Editorial

Younger readers, and possibly those living outside the UK may not remember the time when final pre-race shakedowns were carried out on public roads most convenient to the manufacturer or team concerned. The famous ‘PROVA MO’ Italian trade plates, that were fitted to many a sports-racing Ferrari or Maserati for a maximum speed run on the Autostrada prior to Le Mans or the Mille Miglia, have a place in motor racing folklore. Our article in this week’s Classic Inside on AC’s 1964 Le Mans car and its drivers’ exploits one early June morning is the stuff of legend. From Jack Sears’ sports jacket and tie, to the incongruous site of the company’s Cobra Coupé parked up next to a Foden or Bedford truck, its load tarpaulined down in the manner of the day with the driver no doubt enjoying a cuppa, the whole story could come from a 1950s’ British Black and White film. Thoroughly recommended and a special thank you to Charles Harbord (text) and George Stauffer (photos).

We are entering the season of good cheer – the European pre-Christmas auctionfest. No apologies for a plethora of articles and there’s more to come next week - and right up to the 19th when Bonhams Europe will bring the curtain down on 2003 with their glittering all-Ferrari Sale in Gstaad. There are cars for all you ‘Classic Drivers’, right down from an ex-Le Mans Ferrari Daytona Grp IV Competizione to Italian actress Monica Vitti’s 1972 Citroen DS20 via an ex-works Audi Quattro Coupé and 1998 McLaren F1.

Finally, I see Ford have revealed that only a total of 101 of its new ‘GT’ car will be exported to Europe – the same number as the original volume of 1960s’ cars officially produced by Ford in Europe. Interestingly, but not surprisingly given the demand for it, potential buyers ‘will be individually identified via carefully considered criteria, intended to match the most deserving and appropriate’.

So that’s more cars for the celebrity collectors then.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

More Ford GTs for Europe as order books close

A total of 101 new Ford GTs will be officially imported to Europe from 2004, a reflection of the massive interest the car has generated amongst enthusiasts in the UK and Europe...

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185mph on the British motorway in 1963 - the real story from Jack Sears

The incident involving AC testing their 1964 Le Mans car on Britain’s fledgling motorway network has passed into legend. As part of a series of interviews with Charles Harbord of ‘Cars for the Connoisseur’ Jack Sears, the car’s main driver, tells what really happened one early June morning...

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Bonhams at Olympia 1st December 2003 - Preview

With nearly half the lots for Bonhams December Olympia sale being of pre-1939 vintage the auction has a traditional feel to it, in keeping with the festive season. There may be twelve days of Christmas but Bonhams can beat that with thirteen Rolls-Royce including the most magnificent 1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost ‘Roi-de-Belges’, estimate £270,000 – 350,000...

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Barons at Sandown Park, Surrey Dec 2 2003 - Preview

Described as ‘the high priestess of frosty sensuality’, Italian actress Monica Vitti, trained at Rome's National Academy of Dramatic Arts, clearly eschewed the more obvious trappings of wealth in the early 1970s, choosing instead a very sophisticated understated form of transport; a Citroen DS 20 Pallas. This very car is included in Barons’ last auction of 2003, and £3,500 – 4,000 will buy you a slice of ‘La Dolce Vita’...

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Coys at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London SW1 4th Dec 2003 - Preview & Lotlist

Coys have over 60 lots under the hammer at their now familiar Royal Horticultural Halls venue in London. Most of the marques are catered for and one of the more interesting entries is the 1954 Jaguar XK 120 Fixedhead Coupé, ex-Jack Sears and Peter Sargent, estimated at £32,000-38,000...

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5th Tour de España - November 2003

This year’s Tour de España was a run through the heart of Andalusia with five stops - including Jerez, Seville, Cordoba and Malaga. Set in the shade of the Gibraltar rock, and dotted with typical alpine villages, the landscapes were splendidly varied...

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"The Andalusian Experience" - traditional Spanish charm combined with nostalgic classic cars

In 1998 Classic Drivers Club was founded by the brothers Paul and Tino Huet. This company offered members the possibility to drive a selection of classic cars. During the 2000 this activity was expanded with Classic Rally Events...

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PREMIUM OFFERS

Ferrari 250GT Lusso

For Sale by Auction 19 Dec 2003
18:00 Motor Cars - Palace Hotel,
Gstaad, Switzerland

colour Rosso Rubino
interior colour Tan
drive LHD
year 1963
mileage 6.000 km / 3.728 m

price estimate 220.000 - 280.000
SFR

Vendor:

Bonhams Exceptional Ferrari Motor Cars, Gstaad 19 Dec
10 Rue Blavignac, 1227 Carouge, Geneva

Phone +41 (0) 22 300 3160

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Porsche 911 Turbo 4 408 Factory BHP

6 speed, leather, sports suspension, sports exhaust, full history

colour Ocean Blue Metallic
interior colour Dark Graphite
drive RHD
year 1997
mileage 65.198 km / 40.512 m

Price 52.995 GBP


Dealership:

AutoClassica
Market Flat Lane, Scotton, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 9JA
Phone +44 (0) 1423 865600

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Bonhams & Goodmans Auction, Sydney, Australia
30th November 2003

Bonhams Auction, London Olympia, UK
1st December 2003

Christie's Auction, The Jack Barclay Showroom, UK
2nd December 2003

Barons Auction, Sandown Park Exhibition Centre, Esher, UK
2nd December 2003

Coys Auction, The Royal Horticultural Halls, London
4th December

H&H Auction, Buxton, UK
9 – 10th December 2003

Bonhams Europe Auction, Gstaad, Switzerland
19th December 2003

see further event details

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