| |
EDITORIAL |
 |
Yes, it's the final newsletter before Christmas. And if I can take the briefest of rests from decking the Classic Driver halls with bells and holly, let me give you some of my highlights of 2011.
From the driving seat, the memory of a 300–mile, no–holds–barred trip in a Ferrari 458 still burns brightly, as does 'lapping' RM's Villa d'Este–sale Ford GT 40 Roadster. I cannot think of two better cars to describe as the perfect 'matched pair'.
I'll leave more detailed auction price analysis to the experts but at the very top end of the market it was business as usual. Massive sums of money changed hands again for blue–chip cars and that new saleroom phenomenon, the 'preservation class' entry, really took off.
Gooding achieving $1.5m for an alloy–bodied, for–restoration 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB at Pebble Beach wasn't bad, nor was its $951k, 1962 300SL Roadster, boasting 7,367 miles from new, that sold at Arizona in January.
And we can expect more of the same next year: interesting cars at auction, even more impressive prices and greater mainstream media coverage. In 2012, Bonhams will offer the George Daniels motor car collection at its Goodwood Festival sale — an event that could well be record–breaking and one you're likely to hear a lot more about in months to come.
The two Goodwood meetings, Pebble Beach week, Villa d'Este and Uniques in Florence were world–class events, and I look forward to returning to Kuwait next February for its annual Concours d'Elegance.
Though, rather than borrowing a phrase from a Kuwait–Concours–crashing Tony Blair by saying a final "See you, guys!", I am delighted to simply wish you heartfelt best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
|
 |
THIS WEEK IN CLASSIC DRIVER
|
|
FEATURES
Land Rovers old and new: 50 years of off–road testing at Eastnor Castle
"The stuff of Land Rover legends," is how a company spokesman describes the 500–acre estate in the Malvern Hills that has played a vital role in developing Land Rover and Range Rover 4x4s since 1961.
read more...
|
|
 |
|
DRIVING REPORT
Classic Range Rover
While the world has been rightly celebrating 50 years of the Jaguar E–type, I would suggest that the champagne should be ordered well in advance to toast another British design classic: the original three–door Range Rover.
read more...
|
|
Land Rover in the Classic Driver Marketplace |
 |
 |
 |
More cars |
|
EVENTS
Detroit Auto Show 2012: The Premieres
From 9–22 January 2012, the automotive industry will gather at the annual North American International Auto Show in Detroit. A host of interesting concepts and showroom–bound production models give us an early taste of what's to come in 2012 and beyond.
read more...
|
|
NEWS
|
|
NEWS
|
|
Mercedes SL in the Classic Driver Marketplace |
 |
 |
 |
More cars |
|
CHRISTMAS NEWS
Father Christmas tests the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Every year he needs to cover tens of thousands of miles from the Arctic Circle to the equator overnight — without being detected. So what better car could Father Christmas choose to make his vital deliveries in than a camouflaged prototype of the forthcoming Jaguar XF Sportbrake?
read more...
|
|
 |
|
CHRISTMAS VIDEO
The BMW M5 and the fastest Christmas card in the world
Take the new, 552bhp BMW M5, a race track, some pens, a blank piece of paper, a BMW works driver and a well–known illustrator. The outcome? Yes you guessed it — the fastest Christmas card in the world.
read more...
|
|
Christmas crackers in the Classic Driver Marketplace |
 |
 |
 |
More cars |
|
CLASSIC CONCEPTS
1993 Aston Martin Lagonda Vignale
Narrowly losing a place in Aston Martin's product portfolio to the DB7, the Lagonda Vignale concept could have given the manufacturer a quite different image to the one we know today — and what's more, that wasn't the only case of sibling rivalry in the fateful tale.
read more...
|
|
 |
|
AUCTIONS
Success for Coys at 2011, end–of–season London sale
London–based house Coys declared results of some £4.5m for its 7 December sale and an American buyer became the latest owner of the ex–George Harrison, 1964 Aston Martin DB5.
read more...
|
|
NEWS
Abarth planning new sports car
Abarth — the sporty Fiat Group subsidiary — is working on a standalone sports car that will hark back to the classic Abarth scorpions. The news was confirmed by Group CEO Sergio Marchionne at the end of the Fiat Panda presentation in Naples.
