Category: Historics (Page 3 of 4)

IN THE NEWS: Jay Leno, Brian Johnson, Others Join Jaguar at 2014 Mille Miglia

April 28, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

(Whitley, Coventry – 28/04/2014). Jaguar Heritage Racing will be tackling the legendary Mille Miglia classic car endurance event from 15-18 May with a line-up of top-name drivers, which will be traversed over 1,000 gruelling miles from Brescia-Rome-Brescia in ten of the most revered and sought-after historic Jaguar cars ever produced.

Household names from stage and screen, plus fashion, motor sport and music celebrities will campaign their assigned historic Jaguars through Northern and Central Italy for four tough but memorable days of hard driving. Spectators enthusiastically lining the Mille Miglia route will get to see examples of historically-significant Jaguar XKs, C-types and D-types shooting past them with famous faces in the cockpits.

Leading American TV chat show host, Jaguar collector and classic car enthusiast – Jay Leno – will drive the famous ex-Sir James Scott-Douglas 1951 Jaguar XK 120 roadster, raced as part of the Ecurie Ecosse team in period.

Another well-known 1951 XK 120 roadster – the ex-Duncan Hamilton racer registered LXF 731 – will be shared by husband and wife team, Elliot and Erin Gleave. Elliot is better known as successful British musician Example, with his wife Erin being the Australian TV presenter that he first met when she interviewed him for MTV.

Other significant Jaguar XK models on the Mille Miglia will include the ex-Jim Swift racing XK120 roadster, which will be driven by multiple award-winning British actor Jeremy Irons. Multi-million album selling Scottish singer and songwriter Amy Macdonald will take the wheel of an XK140 once owned by successful British racing driver David Hobbs.

Jaguar Vehicle Integrity Chief Engineer Mike Cross will drive the well-known ex-Stirling Moss Monthlery record-breaking XK120 Coupé, which carries the registration LWK 707. Author David Blakeley and model-turned-TV presenter Jodie Kidd will share a stunning example of the Jaguar XK120, which was driven by Oscar-winning actor Daniel-Day Lewis in the 2013 event.

Jaguar Heritage Racing is also entering three famous C-type racing cars, to be driven by celebrities as diverse as Belgian singer-songwriter Milow (Jonathan Vandenbroeck) – who will drive with Jaguar Land Rover Regional Director for Europe Bernard Kuhnt, and legendary AC/DC lead singer and car afficionado Brian Johnson. Ex-Jaguar Le Mans 24 Hours race winner Andy Wallace will drive the Jaguar C-type which won the 1952 Reims Grand Prix with Formula 1 legend Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel.

Two motor racing greats – ex-Jaguar Le Mans and World Sports Prototype Championship winner, Formula 1 driver and SKY F1 TV pundit Martin Brundle, plus ex-Formula 1 racer Bruno Senna – will share the famous ‘Long Nose’ Jaguar D-type, the penultimate example built, registered 393 RW, as this legendary Jaguar model celebrates its 60^th anniversary in 2014.

A number of new Jaguar F-TYPE Coupés will support the Jaguar Heritage Racing team, following the full Mille Miglia route through Italy with broadcast crews and VIP guests.

The drivers making up the Jaguar Heritage Racing team will be tweeting live throughout the event, which was famously once proclaimed as: ‘The most beautiful race in the world’. Twitter profiles to watch for the latest personal updates on the event include:

Jaguar Heritage Racing Driver	Twitter profile name
Jay Leno	@LenosGarage
Martin Brundle	@MBrundleF1
Bruno Senna	@BSenna
Jodie Kidd	@RealJodieKidd
David Blakeley	@daveblakeley
Amy Macdonald	@Amy__Macdonald
Milow	@milow
Elliot Gleave (Example)	@example
Erin Gleave	@Erin_McNaught
Brian Johnson	@BrianJohnson

In addition Jaguar will be publishing live updates from 14-18 May at: www.facebook.com/Jaguar andwww.twitter.com/jaguar

PICK OF THE DAY: One-Owner 1962 Morgan Plus 4 Drophead Coupé

April 9, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

This rare and stunning car is an one owner car with 25,000 original miles. Always garaged and covered when not in use, it still looks as noble as it did 52 years ago. The owner was a Morgan enthusiast and active participant in the Morgan scene. The vehicle just underwent a major comprehensive service making it roadworthy once again. All documentation, including the original owner’s manual are present. One of the rarest models ever made by Morgan with less than 450 produced, this model will continue to ascend in both value and collectibility. Original and unrestored examples such as this are almost impossible to come by and will definitely be a sweetheart at any show or gathering. Find it here on Craigslist in El Monte CA for $60,000

IN THE NEWS: Enzo Ferrari Museum Opens in Modena

February 18, 2014 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Modena, 18 February – The new Enzo Ferrari Museum (MEF) was opened today in Modena by Luca di Montezemolo and Piero Ferrari, the son of the man who started off the amazing story of a marque recognised today as the strongest in the world.

