Editorial

An earlier Classic Inside this week to allow for the extended holiday.

Looking at the advanced preview of the forthcoming all-Aston Auction at Newport Pagnell reminds me of a time nine years ago when I turned up one morning at a Goodwood circuit yet to see Lord March’s wonderful makeover. Sitting on the track, in front of the one pit still standing, was the most glorious site - the prototype DB7 ‘GT Racer’. Magnificent in Aston Green with yellow nose strip and black wheels, the car really looked ‘the business’ and taking the wheel for an extremely short drive (I remember it took a long time fitting treaded rain tyres for Stirling Moss - he doesn’t even practice on slicks you see) the car seemed to be the most suitable mount for the prospective ‘Gentleman Racers’ lined up to drive it, with a view to a series run as support for perhaps Grand Prix meetings of the day - I can’t remember the details.

What I do remember was the most beautifully finished car I had ever seen, complete with leather-covered roll cage, racing seats and diamond-pattern stitched transmission tunnel cover. Its performance suited the fast Sussex circuit, requiring a smooth style and total dedication to the fast sweeping bends making the most of alloys, slick tyres and massively powerful brakes. The more brutal acceleration of the lightweight DB4s we were familiar with would have been useful out of the chicane, but those older cars with excess power over roadholding were a handful on the back of the circuit. In short, a beautifully poised car that the insertion of a tuned V12 would have made a very useful tool indeed. It’s a shame the proposed series never came to anything because a full grid of these cars driven on the limit would have been quite a sight.

Very much like the howling pack of modified DB4s, mostly metallic green, and some driven by seriously fast professional drivers such as Mike Wilds, Tony Dron and of course Michael Salmon in the 80s and 90s. Salmon’s regular car, owned by Lord Downe and prepared by RSW, was a regular winner and try as we may to beat him, for many years he was ‘the man’. Now his old car is for sale at the auction as well. Metallic Green, and prepared and finished as well as the ‘7, you can take your pick of new or old Aston racers modified from road-cars that never saw International competition in period. Later this year will see the debut of the DB9 that will be raced at the top-level as well as being available for collectors, and my money is on the main effort not being in the traditional green livery. Let’s wait and see.

Wishing you all an enjoyable Spring break.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

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PREMIUM OFFERS

Ford GT 40 Mk I

Chassis # 1065 was despatched in December 1966, to The Ford Merchandising Department in Dearborn, USA, to help promote sales of unsold cars. It was then delivered in 1967 to its first owner, Mr Charles Hill of Dallas, Texas. The car then passed to Mr Andy Harman for a few months in 1969 before being sold to English collector, Mr Nicholas Shrigley-Fiegl in 1970. After owning the car for ten years, Mr Shrigley-Fiegl set about a two-year restoration in 1980-82. With the restoration complete and only 2035 miles still recorded the car was then sold to Mr William Loughran in 1984. William registered the car XGA 1 later changing it to the number GT40, which he acquired from Paul Vesty. The car then passed in the mid-eighties to via Mr R Allen to Mr Baker in 1989, when Christies inspected the car and reported the mileage to be still only showing 2596 miles. Returning again to The USA, #1065 then changed hands between John McCaw and then Mr Graham Revell, before ultimately returning to the UK again in March 2004.

GT40 #1065 is an exceptionally original road specification car, which has recently been repainted in its original livery of Azure Blue with fully trimmed Black seats and interior. Fitted with its original 4728cc HP 289 engine with webbers mated to a five-speed ZF gearbox, the car is an outstanding example of one of the most prized collector’s cars. Recently re-registered in the UK with all import duties paid, we are delighted to offer this car again for sale.

colour Azure Blue
interior colour Black
year 1966
Chassis No. GT40P/1065
Engine No. SGT27

price 425.000 GBP

Dealership:
Maxted-Page & Baxter Ltd
PO Box 7039, Halstead, Essex CO9 2WL

phone +44 (0) 1787 477749


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Mercedes-Benz C-Class c32 amg kompressor

automatic, sequential gearbox / touchtronic, 5 speed, all options, leather, navigation system, parking assistance, phone, TV System, Xenon lights, sports suspension, sports exhaust, modified engine / Tuned, full history, Matching Numbers , original condition, 1 owner. perfect as new condition.


colour silver
interior colour black
year 3/2002
mileage 15.772 km / 9.800 m

price 35.995 GBP

Dealership:

DK Engineering
200D Rickmansworth Road, Watford, Herfordshire WD1 7JS

phone +44 (0)1923 255 246


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Tour de France Auto, France
19th - 24th April 2004

Barons Classic and British Heritage Auction, Sandown Park, Esher UK
19th - 20th April 2004

Concorso D'Eleganza Villa D'Este, Italy
23rd - 25th April 2004

Bonhams Auction Motor Cars, Automobilia Toys & Models, RAF Museum, Hendon, UK
26th April 2004

FiA Cup for Historic Grand Touring Cars (FiA-GTC´65), Donington Park, UK
1st - 3rd May 2004

Mille Miglia Retrospective 2004, Italy
6th - 9th May 2004

Bonhams Auction, Aston Martin Lagonda Limited, Newport Pagnell, UK
8th May 2004

see further event details

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