Wheels span a century as motor industry passes the 100 mark

Spanning a century of the British motor industry, an 1897 Daimler and a 1990s Jaguar XK8 appeared together yesterday at the Museum of British Road Transport in Coventry.

The museum has been bringing its collection of vehicles to a peak of gleaming perfection in preparation for celebrations to mark the centenary of the industry in this country.

More than 190 cars, 75 motorcycles and 200 bicycles are housed there, providing an evocative chronology of changing technology and styles.

The display includes a 1948 Standard Vanguard, a Jaguar E-Type from the 1960s and a Hillman Minx from the 1950s. Visitors to the museum, may, by prior arrangement, sit in a vehicle of their choice.

The collection has grand state cars owned by former members of royalty, including a fairly ordinary-looking red Metro which turns out to have been driven by one Lady Diana Spencer.