The choice of 18 February for the reopening of the MEF was in recognition of the anniversary of Enzo Ferrari’s birth on 18 February 1898.

The new life of the spectacular museum has begun with the large and beautiful main wing: here, as well as seeing the most important cars in the history of the Ferrari driver, constructor and creator of the Scuderia, you go into a veritable “time machine” that will take visitors through 100 years of history via multiple projections that will immerse the public in images, sounds and emotions. The 18 projectors weave together the history of Modena motoring, the story of Enzo Ferrari and his deeds and the world in which it all happened.

Art, technology, design, battles and new hopes make up the setting for the triumphs of the great drivers and the most outstanding scarlet cars.

The MEF, which has been entrusted to Ferrari by the Foundation owning the building – made up of the Modena institutions: Commune, Province, Chamber of Commerce and Automobile Club, with the significant support of the Cassa di Risparmio Foundation – further enriches the area’s attractions that are already numerous, starting with the Ferrari Museum in Maranello.

From today the two Ferrari museums, which are open every day of the year except for Christmas and the New Year, complement each other in a perfect way: in Modena there’s the story of the man who created everything and the cars of his time. In Maranello there’s the Ferrari of today and tomorrow, presented via a past of success on the track and the roads.

IN THE NEWS: Iconic Blower Bentleys to Compete in 2013 Mille Miglia

May 16, 2013 / moto+match / 0 Comments

(Crewe, 14 May 2013) Bentley Motors will compete in this year’s Mille Miglia with two unique 4 ½ litre Supercharged “Blowers”; a 1930 Le Mans race car belonging to perhaps the most famous and daring of the Bentley Boys and a company demonstrator that is still going strong even after nine decades on the road.

The No. 2 Team Car – raced at Le Mans by Captain Tim Birkin – was brought by Bentley Motors in 2000 and has been regularly campaigned across the world by the company ever since. Richard Charlesworth, Bentley’s Director of Royal and VIP Relations, who has helped prepare the car for its third Mille Miglia challenge at Bentley’s Crewe headquarters, explains:

“This is a fantastic car to drive and remains extremely rapid as well. We take great pride in making sure all the cars Bentley owns continue to regularly compete or run and are not museum exhibits, which is very much the Bentley way, and we are all looking forward to the unique Mille Miglia experience.”

The car is perhaps best known for its epic duel with a 7 litre ‘Kompressor’ Mercedes (also supercharged) at Le Mans in 1930 with Birkin putting his off-side wheels on the grass as he completed a typically daring pass of his Mercedes opponent Rudolf Caracciola at 120mph. The Blower immediately threw one of its rear tyre treads, but somehow Birkin carried on to set the fastest lap.

Sadly Birkin’s campaign ended after 82 laps but the immense pressure he applied to the Mercedes is wildly credited with assisting his fellow Bentley Boys Woolf Barnato and Glenn Kidston to win the race in their Bentley Speed Six.

The second Bentley Blower to take-on Mille Miglia was completed in 1930 and is fitted with a beautiful Vanden Plas Open, Sports Four Seater body. It was owned by Bentley Motors as a customer demonstrator car before passing into private ownership. An early review praised it as “a car with the strongest possible individuality and it is certain that it is immensely likeable no matter what angle one may regard it”.

Repurchased by Bentley Motors in 1997, the car continues to turn heads at Bentley customer events across the world and is still faithfully fulfilling demonstration rides well into its ninth decade.

“There are currently over 100,000 miles on this elegant Blower Bentley but we’re certain it has completed many more than this,” comments Richard Charlesworth.

“However, everyone at Bentley is confident the car will run for many, many years to come and will complete the 1,000 mile round-trip to and from Brescia.”

ON FILM: “Born of a Blue Sky” Recounts 18th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

May 7, 2013 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Born of a Blue Sky from LetsMakeMedia on Vimeo.

“Born of a Blue Sky has the same sort of visual presence as an impressionist painting,” said Bill Warner, Chairman and Founder of The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. “The video captures that special quality of light Amelia Island has on an early spring morning that makes classic and thoroughbred cars look spectacular.”

