Edition 03/2008 49.293 subscribers
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EDITORIAL
It just had to happen, didn't it? Ever since the launch of Audi's R8 supercar and its victories at Le Mans with — good gracious — a diesel racer, we've been waiting for this moment. Yup, the unveiling of a diesel R8.
Detroit is the venue for the much-anticipated concoction and, while it's branded a 'concept', there's bound to be a queue of would-be buyers waving cheque book and pen at the boys from Ingolstadt.
The biggest technical problem must surely have been the task of shoehorning that V12 powerplant into the engine bay. To do it, the designers had to make the cabin a wee bit smaller, so maybe it's a marginally less useable version of the fabulously useable supercar. But I'm splitting hairs.
Also this week, we celebrate 50 years of Lola, a British company claiming more race and championship wins than any other racing car manufacturer in the world. Incidentally, Lola has never built road cars but, back in the 1970s, Motor magazine tested the Hon Colin Clark's Lola T70 Mk 3B — a red-blooded racer converted for road use.
"On the road it's not everybody's idea of the dream car," said Motor. "There is no room for a suitcase anywhere and it takes about three minutes to get into it." But Motor was renowned for its performance 'League Table' and, when the magazine assessed the car's acceleration at MIRA, the T70 Mk 3B came in as the fastest road-registered vehicle they had ever tested: 3.2 seconds for the 0-60mph sprint. That's a second quicker than the new R8: not bad for 1974, eh?
Steve Wakefield is away in Switzerland but he'll be back next week.
Charis Whitcombe
Associate Editor
cw@classicdriver.com
THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER
Audi R8 DieselRipping up the rulebookWell, this is one we all saw coming. Given Audi's vast success at Le Mans with the diesel-powered R10 TDI, and the equally vast success of its R8 road-going supercar, it was only a matter of time before the German giant put the two together and brought us an R8 diesel. read more... |
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Classic Driver Dealer: Clive SuttonCars to the StarsOne of the most intriguing things about Clive Sutton Premier Marques is the man himself — Mr Clive Sutton. One could describe his business as a "cars to the stars" affair, by which we mean that his customers — while not necessarily film stars — tend to be super-high-achievers in their own firmaments. read more... |
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Lamborghini at DetroitAd Personam Personalisation ProgrammeThere's no new model from Lamborghini at this year's Detroit Auto Show but the marque is displaying three personalised cars which 'draw inspiration from the most glamorous trends of the world of fashion'. read more... |
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Lola Turns 50Britain's oldest existing manufacturer of racing cars turns 50 this year. First established by Eric Broadley in 1958, Lola has proved its worth in a staggeringly diverse spread of motorsport categories: from club racing through endurance sports-racers to Indycars and F1. read more... |
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Maserati Quattroporte 'Collezione Cento'Limited-edition super-luxury GT announced in DetroitMaserati, riding high on the sales success of the new GranTurismo, is launching the most desirable version of its four-door GT yet. read more... |
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The Fisker KarmaLuxury hybrid launched at the NAIAS, DetroitFrom the man who brought the world the DB9 comes a plug-in hybrid CLS-type four-door coupé. The new car will have a starting price of $80,000 and production will commence in 2009. read more... |
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Book Review: 'Porsche The Sports Racing Cars 1953 — 72'The blue and orange dust jacket is a clue to this work's ultimate destination, but this latest book in a long line of interesting volumes from veteran author Anthony Pritchard is not just 'another JW Gulf 917 book'. read more... |
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THE CLASSIC DRIVER PREMIUM CAR MARKET
MODERN
Ferrari 430 Spider F1
colour Azzuro California |
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06/56, Azzuro California, Blue Scurro, and Sabbia inserts, Bluetooth, Daytona Style Seats, Blue Hide Dash and Steering Wheel, Cream Stitching, Special Paintwork, Heated, Electric Seats, SatNav, Challenge Stradale Wheel Rims, 1 Owner
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Avro Motor CarsTown/City: Brooklands, UK |
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CLASSIC
Maserati Ghibli SS Spyder
colour Verde Gemma 106 G 53 (original) |
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Fancy an iconic Italian sports car a bit less obvious than a Ferrari Daytona Spyder, a bit more 'Commendatore' than 'Cad'? Here's your chance to show your good taste. Geneva-based Kidston SA have been instructed to offer one of just eleven European spec (so no nasty US sidelights or performance stifling emissions equipment) examples built of Maserati's elegant Ghibli 4.9SS Spyder.
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Kidston SATown/City: Geneva, Switzerland |
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SPORTING
Shelby Cobra CSX 2051
colour Blue |
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Original racing history, restored, FIA Papers, full history.
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Bill Shepherd MustangTown/City: Byfleet, UK |
EVENTGUIDE 2008
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18.01. — 18.01. RM Auctions, Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona, Phoenix, USA |
SERVICE
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