Would You Pay $50,000 for Kate Middleton’s Used VW Golf?

Say want you want about the media’s obsession around Britain’s newly-wed royal coupe, Kate and Williams, but for some people, like Sonny Brazil, it’s a gift from the heavens.

You see, Sonny’s father Al, bought Kate Middleton’s inky-blue 2001 VW Golf hatchback back in 2009 from her brother James for a reasonable £1,400 (about US$2,300 or €1,600 at today’s exchange rates).

"At the time, I didn't put two and two together because he didn't exactly say he was related to Kate but when I noticed the log book and saw the first owner was Catherine Middleton I got quite excited,” Sonny told The Daily Mail.

Now, Sonny believes his Golf is worth its weight in gold (or so to speak) and has put it up for auction on eBay UK with the starting bid set at £20,000 (~US$32,200 or €22,800)!

“I went to an auction house in Dorset a few weeks ago and they said it would be worth £30,000 pounds plus, purely because of the name in the log book,” Sonny told the British newspaper.

Sonny was initially considering to offer a pair of sterling silver cufflinks that he found inside the Golf, even though was not sure if they belonged to Kate’s brother James Middleton or Prince William, but today he noted on eBay that he had a change of heart and decided to return them back to the Middleton family.

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It Came From eBay Hell: Triumph TR3 with an Italian Body and an American Heart

Much like Christine in the Stephen King novel of the same name, this 1957 Triumph TR3 Special began life as nothing more than a…car. Since then it’s mutated into this thing that sports a faux-Ferrari body and a Chevy 350 V8 under the hood.

All that remains of its British donor car are the number and chassis plates, front suspension, windshield wiper motor, tail lights and fuel filler cap. The “coachbuilt body”, as the eBay Motors seller describes it, is a combination of hand-worked aluminium and glass fibre.

There’s also an Edelbrock manifold and carburettor, TH350 transmission and a Ford 9” limited slip differential. There’s also an integral roll bar, four-link rear suspension and wide 275/50R15 rubber.

The seller would like us all to, “Please note the superb quality of the craftsmanship this car has been constructed with, particularly the very high quality of the wiring.” That’s his emphasis, not ours.

Still, if you would like to buy this, “authentic piece of American Vintage Motor Sports History” you can for the low, low asking price of US$19,500.

Though to be honest a car that’s spent twenty-five years in a shed gathering rust dust with a wannabe Ferrari 250 GTO body affixed to it isn’t my idea of a good investment. You can check out our full gallery bellow.

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UK Lorry Driver Keeps License After Pushing Car Sideways Down Highway

Remember that video? Big stuff all over the internet earlier this year.

Well, the wheels of justice turn quickly in the UK...driver John Tomlinson has appeared before a traffic commissioner, pleaded his case (that he couldn't see, hear or smell the Renault Clio attached to his front bumper) and has been allowed to keep his license.

In fact, traffic commissioner Beverley Bell praised Tomlinson for his fast action and cool head. You don't see it in the video, but other drivers signaled him to pull over, he discovered the Clio on his bumper, and freed driver Rhona Jane Williams.

Commissioner Bell urged companies to retrofit older lorries (trucks to us Yanks)with the kind of proximity mirrors now standard on newer models.

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When Fans Go Berserk

Hey, we love Top Gear as much as the next guy...but this UK family spots Clarkson, May, et al on the road, speeds up, brings out the video camera and...well...let's just say you HAVE to watch this...make sure the sound is on...and the next time your kids are embarrassed by you, show them just how much worse it could be:

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In Space, Someone Can Watch You Speed

The UK is testing satellites that can monitor speed and snap license plates from orbit.

Swell.

Full story from London's Daily Telegraph.

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UPDATE: UK Trucker With Renault On His Front Bumper

SKYNews has confirmed that the video is real and that the trucking company, Arclid Transport, is investigating. Arclid tells SKY that the woman driving the Renault Clio "got out and walked away".

And thanks also to the wonders of YouTube, we can show you exactly how such a thing can happen. Press play on this video:

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VIDEO: UK Trucker Unaware He Has A Renault On His Front Bumper

According to the YouTube poster, this was on the A1 highway near Wetherby. Date unknown. Working to find confirmation from UK news sources. Meantime, it's incredible video.

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