Drive it to Luton on Drive it Day!
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
Vauxhall will be throwing open the doors of its Heritage Centre to mark the annual ‘Drive it Day’ celebration of classic motoring on Sunday, April 20.
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Archive for the ‘Classics’ Category
BROOKLANDS CREATES A NEW “DOUBLE TWELVE”
Wednesday, December 5th, 2007
THE BROOKLANDS MOTORING FESTIVAL 2008, organised by Brooklands Museum and Mercedes-Benz World, will feature a unique competition combining a Concours d’Elegance with driving tests - the “Brooklands Double Twelve”.
The competition element of the two-day event planned for 28 and 29 June 2008 will borrow its name from the historic Brooklands Double Twelve meetings organised by the Junior Car Club (JCC) from 1929, but will take for its inspiration rallies organised by the JCC and the Royal Automobile Club in the late 1930s. In these events, the elegance of the competing car (and even of its crew) was often rated as being as important as the skill shown by the drivers in tricky manoeuvres.
In the new 2008 event, competitors will, over the two days, take part in a series of driving tests using many of the test layouts used in the 1939 JCC Rally at Brooklands, and have their vehicles judged against the exacting criteria of a Concours d’Elegance. The tests will take place in such thrilling and evocative environments as the Members’ Banking and the notorious Test Hill of the original circuit, as well as on the modern handling circuits at Mercedes-Benz World. Marks awarded in the two disciplines will be added to give an overall score, ensuring that the class and overall winners will be selected from the best drivers using the best-kept vehicles.
Following the precedent set by the hugely successful Brooklands Centenary Festival of June 2007, there will be cars and motorcycles of the Brooklands era, but there will also be classes for classic and other special vehicles from more modern times, so that spectators will have the unique opportunity to see vehicles from all decades of the last 100 years competing for prestigious Brooklands Double Twelve trophies.
In addition, there will be spectacular displays from the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows Display Team, Formula One, Formula 3 and other modern vehicles bringing the thrills right up to the present-day.
Director of Brooklands Museum Allan Winn says: “This unique event takes the traditional Concours d’Elegance to a different level. Beauty, preparation and condition will be important, but so equally will be performance and driving skill. It is that combination of two disciplines which will make the event exciting for competitors and spectators alike, and pay true homage to the heritage of Brooklands as ‘The Ascot of Motor Racing’. We hope that everybody will enter into that spirit by dressing to the appropriate period as well.”
Peter O’Halloran, Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz World commented: “Finally we will have a world class concours event in the UK which can go on to rival the best in the world.”
For enquiries about The Brooklands Motoring Festival 2008 - featuring The Double Twelve, Call 0870 400 4000.
H&H ACHIEVES RECORD IN END OF SEASON BUXTON BONANZA
Friday, November 23rd, 2007
Even snow failed to stop buyers flooding to Buxton this week (November 20/21) – they came from as far afield as Malaysia, California and South Africa for H&H’s final sale of the year. And what a cracking auction they attended, with new homes being found for some 425 items of automobilia, 30 bicycles and motorcycles and 80 collectors’ cars, the combined value of which was c.£1.5million – a house record for an H&H Buxton sale. This put the seal on another record year for this burgeoning auction house.
Prancing horses
A veritable stable of Ferraris was on offer, the star of which was arguably the 1973 365 GTB/4 Daytona. Complete with the registration 365GT, it changed hands for £148,500. The time warp 1972 Dino 246 GT that had covered just 20,400 from new was eventually knocked down for £83,600.
The prices of AC Cobras have reached stratospheric levels in recent years and those of Aces have also been moving up steadily. Even so, the £126,500 achieved for the bright red 1957 Bristol-engined Ace was mighty impressive and well above its top estimate.
Classic Aston Martins have long since been on the rise too and, despite needing a complete repaint, the 1961 Series II DB4 in the sale was knocked down for £64,900. The stunning red 1970 Maserati Ghibli SS emanated from the same superb private collection as the Daytona. Better than new, it fetched way over estimate at £53,900.
Exceptional interest
The c.1917 Hispano-Suiza 8/10CV T24 was one of a quartet of lots previously on show in a Danish museum. One of the Spanish built examples, the pretty little Runabout caused great interest – finally selling for £34,100. Entries that prompted an exceptional number of commission and telephone bids were the 1935 Riley 12/4 Falcon Special that was made for and has competed in numerous VSCC events (£28,600), and the delightful little maroon 1959 BMW Isetta 300 (£4,290).
The sale featured some fine offerings from over the pond, the star of which turned out to be the massive 1932 Nash 1097 Ambassador 8 Brougham (£26,400). The delightful blue and white 1933 Hupmobile B-316 Roadster found a new home for £24,750, while the equally evocative 1939 Chevrolet Standard Business Roadster made well over estimate at £15,950.
Automobilia for all
The automobilia sale was arguably the most successful H&H have ever held at Buxton and one of the company’s most rewarding of all ephemera auctions to date. It certainly comprised one of the most wide ranging selections H&H has amassed, with everything from petrol pumps and enamel signs to automotive literature and art, and models to pedal cars. Of particular note were:
* The splendid Michele Conti 1958 250TR, 1:10th scale model – £11,812
* Assorted items of Stirling Moss ephemera - £1,237.50
* A pair of diamond encrusted Bentley brooches - £1,237.50 each
* A set of Howes & Burley Acetylene headlamps and Lucas sidelamps - £618.75
The next H&H sale of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, registration numbers and automobilia will be held at The Centaur, Cheltenham on February 26/27, 2008. Already entered is a pair of Works Mini rally cars and an ex-Colin McRae Works 1992 Subaru Legacy.
Rare cars sell at BCA Blackbushe
Sunday, October 21st, 2007
A 1980s car described as having the highest running costs ever was one of the stars of BCA’s recent Classic & Historic sale, staged at BCA Blackbushe on Tuesday 2nd October 2007.
The 1985 Buckingham cost around £250,000 to build and had covered just 348 miles in the past 22 years. Commissioned by a wealthy enthusiast, it took eight skilled Aston Martin Lagonda craftsmen some two years to design and three years to construct. The car used modern technology but with classically inspired coachwork design finished in two-tone Burgundy and Champagne.
60 YEARS OF VOLKSWAGEN VANS CELEBRATED BY OVER 71,000 PEOPLE
Monday, October 8th, 2007
An official event to celebrate 60 years of Volkswagen vans held in Hanover, Germany, last weekend (5-7 October) attracted 71,000 visitors with an amazing selection of over 5,000 Transporter vans and campers – from the original ‘split-screen’ T1 to today’s fifth-generation models – and included the highlight of an exclusive concert by British rock legends, The Who. (more…)
