Corto is usually a very well-behaved Italian. Very masculine, wonderfully elegant, and with a soundtrack that makes every tunnel feel like an event. The 3.5L straight-six is an absolute delight to listen to, and honestly, it might be one of the most comfortable classic GT cars I’ve driven as well.
Most of its adventures are fairly civilised. C…Read More

Corto — 1963 Maserati Sebring 3500 GTi – Blacktag Octane

Corto arrived without noise or ceremony. A Maserati built for distance rather than drama — tailored lines, long gears, and an engine that speaks softly until it matters. This is not a restoration st...

blacktagoctane.com

For the next few days, I’ll be stepping away from the workshop and spending some time in Portsmouth.
Not because I’ve grown tired of old cars.😁
Quite the opposite.
One of the things I enjoy most about classic cars is that they encourage you to learn skills that many people have forgotten. Whether it’s adjusting brakes, setting ignition timing,…Read More

The last time the Joker left the workshop, it came home through three days of torrential rain during the Bugatti Reliability Run.

It survived.

But not without a few complaints.

A slipping clutch. Starter motor troubles. A growing list of jobs that needed attention before the next adventure.

And the next adventure is a big one.

In…Read More

What a fantastic experience. I was lucky to drive the Joker for three days through everything from glorious sunshine to storms and torrential rain.

We had a few issues along the way, but nothing serious enough to stop us from finishing the rally and getting back every night.

There are still repairs to do, of course, but I suppose that’s p…Read More

+13

I’m currently in Romania visiting my parents! Despite the five-hour drive, I was very determined to show you guys, and myself at the same time 😄, the biggest car collection in Romania, belonging to the richest man in the country, Ion Țiriac!

The livestream can be found on my YouTube channel. I was astonished by the condition of both the cars an…Read More

I bought the UK’s cheapest Rover P4, and if I’m honest, it wasn’t because it made perfect sense at the time. It wasn’t a carefully planned purchase, and it definitely wasn’t the kind of car most people would look at and think, “Yes, that’s the one.” But there was something about it that stuck with me. I didn’t buy it because it was a good idea……Read More

Here are a few more photos from the last video:

I think I can safely say this was, by far, the best car experience I’ve had at Prescott Hill Climb. Even though it wasn’t a proper race, I can’t really imagine racing a car like this. Just knowing its value would be enough to add a bit of pressure. And to be hones…Read More

So here is a scenario. You have unlimited money but you have to spend it on a brand new 25 plate modern car of your preferred/favorite brand (That is still a company in 2025). For me it would be the Mercedes Benz Maybach S680 First Class. Not that I ever would as even if I had that kind of money to spend on a car I would always buy a classic. If…Read More

This isn’t a Bugatti you see every day…
it’s a Bugatti… with a built-in trailer 😳

Not mine, nor Colin’s, just stumbled across this absolute oddity.
Long-distance touring, 1930s style.
Because apparently luggage space wasn’t negotiable.
Would you actually use this… or is this where elegance went a bit too far? 😏

New video is live on my YouTube channel!

It was meant to go up tomorrow, but I accidentally set the wrong date 😅

This was my first drive in the Type 51 at Prescott during the Garden Party, and it was absolutely incredible, a big thank you to Colin for all his support and for trusting me to drive such a special car.

Here are a few photos…Read More

+2

The Bugs are ready for day 2..and so are we. So far, the sun is shining! Sun or not, surely will be a good day! 😍

Having an absolute blast surrounded by pre-war Bugattis…while working on fresh content that I’ll be sharing with you very soon.
Our main character is the Joker.
And together, we’re taking on modern roads… and unforgiving conditions.
The Joker series starts on the 27th of January.
Stay tuned 😉

Today we took Black Betty and her sister to a car meet! The silver XK120 FHC hasn’t been out for over a year; we were almost sure it wouldn’t start… but she didn’t disappoint. Since it still doesn’t have a name, I’m thinking ‘Holy Moly’ 🙂 and yes, she’s a keeper but we have some work to do on it. Over 50mph, the electric power steering is quite scary :))

I tried something new on Saturday …my first livestream on the channel.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it actually turned out really well.
I was genuinely surprised by how many of you joined, interacted, and asked questions, it made the whole experience much more enjoyable.

I’m really glad you enjoyed it.

If you missed it, you can…Read More

New video on the channel! We finally finished with the brakes on the Talbot lago, AKA Jessica Rabbit! Of course, we are still missing one drum, but we’ve been promised, after months of waiting, that we should get the new drum in a couple of weeks!

Link here:

A fantastic day out with Betty, surrounded by fascinating cars — most of them Triumphs! I love garage open days, as we get to meet interesting and very knowledgeable people.

+7

I’m very excited to share this news with you!
Last weekend at Prescott was the Annual Prize Giving, and I was awarded the Elizabeth Junek Trophy — for a BOC lady driver, for meritorious performance during the season, not necessarily while driving a Bugatti.
It feels like yesterday when I was standing at the start line for the first time — nervo…Read More

+4

Retromobile is full of extraordinary machines.

I came here for a challenge — hunting small parts and value — but it’s impossible not to stop and admire what’s around you.

From beautifully restored classics to things you rarely see in one place… including the Bugatti railcar.

This place reminds you how wide the world of engineering really is.

