There always was, and hopefully always will be, something so incredibly exciting about rear-wheel drive rally cars. Though very seldom the fastest way through a stage, the drama of a competition car with the driver peering out of the side window through every turn captures the imagination like little else. From Escort to Chevette and 037 to 240RS, the tail-wagging joy of a RWD rally car is undeniable.
And none of the rear-drive superstars were quite so skiddy (or so fondly admired) as the Talbot Lotus Sunbeam. A curious hot hatch recipe designed to improve Talbot's image in the showrooms, the Lotus achieved some notable successes on stage, including a 1-3-4 finish on the 1980 RAC and - get this - a WRC Manufacturers' Championship in 1981. A successful career in the British Rally Championship after Group B took over international rallying secured the Sunbeam's status as a cult favourite.
It seems appropriate, therefore, that this particular Talbot Lotus - being sold by Silverstone Auctions next weekend - is about as iconic as the come. It was driven by Russell Brookes in the 1981 RAC rally, is painted in the Andrews Heat for Hire livery and it has six - count 'em! - spotlights scattered across the grille. Perfect.
In fact, KKV 384V is more significant than most, as it can lay claim to be the car in which Brookes drove for his last competitive event - the 2010 Halloween Historic Stages Rally. That's in addition to a glittering stage career, which has including competition in Ireland and Scotland as well as demonstration runs at the Festival of Speed and Rally Legends San Marino. It's surely one of the most notable Lotus Sunbeams, then; having been with its current owner since 2005, it's described as a "no expense spared" competition car, with a valid MSA Passport and ready-to-race spec. The estimate is £100,000-£125,000 - see this 1981 video for further temptation...
This being an online Silverstone Auctions sale, though, there are plenty more awesome lots to consider. On the race car side, there's everything from a Jaguar XK120 Competition roadster to a Ford Falcon Sprint, while those after an iconic road car are really spoilt for choice. The sale features a Citroen DS19 Decapotable (and a DS21 version), a Mercedes SLR McLaren, a Jaguar XJ220 and an Aston Martin V550 Vantage just for starters. 60-minute appointments are available view cars before next weekend's auction, but then it's just a case of making a brew, logging on and bidding in your pyjamas, presumably - best of luck...
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