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Baby Bond: Aston Martin DB5 Junior hits 30mph and costs £42k

August 28, 2020

If your progeny dreams of being James Bond – and you have £42,000 to blow on a birthday present – Aston Martin has the answer.

The British marque has joined forces with The Little Car Company to create the DB5 Junior: an electric, two-thirds scale version of 007’s most iconic car.

A total of 1,059 DB5 Juniors are planned, to match the number of real DB5s built (so not counting the stunt cars based on E46 M3s, then). And yes, there’s even a Vantage version.

Grace, pace and race

The diddy DB5’s electric motor sends 5kW (6.8hp) to the rear wheels, making it good for 30mph. Range is quoted as between 10 and 20 miles, depending on driving style.

Look underneath and you’ll find ventilated disc brakes all-round, plus double wishbone front suspension and a live axle at the rear – just like the real thing.

There are three drive modes: Novice, Expert and Race. The former limits power to 1kW (1.3hp) and top speed to 12mph. Expert mode unlocks the car’s full performance, while Race brings the DB5’s acceleration into line with other Little Car Company vehicles, ready for some friendly competition.

Playing Connery (or Craig)

Each DB5 is painted in the Silver Birch colour immortalised by Bond, and features a black leather interior with black carpets. There’s even a usable boot for a carrying a picnic hamper or stashing your Walther PPK.

The two-thirds scale steering wheel detaches for easier entry/exit, while the throttle and brake pedals are made from billet aluminium. The working Smiths dials also look authentic, although the fuel gauge is now a battery meter.

The DB5 Junior has working headlights, indicators, brake lights and a horn. However, machine guns and revolving number plates aren’t on the options list.

Add Vantage

As with the genuine DB5, there’s also a Vantage version of the Junior, with more performance and a higher price tag.

If you have a not-insignificant £54,000 to spare, this model boasts a hidden ‘missile switch’ that doubles power to 10kW (13.6hp). Top speed is unconfirmed.

Every DB5 Junior buyer receives automatic membership of the Aston Martin Owners Club, and existing DB5 owners get first refusal. We’ll spend that £50k or so on a used V8 Vantage, thanks.

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Concours of Elegance 2020: legendary Ferraris to star at Hampton Court

August 27, 2020

The grand gardens of Hampton Court Palace will soon reverberate to the roar of V12 engines as Concours of Elegance gets underway. The opulent classic car show, which takes place from 4-6 September, includes a line-up of the most iconic Ferraris ever made.

Top billing goes to a 250 GTO (above) – one of 36 built and Ferrari’s original test prototype. The car finished second at the 12 Hours of Sebring, driven by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien, and later raced at Le Mans and Daytona. More recently, it was restored to factory specification by Ferrari Classiche specialist Joe Macari in Wandsworth.

The 250 GTO is widely considered the most desirable classic car in the world, with one example selling for a record $70 million (£53.1 million) in 2018. But it won’t be the only special Ferrari at Concours of Elegance 2020…

Ferrari 250 LM

On the face of it, the 250 LM was a failure. Launched in 1963 to replace the 250 GTO, it wasn’t initially accepted by (motorsport’s governing body) the FIA, and was forced to race as a prototype. Thankfully, a few plucky privateers helped the LM achieve the on-track success it deserved.

This is the penultimate 250 LM built, sold new to the Ecurie Francorchamps racing team in 1965. Its best result was second place at the Le Mans 24 Hours, driven by Pierre Dumay and Gustave Gosselin. Blisteringly quick and exquisitely beautiful, it’s everything a classic Ferrari should be.

Ferrari 275 P2 / 365 P2

Speaking of beauty, take a moment to drink in this 1965 Ferrari 275 P2 (later upgraded to 365 P2 specification – seen here). Today’s competition cars are peppered with air scoops, splitters and spoilers, but Ferraris of the 1960s epitomised function and form.

The P series models lost to Ford at Le Mans (a story retold in the recent Le Mans ’66 movie), but this very car won the Targa Florio and Nurburgring 1,000km endurance races in 1965. It was later repainted from original Rosso Corsa to the yellow of the Belgian Ecurie Francorchamps team, and has since been restored.

Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione Clienti

You probably think of the 275 GTB as a luxurious grand tourer. And for the most part, it was. However, Maranello also produced a handful of Competizione Clienti (customer racing) versions, enhanced with lightweight aluminium body panels, an external fuel filler and a larger 140-litre petrol tank.

This car, chassis number 07407, is one of 10 such racers built in 1965. Its 3.3-litre Colombo V12 boasts six twin-choke Weber carburettors and spikier cams for nearly 300hp.

Ferrari 250 GT Ellena

Finally, a Ferrari that’s very definitely a road car. This elegant 250 GT Ellena is number 17 of 50 made by coachbuilder Carrozzeria Ellena in Brescia. Company owner Ezio Ellena was the son-in-law of Mario Boano, who legendary Italian styling house Pininfarina turned to for help producing cars. But Ellena soon put his own spin on classic Ferrari style.

Concours of Elegance is just about more than just Ferraris, of course. The event will also include a Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 GTR, displays from numerous car clubs (Aston Martin, Bentley, Jaguar) and plenty of crowd-pleasing modern hypercars. Many of the UK’s top classic car dealers will have their own stands, too.

The event will be run according to social distancing guidelines and tickets must be booked in advance. Follow this link to buy tickets and look out for our photos on social media (@motoringresearch and @timpitt100 on Instagram).

Ferrari v Porsche: 1990 supercars go head-to-head at auction

August 24, 2020

Two classic supercars from 1990 are heading to auction in September – but which one would get your vote?

That’s the challenge participants in the next Classic Car Auctions Live Online sale will face – described by sales manager Gary Dunne as “our biggest sale of the year”.

In the red corner is a supercar from Italy: a 1990 Ferrari 348 tb.

It’s a rarity, too, because apparently there were only 130 right-hand drive versions of the early 348 shipped to the UK.

(You can spot early 348 by their black lower body finish: it was colour-coded on later cars.)

The Ferrari’s first owner actually kept it until 2007, and the service records show maintenance by DK Engineering, Maranello and H.R. Owen.

Showing less than 44,000 miles on the clock, the estimate is £40,000 to £50,000.

And in the blue corner? From Germany, a 1990 Porsche 911 964 Carrera 4 – finished in a special order shade called Tahoe Blue.

This one’s covered a few more miles – 110,000 – but is described as being “stunning”.

The original Linen interior is enhanced with some welcome factory-fit optional extras. This, along with the 964’s special colour, gives an estimate of £25,000 to £30,000.

On top of that for buyers is an 11 percent fee (plus VAT).

Auctioneers will be hoping to beat the previous online auction’s 90 percent sale rate: this sale, running on 18-19 September, is already being referred to as a “September spectacular”.

Which gets your vote here though: the red Ferrari or blue Porsche? Let us know in the comments below – and better still, tell us if you’re planning to bid!

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Porsche Exclusive helps reimagine the first 911 sold in Australia

August 24, 2020

A collaboration between two Porsche dealerships has led to a reimagining of the very first Porsche 911 sold in Australia.

The Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur custom order scheme allowed the creation of a special pair of 992 Carrera S examples.

The two completed modern 911 examples will be displayed with the 1965 original, before being sold to customers.

The original Australian Porsche 911

The very first Porsche 911 sold in Australia was ordered by Ron Angas, a pastoralist from South Australia. Angas placed the order in 1964, when the car was still set to badged as the Porsche 901.

Registered on 1st September 1965, Angas had specified Steingrau exterior paint with a green leather interior. Ron also picked an optional five-speed manual transmission, along with a modified exhaust silencer.

Angas later sold the car to a friend in February 1969. Before then, he had racked up some 54,000 miles in the 911. This even included competing at the Collingrove Hillclimb event in Angaston, South Australia.

Reimagining an icon

The original Aussie 911 has passed through several owners since, and now resides in a museum at The Bend Motorsport Park in Tailem Bend, South Australia.

Stewart Kay, the current owner of the car, first became aware of it in the 1980s. Research found it to be one of the earliest examples of a production right-hand drive 911.

