standing on a surfboard. It has grown in popularity over the years and can be enjoyed on the sunny Algarve in Portugal.

2. Zip-lining – this thrilling adventure is now firmly established and can be enjoyed at many places around the world including the UK. However, for the ultimate adrenaline rush you could try the one in southern Italy that runs between the villages of Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano in the mountains at an altitude of up to 1,018m during which you can reach a top speed of 120km per hour.

3. Swimming in the presence of sharks – you don’t need to travel far for this one. You can scuba dive, snorkel or swim with basking sharks off the west coast of Scotland near Oban.

4. Volcano trekking – Close to Reykjavik in Iceland, you can go into the dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano to a depth of 120 metres.

5. Biking in Balkan – Cycling has witnessed an increase in popularity in recent years following the success of British cyclists at the Tour de France. The Balkan region of Croatia has proved a popular destination with the most delightful countryside to explore.

6. Wild swimming – Obviously, as the title would indicate, we are not talking about swimming at your local leisure centre. Wild swimming involves taking to the water in the sea, rivers and lakes with the islands off Sardinia’s Emerald coast in Italy being a favoured destination.

7. Kite-surfing – this thrilling activity has been around for some years now. You stand on a board and are pulled along either on the sand or sea by a kite that catches the wind. Larnaca in Cyprus is a popular venue.

8. Extreme assault courses – there are many assault courses dotted around the world often used by corporate clients for team-building purposes. Check out one offered by Tough Mudder in Wassertrudingen in Germany that covers 18 to 20 kms.

9. E-biking – this is an electrically powered bicycle making biking that little bit easier. Where better place to enjoy the experience than the beautiful Alpine foothills in Switzerland.

10. Flyboarding – using a board/boots “powered” by jet-propelled water, you are able to hover several feet above the surface of the water and dive beneath the water’s surface. This can be enjoyed in a variety of places such as Tenerife but closer to hand at the National Diving and Activity Centre near Chepstow in Gloucestershire.

The other 10 adventure holidays are snowshoeing, electric mountain biking, bungee jumping, desert biking, sea kayaking, “Make like Tarzan”, caving, two-wheeled trekking, walking in Portugal and cycling in Cyprus.

Many of our customers enjoy adventure holidays and come to us to help them arrange suitable travel insurance. So, why not get in touch with a member of our team on 02380 268 351 to discuss your requirements and obtain a quotation.

AIB Christmas Opening Times

We would like to wish all our clients a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Our opening hours over the festive period are:

Thursday 24th December – 9-12 noon
Christmas Day – CLOSED
Boxing Day – CLOSED
27th December – CLOSED
Monday 28th December – CLOSED
Tuesday 29th December – 9am-5.30pm
Wednesday 30th December – 9am-5.30pm
Thursday 31st December (New Years Eve) – 9am-5.30pm
Friday 1st January 2015 – CLOSED
Saturday 2nd January – 9-12 noon