Editorial

Spending some time in London this week (and following on from our recent 'London Special') may I recommend a walk up from 'Clubland' to Regent St via Jermyn St and Bond St? With the early nights, and Christmas window dressing, the nation's capital is at its prime. Luxury goods manufacturers par excellence dunhill have the most fantastic window display featuring genuine 1950s Meccano (you know, the red and green stuff) in an Emmett-style working model. Well worth a look, and the mellow London atmosphere lends an air of sophistication to some of the more extreme forms of luxury motoring present in London's ritzier enclaves.

We've discussed the foreign number-plate thing before, but seeing a French-reg new Range Rover parked in Pall Mall in just the right colour of metallic blue it did look so 'right'. It's that sort of time of the year.

A recommendation for a late Christmas present would be a subscription to the excellent Motorfilms Quarterly. The idea is that you sign up, and four times a year the latest DVD or Video pops through your letterbox. The content is lovingly chosen and features rare, interesting, exciting - and sometimes hilarious - films of racing, industry and advertising over the decades. Those attending the preview in London the other night certainly enjoyed themselves.

In fact it's very much the sort of thing that we include below in an extract from an interview with 1950s racing driver Eric Thompson. A lot of cars changed hands this week in the traditional London pre-Christmas auction frenzy, and one of the reasons they did - and perhaps why you are reading this - is the great tradition of motoring, its history and folklore. It's why we like cars, why we buy them. And you can't make that up, you can't invent it or hype it up - it has a life of its own, a personality.

Next weekend's Gstaad all-Ferrari Sale has an ex-Schumacher F1 car for a sizeable amount of money, and a 250GT Spider California for even more. I know which one I would rather have.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

Ferrari Enzo

sequential gearbox / touchtronic, Matching Numbers , original condition

2004 Ferrari Enzo. Rosso Corsa with Nero hide. Delivery mileage only. This car needs no introduction. This perfect car is available for viewing by specific appointment at our Northleach Showroom.


colour Rosso Corsa
interior colour Nero
drive LHD
year 2004

Price P.O.R.


Dealership:

Bob Houghton
Midwinter Road, Northleach, Cheltenham, GL54 3JD

Phone +44(0) 870 90 40 430

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Bentley S1 Countryman by Radford

Chassis Number B363LAP. Extremely original Left Hand Drive example of these rare custom-fitted saloons, 'Black Plate' California car with beautiful rust free undercarriage and clean straight body, Radford accessories include split folding rear seats, picnic table and vanity mirror in trunk, and water bottle w/washing bowl in driver's door. All original books. Runs and drives superbly.


colour Shell Grey over Tudor Grey
interior colour Bordeaux
drive LHD
year 1956

Price $US 54,500


Dealership:

Heritage Classics
8980 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood California 90069

Phone +1-310-657 9699

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Porsche 911 RS Lightweight

993 RS Lightweight, Chassis WPOZZZ99ZTS390462, Special car, one of the 47 genuine RHD 993 RS. Registered 09/08/95 ‘N’ ex Porsche Cars GB demonstrator. Midnight blue with black interior. Lightweight Recaro leather bucket seats. Standards belts plus black competition Willans Harnesses. On board fire extinguisher. Electronic Cut-out. Heigo cage. 34,000 miles with full Porsche service history. Original books, manuals and tools. Blaupunkt pull out radio/cassette. Full original key set. Extensive history file. Headlamp protectors. Some spares.

Extensive spec including Tech 9 : 335bhp engine using 993 Supercup pistons/cylinders/cams/rockers, Cargraphic extractor manifold with 100 cell GT exhaust system. Car tuned by Machtech and new Roock chip fitted March 2003. H&R adjustable suspension with Eibach double spring system, Pagid performance brake pads, braided hoses with competition fluid, 8J and 10J genuine Speedline split rim Porsche RS wheels with new Pirelli tyres.


colour Midnight Blue
interior colour Black
drive RHD
year 8/1995
Chassis No. WPOZZZ99ZTS390462

Price 57.500 GBP


Dealership:
Private

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Bonhams Europe Auction, Gstaad, Switzerland
18th Dec 2004

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

Barons Auction, Esher, Surrey, UK
8th Feb 2005

Christie's Auction, Retromobile, Paris, France
12th Feb 2005

Bonhams Europe Auction, Paris, France
13th Feb 2005

International Historic Motorsport Show 2005, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, UK
25th - 27th Feb 2005

see further event details

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