ClassicInside - The ClassicDriver Newsletter

ClassicInside – The Classic Driver Newsletter

Edition 09/2004

March 5th 2004

This edition is sent to 26.124 subscribers

Editorial

Wowee, bees ain’t in it, everyone has been very busy this week at Geneva and the star of the show has to be the Rolls-Royce 100EX roadster. Taking many styling cues from the Phantom, it too manages to be both modern and retrospective at the same time, is beautifully finished, and carries over that ‘big Rolls-Royce’ feeling that years of exposure to the relatively modest Silver Shadow models made us forget. The Goodwood company almost casually drop-in that ‘power is supplied by a 9-litre V16, 64-valve naturally aspirated engine’ - fantastic stuff and a shot across the bows of Maybach’s supertanker.

The other big news for Classic Inside readers on the luxury front is two design concepts from Aston Martin. One, the Zagato Vanquish Roadster had been previewed before and although eagerly awaited, was pretty well what we all expected. The other, the Bertone ‘Jet II’ was something of a surprise and I suppose the nearest thing to it (BMW 2002 Tii Touring apart, yes and perhaps later ‘Compacts’) would be the same company’s shooting brake or even from a stylistic and performance standpoint the 1962 Ferrari 250GT ‘Breadvan’.

Lots more on Geneva, all of which you can read about below, and my final word would be to have a look at the Koenigsegg CCR - some really fabulous photos of an even crazier version of one of the world’s fastest cars.

At this time of year it is traditional for us to make some sort of comment on the forthcoming F1 season, starting this weekend in Australia. As I write this piece Ferrari are 1-2 in unofficial practice, with Michael a 1/10 of a second clear of the rest and oft-touted heir to the throne Raikkonen in ninth. Here’s to another exciting season then.

Steve Wakefield
Managing Editor
sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER
An Evening of Design with Aston Martin - Geneva 2004 1st March 2004, Country Club of Geneva. Aston Martin hosted an evening to celebrate its current DB9 model line-up in the company of design exercises from Bertone, Giugiaro and Zagato. As well as showing existing limited editions like the DB AR1, there were some exciting surprises too... read the complete article
74th Geneva Salon – Complete photo-gallery from René Staud Over its 74-year life the Geneva Salon has seen the launch some of the world's greatest cars. Many of them started life as concepts, trailing their coats to the world, the manufacturers judging demand before committing to long-term production... read the complete article
Maserati 450S - The Prisoner The car that escaped the 1957 Caracas disaster - because it was in jail 1957 was not an easy year for Maserati. It needed a win in Caracas to clinch the World Sports Car Championship and having fielded four 450S, and a back up 300S, the team sat back and watched all of its cars destroyed in accidents. Tony Parravano’s car was not one of the factory team’s entries... read the complete article
Heritage Trackdays announce full 2004 UK driving day programme Driving day specialists Heritage Trackdays have announced a full calendar of events for UK enthusiasts looking for GATSO-free track-time in their own cars, as well as being able to hire a performance car for the day or just taking a ride with an experienced instructor... read the complete article
The second Revival Coppa Milano -Sanremo – March 12th - 14th 2004 The second Revival Coppa Milano - Sanremo for cars built before 1973 is ready for the "off ". Just a few days left before the auspicious date of March 11, when the first participants will arrive at the Autodromo Nazionale in Monza for their pre-rally check-up... read the complete article
Rolls-Royce 100EX roadster - surprise showing at Geneva Show 2nd March 2004; Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has unveiled an experimental motor car - the 100EX - at the Geneva motor show today. This special model has been designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rolls-Royce, which falls on May 4th this year. It will appear at various events throughout 2004 to help mark the centenary... read the complete article
Koenigsegg CCR - new for Geneva with 806bhp The new model CCR is the top version of Koenigsegg. It has all the features of the CC8S model but a refined design of the side air intakes, different headlight arrangement, a revised rear design, larger brakes and a more powerful, 806bhp, engine... read the complete article
The new Maserati Gransport The latest addition to the Maserati range is the Maserati GranSport, a new model celebrating the concept of sportiness at the heart of all of the Trident’s Grand Tourers, due to be unveiled to the world for the first time at Geneva’s International Motor Show... read the complete article
The 2004 Jaguar XK Series From the legendary XK120 that introduced the XK name to the roads – and thousands of owners to the delights of a Jaguar – through to the current range of coupes and convertibles, Jaguar’s XK sports cars have consistently set the benchmark when it comes to blending luxury, performance and grand touring ability... read the complete article
Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster revealed in Geneva 2 March 2003…Automobili Lamborghini has unveiled the Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster, a derivative of the Murciélago coupé, at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. Originally presented as a concept car at the Detroit Motor Show in 2003, the roadster version of the 200 mph super car has already generated significant worldwide interest... read the complete article
Bonhams at Geneva 8th March 2004 - Preview On home territory, Bonhams Europe will host their usual sale at Geneva’s Musée de l’Automobile during the second week of the annual Motor Show which, as Simon Kidston puts it, ‘raises the curtain every March on the European motoring season’. A significant proportion of the sale is the Carlo Talamo collection - that includes such gems as a 1992 AC Cobra MkIV at SFR90.000 - 100.000... read the complete article
Bonhams at Hendon 1st March 2004 - Review and Results The 1937 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom III sold lowish on estimate for £37,950 including buyer’s premium, but the real sensation was the price achieved by a humble 1955 Bentley ‘R’ Type Steel Saloon achieving some £20,000 over estimate, selling for an amazing £40,250... read the complete article
Barons Sale 9th March 2004 Sandown Park, Esher Once again the Sandown Park Exhibition Complex, Esher, Surrey will welcome the Barons Auction team when over 40 lots are due to be sold in the company’s second sale of 2004. Amongst the usual selection of Mercedes SLs and Bentley’s are an Aston Martin Virage for £22,500 - 26,500 - and a Ferrari-engined Fiat Dino Coupé for just £ 6,750 - 8,750... read the complete article

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EVENTGUIDE

Bonhams Auction at the Salon de l’Automobile, Geneva
8th March 2004

Geneva Motorshow
4th - 14th March 2004

Barons Classic, Collectors, Thoroughbred and Sports Car Auction, Sandown Park, UK
9th March 2004

Coppa Milano-San Remo, Italy
12th - 14th March 2004

Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, USA
13th - 14th March 2004

Classic Cars Live!
20th - 21st March 2004

see further event details

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