Irvine Laidlaw racing collection to be a highlight of RM’s 2013 London sale

Describing himself as not a car collector but a “car enthusiast who wants to exercise his cars regularly”, Baron Laidlaw has decided to thin out his racing stable. So, this September, RM’s London sale will include some of the finest.

And when we say ‘finest’, we don’t simply mean the pick of the Conservative life peer’s extensive garage. No, when speaking of such cars as the ex-Camoradi Maserati Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage’, one has to say that these are best-of-the-best, Premier Cru lots with a virtually open entry to any one of the world’s best events.

Joining what many consider to be the finest-ever front-engined sports-racer are six other superlative machines. The 1958 Maserati 250S, chassis no. 2432, is an ex-Carroll Shelby and Jim Hall car. The long-nose Jaguar D-type was a factory entry at Le Mans in 1955, then sold to the Ecurie Ecosse team in whose hands it finished sixth at Monza in 1957.

Likewise, both the 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C and 1965 Porsche 904/6 have impeccable histories including the Le Mans 24 Hours. And the two Chevrons (1970 B16 coupé and 1971 B19 spider) also have extensive period racing credentials. They are also beautifully prepared - like all Laidlaw cars - and ferociously fast.