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20 - 23 April 2017
TERRE di CANOSSA Parma, Lucca, Pisa, Reggio Emilia
International Classic Car Challenge
Forte dei Marmi, le Cinque Terre
Wir laden Sie auf eine auergewhnliche Fahrt durch das Gebiet Terre di Canossa ein.
Genieen Sie vier intensive Tage auf den historischen Straen von Mathilde von Canossa, Knigin Italiens whrend des XII. Jahrhunderts.
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www.gpcanossa.it
Issue 165 / March 2017
CONTENTS
ID NEVER SO MUCH
AS SAT IN A RALLY
CAR UNTIL I WAS
30 YEARS OLD
JIMMY McRAE AND
CHEVETTE HSR
Page 142
7
Issue 165 / March 2017
CONTENTS
FEATURES
SANDRO MUNARI
AND HIS LANCIA STRATOS
Page 64
With the 1977 Monte Carlo Rally winner, the car
he drove and the team that made it possible
104
HOW TO BUY A FERRARI 250 GTO
Page 82
Theres one for sale right now
EAGLE SPYDER GT
Page 86
Examining Eagles latest reimagined E-type
PRESIDENTIAL CITRON
Page 148
124 At the lyse Palace with De Gaulles DS
9
Issue 165 / March 2017
CONTENTS
REGULARS
NEWS AND EVENTS
Page 20
Cars to buy this year; BMWs centenary
celebrated; AMG GT R and Bentley tested
COLUMNS
Page 51
Monthly missives from Jay Leno, Derek Bell,
Stephen Bayley and Robert Coucher
GEARBOX
Page 58
20 TVs multi-talented motor restorer Ant Anstead
LETTERS
Page 61
Reader discovers last De Tomasos in restoration
OCTANE CARS
Page 158
Mark Dixon is reunited with his old rally Rover
ICON
Page 172
Keeping campers in hot tea: the Primus stove
CHRONO
Page 174
How Omega has touched the lives of so many
PLACES TO GO
Page 176
166 A private museum hidden away in Albuquerque
THE MARKET
Page 187
Auction news, previews, star buys and advice
10
TOURBILLON G-SENSOR RM 36-01
SEBASTIEN LOEB
www.richardmille.com
Issue 165 / March 2017
FEATURING
STEFAN SAUER
MASSIMO DELB
In 1977 I was eight years old, playing
with an Alitalia-livered Lancia Stratos
model. To celebrate the 40th anniversary
I brought together the 1977 Monte Carlo
MARK DIXON
EDITORS WELCOME
Waiting for our
star cars
EVAN KLEIN
WE LOVE IT when a plan comes together. While on the subject of long waits, how I truly felt privileged to be photographing
Back in August last year, deputy editor Mark about the owner of the Peugeot 205 rally car on the Lola; it played such an important
Dixon and I latched onto two fantastic but very pages 116-121. He bought it new, rallied it, part in history, as well as being a beautiful
different cars that we just had to feature in the blew the engine to smithereens, sold it in machine. It was a warm desert day, we had
pages of Octane but weve had to wait this pieces and then 25 years later happened to the track to ourselves and, when the owner
long to be able to do so. see it for sale in exactly the same condition. fired it up for the first time, the thing roared
At The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, we What could he do but buy it back, restore it and and my camera clicked away. Perfect.
saw the just-about-finished Lola GT and knew then start a rally series especially for the 205? The Lola GT is featured on pages 104-114.
immediately that wed found the winner of the And lets drag this tenuous theme out to one
Octane Editors Choice award. The car looks more feature car, the cover-star Lancia Stratos,
amazing, as youll see on pages 104-114, but which won the 1977 Monte Carlo Rally in the
its the human side the former Shelby hands of Sandro Munari. A full 40 years on, we
factory race driver waiting 30 years to start the managed to bring together car, driver, co-driver
restoration that really makes the story. Our and mechanics for an emotional reunion.
photoshoot took place at the very first test-run But it is not really the car itself, more the
of the completed car. magical memories it brings back, said Munari
At the McCalls Motorworks Revival event, and who are we to argue. Were just delighted
a crowd had gathered around a roof-chopped that the plan worked out so well.
Outlaw Lancia Aurelia. We knew of the car
but hadnt seen it in the metal; when we did, we GERARD BROWN
were blown away. Outlaw tends to be more When Im covering an event lasting a month
associated with West Coast Porsche 356s but or more its a marathon, not a sprint. Early
the Aurelia was built in the UK, inspired by starts and late finishes are part of it. Long-
the factorys race cars. It sounds contentious distance events for old cars are a challenge
but the reaction to it at the Jet Center was for all involved but they bring out the best
overwhelmingly positive. Once again, were in man, machine and photographer.
finally in a position to show you the finished David Lillywhite, See Gerards stunning photographs of
creation; see what you think, on pages 130-140. Editor the Rally of the Incas on pages 94-102.
12
Important Sports, Competition ENQUIRIES
and Collectors Motor Cars +44 (0) 20 7468 5801
ukcars@bonhams.com
Sunday 19 March 2017
Chichester, Sussex 1961 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES 1
FLAT FLOOR 3.8-LITRE ROADSTER
Chassis no. 850151
160,000 - 190,000
bonhams.com/motorcars
Issue 165 / March 2017
DRIVING THE
Robert Coucher Mark Dixon
robert@octane-magazine.com mark@octane-magazine.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR
BARN-FIND
Glen Waddington Chris Bietzk
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ART DIRECTOR SENIOR DESIGNER
MASERATI
Mark Sommer Robert Hefferon
marks@octane-magazine.com roberth@octane-magazine.com
TEST DRIVERS
Rescued from a French chteau, Tony Dron, Mark Hales, Richard Meaden
OCTANE WORLDWIDE
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MATTHEW HOWELL
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IGNITION
N E W S + E V E N T S + O PI N I O N
20
5 6. RENAULT-ALPINE GTA 8000-15,000
Name a rear-engined sports car with history
at Le Mans and on the Monte. Now name
one thats not a 911. With Alpine about to be
relaunched, now could be the time to buy a
GTA, once the worlds most aerodynamic car
and still a stunning looker. Turbo version has
performance to match; wide-bodied Le Mans
is the most sought-after. GW
9. MGA 14,000-30,000
With the best now asking far more than our
top figure, one of the last bastions of attainable
mid-century automotive glamour seems to
8 9 be trundling (MGAs were always slower than
they looked) beyond the reach of normal folk.
Ignore the potentially vexatious Twin Cam,
buy a tidy car on steels and use it often. CB
10
21
IGNITION / News
JAGUAR HERITAGE
1990-2005 GTs and Sports Prototypes to be
driven on UK and European circuits. Think
Porsche 993 GT2 to McLaren F1 GTR. DL
13 14
15
PAUL HARMER
22
IGNITION / News
Donington Park bought SU launches carburettor-look Jaguar Land Rover goes on Can you check under
by MotorSport Vision fuel injection system attack over Defender defence Alecs vehicle and see
Dr Jonathan Palmers company Following Jenveys launch of a JLR has won a trademark
MotorSport Vision has added Weber DCOE-lookalike injection infringement case against Canadian if theres an oil leak?
Donington circuit whose GP system, SU brand owner Burlen company Bombardier Recreational Forensic officer on BBC1s
Silent Witness, on discovering
history goes back to the Silver Fuel Systems has announced a products, which was marketing a an oil-stained driveway, calling
Arrows of the 1930s to a similar idea to be available initially recreational off-roader badged his colleague about a suspects
portfolio that already includes in an HD8 size as fitted to Jaguar Defender. JLR is determined to Series III Land Rover. Cue mirth
from Landy-owning viewers
Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Oulton XKs. As with the original carbs, protect use of the name and the
Park and Cadwell Park. The lease is each SUi will feed at least two body shape, referring also to the
initially for 21 years and Palmer is
promising some exciting new
cylinders. The kits will include
sensors, wiring and an ECU.
Ineos company that had been
hoping to continue production
We plan a great new
events and even better value. of the original vehicle. era for Donington, with
HCS takes over well-known much enhanced quality
Jet cars to thrust their stuff at UK engineering company Group B rally cars to take to
Santa Pods Easter festival Belgium-based Historic Irelands Kerry stages of experience
Jet engines are to join pistons for Competition Services, run by Following on from 2016s Circuit Ex-F1 driver Jonathan Palmer,
announcing the acquisition
the Pods season-opening Festival Julian Messent, has acquired a Dj Vu, with period rally cars of Donington circuit by his
of Power. Entries include Martin majority stake in the UKs demonstrated on old Circuit of company MotorSport Vision.
Hills FireForce 3 and 4 Funny Cars Formhalls Vintage and Racing Ireland stages, this years Dj Vu
and his five-second FireForce 5 company. Formhalls is renowned event is centred in County Kerry
dragster, Gerd Habermanns for its white-metalling and and will feature machinery from I put the passenger
jet-powered yellow school bus from engine-building services. rallyings most spectacular era, the window down and now
Germany, and Herv Franquins Group B cars of the 1980s. Dates
Peugeot 205 jetting in from France. Test your hillclimb car are 15-16 April. it wont come back up
at Shelsley Walsh New owner of Mark Dixons
Lamborghini Espada, five
Streamlining celebrated The Worcestershire hillclimb, Dan Gurneys Eagles land minutes after taking delivery.
at the Zeppelin Museum Britains oldest live motor sports at Petersen Museum, LA
Set in Friedrichshafen, the home of venue, has a test day in its events Eleven Eagle racing cars from
the old Zeppelin companys wind calendar for the first time. The Gurneys All-American Racers Tingling testicles! is
tunnel, the museum is tracing the Open Practice Day is on Saturday stable (or Anglo-American if its
history and iconography of the 17 June, open to all classes of cars, the 1967 Weslake-engined F1 car) all Im allowed to say
streamlined form in an exhibition and gives the opportunity to hone are on display at the Petersen from after this experience
running until 17 April. It includes driving skills as well as fine-tuning 28 January. As well as the F1 racer, Motor sport broadcaster Henry
stylishly streamlined domestic your car. Runs will be timed and they include a 1968 McLeagle Hope-Frost on Twitter, after
viewing a Porsche 917 thats
objects and covers the symbolism drivers must hold an MSA licence. CanAm car, a 1993 Toyota Eagle under restoration.
of smooth shapes in a streamlined, Shelsleys monthly breakfast club GTP IMSA machine and a 1999
smoothly functioning society. meetings continue for 2017. Gurney Eagle CART racer.
It hasnt been a terrible
life I just lost out on
about a hundred million
Join Octane for our exclusive Goodwood trackdays dollars. Thats all
Fast-living Irish racing driver
A choice of two: Tuesday 2 May and Thursday 5 October Tommy Byrne in the new
must-see documentary about
his career, Crash And Burn.
Goodwood Motor Circuit is full of history. Its also one of the UKs fastest
circuits, and getting the lines right is a real thrill. Our trackdays give you the
time and space to explore your classic cars dynamics and hone your skills, as Flying off to Cape Town
part of a great social event with like-minded enthusiasts.
The days run from 8am to 5pm, and to ensure plenty of track time for all
this afternoon for a hot
were restricting them to 30 cars. EFG Private Banks support has pegged Christmas. Hope to see
MARTYN GODDARD
prices at 299 for one car and driver and 60 for an extra driver. Bacon rolls,
hot and cold refreshments and a two-course lunch in the control tower are
you after 2 January
Email from Robert Coucher to
included, and are available for spectators at 35. Book on octanetrackdaymay. Octane staff as they head into a
eventbrite.co.uk or octanetrackdayoctober.eventbrite.co.uk. Fees apply. difficult December press week...
24
GOODING & COMPANY PRESENTS
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Factory Left-Hand-Drive Example A Highly Original Factory Racing 911
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1993 PORSCHE 964 TURBO S LEICHTBAU 2011 PORSCHE 997 GT3 RS 4.0
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One of Only 67 Left-Hand-Drive Examples Built One of Only 158 US Specification Examples
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Pebble Beach Auctions through June 1
IGNITION / News
TRINITY MIRROR / MIRRORPIX / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Campbell commemorated
liken it to a blue lobster. That first record was set
at 202.32mph; K7 set six more up to the end of
1964, four of them on Coniston Water, the last on
Lake Dumbleyung in Australia at 276.33mph.
Daughter Gina leads the tributes, precisely 50 years after In 1966, K7s engine was uprated from the
3500lb static thrust original to a 4500lb Bristol
Donald Campbells ill-fated water speed record run Orpheus unit from a Folland Gnat aircraft.
Words John Simister Campbell was aiming for 300mph and, after
solving fuel starvation problems in December
AT 8.51AM ON 4 JANUARY 1967, Donald which restricted speed to 250mph, it was time in
Campbells attempt at setting a new world water January 1967 to go for a new record.
speed record ended in disaster as his hydroplane, The first run achieved an average of 297.6mph
Bluebird K7, broke up. On 4 January this year, with a peak speed over 310mph, but a new record
50 years to the minute since Campbell was killed, would involve a return run. K7 was just 200 yards
his daughter Gina laid flowers on Coniston Water from the end of that run when violent bouncing
exactly where the accident happened. and a sudden cut in engine thrust caused the nose
It was the most poignant moment in a weekend to lift and K7 to somersault and break up.
of events organised by the Speed Record Club to Work didnt begin to recover the wreckage
mark Campbells death. Speaking at Coniston until 2000. Campbells body was retrieved the
GETTY
Water, Gina Campbell said: My dad did not do following year, and buried in Coniston Cemetery.
things for public display but I think he would Bill Smith located the wreck, organised its
Top and above
be delighted to see the public here today. The Donald Campbell in reflective mood before the record run; recovery and has masterminded its restoration
enormity of what he did I just didnt grasp for a Gina Campbell and mascot on the lake, about to lay flowers. on behalf of the Campbell Family Heritage Trust
long time. Im so pleased and proud its not just and Conistons Ruskin Museum, to which Gina
old fogeys like me that have been inspired by Mr Whoppit, which was her fathers mascot and Campbell donated K7. The engine, installed in
what he did. Its young people, too. which was recovered from the wreckage. K7s hull, was tested in November.
It was beyond these days of risk assessment Donald Campbell had already set world water Meanwhile, as part of the anniversary event,
and Health and Safety, she added after laying a speed records in Bluebird K7, the first in 1955 at Ian Lazenby ran a one-sixth scale model of K7,
wreath at her fathers grave. He went and did Ullswater, two years after work began on the itself jet-powered, on Ullswater. Ians father Ernie
what he did, and he did it most times with huge steel-spaceframed, turbojet-powered craft with began building the model in 2005 and completed
success. Gina Campbell held a teddy bear, named its pair of front pontoons that caused Donald to it two years later.
26
Double bill at Brooklands Double Twelve hardcore was laid on the straight under the
hangars concrete base, leaving the straight
itself remarkably well reserved.
June event will feature the re-opening of the Finishing Straight The re-opening will include a reinterpretation
Words John Simister of the 1907 opening parade with veteran cars,
surviving Brooklands racing machinery and
THE BROOKLANDS Double Twelve Motor Clockwise from top left taxi-ing runs by the museums historic aircraft.
Test Hill Challenge promises spectacular starts; Finishing
Sport Festival is a regular June fixture, but the Straight in its heyday; Wellingtons under construction.
The Double Twelve itself is made up of the
dates take on a special significance this year. Speed Trials (a timed sprint) on the adjacent
The events first day of two, 17 June, will unfold under a Bellman hangar since 1940, when the Mercedes-Benz World track, Driving Tests and
110 years to the day since the Brooklands former aircraft manufacturing site was given the Concours, the results aggregated over the
circuit opened in 1907. To mark the anniversary, over to wartime production of the Wellington two days. A Test Hill Challenge, car club
Brooklands will stage a grand re-opening of the bomber. The hangar, itself now a listed building, displays and live music are also planned.
original Finishing Straight, its uncovering close has been dismantled and renovated, and it will Well be digging deeply into Brooklands
to completion as we go to press. be re-erected to the right of the straight as seen ambitious renovation plans in the next issue of
The Finishing Straight has been hidden in the period photograph above. A layer of Octane, and reporting on the work so far.
A RENAULT IN THE USA? These are not between four giant, slightly oversquare cylinders.
normally words youd find in the same sentence, The cars sent to the US were in similar vein, and
unless the unlikely 1980s joint venture with AMC Vanderbilt got friends such as Guggenheim, Paine,
is part of the conversation, but this one has been Whitney and Dodge to buy them. They scored
there since its 1907 birth. It was one of the first many successes, including a 24-hour endurance
cars to be raced in America, and now it has a race at a converted horse-racing track in New York.
permanent home at the Simeone Foundation The cars, overtaken by progress, gradually went
Automotive Museum in Philadelphia. to ground, but four possibly five have survived.
Millionaire William K Vanderbilt was one of This Simeone Museum example had a post-racing
Americas racing pioneers. He wanted a Renault to life dragging a large wet canvas around a dusty
race following the marques victory in the carnage- horse-racing track before a race, and was rescued
strewn 1903 Paris-to-Madrid event (curtailed in from oblivion in 1928 by Kirk Gibson, in whose
Bordeaux) and in the first race to be called a Grand family it has stayed until now.
Prix, held in 1906 on what later broadly became Gibson and his wealthy friends demonstrated
the Le Mans circuit. Renault acceded to the Renault during the 1930s along with other
Vanderbilts request, but only on condition that he early racing cars, and later it passed to Kirk Gibson
took 10 cars and found buyers for the other nine. Junior. Now he and his family have donated it to
Top and above
The 1906 GP winner was a monster machine in the Simeone Museum, where it is on display with The 1907 Renault racer stayed with two generations of
the genre of the time, its 12,986cc distributed other pre-World War One racing machinery. Gibsons; its now part of the Simeone Museum collection.
27
IGNITION / News
RANDY LORENTZEN
Pete Chapouris 1940-2017
to protect the name since closing shop in 1963.
In November 1997, SO-CAL (now in capitals)
was back in business. Talk about right time, right
place: the hobby was tiring of Boyd Coddingtons
He resurrected the So-Cal Speed Shop and built some smooth look, and Petes New Traditionalist
approach became the next big thing.
of the most influential hot rods of the post-war era Surrounded by his old cohorts, Pete and
Words Tony Thacker SO-CAL turned out some amazing cars: the Bob
McGee Roadster, Kopperhed for Gibbons, the
CHAPOURIS GOT HIS start in hot rodding Chapouriss marketing strategy once again Duffy Livingston Eliminator and the iconic red-
because his dad worked for Edison, installing jump-started the industry. and-white scalloped SO-CAL Roadster. It would
power lines between Los Angeles and Boulder In 1986, the Pete & Jakes operation was sold be cloned around the world, just like The Kid.
Dam. Dad earned good money and could afford and Chapouris moved to the Specialty Equipment Petes innate skill at being in the right place and
to fix up his cars. His first hot rod was a Model A, Market Association (SEMA) as vice-president of doing the right thing garnered lots of attention.
as would be his sons. marketing. He brought personality and pizzazz; The first big job was a Bonneville ZT-T wagon for
Pete Chapouriss break into the industry came more importantly, he brought passion for hot MG Rover. It didnt set a record but ran 225mph
through his old friend Gray Baskerville at Hot rods of all kinds. He helped initiate programmes and returned SO-CAL to its lakes racing roots.
Rod magazine. Gray introduced Pete to Jim Jake that are still in place today, and was inducted into Such a fine guy, with a great eye for line, form and
Jacobs, as they were both bucking the resto-rod the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1999. detail, said MG Rover (and McLaren F1)
style that was popular at the time dammit, they From SEMA it was up the hill to Crestline, designer Peter Stevens of Chapouris.
were chopping the tops. Gray put Jakes Coupe California, where he overbuilt the neighbourhood One of Petes proudest moments came when
and what became The California Kid on the cover with a huge shop which turned out numerous he worked with Mark Reuss and Al Oppenheiser
of the November 1973 issue of Rod & Custom. significant hot rods including Limefire, the on the GM Bonneville programme, particularly
Suddenly, Pete and Jake were in business. They Pierson Brothers Coupe, the Doane Spencer when they wanted all the cars in SO-CAL colours.
got a call from Batman producer Howie Horowitz Roadster, HogZZillas for Billy F Gibbons of ZZ Regardless of all the project cars, though, Petes
looking for a car for his TV movie called, yes, The Top and, fortuitously, the So-Cal Belly Tank enduring mission was to help young people
California Kid. The show put The California Kid in Lakester for Bruce Meyer. discover their talents. So in 2010 he co-created
households all across America, initiating Cal Kid Being so far removed from the action didnt the Alex Xydias Center for Automotive Arts
clones around the world. work for Pete, so in 1995 he moved back to LA (AXC) at Fairplex, Pomona.
Hot rod trends seem to shift every 10 years or and opened a new shop, PC3g, in Pomona. It was AXCs goal is to help high-school students
so. A decade after The California Kid, Pete and a struggle, and Pete didnt know what to do. Then, prepare for a career in the automotive industry.
Jake launched the Fat Attack with Petes purple- one night, he had an epiphany: resurrect the Former SO-CAL shop manager Shane Weckerly
flamed 39 Ford convertible. Hot rodding a so- So-Cal Speed Shop. He made the call to So-Cal says it best: He took all the young guys under his
called fat-fendered car was nothing new, but founder Alex Xydias, who had been canny enough wing, and guided them towards greatness.
28
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MOTOr CArS IN THE WOrLD
CLieNt PortFoLio
1953 Ferrari 250 Mille Miglia Berlinetta l 1965 Lamborghini 350GT l 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S (6,380km) l 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S (original RHD)
1988 Porsche 959 Komfort l 1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage X Pack (ex-Geneva Motor Show)
1990 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary (6,500km) l 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE30 (ex-Paris Motor Show, 6,513km)
Please note that to respect client confidentiality not all motor cars available may be shown
KidStoN S.a. 7 aveNue PiCtet de roCheMoNt, 1207 GeNeva, SWitzerLaNd teL+41 22 740 1939, Fax+41 22 740 1945 WWW.KidStoN.CoM
IGNITION / News
AUTOMOBILIA
30
Carnet de Passages en Douane
Provided under agreement with FIA and AIT
traditional values
modern thinking
If it moves, insure it
UK Government is forced to take action after EU court ruling
Words John Simister
CLE
-ASSISTED BICY
farm worker, was knocked off his ladder by a tractors ELECTRICALLY Reporting the passing of a well-known
trailer. He claimed compensation but the problem Intended place
of use motoring figure is a necessary hazard
ACCESS
D WITH PUBLIC in this job, but its especially hard when
PRIVATE LAN
was that the accident happened on private land, use PRIVATE LAN
D WITHOUT PUB
LIC ACCESS
its one of your own. Brian Laban, who
PUBLIC ROAD
on which the tractors insurance didnt cover. OTHER PUBLIC
PLACES
succumbed to cancer just after
Mr Vnuk lost his claim twice in the Slovenian Christmas at the age of 68, was truly
appeals court, but that court then went to the the informed motoring and motor sport
journalists informed motoring and
European Court of Justice which in 2014 ruled in Would a dodgem car need a number plate? The motor sport journalist. He seemed to
Mr Vnuks favour. This is why the EU including the consultation sets out two approaches. know everyone and had anecdotes
UK, currently is obliged to re-think the areas that The comprehensive option, as favoured by the about them all, always told with his
motor insurance covers. EU, all-embracingly requires that all vehicles being straightforward Yorkshire humour,
The points at issue are: (1) requiring vehicles to be used in a way consistent with the vehicles normal bullshit monitor on full alert.
