1948-50 Ford Truck Hood Pin on 2040-parts.com

GM donates Insignia prototype to Coventry University

Though the cloud of uncertainty is currently looming over General Motors' Opel and Vauxhall brands, the economic climate hasn't deterred its Vauxhall division from showing a bit of generosity. Recognizing the burgeoning talent at one of the UK's leading design schools, the British arm of the American automotive giant recently offered car design students from Coventry's School of Art & Design an Insignia prototype, which will be used for 'real life' styling exercises. "We are delighted that Vauxhall has chosen to donate this vehicle to the university for our students to work with.

Mercedes SLS AMG: David Coulthard drives the Isle of Man +video

The Mercedes SLS AMG attacks the Isle of Man in the capable hands of DC UK readers and those outside the UK who play silly games to get their hands on the world’s second favourite motoring show – Fifth Gear – may well have seen Tiff Needell pop off to the Isle of Man to borrow a Mercedes SLS AMG David Coulthard was playing with. What David was doing in the Manx Mountains was driving the SLS AMG as fast as he could on the Isle of Man’s unrestricted roads (which were also shut for his convenience) to produce what the film makers are calling ‘The Fastest 3D film ever shot on Land”. The short film – ‘Manx Meister’ – has DC blatting across the top of the IOM at speeds in excess of 160mph.

Last call for entries: IM Design Awards

As the deadline for entries to the 2010 Interior Motives Design Awards approaches – all designs must be received by 10 July – details of the judging panel and the upcoming awards ceremony in Paris are firming up. Judging the hundreds of student designs this year will be a panel of industry experts that includes such influential figures as Amko Leenarts, Interior Design Director, Peugeot; Robin Page, Interior Design Director, Bentley; Wolfgang Müller-Pietralla, Leader VW Future Research; Michael Robinson, Design Director, Stile Bertone; Andreas Stump, Head of Advanced Interior Design, Citroën; Romulus Rost, Chief Interior Designer, Volkswagen Advanced Design, Potsdam; and Euan Sey, Editor of Interior Motives magazine. The competition is open to students enrolled at any accredited undergraduate or graduate design degree programme, both in automotive and non-automotive disciplines – those studying fashion design, industrial design, architecture and other similar fields are also eligible.