Filmmaker Justin Lapriore has condensed the 18th Annual Amelia Island Concours into a fluid series of impressions of the entire week from a personal, ground level perspective. The seminars, driving events and the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Porsche 911, Ford’s GT40, Lamborghini and the Corvette Stingray are shown as spectators see them on the Concours’ field.

“The video doesn’t simply focus only on the cars; it also shows the people of ‘The Amelia’ and their relationship with the cars and each other,” said Warner. “That’s what makes Born of a Blue Sky so special and compelling; I hope this is how everyone remembers the 2013 Amelia Concours.”

ON THE BLOCK: Ex-Fangio Mercedes-Benz W196 Highlights Bonhams Goodwood Sale

April 22, 2013 / moto+match / 0 Comments

The double Formula 1 Grand Prix-winning Mercedes-Benz W196 which helped five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio to his second drivers’ championship in 1954 is to be offered for sale by Bonhams at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday 12th.

Fangio’s victories in the 1954 German and Swiss Grands Prix were the first to be achieved in succession by the frontier-technology Mercedes-Benz factory Formula 1 team in its postwar racing come-back.

During just 14 months of Formula 1 racing before it was retired from racing by the German factory team at the end of 1955, chassis 00006/54 contested five World Championship-qualifying Grand Prix races. Driven first by Fangio, it was later assigned to junior driver Hans Herrmann for the 1954 Italian GP, where it finished fourth.The car was then used in just one 1955 Grand Prix – the Italian event – when, driven by Karl Kling, it ran in second place behind Fangio’s sister Mercedes-Benz before suffering gearbox failure.

The car was then re-prepared to full race standard and consigned to the Daimler-Benz Museum on December 22, 1955.

In June 1965 it was exhibited in Munich and during 1966 it was shown at both Le Mans in France and Hockenheim in Germany. It then appeared at the 1967 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, before being run in a tire test at the Unterturkheim factory test-track, and displayed in Berlin. In November 1967 it was exhibited at Stuttgart University.

Further public appearances followed in 1969 in Luxembourg, Berlin and Hamburg. A Daimler-Benz Museum archive document records that as of November 5, 1969, the car “should be available at any time for R. Uhlenhaut” – the company’s illustrious chief engineer – “…for testing purposes”.

On June 24, 1972, the car ran in engine tests at Unterturkheim before on May 22, 1973, Mercedes-Benz officially presented it to the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire, England.

In the 1980s the car was sold into private hands. It was preserved first in the UK by Anthony – now Sir Anthony – Bamford of JCB Excavators, then in France with Jacques Setton. It passed subsequently into the ownership of a German businessman in whose care the car was run at the Monaco Historic meeting; at Goodwood; and in California from 1999-2000.

Today, after many years out of public view, stored in a warehouse, Mercedes-Benz W196 chassis 00006 is offered for sale by Bonhams.

TWO [WHEELS] TO SHOW: Legendary Motorcycles at Salon Privé

March 13, 2013 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Syon Park, London, 13 March 2013 – Salon Privé is delighted to welcome back renowned two-wheel authorities Malcolm Wheeler and Steve Parrish to judge the motorbike classes in this year’s Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance.

Following last year’s outstanding success of the motorcycle classes at Salon Privé, the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance is delighted to welcome back the two-wheel category in 2013. A broad category of ‘Sporting Motorcycles’ together with ‘Oddballs and One-Offs’ will make up this year’s two motorcycle classes.

Among the highlight entrants already signed up for the ‘Sporting’ class is 1960s racer, Reg Everett, who achieved many successes on Greeves and Yamaha bikes, notching up 25 wins out of fifty rostrum places. Reg is entering an extremely rare 1964 250cc Yamaha TD1A racer – the first racing Yamaha in the country, and one that gave him a famous victory over Brands Hatch champion, Derek Minter, on his home turf.

Among the Oddball class early entries is a unique 1953 Norton Tom Tom, entered by renowned Norton single-cylinder specialist and author of ‘Flat Tank Norton’, Dr George Cohen. In addition, Belgian motorcycle author Yves Campion has entered a seldom seen 1932 Moto Gillet, presented in a condition that has to be seen to be believed.

Custom motorbike builder Allen Millyard is entering the ‘Flying Millyard’ 5-litre Vee-Twin Engine, following his success with a class-winning 100cc Honda in 2012. The cylinders for this year’s creation are from a 1930s Pratt and Whitney radial aircraft engine, with everything else hand made. Allen is currently building a 1930s style board racer around the engine.

With the above and many more continuing to be entered to the ever-growing Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance motorcycle classes at Salon Privé, 2013 is already shaping up to be another exceptional year for both bikes and cars on the lawns of Syon Park in September.

