Past event

Jimena de la Frontera Members of SOL classic car club attended a classic car meeting in lovely village near Sotogrande, Jimena de la Frontera organised by Dominic and his team from Automocion Jimena. Few car clubs and private owner came together for a lovely day in beautiful mountain village, enjoying an excellent display of cars. Old classics, new classics, few American classics and few projects. Also few old motorbikes were present. The cars, music and paella, what an excellent day.

Wednesday 15. May 2024 In May 2004 was the first ever SOL classic car club run. As we continue through our anniversary year,  for Wednesday 15. May, SOL CCC had a run with something a little bit different. This day was about the appreciation of our classic cars and sharing the enthusiasm with others. Classic Car meetings in England are normally held in big country houses where cars are displayed for the public enjoyment and everyone has a good time at the fair or market. Traditionally everyone brings a picnic. This love for classic cars and meetings brings us to having a classic car club in the first place. We haven’t found a country house on the coast, however the great news is that we have found an even better wonderful and fun destination offering everything. We found a CASTLE with beautiful surroundings and spectacular views. We met for a late breakfast at El Sota Marbella  restaurant hidden in the mountains. Just getting to the restaurant was a nice morning adventure full of excellent views of the see and mountains where most of us don’t go very often. An ideal location with a fantastic views from the balcony.  This car run was a change from our normal format as we decided to celebrate not with the usual restaurant meal, but with a ‘Picnic in the park’.  A total of thirty-four people enjoyed our 20th anniversary run through the hills above Mijas taking in some of the best roads and views this coast has to offer. Fifteen cars cruised through the countryside enjoying a leisurely run. This run was short and easy as we had few older classic cars attending. We stopped at the Buddhist Stupa in Benalmadena for the traditional Cava break and spectacular views. Tourists passing by were treated to the extra attraction of the classic cars parked alongside the Stupa itself.  From there we took the short trip down the hill to our chosen picnic spot, El Castillo de Colomares. Carlos, the owner of the privately built homage to Columbus, provided us with a beautiful lawn area offering uninterrupted views of the castle itself as well as far-reaching views over the coast between Fuengirola and Benalmadena.  People brought ‘picnics’ which varied from original 1950’s picnic boxes to hampers which would rival “Harrods” in their quality and size. One spread looked fit for a king and fitted perfectly with the theme of the day. Thank you all for attending what was a magnificent day out. Thank you Carlos for your hospitality, help and co-operation for our visit. It was a truly enjoyable day and celebration for the SOL classic car club. El Castillo de Colomares. Is open to the public and a great value place offering both culture and beauty during visit.  If you would like to join like-minded people with a love of the classic cars, please email solclassic2004@mail.com Reported by Kirk Green

Wednesday the 19th June 2024 at the Green Label restaurant, Chaparral Golf club. SOL Classic Car C lub had an excellent start to our anniversary year so we decided to welcome the summer in a different way. On Wednesday the 19th of June we held a Summer Party and we had an excellent afternoon.  This year we joined up with the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club and met at the Green Label Restaurant, Chaparral Golf. The team at the Green Label prepared a brilliant menu for our celebration. Over sixty people came to experience a delightful menu served overlooking the fairways and mountains of Mijas. New friendships were formed and old ones revitalized during one of our biggest and best meetings of the year. With the theme of summer colour there was no shortage of amazing outfits worn by both men and ladies.  An amazing success which showcased the advantages of inter club collaboration.   As many tourists are traveling to Spain for Sun and relaxation, SOL classic car club will be working over the summer to come up with more delightful and innovative classic car activities ready for you, commencing September the 11th. We are on Summer break. If you would like to join us in September, please email solclassic2004@mail.com Kirk and Gabriela Green

After the rain on the Costa del Sol the mountains have been transformed, bursting with colourful display of flowers. From white, yellow to red and purple.  So as to see Spanish Spring at its best the  SOL classic car club met at Venta El Tunel from where we travelled into the mountains and were able to enjoy empty roads, admire the myriad of colours, be amazed by the contrasts and vibrancy of the scenery.  The vibrant poppies swaying in the breeze with the  backround of the dazzling white snow peaks of the Sierra Nevada. On the other side of the hills is the small white village of Casabermeja, one of Spains white mountain villages, where locals enjoyed watching the cars pass through.   On their way down a refreshment stop at restaurant La Huerta was very welcome. From there it was an easy run on smooth sweeping roads to reservoir La Vinuela and onward to the coast where participants where welcomed with a glass of cold Cava at the beach. The trip finnished with a lunch at the excellent restaurant Candado Beach. This turned out to be an excellent choice and we where seated on the frontline on the beach enjoying the sound of the waves and a cooling breeze as we ate. Another successful and highly enjoyable outing for the SOL classic car club. If you would like to join like-minded people with a love of the classic cars and a great day out, please email solclassic2004@mail.com. Report by Gabi Green

