From The Times
May 15, 2007
May 15, 2007
Gordon Wilkins
Motoring journalist who spent more than seven decades
writing and broadcasting about cars
The doyen of British motoring journalists, Gordon Wilkins
began his professional life in the 1930s, when he was just
in his twenties, and he was still attending motor shows and
filing stories into his nineties.
Motoring journalist who spent more than seven decades
writing and broadcasting about cars
The doyen of British motoring journalists, Gordon Wilkins
began his professional life in the 1930s, when he was just
in his twenties, and he was still attending motor shows and
filing stories into his nineties.
He combined writing
with participation in motor sport that
included disciplines as diverse as muddy trials and the
24-hour Le Mans race. Fluent in French and German, he worked
extensively throughout Europe.
included disciplines as diverse as muddy trials and the
24-hour Le Mans race. Fluent in French and German, he worked
extensively throughout Europe.
Born and educated
in Liverpool, Wilkins began in the
advertising department of the weekly The Motor, and moved to
the editorial side in 1933. He took up photography and
demonstrated artistic skill, contributing hundreds of
sketches, cartoons and illustrations to the magazine. He
also took a course in engineering, to make himself competent
to write technical articles.
advertising department of the weekly The Motor, and moved to
the editorial side in 1933. He took up photography and
demonstrated artistic skill, contributing hundreds of
sketches, cartoons and illustrations to the magazine. He
also took a course in engineering, to make himself competent
to write technical articles.
A frequent visitor
to Germany, he could claim to be the last
survivor of those journalists who had attended the 1939
launch of the Volkswagen. It was on the way back from that
year's Berlin motor show that he and a colleague attempted
to achieve 100 miles in the hour in a Lagonda V12.
survivor of those journalists who had attended the 1939
launch of the Volkswagen. It was on the way back from that
year's Berlin motor show that he and a colleague attempted
to achieve 100 miles in the hour in a Lagonda V12.
"Sadly we
couldn't quite make it, because Hitler hadn't made
enough road," he once recounted. "It was almost in the bag
until right at the end we ran out of autobahn. I tried my
best, sliding around on horse droppings and passing farm
carts. We achieved something over 98 miles in the hour."
enough road," he once recounted. "It was almost in the bag
until right at the end we ran out of autobahn. I tried my
best, sliding around on horse droppings and passing farm
carts. We achieved something over 98 miles in the hour."
Wilkins became
involved in motor sport, joining a trials and
rally team run by a Savile Row tailor. Its drivers were
distinguished by their potent, modified Ford V8s and by
being the best dressed of all the competitors. Wilkins
really wanted to go racing, and was asked by a neighbour to
share a Singer at Le Mans in 1939; they finished a
respectable 18th overall.
rally team run by a Savile Row tailor. Its drivers were
distinguished by their potent, modified Ford V8s and by
being the best dressed of all the competitors. Wilkins
really wanted to go racing, and was asked by a neighbour to
share a Singer at Le Mans in 1939; they finished a
respectable 18th overall.
The early war years
were spent in the research department of
the Bristol Aeroplane Company, before Wilkins moved in 1944
to work with the former Bristol aero-engineer Sir Roy Fedden
on the Fedden car, an unconventional design powered by a
rear-mounted sleeve-valve radial engine. Wilkins was
responsible for the styling of this visionary but misguided
project, and recalled the car as being notably lethal to
drive.
the Bristol Aeroplane Company, before Wilkins moved in 1944
to work with the former Bristol aero-engineer Sir Roy Fedden
on the Fedden car, an unconventional design powered by a
rear-mounted sleeve-valve radial engine. Wilkins was
responsible for the styling of this visionary but misguided
project, and recalled the car as being notably lethal to
drive.
By 1947 the Fedden
operation had folded, and Wilkins joined
Autocar, where he ultimately became technical editor and was
known for filing detailed and highly readable accounts of
the motor industry outside Britain.
Autocar, where he ultimately became technical editor and was
known for filing detailed and highly readable accounts of
the motor industry outside Britain.
He continued to
enjoy motor sport and in 1949 he drove one
of Jowett's Javelin saloons in the Monte Carlo Rally,
finishing 161st. In 1951 his factory-entered Jowett Jupiter
was 10th overall and second in its class.
of Jowett's Javelin saloons in the Monte Carlo Rally,
finishing 161st. In 1951 his factory-entered Jowett Jupiter
was 10th overall and second in its class.
That year and in
1952 he also won his class at Le Mans in a
lightweight Jupiter, and in his final sortie to Le Mans in
1953 he co-drove an Austin Healey to 14th overall. In 1957
he helped to secure various 24-hour and seven-day records in
Italy, driving a special streamlined Fiat Abarth.
lightweight Jupiter, and in his final sortie to Le Mans in
1953 he co-drove an Austin Healey to 14th overall. In 1957
he helped to secure various 24-hour and seven-day records in
Italy, driving a special streamlined Fiat Abarth.
In 1953 Wilkins
left Autocar to go freelance. He became one
of the most prolific writers in his field, at one stage
contributing to 27 magazines throughout the world. In the
1960s and 1970s, he combined this work with compiling the
Daily Express Motor Show Guide.
of the most prolific writers in his field, at one stage
contributing to 27 magazines throughout the world. In the
1960s and 1970s, he combined this work with compiling the
Daily Express Motor Show Guide.
Between 1964 and
1973 Wilkins was anchorman for the
WheelbaseTV programme, and he continued to be involved
sporadically with television in later years. He also
translated various motoring books from French and Italian.
WheelbaseTV programme, and he continued to be involved
sporadically with television in later years. He also
translated various motoring books from French and Italian.
From 1980 to 1992,
when they moved to their final home in
rural southern France, Wilkins and his wife, Joyce, who was
very much his professional partner, were able to live in a
palazzo in northern Italy, thanks to their friendship with
an Italian count.
rural southern France, Wilkins and his wife, Joyce, who was
very much his professional partner, were able to live in a
palazzo in northern Italy, thanks to their friendship with
an Italian count.
Affable, urbane and
with an engaging modesty, Wilkins was
aware that he had led a fortunate life; however, those who
spent time with him soon came to appreciate that he had
earned this through talent and hard work.
aware that he had led a fortunate life; however, those who
spent time with him soon came to appreciate that he had
earned this through talent and hard work.
His wife
predeceased him, and there were no children.
Gordon Wilkins, journalist and broadcaster, was born on
October 6, 1912. He died on April 11, 2007, aged 94
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