Brians output was prodigious,
insured to cover use on private land to which the function and purpose would be required to have with over 40 books to his name, all
public has access; (2) requiring insurance even if the third-party insurance (not necessarily comprehensive, produced while writing or editing for
public doesnt have access; (3) expanding the in the way normally understood for insurance), even magazines, newspapers, websites or
definition of what constitutes a motor vehicle, which if used only on private land. Whether that includes anyone else. He started on this road in
1973, as the British Automobile Racing
may be far beyond what currently bears a registration exercising or testing your SORN vehicle is as yet
Clubs press officer, and seemingly
number; (4) deciding whether what is nominally a unclear, but use does suggest a functional vehicle. never paused for breath. He thrived on
motor vehicle is functionally one at a given time, and The UK will have to adopt this approach while it crises, always forging ahead with the
capable of being used for its intended purpose, which remains in the EU, if the EU so dictates, but the detail next thing and never looking back,
a SORN vehicle may well not be. is up for discussion. always panicking about having too
much to do while actually getting nearly
Theres a minefield of ramifications from this. The amended directive option, favoured by the all of it done, apart from getting on top
Vehicles used in motor sport might need wider- Government, would still require insurance for a wider of his collection of old motor cars.
ranging insurance than they currently have, if indeed range of vehicles than now to be insured when used In recent times this consisted of an
they have any at all. Would the burden fall on the on private land with public access, but otherwise MG TB, a Triumph Dolomite Sprint,
a race-spec Jaguar S-type and the first
vehicle driver, the owner or the event organiser? leaves things closer to how they are now. The EUs
right-hand-drive, five-speed Golf GTI,
Vehicles caught in the new net could include ride-on new insurance directive, yet to be enacted, would be but there may well have been others.
lawnmowers, Segways, fairground dodgem cars, amended after Brexit. Either way, premiums will rise, This writer last saw him, and shared a
mobility scooters, forklift trucks, golf buggies, there will be more forms to complete, more claims car with him on a press launch, in late
electrically assisted bicycles and more. There could will be made, people will be more worried about 2014. Brian looked exactly as he had
done 25 years earlier; he never allowed
even be a case for including human-powered bicycles, using historic vehicles in ambiguous circumstances, himself the time to acknowledge the
if the thinking is taken to its logical conclusion. and life will get a little more complicated. Find the passing years. Well miss him.
Would there need to be registry of all such vehicles? questionnaire on www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/4CWY6/. John Simister
32
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IGNITION / News
HOW TO...
well. We look forward to his No 1 buzz cut growing can just rely on experience: Its still a bit of
back to his usual, more luxurious bouffant. a black art, says Ken. Which, in this digital
Meanwhile, business continues at the Mews. age, is strangely comforting. John Simister
34
1965 Dino 206 P Berlinette Speciale #0840
Online catalogue
RETROMOBILE 2017
THE OFFICIAL SALE
Auction Contact:
Retromobile +33 (0)1 42 99 20 73
Paris - France motorcars@artcurial.com
MOPAR ANTIFREEZE
The rst manifestation of the Mopar (MOtor
PARts) brand in 1937 was on cans of
antifreeze. Lasts all winter was the promise.
DON GARLITS
EWEN GETLEY learned to drive in this car, about doubled to 9.5:1, and it runs 2in SUs to The Big Daddy, one of the biggest names in
aged 13, in fields. When he was 18 his dad, improve the top end, but is back on Bosch drag racing, took to Chrysler Hemi power in
whod bought it in 1956 as collegiate transport magnetos. 9.5:1 is as much as I can get before 1956 and has stayed with Mopar ever since.
before he went up to Cambridge, handed it hitting the valves, says Ewen. Of which there He stopped racing in 1970 but has since
over to him. Now, after a career in engineering, are four per cylinder, opened by an overhead promoted the Mopar Drag Pak Dodge
Challenger: 0-145mph in 9.4 seconds.
Getley owns and runs Kingsbury Racing Shop camshaft which, remarkably, remains standard.
at Bicester Heritage, exploiting the subtleties of Flowbench work shows very good breathing
tuning vintage Bentleys accumulated during a through the engine a consequence of the
lifetime of tinkering with this car. The art of work WO did on aircraft engines during WW1
understanding the four-cylinder Bentley is: and its dead reliable, according to Ewen.
keep it simple, but do it well. It pulls 4200rpm in top gear, which equals
This is a 1924 3-Litre Red Label, which has about 120mph on Dunlop Racers, though the
Brooklands history it won a Junior Car Club Blockleys that Ewen runs on the road would
race there in June 1933. Its now on a 9ft- probably confer a few more mph as theyre
wheelbase chassis, same as a Super Sports, and taller, giving a larger rolling diameter.
it became a 4 Litre or a 3/4 as Bentley Its beautifully neutral when you go in too
circles term it in 1986. Its about as original as fast it just slides sideways and scrubs off speed THE FIRST EUROPEAN CONNECTION
Chrysler UK (ex-Rootes Group) and Chrysler
Old No 1!, Getley jokes. and the chassis is a bit nervous, but quick to France (ex-Simca) were served by Mopar-
Thing is, it remains matching numbers catch. It has been the quickest vintage sports branded spares. They became Motaquip
because the Bentley wears its engine number car both in the dry and the wet at VSCC sprints when Peugeot bought Chrysler Europe.
on one of the bearers cast into the crankcase: to and hillclimbs, and won the Lycett Trophy for
make a 3 Litre into a 4 you change the block, all-round performance in a single car. But its
which includes the head and valve gear. versatile, he adds, pointing to a picture on the
Such cross-pollination makes for the wall of it ascending Drumhouse on the VSCC
sweetest strain of Cricklewood Bentley, and Lakeland Trial. And you can still take three
this one is quick, probably the quickest one friends to the pub or the family on holiday: can
racing. It delivers a conservative 220bhp (at there be a better vintage car?
4500rpm) and weighs just 1050kg, giving it a Development continues as Ewen uses it as a
power-to-weight ratio about the same as a 911 mobile test-bed for new parts produced by
2.7 RS Tourings. Getting the weight out of Kingsbury, named after the works in north
them is the thing, and making them handle, London which became Bentleys original racing CRATE HEMI
shop, but he is determined to avoid the popular Today you can buy a brand new old-style
says its creator. Theres nothing radically
Hemi engine from the Mopar Pro Shop, ready
different about the engine. Its about optimising option of a non-standard 5.3-litre engine block. to t, in a variety of favourite sizes from 426ci
whats already there, because what you start I want it to be the first 4 to 300bhp and upwards. Prices currently start at $16,950 for
with is pretty good. Compression has been just were well on the way. a 1960s-style Generation Two unit.
36
IGNITION / Events
LEFT-HAND PAGE: AMY SHORE. RIGHT-HAND PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PETER McFADYEN; STUART GALLAGHER; CHARLIE WOODING; JEFF BLOXHAM
SUNDAY SCRAMBLE,
BICESTER HERITAGE, UK. 8 JANUARY
Rain didnt stop play at the former RAF
bases popular bring a classic meeting.
38
in association with
VSCC WINTER
DRIVING TESTS, BICESTER DETROIT AUTO SHOW,
HERITAGE, UK. 2 JANUARY USA. 8 22 JANUARY
Guy Woodlie-Thomas smokes Black magic: Dodges Shakedown Challenger
away in his Humber 8/18 Tourer. marries 1971 shell with modern drivetrain.
THE MONTH
IN PICTURES
AUTOSPORT Enthusiasts scramble to Bicester Heritage;
INTERNATIONAL,
BIRMINGHAM, UK.
50 years of the DFV engine at Autosport
12 15 JANUARY International; vintage crews go competing
Amazing! A full grid of 49s,
courtesy of Classic Team Lotus.
39
IGNITION / Events in association with
40
TO
AN E
TR RE
CE
EN F
BUY TS
E
2 TICK42
FQOUORTE OCTA*NE
6
SAVE
William Medcalf open morning The next car park was less spectacular but
just as eclectic in content. A rorty-sounding
MGB GT, a Riley Special, a Minor Tourer just
West Sussex, UK 7 January restored as part of a wedding hire business,
Words David Lillywhite Photography Tony Large several Morgan three-wheelers, a Mk1 Cortina,
an XK150, a Defender, Bentleys Mulsanne and
SOMETIMES ITS the most innocuous Arnage You get the idea. As for the packed
events that provide the greatest thrills. One moderns car park, there was amusement when
week into 2017, William Medcalf Vintage someone called out Does anyone here have a
Bentley launched the first of its new open Continental GT? and several hands went up.
showroom mornings at the company HQ in The big draw of the morning, though, was
Hill Brow, West Sussex. To mark the occasion, the chance to see behind the scenes at the
customers and Octane readers were invited Medcalf facility. Nothing was out of bounds,
along and the result was a wonderful gathering including the restoration areas, the engine
of a wide and wild variety of classics. shop, the stores and the new mezzanine, where
A team of marshals was needed to direct the recently discovered 1928 Le Mans Bentley
visitors around the overflowing car parks, with chassis nestles alongside the Medcalf family
pre-war machinery allowed pride of place next Minor van and Williams racing Mini.
to the showroom, post-war classics next door, The company holds 1100 lines of stock
and moderns tucked away round the back of for vintage Bentleys. Complete gasket sets?
the neighbouring industrial estate. No problem. New, stronger differential and
A trail of oil led to the heavily campaigned halfshafts? Yes perfect for rallying, which
Itala of David and Karen Ayre, the oldest of all tends to destroy the standard items.
the cars present. London dealer Gregor Fisken With all this over, William put out an
turned up with wife and kids packed into their attention paddock notice over the PA for
lovely 4 Litre Maythorn Saloon, the last in a everyone to return to their cars for a convoy to
line-up of ten pre-war cars that also included Brooklands, to view the newly revealed start-
a tiny (especially noticeable in this company of finish straight (see page 27).
behemoths) T-series MG and a fascinating From top
Wish you hadnt missed out? The Medcalf
James Young-bodied Bentley 4 Sedanca Inside the showroom; the Royal Automobile Club brought open showroom mornings will take place every
Coup with parallel-opening doors. its mobile catering unit; Louise Cartledges patinated 3 Litre. Saturday, from 9am to noon.
42
IGNITION / Events Diary
COMING UP
A selection of highlights to make the
bleak midwinter seem a little less so
23-26 February
London Classic Car Show
and Historic Motorsport
International
Three Legs of Man, 16-18 March
Following the success of last years
Image: HERO inaugural London Classic Car Show Goodwood Members Meeting, 18-19 March. Image: Goodwood
at the ExCeL, the organisers have
3-5 February announced that the 2017 Show will popular with enthusiasts as it 10-12 March
Bremen Classic Motor Show be complemented by a motor sport is with the trade; in fact it is Amelia Island Concours
Switching places on the calendar showcase; entry to both events is now one of the more important dElegance
with Rtromobile this year, the covered by a single ticket. Among dates on the calendar for the The winner of the 2016 IHMA
German show is an inclusive affair, the attractions is a display dedicated many Spanish car clubs. prize for Motoring Event of the Year
with all eras and most marques to Cosworths brilliant DFV engine, classicautomadrid.com will doubtless put on a first-class
represented by 650-odd exhibitors. which turns 50 this year. show again in 2017, welcoming
Special displays this time will thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk 2-4 March some of the best cars in the world
celebrate Zndapp and Karmann. WinteRace to sun-soaked Florida. Al Unser Sr
classicmotorshow.de 24-26 February A field of 80 pre-1977 cars in six has been confirmed as the guest
Race Retro classes, a 400km route through the of honour, and special classes will
8-12 February The winters traditional historic Dolomites and some of Europes include Movie Cars, set to feature
Rtromobile motor show will feature an most jaw-droppingly beautiful the likes of the Goldfinger Aston
The Porte de Versailles Exhibition even noisier Live Rally Stage than mountain scenery, and snow, Martin DB5 and Steve McQueens
Centre in Paris is filled with top- usual, as Group B cars tear around snow and more snow. Porsche 917K from Le Mans.
notch classic cars, but theres room Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. winterace.it ameliaconcours.org
for plenty of quirky fare, too; tank Inside the venue visitors will enjoy
enthusiasts are always catered for displays, auction action and live 3-5 March 16-18 March
here! Among the key displays at interviews with racing stars. Antwerp Classic Salon Three Legs of Man
the 2017 show will be a tribute to raceretro.com More than 350 exhibitors from Nowhere are classics given a
Group B rallying, featuring Audi 14 countries are set to attend the warmer welcome than on the
Quattros, Lancia 037s, Peugeot 24-26 February 40th Classic Salon, which will Isle of Man, and in mid-March
205 T16s and many more mad ClassicAuto Madrid boast a goldmine of parts and the motor sport paradise hosts
machines besides. First held in 2010, ClassicAuto has collectables in addition to displays this two-day, three-leg event
retromobile.com grown from a purely commercial from clubs, dealers and museums. featuring more than 20 tests
event into a bustling show as siha.de and some 15 regularity sections.
17-19 February heroevents.eu
21 Gun Salute
At once a vintage car gathering 16-19 March
and a cultural tour of New Delhi, Amelia Island Vintage Gran Prix
21 Gun Salute sees Indias capital Hot on the heels of the Amelia
welcome a quality field of cars to Island Concours comes this SVRA-
the Red Fort in the centre of the organised meeting, which should
city for a concours, before they draw big crowds in its second year.
motor past other historic sites such Fernandina Beach Airport hosts the
action and, if the 2016 list of entries
is anything to go by, there should be
some interesting rarities on show.
svra.com
17-19 March
Phillip Island Classic
The largest Historic meeting in the
Southern Hemisphere, held on
Amelia Island Vintage Gran Prix, 16-19 March Phillip Island just off Melbourne,
Image: SVRA The Flying Scotsman, 31 March 2 April. Image: Gerard Brown attracts cars from Australia and
44
New Zealand and much further
afield, too. Grids are organised by
the Victorian Historic Road Racing
Register and cater for Touring Cars,
various single-seaters, sports racers
and pre-war machinery, too. CLASSIC + MODERN CAR CLASSIC + MODERN BIKE
vhrr.com MULTI VEHICLE COLLECTORS KIT CAR CLASSIC MOTOR TRADE
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18-19 March Pioneer Run, 19 March
Goodwood Members Meeting Image: David Southcott
Three years on from the revival of
the Members Meeting, we suspect sidecars in the Epsom Downs,
you know the drill: world-class before releasing them for a 47-mile
Historic racing cars tangle on trundle down to Madeira Drive in
Goodwood Circuit in front of Brighton. No other event offers
a deliberately limited number spectators the chance to see so
spectators. (No need to sharpen many early machines in one place,
your elbows to ensure a good so its well worth dragging yourself
view here.) Were pleased by the out of bed to see the riders off.
return of the SF Edge Trophy for The first is flagged away at 08:00.
spiritedly driven and indecently sunbeam-mcc.co.uk
quick Edwardian specials, and
a dedicated grid has been added 31 March 2 April
for Lister sports-racers to honour The Flying Scotsman
the Knobbly (60 this year) and From the starting point of Slaley
the late Archie Scott Brown, Lister Hall in Northumberland, cars
pilot extraordinaire. as early as a 1907 Itala 40 and as
goodwood.com late as a 1948 MG TC will wind
their way along spectacular and
19 March frequently empty roads towards
Pioneer Run Gleneagles. Overnight halts at
As it has done pretty much every Edinburgh and Aviemore will
year since 1930, The Sunbeam give crews a chance to recharge At FJ we understand every classic vehicle owner is dierent.
Motor Cycle Club will corral almost their batteries; the hospitality is With FJ+ you can add to your policy from a range of cover
400 pre-1915 bikes, tricycles and always as good as the driving.
endurorally.com options* including breakdown, agreed value, salvage
retention and spare parts.
31 March 2 April
Classic Car & Restoration Show Call our friendly UK team for a quote.
Birminghams NEC is again the
venue for this spring extravaganza,
which offers displays of pristine
0333 207 6047
restorations and untouched barn or visit: footmanjames.co.uk
finds, an auction, expert advice, and
Classic Car & Restoration Show, 31 March a trade village packed with parts.
2 April. Image: Classic Car & Restoration Show necrestorationshow.com
*All cover is subject to insurers terms and conditions, which is available upon request.
Footman James is a trading name of Towergate Underwriting Group Limited. Registered in England
No. 4043759. Registered Address: Towergate House, Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone,
Kent ME14 3EN. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Telephone calls may
be monitored or recorded. Sign up to our newsletter at footmanjames.co.uk to receive updates on
all the latest news, events, offers and competitions.FP ADGE674.9.16
WinteRace, 2-4 March. Image: Porsche
45
IGNITION / New Cars
Ring master
So confident is Mercedes-AMG of the GT Rs abilities
at a certain track, it named the paint colour after it
Words Kyle Fortune
SAND-BAGGING. Thats what the people at of which was around the Nrburgring its Factor in wider tracks front and rear as well
AMG did when I last experienced the AMG Green Hell Magno paint amusingly nods to. All as those wings and its clear that those in the
GT R. I was at the Nrburgring, in the this creates a sharper, more immersive and aerodynamics department have been extremely
passenger seat with AMG racer and GT R capable AMG. Helping achieve that is the usual busy indeed. That aero work is enhanced by
development driver Thomas Jger driving me go-faster recipe of less and more, less being rear-wheel steering, improving both agility and
around. Afterwards I was quietly pulled to one weight, the GT R shedding 15kg over the GT S stability, again to the benefit of those lap times,
side and asked if Id timed the lap. No, was my via a race engineers exotic material wish-list, while the suspension retains adaptive dampers
short answer. Not for want of trying, but Jgers the GT R having more carbonfibre, aluminium with variable settings, though its now a coil-
ferocity behind the wheel left me unable to do and titanium than any of its relatives. over set-up with adjustability. Then theres the
so. It felt quick, though. Very, very quick. Seven That 15kg might not sound like so much, until traction control system, the GT R offering nine
minutes 20 seconds is around the time we you consider the mores. Obviously theres more yes, nine! settings, all the electronic
expect, said the PR man from AMG. power, AMGs 4.0-litre biturbo V8 re-worked thresholds and controls tuned to suit the GT
I had been used. Fast-forward a couple of to produce 577bhp and 516lb ft via revised Rs more focused, hardcore nature.
months and it has managed ten seconds less breathing, more charge pressure from faster- December means the Nrburgring is out of
than that, AMGs rival to the 911 GT3 RS spinning turbos, and lighter, stronger internals. the question for seat time, but Portimao in
monstering its most obvious foe around the Theres active aerodynamics, an element in the Portugal is open for business. Bernd Schneider
benchmark track. So its fast, but then so is the front splitter adding 2kg of mass, but generating is suggesting a few laps in Race mode, which
GT S from which the R is derived. a more useful 40kg of downforce when its leaves the ESP on. For now. That a five-time
Here theres some sophistication, lessons extended. It contributes to the overall 155kg DTM champion is sensationally quick isnt a
learned from both its AMG GT3 racer relation of downforce, that number achieved despite surprise; what is, is that its possible to just
and the extensive development work much a reduction in drag over the standard car. about keep up, despite a serious shortfall
46
Left and above
A little lighter than the
GT S on which its
based, and more
powerful too, but
trick aero and traction
control count for more.
ITS NOT THE WAY IT Its not the way it gathers speed that shocks
so much, though. Its what it can do with it. At
that having multiple modes of traction control
is actually useful, rather than merely a
GATHERS SPEED THAT the end of the main straight a brief glance at the
speedometer reveals 165mph. Standing on the
gimmick. Six is fine for the faster stuff, though
wind closer to completely off and the GT R
SHOCKS SO MUCH, optional, but must-have, carbon ceramic brakes will arc out of slower bends with wilful
sees the GT R scrub off its speed with a disregard for its rear tyres.
THOUGH. ITS WHAT physicality thats incredible for a road car. Too Juvenile stuff, perhaps, but it highlights the
IT CAN DO WITH IT much braking for the first couple of laps, the
fast right-hander that follows can be taken
sophistication of the development work on the
GT Rs chassis. On the road it remains
faster, the combination of the sharper turn-in impressive; its suspension is obviously taut, but
in talent. The GT R is immediately a friendlier, response, the greater stability and the sheer grip not overly compromised given its focus, the
easier car to drive than its GT S relation, the it generates allowing it to do so. Reach and Mercedes losing some of its civility in favour of
limits significantly higher, but also delivered breach its high limits and itll move around, but a far more involving, interesting drive. Its
with greater clarity. the way the GT R communicates whats going worth it; the GT R is a sensational car.
The responsiveness of the controls helps, the on means that, unlike its GT S relation, its Theres more to come, too, AMG boss Tobias
engines keenness for revs, the automatic never intimidating, but something that can be Moers recently announcing AMGs F1-derived
transmissions deftness in selecting ratios enjoyed, even exploited. hypercar, and not quite admitting (though
whether left alone or via the paddleshift, and Schneider suggests ESP-off and that nine- neither denying) that theres space for a Black
the sensational soundtrack from the blaring mode traction control setting to be dialled Series above the GT R. On AMGs current
titanium exhaust thats been added to it, around to six. That Im even considering it form, and on evidence of the GT R and the
bringing a racers edge, and wicked pace. underlines how impressive the GT R is, and recent E63S, rivals should be worried.
47
IGNITION / New Cars
BENTLEYS WERE LONG known for their Scorpion all-season tyres, signal intent and, yes,
low-revving, large-capacity, high-torque engines. the V8-DIESEL badges are a delete option.
And with this latest iteration, the bloody Climb up into the high, bolstered chair and
thump is back. This Bentayga is Bentleys first the interior appointment is supreme swathes
diesel and the specifications are astonishing: of leather, cross stitching, chrome organ-stop
429bhp at 3750rpm, 664lbft at 1000rpm, controls, burr walnut and other twinkling
0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of jewellery. Fire the engine and all of a sudden
168mph from a diesel SUV! nothing happens. You cant hear it. Hop out and
But why would you bother with the fastest stand next to the bonnet and you can just about
diesel SUV on the market when the W12 petrol make out a slight diesel tickover. Pull the
version is more than man enough? Set off on a chunky, eight-speed auto selector back into
600-mile tour (walking in Scotland, wine- Drive and the 2390kg Bentayga wafts off on its
tasting in Bordeaux, skiing in Verbier) and almost instant mountain of torque.
youll do so on just one tank. Thats why. The power delivery is the nearest any internal
The secret is the triple-charged 4.0-litre V8 combustion (or even pressure combustion)
(co-developed with Audi, whose diesels did power unit comes to an instant-torque electric
rather well at Le Mans). It employs two twin- motor. The thrust is fabulous, near-silent, silken
scroll turbochargers, plus an electrically and refined. While the acceleration could be
powered supercharger that primes the first described as astonishing, with so little apparent
turbo in the mid- range and the second at the effort or drama it is more amazing.
top end good to see a charger back on a On the road the Bentayga is no sports car
Bentley once again. This set-up offers the full (though it does have a Sports mode) yet it
664lb ft force at just 1000rpm and a claimed can be hustled thanks to its four-wheel-drive
35.8mpg. The CO2 emissions figure of 210g/ traction, powerful brakes, sharp-enough
km is the lowest ever for a Bentley, too. steering and that smooth, instant power Above and below
The Bentayga has never been an elegant delivery. As a car enthusiast you might miss an V8 diesel employs two
machine because, well, its an SUV. But it sure engine note because this one simply thrums, turbos and a supercharger for
instant massive torque and
offers presence, even if its a bit bling. The but as a capacious gentlemans GT this diesel country-crossing range on a
signature meshed radiator grille, together with SUV delivers and will be more than capable of full tank, though there are few
meaty alloys shod with 285/45/R21 Pirelli taking you off-road at your next shoot. clues that its an oil-burner.
