Thursday 3rd February 2011

Gulf Collection Hits Retromobile

Drool-worthy private collection of Gulf racers goes on show

---

Many people like a nice collection. My better half, for example, collects Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, while Garlick has amassed a fine range of 1980s Vauxhall, Ford and Mercedes brochures over the years (and you think i'm joking).

Most collections, in short, are like those of Garlick and the OH - the sort you can keep in a few boxes or maybe display over a few shelves and cabinets. Some collections, however, are something else entirely.

And it is the ROFGO Gulf Collection, sourced by Duncan Hamilton & Co, that falls firmly into the latter category.

Sourced for a private client, the collection consists of no fewer than 14 of the most prominent cars ever to compete in the legendary Gulf Racing colours. Twelve of these are on show this week at Retromobile at the Porte de Versailles, Paris.

Of course, you don't have to travel to Paris to see them, since we've got pictures of all 14 racers - ranging in vintage from 1967 to 2010 - right here for you, because we're nice like that...

1967 Mirage Chassis No.10002 - the first Gulf-liveried car to run at Le Mans	1968 Ford GT40 Chassis No.1084 - 4th, SPA 1000 km, Hawkins/Hobbs
1969 Brabham BT26 Chassis No.BT26/4 - 1st German GP, 1969 Brabham BT26 Chassis No.BT26/4 - 1st German GP, Ickx	1970 McLaren M14 Chassis No.M14/A2 - 2nd South African GP, Hulme
1970 Porsche 908/3 Chassis No.12 - Nürburgring 1000 km, Siffert, DNF	1971 Porsche 917 Chassis No.026 - 2nd, Le Mans 24 Hours, Attwood/Muller
1972 McLaren M20 Chassis No.M20/3 - 1st, Watkins Glen, Hulme	1974 Mirage Chassis No.704 - 4th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Bell/Hailwood
1994 Kremer K8 Chassis No.K8/07/SP - 6th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Bell/Lassig/Donovan	1996 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail Chassis No.022 - 3rd, Hockenheim 4 Hours, Bscher/Nielson
2006 Courage C65 LMP2 Chassis No.07 - 7th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Gosselin/Ojeh/Ragues	2008 Aston Martin DBR9 Chassis No.007 - 4th in GT1, Le Mans 24 Hours, Frentzen/Piccili/Wendlinger
Chassis No.009 Frentzen/Piccili/Wendlinger 2009 Aston Martin LMP1	2010 Lamborghini Gallardo GT2 Championship, Giroix/Goethe

[tr7v8]

Oh dear I've just drooled all over my laptop ......

[Mini1275]

[Jimmy T]

Jealous...grrr...

[RudeDog]

Great pics!

I can't help but notice how remarkably fresh looking the McLaren F1 GTR looks for a 15 year old car.

[Lawrence5]

Good book on Gulf Racing.....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Orange-History-Gulf-M...

[jonkers]

Lamborghini Gallardo GT2 looks pretty good in Gulf colours - I've not seen that one before.

[jake15919]

Some truly amazing cars in that collection. I would love to see some of the current superstar drivers try and master cars like the 1971 Porsche 917 and 1972 McLaren M20. Unfortunately though I think it would result in there being fewer classic racing cars left in the world.

[drakart]

Not a bad set..

I especially like the 1994 Kremer K8, which seems to be capable of lapping the sarthe without a driver

[shortar53]

drakart said:

Not a bad set..

I especially like the 1994 Kremer K8, which seems to be capable of lapping the sarthe without a driver

There is a driver... it's Richard Hammond. :-P

[thatone1967]

want.....

whats that collection worth... gotta run into tens of millions surely?

[dinkel]

There's something about the livery . . .

http://www.gulfoilltd.com/motor-racing-area/

Very strong brand.

[jazzdevil]

That Pork 908/3 is just superb... as is the longtail McLaren F1, which unlike the Porsche I actually saw race in '96.

Pedants note to the editors though - think you need to check the caption for the Lola-Aston prototype *edit - it says LMP1 instead of GT1 now, but surely 009, not 007 based on it's livery... i'll shut up now.

Edited by jazzdevil on Thursday 3rd February 12:26

[Flat2theMat]

jake15919 said:

Some truly amazing cars in that collection. I would love to see some of the current superstar drivers try and master cars like the 1971 Porsche 917 and 1972 McLaren M20. Unfortunately though I think it would result in there being fewer classic racing cars left in the world.

I agree. That Porsche 917 looks AWESOME - great pic - Pic of the Week tomorrow perhaps?

PS. Is that the one Steve McQueen drove in Le Mans?

[Pixel Pusher]

I'm hard pushed to think of a more iconic combination than that of a Gulf Liveried GT40. Possibly a Lancia in Martini?

[jazzdevil]

Flat2theMat said:

PS. Is that the one Steve McQueen drove in Le Mans?

I believe that one is now in the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack museum beneath the Abbaye de Stavelot:

[Johnpidge]

Oh very nice indeed!

[dinkel]

http://porschebahn.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/porsch...

[Riggers]

jazzdevil said:

That Pork 908/3 is just superb... as is the longtail McLaren F1, which unlike the Porsche I actually saw race in '96.

Pedants note to the editors though - think you need to check the caption for the Lola-Aston prototype *edit - it says LMP1 instead of GT1 now, but surely 009, not 007 based on it's livery... i'll shut up now.

Edited by jazzdevil on Thursday 3rd February 12:26

Quite right. Too eager with the copy and paste, I think...

[bosscerbera]

Latest Gulf-sponsored vehicle is this, Ian King's Top Fuel bike:



http://www.kingracing.com/

[Killer2005]

Oh my, a fantastic collection