Entries may still be accepted for the Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance, for more information on entering a car or motorbike please visit http://www.salonprivelondon.com/concours/register.asp

Tickets for Salon Privé can be purchased at www.salonprivelondon.com or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0808 100 2205. Entry is fully inclusive of Pommery champagne, lobster luncheon, English afternoon tea and full access to all areas.

IN HISTORICS: Silverstone Classic Honours 50 Years of Porsche 911

March 7, 2013 / moto+match / 0 Comments

It’s 50 years since the iconic Porsche 911 was first introduced to the public at the 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show and this year’s Silverstone Classic will pay homage to the evergreen sportscar’s golden anniversary with a very fitting on-track tribute.

On Sunday 28 July a magnificent parade of 911 Porsche 911s will take to the full Silverstone Grand Prix circuit to mark this historic milestone in the life of what’s unquestionably one of the world’s most celebrated, revered and distinguished automotive creations of all times. Over the ages more than 820,000 have been built making the 911 the world’s most successful sportscar.

The event organisers are working closely with the Porsche Club GB to ensure this very special parade highlights five decades of glorious 911 heritage and evolution by including the most famous models from past and present generations including many legendary Carrera, RS, RSR, GT, Speedster, Targa and Turbo variants. To this day the idolised 911 is also one of the most popular and victorious competition cars ever created and the dazzling on-track pageant will also feature a plethora of winners from both racing and rallying.

Peter Bull, Vice Chairman of Porsche Club GB said: “Every member of the Club is so proud of the Porsche marque and the 911 is something that we all revere in all its forms and age. We are delighted to be able to showcase the 911 in this way and are especially grateful for the Silverstone Classic to allow this parade to go ahead. It’s a very special year indeed!”

Nick Hine, Chairman of Porsche Club GB added: “Achieving 911, Porsche 911s on track at Silverstone all at the same time, initially seemed an ambitious target. However, there has been strong interest from 911 owners from all over the world and we already have nearly 400 confirmed participants. Fifty years of 911 evolution, combined with famous drivers from Porsche’s illustrious racing history taking part, mean that the fight for pole position at Silverstone, has never been quite so strong!”

This summer’s spectacular 911 x 911 parade – which will be raising much needed funds for the Hope for Tomorrow cancer charity – is the latest in a succession of glittering circuit processions staged alongside the huge, action-packed race programme at recent Silverstone Classics. In 2010 a similar 50th anniversary parade of 767 E-Type Jaguars established a new Guinness World Record. Last year in was the turn of Ferrari when an unprecedented gathering of 60 scarlet F40s took to the track in a memorable tribute marking 25 years of the world’s first 200mph supercar.

“Jaguar, Ferrari and now Porsche… it’s hard to think of three more illustrious or historic motoring marques all celebrating key milestones at the Silverstone Classic,” enthused Nick Wigley, Event Director. “Importantly these amazing parades allow owners and enthusiasts to join the party and play their very own part in such special festivities. It’s a fantastic opportunity that I’m sure no one lucky enough to have a 911 will want to miss.”

Those wanting to participate should contact the Porsche Club GB office either on 01608 652911 or via email: silverstone911@porscheclubgb.com.

Tickets for the Silverstone Classic must be purchased in advance and ‘Early Bird’ discounts are available to those booking before the end of March. Continuing the event’s hugely popular and widely acclaimed ‘access all areas’ policy, all tickets include free entrance to racing paddocks, trackside grandstands and live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings. Prices for adults start from just £30 (plus fees) with considerable savings on offer for festival-goers spending the full action-packed weekend at Silverstone, as well as special packages for car clubs.

Full details are available on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.

IN HISTORICS: Volkswagen Motorsport Celebrates 50 Years of Formula Vee at Daytona 24

January 24, 2013 / moto+match / 0 Comments

• Former stars of Formula Vee and Formula Super Vee will take to the track in historic cars, 50 years after the first official FV race

Herndon, VA – Formula Vee will celebrate a big birthday at the Rolex 24 at Daytona this coming weekend (24–27January). Fifty years after the debut of the formula as an officially-sanctioned Sports Car Club of America race series, Volkswagen will return to the place where it all started with a number of significant car and drivers from the past. Among those present will be several ex-FV drivers who went on to become international motorsport stars: Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk; Indycar star and team owner Michael Andretti; Daytona champion Didier Theys; two-time Daytona winner Elliott Forbes-Robinson; former DTM and sportscar stars Hans-Joachim Stuck and Dieter Quester; and rally icon Markku Alen.