48
AT HISTORICS,
WE DELIVER MORE THAN
YOU BARGAINED FOR
LD LD
SO SO
RICS RICS
TO TO
HIS HIS
BY BY
D D
1967 MERCEDES-BENZ 250SL 1991 FERRARI TESTAROSSA
1978 ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE VOLANT 1992 LANCIA DELTA INTEGRALE EVO 1 MARTINI 6
56% over estimate 75% over estimate
WIth sales full to bursting, flourishing results, an average sale rate of over 80%, and many consignments selling at well above their estimate,
Historics delivers an exceptional auction experience for buyers and sellers alike. So when its the time for you to sell or buy your next classic,
and receive honest, impartial and professional guidance from one enthusiast to another, with attractive commission rates, wrapped around good
old-fashioned courtesy and friendship, youll find theres no better place to do business.
All sales shown are from Historics 2016 auctions. For full results, visit www.historics.co.uk
Available Foreground:
Lancia D24 Sport
Chassis no. D24R 0001. Four-cam, Twin-plug Lancia V6
Tel: +44 (0)203 621 2923 info@girardo.com The Showroom, London, SW6 UK
Girardo.com
IGNITION / Opinion
JAY LENO
The Collector
T
he other day I started up my 41 Plymouth, Anyway, we had to replace the Vanos unit, which
for the first time in over a year. Every collector has controls the cam timing. Taking the engine out was
one or two vehicles that dont get driven as often pretty straightforward. And we did it without using a
as the others. My Plymouth is not special, just a single tool from the toolroll! As sophisticated as the F1s
good old girl. Its unrestored, a two-door business powerplant is, its still a car. Its a V12 and compared to
coupe; the Deluxe model with heater, radio and three- modern cars its pretty straightforward. A good mechanic
speed column shifter, with a vacuum assist to make can look at that engine and pretty much figure out
shifting easier, a 201ci six-cylinder flathead engine and what they have to do. Would I try this with my McLaren
about 87 horsepower. P1 or a 918? Not on your life.
Even after sitting for over a year, the engine cranked Remember the Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451?
about half a dozen times and started right up. The reason Where all the books are destroyed and so each person
it made me smile is that so many modern cars would needs to memorise one book, and become an expert
be almost inoperable after sitting for so long. If they on it. Thats what seems to be happening with
are not turned over every week or two, injectors get supercars. Theres only a few Veyron guys and a handful JAY LENO
clogged from lack of use. And you have to keep them of P1 guys. I dont know many Porsche dealerships that Comedian and talk show
on a trickle-charger. could actually work on a 918; there legend Jay Leno is one of the
most famous entertainers in
I have a 2002 Firebird that I cant be many.
had to get emissions-tested. The
battery was ten years old so I
THE LAST REAL I feel that the days of the
general mechanic who can work
the USA. He is also a true
petrolhead, with a massive
MAINTENANCE I WAS
collection of cars and bikes
changed it for the exact same on anything are just about over. (see www.jaylenosgarage.
factory-standard battery. And Those lucky enough to be trained com). Jay was speaking
swapping the battery confused ABLE TO DO ON A mechanics on machines like the with Jeremy Hart.
the computer, so they couldnt
get it to pass the emissions test. MODERN CAR AT MY McLaren P1 and LaFerrari pretty
much have jobs for life, travelling
The technician said, drive it for 50
or 100 miles and see if it re-boots. OWN GARAGE WAS the world, re-booting computers on
10-to-20-year-old supercars, many
Im still waiting.
When I called my Porsche ON THE M LAREN F1 c
with very low mileage.
The way technology is going,
dealer about getting a part for my collecting modern cars will be
Carrera GT, he said We dont work on any of the really extremely hard. The fun part about working on old cars
old stuff. I said its a 2004! He said hed check to see if is that, if you dont have the proper tools, you can
any of the old guys are still around who worked on them. measure up what you need, go to the lathe, and make
I mean, how old could they be? Forty-five? one. On modern cars, if the manufacturer decides to
I have a warning light on my 2005 Mercedes SLR lock you out of their code then thats it, youre pretty
McLaren nobody can turn off. It doesnt seem to affect much done. Unless you have the Ferrari code-reader, for
anything. The car runs beautifully. But nobody knows instance which someone told me is $25,000 youre
how to deal with it. I wanted to put new tyres on it too not going to get to work on the car. Thats it. So any
and, like many cars, it has a locking lug nut. So I gave the work on these cars in the future will probably mean
tyre guy the key for the lug. And he lost it. So we called having to go back to manufacturers. How much is that
Mercedes and McLaren, quoting the serial number, but going to cost?
we couldnt get one and couldnt make one. So we had to Thats fine for rich guys, who will always be able to
torch the lug nuts and cut the wheels to get them off. have somebody take care of their car. Its the little guy
The last real maintenance I was able to do on a modern whos going to get screwed. Unless they stick to analogue
car at my own garage was, surprisingly, on the McLaren cars from the 1970s and earlier.
F1. Ironically the F1 comes with a tool kit. A tool roll, In 100 years from now, after my garage has been
actually, which contains wrenches, pliers and buried under some massive earthquake, and some
screwdrivers, all made of titanium. Was there ever an F1 automotive archaeologist will find my stash and dig it
owner whose car broke down on the motorway, pulled up, Im guessing the only one theyll be able to drive
out his trusty tool roll and got it going again? away is the 41 Plymouth!
51
M A X T E D -PAG E
HISTOR IC R ACI NG POR SCH E
w w w. m a x t e d - p a g e . c o m
IGNITION / Opinion
DEREK BELL
The Legend
L
ooking back, my itinerary in 2016 was of the years ago; of marketing opportunities. Its all about
eye-watering variety. I may be a former racing making new heritage, if you will, but not forgetting
driver, but I seemed to be busier than ever. It was where you came from.
a wonderful year, though, full of great experiences As such, our road trip incorporated a special dinner
that I wont forget in a hurry. I saved the best til in association with the Bruce McLaren Scholarship
last, too, an eight-day trip to New Zealand with scheme, his daughter Amanda attending alongside her
McLaren Automotive shortly before Christmas, husband Stephen. Scroll back to the late 50s and into the
promising an epic drive. It was all that and more, and 1960s, and several Kiwis came over to the UK on
on so many levels. scholarship deals to become drivers. Whats more, they
I used to love racing in the Tasman series back in the were annoyingly talented, with Bruce being very much
late 60s. I have written about it before, so wont re-tread to the fore. And thats before you factor in the many
familiar ground, save to say that we were always made engineers, mechanics and fabricators who set sail for
to feel welcome when racing Down Under, whether in Blighty and entered into motor racing lore. This mass-
Australia or New Zealand. People would often say migration of talent ended a long time ago, but this DEREK BELL
that they had been reading about us all year so to programme aims to send a student to Europe to become Derek took up racing in 1964
have us in town for a weekend immersed in racing car design and in a Lotus 7, won two World
Sportscar Championships
was pretty special. In-between engineering. Who knows, the lucky
cocktail parties, barbecues and the
like, we would often try to
WHAT IMPRESSES recipient may end up becoming
equally legendary.
(1985 and 1986), the 24
Hours of Daytona three
ME ABOUT M LAREN
times in 1986, 1987 and
reciprocate; to give something c Sadly, New Zealand has had more 1989, and Le Mans five
back. We would earn our keep by than its fair share of heartbreak of times in 1975, 1981,
visiting schools and hospitals. IS THAT IT HONOURS late, our arrival following soon after 1982, 1986 and 1987.
He was speaking with
That sort of thing mattered to a lot
of people, even if I didnt fully ITS HERITAGE the earthquake, which left a trail of
devastation in its wake. I will admit
Richard Heseltine.
53
7 Editio
IGNITION / Opinion
STEPHEN BAYLEY
The Aesthete
T
here are years when more happens than usual. different artistic expressions for these gloriously different
Caused by climacteric oscillations, who can say, engines. All cars look the same. Are you mad?
but 1848 was, for example, a year of remarkable It is tempting to think of 1967 as a miracle year for car
revolutions in all of Europe. So much happened design. Will such variety ever be repeated? Certainly
in 1913 that Florian Illies recently wrote a whole 1977 had less to offer: the year of the Daewoo Maepsy (a
book about it with lots of Viennese angst, but only after kimchi-flavoured Opel Kadett) and the Peugeot 305, a
Liliane Brion-Guerry had devoted three entire volumes car that marks the beginning of that manufacturers
to the same 12 months with lots of Parisian lan. descent from principled ingenuity to anhedonic market-
Personally, I have always been fascinated by 1957. It led banality. We will pass over the Triumph TR7, whose
was when the last Jaguar D-type won at Le Mans, the strange, scalloped lateral panels made Giugiaro say:
Space Age began with the launch of the Soviet Sputnik 1, Dear me, have they done that on the other side as well?
while Bill Haley and his earthbound Comets landed at Yet two 1977 cars demonstrated mans perverse genius
Southampton, introducing Britain to rock n roll. Plus in finding idiosyncratic answers to questions not asked.
the Chevrolet Bel-Air, Detroit Baroque at its outrageous Each a big 2+2 with ample power and luxury, offered by STEPHEN BAYLEY
peak. Goodness, what a busy year. Then there was 1967. manufacturers with reputations for engineering integrity. Author, critic, consultant,
One of the most boring tropes Winking at each other like Gustav broadcaster, debater and
curator, Stephen co-created
is: All cars nowadays look the and Hermann in a north European
same. I actually never mind when
people are hostile in this way.
ONE OF THE MOST gay sauna, I give you the Volvo 262C
and the Porsche 928. If I ever
the Boilerhouse Project at
Londons V&A, was chief
SHOCKINGLY ILL-
executive of The Design
Theres no doubt that the become disenchanted with looking Museum, and fell out with
automobile offers only limited at cars, I will return here to refresh Peter Mandelson when he
evidence of mans ingenuity PROPORTIONED CARS my sense of awe at the superhuman told him the Millennium
Dome could turn out
and artistry, while providing
irrefutable proof of his selfishness, EVER MADE: ARCTIC curiosity of these machines.
The only explanation for the
to be crap.
55
IGNITION / Opinion
ROBERT COUCHER
The Driver
B
ritish drivers are generally excellent. You wouldnt the Tube is efficient if ghastly at rush hour. It moves
think so from reading the newspapers or watching an amazing 4.8 million passengers per day.
television, where driving is reported as a contact Londons problems include a significant rise in
sport with horrendous resulting carnage. Of population, economic growth, the cycle superhighway,
course, every road injury or death is a tragedy but mail order deliveries and Uber taxis. Take ex-Mayor
the fact remains that Britain has some of the lowest road Boris Johnsons cycle lanes. With a worrying number of
death statistics in Europe, only bettered by Norway and cycle deaths in the past, something certainly had to be
Sweden. Ukraine is the worst, followed by Portugal, done. But reducing the Embankment and other major
Italy, France, Germany, then Spain. arteries down to single lanes cannot be the answer. What
Being a small island, Britain suffers terrible traffic happens during the rush hour is that the Lycra Lads get
congestion (Londons is the worst in Europe). So it is annoyed with the Boris Bike plodders, so they cut and
remarkable that the vast majority of British drivers are thrust into the traffic lanes, slowing it all down further.
safe and considerate. I grew up in South Africa (fewer And during the day it is mostly empty. We now learn, just
vehicles, five times the space) where the road death rate eight months after the superhighway on the Embankment ROBERT COUCHER
over the Christmas weekend is higher than the annual was opened, that a large section of it is to be rerouted. Robert grew up with classic
UK rate. Driving in Europe is a This causes a knock-on effect for cars, and has owned a
Lancia Aurelia B20GT,
pleasure but some of the motorists those of us who drive cars, especially
are scary. In France, tailgating is
the norm, and in Italy theres no
MY PHILOSOPHY classic cars. Gridlock is taxing for
old vehicles with mechanical cooling
Alfa Romeo Giulietta and
Porsche 356C. He currently
IS TO HAVE A SINGLE
uses his properly sorted
such thing as forming an orderly systems and no air conditioning. My 1955 Jaguar XK140 as his
queue, its just a free-for-all. Maybe everyday Jaguar XK 140 has been daily driver, and is a founding
thats stereotyping but just try CLASSIC CAR THATS upgraded to cope and opening the editor of this magazine.
driving down to the Le Mans 24
Hours or clocking into the READY TO DRIVE TO window does cool things down a bit
inside. The good news is that most
regularity sections on the Mille
Miglia! And in America the LE MANS OR THE Londoners dont get up early on the
weekend, as a blast across London
undertaking and full lane changes
at 70mph are hair-raising. LOCAL DELI along the Strand to the Savoy for
breakfast one Sunday morning
The one thing that gets a British attested. And getting off the
driver flustered is infringing their personal space. motorways and finding the backroads to Goodwood,
Considering the rapidly deteriorating traffic congestion Silverstone or Castle Combe circuits is always a pleasure.
its a wonder that the drivers here remain so calm and Having cut my classic car fleet down to just the
stoic, but thats the national character on four wheels. Jaguar, I feel a sense of relief. My philosophy has always
Living in London, one of the greatest cities in the been to have a single classic car thats in good nick, ready
world, Ive noticed how the traffic conditions have now to drive to Edinburgh, Le Mans, the Alps, or the local
reached gridlock in many areas. Figures show London deli multiple cars can become a hassle and a worry in
suffers from 12,776 congestion hotspots, so its no busy London. Other solutions? Columnist Jay Leno has
surprise that in the last year its average traffic speed a warehouse for his cars in Burbank, California, and if
has dropped to 7.8mph (down from a less-than-heady you have a house in the country with plenty of
8.1mph the year before). This is slower than a horse and weatherproof garaging, then the more classics the better.
cart of 100 years ago. And some boffin has determined Being a denizen of such a large city means adapting.
that traffic congestion costs the country 4.3 billion a Im as guilty as any of using belching buses, filling up
year. Yet the actual traffic volume has declined and trains, relying on home deliveries and the occasional
people are taking fewer bus journeys. minicab. Maybe I should find a compact hybrid like
I ride my bicycle nearly every day. It is simply the best Mark Dixons Honda Insight or borrow Sir Stirlings
way to get about the city, with no parking problems and Renault Twizy, as I enjoy electric propulsion in town.
a bit of exercise thrown in without the need to resort to In the meantime, Ill enjoy my bicycle (Im trying an
any Lycra whatsoever. I also use the No 19, 319 and 49 electric one soon) and get up early with the Jaguar,
buses, which are rather gentle when not in a hurry, and which now has a sat-nav to help me get lost.
56
A Qualifying Round Of The 2017 HERO Cup, In Association With &
Photo: F&R Rastrelli
Provisional Route
ANT ANSTEAD
1. I carry my life in my Land Rover
Discovery I have always had a workhorse.
I never clean her and have a reputation
for filling her with rubbish. Shes on her
Car builder, designer, artist, footballer and TV presenter second engine, which was installed to
Interview and photography Martyn Goddard keep her going for a bit longer.
58
TM
R A C I N G
F E W
H A P P Y
Organized by
VERSAILLES
> GENEVA
1-4 June 2017
61
IGNITION / Letters
62
1994 Jaguar XJ220. Sold for (): 275,625
THEY ARE
LEGEND
Sandro Munari and his Lancia Stratos were unassailable on the
1977 Rallye Monte-Carlo. Four decades on, Octane meets both
Words Massimo Delb and Angus Frazer Photography Matthew Howell
Archive images McKlein
64
65
MUNARIS STRATOS
T
he sound comes first, an angry bark all he afforded his rivals as they chased him in vain through
more animal than mechanical that roils the Alpes-Maritimes.
around the Italian countryside. And I love this Stratos, says the Italian. I am fortunate that
then the Lancia Stratos HF that won due to my friendship with the owner, Guido Avandero, I
the 1977 Monte Carlo Rally graces us get to see it and drive it quite often. But it is not really the
with its presence. car itself, more the magical memories it brings back.
The four decades that have passed since that epic When Sandro Munari took the start of the Monte Carlo
victory have dimmed none of the cars brilliance. Even Rally in 1977 he already had three wins in the event under
today its wedge-like shape looks positively futuristic. Its his belt. He rates his first in 1972 as the most important
hard to imagine just what an effect this to borrow a line though, and not just because it was taken in an unfancied,
from The Carpenters interplanetary, most extraordinary understeering, front-wheel-drive Lancia Fulvia 1.6 Coup
craft would have had in a world populated by Ford Escorts HF against the might of the all-conquering, ultra-nimble,
and Vauxhall Chevettes. Harder still to reconcile that, by rear-engined, rear-drive Alpine-Renault A110s.
1977, the Stratos itself was almost something of an The Fulvia Coup was seven years old and not selling
oldtimer, having been unveiled in prototype guise way very well, so at the end of December 1971 Fiat shut down
back in 1971 at the Turin motor show and having gone on the production line and sent 6500 workers home, explains
to secure Lancia a hat-trick of World Rally Championships Munari. But after I won the Monte Carlo people crowded
between 1974 and 1976. into the dealerships to order a Fulvia, the production line
As it spears towards us the Stratos begins to slow, was reopened and the people who had been made
affording us a better chance to pore over it. It is a truly redundant got their jobs back!
imperial sight. There is haughtiness imbedded in those While 1972 was undoubtedly a dream victory, Munari
Bertone-penned lines that, in the Alitalia green, red and knew that after winning the rally in a Stratos in 1975 and
white battle colours, borders on arrogance. 1976, victory in 1977 would give him a hat-trick and
Just as the car pulls tantalisingly level, the driver Monte Carlo immortality. Today, at the age of 76, there is
reapplies the throttle and, with a howl from its Ferrari a slight frailty to the man they called Il Drago and his
Dino V6 engine, the Stratos surges contemptuously away breathing is a little laboured. But he has kept himself in
from us. It almost feels like we have reached out to stroke good shape. He has no problem fitting his slim frame into
a thoroughbred racehorse that has shaken its head his original Alitalia racing overalls and his memory of the
disdainfully and galloped off. drive of four decades ago is as crystal clear as the ice was
As we gaze at the fast-disappearing spoiler, those big, on the Col de Turini in 1977.
round taillights and the oh-so-1970s The Stratos always gave its best on
louvred window, the man standing beside Below and right slippery roads and the 1977 Monte Carlo
us smiles. Perhaps Sandro Munari is Munari (Parmalat overalls) and
co-driver Maiga (moustache)
was absolutely perfect for it because the
recalling that, between 22 and 28 January during the 77 Monte; the car snow did not stop falling, says Munari. The
1977, that particular view of the Stratos was still wears its original livery. car was quite similar to the specification
MCKLEIN IMAGES
66
MUNARIS STRATOS
There is haughtiness in
those Bertone-penned lines
that, in the Alitalia green, red
and white battle colours,
borders on arrogance
68
69
MUNARIS STRATOS
MCKLEIN IMAGES
of the Stratos I drove to victory in 1976, but Above and right on the brake pedal. I never used the
we adjusted the engine to give a little less In action on the Monte in handbrake to steer the car.
1977; today the car reveals
horsepower and to have better torque at its highly patinated interior
Instead Munari relied on the natural
lower revs for more traction and greater and mechanicals. inertia provided by the mid-mounted
control. We shortened the gear ratios too, engine to create a pendulum effect to set-up
because we were using the 24-valve engine the car for the endless snow-covered
that didnt really pull strongly until 4500rpm and there hairpin bends. As soon as you spot the corner, you start to
were not many very long straights to deal with. turn the steering wheel to move the car around beneath
So Munari had the satisfaction of knowing that his car you. If you understand it, and you are good, then you are
was perfectly honed for the rally. In addition, the Stratos safe and you are fast. If you dont, then the car is in charge.
gave him a huge advantage over the drivers of other, And presumably you are in a snow bank
far less sophisticated cars, as it could very quickly be What a treat it must have been to stand well wrapped-
further modified if the need arose. Removable front up and watch Munari drift the Stratos through the winter
and rear body panels gave easy access to the fully wonderland. And one man had an even better view, at
adjustable suspension, while the ratios of the five-speed least when he wasnt looking down at his roadbook. Silvio
gearbox mounted beneath the engine could also Maiga, now 67, sat just a few inches away from Munari
be quickly changed. guiding him to victory.
With its significantly reworked suspension, where all Sandro is absolutely right in calling it a dance, because
the rubber bushes were replaced with uni-bond joints, I do remember the very same feeling, recalls Maiga. At
Munaris TO N41648 Stratos was far removed from the some points I was able to raise my eyes from my notebook
once-green, 190bhp, 12-valve road car it had been based and find myself captivated by the magic of the moment.
on. With its competition 24-valve engine capable of Snow everywhere around us, the V6 engine singing at its
delivering up to 290bhp, and its chassis sharpened to a best and Sandro mastering the dancing Stratos flat-out in
near-knifepoint, the rally Stratos offered performance and fifth gear. And he made it all look so effortless, he was
handling that few could ever hope to access, never mind always calm, always precise, always master of the situation
master. For Munari, though, it was just perfect. and always, always terribly fast.
I still vividly remember the intense pleasure of piloting From stage three onwards, for mile after mile of snow-
my Stratos by using just the gas pedal to let her dance on covered mountain passes, Munari and Maiga held the lead
the snow always in a controlled drift without any form all the way to the end, keeping 228 rivals behind them.
of roughness, recalls Munari. For me it was easy, steering The huge variety of machinery in their wake included four
with my hands, right foot on the gas pedal and left one works Fiat 131 Abarths plus state-of-the-art Opel Kadett
70
71
MUNARIS STRATOS
72
73
MCKLEIN IMAGES
MUNARIS STRATOS
74
75
MUNARIS STRATOS
This is a Maglioli engine, he explains proudly, referring As the V6 howls towards the redline and the Stratos
to the previous owner of the car, Claudio Maglioli. If cuts forwards, again the car seems to exude a sense of
Sandro Munari was hailed as the man who could always imperialism as if somehow it knows it was put on this
coax the most from the Stratos from a driving point of planet purely to win rallies. And you can see how, if you
view, then Maglioli is equally lauded as the engineer who could master this car, particularly in the snow of Monte
could extract just that little bit more than anyone else Carlo, that sense of superiority would become infectious
from every single nut and bolt. and you would be quite convinced of the peerlessness of
A highly successful Lancia racing driver turned your own abilities.
engineer, Maglioli stayed loyal to the Stratos after the Its easy to imagine how Sandro Munari might have
works team withdrew. He worked with the French thought: Let Ford, Porsche, Opel and even Fiat send
importer team and helped Bernard Darniche snatch a late what and whom they want. Ill beat them all. The rally and
victory on the 1979 Monte Carlo in the iconic blue the victory will be mine. And thus it proved many times.
Chardonnet Stratos. The history books recall that, despite Eventually the engine falls silent. We stand and watch
the brilliance of Darniches drive, his slender six-second right to the end, until the doors of the lorry the Stratos is
victory was ensured only after spectators placed rocks in loaded into are closed. And then the interplanetary, most
the path of Bjrn Waldegrds Ford Escort. extraordinary craft is gone from our sight.
