Editorial

With the United Kingdom currently wilting under a heatwave the age-old debate is raging. Soft-top down, or windows up and aircon on full? Those preferring the latter option may well have never experienced an open car on a summer’s day. True there is the turbulence issue, causing havoc with the hair, and creating a miniature tornado inside the passenger compartment. But modern car makers have cleverly got round this with a variety of screens and shields, as well as the reassurance of an electric roof to save the day should rain fall on your open-top parade. In addition a long journey in a heavily air-conditioned car, while preserving the editorial coiffure, can result in a dry throat and tight chest; the reasons a well-know Germany car industry chief NEVER travels with the climate control on, despite producing some of the most efficiently ventilated cars on the planet.

Given the right conditions, exercising an E-type Roadster or Healey 100/6 on a well-tarmaced B-road is one of life’s great pleasures. There is the small matter of hat selection of course, infra-dig in closed cars naturally but rather essential when travelling topless under a burning Mediterranean sun.

You better pack your hat for Monterey next week too. The weekend of the year for so many of the world’s ultra-collectors it will, no doubt, come up to its regularly high standards. We unashamedly include two auction previews in this week’s Classic Inside just to show you the quality of the event, and how it attracts the very top cars and collectors.

My favourite? Well Christie’s have a 1967 Ferrari 365 Spyder California that would do the job. A convertible, it’s perfect for touring the Cote d’Azur and if your Jackie Stewart corduroy cap looks out of place you can always put the roof up - and the air conditioning on.

Steve Wakefield
Managing Editor

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

Jack Sears - Driving the GTO, 3.8 Jaguar and Ford Galaxie in the Sixties

Charles Harbord, the Editor of ‘Cars for the Connoisseur’ interviews ‘Gentleman Jack’ Sears who, during a racing career spanning fifteen years from 1950 to 1965 drove a diversity of cars for a variety of entrants, including BMC, Brian Lister, Equipe Endeavour, John Willment, John Coombs, Carroll Shelby and Team Lotus. These extracts from the August issue explain Sears’ introduction to the Aston Martin DB4GT, Ford Galaxie and Ferrari GTO...

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Pebble Beach and Monterey 2003 - Summary of Events

Next weekend sees one of the world's biggest meetings of collector's cars in California, USA. The Pebble Beach Concours and Monterey races form the centre of a long weekend of activity with auctions, parades, races and club meetings. We have compiled a list of some of the events you can go to...

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Bonhams & Butterfields at Quail Lodge 15th August 2003 - Preview

In line with other Houses over the Monterey weekend, Bonhams have gathered an impressive selection of entries to their event at Quail Lodge. To cater for all (well-heeled) tastes the cars range from the 1967 New York Motor Show street Ford GT40 to the 1968 Howmet TX gas-turbine race car via the most gorgeous, ex-Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series II – at an estimate of $350,000 – 400,000...

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17th August 2003 Christie's at Pebble Beach - Preview

Christie’s Pebble Beach catalogue, (a work of art in its own right), shows a mouth-watering selection of exotic cars for Auction on Sunday 17th August. The stellar line-up includes an opportunity to buy the first customer 2005 Ford GT in the world, a 23,500kms only 1967 Ferrari 365 Spyder California and the highlight, fittingly the last lot of the sale, the 1960 ex-Moss/Gurney Maserati Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage’ – at an estimate of $1,500,000 – 2,000,000...

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PREMIUM OFFERS

Aston Martin
DB6 Volante
5 speed

A good original Volante,unusual to find with with manual gearbox and power steering. Lead free cylinder head conversion and recent brake and suspension rebuild. Ready to use and drive in this beautiful summer.


colour Aquamarine
interior colour Dark Blue
drive RHD
type unknown
mileage 15.704 km / 9.758 m
year 1968
price 85.000 GBP
country United Kingdom


Dealership:

Aston London

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7720 7787

see all details

Land Rover
Range Rover TD6 Vogue 3.0

automatic, leather, navigation system, parking assistance, phone, TV System, Xenon lights, full history, original condition, Diesel, Full Privacy Glass, Communications Package,Heated Seats,Upgraded 19" alloys,Park Distance Control front & rear,Heated Front Seats,Heated Rear Seats,Heated Steering Wheel:

One owner from new with a fantastic specification and an incredible looking car,rarely available BUT IMMEDIATE IN SPAIN.


colour Java Black
interior Sand leather piped jet
drive LHD
typeOff Road
year 5/2003
mileage 10.245 km / 6.366 m
price52.860 GBP
country United Kingdom


Dealership:

Station Garage

Phone: +44 (0) 1844 342711

see all details

Bonhams Auction, Quail Lodge, USA
15th August 2003

Christie’s Auction, Pebble Beach, USA
17th August 2003

Bentley Drivers Club Race Meeting, Silverstone, UK
30th August 2003

Goodwood Revival Race Meeting, UK
5 – 7th September 2003

Goodmans Auction of Exceptional Motor Cars, Sydney, Australia
14th September 2003

see further event details

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