Bugatti railcar! From the 88 trains built by Bugatti, today, only one example remains – “Le Présidentiel”, which was one of the first railcars delivered by Bugatti to be operated by ETAT

After miles of walking through Retromobile and trying my very best negotiating skills, I realised something quite quickly…
If you’re looking for rare parts, this really is the place to come.
But it also comes at the right price — and often more than that.
When you see how much the sellers have to pay just to stand here, it suddenly makes sense…Read More

+10

Episode 1 is live.

I’m trying to turn scrap into £1,000…
so I can buy my first classic car to restore.

No sponsors.
No safety net.
Just machines nobody wants and a lot of work.

This is the first step in that journey.
Full video here:
👉

More updates coming soon.

We have a new beauty in our garage, Black Betty! This is one of the only 2 ever made Triumph Dolomites 8c ever made and the first video is like on my youtube channel, link here:

The Lagonda had her first proper public moment this week.

I shared a few photos and thoughts in her group — felt right to keep it there.

This was my first proper drive with a pre-war Lagonda — and yes, it has a crash gearbox.
There’s a reason they’re sometimes called dog crash boxes:
no synchromesh, no forgiveness, and absolutely no rushing.

Nothing works the way you expect.
You listen. You wait. You learn — usually the hard way.

This video isn’t about getting it perfect.…Read More

This year marked my first full year on YouTube —
and in many ways, the beginning of something much bigger.

I arrived here curious, slightly nervous, and determined to do things properly —
even if I didn’t yet know what properly meant for me.

Over the months, I learned not just how to film or edit,
but how to listen —
to the cars, to the…Read More

As the year draws to a close, it feels like the right moment to pause.
Blacktag Octane started as a simple idea — to document the work, the learning, the patience, and the quiet moments that come with keeping historic cars alive. Along the way, it has become something shared.
To everyone who has followed this journey, watched the videos, read a…Read More

A new episode of Jessie’s adventure is now live on Youtube! Let me know your opinion about it!

I wanted to share some photos from the rally I just posted on Youtube. Gromit did an amazing job, though there’s still a bit more work to do. 🙂

Hey! This is the last race of the season, a day and night event—and probably my first time racing in rainy conditions. This year, I haven’t been as active in racing, choosing to focus more on cultural rallies. But next year, I plan to shift my focus back to racing and garage work, and travel a bit less. Maybe I’ll even try a different race car! <…Read More

Here are some photos from Switzerland, capturing the rally that truly tested Gromit’s spirit. Don’t get me wrong, he completed the rally—facing sun, rain, and even snow—nothing could stop Gromit. Still, he was pretty tired after all that! 🙂

+13

I’m excited to share my experience of driving a pre-war car for the first time. This is Gromit, a 1929 Bugatti Type 43A. As you saw in the previous video, we fully restored this beauty. Now it’s time to take it for a spin!

🚗 The Gromit Lives Again! 🔧
After months of patience, parts, and plenty of tea… the Gromit’s engine is finally rebuilt and roaring again!
Join us tonight at 6 PM for the full video — a look at how this classic heart was brought back to life.

From seized bolts to first fire-up, it’s been a journey worth every turn of the wrenc…Read More

Hey everyone!

I’ve been doing some thinking over the past few weeks, and I’m super excited to announce that I’m starting a new video series called “Her Car Restoration Diary.” In this series, I’ll be sharing my adventures and everything I learn about classic and vintage cars.

I’ve got some exciting projects lined up, but I wanted to make su…Read More

Hey there! 👋

I hope you’re all doing well! I wanted to take a moment to apologize for not being around much lately. Life has kept me super busy, but I’m really excited about some changes that are coming your way. 😊

I’ve been getting some great advice from marketing experts and am putting my own spin on things. I can’t wait to share some…Read More

It was a tough choice to sell my daily car to get tires for my race car! Taking risks like that can definitely be challenging. I’m really curious—do you think it was worth it in the end?

Because historic cars are not just about sitting in a garage collecting dust, but about collecting memories—preferably ones that don’t involve getting pulled over!

So, which vintage ride makes your heart race? Let’s hear about your favorite! 🚗✨

NEW VIDEO‼️
One of the most challenging rallies I ever been to, hailstorm vs vintage Grand-prix Bugatti 😬

We took Patsy, the 1954 Jaguar XK120, out for her very first drive test, and what a journey it turned out to be. It’s always tough when things don’t go as planned, and we experienced quite a few breakdowns along the way. But every challenge is a part of the adventure, and we’ll get her running smoothly in no time.ned, and we experienced quite a f…Read More

Hey there! What do you think about this lovely 1954 Jaguar XK120? We’re just about to take it out for its first drive, and I can’t help but wonder if it might surprise us in some fun ways. Any thoughts?der if it might surprise us in some fun ways. Any thoughts?

Hey everyone! 🌟 I just uploaded a new video on my YouTube channel, and I’d love your thoughts on this awesome Jaguar XK120! It was once raced by the incredible lady racer Patsy Burt. Check it out and let me know what you think! 😊

Yesterday at the VSCC Event at Prescott!

Hi there! I will be publishing a new video today on my YouTube channel at around 6:20 PM.

My Youtube Channel

New video here today

https://www.youtube.com/@BlondyBlacktagOctane

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