TALKING HEADS 2023 - A video round-up, discussing the year's hot topics in our world of Aston Martin

In 2022 we closed the year with a special one-to-one interview with Nick, who reflected on a lifetime immersed in all things Aston Martin and looked forward to 2023, the year in which his own company, Nicholas Mee & Co, celebrated its 30th anniversary. It still makes fascinating viewing, and you can watch it here. • 30 Years of Nicholas M...
This year has been another action-packed one for all of us, so we’re returning to our regular Talking Heads format discussing the world of classic cars, Astons in particular, with Nick and Neal joined by two knowledgeable and well-known members of the classic car community: author and publisher of Magneto magazine, event organiser and classic car champion David Lillywhite, together with coming man Dan Cogger. Dan is a key member of US insurance giant Hagerty’s UK team and is fresh from receiving the ‘Rising Star’ award from an international panel of judges at last month’s 2023 Historic Motoring Awards. Steve Wakefield, Aston Martin enthusiast and market commentator, was once again in the chair.
It proved to be a lively discussion that covered classic car events - our favourites, ones we missed, others to do in 2024 - through to the current state of the classic car market (Astons in particular), our ‘dream garages’, F1 and other matters of the moment. The conversation flowed at Essendonbury Farm and subjects discussed included:
Nicholas Mee & Co at 30 - the year so far
• Reflecting on current trading during a period of higher interest rates.
• Which models attract the most attention right now?
• Auction results can be misleading. Is there now a two-tier market?
And for David and Dan?
• What’s happening at David’s company Hothouse Media, where has he travelled this year and talking about his latest book, The Concours Year.
• Dan’s been getting out and about with Hagerty, the USA’s largest classic car insurer in the UK and Eurozone. He tells us what he’s been up to in a non-stop 12 months.
Aston Martin and F1
• How do we feel about Aston Martin in F1?
• Has the Netflix series Drive to Survive changed the mainstream audience’s attitude to Grand Prix racing?
• How about Fernando in a ’90s V600?
The Gaydon factory
• The panel’s opinion on the current range from Gaydon including the Valour, and the company 2024 return to the big league at Le Mans with the Valkyrie.
The value buy? 2001-2007 Vanquish
• A dive into the first-generation Vanquish. What’s the future for these low-volume Bond cars?
HCVA. The Historic & Classic Vehicle Alliance
• The HCVA represents our community in the highest circles. Nick has the inside line on what it does and how all car lovers need to hear about it and support its activities.
Events, events - who’s been where this year, what’s new for 2024 and much more…
• Between them, the panel have been to most of the best events.
• As this scene has really taken off in recent times, which ones are the must-dos?
• From Savile Row to St Moritz, Monterey to Monaco for the Historics, here are our tips.
Two-car dream garage
• It’s a game we all like to play: ‘fantasy two-car garage’.
• There are one or two surprises here, and some old favourites, iconic Astons from times past.
As usual, it’s all very entertaining. If you have any thoughts or comments, we would love to hear them. Let's get the conversation started!
Chapters:
00:00:00 Introductions
00:01:25 Nicholas Mee & Co at 30 - the year so far
00:08:05 What stock was hot in 2023
00:14:30 A younger crowd engaging in the classic car scene
00:19:01 Formula One and Aston Martin's involvement
00:26:08 A busy year at Aston Martin HQ, Gaydon
00:35:03 Le Mans 24 Hours and Le Mans Classic
00:40:52 Events
00:52:28 2001-2007 Vanquish / Vanquish S - The Value buy?
01:03:00 HCVA. The Historic & Classic Vehicle Alliance
01:14:40 Electric cars
01:17:44 London to Brighton run
01:18:47 Events, events - who’s been where this year, what’s new for 2024 and much more…
01:22:42 Two car dream garage

[@mrn5825]

looking forward to the 2023 installment. cheers

[@nicholasmeeco]

Hopefully you have now had the chance to watch our 2023 video? Any thoughts / feedback welcome!

[@paultucker1272]

Thank you for your time in making this video. I could listen to Mr Mee all day. A wonderful voice, and a wealth of knowledge on all things Aston Martin. With regards sustainable fuels and modern cars......they absolutely can run on it. The British Motor Show have been running their RHD 5.0 Mustang GT on sustainable fuels and brought it along to one of our Mustang meets this year. The future doesn't have to mean EVs (thankfully). Merry Christmas to you all.

[@nicholasmeeco]

Thank you and thank you for watching. We are pleased that you enjoyed it and that some of what we said made sense!

[@mohammedal-r471]

greetings from kuwait, thank you for your very entertaining video.

[@nicholasmeeco]

Thank you for watching!

[@russellsmith1375]

Thankyou, very interesting, genuinely surprised by the size of the classic car industry.

[@nicholasmeeco]

Thank you for watching and we are pleased you found the video informative.

What about the DB7‘s? Such a significant car in Aston‘s history! And I’m glad, the young man‘s having a DB7 😊 I‘m really happy with my „one of one“ in Aston Green, and for me, it stands for the history, connected to the 60ties cars, like Walter Hayes wanted it to be, connected to the by then new design language of the future. And: I completely agree with Nicolas as of the ride quality of Vanquish (and DB7! ) Also therefore, I never would exchange my DB7 to have a Gaydon era car!

[@nicholasmeeco]

We are equally enthusastic about the DB7. Considering the original design is now 30 years old, they still look stunning. One day they will be in the automotive styling hall of fame. Find a good one, keep it well maintained and it should look after you very well in the future, turning plenty of heads in the meantime as they are becoming increasingly rare to be seen out in the wild! Maybe we will cover the model in more detail in a future video!

@@nicholasmeeco: How nice to read this from your part!

[@Saarngittik1967]

​Indeed, it would be great to have a video dedicated to the DB7 especially this year for its 30th birthday !! 😃😃👌🏻👌🏻

[@Wonky_ties]

A fantastic video, very much enjoyed the chat. Is there a possibility to visit the showroom to admire the cars for sale?

[@nicholasmeeco]

Thank you for watching and we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed it! Absolutley. You are most welcome. You might enjoy attending one of our Ten Two Club events. They are always fun! www.nicholasmee.co.uk/about-us/ten-two-club/

[@patrickfallon4413]

Great stuff guys. Thank you. 🔥🔥

[@nicholasmeeco]

Thanks Patrick. Glad you enjoyed it. No cameo this year. You obviously havent visited enough...

[@patrickfallon4413]

There’s only so much notoriety a man can take😂.

[@londonman8688]

2005 vanquish seems very very expensive

[@lebojay]

WTF, they didn’t even play Psycho Killer. 🤷‍♂️

[@londonman8688]

shouldnt dealers be worried that 70s and 80s aston prices are so over priced that so few car now buy them ?