Editorial

Another holiday weekend beckons – in Europe at least - and I think we can now safely say that the ‘season’ has begun, and that all over the world the Blue Riband motoring events are getting into full swing. Tomorrow will see the finish of the Tour Auto, in Biarritz on the Atlantic coast of France, while later this month the Mille Miglia will start its celebration of the finest sports cars ever built up to the late ‘50s, over the classic route from Brescia to Rome and back again.

We’ve some pictures of the opening day in Paris of this year’s Tour Auto, and a full review will be in next week’s Classic Inside. For UK-domiciled readers there’s a plethora of competitive events this weekend, and I’ll be attending at least one of them. Sadly, Historic Racing fans will no longer be able to watch Gerry Marshall behind the wheel of any number of powerful rear-wheel drive cars, the veteran driver (marvellously described as when "on track, the ice cream queues disappeared, the bars emptied, and everybody lined the fences to watch") with unparalleled car control, died last week.

While not normally commenting on specific ‘Cars for Sale’ in Classic Inside, one can’t help imagining what a ride with Marshall would have been like in the Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM Limited Edition you see below, a road car true, but in the ‘60s and ‘70s Gerry and his ilk would treat the drive to a circuit as merely an extension of free practice; to get you in the groove so to speak. They don’t make drivers like that any more, but the manufacturers – despite global assurances on ‘safety’ and ‘Green Issues’ - sure do still make some very fine cars.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM Limited Edition



colour Silver
interior colour Black Hide
drive RHD
year 2005

Price GBP 235.000


Dealership:


Cars International Limited
Unit B2 - B3 Lanterns Court, Millharbour, London, E14 9TU

Phone+ 44 (0)207 537 9995

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Bentley Continental Convertible

Automatic, leather, full history, Matching Numbers

colour Royal Blue
interior colour Parchment
drive RHD
year 1987
mileage 46.671 km / 29.000 m

Price GBP 55.000

Dealership:


The Chelsea Workshop
Nell Gwynn House, Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, London SW3 3AU

Phone +44 (0)20 7584 8363/4

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Maserati 3500 Touring Coupé

Fully restored from an original 39,000 miles example, 5-speed manual ZF transmission and Borrani wire wheels. This is a no expense spared full restoration to show quality of what must be considered one of the best Maserati 3500 GTs available in the world.

The body is original and was stripped to bare metal showing no sign of rust or previous body damage. This example was originally fitted with Lucas fuel injection but has been retro-fitted with Weber carburetion during its recent restoration. Many 3500 GTs had been originally supplied from the factory with Webers when new. The original Lucas Injection is available and supplied.

The aluminium bodies are attractive, well built and superbly finished by Touring of Milan. This is a classic high performance Italian GT powered by a dual overhead camshaft, dual ignition, inline all alloy six-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower from its 3.5 liter displacement engine, this lineage dates to the 250F Grand Prix cars and the 300S-350S sports-racers. This was the model that brought Maserati from a boutique builder of racing cars to a manufacturer of high performance, high quality production GT cars. Early cars had drum brakes described as "marginal”, this being a late example it has four wheel disc brakes and thus brakes straight, well and with great ease.

The Maserati 3500 GT is a wonderful automobile that will allow entry to many wonderful vintage events. It is extremely user friendly and an easy automobile to drive and enjoy. The example on offer here is absolutely exceptional in every way. This 3500 GT has been restored by a fanatic, it is sorted and ready for a loving new home as its owner has moved on to his next project-restoration. It comes complete books and all restoration records and receipts.

colour Red
interior colour White Leather
drive LHD
year 1964

Price USD 95.000


Dealership:


Autosport Designs Inc.
203 West Hills Road, Huntington Station, New York, 11746

Phone +1 (631) 425-1555

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Brooklands Spring Italian Car Day, UK
30th Apr 2005

'Top Hat', 'Gentleman Drivers' and 'Motor Racing Legends' Historic Motor Racing at Donington Park, UK
1st - 2nd May 2005

Aston Martin Owners Club Historic Races at Mallory Park, UK
1st May 2005

Barons Classic, Collectors, Thoroughbred and Sports Car Auction, Esher, UK
2nd - 3rd May 2005

Modena Cento Ore Classic, Italy
7th - 10th May 2005

Legende et Passion, Coys Auction, Monaco
14th May 2005

Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy - International FIA GT Racing, Silverstone, UK
15th May 2005

Bonhams Auction - Les Grandes Marques à Monaco
16th May 2005

Mille Miglia Retrospective, Italy
19th - 22nd May 2005

Christie's Auction of Exceptional Motor Cars: Rockefeller Center, USA
24th May 2005

Bonhams Aston Martin Sale at 'Works Service', Newport Pagnell, UK
4th June 2005

see further event details

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