An Alfa, the Brecon Beacons & some cool tunes

When Cardiff band Winter Villains were looking for a stylish classic car for their new music video, they approached the fine chaps at Retro Cars magazine who recommended Great Escape Classic Car Hire.



The team at On-Par Productions chose our Alfa Romeo Spider for the shoot in the beautiful Brecon Beacons. The car's retro cool design and burgundy red paintwork seemed to work well with the winter scenery, as these photos from the shoot show. Despite poor weather and battling with the Alfa's notoriously weedy ventilation, the car performed faultlessly during filming. 



The production team and the band expressed their thanks for our help and assistance throughout the shoot.  Now we're looking forward to seeing the finished video - watch out for it too as Winter Villains' previous single is excellent.



Great Escape Classic Car Hire regularly provides cars for TV, film, video and advertising shoots across the UK, using its own fleet of 80 cars as well as vehicles sourced specifically for client requirements.  We run a dedicated website for production companies at www.greatescapetvcars.co.uk which lists our cars by type, colour and age.  For more details visit the website, call 01527 893733 or email tvcars@greatescapecars.co.uk.

You can view our full range of classic cars to hire at www.greatescapecars.co.uk.

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Fabulous role for a Morris Minor Van

With a little help from Great Escape Cars a characterful blue Morris Minor van is the third star of a new TV series of The Fabulous Baker Brothers.  We sourced and provided the 1971 van through our specialist TV, film and production car business and it was used for six weeks filming between August and November 2012 at locations across England.

Great Escape project managed the supply of the van throughout the production from initial contact with the film company right through to final filming.  We sourced a suitable van of the right colour, age and specification, negotiated with the vehicle's owner and then worked to the client's schedule for delivery and collection of the van to various locations.  Using our dedicated transport facilities we delivered the car to locations in London, Devon, Cotswolds, North East and Yorkshire and provided ongoing support for the crew.  The van was sourced quickly to a tight deadline and we regularly adapted our schedule to accommodate the inevitable changes to the film shoot schedule.

Great Escape regularly provides all types of vehicles to the film, TV, production and advertising sector.  Our ability to source virtually any vehicle from our own classic car hire fleet or through our contacts, plus our nationwide transport service, means we can work to even the most demanding requirements.  For more information on our TV, film and production car supply services call 01527 893733 email tvcars@greatescapecars.co.uk or visit http://www.greatescapetvcars.co.uk.

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Classic cars: money pit or gold mine?

If your classic car is beginning to feel more like a noose around your neck rather than a dream drive, help could be close at hand.  Great Escape is looking for owners to join its growing network of classic cars for hire and production work.  It’s a chance for your car to pay its way rather than get in the way.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire provides cars for hire and TV, film and production work, and you can choose how you want your car to be used.  70% of the 80 hire cars on Great Escape’s rental fleet are hired on behalf of classic car owners and the company is also a major supplier of classic cars to the film and advertising sector, including shows such as the Antiques Road Trip.  The company has seen significant growth since it was set up in 2006 and is now looking for new owners and cars to satisfy customer demand.  In particular Great Escape would like to add cars like Mustangs, Corvettes, classic Ferraris and Lotus Esprits to its classic car hire fleet.
Owners who want to offer their cars for hire can work with Great Escape Classic Car Hire in one of two ways – either placing their car with one of the company’s existing sites or become part of the company’s Owner Operator network and work from home or a local unit.  Income varies depending on the route chosen but Great Escape will provide a financial forecast to help you assess the opportunity.  Great Escape gives you access to specialist insurance and breakdown cover as part of the package.  Whichever route you choose, the relationship is governed by a comprehensive Owner Agreement and all cars are hired subject to a strict Operators Manual, which brings together Great Escape’s experience with hiring cars to the public.
If you don’t fancy the idea of letting someone else drive your car then you can opt to make it available for TV, film and production work only.  This involves leasing the car to the production company for a day or sometimes several weeks.  Great Escape Classic Car Hire has just completed a six week contract to provide a Morris Minor van for a TV series. When you make your car available to Great Escape in this way you can accept or reject an opportunity on a case by case basis.  Great Escape’s experience working with production companies ensures the risks are minimised.
“Classic cars are an expensive hobby,” explains Graham Eason of Great Escape, “and we are finding more and more people coming to us to earn an income to cover their costs.  Because we operate across the full range of income opportunities from classic car hire to production work, owners can work with us in the way that suits them best.
“Our experience working with classic car owners, hirers and production companies means we have developed a system that maximises hire income but minimises the risks.  We are careful who we work with, and who we hire to.”
For more details on Great Escape’s classic car hire business visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk.  For the production business visit http://www.greatescapetvcars.co.uk.  Or call 01527 893733 for an information pack.

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