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March 1st, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
As we stand on the edge of another F1 season it’s time for a new safety car to be revealed. This year’s safety machine comes again from Mercedes-Benz but is now in the form of the 2010 SLS AMG, which replaces last year’s SL 63 AMG.
The SLS AMG safety car will make its debut at the Bahrain season opener on March 12 and will take part in all 19 scheduled races. Who is the lucky devil who gets to pilot it? The man for the job is 38-year-old German Bernd Maylander and will be on standby with the Merc in the pit lane throughout the entire race. Maylander, is a former DTM race car driver so he should know a moves to keep the F1 cars honest on the track.
In specification terms the safety car features the same engine, power transmission, suspension and brake system as the standard-production SLS AMG but it’s been fitted with a unique LED roof light system. It also comes with F1 livery and carbon-fibre exterior mirrors.
A special number plate will feature at the rear with “Safety Car” lettering and 700 LED lights will offer additional safety in darkness or wet weather. A sneaky reversing camera will allow the driver to keep a closer eye on the F1 race cars behind via a cabin mounted monitor.
As in the last two years, Mercedes-Benz is offering its C 63 AMG Estate wagon as the official F1 medical car.
February 24th, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
A large collection of quality motor cars, spanning every decade, starting with a 1910 Hupmobile Model 20 Tourer (estimate £10,000 — 12,000), and going through to a 2005 Ferrari/Foreman Mk4 V12 Spyder Recreation (estimate £65,000 — 85,000) are being offered at the Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobilia sale in Oxford, U.K. on 6th March 2010.
The sale comes on the back of a lively start to Bonhams’ 2010 motoring season at Retromobile, Paris, which saw enthusiastic bidding and some high prices.
Last year’s March sale of the same name was the first at Bonhams’ new Oxford salesroom, a 20,000 sq ft space considered one of the biggest single auction sites in Europe, and it achieved a total of £968,493, with over 98% of cars sold.
This year, highlights include a brace of Bentleys: the first a fabulous 1956 Bentley S1 Fastback Continental (pictured) with coachwork by H J Mulliner (estimate £150,000 — 180,000), and a 1964 Bentley S3 Continental Coupe with coachwork by H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd (estimate £40,000 — 50,000). Once described as ‘a masterpiece of engineering that redefines the word opulence’ a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine (estimate £50,000 — 60,000); and a 1989 Ford RS200 Coupe (estimate £85,000 — 95,000), which is one of only 160 road cars, and a last of this line model.
Pre-war enthusiasts are also catered for with a number of examples. From the swift 1930 Lea-Francis 12/40hp W-Type Sports (£20,000 — 25,000) to the single seater methanol burning ex Len Thompson 1934 Lagonda Rapier 1½-Litre Monoposto (estimate £45,000 — 55,000); or for those summer rallies the 1923 Alvis 12/40hp Tourer (estimate £15,000 — 18,000), which has spent the last 20 years in Oxfordshire.
For a full listing of entries please visit www.bonhams.com/cars.
February 24th, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
The British Historic Kart Club will be taking an impressive line up of karts to the Race Retro historic motorsport show in Coventry, U.K next month.
The display on the club’s stand in hall 2 will include a 1959 Keele Mk1/Bultaco, similar to the one raced by Sir Stirling Moss, which was restored for Sir Stirling’s 80th birthday celebrations at Goodwood. Also from 1959, a Progress Kart similar to one raced by Graham Hill in the first official British kart race at Lakenheath, Norfolk.
Keeping the car racing connection, there will be a class one Brise from 1960. Both Tony and Tim Brise both started their motor racing careers with products from their father’s kart business. Tim has had a long career with the rally scene whilst his brother’s career had only just started when he lost his life in the same plane crash that killed Graham Hill.
There will also be a 1967 Cobra raced by Bobby Day and Mickey Allen, both former British Kart champions. The Cobra is one of only three built and has an unusual chassis design and steering arrangement taken from Ronnie Peterson’s Robardie kart. The final kart displayed is a 100cc Dale Scorpion. Built in 1963, it was Dale’s first class one kart and features an all-in-one integral seat, floor tray and petrol tank manufactured from fibre glass.
For the fast paced live action demonstration, around thirty karts from the humble 1960 Trokart to the 1970s Barlottis and the 140mph Yamaha 250cc twin powered Zips will be on the circuit, with one of Martin Hines’ Zip Hermites to be amongst the examples from that era.
As for the drivers, Barry Whizzo Williams, and Bev Bond will feature who have had successful careers racing both karts and cars. But for those more familiar with karting, there will be 1961 Class four world champion Peter Freeman, along with former British champions Reg Gange Jr, Bob Phair, and Bill Longdon to entertain the traditional crowds.
Race Retro is being held on 12-14 March at Stoneleigh Park in Coventry, U.K.
February 23rd, 2010 by NZ Classic Car
In 1938 Ferdinand Porsche first developed what the German automaker now considers the first ancestor of all its sportscars. Named simply the Type 64, this car employed a number of construction methods and styling that would later come to typify the brand from the first 356 all the way to the modern 911.
The aerodynamic Type 64 has sat as the most prominent exhibit at the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen since it opened in January of 2009. Now, the priceless Type 64 body shell will be shipped outside of Germany for the first time since being carefully restored by the automaker when it shifts to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
The Type 64 will be on display in Atlanta for the The Allure of the Automobile exhibition running from March 21st until June 20th. While the Type 64 is on the road, the Porsche Museum in Germany will show off the wooden buck that was used as a frame to beat out the aluminum shape of the Type 64.
Check out images of the Type 64 in the gallery and read the lengthy press release below.
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