After some 55 years, the special car is now serving as a demonstration of what can be achieved through Porsche’s custom build process. Porsche Centre Sydney South and Porsche Centre Melbourne will each sell a new 992 Carrera S inspired by Ron’s car.

Classic style, modern interpretation

The original Steingrau paint is no longer offered by Porsche. Instead, the distinctive ‘Crayon’ colour has been used for the bodywork and engine cover slats. Painted exterior mirrors, and high-gloss chrome window surrounds help recreate the look of the 1965 car.

A set of Carrera Exclusive Design alloy wheels are substantially larger than those on the classic car. The eight-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission is also a thoroughly modern addition.

We imagine Ron Angas would have happily swapped his 911’s 134 hp flat-six for the 444 hp 3.0-litre turbocharged engine in the new car.

Inside, Porsche has fitted sports seats in Agave Green leather with Crayon stitching. Paldao Dark wood trim covers the dashboard and centre console, whilst the illuminated door sills display 1965 Reimagined‘ on them.

The finished Exclusive 911s will be displayed in the two Porsche dealerships in the coming months.

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Damon Hill’s race-winning Williams F1 car coming to London

August 20, 2020

Damon Hill scored his first F1 victory in Williams-Renault’s 1993 F1 racer – and the high-tech V10 car is now to be a star attraction at the 2020 Concours of Elegance coming to London in September.

The Williams-Renault FW15C was driven by Hill to three race victories in 1993, plus four second places and a third-place podium position.

Powered by a 3.5-litre V10 Renault engine, the car was equipped with active suspension, traction control, anti-lock brakes, power steering and a paddleshift gearbox.

The extraordinary racer was driven by team-mate Alain Prost to the 1993 F1 World Championship and, after a few heart-breaking retirements during the season, Hill won three races on the bounce: Hungary, Belgium and Italy.

Hill famously ran with the race number ‘0’, with Prost taking ‘2’. Williams was the title-winning constructor but reigning F1 champion Nigel Mansell took the number ‘1’ with him when he left the sport after his 1992 title success.

The car that will be shown at Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace on 4-6 September is chassis number 02, formerly part of the Williams Heritage Collection.

It was acquired by its current owner in 2018, which is how the machine is able to now go on public display.

Hill’s Williams-Renault racer will be joined by other F1 cars as part of a ’70 years of Formula 1’ display.

“It is a great thrill for the Concours of Elegance to display some of these incredible machines in such an important year for Formula 1,” said MD Andrew Evans.

“Historic racers presented in such historic surroundings are sure to make unforgettable memories for every fan of the sport.”

Tickers for the 2020 Concours of Elegance are on sale now: prices start from £30.

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Rare Ferrari racer becomes most expensive car sold in online auction

August 16, 2020

The record for the most expensive car sold in an online auction has been broken for the second time in just over a week.

A 2001 Ferrari 550 GT1, built by famed motorsport engineering company Prodrive, now holds the crown.

When the virtual hammer fell at the RM Sotheby’s sale, the rare race car had achieved a price of $4.29 million (£3.28 million).

Rapid record breaker

Such a huge amount is a substantial leap from the previous record. That was set at the Gooding & Co Geared Online auction, by a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose. That virtual sale closed at a considerable $3.08 million (£2.35 million) on 7th August 2020.

Prior to that, the bar had been set by another Ferrari in June 2020. A 2003 Enzo sold at the RM Sotheby’s Driving Into Summer auction for $2.64 million (£2.01 million).

Yet the 2001 550 GT1 blew past those amounts, aided by being the last V12-powered Ferrari to win a 24-hour race outright. That victory at the 2004 Spa 24 Hours helped this car go on to win the 2004 FIA GT Championship, driven by Luca Cappellari and Fabrizio Gollin.

A winner both online and on-track

It is testimony to the work of Prodrive, and the aerodynamic revisions made by Peter Stevens, that the Ferrari 550 became such a competitive endurance racer. The twelve 550 GT1s built would take 50 wins during the racing programme.

This particular car is noted to be the most successful chassis of all. It took 14 wins and 29 podiums from 49 races entered, only failing to finish on six occasions.

