ClassicInside - The ClassicDriver Newsletter

ClassicInside – The Classic Driver Newsletter

Edition 19/2004

May 21st 2004

This edition is sent to 26.985 subscribers

Editorial

Watch out if you’re driving in Italy this summer. You can read all about it below, but the Italian ‘Polizia di Stato’ has just taken delivery of a Lamborghini Gallardo. It’s designed as a rapid-response vehicle - as well as a useful marketing story for the company of course - that will be jam-packed with electronic wizardry to make Italian roads safer places to drive. It’s not the first time of course that supercars have been used as an instrument of law enforcement, Porsche supplying 911s to the German police and Ferrari a V12 to their national force back in the ‘60s. I understand from my German colleagues, current M-Bs and BMWs of the Polizei have ‘adequate’ performance (when tuned) to give most Teutonic ne’er-do-wells a good run; with the final resort being to roadblocks or helicopters when the pursuit breaks the barriers of the most extreme velocities.

For the lucky Italian traffic cop, Christmas will have come early when he (or she) picks up the keys and, suitably sunglassed, drives off down the autostrada, engine noise drowning out the various on-board electronic pings and bleeps.

There’s a fantastic selection of photographs on last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix Historique in today’s Classic Inside. By all accounts one of the best-ever historic events in the Principalité, we’ll have to see if Sunday’s ‘proper’ F1 race will come up to scratch.

Talking Monaco, a full review in next week’s edition, but a quick mention must be made of the EUR 1,400,000 paid for the ex-Michael Schumacher 2000 Ferrari F1 car at Bonhams’ recent Monaco sale. A record price for a ‘modern’ collector’s car - but a fraction of the colossal investment in the sport the Scuderia has made in recent years.

Steve Wakefield
Managing Editor
sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER
Final Call for Entries… Le Mans Classic Auction 2004 Christie’s auction of Exceptional Sports Racing Cars will be the ‘Le Mans start’ to the Le Mans Classic. Taking place on Friday 23rd it will include competition and historic motor sport cars representing of every generation that has competed at the 24 Hour race since 1923... read the complete article
Barons Sale 25th May 2004 Sandown Park, Esher A higher proportion than usual of Italian exotica is featured at Barons’ next sale at their familiar Sandown Park, Esher venue. Two Ferraris, including a 1981 400i for pocket-money £5,500 - 7,500, are listed as well as what may be the star lot, a LHD 1984 Lamborghini Countach for £29,000 - 36,000... read the complete article
Monaco Grand Prix Historique 2004 Every two years, the streets of Monaco are closed for two weekends to motor racing with the Grand Prix Historique taking place a week before the F1 circus is in town... read the complete article
The Best of Both Worlds: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Production in Woking New McLaren Technology Centre opens in Woking The production of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren at the McLaren Technology Center in Woking, England, combines the best of two worlds: the advantages of the Mercedes-Benz Production System and the expertise of McLaren when it comes to building super sports cars... read the complete article
Lamborghini Gallardo for Italian Traffic Police The Italian State Police are now proud owners of a high-performance patrol car. To celebrate the force’s 152nd anniversary, Italian supercar manufacturer Lamborghini has produced a special version of the Gallardo in the famous blue and white livery of the ‘Polizia di Stato’... read the complete article
Gianfranco Ferré 'Kroko-MINI' World-famous designer Gianfranco Ferré are auctioning a unique MINI Cabrio in aid of Vienna’s “Zugunsten des Life Ball 2004”. The car is unique by having its interior finished in typical Ferré ‘Krokodesign’ leather with an external paint finish to match... read the complete article
Jaguar's head of advanced design - what does design mean to Jaguar? Julian Thompson, the man behind the design team responsible for the avant-garde R-D6, was one of the speakers at the automotive sector of D&AD’s 'Yellow Pencil' awards; commonly know as the 'Creative Industry Oscars'. Set in London’s Billingsgate, the evening gave some insights into design, and the designer’s relationship with customers and the press... read the complete article

Advertisement PREMIUM OFFERS
BMW 3,0 CSL For Sale by Auction Tues May 25th 2004 Sandown Park Exhibition Complex, Esher, Surrey. This superb example of a rare and desirable BMW is said to have been originally registered to Lord Astor and was previously registered 154 BMW. It has been in the vendor's ownership for 15 years and is offered complete with a valuation certificate for £12,000. Colour Arctic Blue Interior colour Black Drive RHD Year 1972 Chassis No. 2285119 Engine No. 2285119 Price estimate 7.000 - 9.000 GBP Dealership: Barons Classic Auction 25th May 2004, Sandown Park, Esher, UK Quayside House, 23 St. Johns Street, Hythe, Southampton SO45 6BZ Phone +44 (0)23 8084 0081 see all details see complete stock from this dealer
AC Cobra Mark I 289 c.i. For sale by Auction at Double Bay, NSW, Australia 23rd May 2004 Cob.6033 was bought new from the A.C. factory in England by Ron Thorpe and it left the factory on 19th November 1964. The car had its race debut at Warwick Farm on 14th February, 1965 where it was placed 3rd in its class after oil surge problems became obvious. These problems were rectified and the car became virtually unbeatable in the Improved Production Sports Car class at venues throughout Australia. Drive RHD Year 1965 Chassis No. COB6033 Engine No. 5416 Price estimate AUS$ 350,000 - 450,000 Dealership: Bonhams & Goodman - Auction 23rd May 2004 Sydney 7 Anderson Street, Double Bay, NSW, 2028, Australia Phone +61 2 9327 7311 see all details see complete stock from this dealer
Bentley Continental GT Coupe Chrome 19" 5-Spoke Alloys. Park Heater. Piano Black Veneer. UK Supplied. Available Immediately! Colour Diamond Black Metallic Interior colour Beluga Hide Drive RHD Year 5/2004 Mileage 97 km / 60 m Dealership: TOP555 Beler Way, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 0DG Phone +44 (0)1664 482 555 see all details see complete stock from this dealer

EVENTGUIDE

Grand Prix de Pau Historiques, France
22nd - 23rd May 2004

Barons Classic Auction, Sandown Park, Esher, UK
25th May

5th Rallye de Princesses, France
30th May - 4th June 2004

The Sunday Times British Motorshow, NEC, UK
27th May - 6th June 2004

Louis Vuitton Classic, Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, UK
5th June 2004

2nd Three Castles Welsh Trial
5th - 8th June 2004

Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood, W.Sussex, UK
25th - 27th June 2004

see further event details

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