Editorial

‘Camoradi’ (for CAsner MOtor RAcing DIvision) is one of those team names from the ‘50s and ‘60s, like Ecurie Ecosse, Scuderia Filipinetti and N.A.R.T that can set the spine tingling, conjuring as it does, black and white images of bygone heroes competing on the world’s finest circuits in cars that are now worth millions. ‘Le Mans Streamliner’ is another expression from that era and for the years prior to the introduction of the two chicanes on the famous Mulsanne straight, manufacturers vied to produce the fastest - and often most bizarrely-bodied - cars for this one 24 Hours event. A phenomenon that exhibited itself from the ‘Tank’ Bugattis of the 1930s to its zenith perhaps with the long-tail factory Porsche 917s of 1971 that achieved nearly a 240mph maximum. Prior to the Tipo 61 Birdcage, Maserati had produced for the 1957 race the 450S Coupé with aerodynamic bodywork designed by Englishman Frank Costin (and built by Zagato – not quite to the original design…), but in 1960 Camoradi, Le Mans aerodynamics and Maserati collided to produce one of the strangest-looking cars ever. We are fortunate to be able to give you the full story below. When you are next driving down a rain-swept motorway in your 21st Century saloon, try imagining what it must have been like in 1960 at night, in the wet, looking through 5 foot of opaque, oil-smeared perspex - at 170 mph.

There are motoring tours and there are motoring tours, and let’s face it any gathering of like-minded individuals in nice cars driving in the sunshine with the prospect of fine bed and board ahead is going to be pretty good. But the official Ferrari 275 Tour to be held in June this year to mark the type’s 40th Anniversary is looking pretty special. Five days in Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna at early summertime is idyllic, but combine that with being Ferrari 275-mounted and staying at the finest hotels and you have an irresistible reason to buy a car simply to do the Tour. We’ve included our ‘Classic Car of the Week’ Ferrari 275 feature for you to choose the version to suit and I see we have five cars to choose from in the Classic Driver car database. Come on, what are you waiting for!

I’m off to look at the new Maserati Quattroporte tonight – full impressions next week.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

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Mercedes-Benz CLK 50K Kleeman

navigation system, Xenon lights, sports suspension, 19 inch alloys, bi-xenon headlights, Bose sound, CD auto-changer, climate control, comand, electric memory seats, park distance, sat nav, sports design seats, traction control, wheel mounted controls, Kleemann front and rear spoilers, speed sensitive suspension, supercharger, engine derestricted, UK supplied, keyless go, 508bhp, 2 owners


colour Obsidian Black
interior colour Black/Graphite Leather
drive LHD
year 9/2002
mileage 17.703 km / 11.000 m


price 54.950 GBP

Dealership:

Avro Motor Cars
(By appointment only): The Circuit Centre, Avro Way, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0YT, United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0) 1932 352220

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Porsche 911 '74 Carrera RS 3.0 litre

One of only 54 Carrera RS 3.0 litres, this car was retained by the factory as a development car and then sold to Herbert Muller who used it on the road and track, including 3rd place at the Norisring. The car was then sold to Pallavincini for the 1975 season, he entered it in the German and European GT championships, with good results and Le Mans. Ricardo Patrese raced the car in the Giro d'Italia. This is a superb example of the best roadgoing 911 of them all complete with FIA papers and a full engine rebuild


colour White/Gold
interior colour Black
drive LHD
year 1974

price 136.660 GBP


Dealership:

Taylor & Crawley
32 Wilton Row, London, SW1X 7NS, United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0) 20 7823 2599

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

Barons Classic, Collectors, Thoroughbred and Sports Car Auction, Esher UK
2-3rd February 2004

Christie’s Sale at Retromobile, Paris, France
14th February 2004

Retromobile, Paris, France
13-22nd February 2004

International Historic Motorsport Show 2004, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, UK
20-22nd February 2004

H&H Classic Auctions, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, UK
21st February 2004

Bonhams & Goodman Auction, Sydney, Australia
29th February 2004

Bonhams Auction, RAF Museum, Hendon, UK
1st March 2004

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