Following the end of its racing career, the 550 GT1 has been comprehensively overhauled and rebuilt. It now wears the livery from that special victory at the 2004 Spa 24 Hours.

Having been developed from a road car, it even comes with the original V5 issued by the DVLA.

Such an illustrious history, backed by Ferrari-certified provenance, will have helped push the special GT1 racer to the auction record.

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Retro performance classics ready for online auction

August 15, 2020

Iconic performance cars from the 1980s and ‘90s are set to form part of the varied selection at the H&H Classics Live auction.

Taking place on Wednesday, 19th August, a wide range of cars, motorbikes, and automobilia form part of the collection.

The selection of metal is certainly varied. A modern 2017 Dodge Charger on the same virtual billing as a true barn-find 1951 Lagonda.

Below are three retro cars that have caught our eye, along with their estimated auction price.

1983 Audi ur-Quattro 10v – £35,000 to £40,000

One of the stars of the sale is this rare UK-supplied Audi ur-Quattro. It represents one of the earliest right-hand drive models, being fitted with the analogue dashboard. Later versions used a LCD digital display, making this something of a collectors item.

Built at the peak of the ur-Quattro’s World Rally Championship dominance, this example uses the 10v five-cylinder turbocharged engine. Around £8,000 has been spent on maintenance since 2018, including a new timing belt and new injectors.

New carpets have also been fitted, with the exterior graphics refreshed and the wheels repainted. Service and MOT records back to 1987 are included, helping demonstrate the 110,000 miles shown on the odometer.

1991 Nissan 300ZX Twin-Turbo – £26,000 to £30,000

Nostalgia for cars from the 1990s continues to rise, and the Nissan 300ZX has proven popular with North American enthusiasts. Rarer on this side of the Atlantic, this example is a genuine UK model with just one owner from new.

A quad-tailpipe exhaust was fitted when the car was relatively new, but it has otherwise been left unmodified. That makes it stand out from the plethora of boosted and stanced examples often found on the market.

The twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 produces a substantial 300 hp, allowing for a top speed of 155 mph. Having covered just 34,500 miles, this 300ZX is a well-preserved and original example. Included is the dealership order form and hire purchase agreement, plus the factory titanium key.

1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo – £18,000 to £22,000

Fast Fords have been a major auction attraction for a number of years. A low-mileage RS Turbo achieved more than £60,000 at auction in 2015. It makes this later Series 2 example look something of a bargain.

Currently owned by a Ford enthusiast, this car has had five previous owners, and covered just over 89,000 miles. It has managed to swerve the dodgy modifications many suffered in the 1990s, presenting as if it had just rolled off the production line. A full exterior respray and interior refurbishment certainly help it look fresh.

A 132 hp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine may not sound much today, it would let the RS Turbo hit 124 mph. For less than the price of a new Ford Focus ST, you could buy this and recreate memories of the 1980s.

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Vauxhall Heritage to host free public exhibition of iconic cars

August 14, 2020

Vauxhall has announced the very first public display of models from the company’s extensive heritage fleet.

The Stockwell Discovery Centre, located in Vauxhall’s hometown of Luton, will play host to the exhibition which opens next month.

Entry will be free, but a ticketing system will limit numbers to allow social distancing to be maintained.

At the heart of Luton’s history

Vauxhall became a car manufacturer in 1903, initially starting production in South London. However, the company moved to Luton in 1905, needing extra space for its rapid expansion.

The connection between Vauxhall and Luton will be at the heart of the new exhibition. Vauxhall – Made in Luton will highlight the emergence of the company as Luton’s largest employer.

Karen Perkins, Director of Culture and Engagement at The Culture Trust Luton added: ‘The Culture Trust is passionate about Luton, its heritage and its people. Vauxhall has been an integral part of our community’s landscape for 115 years and we are proud and excited to host such a unique and rarely seen exhibition.

Historic greats and nostalgic favourites

For many, the major draw will be the chance to view an array of Vauxhall’s greatest hits. Eleven models, spanning the last 115 years, will form the selection on show.

