Friday 10th June 2005

Racers come up for auction

Lagonda and Brabham racing cars under the hammer

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Le Mans racer Lagonda M45 from 1935

Do you fancy owning a classic racing car?  If so, two of them are coming up for auction, a 1935 Lagonda Le Mans Team Car and a 1966 Brabham BT11A single-seater.

Lagonda

One of three specially Works modified Lagonda M45 4½-litre cars race prepared by Fox & Nicholl, BPK 203 was driven to fourth in class (eighth overall) in the 1934 Ards TT by one-time World Land Speed Record Holder John Cobb. The following year it contested the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the hands of Dr J.D. Benjafield and Sir Ronald Gunter, running as high as second overall before dropping down the order with gearbox problems.

Resplendent in red coachwork, this iconic car has had just three custodians in the last 50 years. Now said to be in fine order, it is expected to fetch £280,000-£350,000.

Brabham

1966 Brabham BT11A. That's how racing cars are supposed to look!

A fully restored 1966 Brabham BT11A single-seater, chassis No F1-2-64 was built in late 1965 to the special order of South African Aldo Scribante, and first raced for him by none other than Jack Brabham himself in the Rand Grand Prix of 4 December that year.

Its remarkable South African career includes many outright wins for Dave Charlton and others. Since being brought to the UK in the 1990s by classic racing stalwart John Harper, the car has been completely rebuilt and now features a brand new 2.5-litre engine and Hewland HD5 gearbox. Immaculately presented in evocative green livery with gold stripe, this car is on the button and ready to win. It's estimated to fetch £100,000-£125,000.

Others

A few of the other cars entered for H&H’s sale at Buxton, Derbyshire include:

• 1954 MG TF 1250 - estimate: £11,000-£15,000
• 1925 Morris Cowley Bullnose Tourer - estimate: £9,000-£10,000
• 1984 Rolls-Royce Corniche - estimate: £37,000-£40,000

The sale is on 26/27 July 2005.

• Classic Auctions

[summit7]

That Brabham is GOOORJUSS - if only I had the money, guide price seems a little low, so much cooler than blowing £100k on Ferrari/Porsche. Just imagine taking that on the track and giving it large - no downforce, no electric aids, mechanical grip only and you the driver - gimme, gimme, gimme.

[towman]

I`ll stick a fiver on the table that says the Brabham will go to Bernie Ecclestone. He has loads from "his" era, but dare say he`d like another for the set.