Editorial

Whatever your opinions of big four wheel drives, there's no denying that Land Rover created the European concept of a 'luxury' off-roader when its ground-breaking 3-door 'Range Rover' was launched to an unsuspecting public in June 1970. Considering its luxury pretensions at the time, the original car would appear Spartan to modern eyes and yet over the decades it has been developed into the class-leading car it is today.

Or is it still? 'Performance off-roaders' such as the X5, MLs (with big V8s) and in particular the Porsche Cayenne, have been chipping away at Range Rover from the status and prestige viewpoint, and positively blasting away at it from a performance angle. The answer to these prolonged attacks you can read about below; the exciting Range Rover Sport that will be on sale in 2005, an attractive car that retains the legendary Range Rover DNA yet packs a 390bhp punch in a sporting chassis.

There's plenty of auction activity next week in England, we've more previews below and will of course be reviewing all the action as soon as the collective hammers fall.

Finally do take time to read the news of Maybach's latest bespoke services, and how the chrome interior parts of the car can be gold-plated to order. Completely crazy, but the world would be a sadder place without it.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

Ford GT40 Mk V

Ten years after GT40 production ceased, John Willment of JW Automotive still retained the rights from Ford along with all the original plans, tools, body moulds and jigs, plus a large quantity of spares. An agreement was reached with Peter Thorpe's company, Safir Engineering Ltd of Byfleet, Surrey, to build a limited run of a 1980's version of the GT40, known as the MkV.

The MkV chassis was slightly updated by Len Bailey, of the original design team, utilizing a fabricated steel monocoque rather than pressed steel panels. New body panels were constructed using original moulds and the MkV became outwardly almost indistinguishable from the MkI and carried a chassis number originally registered for production.

GT40 P/1115 was the twelfth Mk V manufactured in 1986 ~ (see page 321 GT40 by Ronnie Spain) and is fitted with a Ford 5 litre V8 with Weber carburettors and five-speed ZF gearbox. Finished in Cirrus White with Black interior trim, this stunning and very useable road version is also suitable for many competition events, having contested the 2001 Targa Florio. UK registered and offered in excellent condition throughout.


colour Cirrus White
interior colour Black
drive RHD
year 1986
Chassis No. GT40 P/1115

Price P.O.R.


Dealership:

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

Phone +44 (0) 1787 477749

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Bentley Brooklands R Mulliner LWB

automatic

Last of the line before the Arnage model, the Brooklands Mulliner R Long Wheel Base cars are nothing less than spectacularly specified. Just 100 were produced. This superb Black Emerald Green example has been Chauffeur driven and expertly maintained. Only 13,000 miles have been covered from new. Immaculate.


colour Black Emerald
interior colour Sandstone and pebble
drive RHD
year 1998
mileage 20.938 km / 13.010 m

Price 39.950 GBP


Dealership:

Nicholas Mee & Company Ltd
Brackenbury Garage, 12 Wellesley Avenue, London W6 OUP

Phone +44 (0)20 8741 8822

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Porsche 911 GT3 GTR 600

Gambella 600 BHP, full roll cage, fire extinguisher, carbon fibre centre console, 18" split rims.


colour Blue
interior colour Black
drive RHD
year 2000
mileage 17.703 km / 11.000 m

Price 71.995 GBP


Dealership:

Nick Cartwright Specialist Cars
Unit 3&4 Brookfield Park, Tansley, Derby DE4 5FY

Phone +44 (0)1629 56999

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Coys Auction, The Royal Horticultural Halls, London
4th Dec 2004

Bonhams Auction, Olympia, London
6th Dec 2004

Christie’s Auction, Jack Barclay Showroom, London
7th Dec 2004

H&H Classic Auction, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK
8th Dec 2004

Bonhams Europe Auction, Gstaad, Switzerland
18th Dec 2004

Palm Beach Cavallino Classics, Palm Beach, Florida, USA
18th - 23rd Jan 2005

see further event details

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