Magliolis workshop was very close to Avanderos home Avandero is not sure when he will drive it again. He
in Biella, in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. I am takes it out on private roads, tracks and various events
lucky, explains Avandero, there are still some of the about five times a year. The last big outing was when
mechanics around who worked on the Stratos in the old Munari drove the car at the three-day Eiffel Rallye Festival
days and they know what to do. As he snaps down through in Germany in 2015. There it was awarded The
the crash gearbox and presses hard on the accelerator, its Champions Choice by judges including Walter Rhrl,
obvious that those mechanics have not lost their touch Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist and Timo Salonen.
since they kept the Stratos running in the dead of night Its reassuring to know that the Stratos casts its spell
four decades ago. on rallyings elite as well as on your average fan. End
76
MUNARIS STRATOS
78
WITHOUT
WHOM
It takes more than a driver and a navigator to win
a rally. These are the men behind Lancias victory
Words Massimo Delb Photography Matthew Howell
79
MUNARIS STRATOS
and Maiga when they drove away with working lights. Left
Gianni Tonti led Munaris
Giovanni Gariboldi was the engineer responsible for
support crew for the 1977
Pirelli sport tyres from 1963 to 1981. For the 1977 Monte Monte, and masterminded
Carlo we had the new BS [Battistrada Separato or split the fix when his lights failed.
tread], with a universal-design tread on studded tyres,
allowing us the use of smaller studs, meaning less
unsprung weight. The Stratos was very respectful of the
tyres, but for me it was very easy to see a used set and
recognise who drove it: Munari left them as new; Pinto
was definitely more aggressive.
Monte Carlo was the race, and we prepared the 1977
best car, but we knew too that Fiat was pushing hard to see winter tyres [the 5C], narrower than usual to increase the
its 131 win, so at a political level we felt very vulnerable. specific weight on the tyre for greater penetration in the
We had three works cars with Pirelli tyres, and a fourth hard snow, with 527 studs for each wheel. We prepared a
car with Bernard Darniche, backed by Lancia France special CN36 too, a tarmac tyre with studs included in the
that was the only car equipped with Michelins. We were tread. The strategy was, when conditions were mixed
very fast from the beginning, and that put us in a strong usually tarmac, snow, tarmac to have the rubber working
position, until Raffaele Pinto lost six minutes plunging at the start of a hill, then as the rubber was used up the
into snow, and Darniche crashed badly. To avoid any studs would start working, and then, with the tyres getting
further problems, Fiorio and Daniele Audetto [who was warmer going down, the compound would lose the studs
in charge of Fiat] agreed to keep the team order, and and we had a tarmac tyre again.
Andruet, who was fastest in the 131, was not happy at all Piero Mario Spriano, known to everybody as Piero
with the decision. Stratos, was also key to the success of the Stratos. He is
I remember helping to prepare some flying assistance the man who, during the 1976 Monte Carlo, fixed
areas, sometimes in such thick fog that it was impossible Munaris gearbox in record time using fresh butter to
to see the nearest white stripe in the road, and, despite speed up his work! He was not a formal employee of
this, the racing guys were achieving times on special Lancia, but his experience with the car is invaluable.
stages similar to those on sunny days. I grew up as a mechanic at the Maglioli firm in Biella,
I was in charge of the assistance where we fixed and the Stratos was our daily bread. We worked a lot with
Munaris lighting problem, we were waiting for him, the official team, and Mr Tonti really liked me, and when
alerted by Parkes. With me I had Scintilla, our best we were following the Chardonnet Stratos of Darniche, at
electrician, and I knew he could fix the problem. What the 1977 Monte, we were all mixed together, the works
Sandro did on that snowy Turini with almost no light still mechanics and us. I was in the Fiat 242 van with Casarsa,
astonishes me. We won, and with only two people in the and I still remember the start from Rome. We had to drive
technical office, against the 100-plus people of Fiat. 2000km before the race. To me the best word to define
The mechanics obviously played a fundamental role, those days is sleepless.
and Antonio Giannelli, alias Scintilla, was the star of the We were lucky, because the Stratos never breaks, and
1977 Rallye Monte-Carlo. I was with Tonti in an we had only to cope with routine emergencies. It is a
assistance area in Peille, just after the Turini. We had been simple car, with only an additional condenser, already
alerted by Parkes about Sandros problem, so we knew used in the Fulvia, to help make sure the platinum-tipped
exactly what to prepare for. It took me no more than four points do not burn. This device was red in all the other
minutes to dive under the dashboard to check which was cars I saw, but in this car it has always been green.
the burnt relay that created the problem, replace it and I have only two regrets: that I dont have pictures of the
change the right fuse. Not very difficult but for the event, because for us it was just another working day; and
uncomfortable position I had to work in, upside down of selling my personal Stratos in England in 1984 for
under the dash. Ill never forget the happy faces of Munari 35,000,000 Lire. Thats about 17,000! End
80
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FERRARI 250 GTO
HO W T O B U Y A G T O
Theres a Ferrari 250 GTO available on the open market
right now. What will it take to become its new owner?
Andrew English investigates
Illustration Mark Sommer
PLANNING ON BUYING a car this spring? Championship racing against Jaguar, Aston Enzo Ferrari tended to charge private
Probably not like this one you arent, unless Martin and Shelby. All 33 series I, three series II customers what he thought they could afford,
your butler is reading this article to you on your and three 330 GTO specials were built between but in the 250 GTOs pomp of the early 1960s
private yacht as you lounge in your gold-plated 1962 and 1964. Creative use of non-consecutive they sold for about $18,200 (6500 or
Jacuzzi. John Collins at Ferrari specialist chassis numbers and deft vehicle movements 125,094 in todays values). In the early
Talacrest has on his website an advert for one meant Ferrari got the GTO accepted for Group 1970s, when their competitiveness had long
of 39 examples of arguably the worlds most 3 homologation despite the FIAs ostensible disappeared, values fell below $10,000 (4000,
expensive and desirable car: a Ferrari 250 GTO requirement that 100 should be built. or 51,000 today) and one distinguished motor
or Gran Turismo Omologato. If you want it, the Based on the chassis and a hepped-up version sport historian tells of one offered at 2000
trade reckons youll need to hand over at least of the 250 SWB driveline, the GTO was a huge with a Dino 196SP thrown in as a sweetener.
$50 million (US) as he points out, its cheaper success. One of the last front-engined GTs, the Then the investment ramp-up started By
than a Picasso. GTO won its class in the FIA GT Championship the mid-1970s, Nick Mason was reputed to
Designed by a team that included Giotto for three years running as well as countless have paid $86,000 (43,000, or 222,526 in
Bizzarrini, the 250 GTO was launched in 1962 endurance races and hillclimbs. As an todays values). In 1987, Robert Brooks was
with a powerful 3.0-litre V12 and immaculately investment piece of industrial design, its been working for Christies when he dropped the
honed aerodynamics to go World Sportscar more than superlative, however. hammer on what remained for years the worlds
82
most expensive car, a Bugatti Royale, for $9.7 testing at Monza with Lorenzo Bandini at the And both men concur that theyre also fun.
million US (5.5 million). A few months earlier wheel, it was sold to egregious New York dealer The 250 GTO came at a point in motor-racing
the first GTO to be auctioned had just broken and Ferraris North American distributer Luigi history where successful racing cars could still
the 1 million barrier one fifth of what the Chinetti in March 1962 and raced in the just be raced on a track or a road circuit. Front-
Bugatti made. The classic car boom saw another Sebring 12 Hours later that month by Phil Hill engined and with a conventional layout, they
GTO sold privately in 1990 for 10 million, and Oliver Gendebien. It then sold to Bob have handling benign enough for gifted
before the market collapsed and the same GTO Grossman, who raced it at Le Mans in 62. amateurs to race quite competitively. When
was resold three years later for 2 million. Grossman sold in 63 and it was raced in John Surtees observed that the GTO was quite
Since then theyve recovered spectacularly, various American and Bahamas Speed Week an ordinary car, what he meant was that it had
culminating openly in August 2014, when events for the next decade. It changed hands a no bad habits when it got to its limits and that
Bonhams sold the ex-Fabrizio Violati 250 few times, was crashed, rebuilt in America, allowed an ordinary driver to drive it pretty
GTO chassis number 3851 for $38,115,000 allegedly had a replacement engine and, in quickly. Add in a brilliant power-to-weight
(22,843,633) at its Quail Lodge auction in 1987, was sold by plastic surgeon Dr Ron ratio, a beguiling soundtrack, the magic of the
Carmel, California. This was less than experts Finger to wealthy lawyer Bernard Carl, whom Ferrari name and the breathtaking coachwork,
had predicted, but Violatis collection was being Collins confirms as the vendor. and its small wonder that 250 GTOs have
sold quickly for profit and this was the only What hes not saying is what the arrangement become so valuable.
250 GTO in which its driver was killed; French is between him and Bernie Carl, though it With prices seemingly well on their way to
skiing champion Henri Oreillera died when he doesnt take the soothsaying talents of nine figures, however, as Kidston points out:
crashed into a marshals hut in October 1962 at Nostradamus to glean that this might include There are very few people capable of writing a
the Montlhry autodrome. permission to negotiate around the offer price, cheque in cold blood for that amount of money.
John Collins, like fellow Scot Tom Hartley, is which Collins confirms is $60 million (US) And its unsurprising that the generation of
a breed of granite-hard Granite City used car for the record, in February 1969, 3387 sold to gentlemen drivers who owned them for
dealers specialising at the apogee of the market. Kirk White for the princely sum of $5400. decades are now selling out to the masters of
Based in a fortified headquarters in the Thames Lawks a-mercy, how did GTOs get so the collecting universe.
Valley, hes gruff, to the point and doesnt suffer valuable? Collins says it is because theyre like Fact is, however, most of these deals are
fools gladly. I get the feeling he was a pretty a work of art. If youre a collector, you should leveraged in some way, dependent on time (to
fearless journalist when he worked for The have a GTO. Theyre the holy grail of classics, raise the cash via sales of other cars or assets),
Daily Express. Most of Collinss history and his they put you at the top of the tree.
company, Talacrest, is written by folk employed At the other end of the business spectrum,
by Collins, some of them good writers, some Simon Kidston agrees. Hes the founder of the
not so this Octane commission was not for
the faint-hearted.
eponymous Swiss-based classic-car consultancy
and brokerage, who has orchestrated at least IF YOURE A COLLECTOR,
Collins, though, is also widely respected, three sales of 250 GTOs including the most
liked and trusted by those who knock around
in this weird ber-investment car world, and
recent sale of Hartmuth Ibings car.
Theyve become a billionaires calling card,
YOU SHOULD HAVE A GTO.
when you hear him talking about what it is to
drive a GTO with his faithful German Shepherd
he says. Theres an unequivocal number in
existence and there are not really any GTOs
THEYRE THE HOLY GRAIL
at his side, you can forgive the brusqueness.
Touchingly hes still looking to repurchase his
with horror-story histories. Theyve all been
documented thanks to author Jess Pourrets OF CLASSICS
first-ever car, a 1969 Triumph GT6. painstaking research decades ago.
I got involved in this business because a car
dealer ripped me off in the 1980s, he growls.
I bought my first Ferrari in 1976. I was a highly
paid photojournalist [and] if that car dealer
hadnt ripped me off, I would still be one.
I figured that if he could do it, I could do it
selling, not ripping people off.
And so Talacrest was formed in 1987. Story
goes, Collins begged and borrowed a lot of
money from friends to put down deposits on
some 3-million worth of cars from various
dealers. He then advertised those cars and sold
them for more than the dealers were asking.
Needless to say, they went ballistic, but a
commitment is a commitment and Collins was
in the business. Setting up as a used Ferrari
dealer next door to Maranello Concessionaires
in Egham, Surrey, describes Collinss chutzpah;
you need to get up early in the morning
to out-manoeuvre John.
This car will be the ninth GTO he has sold
In this case its chassis number 3387 GT, the
second GTO to be built. Originally used for
83
FERRARI 250 GTO
In most cases this involves painstaking in question had actually been sold at a record
research and discovery, just as if you were price, which subsequently helped inflate the
WOULD YOU buying a company or property, but in the case
of Ferrari theres potential salvation in its
value of the other 38 extant 250 GTOs.
Journalists need to have a care not to get
SERIOUSLY GO INTO own Classiche programme of authentication.
Collins says the Carl car doesnt have this.
involved in this sort of confabulation.
Like collecting duelling pistols or trophy
84
EAGLE SPYDER GT
J u s t y o u r t y p e ?
This reimagined E-type goes beyond anything Jaguar ever tried to achieve.
Andrew English examines the philosophy behind Eagles Spyder GT
Photography James Lipman
86
87
EAGLE SPYDER GT
P
Above and right urists turn away, sticklers and pedants workshops in darkest East Sussex, taking a tour, a tea and
Whichever angle you make a brew; theres nothing here for then getting behind the wheel and ejaculating Grouak
look at it from, the Eagle you. This car comes from a fantasy land. noises as it whizzes off so far so good.
Spyder is like a standard
E-type but different in
A far, far-away place where Cilla Black Whoa mister. Hold your horses. Eagle? E-type? Whats
so many subtle ways. pilots an E-type beyond the rings of going on? We need a history medley, spinning back
Saturn, while Lofty England runs through the decades in a whirl of televisual magic. Well,
Mission Control. Where ageing white male celebs believe 32 years at least, to when Eagle was founded by Henry
they can recapture the cool of Simon Dee, the 1960s TV Pearman, car collector/restorer/dealer/driver and all-
personality, driving up Manchesters Piccadilly Plaza in a round action guy who singlehandedly changed his
white E-type Jag with an adoring kinky-booted blonde in E-types rear tyre at the side of the road in the Pirelli
the passenger seat. And where an E-type can cost almost a Classic Marathon. Try it sometime, its not easy.
million quid, and a gran turismo has a soft top. Eagle did nice rebuilds, restorations, fettling and
Actually that last bit of fantasy was started by Jaguar. titivation, moved to the current buildings in 1992,
The Jaguar E Type G.T. Open Two-Seater, intoned the collected Paul Brace and fellow director Matthew
brochures back in the 1960s. Nor can one accuse Eagle of Dewhurst on the way and, at about the same time, got a
pushing the price of E-types through the stratosphere, commission to design and build the ultimate E-type.
not when Jaguar Special Vehicle Operations built six Hmm. While the ultimate E-type might sound like
Lightweight E-types to use up the unused chassis numbers something thought up by a mens magazine editor and a
and sold them for more than 1 million each. design guru, the car itself, Eagle 1, surpassed its billing,
Nevertheless, with a 4.2-litre Series II drophead costing being impressive enough for Eagle to get a second order,
up to 100,000 on the open market, by any measure the then a third (theyre now on the 36th Eagle). Problem
Eagle Spyder GT is an eye-wateringly expensive E-type. was, waiting lists grew to almost four years and the wealthy
It costs a basic 695,000 plus VAT, a total of 834,000, arent known for their patience.
not including the additional options of exclusive-to-Eagle Then one man (American, natch) asked for something
4.7-litre aluminium cylinder block from Crosthwaite & a bit different a bit special, says Brace. Hed first met
Gardiner, tubular driveshafts, and a magnesium-alloy Pearman when he was rallying a Porsche, so the 356
differential housing for the famous boxed-in E-type rear Speedster was in his mind when they suggested cutting
suspension, which in my day you bought for 200 from a back the roof, sculpting the rear of the cockpit and
scrapper and fitted into an undeserving Vauxhall Firenza reducing weather protection to a mere tonneau. Brace
special its as near to a million as makes no difference. even took one of their steel donor cars and cut it about
So yer basic, run-of-the-mill Eagle test drive consists of to make a prototype just to find out whether or not it
arriving at Henry Pearmans immaculately haphazard would work visually.
88
FEATURE TAGLINE
EAGLE SPYDER GT
Right
The stance is meatier, the
detailing tidier. What you cant
see here is the difference
wrought by a 330bhp,
4.7-litre straight-six.
90
Ive crawled all over it and, unlike
so many of its rivals, the build
quality is immaculate
EAGLE SPYDER GT
Eagle Spyder GT
Engine 4.7-litre straight-
six, DOHC, three 2in SU
carburettors Power 330bhp @
4800rpm Torque 340lb ft @
3600rpm Transmission Five-
speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Steering Rack and pinion,
power-assisted
Suspension Front: double
wishbones, torsion bars,
hlins dampers. Rear: lower
wishbones, fixed-length
driveshafts, coil springs
over hlins dampers
Brakes Discs, inboard at rear
Weight 1029kg
Performance Top speed
170mph+. 0-60mph < 5.0sec
92
RALLY OF THE INCAS
Right
Serge and Jacqueline Berthiers 1973 Jensen Interceptor
Series III was perhaps an unlikely rally car but it turned
heads wherever it went. Here it is on Day 5, in the
Sierra de Languineo en route to Esquel in Argentina.
94
WITH THREE CROSSINGS of the Andes plunged to 53m below sea level, with a total the incredible Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
mountain range, a tour of the Atacama Desert, ascent of 66,311m in temperatures ranging There was also a Welsh welcome in an
a drive over the Altiplano and dramatic runs from a sweltering 41C down to a chilly and Argentinian valley. Initially settled in the
alongside both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, damp 5C. 1800s as part of the post-industrial emigration
the Endurance Rally Associations first Rally of At times, both men and machines suffered from Wales, the village of Ty Gwyn-Gaiman
The Incas was an incredible adventure. with the altitude and it was hard to decide who laid on a magnificent spread of sandwiches,
After being flagged off from Buenos Aires, was working hardest to get the necessary air in. cakes and tarts served by waitresses in
48 cars (divided into classes for vintage and While engines were tweaked to run better in traditional Welsh costumes.
classic) took on the most thrilling roads and the thin atmosphere, some of the crews had to This foray into South America has been a
epic scenery that South America had to offer, resort to bottled oxygen. great one, said rally director Fred Gallagher.
on a 6000-mile, 28-day odyssey through Of course, it wasnt all work and no play. The The landscapes have been amazing and the
Argentina, Chile and Peru, to finish at Lima. drivers needed respite at times as much as the competition was excellent.
This was a rally of extremes that, at times, machinery, and South America offers some of A second rally is being planned for 2017,
pushed the cars and their crews to the limits of the best places to recharge. Crews enjoyed a details of which will soon be available at
endurance. The topography en route forced a day at the luxurious Llao Llao resort amid the www.endurorally.com. For now, feast your eyes
maximum altitude of almost 4600m and lakeland splendour of Bariloche, and a visit to on the majesty of this years event.
95
RALLY OF THE INCAS
96
Far left
Leon and Hester Bothmas
1947 Bentley MkVI suffered
a blown differential, forcing
their withdrawal on day 25
although they then carried
on to the finish in a hire
car, fixed the problem and
continued to drive to Rio.
97
RALLY OF THE INCAS
98
99
RALLY OF THE INCAS
Right
Dominique Vananty and
Daniel Spadinis 1966 Citron
DS21 scrabbles for grip on
the Passo de Crdoba.
Below
Layne and Len Treeters
enormous 1960 Chevrolet
Impala is nicknamed
The Cowboy Cadillac.
100
1925
3 LITRE BENTLEY
Chassis No. 990
Delivered new to Australia
and now registered
in the UK for the rst time
in over 90 years.
SHOWROOM
NOW OPEN
Saturday mornings
9am to 1pm
www.themedcalfcollection.com
more@themedcalfcollection.com +44 (0)1730 893992
A P A S S I O N R E A L I S E D
RALLY OF THE INCAS
102
LOLA GT
104
LONG
TIME
COMING
Its more than 50 years since its
owner saw the Lola GT prototype
in Eric Broadleys workshop and
bought it. Finally, it runs again
Words Preston Lerner Photography Evan Klein
105
LOLA GT
106
Left, far left and above
No wonder theres a smile
on Allen Grants face.
Sitting in the calm
turquoise interior of the
exquisite Lola GT racer
marks the culmination
of a 51-year odyssey.
a road-racing special. It was so successful that he created Autocar reported: It arrived late, and jury-rigged with
Lola Cars the next year, and by 1962 hed designed his wooden blocks, but the public reaction to this new shape
first Formula 1 car, which John Surtees drove to victory in was tremendous. Everything about the car looked right
a non-championship race at Mallory Park. For his next and its apparent potential left one breathless.
trick, Broadley tackled FIAs new grand touring prototype The Lola GT ran its first race at Silverstone in May
category with blue-sky design that could also be put into 1963. Ferrari refused to allow Surtees, by then a factory
production as a roadgoing GT car. driver, to race it, so Tony Maggs whod never even sat in
The Lola GT was conceived as a mid-engined machine the car took over at the last minute, started last on the
built around a steel central monocoque to which a tubular grid and finished ninth behind a bevy of Cooper Monacos
subframe was attached at the front. The engine was a and Lotus 19s and 23s. The next week, the car was at the
4.2-litre Ford Fairlane V8 that had been hot-rodded by Nrburgring, where it DNFd after being outclassed
Shelby American and mated to a four-speed Colotti Tipo by the Ferrari 250P prototypes.
37 transaxle. The suspension followed standard F1 But Broadley was already building two new cars
practice, and the running gear was conventional. What featuring lightweight aluminium chassis. The first was
made the car the breakout star of the Racing Car Show finished so late that drivers David Hobbs and Richard
was the glassfibre bodywork, styled by John Frayling, who Attwood were dispatched to Le Mans without the race
had been responsible for the sexy Lotus Elite. car. Broadley himself then drove the Lola GT from his
To modern eyes, the Lola GT looks like a first draft for original shop in Bromley to France, where the team barely
the iconic GT40 not by then on Fords drawing board made it through scrutineering. In the race, the car ran as
so its hard to appreciate the impact it had on contemporary high as eighth until the Colotti transaxle which had
viewers. It makes the [Ferrari] Berlinetta look like a lorry, been developed for the Lotus 29 Indy car and wasnt
one observer said as the car was rolled into Olympia. designed for road racing predictably failed. When they
107
LOLA GT
108
LIKE A FIRST DRAFT FOR THE ICONIC FORD GT40
LOLA GT
110
re-installed the gearbox, it had only three speeds instead Meanwhile, in the States, Allen Grant was following a Above and far left
of four, Hobbs recalls. Then I managed to get it jammed different route to Slough. In 1962, while attending college, The Thermal Club racetrack
near Palm Springs,
into neutral and crashed in the Esses. Eric was practically he successfully campaigned an AC Bristol in SCCA races California, was the venue
in tears after the race. in California. When he heard that Carroll Shelby was for Allen Grants first
shakedown test something
But there was a silver lining. Thanks to the cars stuffing Ford V8s into ACs, he hightailed it down to Los hed waited five decades for.
performance, Broadley came to the attention of Ford, Angeles and applied for a job racing Cobras. Well, I dont
which had decided to build a Le Mans prototype based on need drivers right now, Shelby drawled. Can you weld?
a mid-engined monocoque housing a big Ford V8 the He could. Grant was hired to work on production cars,
precise template pioneered by the Lola GT. So Broadley then race-cars, and was promoted upstairs to a sales
was hired to design what would be known as the GT40. position. In 1963, he sold a used Cobra to a car dealership
Ford Advanced Vehicles was set up in a spacious, brand- with a canny proviso that he be allowed to race it. Grant
new shop in Slough Trading Estate, near Heathrow won enough races to earn a ride the following year in Bill
Airport, and the prototype and first production Lola GT Thomass fast-but-wayward Cheetah. The year after that,
were bought by Ford to serve as test mules. Shelby hired Grant to race the Cobra Daytona Coupe.