These include the first Vauxhall made in Luton, the 1905 7/9hp, through to the 2002 Vectra. Other highlights will include the Lotus Carlton, and the Mk1. Astra GTE.

Simon Hucknall, Vauxhall’s Head of PR, commented: ‘There are some extremely rare and valuable cars on display, but many that will conjure ‘my-dad-had-one-of-those’ memories, too.’

Vauxhall – Made in Luton, will open on Saturday, 5th September, and run through until Easter 2021.

The Culture Trust Luton has details on opening times, and how to apply for tickets, on its website.

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‘Reborn’ editions to mark 60 years of the Jaguar E-Type

August 12, 2020

The immortal E-Type turns 60 in March 2021, and Jaguar is celebrating with more than just candles and cake.

The marque will offer six matched pairs of E-Types for sale – one coupe and one roadster – which pay tribute to two of the most famous Jaguars of all time: ‘9600 HP’ and ‘77 RW’.

The E-Type 60 Editions will be fully restored by Jaguar Classic Works in Warwickshire and are based on existing 1960s 3.8-litre cars.

Both the FHC (coupe) ‘9600 HP’ and DHC (roadster) ‘77 RW’ were present for the E-Type’s world debut in March 1961.

The Gunmetal Grey ‘9600 HP’ was one of the first two E-types revealed to stunned onlookers in Geneva. Apparently, it had been driven “flat out” from Coventry to Switzerland the night before – PR manager Bob Berry arriving with moments to spare.

The clamour for the cars led to Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis being told to “drop everything” and repeat the same epic drive in the British Racing Green ‘77 RW’. Both cars featured in magazine road tests of the time.

Each E-Type 60 Collection pair comes with one Flat Out Grey coupe and one Drop Everything Green roadster. The cars boast unique paint and commemorative design details, created with help from Jaguar design boss Julian Thomson.

Dan Pink, director of Jaguar Classic, said: “The Jaguar E-Type is a genuine icon, as sensational today as the moment it was unveiled in 1961. It’s testament to the E-Type’s advanced design and engineering that it can still be enjoyed and admired as passionately almost 60 years on.”

As for the price, Jaguar won’t say. But rest assured this double dose of classic cool won’t come cheap.

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Colin Chapman’s Esprit ‘company car’ to be restored by Lotus

August 11, 2020

A Lotus Turbo Esprit that was the final ‘company car’ of founder Colin Chapman is to be restored.

The 1981 metallic Silver Diamond Esprit was also driven by then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, when she visited Norfolk.

The Esprit will be the first recipient of Lotus’ new Certificate of Provenance programme, and will eventually join the marque’s heritage collection.

First registered to Lotus on 1 August 1981, the car was allocated to Chapman for his exclusive use.

After he died in December 1982, it was sold by Lotus in July 1983 and has been privately owned ever since. Today, the odometer shows just 11,000 miles.

Factory-fit options include an oh-so-80s red leather interior, air-conditioning and a Panasonic head unit built into the roof panel. The latter was an idea borrowed from the limited edition Essex Turbo.

Margaret Thatcher and Lotus Turbo Esprit

There are also several features added at Chapman’s request that make this car truly unique.

It was the first Esprit with power steering, for example, and rides on modified and lowered suspension. The brakes have also been upgraded, while the car wears dished BBS Mahle alloy wheels.

Chapman showed off the Esprit to Margaret Thatcher when she arrived at Norwich airport on 5 August 1981.

Thatcher sat behind the wheel of the Esprit while the paparazzi snapped away, then drove it around the airport’s private roads.

Whether she got the 213hp four-cylinder engine fully on-boost isn’t recorded, but the Iron Lady was a sports car fan – she’d previously owned an MGB GT.

According to local newspapers, Thatcher said: “I was tempted to drive away in it”.

The Lotus Certificate of Provenance is a new scheme designed to authenticate – and potentially add value – to Lotus cars of any era.

The certificate itself summarises a car’s spec, including the build date, VIN code and paint colour. An additional Build Specification Letter offers greater detail, such as the engine and transmission types, standard features and optional extras.

The Certificate of Provenance comes in a presentation box with a signed letter from Lotus CEO, Phil Popham.

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