Day at The Museum. Motor and Fashion museum Malaga  SOL CCC organised a trip to the Motor Museum of Malaga as our March activity. This museum is housed in one of Malaga´s most architecturally iconic buildings – the old tobacco factory constructed in 1927. It opened in 2010 as the Automobile Museum and was re-branded in 2021 as the Automobile and Fashion Museum.   The museum is a home to a private collection of Portuguese businessman Joao Magalhaes. The collection is worth around 25 million euros and is one of the most important vintage car collections in the world.  It houses more than 80 vintage and modern cars, displayed alongside fashionable clothing and travel memorabilia from the 20s, 30s 40s and 50s for the non-car fans. There is also a collection of 300 vintage hats from all the great fashion houses: Chanel, Dior, Lanvin, Balmain – there’s even a replica of Dali´s ‘shoe hat’.   There are ten themed areas covering different eras, such as Belle Epoque, Art Deco 30s, Dolce Vita 50s and English Tradition. You can also find more contemporary Alternative Energy vehicles, including solar and Hydrogen power car. There is a black Rolls-Royce customised with Swarovski crystals. Bling!  The museum also hosts fine examples of Bugatti, Auburn, Bentley, Jaguar, Ferrari and Mercedes. Many of the vehicles are customised ‘one offs’ which makes this collection different and exciting.   If you haven’t been, this is an excellent opportunity. We started the car run on the coast at Marbella and went via mountain roads above Marbella and continued via the valleys of Alhaurin El Grande and Alhaurin Del A Torre. On our way, some of us had a quick coffee stop at Miralmonte Restaurant, where we admired 1965 Bentley. 18 of us then regrouped in front of the museum in Malaga. It was a brilliant experience “Day at the Museum”, and we highly recommend a visit. We finished the day with an excellent lunch in the nearby  Chiringuito ‘Gutierrez Playa’ on Malaga beach. If you would like to join us for the next time, email solclassic2004@mail.com Thank you to Angela Veglio for organizing this trip. 

February car run had a theme of “Castles, Knights and Fair Maidens” to mark this day. Leaving at 11am the crews departed in their classic cars to drive 135km passing nine of the 24 castles in the Malaga Province, some having been restored, some in ruins and even a folly. The first to be passed near Alhaurin el Grande roundabout was the folly La Mota Castle – a water tower built to feed a golf course still to be built. Then onto the Fahala Castle, Castillo de Cartama, Pizzarra  Castle, Alora Castle, Bobastro Castle and Castillo de Pena built by the Moors. Driving onto El burgo and the Castillo de Turon, then Casarbonela Castle. Group of 28 people had an excellent day driving through the Ardales countryside and some of our members even dress up for the occasion. The car run finish with a fabulous medieval style lunch at Casa Nelly Restaurant in the shadow of Alora Castle.  Prices have been given for the best costumes, red flowers and chocolates for all the ladies. Everybody had great day. If you would like to join us for great day out, email solclassic2004@mail.com  Thank you to Gwen Howe and Martin Hall for organizing this fabulous day.

SOL Classic Car Club – Start Of There 20th Anniversary year. We had excellent start to the new year, weather was on our side on the 10 of January – a rather fresh morning. We enjoyed a great figure of 8 route through the scenic coastal and mountains roads of Sierra de Mijas, east part of Villafranco del Guadalhorce and close to the 1074m high Castiillejos mountain.. The 120km drive left Calahonda at 11am passing Mijas Golf, Higueron, Mijas Peublo, Camino de Valtocado, then onto Alhaurin el Grande, Coin, Gauro, Monda, Entrerrios, through the ever developing La Cala Golf valley and up to La Mairena with its stunning views towards Gibraltar and Morocco, completing the drive along the A7 to Calahonda.  The most beautiful hills and sea views of this area. We had our breakfast start at “The Almond Plaice” in El Zoco Calahonda and the coffee stop was near the Rio Grande at the “Coin Carvery at The Pig” and a refreshing Cava/soft drink stop above Elviria. Arriving back in Calahonda we had wonderful 3 course lunch at La Plaza Beach Restaurant in Dona Lola complex, the first time the club has used this venue in a beautiful seafront setting with stunning coastal views. The club welcomed new members Teppo and Virpi who had driven there superb 38 year old Mercedes Benz 190E from Finland and they thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and event. We had some friends with us as well. All support welcome. Big thank you to Mike Glithero and Sue Gerrard for organizing the whole day and it was a pleasure to be part of it. Mike also organised the SOL CCC to have an article in Connection Magazine. Don’t forget to pick up  the next issue. If you are keen to enjoy a great day like this email solclassic2004@mail.com