(The third and last Lola GT was sold to Texas oilman Grant was third in the GT class at both Daytona and
John Mecom Jr. The irrepressible Augie Pabst gave the Sebring, then scored a class win with fellow Californian
Chevrolet-powered car its only two victories, in Nassau, Bob Bondurant at Monza. With Le Mans coming up and
where he outran Mecoms Corvette Grand Sports. I the GT40s scheduled to run several European races in the
wasnt supposed to win, so I guess you could call me a interim, Shelby kept Grant in England, where he worked
naughty boy, Pabst says with a laugh. He destroyed the as a mechanic at FAV. It was while spending time in
car a year later when the throttle stuck open at Riverside.) Slough that Grant walked next door into the Lola shop
Broadley himself strongly refuted the popular myth and noticed the Lola GT beckoning in the shadows.
that the GT40 was nothing more than a warmed-over When plans to race in Can-Am in 1966 fell through,
Lola GT. In fact, he later described his work for Ford as a Grant returned to college in California and eventually
horrendous experience. Broadley left the project in 1964 went into business building houses (he used his Lola GT
after a year of fighting the corporate bureaucracy. As part as collateral to finance his first project). He always planned
of the settlement with Ford, he received the Lola GT to give the car the restoration it deserved. But when he
prototype and relocated Lola Cars to a new shop adjacent had the money to work on the project, he didnt have the
to FAV. The lessons he learned with the GT40 were time, and when he had the time, he didnt have the money.
incorporated into the T70, which would become the most The good news was that the Lola had never been
succesful Lola ever built. wrecked or modified and, although Broadleys engineering
111
LOLA GT
112
I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL CAR ID EVER SEEN
113
LOLA GT
had been ahead of its time, the car was a handbuilt relic running. Turned out that the replacement Metalastic
of the early 1960s so the restoration didnt seem doughnuts on the driveshaft which Grant got with the
complicated. 99% of the pieces were original, Grant says. car were too brittle. But after a star turn at Quail Lodge,
Early on, he was able to acquire one of the major Grant finally got the car operational. He even managed to
components he didnt have a Tipo 37 Colotti transaxle. turn a few laps at The Thermal Club racetrack near Palm
Fabricator Scott Merrell began deconstructing the car Springs, though the rock-hard Dunlop tyres which had
in 2005. Then, Grant brought over Rob Senekal from been on the Lola when he bought it curtailed his speed.
South Africa, where hed worked for Superformance. The I cannot describe the euphoria I felt when I got in that
chassis was taken down to the tub and mounted on a car and started it up and shifted from first into second,
rotisserie. Grant commissioned Denny Aldridge to build Grant says. It was all I could do not to mash the throttle.
a 4.7-litre Ford V8 to 1963 specifications four-barrel Theres a well-known photo (below) of Grant beaming
Autolite carburettor, period-correct distributor, valve from the drivers seat of a Cobra after winning a race at
covers with no breathers, and so on. Bare-metal pieces Santa Barbara in 1963. Next to him, sporting a huge
were cadmium-plated. The seats were reupholstered in a pompadour, is his boyhood friend, George Lucas, who
mod aquamarine fabric that screams Swinging Sixties. used Grant as the inspiration for the John Milner character
Then came the 2008 recession and the project stalled. in the movie American Grafitti. Grants mop of blond hair
Grant moved to Palm Springs with the unfinished car. It has been replaced by a shaved head, and he now wears a
wasnt until May 2016, when he was invited to show the closely trimmed white goatee, but his big, affable grin still
car at the Jet Center Party, a centrepiece of the Monterey looks exactly the same as it did 50-odd years ago. And so,
Car Week, that work resumed. But with the invitation thanks to Grant, does the Lola GT prototype. End
came a deadline a mere three months away. The
calendar was not friendly, John Hill, a local enthusiast
who joined the restoration team, says drily.
Senekal returned from South Africa when the thrash
began. Grant obsessed over details ranging from paint
colours to the authenticity of fasteners. The internet was
scoured for missing parts, headlight covers fashioned and
cured in Hills kitchen oven. Twelve- and 14-hour days
werent uncommon. Nor was scorching summer heat. The
car wasnt finished until 24 hours before the Jet Center
Party, and it didnt reach Monterey until eight minutes
before the doors were scheduled to close.
Just as had been the case when the car was revealed at
the London Racing Car Show, the Lola GT wasnt
Above, inset
Allen Grant raced an AC Cobra
in the 1960s; his passenger
here is childhood friend turned
film-maker George Lucas.
114
PAUL HARMER
THE ICONIC 205 GTI
HISTORIC RALLYINGS NEW ARRIVAL
svp-motorsport.co.uk | dominic@svpmotorsport.co.uk
Inkberrow, Worcestershire, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1386 793138
PEUGEOT 205 RALLY CAR
R I S E N F R O M
116
T H E G R A V E L
Fate is key to Dominic Delaney and his Group A Peugeot 205 rally car,
now back competing in his hands after disappearing for 25 years
Words Jim Blackstock Photography Paul Harmer
117
PEUGEOT 205 RALLY CAR
118
F ate is a divisive concept. But regardless of your own
personal stance, there is an air of fate surrounding
Dominic Delaneys Peugeot 205 rally car. Dominic
bought the car brand new on New Years Eve 1986 his
19th birthday and then bought it again 25 years later,
after it had been sat in a pair of sheds for the entire
interim period. It seems clear that this 205 was meant
to be Doms all along.
Motor sport has been a key part of his life for as long
as he can remember some of his first memories are of watching the RAC
Rally in the early 70s with his father, himself a keen road rally competitor.
So it was no surprise that Doms professional career would follow a similar
route. And having put himself through a two-year college course, he
walked into the TWR Racing headquarters and asked for a job, which was
an acceptable way of doing things in the 1980s, the decade of opportunity.
So it was that Dom found himself building engines for TWR Racing,
at the end of the Bastos Rover project and the beginning of the Jaguar
Group C programme. As such, he was earning reasonable money for an
18-year-old and, keen to start his own motor sport activity, he treated
himself to a brand new Peugeot 206 1.6 GTi. He collected the car from
the dealer on New Years Eve 1986, for two reasons: first, the dealer
was shut on 1 January, the date the car was registered, and second,
31 December is Doms birthday. And that year, he turned 19.
The original plan was to do some road rallies and the first he could get
an entry for was the Bath Festival, the next round of the then-Motoring
News Championship. Dom takes up the story: When youre 19, youre
going to win everything, arent you? We got an entry and sat on the start
line for the first selective essentially the same as a stage nowadays and
I had a sudden What am I doing? moment.
Then it was 3-2-1-GO! and we were off. A hundred yards into the
selective, there was a long, tightening right-hander covered in gravel and
I lifted. The car swapped ends and we went into the hedge backwards.
There was no damage, apart from a few marks but, by that point, it was
scratched and I didnt worry anymore. And so, at 19, did he win the first
event? No, we got hopelessly lost and if we even recorded a finish, which
Im not sure we did, it was around last.
After more road rallies, Dom converted the car to stage rally spec,
since it was clear the road rally series was on borrowed time. He bought a
proper Group A bolt-in rollcage from Peugeot Sport, along with the
genuine sump and tank guards, and before long the car was ready to
tackle stage rallies. Dom wanted to enjoy his motor sport and, instead
of single-venue rallies, driving 30 miles around an airfield in and out
of cones, he went out and did a series on gravel.
He suffered the inevitable engine failures, gearbox failures and class
wins until he got to the point where he and his co-driver(s) either retired
from the event or won their class, winning more often than retiring.
Then, one day, he was driving the Peugeot on the road: I was doing
30mph in fifth gear when the engine coughed and dropped onto three
cylinders. I pulled over, left it running and opened the bonnet. There was
a rod through the block and I could see the crankshaft still going round.
I had no money nothing left whatsoever. I pulled the engine out,
stripped it down and put it in the boot in boxes. It stayed like that for
Top and left
a month or so before I decided to sell it. I got 3000 for it not bad Owner Dominic
for an 18-month-old Peugeot that had been abused and that was the Delaney bought back
end of that. his GpA Peugeot
Dom then embarked on a career that saw him travelling the world for 25 years after he sold
it with a blown-up
some 20 years, working for various World Rally Championship and engine; stripped and
Formula 1 teams, including being part of the four world titles that caged interior is to full
Tommi Mkinen won with Mitsubishi. Eventually, he started a family Group A specification.
PEUGEOT 205 RALLY CAR
and set up his own independent Porsche specialist garage, servicing and dings in it from when I competed, and I decided to build it into a proper
repairing Porsches and preparing them for various forms of motor sport. Group A specification car. I got my sons to strip it for me, ready to build
A few times over the coming years he wondered whatever became it to FIA Historic spec for the Roger Albert Clark Rally in 2014.
of his 205 and even went so far as checking online to see if it was on the However, as is the way with so many labours of love, things didnt go
road, but he found the last time it had been taxed for road use was actually quite to plan. Because Dom would only do things right, building a 205
the last time he had done it, back in 1988. to Group A spec using proper parts was a very time-consuming business.
Fast-forward to 2013 and Dom was, as we all have been, sitting on the Brakes, for example. He contacted Alcon to see if the company would
sofa on a Sunday evening, idly surfing through eBay, when a pop-up re-manufacture the components it made for the original cars back in the
appeared, flagged Things you might like. He wasnt looking for anything 1980s. Yes, it would, if he would order 30 sets, otherwise they would not
in particular but clicked to see more and realised that this Peugeot 205 be economically viable. AP Racing took a look and helped out, including
rally car had stripes like his had, back in the day. The welding in some of swapping the rears to the original set-up.
the photos looked a bit familiar but the penny didnt finally drop until The 1.6 road cars used drums on the back but, for Group A use, these
he saw the corner of the numberplate. It was his old car. were machined down and used as carriers for discs, with a corresponding
Not only was it his old car for sale, but it was in exactly the same state caliper on the hub carrier. So that is what Dom did. He also had the
as when he had sold it almost a quarter of a century earlier. There were 20 bodies for the Bilstein dampers remade, using the originals instead of
minutes left on the auction, the bidding was up to 200 and Dom decided more modern versions. And so his 205 will have the notorious double-
he wanted no, needed the car, even though he had no idea what he bounce on landings and the rear-end kick that 205 drivers are so fond of.
would do with it. He put a maximum bid of 2500 on it and, 20 minutes The engine uses the original crankshaft but, once balanced, this is good
later, it was his for just 250. for 8000rpm. The Group A regulations allowed forged pistons, as well as
When he went to collect it, Dom didnt have the heart to tell the seller a fair bit of cylinder head work, while the homologation papers specify
he had owned it 25 years earlier but was very pleasantly surprised by the details for allowable camshafts, one of which Dom also had made
the condition it was in. In fact, he reckons its one of the straightest 205 from scratch. The gearbox is fitted with a close-ratio gearset and several
shells around. It was just as I had sold it the engine, still in bits, still final drives are permitted, along with several styles of limited-slip
in the same boxes I chucked it in, still in the boot. The guy I bought differential. Dom prefers the ZF plated style but others like the Quaife
it from had bought it from the guy I sold it to originally and it had been torque-biasing version, and both are allowed.
in barns ever since. Throughout the build process, there were numerous reminders that
They werent proper storage facilities but the car was protected from this car was always meant to be Doms. As we were building it, I came
the elements and there was plenty of air movement around, so it was in across holes in the dashboard that I remembered drilling for switches
remarkably good condition. I got it home and it still had a few dents and when I first owned the car. There was also a dent in the roof, that was
120
GETTING BACK INTO THE CAR WAS A BIT
LIKE PUTTING ON A PAIR OF REALLY
OLD TRAINERS AND FINDING THAT
THEY ARE STILL VERY COMFORTABLE
caused by a rear-end bounce that Dom thought would 1987 Group A Peugeot is no drama this is moving and doing something all
end in a roll but luckily didnt. When the car went 205 GTi 1.6 the time and, while it might not be the fastest way
to the paint shop, he specifically told them to leave the Engine 1598cc four-cylinder, through a stage, it certainly is the most fun.
OHC, balanced crankshaft,
dent. I went along to check it before they started From the passenger seat, that much is obvious.
forged pistons, GpA-spec camshaft,
painting it and they had filled the dent in. I told them Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection Dom takes me for a few laps of the test venue, which
to get the filler out. That was part of its history. Power 150bhp @ 7600rpm is complete with jumps, a water splash, long climbs
The livery was, surprisingly, one of the harder Torque 130lb ft @ 4500rpm with drop-offs, hairpins and fast, downhill sections,
aspects to get right. Youd think just googling Louise Transmission Five-speed manual, and not once do I jab the imaginary brake pedal. Its
front-wheel drive, limited-slip differential
Aitken-Walker or Mikael Sundstrm would throw Steering Rack and pinion busy very busy inside and, because the car is so
up loads of pictures, but try it! There are plenty of Suspension Front: MacPherson struts, small, the co-driver feels every little movement just
pictures of Colin McRae or Richard Burns in the 205 coil springs, adjustable Bilstein dampers, as much as the driver. They also bang elbows a few
Challenge cars [a toned-down version for a UK one- rose-jointed mounts. Rear: trailing arms, times but, again, thats part of the attraction of this
solid-mounted torsion beam,
make series] but not many of the works cars. We adjustable Bilstein dampers
pocket rocket.
found this one in the end, which Im sure is for the Brakes Discs Weight 780kg We get out of the car and Dom is red-faced and
1987 RAC Rally, and it suits the car well. Performance Top speed 103mph. smiling. My face is its usual colour but I am also
Since Dom put the car back together as a genuine 0-60mph 5.5sec (on gravel) smiling. And thats what this car is all about. Its
works Group A car, the day we meet at the Sweet covered in slime, with the distinctive smell of mud
Lamb complex in Wales for the photos is the first time he has been in it burning on hot exhaust, but everyone Dom, myself, the technicians and
for 25 years, other than for a three-mile shakedown the day before it was Doms 15-year-old rally-driving son Tom is smiling. And the smile is
loaded onto the trailer. all-important.
Typically, the Welsh winter weather is appalling but its a more-than- As far as Im concerned, its a tool, not a jewel, says Dom. Im not
appropriate debut for his car in its current guise. It is, as Dom explains, one for building showpiece cars they are to be used, pure and simple.
a fitting reunion: Getting back into the car at Sweet Lamb was a bit I love the old Escorts but there are so many around now that I wanted
like putting on a pair of really old trainers and finding that they are still something different. When people visit the workshop, they walk past the
very comfortable. Porsches and head straight for the Peugeot. Im lucky enough to have a
As Id only been up the road in the car, I was steady away to start couple of other cars a Porsche GT3 and a Lancia Delta Integrale thats
with but it soon started coming back to me. You really have to work the car in the period colours. But of them all, the Peugeot is the keeper.
to get the best from it. You chuck it around and you can feel it moving If I had to sell everything tomorrow, then I would never let this
under you and its so easy to control. Its not like modern cars, where there one go. Not again, not ever. End
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A DV E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
www.porsche.co.uk/classic
FERRARI DAYTONA PROTOTYPE
THE ROAD
TO DAYTONA
That road started here, with the prototype for what
became the 365 GTB/4. Jeroen Booij plots its journey
Photography Pieter E Kamp
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FERRARI DAYTONA PROTOTYPE
S
everal years ago I spoke to Leonardo Fioravanti the
man who, while working for Pininfarina, styled the
Ferrari Daytona. It proved to be his flagship design, and
the great designer set off on an anthology about the car
from the moment we sat down.
The Daytona was more or less born by chance. I saw
some 275 GTB chassis arriving at the workshop on a lorry. One day one
of those bodies was one step ahead in its building process. It came with
wheels, an engine, seats and a steering wheel, but it was otherwise naked.
On seeing it I thought to myself: we are doing it all wrong. I started
sketching and came up with a proposal for a new car. Farina told me it
was impossible to replace the 275 already, it was still too new. But he
liked what he saw. And so we showed it to Enzo Ferrari, who fell for its
profile but not so much for the front.
I had taken account of the 275s very long wheelbase, which had
made the design rather overbodied. We altered the front and asked
Ferrari once more for his opinion which was most unusual but
it was good. He liked it.
And so the 275s replacement arrived after just over 800 had been after, it was exported to the US, where it found new homes in
built. There had been six prototypes too, the very first of which had a Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois and finally southern California. Somewhere
completely different nose from the car we came to know as the Daytona in-between, the car underwent a bit of a facelift, being fitted with
something Fioravanti hadnt told me. And though I knew nothing headlights from a 275 GTB, and it changed in colour from grigio to
about it at the time, that very car was in the process of getting restored rosso. Van Bergen believes that must have been to make the car more
not far from my home in The Netherlands. attractive for sale.
Gerard van Bergen bought this unique Ferrari in 2003 without A prototype didnt mean much to many people in those days in
knowing what it was. As a hobby, he has restored several classics together America, he says. 275 GTBs had been rising in value for some time,
with a friend, mostly Mercedes-Benzes: We did a 300SL Roadster, a which must have had something to do with it.
Gullwing, a Pagoda and a 190SL, which we turned into an SLR. But The prototype found a new owner in Dutchman Henk van de Meene
slowly I became more interested in Ferraris, he says. I bought a in 1988. He stored it in his Swiss garage and sold it again in the early
Testarossa, an F512M and I restored a crashed F40. But I wanted to find 1990s to Carlo Perego, also in Switzerland. Another ten years passed
a 1960s GT, and then I came across this car in Switzerland. It was in a sad before Van Bergen became its ninth owner. He soon set about a
state but I managed to get it running and took part in a club rally in 2003. ground-up restoration.
Some of the older club members asked me: Do you have any idea what While Van Bergens first thought was to carry out the work himself,
that car is? And I would reply that it was something that needed an together with his restoration friend, it soon became clear that the job
awful lot of work. But I found out that it really was a very special car and was really meant for specialists. We were doing an inlet manifold when
I became desperate to find out all of its history. A long hunt ensued. a Ferrari club member came over to take a look. What on Earth are you
During his research, Van Bergen was in touch with Ferrari historian doing there? I know you like Mercedes, but this is way too heavy. It
Marcel Massini, who was adamant that it was indeed a prototype. needs to be lighter, he said. And so we started all over again.
With chassis number 10287, it turned out to be the first one of those six, With just a few photographs on which to base the work, it became
based on a 275 GTB and which came to life at Scagliettis workshop in clear that the body had been modified, too. Says Van Bergen: The rear
the spring of 1967, under the codename Study 109. It was used for wings were pretty bad, and needed lots of new metal. Meanwhile, he
testing at Modena Aerodrome, and sold before the 365 GTB/4 was began a search for light units of the right type. Not easy. The Fiat 850
unveiled in 1968, changing hands for 8,000,000 Lire (about the same Coup has very similar headlights, but the glass on these is ribbed. We
as a new 275 GTB) and registered in Rome. could only just see on the pictures that the Ferraris were not. It took me
The next owner, Gian Paolo Salgarella of Bologna, paid 3,000,000 Lire two years to find out what they were, Carello number this and that. Then
in 1972, at which point the car was said to have been damaged. Shortly I found a pair in the US and the guy wanted $1250 for them. Yes, I could
have had new lights made, but I wanted the real thing. I always thought
it would be worth it in the end.
Judging by the photographic report he keeps with the car, much work
Under that long bonnet was carried on that basis. The leather-clad aluminium dashboard; the
factory paper thats been used behind the door plates; seat frames that
is an experimental dry- have been restored and re-coated; the paint primer that was applied to
the cars body a year before it went to the spray booth, so it was perfectly
sump engine, with twin hardened; the cellulose paint that was made to original specification
And then theres the engine. Under that long bonnet youll stumble
spark plugs and three upon the worlds only 243-type Lampredi V12 engine. Its an
experimental dry-sump unit, with twin spark plugs and three valves per
cylinder. The block is based on the 330 GTs 4.0-litre, bored out to
valves per cylinder 4380cc, but Alex Jansen of Forza Service in Oss, who rebuilt it, believes
126
FERRARI DAYTONA PROTOTYPE
1967 Ferrari
Daytona prototype
Engine 4380cc dry-sump V12,
DOHC per bank, 36-valve, twin-plug,
six Weber 40 DCN carburettors
Power 352bhp @ 7500rpm
Torque 221lb ft @ 5000rpm (approx)
Transmission Five-speed manual,
rear-wheel drive Steering Worm
and roller Suspension Front and
rear: double wishbones, coil springs,
telescopic dampers, anti-roll bar
Brakes Dunlop discs Weight 1350kg
Performance Top speed c175mph.
0-60mph c6.5sec
128
LANCIA AURELIA OUTLAW
OU T L AW
E N F ORC E M E N T
The sublime Lancia Aurelia B20 GT is a hard act to follow.
So how to make it better? Make it an outlaw!
Words Paul Hardiman Photography Paul Harmer
130
131
131
LANCIA AURELIA OUTLAW
N
obody chops up Ferrari
250 GTEs any more to
what if they were to find an owner with
that same vision? The owners
make GTO replicas
but Lancia specialist
As it happened, there was a candidate, a
well-known California-based car collector, as
have track
Thornley Kelham had the
conviction to create the
TK co-founder Simon Thornley explains: He
came to us and said Would you be offended
records that
worlds first outlaw Lancia Aurelia. if I asked you to do an outlaw Aurelia? He encompass
Outlaw? Its a term applied to cars outside had pictures of a lowered S2, in 1953 by that
the mainstream series, and translates as the time they were messing with aerodynamics top-end
Italian fuorilegge hence Thornley Kelhams
website, www.fuorilegge.co.uk. Though it had
and wed earned our stripes doing the Bracco
car. So we said, yes, wed love to do an outlaw, collector cars
never been done before, the seeds had been
sown with the factorys chop-top racers of
but we want to keep it all Lancia.
Finding a donor wasnt difficult, as TK
as well as hot
the 50s. Taking a stock B20 GT coup, TK
started with a clean sheet and went the full
always has a couple in restoration and a couple
in the pipeline, but it was decided to base the
rods. This car
Monty provoking reactions polarised from build on a Series 6 so as not to offend the bridges the gap
mesmerisingly gorgeous to be careful with cognoscenti; the earlier series are the most
that gas axe, Eugene. Tellingly, the owners collectable and deemed the most precious, so
have track records that encompass dalliances it was as well not to start with one of those.
with top-end collector cars as well as hot rods. Thornley: The Series 5 is the least loved
This car bridges the gap. Seamlessly. but we didnt have one.
Having restored more than a dozen Aurelias So the focus turned to a 1957 Series 6
and, emboldened by the popularity of outlaw B20 GT that Thornley Kelham had in stock
(or hot-rodded) Porsche 356s, plus experience and, though its recognisably, undeniably
gained resurrecting the ex-Mille Miglia, Aurelia, just about every square foot of sheet
ex-Le Mans, ex-Carrera PanAmericana chop- metal was changed representing 1400 hours
top Bracco racer (see Octane 147), arguably of work. All four wings have a gentle swell,
the granddaddy of them all, the men at TK made from scratch by hand, while the rear
couldnt help muse What if? quarters are completely new and hug their
What if they were to create the coolest contents tightly as on a Ferrari 250 SWB. The
bad-boy B20 GT, its coup styling some door frames are bespoke and there are no
say by Boano at Ghia already sleek and rain gutters and a minimum of bright trim
low but subtly altered and re-engineered shaved, nosed and decked in hot rod speak
while remaining undeniably Aurelia. And along with no front indicators or bumper
132
Clockwise from far left
Lowered roof is a contentious aspect,
shaved door handles perhaps less so;
gorgeous Aniline leather bucket seats will
patinate quickly; trumpeted carburettors sit
within aluminium air-scoop; beautiful Monza
fuel filler and Tilton pedal assembly with brake
bias adjustment are further competition-style
tweaks; full set of custom Dunlop wheels
includes a spare; exquisite Jaeger instruments
have been given semi-matt black faces.