read more...
|
|
 |
|
EVENTS
Porsche revisits Le Mans history ahead of 2014 relaunch
Ahead of a return to the LMP1 class of Le Mans in 2014, Porsche has released a series of videos looking back on its past successes in the legendary race.
read more...
|
|
MOTORCYCLES
Benelli racing bikes to feature in Bonhams' 2012 Las Vegas sale
Bonhams' 12 January Nevada motorcycle auction will include two significant racing Benellis. Joining the genuine ex–factory 1958 250cc single is a faithful recreation of the company's jewel–like 1969 350cc four–cylinder racer.
read more...
|
|
Classic motorcycles in the Classic Driver Marketplace |
 |
 |
 |
More 'bikes |
|
|
CLASSIC LIFE |
|
Rolex Daytonas at Bonhams' 8 December US sale
In these uncertain times, vintage Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas from the 60s and 70s have joined Ferrari 275 GTBs, a Chelsea pied à terre and vintage claret as an alternative 'world currency'. Bonhams sold two mid–60s 'Paul Newman' models at its recent North American auction.
read more...
|
|
 |
|
Multi–million–dollar 'Design Masters' and 'Design Day’ sales in New York
With Art Deco and classic, modern design seemingly more popular than ever, Phillips de Pury grossed nearly $5m at its recent, 13–14 December sales.
read more...
|
|
|
SHOWROOM |
|
Editor's Christmas Choice: 1952 Crosley Hook & Ladder
You don't need to be a small boy to love this Crosley 'Hook & Ladder' fire engine from 1952 — but someone planning to plant this life–size toy under the Christmas tree should perhaps source some larger perennial timber.
more...
|
|
|
SERVICE
|
|
Copyright:
All articles in ClassicInside and in the Classic Driver Magazine
are subject to Classic Driver copyrights.
Responsible for content:
Steve Wakefield
(Director)
If you want to unsubscribe from our Newsletter, please click here.
|
Classic Driver UK
Fountain Court
2 Victoria Square, Victoria St
St Albans
Herts
AL1 3TF
United Kingdom
phone +44 (0)1727 884650
fax +44 (0)1727 884800
e-mail contact@classicdriver.com
|
|
| |
LIMITED EDITION POSTERS
BY PULLMAN EDITIONS
|
|
 |
Tom Hartley
Price 64.950 GBP |
|
 |
Albion Motorcars
Price P.O.R. (EUR) |
|
 |
René Wagner Fast Line Ltd.
Price 245.000 EUR |
|
 |
Mole Valley Specialist Cars Ltd
Price P.O.R. (GBP) |
|
 |
Hexagon Classics
Price P.O.R. (GBP) |
|
 |
Modena Motorsport GmbH
Price P.O.R. (EUR) |
|
 |
Autospeak S.r.l.
Price 33.000 EUR |
|
 |
DK Engineering
Price P.O.R. (GBP) |
|
 |
H.R. Owen Sports Cars Ferrari - London
Price 122.950 GBP |
|
 |
Copley Motorcars
Price 995.000 USD |
|
 |
Classic Motor Action
Price P.O.R. (EUR) |
|
 |
Marlow Cars
Price 37.999 GBP |
|
 |
Carugati Automobiles SA
Price P.O.R. (CHF) |
|
 |
Avro Motor Cars
Price P.O.R. (GBP) |
|
 |
Runnymede Motor Company
Price 29.950 GBP |
|
 |
Legends Automotive Ltd
Price P.O.R. (GBP) |
|
 |
E. Thiesen KG
Price P.O.R. (EUR) |
|
 |
Nicholas Mee and Company Ltd
Price 52.950 GBP |
|
 |
Marreyt Classics - Twin Cam
Price P.O.R. (EUR) |
|
 |
K&F Classic Cars GmbH
Price 115.000 EUR |
|
 |
Brooklands Classic Cars Pty Ltd
Price 142.950 GBP |
|
 |
Motorrad Fuchs
Price 8.900 EUR |
|
 |
JD Classics
Price P.O.R. (GBP) |
|
 |
Stratton Motor Company (Norfolk) Limited
Price 12.495 GBP |
|
|
|
