Editorial

A flurry of activity this month. Next week will see the Le Mans 24 Hours and the eagerly-anticipated return of a works Aston Martin Team. The two DBR9s have been flying in testing and although we’ve all been told it’s ‘early days’ and that the first two successful outings ‘exceeded our expectations’, there will be a tremendous groundswell of support for the Team. We’ll be running a bespoke ‘Le Mans Special’ Classic Inside next week that will also have a preview of Sotheby’s exciting Ferrari Sale at Maranello later this month.

The week after Le Mans is another hugely popular event, as British as the Vingt Quatre Heures du Mans is French - the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Do remember it’s an all-ticket event again and a visit to Goodwood’s excellent website or a quick ‘phone call to book tickets is a vital, but easy, process.

The Auction helter-skelter continues with Christie’s selling the ex-Ecurie Ecosse C-Type Jaguar tomorrow in London, Coys at Blenheim Palace next weekend, and Bonhams holding their traditional Friday Sale at the Goodwood Festival the week after. It’s all go at this time of year but before we know it August will be upon us and everything will go quiet again - so enjoy it while you can.

Next week will see the editorial Volvo V50 T5 travelling to Le Mans - I expect I shall meet many of you there.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER

Aston Martin DB4 Lightweight Race Car

30 years of continuous competition - 550 events - 126 wins

358 DLW was bought by the owner in 1974 and converted into a part modified race car but still usable on the road. In this form it was regularly competed for 19 years.

In 1993 - 1994 it was converted to lightweight race car by Aston Engineering and the owner. In this form it has competed for the last 11 years. Firstly with a 4.2 engine and latterly with a 4.5 litre engine.

Recent work includes: Bodywork and chassis repainted. New clutch. New front discs. Replacement block, machined by R S Williams. Engine overhauled March 2004. Gearbox rebuilt May 2004. Axle rebuilt by BPA engineering May 2004. New halfshaft.

The car has been run, maintained and driven by the owner throughout these 30 years.

colour Goodwood Green
interior colour Racing aluminium/Black
drive RHD
year 1959

Price GBP P.O.R.

Dealership:


Runnymede Motor Company
Near Beaconsfield, Bucks

Phone +44 (0) 1753 644599

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Bentley Continental GT

leather, Chrome wheels, 1 owner

colour Cypress
interior colour Black leather English oak
drive RHD
year 2004
mileage 4.828 km / 3.000 m

Price GBP 98.950

Dealership:


Avro Motor Cars
(By appointment only):Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey

Phone +44 (0) 1932 352220

see all details

see complete stock from this dealer

Porsche 550 Spider - Collection Florent Pagny

This car, a 1955 Porsche Spyder #550050, was delivered in the USA on June 28, 1955. The aluminium body is finished in metallic silver with black leather-covered bucket seats. As many other Spyder 550s, this is a Californian car.

In 1989, it had been restored by European Auto Restauration Inc., 1665 Babcock Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 for an important Japanese collector. Then, the car went back to Europe in the hands of Claude Picasso, a great connoisseur of fine cars whose collection is neither definetly set, nor static. At the wheel of this 550, he participated twice in the historic Targa Florio, the favourite ground of this nice Porsche, and in the first edition of Le Mans Classic. The condition of the car is nearly new, both mechanically and cosmetically.

This is a pure jewel, ready to be invited to participate in the main historic events and among these the Mille Miglia. Its documents are a FIVA passport, a U.S. title, a Japanese title and a French title ("carte grise de collection")

colour Metallic Silverr
interior colour Black Leather
drive LHD
year 1955

Price EUR 550.000 - 650.000

Auction:


ARTCURIAL - Sale of 20th June 2005
Palais des Congrès, Paris

Phone +353 (0)1 2720300

see all details

see complete auction entries

Christie's Summer Sale of Motor Cars , London, UK
11th June 2005

Stanford Hall - The UK’s Premier Italian Car Concours, UK
12th June 2005

Fine Motor Cars, The Jaguar Legend - Coys Auction , Blenheim Palace, UK 18th June 2005

Le Mans 24 Hours, France
18th - 19th June 2005

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2005, Goodwood, W.Sussex, UK
24th - 26th June 2005

Historic Racing including 'Top Hat' and 'Gentleman Drivers', Dijon, France
24th - 26th June 2005

The Vernasca Silver Flag Hillclimb, Italy
24th - 26th June 2005

Sotheby's at Ferrari Auction, Maranello, Italy
28th June 2005

The Silverstone Classic, in association with Bonhams, UK
30th - 31st July 2005

see further event details

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