133
LANCIA AURELIA OUTLAW
134
apertures. Even the fuel filler aperture took two
days to create. For the Aurelia, only floorpans are
Porsche Speedster seats and Tilton pedals with
brake bias-adjust. They should look out of place Seeing the
available pre-stamped. We make the rest, says
Wayne Kelham, who oversees the workshop.
but they catch the tone perfectly.
The wheel is Nardi, of course, the Jaeger dials finished body
in the metal, I
The work was by Matt Tupman, whod been standard but with the inner bezels painted
with TK for 3 years. The recessed Marchal black. The headlining is Alcantara, all trimmed
driving lights are simply fantastic, and any by Gary Wright. We used Aniline all-weather
brightwork is nickel-plated, not chromed, for a Connolly leather, which will wear-in fast and felt it would be a
more subtle shine. It rides on custom-centred look patinated quickly, says Thornley. The seat
Jaguar D-type-style Dunlop alloys shod in
Avon ZZs, beloved of racers, underlining that
lever buttons are turned out of aluminium, and
theres a period Clayton heater. The rollcage,
crime to paint it
this car was created for driving. The front screen painted the same gloss black as the body and
is custom-made but the rear is original, still dashboard, is so subtle you dont notice it at
with the factory dimples near the edges. The first, as it runs right through the dash.
door handles have been cut down, following The motor is a 2.5-litre Flaminia V6, which
Nardi practice on competition Aurelias back in has larger bores and shorter stroke than the
the day, and there are Ferrari competition-style Aurelia unit, bored to 2.8 with three twin-
bonnet catches. It wears 2.0-litre tail-lights choke Webers, beautiful headers and fabricated
(from the first two series of coups) because engine mounts, and even the plug-lead conduits
theyre just cool, says Thornley. are crackle-plated. With skimmed and ported
Theres no CAD/CAM in it, adds Kelham. heads and slightly more compression and
It was all drawn out full-size on sheets of brown cam it makes 170bhp-plus. Red crackle-finish
paper. Seeing the finished body in the metal cam covers are the only conceit and theres
in 2014, I felt it would be a crime to paint it. some very racer-esque open bellmouth and
I would have taken mine in clearcoat please, aluminium air scoop treatment up top. The
forever to display the art wrought underneath. Flaminia transaxle fits on the original mounts,
Black was the next obvious shade, the most though inside theres a hydraulic centre-thrust
unflattering colour for bodywork because any bearing, just one of the modern touches that
flaws or ripples become immediately obvious. have been integrated where you cant see them.
Inside, it goes a little more hot rod with a Even underneath there are delightful little
practical, minimalist look: quilted leather, details, such as the bronze drain plug in the
135
LANCIA AURELIA OUTLAW
136
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LANCIA AURELIA OUTLAW
138
LANCIA AURELIA OUTLAW
in an Aurelia would have made a fantastic Over the past few years Ive been looking at 1957 Lancia Aurelia
factory hot rod. Outlaw Porsche 356s of varying levels, from B20 GT Outlaw
Sullivans Outlaw should be ready by extensive Emory creations to more basic stock- Engine 2775cc Lancia Flaminia
V6, OHV, triple twin-choke
summer, with a few detail changes: Were using looking coups with updated mechanicals.
Weber carburettors
Ferrari seats to keep it all Italian, and Im Though they have a very sporting character to Power 170bhp @ 5100rpm
looking forward to touring it as far as Sicily which I gravitate, Ive been thinking of a more Torque 189lb ft @ 3800rpm
with some friends while its still in Europe. stately car with substance and refinement. A Transmission Four-speed
Hes acutely aware that not everyone will combination of hot rod, custom, Monte Carlo manual, rear-wheel drive
Steering Worm and sector
approve. Every car is restorable, at a price. The Rally and race influence, yet gentlemanly in Suspension Front: sliding
car that I bought was a runner but I traded it for presentation. When I saw Simon and Waynes pillars with integrated hydraulic
an incomplete car, basically a shell, which will creation, it all came together. dampers, coil springs.
take about six weeks less metalwork. My foundation car is a neglected castaway Rear: de Dion axle, leaf
springs, telescopic dampers
The first Outlaw, now residing in California that requires a lot of love to bring back, and this Brakes Discs, inboard at rear
as Sullivans will, made a huge impact at is a way in which some cars will be saved. Weight 1209kg
Monterey Car Week in August 2016, stopping It would be sacrilegious to modify a nice, Performance Top speed c125mph.
the show at the Quail Lodge Concours and at original car to this extent, but there are 0-60mph c11sec
the Monterey Jet Center party, and led directly numerous Aurelias for those who seek a period
to a third commission, also from a Californian: car. A long-neglected body that needs major
Tex Otto was mesmerised. restoration and re-creation opens up the
Ive had several hot rods and have been possibility of creating a modern interpretation.
conflicted with cutting an unmolested car, he The Outlaw has certainly captured
says. I had a super-nice 32 Ford three-window imaginations since its first public outing at
coupe but I couldnt bear to have it chopped, Salon Priv in 2015. If twos company, is three
so I sold it to the next guy who did just a crowd? How many can you build before the
that without remorse. Coming from vintage cars uniqueness becomes diluted? Six, says
Ferraris, where modifications detract from Thornley. Thats our stated maximum.
provenance, resurrecting an abandoned Lancia The ultimate endorsement comes from
of which a few thousand were made looked Giovanni de Virgilio, son of Francesco who
like an opportunity to have classic Pinin Farina designed that V6 engine and was one of the
coachwork and a finely engineered chassis and Aurelias key creators. He told Thornley: Its a
drivetrainalongwithoptionsforpersonalisation very purposeful and realistic car that Gianni
in a contemporary grand tourer. Lancia could have built for a friend. End
140
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THE OCTANE
INTERVIEW
JIMMY McRAE
Theres more than one McRae in the rally star firmament.
We meet a 1970s hero and the car that made his name
Words and photography Mark Dixon Archive pictures Vauxhall
WE HOPE youll look at the photo opposite and think Soon afterwards, his mate Alan rolled the Cortina into
nice picture. What may not come across is the Force 10 a ball but the engine was rescued and put into a four-door
gale that was blowing in this particular part of County shell, which Jimmy bought as his first rally car. Within just
Kerry, Ireland, as we desperately struggled to prevent a couple of events, he was doing well enough to consider
Jimmy McRae from disappearing off the side of the upgrading, and duly bought ONeills Mk1 Escort Twin
mountain. Not for nothing does Jimmy have his foot Cam, very much the rally car du jour. Competing in that
braced against that rock. brought him into contact with David Porter of Perth
So it helps that Jimmy McRae is a genuinely nice guy Vauxhall dealer SMT, and hence into the world of Dealer
who doesnt mind (too much) getting frozen to the Team Vauxhall and rally history was about to be made.
marrow for just one more photograph. And it probably This was in the early 1970s, when Vauxhall was very
helps that Jimmy is a hardy Scot, born and bred in the much the underdog in motor sport, particularly rallying,
farmlands of Lanarkshire, south of Glasgow. Were across where arch-rival Ford ruled the roost. Obviously it wanted
the water today for the homage to the Circuit of Ireland, to change that situation but the bosses at General Motors
known as Circuit Dj Vu and run for the first time in werent willing to stump up the necessary moolah. Hence
2016 on some of the countys finest rallying roads. Jimmy the creation of Dealer Team Vauxhall, whereby dealerships
has been lent a genuine Chevette HSR for the event, and would pool their resources to fund what were effectively
were keen to hear more about his experiences back in works-approved but not works-financed entries.
the day with this silk-purse-from-sows-ear that elevated For every car a dealer sold, a pound I think it was up
Vauxhall into International rallyings premier league. to three pounds at one point went into the kitty, says
So, time to head to the haven of the caf at Molls Gap, Jimmy. Later on, the rally cars would end up being sold
itself a part of Circuit folklore. on. I remember Gerry Johnstone of DTV saying at the
Id never so much as sat in a rally car until I was 30 end of the Manx one year, Ill need to be on the phone to
years old, says Jimmy as he nurses a cup of coffee in the Ireland on Monday morning this ones advertised!
warm fug of the caf. Before that, it was always bikes: Thanks to Porter, Jimmy was able to buy a Magnum
motocross and scramblers. As with rallying, its all about Coup at cost, which SMT converted to Group 1 rally
balance, the balance between throttle and brake, keeping spec. It was a big bus compared to a Mk1 Escort and
the flow going. When I got started in rallying and won everyone went Whoah! Why have you done that? but
my class in the Scottish Championship, people were my answer was that everyone drove Escorts and I wanted
asking where Id come from, and the answer was bikes. something different, explains Jimmy. It paid off, because
Jimmys decision to become a rally driver may have within a year I had a sponsored drive.
happened a little late in life (his day job was in plumbing With his new Magnum, Jimmy went straight out and
and heating) but it was kickstarted by a memorable won the Arbroath Stages, but further success was initially
midnight run in a friends Mk1 Lotus Cortina: I was out denied by the fragility of the Magnums torque-tube rear
with Alan [ONeill] for a run in the lanes up axle. Once that problem had been overcome, he finished
the back of Hamilton and East Kilbride, because he second in Group 1 on the 1975 Lindisfarne Rally, beating
wanted me to co-drive for him, but I quickly came to the official DTV drivers Will Sparrow and Paul Faulkner.
conclusion No way! It was really scary and I knew that Reputedly, Jimmy drove like a man possessed because
if I was going to go rallying, there was only one seat hed been denied support to do the RAC Rally; it did the
Id be in, and that was the drivers. job and he was signed up for a fully supported DTV drive
142
143
JIMMY Mc RAE
144
Pentti Airikkala
wasnt one of my
favourite drivers.
He was something
of a law unto himself
145
JIMMY Mc RAE
Above distinguish an HSR, like the car loaned to Jimmy by I was able to get to grips with the Ascona, in charge
McRae found the HSR Mervyn Johnston, above, by its fully flared arches, running of testing for the British side of the team.
a perfect tarmac car, thanks
to better aerodynamics and
boards, humped bonnet and faired-in headlights. Under It did indeed work out well for Jimmy. Driving the
revised rear suspension. the glassfibre is a completely revised rear suspension, with Ascona 400, he won two successive British Opens in 1981
four-link location, and a more powerful, 245bhp engine.) and 1982, with third and then second in the European
Jimmys win on the Circuit of Ireland is one of his most Championship, too. What must have been particularly
memorable drives. My co-driver was Mike Nicholson sweet was to beat Airikkala and his Escort in 1981.
and over five days we were never more than half-a-minute He went on to put up a valiant opposition to the new
apart from Ari Vatanen and Dave Richards in the Audi Quattros in a Manta 400, including a brilliant third
Rothmans Escort. On the Monday night we had a big on the RAC Rally. When the GM support dried up, he
moment and I turned to Mike and said Look, lets settle scored a Metro 6R4 for 1986 four-wheel drive was
for second; were going to crash if we carry on at this always the better option, whether on tarmac or gravel
speed. Then we pulled into the next Control and found and followed that with a rear-drive Sierra Cosworth for
we were right behind Vatanen, having started two minutes 1987 and 88. After the 6R4, it felt like a road car with lots
behind. Mike said Weve just taken a minute-and-a-bit of power and lots of turbo lag, but we managed to tame it.
off him! It turned out that where wed had our moment, He certainly did: those two seasons brought him his
Ari had had a major off and the back of the Escort was fourth and fifth British Open Championships.
badly damaged. Suddenly we were in the lead and we just As his son Colins career started to accelerate, Jimmy
cruised the last three stages to the finish. took a metaphorical back seat and by 1990 his
Jimmy notched up several other fine results that year, professional career was over. With hindsight, I regret not
including firsts on the Donegal and Cork 20 Rallies, and starting earlier but, to be honest, when I set out, I never
third on the Manx. That secured him the Irish Tarmac expected to do what Ive done. Thats been a bonus.
Championship, and he was third in the British Open To Vauxhall enthusiasts in particular, hell always be a
Championship. So it must have been a bitter pill to hero and the good news is that he can still be seen out
swallow when DTV announced that, due to lack of today rallying a Magnum or Firenza Coup, with the
funding, it was dropping Jimmy from its driver line-up. support of Vauxhalls Network Q. He may be well into his
Aye, Jimmy agrees, but what really annoyed me was 70s now but, as our day on a bare mountain has proven,
that everyone apart from bloody Dealer Team Vauxhall hes lost none of his inner fire. End
knew that Pentti had already signed for Rothmans Ford.
But it worked out for the best, because as soon as Dealer THANKS TO Jimmy McRae; Mervyn Johnston; Andrew Duerden;
Opel heard about it they were on the phone to me, and Vauxhall & VX Heritage; Tourism Ireland; Opel Ireland.
146
PRESIDENTIAL CITRON
FRENCH
DRESSING
This rather special Citron DS was
commissioned for General de Gaulle at
great expense. So why was it rarely used?
Words Jon Pressnell Photography Daniel Denis
Archive renderings Citron Communication
148
PRESIDENTIAL CITRON
150
Left, below and bottom
Early styling proposal
by Flaminio Bertoni was
superseded by Robert
Oprons; unique dash and
wheel in exquisite interior.
PRESIDENTIAL CITRON
152
Above
round on the acrylic emblem for the bonnet. Light units, Truly epic lounging space batteries. Power-assistance and braking were also uprated, as
door handles, badging: all the detailing was created by hand. back here because was the cooling, but the engine remained a standard DS21
There was also the small question of colour. front seat occupants unit, matched to a regular manual gearbox.
We chose two-tone metallic grey, in agreement with were crushed up against Despite what might be suggested by the cars huge weight,
the dashboard.
Opron dark grey below and light grey above. Then we had interestingly it was not armour-plated. De Gaulle disapproved
a note from the Elyse saying that Mme de Gaulle wanted a green. Theyd of the idea. If a head of state had to travel in a bulletproof car, he said,
asked the director of French TV at the time what colour looked best on it showed that there was a problem with the publics opinion of him.
the television and hed said green. I had an idea because we didnt want The Generals chauffeur, Paul Fontenil, tried the car at La Fert-Vidame
to change the colour. Wed do some samples on a domed bit of metal, before the Elyse took delivery, and before its first official function he
because how a colour is seen depends on the surface. On a domed surface practised parking manoeuvres so he could draw up and pull away in one
a grey with a bit of green in it would look green-ish. So thats what we did, movement rather than the three that the US chauffeurs were obliged to
and we sent that to the Elyse and they said OK use. Despite the DS being longer than the Americans cars, he astonished
Eventually the car was completed, and given a shakedown at Citrons onlookers by extricating it with barely a cigarette papers clearance.
La Fert-Vidame test track. Things didnt quite go as planned, remembers The cost of all this? The equivalent of some 700,000 or so, in Citrons
Dargent. Opron wanted chrome embellishers for the closing faces of the time and money, according to Dargent. That was a theoretical figure
doors. I hadnt allowed for that in my drawings, and of course it added rather than one that was actually invoiced, but it roughly amounts to an
some thickness to the doors. We did our best, with recessed screws and so eyebrow-raising 5.5m in todays money. This was a considerable budget
on, and it looked beautiful. We took the car for a test run at La Fert, and over-shoot now theres a surprise as the original estimate, says
all of a sudden we found that we couldnt get in all the doors were stuck Dargent, had been for 400,000. Doubtless for this reason as much as any
shut. Because the car was very long, the body had distorted slightly. At other, the notion of making replicas for tin-pot Third World heads of state
the Vlizy design centre a whole team worked for hours to get the doors was quietly shelved.
to open and shut with the chromed trims in place. Alas, other than its exorbitant cost, there was one (rather
The end result was a mastodon of a car, weighing 2280kg (almost twice fundamental) snag with the Presidents super-DS: despite earlier
the 1300kg of a regular DS) and measuring 21ft 6in long and 7ft 10in remonstrations by Fontenil, the rear division was fixed, with no sliding
wide. This made the Citron 5in longer than the US presidents Lincoln, glass. De Gaulle was not pleased, as he particularly appreciated being
and 4in wider than a Cadillac. Equipment included a curved division able to talk to his chauffeur, and had no intention of using the
incorporating a jump-seat for an interpreter, as well as a bar and a telephone-set intercom. Grouchily demanding why nobody bothered
refrigerator. With the electrics having to cope with rather more than to consult him about what was, after all, his car, he returned to the
normal, the system was doubled-up, with two alternators and two Franay-bodied 15-Six. Or so the story goes.
153
PRESIDENTIAL CITRON
Left
Disproportionately long
tail was a legacy of
an earlier plan to fit a
two-part folding roof,
which would stow away
inside the boot space.
One wonders whether de As it transpired, the DS was brought out for only two functions during
the final days of the de Gaulle presidency, which came to an end in April
Gaulle felt uneasy flaunting 1969. Indeed, the car represents an apparent disconnect: despite his
notions of the grandeur of France, and of his office, de Gaulle was a man
such an extravagance of modest tastes. The same could be said of his wife Yvonne, who motored
around in an Ami 6. The DS might have corresponded to the demands of
State, but one wonders whether de Gaulles personal disposition
in front of taxpayers especially after the events of May 1968 made him feel uneasy about
flaunting such an extravagance in front of taxpayers.
As for the new president, Georges Pompidou, he made only limited use
of the DS and eventually turned to a brace of special four-door Chapron
SM convertibles. Perhaps in cars as in politics, Pompidou an enthusiast
who had previously owned a Bristol and at least one Porsche was
determined to show he was independent of de Gaulle, whose Prime
Minister he had been.
So, after barely being used, the most extraordinary of all Citrons
passed to a private collector reputedly for a sum of around 20,000.
Today it has fewer than 4000 miles on the clock. Rare have been its
sorties, but French photographer Daniel Denis managed to secure
permission for the photo-shoot
1968 Citron DS within the Elyse that you see on
presidential limousine these pages. You have to admit that
Engine 2175cc four-cylinder, OHV,
single Weber twin-choke carburettor the stately DS and stately is surely
Power 115bhp @ 5750rpm Torque the right word looks more at home
122lb ft @ 3500rpm (approx) there than Franois Hollandes black
Transmission Four-speed manual, Citron C6, however politically
front-wheel drive Steering Rack
and pinion, powered Suspension correct such presidential transport
Front: twin leading arms, self-levelling might be. All this prompts a parting
hydropneumatic units, anti-roll bar. thought. Maybe, had he stayed in
Rear: trailing arms, self-levelling office a little longer, de Gaulle would
hydropneumatic units, anti-roll
bar Brakes Inboard discs front,
eventually have come around to the
outboard drums rear Weight 2280kg idea of using his new limousine
Performance Not disclosed more often. End
154
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THE JAGUAR XJ COUP is a rare beast, with only
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just in time for the Oil Crisis. Pillarless window sealing
problems were also an initial issue. The XJC was based
on the short-wheelbase XJ with elongated doors and
modified roofline and they were very labour-intensive
to manufacture, hence the short run. Of course, that
means they are now rare and desirable.
All XJ Coups came with a black vinyl roof because
the pillarless roof flexed enough to crack the paint of
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The XJCs cred was polished by the British Leyland
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the best livery on the track, the cars were a failure
though a heroic one. As raced by Octane columnist
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qualifying times but then ate their tyres, brakes,
driveshafts and engines.
So dont go racing in one. Instead, enjoy an XJ
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Octane Cars
BY OCTANE STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS
Farewell, my lovely
along the lines of Youre a braver some horrendous traffic jams en so beautiful! And, to my slight
1970 LAMBORGHINI man than I am! Fact is, the Espada route when will I ever learn to embarrassment, I was once
ESPADA is not temperamental, unlike some avoid Rouen? it never overheated, approached at a petrol station by a
MARK DIXON
exotics. Dont forget that Ferruccio and the only problem we had was schoolgirl who said she had a
started out making tractors. with a couple of wheel spinners passion for Lamborghinis Such
No, if Richard and I have any working loose. Le Mans winner is the Espada owners lot.
ITS GONE. The beautiful regrets, its simply that we didnt Andy Wallace lent us the jack from What sweetened the pill of the
Lamborghini that good mate get to use the car enough. The his daily-driver Audi so that we Espadas sale was that Richard and
Richard Heseltine and I bought Espada spent ages waiting for work could get home safely. I roughly doubled our investment
together, about two-and-a-half to be done at Cheshire Classic After 27 years as a classic car in just two years. Now, we didnt
years ago, has a new owner. And Cars and, to be fair, I didnt hassle journalist, I was regularly surprised buy it to make money, we bought it
since he already has a number of them, because it was quite handy at how much attention the Espada because we loved (and still love)
classic Lotuses, hes the perfect guy having it in their nice dry storage attracted on the road. Stuck in the car but it did vindicate the
to take on the responsibility of unit and then, just when it was all three lanes of gridlock on the M40 gamble I made in extending my
running an old Lambo. ready to go, someone came along one evening, I was distracted by a mortgage to do so. At about that
Not that the Espada was ever and made a decent offer Bugger. young American woman who time, a Government minister
unreliable. It always irked me when Even so, we put enough miles on dodged through the lines of made a quip about people cashing
acquaintances, on hearing of what the car to prove its usability, stationary traffic to knock on the in their pensions to buy
wed bought, would shake their particularly on a road trip to Le drivers window and ask What is Lamborghinis; maybe that wasnt
heads sadly and make comments Mans Classic in 2014. Despite this car? I just have to know! Its such a daft idea after all.
158
OCTANES FLEET
These are the cars
and motorbikes
run by the magazines
staff and contributors
DAVID LILLYWHITE
Editor
1971 MGB GT
1971 Saab 96
1973 Citron SM
1976 Zip Shadow Kart
1995 Range Rover 4.6 HSE
1996 Subaru Prodrive Impreza
ROBERT COUCHER
International editor
1937 Bentley 4
1955 Jaguar XK140
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC
1991 Range Rover Vogue
MARK DIXON
Deputy editor
1955 Land Rover Series I 107in
1963 Ford Galaxie Country Sedan
1964 Chevrolet Greenbrier
1970 Lamborghini Espada
1989/91 Land Rover Discoverys
2001 Honda Insight
SANJAY SEETANAH
Advertising director
1981 BMW 323i Top Cabrio
1998 Aston Martin DB7 Volante
JOHN SIMISTER
Contributor
1934 Singer Nine Le Mans
1961 Saab 96
1968 Sunbeam Stiletto
TONY DRON
Test driver
1932 Austin Seven
159
Octane Cars
BY OCTANE STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS
OCTANES FLEET
More cars and motorbikes
(and a boat) run by the
magazines staff and
contributors
ANDREW ENGLISH
Contributor
1960 Triumph TR3A
1965 Aston Martin DB5
DAVID BURGESS-WISE
Contributor
1903 De Dion-Bouton
1911 Pilain 16/20
1926 Delage DISS
MARTYN GODDARD
Photographer
Triggers Subaru
1963 Triumph TR6SS Trophy the front crankshaft oil seal, with
1965 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII the cam covers still weeping in
1996 PRODRIVE sympathy, despite new gaskets a
DELWYN MALLETT SUBARU IMPREZA few months back. So the radiator
Contributor DAVID LILLYWHITE had to come out for access to the
1936 Cord 810 Beverly seal, and mechanic Veidas, who
1946 Tatra T87 knows his way around Subaru
1950 Ford Club Coupe THE MILES are racking up engines, recommended that we
1952 Porsche 356 on the Prodrive Impreza. Fifty change the camshaft seals too
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL thousand of them in less than two theyd be just as age-hardened as
1957 Porsche Speedster
1957 Fiat Abarth
years. And, touch wood, utterly the crank seal.