“Volkswagen can look back on major success on the motorsport scene. However, the continuous promotion of young drivers has been even more successful,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “Fifty years ago, Formula Vee was pioneering in this regard. Many eventual motorsport legends took their first steps towards a career in motor racing with us. Many of these legends will be brought together for the revival in Daytona and I’m really looking forward to this reunion.”

Formula V in the USA – the success story that began back in 1963

The first-ever SCCA Formula Vee race was held at the Daytona Speedway in August 1963, although cars had raced around the south-eastern U.S. prior to that event. Armed with the 40 horsepower, 1.2-liter engine and the running gear from the Volkswagen Beetle, motorsport enthusiasts put together extremely cost-effective single-seater racing cars—and launched a boom that was soon to spill over to Europe. On July 4th, 1965, Formula Vee made its official European debut in front of 50,000 spectators at the Norisring in Nuremberg, Germany.

This proved to be the start of a huge success story, to which a new chapter was added from 1971 onwards with the Formula Super Vee series, which ran parallel to the established Formula Vee 1300. FSV cars used a 1.6-liter Volkswagen engine that initially generated 120 hp, a figure that later rose to close to 200 hp.

Formula One world champions Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Keke Rosberg all began their careers in Formula Vee championships, as did Le Mans winners Gijs van Lennep, Dr. Helmut Marko, and Jochen Mass. Indycar stars such as Michael Andretti, Al Unser Jr., Arie Luyendyk, and Scott Dixon competed in FV and FSV in their formative years. As such, Formula Vee formed the basis for the tradition of promoting young drivers in motorsport, one that lives on today through the likes of the German ADAC Formula Masters “powered by Volkswagen.”

The best Formula Vee racing cars from Europe and the U.S. will complete a “lap of honor” ahead of the start of the 24-hour race at Daytona, driven by some of the heroes from the series’ heyday.

IN HISTORICS: Speed is of the Essence

November 6, 2012 / moto+match / 0 Comments

Historics urges fans to act fast in pursuit of Porsche 911 Speedster

Despite a span of 35 years between Porsche’s original Speedster, the 356, and its 911 namesake, the auctioneer Historics at Brooklands suggests there are signs the ’80s icon is developing a similar aura of adulation that has seen its predecessor become one of the most collectible classic cars.

With its steeply raked, low-cut windscreen and sleek “double-hump” fiberglass cover – paying homage to the 356 and other sports-racers of the 1950s era – the Carrera 911 Speedster stole the show at its public unveiling during the 1988 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Just as the 356 Speedster was introduced on the basis that a lower-cost, simply trimmed, open-top version of the car could sell well in the speed-obsessed American market, Helmuth Bott’s evocative design for the 911 Speedster was equally unequivocal in its desire to adopt an overtly sporting presence.

Although production models were marginally more luxurious than the Frankfurt prototype, with a taller windscreen and roll-up windows, the convertible top was manually-operated and simpler than that of the 911 Cabriolet, with no headliner and thinner insulation used.

Build of the new-generation Speedster began in 1989, with construction capped at just 2,104 Speedsters, all produced in a six month period from January to July. All were equipped with the Turbo-specification chassis and competition-style brakes with cross-drilled discs and four-piston calipers.

Although 171 cars were fitted with a narrow body, the majority of Speedsters were equipped with Porsche’s striking “Turbo Look” bodywork.

Historics’ 1989 wide bodied 3.2 litre model is presented in metallic Zermatt silver with a full claret red leather interior and matching soft top. A right hand drive, UK specification car, it’s fitted with a five speed manual gearbox, 16” Fuchs alloy wheels, stainless steel exhaust and electric sports seats.

With the 911 Speedster the last Porsche model produced at the old factory in Stuttgart; a fact that along with its rakish lines and limited production numbers ensured it became a highly collectible car from the outset, Historics is expecting offers in the region of £62,000 to £76,000 at Brooklands on Saturday 24^th November.

Much as the 911 Speedster saw its styling born out of the standard 911, so the earliest Porsche Speedster took its cues from the original 356 and in a further fillip to fans of the Porsche marque, Historics has consigned a 1960 Porsche 356B T5 Super Cabriolet to its sale.

Originally supplied to Brumos Porsche Car Corporation in Jacksonville, Florida, the T5 body styled 356B Cabriolet was imported to the UK in 1995, before being given a sympathetic restoration and a new lease of life by marque specialists.

With every attention paid to detail, including an interior re-trim that features the correct carpet weave, Historics is predicting no let-up in love for a model it has sold at each of its first three auctions in 2012, and expects significant interest in its latest consignment, with an estimated sale price of between £40,000 and £50,000.

For more information on Historics at Brooklands next auction on the afternoon of Saturday November 24^th, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk.