Editorial

“They’re great cars – you really ought to get one”. So said a well-known British Ferrari collector to a youthful Editor some 25 years ago. Nodding sagely I agreed, “Yes you’re right, the 512M and the SWB’s nice but the Daytona is something else”. The Ferrari in question was the famous ex-Maranello Concessionaires Cambridge Blue/Red car having been driven on the road to a Ferrari Concours meeting near Goodwood in the 70s. Always an expensive car, the price it was worth then would probably make you cry now and interestingly, at a time when the road-going 365GTB/4 was just going out of production, it didn’t seem an awful lot more than the street version. Well, Bonhams have got a cracker next week at the Gstaad Sale, a car with Le Mans History and ready to go Historic Racing in 2004. Pricewise, while ‘normal’ Daytonas are still ticking along at sub-£100k the true racing machinery can go for 10 times this amount – was that really the case in 1978, or is my memory deceiving me?

I‘ve finally had the chance to take a good look at the definitive Bentley Continental book we previewed in Classic Driver some weeks ago. A beautiful objet d’art, it not only tells the fascinating story of the car, but also of some of the car’s owners and their particular vehicle’s special specifications. And for those who decry the queue-jumping and celebrity placement of modern supercars I can assure you it’s not a modern phenomenon. Under the British ‘export or die’ fiscal regime of the day, all the cars were intended for sale outside the United Kingdom - but in actual fact a fair number made their way to the Swiss, or Cote d’Azur, addresses of British businessmen or aristocracy. I cannot recommend the book enough.

Finally, having attended the opening reception of the Earl’s Court, London ‘MPH03’ extravaganza starring BBC TV’s Jeremy Clarkson, I can report that it does get you in the Christmas Party mood, and that it’s also a good opportunity to see some cars like the Pagani Zonda, Koenigsegg and new Rolls-Royce Phantom at close hand. The big Rolls is all the more impressive as you stand next to it, or play plutocrats sitting in the back. Clarkson rates it as being the first time the company could genuinely call one of its models the ‘best car in the world’ and I have to say this example, finished in two-tone blue/grey, looked an awful lot better than in the magazine shots. The show’s only on for this weekend so you better act quickly.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

Coppa Milano-Sanremo – March 2004

The organisers have already recieved over 150 entries for the second historical revival of the Coppa Milano-Sanremo scheduled to take place from 12 to 14 March 2004, organized by MAC Events in collaboration with Meet Comunicazione and with the support of the Milan Automobile Club...

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New Audi A8 3.0 Multitronic announced for the UK

This month Audi has yet again proved deserving of its reputation for Vorsprung durch Technik with the launch of the new A8 3.0 multitronic, the first ever luxury saloon to benefit from the major gains in performance, fuel economy and emissions offered by step-less CVT transmission...

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PREMIUM OFFERS

Aston Martin DB7 Zagato

6 speed, Metallic pack, smoke ribbed headlining, Black carpet piped Claret, heated front screen, fire extinguisher, aluminium steering wheel, powerfold mirrors, red brake calipers.

One of only 99 produced. Available now.


colour Mercury Grey
interior colour Claret Analine hide
drive RHD
VAT Yes (17.5%)

price P.O.R.

Dealership:

Murray Motor Company
Bankhead Drive, Sighthill, Edinburgh, EH11 4DJ, United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)131-442 2800

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Ferrari 500 Superfast Speciale ex-Prince Bernhard, one-off

For Sale by Auction 19 Dec 2003
18:00 Motor Cars - Palace Hotel,
Gstaad, Switzerland


colour Verde Pino - Green Metallic
interior colour Tan
drive LHD
year 1964
Chassis No. 6267 SF

price estimate 400.000 - 500.000 SFR


Dealership:

Bonhams Exceptional Ferrari Motor Cars, Gstaad 19 Dec
10 Rue Blavignac, 1227 Carouge, Geneva

Phone +41 (0) 22 300 3160

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Poulain Le Fur, Automobilia Auction, Paris
14th December 2003

Bonhams Europe Auction, Gstaad, Switzerland
19th December 2003

InterClassics Show, Maastricht, Belgium
9-11th January 2004

Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auction, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
23-24th January 2004

see further event details

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