Sperimentale reliable and trouble-free. So that was fine. But the original
1963 Abarth-Simca But low-maintenance? Not radiator turned out to be in a state,
1963 Tatra T603 lately. Its still highly original, the lower casing rusted badly and
of course except that a good the bottom two inches of fins
number of parts have been falling apart. Great. New radiator
SARAH BRADLEY changed in the last month, needed (90).
Contributor
prompted by an ever-increasing Oh, and there was added mess
1929 Ford Model A hot rod
1952 Studebaker Champion
drip of oil onto the drive, the office caused by split CV joint gaiters,
1956 Chevrolet 3100 pick-up car park and wherever else I which I had been keeping an eye
1969 Plymouth Roadrunner choose to abandon my beloved on because theyd looked dodgy
Various motorbikes everyday car. for a while. New gaiters? Yes,
So, with QPrep in Oundle added to the list. Of course, to Above and middle
temporarily out of operation change these the driveshafts Imprezas cambelt had to be removed
MASSIMO DELB for workshop refurbishment, I would need to be pulled out, and to access the leaking oil seals; it also
Contributor seemed a good time to replace brake
thought Id better investigate the my idea, this time the tired discs and clean up rusty backplates.
1967 Mercedes-Benz 230
1972 Fiat 500L garages closer to our new offices front discs and rusty calipers
1979/80 Range Rovers in Bedfordshire, and it wasnt swapped for the slightly larger course, remained highly original.
1982 Mercedes-Benz 500SL long before I was asking local car versions from the 1997-on Except for the clutch (a year ago),
1985 Mercedes-Benz 240TD sage Neil Godwin-Stubbert for Impreza Turbo (Id bought those all the brakes, suspension struts
advice. It helps that hes a fellow a few weeks earlier). (Bilstein/Eibach, best investment
Subaru owner. Once the driveshafts were out it Ive ever made) and three sets of
DAVE SELBY The result was a visit to Meerkat was clear that the CV joints were tyres. I hadnt mentioned the
Contributor
Garage on the A6, five minutes past their best. New driveshafts, tyres? Well, this time I went for the
1978 Sailsh 18
from Octane Towers, where the complete, are 80 each, and that new Avon ZV7s: quieter than the
first job was to pressure-wash all didnt seem too bad, so You get worn Dunlops, proving to have
KEEP UP TO DATE the oil and gunk from the engine the idea. And did I mention that plenty of grip, and immune to the
Follow the progress of the Octane
and the drip tray below. Argh! I fitted new rear discs and pads tramlining that some makes are
eet via Facebook and Twitter Glad it wasnt me doing that. recently? prone to on Impreza Classics.
www.facebook.com/octanemagazine Next job, identify the leak. So there we go. In the last The cost of all this? Well over
@octane_magazine Seems that most was coming from 22 months the Impreza has, of 1000. Such is (car) life
160
Anyone Investment Quality Automobiles Restoration & Vintage Racing Service Motorsports Museum
for golf?
1989 Porsche Speedster
One of the 823 special 911s
brought to the US in 1989. A
1978 SAILFISH 18 matching numbers car with just
22,000 original miles, shows and
DAVE SELBY drives like new. All maintenance
records, factory brochures, COA.
canepa.com
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161
Octane Cars
BY OCTANE STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS
162
Octane Cars
BY OCTANE STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS
164
HALL & HALL
1983 Arrows A3 DFV Ex-Jochen Mass. 1974 BRM P201 V12 Ex-Beltoise. 2nd in
1974 S.African GP.
Wouter Melissen
Alfa Romeo P3. Shown in 2 seater trim for touring, also 1975 Shadow DN3/5A Ex-Tom Pryce.
supplied with Monoposto body for competition. Prepared to a high standard.
Rallying
round
1968 ROVER
2000TC RALLY CAR
MARK DIXON
166
The Imperial War Museum Duxford Auction
An Auction of Selected Classic Cars
1964 Ferrari 330GT Nembo Spider | Oered without reserve to benet the East Anglian Air Ambulance
H&H will be holding auctions of Selected Classic Cars at The Imperial War Museum Duxford on
29th March, 26th July and 15th November 2017. Contact us today to consign your classic to one
of these prestigious sales.
HEAD OFFICE
The Motor House, Lyncastle Road, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4SN
T: +44 (0)1925 210035 E: info@handh.co.uk
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Fuelling the passion
170
VI
SERVING THE HISTORIC & CLASSIC CAR INDUSTRY
SI
T
US
@
PRODUCTS IN STOCK
AVAILABLE FOR
IMMEDIATE DESPATCH
DIGITISING FACILITY
Left
Like a jet engine you can cook with, and instant
success meant half a million sales per year.
PRIMUS STOVE
the Primus. It was the mechanical adaptation
to the vertical that Lindqvist patented. Success
came quickly and by the early 20th Century
Lindqvists Stockholm factory was turning out
Roadside or mountainside, hail the hero of campsite cooking over half-a-million stoves a year.
In the wild, or anywhere, wild or not, without
a supply of electricity, the simple and reliable
IT JOURNEYED TO the North Pole and the For 200,000 years or so, mankinds food was Primus rapidly became the Kalashnikov of
South Pole, George Mallory brewed up with cooked by burning wood, charcoal, peat, manure, cooking. Although not quite a flat pack, the
one on his ill-fated 1924 Everest expedition, as animal fat or coal it was the discovery in the Primus 96, when disassembled, occupied a tin
did Hillary and Tenzing on their successful mid-19th Century of how to synthesise coal of only 5 by 4 by 2 inches. The world fell
1953 ascent. It has made millions of campers into paraffin (kerosene in the USA) that gave in love with the Primus stove all, that is,
happy, and countless motoring mums and dads impetus to the invention of the Primus stove. except Mahatma Ghandi. In contrast with his
have pulled over into a layby for a quick cuppa The process was discovered in the 1840s by enthusiastic support for the Singer sewing
brought to the boil on a Primus stove. Scottish chemist James Young and Canadian machine (Octane 149), he was a vociferous
Invented in Sweden in 1892 by Frans geologist Abraham Gesner, but Young was campaigner against the Primus, objecting to its
Wilhelm Lindqvist, the Primus was the first quicker off the mark, patenting the process in use on the grounds that too many Gujarati
wickless pressurised paraffin stove, and so Britain and the USA in 1852. The patents were women were dying from burns received as a
successful that Primus soon became the eventually rendered redundant when the oil result of their flowing saris igniting as they
generic term for its many copies. was refined from petroleum rather than coal. brushed against its naked flame.
172
Chrono
WORDS NICK FOULKES
TOWARDS THE END of 2016 I travelled to when, so it is said, Cubby Broccoli had to lend stuff, clever Mr Aeschlimann served me lunch
Bienne (or Biel, depending on your linguistic Sean Connery his own Rolex for filming). The in the museum and, had they had a spare
leanings) to visit Omega. I was in town to catch adoption of the George Daniels-designed campbed, I would have been quite happy to bed
up with the new CEO. Omega is a well-run coaxial escapement and its subsequent down there for the night as well.
machine and, since my friend Stephen Urquhart industrialisation has been a remarkable There is just so much great stuff here:
stepped down after 17 years doing so, commitment from a brand that makes hundreds enough NASA kit for you to mount your own
succession to Raynald Aeschlimann, who has of thousands of watches a year (Omega is the space programme; JFKs watch; Speedmasters
spent two decades at Omega, has been seamless. nearest thing that Rolex has to a competitor). presented to Nixon and Spiro Agnew; some of
Omega is an important brand; immortality There have also been judicious revivals of old the beautiful pieces made for Omega by
was achieved when its Speedmaster (the first models: the idiosyncratic Ploprof divers watch Andrew Grima; timing devices for the
watch to boast a tachymetric scale around and the Bullhead chronograph, the former Olympics; movie cameras; even an Omega
the bezel) was adopted by NASA and went distinguished by a large orange pushpiece, the clock designed by Dali from space travel to
to the Moon. And, like the 600,000 or so latter owing its name to a traditional stopwatch sports and Watergate to Surrealism, Omega
watches it makes each year, the brand has configuration with the two push pieces seems to have been involved in much of the
proved remarkably robust. Even though, in providing horns and the shield-shaped case 20th Century.
Aeschlimanns own words, much of what the supplying the skull. What is more, the brand is It was only on seeing so much history all in
brand was selling during the 1980s was, as Mr a persistent performer at auction; after Patek one place that I experienced some of the
Ratner might have put it, crap, it had written its and Rolex, I would hazard that it is the third emotion felt by Omega collectors, and I began
name in horological history using indelible ink. most sought-after brand in the salerooms. to understand the pleasure they derive from the
My relationship with Omega has tended to However, while I appreciated and respected brand. There is enough in the way of variety to
be that of interested observer rather than the brand, it never really captured my form a specialist collection: chronographs, dive
enthusiastic participant. I have applauded imagination until I visited its museum. I was watches, chronometers, dressy Constellations
much that the brand has done over the years. over only for a couple of days and I had on gold bracelets, sturdy anti-magnetic
Product placement in the James Bond franchise workshops to tour, testing facilities to visit and Railmasters, and timepieces with beautiful
has been so effective that an entire generation new models to inspect, but I could quite enamel dials. Whether you are wearing a dinner
of filmgoers knows 007 as an Omega man happily have spent all my time in the museum. jacket or a diving suit, there is an appropriate
(things have moved on a bit since the early days Perhaps divining my enthusiasm for the vintage vintage Omega and usually for considerably
less money than the equivalent Rolex.
Happily, Aeschlimann respects the past but
is also adept at that tightrope walk between
toppling into an orgy of retrospection and
FROM SPACE dismissing the past as irrelevant. Incredibly, it
TRAVEL TO has been said that there were once plans to
discontinue the famous Moon Watch (the
SURREALISM, latest all-black Speedmaster Moon Watch is
pictured here). Such a solecism is unlikely to
OMEGA SEEMS occur under Aeschlimanns tenure, and he uses
TO HAVE BEEN an automotive analogy to explain his approach.
You dont touch the basics but you adapt to the
INVOLVED
INVOLVED IN newest technology. As with the 911, you have
to keep it technically relevant and innovative,
MUCH OF he says. But you must never forget that it is the
one that created the myth in the first place that
THE 20TH is responsible for success.
CENTURY
174
Places to go
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BARRY WISEMAN
176
Books
REVIEWED BY OCTANE STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS
Dino
Il Coup Dino Fiat
OVERTOOM/SMIT/VAN ROIJ
49.95 from www.autolit.eu
ISBN 978 94 6228 777 8
178
w w w.hortonsbooks.co.uk
So many books on the 911, pre-history (in this case the 356 and friends) and
so little time to read them all. interesting excursions into motor sport, stillborn
Which to choose then? Could prototypes, other models produced in parallel
Lola T70 it be this one, a new release (including 912, 914 and the transaxle cars) and
JOHN STARKEY from Veloce, and written by the later, madder GT1 and GT2 variants.
Veloce, 35 the ever-reliable Brian Long, Its comprehensive and interesting and, though it
ISBN 978 1 787110 51 9 author of 70 books? Or The couldnt be called entertaining, thats only because
Porsche 911 Story by the late Paul Frre and updated its not really meant to be.
For all its period photographs, by Tony Dron, now on its ninth edition? Or Karl The author lacks the been there, done that
Lola T70 is unfortunately not Ludwigsens Porsche: Excellence was Expected? Or authority of veteran historian Ludwigsen or racer/
an attractive book, but the one of the many, many more on the market? engineer/journalist (and Porsche expert) Frre but
fact that our review copy is a Thats hot competition. But Veloce hasnt tagged this is a more readable, accessible publication than
(paperback) reprint of a fourth this ultimate without reason. Its not a coffee table either of theirs. Its not cheap, though: there are only
edition should indicate that book, not simply because its more than just pretty 101 leather-bound editions and 810 cloth-bound
it has other qualities to pictures but because it would be in danger of versions, at 295 and 175 respectively. DL
recommend it. Indeed, 24 years breaking said table were it to be placed carelessly.
since its first publication, John My goodness its heavy, with its chunky 25cm x
Starkeys reference which 25cm dimensions, hefty outer slipcase, thick
includes race reports and hardback cover and 592 luxurious art-paper pages.
competition and ownership Its quite a tome.
histories for every T70 Inside, its all publicity shots and factory archive
remains unsurpassed in pics, an impressive 1250 of them; some familiar,
usefulness. If you want bedtime some rarely seen (and some hilariously period, with
reading, seek it elsewhere; if the cheesiest poses from unlikely-looking models).
youre after information, The format is fairly standard stuff, a year-by-year
look no further. CB account of all the air-cooled models, plus the usual
179
Gear
COMPILED BY CHRIS BIETZK
180
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A deafening, 700bhp four-rotor
TRIALMASTER JACKET
Wankel engine; that memorable Its nominally a motorcycle jacket, but Belstaffs waxed cotton
green and orange Argyle sweater Jubilee Trialmaster will serve fans of four-wheeled machines
livery; a race-clinching double stint equally well this winter, and for many more winters to come.
by an exhausted, Pot Noodle- Its the sort of coat, in fact, that with an occasional dab
poweon this shirt and orange. of re-proong wax will probably outlast its owner.
16.95. petrolthreads.co.uk 525. holden.co.uk
181
Models
REVIEWS AND PHOTOGRAPHY MARK DIXON
1:18 scale
1:43 scale
4. 1973 Chevron B26 Kylami 9 Hours
1 By Grand Prix Models Price 204.50
Material Resin handbuilt
Made exclusively for GPM in South
Africa and limited to ten examples, this
is a stunning handbuilt of Ian Scheckter
and John Watsons Kyalami entry.
blobs of glue. to which the axles, motor and switch range of aircraft and ships, and even
Back in the 60s a company called are clipped underneath. Add a few an Aquaplane speedboat.
Scalecraft, based in Twickenham, accessories such as the steering Interest in Scalecraft kits declined
reckoned theyd found the solution: wheel, roll bar and racing roundels, in the 70s, and in 1977 they were
do away with the frustrations of and youre ready to race. absorbed by Airx, who continued to
glueing and painting by making A catalogue issued in 1969 shows issue some of them for a few more
the model out of a handful of just how extensive the Scalecraft years. Today, Airx markets its own
pre-coloured parts that simply clipped range was, at its peak. Among the Quick Build series using the slogan
together. To add further play value, other snap-together cars available No glue! No paint! Just build! and
Scalecraft vehicles were even were a Cooper Special, Lotus 25, so it looks as though the snap-
supplied with a small electric motor, Ford GT, Jaguar E-type and a Ford together concept will live on.
182
TOUR OF IRELAND
20-25 July 2017
MARTYN GODDARD
A THRILLING DRIVE FROM DUBLIN VIA BELFAST TO THE WILD WEST COAST
Join Octane for an exclusive taste of Irelands attractions: vibrant Titanic Belfast. Well drive along the Antrim coast road, visiting
city life, fabulous roads, minimal traffic, majestic landscapes, the Giants Causeway and the Bushmills whiskey distillery, and
grand hotels, fine food and wonderful whiskey in the company cross the border again to Donegal and our hotel at Lough Eske.
of 20 cars. The tour starts (and ends) with the Holyhead-to- Then its south to the Wild Atlantic Way and the bleak Burren,
Dublin ferry and on to Belfast, taking in a city tour and a visit to staying at Ashford Castle before returning to Dublin via Galway.
1400 per person, sharing a twin or double room (519 single room supplement)
For a full itinerary, visit http://tinyurl.com/OctaneTour. To book, email janenicholls2@aol.com
Edited by Chris Bietzk
MARKET NEWS BU Y I N G + S E L L I N G + A N A LY S I S
TOP 10 PRICES
DECEMBER 2016
651,100
1989 Aston Martin V8
Vantage Volante PoW
Bonhams, London, UK
4 December
561,500
1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I
Bonhams, London, UK
4 December
535,000
1968 Maserati Mistral
4000 Spyder
Left
Billed, with a bit of licence, as Bonhams, London, UK
the first sports car, this 1914 4 December
BONHAMS
187
THE MARKET / Reports
HAGI PORSCHE INDEX For the third year in a row Porsche has
outperformed all other HAGI marque indices,
reduced growth rates in the overall market,
Porsches structural recovery is continuing.
and the HAGI Top overall market measure. In 2016 Ferrari gained 6.37% compared
380 Yet the HAGI Ps market-leading 2016 growth with Porsches 9.3%. Looking back over three
360 of 9.3% will disappoint short-termists who years, the Porsche difference is even more
240 like to project growth based on a convenient emphatic: over that time Porsche advanced
320 slice of the past. Theyve got to let go of their 72.93%, nearly doubling Ferraris 38.71%.
300
nostalgic attachment to 2013, when the HAGI Porsches separateness is in part due
P gained 24.48%. Its not 2013 any more. to its well-balanced currency distribution. In
280
Now were in an era when annual growth other words, the sector is more evenly spread
260
in the Porsche sector and others is below the across the major currencies than some others.
240 historic long-term annual average. Yet Porsche In a year of considerable currency movement,
220 continues to assert its differentness in a post- marques more heavily geared to the strong
200 bull-market world. US dollar have been impeded to a greater
Porsche ranks as the top overall performer degree. Indeed, if measured in US dollars,
Dec-13
Feb-14
Apr-14
Jun-14
Aug-14
Oct-14
Dec-14
Feb-15
Apr-15
Jun-15
Aug-15
Oct-15
Dec-15
Feb-16
Apr-16
Jun-16
Aug-16
Oct-16
Dec-16
since index inception in 2008, gaining 364.04% other segments would be showing little
over that period. In fact, in relative terms, more than 0% growth. Whats the German
MONTH/YEAR this historic long-term underachiever is doing for vive la diffrence? For futher analysis,
Vertical axis is based on a benchmark of 100 set at 31 December 2008.
The HAGI Porsche index charts the prices of key collectable Porsches. very nicely and, against a backdrop of greatly see historicautogroup.com. Dave Selby
188
1966 ASTON MARTIN DB6 SHORT CHASSIS VOLANTE LHD POA
Finished in Cumberland Grey and Red Connolly. One of only 37 produced, this very rare car has just completed
a full ground up restoration to Concours winning standard with DJ Smail Ltd.
1964 DB5 Rothesay Red with Black Hide, recent 1964 DB5 LHD Goodwood Green with Black 1963 Lagonda Rapide Dubonnet Rosso with
full restoration by DJ Smail Ltd, superb Hide, original LHD matching numbers with Fawn Hide, rare opportunity to purchase 1 of
condition POA comprehensive history POA only 55 produced 185,000
WHAT INSPIRES ME, says Herv Ogliastro, a Francique Cadot of Lyon. His outing ended
are the stories of my cars and the lives they with a fuel leak after just ten laps, but his
have lived. The more they have danced, the wonderful cars career was just beginning.
more I become attached to them. It is easy, With various owners and drivers it appeared,
then, to understand why the French collector well, almost everywhere: at the Spa 24 Hours;
was unable to resist this 1936 Talbot-Lago on the Mille Miglia; on the Lige-Rome-Lige;
T150C when it came to auction in 2013; at GP after GP, recording a bakers dozen
very few cars have lived like chassis 82930. of podium finishes. Success at the greatest
By the mid-1930s, many manufacturers had endurance race of all proved elusive, but the car
begun to question the sense in going Grand lined up at Le Mans four times, in 1937, 1938,
Prix racing, so dominant had the Silver Arrows 1939 and 1949. On the last of those occasions it
of Mercedes and Auto Union become. To was driven by Louis and Jean-Louis Rosier, who
encourage French marques to remain involved, won the 1950 race in a Talbot-Lago T26 GS.
the Automobile Club de France devised new It wasnt babied as it aged, but was restored
regulations for the ACF GP ahead of 1936. Cars with replacement bodywork by marque expert
had to conform to a long list of standards and, Paul Grist in the early 1980s, and refreshed in
crucially, be of a type available to the public. the 90s since when it has been driven almost
The 3988cc straight-six-powered T150C was as regularly as it was in the 30s and 40s.
Talbots entry, and intended by Anthony Lago Ogliastro has decided to sell because the car
to challenge for top honours and generate the serves the same purpose as his Bugatti, opening
sort of publicity that would help the company a spot on 82930s dance card. The price to add
to shift a few more cars. Two T150Cs were your name? Between 1.2 and 1.6 million.
sold before the race, with 82930 snapped up by artcurial.com
190
Memory stir
Silverstone Auctions,
Stoneleigh, UK
24-26 February
Even if you havent the slightest interest in
buying a racing Yank tank, we urge you to
look up this 1968 Chevrolet Camaro on the
Silverstone Auctions website right now, for
there you will find footage of one of the most
entertaining races in living memory, the
1971 BSCC Iberia Trophy at Crystal Palace.
Our Camaro, driven by Martin Thomas,
diced for 14 of 15 laps with Mike Crabtrees
Escort RS1600 and Gerry Marshalls Viva
GT before crashing out immediately after
retaking the lead, to yelps of Spin! Spin!
Spin! from commentator Murray Walker.
RMI DARGEGEN
191
THE MARKET / Reports
AUCTION
CALENDAR
25-28 January
Mecum, Las Vegas, USA
26 January
GOOD THING, TINY PACKAGE BACK UP THE BRINKS TRUCK ALL THE SUPERLATIVES Bonhams, Las Vegas, USA
South West Vehicle Auctions, RM Sothebys, Amelia Island, USA The Finest, Boca Raton, USA 27 January
Dorset, UK. 27 January 10-11 March 11 February SWVA, Poole, UK
Its where the Jaguar story started, It was built in 1961as a road car, so it Its only right that The Finest auction 28 January
building shapely Swallow bodywork has no dramatic racing history. The list should offer The Best Car In The Anglia Car Auctions,
to push an Austin Seven upmarket. of previous owners is uninteresting. World. This 1965 Silver Cloud III Kings Lynn, UK
This 1930 example is magificence Just another Ferrari 250 GT SWB, Drophead Coup by HJ Mulliner, 5 February
in miniature in its two-tone paint, the then? Theres no such thing as will valued at $600,000-675,000, was Charterhouse
result of a restoration started in 1963, be evident when chassis 2639 is restored to as delivered condition Shepton Mallet, UK
delayed by illness and finished in offered in March and someone jumps by Belgian specialist Michel Kruch. 6 February
2013. The 17th-oldest Mk1 known at the chance to become around With its lusty V8 engine, driving the Stanislas Machor, Online
to the Swallow Register, it looks a $9.5 million poorer for the privilege car should be as much of a pleasure 8 February
treat at 13,000-15,000. of owning one of the truly great cars. as being driven in it. RM Sothebys, Paris, France
swva.co.uk rmsothebys.com thefinest.com 9 February
Bonhams, Paris, France
10-11 February
Artcurial, Paris, France
11 February
Mathewsons
Thornton-le-Dale, UK
11 February
The Finest, Boca Raton, USA
12 February
Charterhouse
Shepton Mallet, UK
17-18 February
Mecum, Los Angeles, USA
18 February
Morris Leslie, Errol, UK
18 February
Coys, London, UK
22-23 February
H&H, Castle Donington, UK
24-26 February
Leake Auction,
Oklahoma City, USA
24-26 February
Silverstone Auctions,
Stoneleigh, UK
27 February
Shannons
192
THE MARKET / Showroom Stars
194
THE MARKET / Buying Guide
Porsche Boxster
THE LOWDOWN
PRICES
For a while its been possible to get into a
One of the best-handling sports cars ever is a bargain, too Boxster for 6000 and even less. The money
will buy you an enjoyable drive, but youll be
talking a ratty high-miles 986. Autos are less
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT Porsches a 987 will always be the ultimate Boxster: a very desirable than manuals. Better to weigh in
improve with age. They evolve. The earliest fine car indeed. Buy right and you cant lose. around 9000 for a smart, serviced,
911? Sure, its a legend, but it suffered evil Of course, Porsche being Porsche, evolution low-mileage late-model manual 3.2S. And we
cant imagine those getting much cheaper.
handling and a paucity of power. It got better, took place to get that far. The original 986
though, didnt it? Which is why we at Octane Boxster was launched in 1996, sharing 15,000 is happy territory: a smart, historyd
have high hopes for the latest 718 Boxster. Its architecture with the first water-cooled 911 and early 306bhp Gen 2 can easily be yours
been criticised, in these pages as well as helping save Porsche in the process. Some felt it (similarly a Cayman). Keep it well and it will
elsewhere, for the lack of character exhibited lacked the visual punch of the concept version stand you in good stead as the enthusiasts
by its turbocharged flat-four. Not as charismatic that wowed crowds at Detroit in 1992. When it choice. Six-speed manual a joy, but seven-
speed dual-clutch PDK a great self-shifter.
as the old flat-sixes, even if its more powerful. finally went into production, it lacked dynamic
So, until those fours improve, nows the time punch too, although that original 201bhp Think double that for the best, youngest 987s,
to invest in an earlier Boxster. 2.5-litre engine was supplanted by a 217bhp or possibly a low-mileage 550 Spyder edition.
For now, well ignore the recently 2.7 in 2000, and joined by a 250bhp 3.2-litre Top whack of 45,000 is the preserve of the
discontinued 981. It was launched in 2012 and Boxster S. The enthusiasts model had arrived. lightweight ragtop 09 Boxster Spyder.
you can buy one from around 30,000 which In 2003, outputs went up to 225 and 258bhp,
LOOK OUT FOR
is the upper end of what youll pay for the 987 plus there was a (now-sought-after) 550 Spyder Engine problems include intermediate shaft
(pictured above) that went before it, although 50th anniversary limited edition with 266bhp. bearing failure (check the history to see if its
youll pay more like 45,000 for the more Bigger changes came when the thoroughly been replaced; if it rattles, avoid), bore wear
collectable Spyder version. And while the 981 facelifted 987 arrived in 2004, with a 237bhp on pre-07 cars (excessive smoke on start-up?
is objectively a better car (more rigid, more 2.7 and 276bhp 3.2S, then 241bhp and 291bhp Avoid) and leaky rear main oil seal on 986
powerful, stronger brakes, cleverer tech), in one in 2007 before a further facelifted Gen 2 (a cheap fix: question it if it hasnt been done).
major respect it took a step back: the steering. version in 2008 that brought a 252bhp 2.9-litre Rust is rarely an issue even on the earliest
Yep, the 981 arrived with electrically assisted base model and a 306bhp 3.4S, the latter 986s, but nose and flanks prone to road rash.
steering in place of the previous Boxsters capable of 170mph and 0-60mph in 5.2sec
hydraulic rack. Its extremely precise but, until figures a 911 was proud of not long before. Suspension bushes need replacing every 40k
it evolves (as it surely will), youll miss the heft The hardtop Cayman was launched in 2005 miles: graunches and slackness are clues.
at low speed and the tingle factor as soon as (a tad more power and a slightly sharper drive),
Interior trim got stronger with successive
youre rolling that you get with the old system. though theyre worth a bit more and you cant facelifts and is notably more robust in the
And as interaction via the steering wheel is take the roof off. No other six-cylinder roadster 987. Of early cars, only the best-kept avoid
what, along with that flat-six soundtrack, will can match the pretty, fast and scythingly agile scruffiness inside. Make sure the roof
soonest hardwire you to the cars soul, for many Boxster for the money. Glen Waddington mechanism and electrical fixtures work.
196
Porsche 911 2.7 RS Lightweight M471 (RHD)
One of just 17 UK C16 cars delivered this example was originally retained by Porsche GB and registered
as RGO 3L during which time it was utilised as their spare car for the race and rally season of 1973 as well
as being the subject of many magazine road tests and articles. The sister car (RGO 2L) was found to be so
reliable that this car was rarely used and was therefore sold to its rst private owner following the RAC Rally
of 73. Since then the car has had just 4 private owners from new and retains much originality including its
matching numbers engine whilst having been meticulously cared for by its custodians. A rare opportunity to
acquire one of the best and most iconic 911s in existence. POA
Porsche Carrera 2.7 RS Touring (RHD) Ferrari F40 (LHD) Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (LHD)
Without doubt one of the nest RSTs available. Over the past A 20,000km UK supplied car from new. Non Cat & Totally restored and presented in its stunning original
year the car has been treated to an engine-out service and a Non Adjust variant. Original paint & superb visible colour combination. This Italian supplied car has a
full body restoration including the underside & full suspension weave. An extremely well maintained example and known history with limited owners. A previous Salon
rebuild. Finished in its original colour combination and accompanied by its original book pack, tools and Prive Concours DElegance competitor the car is supplied
accompied by superb historical documentation. POA a comprehensive history le. 849,995 with Ferrari Red Book Classiche Certication. POA
Acquisition Consultancy | Sales | Service | Restoration to Perfection | Engine Building | Race Preparation | Rolling Road | Storage
Telephone: +44 (0) 1923 287 687 Fax: +44 (0) 1923 286 274 Email: info@dkeng.co.uk
www.dke.co.uk
Little Green Street Farm, Green Street, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, WD3 6EA - ENGLAND A Cottingham Family Business.
1983 Lynx Eventer - Just 5,027 Miles POA
Remarkably low milage example in time-warp condition - 1 previous owner - Number plate XJ V12 included.
1986 Spice SE86C Hart 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB 1974 Porsche Carrera 911 3.0 RS 1987 Ferrari Mondial 3.2
3-time Le Mans 1987-89, including class 1/91 RHD fibreglass dry sump. Only Looking for similar competition cars One of 91 RHD 3.2 Mondials built.
pole in 88, race winner, very powerful 16k miles 174,500 40k miles, great history, immaculate,
Hart Turbo engine, competitive package in super rare TdF blue, just had belt
for historic Group C 295,000 service 47,995
If youre looking to invest in your passion or seek a new home for a significant motor car,
please call +44 (0) 1256 765000 or email sales@duncanhamilton.com
Duncan Hamilton & Co Ltd, PO Box 222, Hook, Nr Basingstoke, Hampshire RG27 9YZ, England | www.duncanhamilton.com
Well help you to find
your perfect Aston Martin
To see all our cars for sale visit aston.co.uk ASTON WORKSHOP
CAR BARN
CL AS SICS & E XOTICS
Restoration Parts Servicing Global delivery Storage | Beamish DH9 ORW England
THE HISTORIC HOME OF ASTON MARTIN
Home to over sixty years of Aston Martin. Discover our showrooms, extensive facilities, original tools and unrivalled craftsmanship; not
only used to build icons but meticulously maintain them. From scheduled servicing to authentic restorations, accident repairs to our
unique Assured Provenance program, Aston Martin Works offers the most comprehensive levels of expertise and service.
1964 Aston Martin DB5 Coupe 1995 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 2005 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe
Iconic DB5 with exquisite specification. Silver Birch British Racing Green, Tan hide with piped spruce. 36,954 Tungsten Silver with Black trim. 6 Speed Manual.
metallic, grey hide. 84,723 miles 5 speed ZF Gearbox, miles. 550 Bhp twin supercharged with 6-speed manual A classic specification in outstanding condition
ready to be enjoyed by new owner, superb history file. gearbox, beautifully original car with Aston Martin Works equipped with attractive options. 12 months
Aston Martin Heritage warranty. service history. One of 239 cars built. Aston Martin Timeless Warranty included.
795,000 345,000 41,950
1990 Aston Martin V8 Volante 2014 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Coupe 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1
4,310 Miles. Formed part of the Hunter Green 13,411 miles. Ceramic Grey metallic. Obsidian Black 109,100 miles. Aston Green, Beige hide. Complete
collection with Tan hide. One of the very last EFI V8 hide. Satin Black wheels. 7-speed Sportshift III with a phenomenal history file. Owned by Aston Martin
Volante cars built. Great opportunity. Automated Manual. Lagonda Ltd for many years. One of 451 cars built.
375,000 97,950 325,000
2012 Aston Martin Virage Volante 1974 Lagonda V8 Saloon 1992 Aston Martin Virage Volante LHD
8,000 miles. Stunning combination of Quantum Motorshow car. One of only seven built. Endowed Outstanding condition. 25,000Km. One of only 27 Virage
Silver, Cream hide. 6-speed Touchtronic 2 Automatic. with engine upgrade and Oscar India style bodywork. Volantes with manual transmission. Buckingham Green,
Desirable with only 369 built. Incredible condition and specification. Tan hide with piped spruce, for the discerning collector.
95,000 400,000 125,000
2005 FERR A RI 575 SU PER A MERICA ( LHD) POA 2016 FERR A RI 488 GT B 249,950
Rosso Corsa with Nero Leather, HTC Handling Pack, 7,644 km Rosso Corsa with Nero Leather, Large Carbon Fibre Pack, 101 miles
2011 A STON M A RT IN DB S CA RBON BL ACK EDIT ION 122,950 2015 PORSCHE 991 GT3 PDK ( LHD) 144,950
Carbon Black with Black Leather, B & O Sound System, 18,500 miles White with Black Alcantara, Clubsport Package, 126 miles
1950 Ferrari
250 GT Competition
Berlinetta Sport Speciale
Roberto Rossellini and his actress wife Ingrid Bergman were among Ferraris best customers in the 1950s
and this Ferrari 250 GT Competition Berlinetta Sport Speciale, chassis 0403 with special coachwork by Pininfarina was
originally believed to be intended for Ingrid Bergman. On seeing the car at Pebble Beach in recent times, Sergio Pininfarina
commented that it was one of his favourite designs; the rear window line terminating in twin rear fins being particularly
modern and elegant. The car was entered in the Cartier Style et Luxe at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed -
where it was awarded Coup de Grace for Sublime Grand Tourer of the 1950s and in November 2016 the car
was awarded the best Gulf Classic at the inaugural Gulf Concours in Dubai to add to its trophy tally.
A unique and supremely elegant coachbuilt Ferrari for the serious collector.
o t h e r c l a s s i c f e r r a r i ava i l a b l e
1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Comp 1949 Ferrari 166 Inter Coupe 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
W W W. TA L A C R E S T. C O M
TALACREST ARE THE BIGGEST AND MOST EXPERIENCED BUYERS OF CLASSIC FERRARI IN THE WORLD AND HAVE
SOLD OVER $1 BILLION WORTH OF THOROUGHBRED CLASSIC CARS INCLUDING EIGHT FERRARI 250 GTOS,
MANY PROTOTYPES AND NUMEROUS OTHER DESIRABLE ROAD AND RACE CARS. IF YOURE LOOKING TO BUY
OR SELL BLUE-CHIP, COLLECTOR FERRARI CLASSICS THEN MAKE TALACREST YOUR NUMBER ONE CHOICE.
ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 MKII ASTON MARTIN DB6 MKI FORD GT40 BENTLEY R TYPE
1 OF ONLY 6 LHD CARS BUILT VANTAGE VOLANTE COMPETITION AND ROAD CARS IN STOCK CONTINENTAL
1 OF 29 EXAMPLES. TWO CARS IN STOCK
TOTAL JD CLASSICS RESTORATION
AUSTIN HEALEY 3000 MKIII MERCEDES 300 SL PORSCHE 911 TURBO JAGUAR SS100
PHASE 2 VERY RARE FACTORY COLOUR SPECIFICATION. 1 OF ONLY 2 CARS IN THIS FACTORY COLOUR 3.5 & 2.5 LITRE AVAILABLE
FULL BODY OFF RESTORATION MATCHING NUMBERS SPECIFICATION
JAGUAR XK120, XK140 & JAGUAR E-TYPE S1 JAGUAR XJR-15 JAGUAR MKII
XK150 SIX CARS IN STOCK 1 OF ONLY 16 TO ACTUALLY COMPETE IN THE THREE CARS IN STOCK
OVER 20 CARS IN STOCK INTERCONTINENTAL CHALLENGE RACE SERIES.
INCLUDING PERIOD COMPETITION CARS FULLY RESTORED.
@jd_classics
jdclassics@jdclassics.com www.jdclassics.com
WYCKE HILL BUSINESS PARK, WYCKE HILL, MALDON, ESSEX, CM9 6UZ, U.K. +44 (0)1621 879579
MAYFAIR SHOWROOM, 26-28 MOUNT ROW, MAYFAIR, LONDON, W1K 3SQ, U.K. +44 (0) 207 125 1400
Suppliers of the finest, hand-selected, Classic & Sports Cars prepared to the highest standard
Available now
335,000
Call Graypaul Classic Cars
on 0115 837 8028 or visit
graypaulclassiccars.com
to view the full
collection today.
G R AY PA U L C L A S S I C C A R S L E N TO N L A N E N OT T I N G H A M N G 7 2 N R T E L : 0 1 1 5 8 3 7 8 0 2 8
O FFI CI AL FE R RARI D EAL ER
Ferrari F355 GTB - 1995 Ferrari F355 GTS - 1997 Ferrari 575M Maranello - 2003
11,870 miles, Manual gearbox, Rosso Corsa with 30,585 miles, F1 paddle shift gearbox, Rosso 22,061 miles, F1 paddle shift gearbox, Tour de
Charcoal interior, Drilled aluminum foot pedals, Corsa with Beige interior, Rosso carpet, Drilled France Blu, Blu Scuro interior, Daytona style seats,
Black brake calipers aluminum foot pedals, Black brake calipers Aluminium brake calipers
134,990 94,990 129,990
Ferrari F430 Coup - 2007 Ferrari F430 Spider - 2007 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti - 2008
13,808 miles, Manual gearbox, Nero Daytona 10,482 miles, F1 paddle shift gearbox, Rosso 16,610 miles, F1 paddle shift gearbox, Nero
with Nero interior, Carbon fibre rear segment, Corsa with Crema interior, Bordeaux interior Daytona with Nero interior, Daytona style seats,
Yellow brake calipers stitchings, Red brake calipers Handling GTC Package
144,990 111,990 114,990
We are continuously seeking to replenish our Ferrari Approved and Pre-owned stock. If you own a well-presented, high specification
Ferrari and you are looking to sell, we would love to hear from you.
Our specialist, professional team of buyers purchase cars from across the UK, and within the team we have a combined wealth of
experience and knowledge with all Ferrari models. Should you choose to sell your vehicle to us, we will ensure it is straightforward,
secure and price advantageous.
If you would like to arrange a no-obligation quotation on your Ferrari, please call Matthew Beard +44 (0) 7860 911 959 or
Louis Leven +44 (0) 7977 488 488. Alternatively you can email us at sell@dicklovett.co.uk
BellandColvill www.bellandcolvill.com
Michael FurMan PhotograPhy
Its not the idea that counts but its perfect execution. Gottlieb Daimler
1926 3 Litre Speed Model, patina and charm. 1925 3/412 Litre Speed Model. Fabulous
The bees knees long distance rally competitor. The cats whiskers
1923 412 Litre. Continuous history excellent value. 1929 412 Litre Le Mans. Perfectly restored
A wolf in sheeps clothing. and matching numbers too. The dogs dangly bits.
www.stanleymann.com Open
W e e k
riday
Monday-F ends
an d
The Fruit Farm, Common Lane, Radlett, Herts, WD7 8PW tment
by appoin
Telephone: +44 (0) 1923 852505 sales@stanleymann.com
PHOTOGRAPHY: RMI dargegen
WWW.HISTORIKA.COM
instagram.com/historika911
facebook.com/historika911
twitter.com/historika911
YOUTUBE.COM/HISTORIKA911
Call 07836 384 999 or 07717 212 911
Y e s t e r d ay s P o r s c h e s . P r e s e r v e d f o r T o m o r r o w. E n j o y e d T o d ay.
F I NE C A RS / / r es to r ati on // r ac e prepa r ati on // R A RE pa rts
CARS FOR SALE
OCTANE MARKETPLACE
Browse classic cars for sale or reach a huge international
ADVERTISE
IN-MAG FOR FREE!
PRIVATE SELLERS ONLY,
classic car market to sell yours with a free advertisement in LIMITED SPACES
Octane go to subscribe.octane-magazine.com/classieds AVAILABLE
Visit www.classicandperformancecar.com for more cars and to advertise your car on the website. Octane cannot endorse any cars for
sale in classied advertisements and recommends that you meet the vendor and are satised with the car before parting with any money.
www.classic-spares.com
Austin Healey Specialist
www.murrayscott-nelson.com
tel. 01723 361227
www.ahspares.co.uk
Tel: 0044 (0)1926 817181
252
1990 Ferrari Mondial
72,400
Chevrolet Corvette 1965 C2 www.classicandperformancecar.com/207084
Sting-Ray Convertible
58,500
For more information please contact me
FRANK KENNIS +31 622 420 766
info@KennisCars.nl www.kenniscars.nl
1973 Citron SM -
Maserati V6 engine, beautifully
restored, low mileage
Datsun 240Z
Original car, engine runs, drives. Paint a little scruy.
9995. Call +44 (0)7545 921888, email wajidhuss@
yahoo.com.
253
CARS FOR SALE
254
Porsche race engine
2.5-litre twin plug full race engine, originally built by
Porsche wanted
01440 714 884
Classic Porsches Wanted 2004 Porsche Boxster S 550
Paul Stephens has been specialising in classic 911s
GT Silver, Cocoa leather and hood. One of 150 UK
for over two decades. If you have an air-cooled 911
cars, 38,000 miles, impeccable history.
to sell, please give us a call for a professional honest
16,950. Adrian Blyth. Tel: +44 (0)1428 608255,
valuation. We can either purchase with prompt and
www.adrianblyth.com (T).
secure payment or offer consignment sales. With
a worldwide customer base we will secure the best
sale price for your 911. Email@paul-stephens.com,
tel: +44 (0)1440 714884, www.paul-stephens.com (T).
Porsche 968
A near-perfect example of left-hand drive Tiptronic
Fine selection of classic Porsches Porsche convertible. 24,995. Email waj.hussain@
Including this 1987 Porsche 930 Turbo finished in yahoo.com, tel: +44 (0)7545 921888.
Marine Blue with just 43,900 miles from new. For
more information on this car or any other example in
stock, please visit www.paul-stephens.com or call
+44 (0) 1440 714884 (T).
Renault 8 Gordini
22,000
www.classicandperformancecar.com/221229
1985 Porsche 911 Carrera -
Australian delivered, matching
numbers, full history
255
Day in the life
INTERVIEW GILES CHAPMAN
JOEL BAKER
Finding time to locate and restore Mufer Men between radio and TV commitments
WE STARTED AMERICAN GIANTS online disappeared, so it was great to see him again was amazing. Ill walk into a barn and discover
in 2013, but Id had a growing passion for and get some really good pictures. these old lguys in the corner, covered in dust,
preserving these 22ft-tall glassfibre statues for Bob Prewitt created these figures, we think in and get a real feeling of excitement.
a couple of years. 1963, in Lawndale, California. Bob had a Rising material and transportation costs
People started calling them Muffler Men in business making outsized, hollow glassfibre killed them off in the 1970s. And businesses
the mid-1990s; it was the authors of the animals for advertising. He got an order for a suddenly found them embarrassing, tacky. Your
Roadside America books, Doug Kirby, Ken 20ft-tall figure of Paul Bunyan, the American boss would tell you to take a hammer, crush it
Smith and Mike Wilkins, who coined the lumberjack, but the buyer never paid so Bob into pieces, and get rid of it. Luckily for us, a
phrase. They kept noticing these huge men, sold it to the Lumberjack Caf in Flagstaff, few people simply put them in the woods and
often holding mufflers [exhaust silencers]. Arizona. Then in 1964 he sold the moulds to forgot about them.
They found them amusing and by 1992 theyd International Fiberglass, which put Bunyan My favourite, the Texaco Big Friend, is a
identified about a dozen of them. into production as giant men for advertising. good case in point. About 300 were installed in
We now know there are at least 180 surviving. They were featured in a trade magazine, and 1966/7, then a few fell over, damaged a car, and
Ive been all over the country to see them, and oil and tyre companies were really interested. Texaco changed its mind. They got rid of them
Ive personally recorded 160. Ive built a map of Phillips 66 ordered cowboy versions for its gas all overnight, and only four remain.
every kind that survives; there are a lot in stations, Pontiac wanted Indians for its I own four Muffler Men. I live in Denver but,
California, but a handful migrated to Canada, dealerships, and Uniroyal asked for giant when I have time, I go to Illinois where theyre
Mexico and Puerto Rico, and one even as far women to promote its tyres. You could see stored in my buddys garage, and help with
as Venice, Italy! what was coming up a mile off, even when three ongoing restorations. Theres a team of us:
I work in production for a Christian radio travelling at 50mph. a glassfibre expert, another who does the paint.
and TV ministry, and it takes me to a lot of My media production workload is heavy. Weve recently found an airbrush artist to add
places, so sometimes I can divert for a visit to This morning Ive been mapping a building the fine detail.
see a Muffler Man. Last week I was in Palm with 3-D software so we can host an event there People in the UK seem to be really interested.
Springs, California. One day I got up at 6am to in March. But whenever I can, I like to go and The BBC flew a TV crew over from Washington
drive 40 miles to the town of Mecca to have a meet Muffler Men, and talk to their owners. to interview me, which was great. They have a
look at a cowboy although I think he was Finding a new one is a big deal; two or three real pull, even now, and theyre very reminiscent
originally a Phillips 66 gas station man. Hed emerge each year. A few weeks ago I was in New of 1960s and 70s American road trips,
been known in the 1980s and 90s but then Jersey and I saw seven or eight in a day, which especially if you were a kid then.
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1963 LANCIA FLAMINIA 3C CONVERTIBLE 1960 AUSTIN HEALEY MK1 FROGEYE SPRITE
A great Flaminia with a near-perfect balance of original and renovated condition. A UK supplied RHD example to original specification in very good order. Fully
Maintained and restored over the years by respected Lancia specialists. refurbished some years ago and well maintained since. Good history.
1973 PORSCHE 911 2.4S 2016 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 HERITAGE EDITION
UK RHD. Recaros, electric windows/roof. A great matching numbers example One of 400 Heritage editions produced. Unused by its sole owner with just 18 miles
fully restored by the right people and perfectly maintained. Extensive history. recorded. It comes with all books, keys, model and the commemorative book.
THE
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