Classic Motoring
One of the main areas in my freelance career is working as a classic car journalist - an unplanned but highly enjoyable path for me that began with the purchase of a 1957 Standard 8 known as Henry.
I bought Henry when I was 24 years old and my choice in vehicle surprised a good number of people. Upon joining the Standard Motor Club, I was asked to supply a photograph and a few scribbled paragraphs in addition to my membership form. This wasn't a requirement to join, the club were simply curious as to why I'd chosen a Standard 8 from 1957 as my first car.
I've always been intrigued by older cars. They somehow feel familiar, relatable, more charismatic. With that first attempt at writing down why I'd chosen to become a classic car owner, my career in motoring journalism began. The club asked me to keep writing articles, even though at the time, I had only a provisional license. These articles became an online blog before continuing on as a series of articles in the 'Our Classics' section of Classic Car Weekly and then, in turn, kick-starting everything else I've done as a classic car journalist. If only Henry & I had known what we were starting when we stood under the Forth Railway Bridge for our first picture together!
Since then I’ve written numerous motoring articles and acted as photographer for several publications including the newspapers Classic Car Weekly and Classic Car Buyer as well as the magazines FastFacts (quarterly newsletter for the Speed Record Club), Practical Classics and Land Rover Owner International. I've also worked as a contributor for the websites www.autoclassics.com, www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk, the Facebook page for the Bluebird Supporter's Club and prewarcar.com. I also write my own blogs - Quick Thinking and Henry & I - on this website www.gilliancarmoodie.com.
In January 2017 I was delighted to contribute to an A5 booklet entitled 'Remembering Donald Campbell - The Man and his Legacy' which was published by the Speed Record Club as part of a series of events that marked the 50th anniversary of Campbell's final attempt for 300mph in his jet hydroplane Bluebird K7.
I’m also currently working on a book that looks into 1950's motoring within Britain. This has involved significant archive research and is a long-term project alongside my other freelance commitments.
Meantime, you can see examples of my written work via the Downloads page as well as my motoring photography portfolio below.
You can read the adventures of Henry & I via our blog on the next page as well as some of my online work at the following links:
Memories of My Father: Why This Rolls-Royce Means Everything - By Gillian Carmoodie for www.motorious.com - March 2019
https://www.motorious.com/articles/news/307589/memories-of-my-father-why-this-rolls-royce-means-everything
Life with a £50 Alfa Romeo - By Gillian Carmoodie for www.autoclassics.com - February 2019
https://www.autoclassics.com/posts/reviews/bangernomics-alfa-romeo-156
20 Years of Noble - A Noble Cause? By Gillian Carmoodie for www.autoclassics.com - January 2019
https://www.autoclassics.com/posts/reviews/20-years-of-noble
The Incredible Story of America's Lost 1939 Antarctic Snow Cruiser - By Gillian Carmoodie for www.autoclassics.com - Dec 2018
https://www.autoclassics.com/posts/reviews/1939-antarctic-snow-cruiser
Classified Hero: 1937 Lagonda LG45 Rapide - By Gillian Carmoodie for www.autoclassics.com - March 2018
https://www.autoclassics.com/posts/reviews/classifieds-hero-1937-lagonda-lg45-rapide
Montlhery Revival in a 1913 Nazzaro - By Gillian Carmoodie for www.autoclassics.com - November 2017
https://www.autoclassics.com/posts/reviews/montlhery-revival-1913-nazzaro
Why You Want: The Ford Sierra XR4i - By Gillian Carmoodie on www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk - January 2017
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/blog/opinion/why-you-want-the-ford-sierra-xr4i
Inside Donald Campbell's Personal Garage - By Gillian Carmoodie for www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk - January 2017
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/blog/opinion/inside-donald-campbells-personal-garage
Land Rovers at the NEC Classic Car Show - Photo Gallery by Gillian Carmoodie for www.lro.com - November 2016
https://www.lro.com/blog/news/land-rover/1611/land-rovers-at-the-nec-classic-car-show-live-report
Top Cars from the NEC - Photo Gallery by Gillian Carmoodie for www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk - November 2016
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/blog/events/top-cars-from-the-nec
Celebrating Donald Campbell in Piccadilly - Article/Photo Gallery by Gillian Carmoodie - November 2016
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/blog/events/donald-campbell-book-launch
Is It Time to Love the Rover 100? - Article by Calum Brown/Photography by Gillian Carmoodie - October 2016
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/blog/advice/is-it-time-to-love-the-rover-100
Motoring Photography Portfolio
