Editorial

Aahh, the ‘80s, the era of the last Classic and Supercar boom. Didn’t you just love it? Well no, actually, was the verdict from The Fancy at Christie’s London Auction this week. A significant part of the Sale (full details, as ever, below) was a collection of 18 Ferraris, many of which would have commanded colossal figures at the height of the collective madness. £200,000 for a Ferrari Boxer couldn’t be true could it? A typical price now is around the £35,000 mark which puts things in perspective. Swinging a leg over a 365BB pre-sale brought back a lot of happy memories, and when someone raised the engine cover to reveal the almost 250LM-patinated mass of alloy engine and carbs raised high above the axle, one was tempted to think “Blimey, this is a awful of a lot of car for the money”. (And yes I have said that before, but that’s the fun about liking nice cars isn’t it?)

In fact, going back in time, one of our number was moved to comment that these were the cars of choice for many a respectable Historic Racer (and some not so respectable). They were something the average chap preparing to compete with his Aston DB4GT Zagato would give tremendous respect to, even a grudging nod of envy. How times have changed. And while we now prefer to wear collar and tie under our suits rather than T-shirts, we also prefer the timeless classics from Les Grandes Marques. The 275GTB and 250GT Lusso, or DB5 and V8 Vantage. All of these models’ prices have fluctuated over the last 15 years it’s true, but quality will out and you will, for example, find a Ferrari 275GTB/C in our car database for nigh-on a $1,000,000 - and I’ve no doubt it will sell.

The auction also saw £175,500 for an Austin-Healey 3000; you could buy five BB512s for that! Think on.

The Louis Vuitton Classic was, as ever, a superb event. My only comment would be the award for ‘Sheer Pleasure - The Perfect Car for a Romantic Weekend Escape’ going to the fabulous 1959 Ferrari Dino 246S. Well perhaps the judging panel’s view of romance is somewhat different from your editor’s. With its fierce ‘in-or-out’ competition clutch, zero weather protection, deafening open-exhaust and spine-breaking seats a more suitable category would be for ‘Sheer Hell - I Knew it was a Mistake to Take This Bloody Thing, Where’s the Nearest Train Station?’.

Now I have been driving a modern car this week far more suitable for wooing the opposite sex - full details next Friday.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

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Porsche 356 Belgian Roadster

4 speed, restored, Matching Numbers

1961 Porsche 356B Roadster aka “Belgian” Roadster – # 89336 Porsche Roadsters bodies were built for two years mostly by the German coachbuilder Drauz. As Porsche’s association with Drauz coachbuilders ended, the Roadster bodies were built by the Belgian coachbuilder Anciens Etablissement d’Iteren Freres S.A. in Brussels. These special roadsters were known as “Belgian Roadsters”. Through mid 1961 and early 1962, Porche and d’Iteren produced less than 500 “Belgian Roadsters” (89011 –89483). As a result of this low production and their incomparable attractiveness, the “Belgian Roadsters” have become much sought after by collectors.

Number 89336 is truly a special car. It is painted in the rare as well as stunning color combination of Aetna Blue on Red. This was the original color combination of this car.

Completed in 2002, this car was restored by a 356 expert/specialist who has restored over 80 of these fine automobiles and wrote a book on restoring the Porsche 356.

This car was purchased from its original owner in Boulder, Colorado, by the restorer. It was a very strong original car and therefore an excellent candidate for a complete restoration to concours standards. The car was completely disassembled with every part replaced or restored. A premier air-cooled engine mechanic rebuilt the engine. This car is considered by the restorer to be one his “best efforts”. As he will or any restorer will acknowledge the key is to start with a great car. Has the VERY RARE original complete tool set which are selling for $3,000 plus….if you can find a complete one. Also this fine automobile has the original towel and a reproduction towel.


Colour Aetna Blue
Interior colour Red
Year 1961
Mileage 106.217 km / 66.000 m

Price: $65.000


Dealership:

Harwood Enterprises
Upstate New York
Phone +1 585 586 3960


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Maserati 300 S Reconstruction

Stirling Moss “A decently prepared 300S had a chassis which was infinitely superior to any front engined sports Ferrari, one of the easiest, nicest, best balanced sports-racing cars ever made”

Following the Formula 1 Grand Prix Championship first held in 1950, The FIA started a World Sportscar Championship in 1953. All the main contenders for the title had engines that displaced well over 3 litres. Ferrari took the first title, which convinced Italian rivals Maserati to construct a car capable of competing in the new championship.

Throughout the 1954 season Maserati experimented with a hybrid sportscar which used the A6GCS chassis and 250F engine. However, its high compression engine made reliability difficult for races longer than 2 or 3 hours. So a completely new six-cylinder engine was designed, derived from the 250F, but with a 3-litre displacement. It was a 6 cylinder in-line; twin cam; twin plug engine, which was incorporated onto an specially designed new chassis featuring a DeDion type rear axle. Mounted onto the chassis was an aluminium body designed and built by Fantuzzi. The 300S made its competition debut in 1955 and 1956 won major victories and Maserati finished second in the championship behind the almost unbeatable Ferrari Team.

This example has been painstakingly reconstructed over Four years by Maserati specialist Steve Hart, to the most exacting detail at a cost in excess of £400,000. Fitted with a much sought after Cyril Embrey Maserati engine, developing 310bhp @ 6500rpm and a top speed of approx. 170 mph. This car is indistinguishable from one of the original 27 built. Fitted with 3 x Weber 45 DC03 carburettors, a 5 speed Maserati transaxle gearbox, ventilated Drum brakes all round and outstanding new aluminium bodywork produced by Church Green Engineering.

The car has been extensively tested by historic racer Willie Green, who is available to discuss its merits and with whom we are proud to offer this exceptional sportscar.


Colour Red

PRICE P.O.R.

Dealership:

Maxted-Page & Baxter Ltd
PO Box 7039, Halstead, Essex CO9 2WL

Phone +44 (0) 1787 477749


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The Hamptons Auto Classic 2004, Bridgehampton, USA
11th - 12th June 2004

Gordon-Keeble Owners Club 40th Anniversary Weekend, UK
12th - 13th June 2004

Le Mans 24 Hours, Le Mans, France
12th - 13th June 2004

Motor Racing Legends Pre-War Sports Car Series, Nürburgring, Germany
26th - 27th June 2004

Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood, W.Sussex, UK
25th - 27th June 2004

Bonhams Auction, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood, W.Sussex, UK
25th June 2004

Barons Auction, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey
29th June 2004

see further event details

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