Editorial

"Have you driven the new Continental GT yet? It's a fantastic car." That comment was from someone who knows his Bentleys pretty well - Guy Smith, one of the winning team at Le Mans last month. Speaking to Guy over lunch
at Donington last weekend - Ferrari mounted this time, very much a 'hired gun' - you get the impression he is far from the image of the original 'Bentley Boys'. Super-fit, with a long pedigree of single-seater drives in Europe and the USA, he exudes the confidence in his skills that only a career that includes the obligatory early age karting, and a progression up the motor-racing ladder,
can bring.

His forebears may not recognise the qualities evident in a current professional racing driver but they would see similarities in the owner-drivers contesting (and no doubt financing) the big-capacity cars on the FIA GT grid, notably the Ferrari 550 Maranellos. Sports car racing, and GT racing in particular, has always been the home for the wealthy amateur and while some members of this elite circle have withdrawn to International Historic racing, via Birdcage, 250F or GTO, rest assured the spirit of the 'Gentleman Driver' lives on in the 2003 series with professional businessmen (and ladies) trading paint with the best of them. Great stuff, and if you haven't had a chance to see the 'LG Super Racing' package (which also includes a revitalised European Touring Car Championship), try and go along before year's end. Just remember these cars will be at Goodwood in the future, billed as 'Historic'. Wouldn't it be nice to
say - 'I remember seeing them'?

Final word on Goodwood and nostalgia. Tuesday night at Bonhams' Montpelier St offices saw the launch of the latest DVDs and Videos from 'Motorfilms Quarterly'. www.motorfilms.com will give you all the details but I can thoroughly recommend the Goodwood one which has cine film from the '63 TT, amongst other classic races. Next weekend of course is the Sussex circuit's annual Festival of Speed, held at Goodwood House. Friday will be the day of choice for us, there's the auction as well a bit more elbow room to indulge in bodywork-tapping and celebrity spotting.

Hope to see you there.

Steve Wakefield
Managing Editor

This week in Classic Driver

NEWS

Maserati makes a star turn this week

Maserati makes a star turn this week – a Hollywood first – in this summer’s blockbuster movie “Charlie’s Angels II: Full Throttle”. Today the launch in Rome...

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Bentley Le Mans Winners to be at Goodwood Festival 2003

Bentley Motors is delighted to announce that both its triumphant Speed 8 Le Mans prototypes will be seen in action at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from Friday, 11 July to Sunday 13 July...

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Team Maranello Concessionaires - frustrations at Donington but now lead Driver's Championship

Having arrived at Donington full of confidence and optimism, the FIA GT Championship again proved how competitive and compelling a race series it is by creating a frustrating, but ultimately satisfying, weekend for the Brackley-based TMC operation campaigning their two Ferrari 360 N/GT race cars...

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EVENTS

Goodwood Festival 2003 - the Chaparrals return

One of the most colourful of International superstars to bring cars to the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 11.12.13 will be motor racing's legendary 'Long Tall Texan' - Jim Hall. Today bolt-on wings on racing cars are taken as being absolutely standard. Who developed the first successful wing on a road racing car? Jim Hall...

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AUCTIONS

11th July 2003 Bonhams at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Talking to James Knight of Bonhams the other evening, he was convinced they had the right entry for one of their top UK sales, the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Judging by the catalogue, just issued, they have succeeded in gaining some significant competition cars, including the last-of the-line Maserati powered front-engined GP car; the 1959 ‘Tec-Mec’...

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17th Aug 2003 Christie's at Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach, CA – Christie’s 14th annual sale of Exceptional Motor Cars at Pebble Beach on August 17 will highlight the Concours d’Elegance weekend with an exceptional offering of exceedingly rare and historic sports racing and touring motor cars, such as the sleek 1913 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, the striking Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage, and the currently eligible historic F1 racer, the 1972 BRM P180...

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29th June 2003 Bonhams Sale of British Motor Industry Heritage Trust - Review

Bonhams did their usual thorough job at Gaydon last weekend to clear the unwanted cars from the British Motor Heritage Trust, and while it would not be accurate to claim that a sectioned 1975 Morris Marina 1.3 SDL Coupé now sits alongside a Ferrari SWB in a Swiss collector’s air-conditioned garage, some cars went for significant sums including the 1910 Austin 18/24hp Endcliffe Tourer for £91,700 including premium...

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Advertisement
PREMIUM OFFERS

Lamborghini Miura P400 S

Arancio Metallico with Pelle Cinghiale (Wild Boar) leather interior, this 36,844 original mileage Miura was first owned by the legendary Frank Sinatra. The Miura on offer, chassis 4407, was given production order 475 by the Lamborghini factory, the register simply stating 'Sinatra' against the build listing as the first accepting owner, whereas more usually the listing would have the first supplying dealer name. Former factory Sales Manager, Signore Ubaldo Sgarzi, recalls Sinatra's unannounced visit to the factory in 1969. With a specific request for no publicity, Signore Sgarzi gave Sinatra a tour of the Sant 'Agata works. 4407 was painted in Arancio Metallico and trimmed with wild boarskin leather and with orange shagpile carpeting - orange was Sinatra's trademark favorite color...not only did he wear it regularly, he even had his jet trimmed in it. The delivery date is recorded as 12/12/69, Sinatra's 54th birthday! Subsequently this Miura was given to Gloria Kent, a model and friend of Sinatra’s who then traded it in to the late Bob Grossman’s shop, Grossman Motorcar, Inc. in Nyack, New York. It was purchased almost immediately by the last owner in January 1977 with only 33,000 miles. This Miura is highly original and has only been used in fair weather conditions and has never been used within congested city traffic. The Miura has been amazingly well preserved having been dry stored for the past twenty-five years. Only 140 P400S models were built and of these probably less than 100 exist today and only one previously owned by Sinatra, this is it! A true 60’s icon with wonderful history, this Miura is offered with its Bob Grossman key pouch as well as original Lamborghini owner’s manual in leather embossed case.

colour Arancio Metallico
interior colour Pelle Cinghiale
drive LHD
type Coupe
year 1970
mileage 59.295 km / 36.844 m
price P.O.R.
country USA


Dealership:



Autosport Designs Inc.

Phone: +1 516 248-0066

see all details

Ferrari 550 Maranello

6 speed, leather, full history, original condition

Choice of 3 cars available. All in different colour options , but very similar mileage, unmarked, FFSH. Contact for details.


colour Silver
interior Bordeaux
drive RHD
type Coupé
year 1998
mileage 25.589 km / 15.900 m
price 67.500 GBP
country United Kingdom


Dealership:

Legends Racing

Phone: +44 (0) 1451 821611

see all details

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