Recently restored by GTO Engineering and taking pride of place on their standwas this 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Pininfarina Series 1, chassis #1475GT. Previously owned for 40 years by Ferrari historian Hilary Raab.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
I had wanted to visit this show – now in its second year – not so much for the cars on display, but for a fondness for the location. Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally to us Londoners) is a historic entertainment venue in Alexandra Park, London and located in the north of the city. Known as the people’s Palace and home to concerts, exhibitions and various other cultural events, it was opened by Queen Victoria on her 54th birthday the May 24, 1873. Tragedy struck 16 days later when a fire, which started in the dome, reduce the Palace to ruins with only the outer walls left standing. Undaunted, the palace was rebuilt, opening again in 1875.
Alexandra Palace today.
During the First World War, the Palace was used to house Belgium refuges and later became an internment camp for Austrian and German citizens living in the United Kingdom. The Palace’s greatest claim to fame however took place on November 2, 1936 when the British Broadcasting Corporation better known as the BBC began broadcasting the world’s first high definition public television service.
During the Second World War, whilst the television service was no longer broadcast, the huge Marconi Television Aerial built at the Eastern end of the Palace, was used to disrupt the Luftwaffe’s Y Gerat navigation aid used by their bombers to target London. The BBC resumed television broadcasting at the end of the war. The studios at the Palace later became the home of the BBC New service. In July of 1980 tragedy struck for a second time; a blaze started in the organ loft destroying the Grand Hall, the banqueting suite and the roller skating rink. Following redevelopment and restoration work the Palace reopened on the 17th March 1988.
So why do I have a such a fondness for the Palace? During the 1960s, for the first 10 years of my life, when I looked out of my bedroom window, it was the Palace that occupied the view. My Saturday afternoons would begin with a ride on the red single decker W3 bus from Hornsey to Ally Pally to go roller skating. As the rink was always playing pop music over the speakers as we all skated round and around, even today, nearly fifty years later, whenever I hear the music of the 60s I am reminded of those care-free days. It was at the Palace that I first got a whiff of Castrol R as my parents had taken me to a motor bike scramble held in the grounds. My first ever posh dinner was taken at the Palace as the tennis club my parents belonged to would hold their annual dinner and dance in the Empress suite. I still remember feeding the ducks on the boating lake, or taking out a rowing boat.
Enough of the nostalgia – what was the show like? It’s quite small but as it occupies the Palm Court and the 8000 sq. meter restored Grand Hall, this does allow plenty of room to be able to inspect the cars without too much pushing and shoving. On each day of the show various groups of classic cars would be demonstrated by being driven around the perimeter road of the Palace. They were mostly road cars, one exception being the six- wheeled Tyrell P34 Grand Prix car. As is often the case at these shows a classic car auction was held by Coys, appropriate as during the 1960s a car auction used to take place at the Palace, around the back near the boating lake, if I recall correctly. The main feature of the show was the “Century of Supercars ” display. In June of this year a competition was run by Classic & Sports Car magazine in which a team of experts from the magazine picked three Super Cars from each decade over the past 100 years. On display in the Great Hall were the winners chosen from each decade. 17000 votes were cast with the overall winner of the poll unveiled by John Surtees CBE on the Friday of the show. The winners are shown in the following photographs. Unlike the vast Classic Car show held in November at the character-less NEC in Birmingham, this is less of a car club show and more of a dealer-based show. When I finished photographing the show you will not be surprised to learn that I took a further trip down memory lane and visited my old home and many of the haunts of my youth. Everything seems a lot smaller now than it did back then!
100 Years of the SuperCar
For the period 1914 to 1929 the vehicle chosen was the Bentley 4.5 liter blower, the contemporary opposition being the Bugatti Type 43 and Mercedes SSK. One of just 55 Bentleys fitted with Amherst Villiers supercharger, this example, displayed courtesy of Stanley Mann Racing, carries coachwork by Vanden Plas and was raced in period by Archie Butterworth who, during World War I, managed to shot down an enemy aircraft with a pistol.
For the 1930s,the choice was between a Delahaye 135 Sport, the Bugatti Type 57SC and the winner, Alan De Cadenet’s Alfa Romeo 8C 2300.
For the 1940s, the Jaguar XK120 took the spot, contemporary rivals were the Ferrari 166 and Talbot Lago Grand Sport. This example is owned by Jaguar/Land Rover and forms part of the company’s collection of 500 heritage vehicles.
For the 1950s there was no surprise in the car chosen, the Mercedes Benz 300SL. The rivals were the Jaguar XKSS and the Ferrari 250 SWB. The Gullwing was displayed courtesy of Robert and Tanya Lewis.
For the 1960s, again no great surprise, a Lamborghini Miura. This example, often described as being the “Twiggy Miura” was supplied new to Justin De Villeneuve, her manager. It is believed that at some point the car was owned by Bernie Ecclestone. Contemporary rivals were listed as the De Tomaso Mangusta and the Ford GT40.
For the 1970s, it had to be the Lamborghini Countach, up against the Porsche 911 Turbo and the Ferrari 365 Berlinetta Boxer. This example is one of 150 LP400 Periscopio examples built and rarer still because it is right hand drive. Displayed courtesy of Cheshire Classic Cars.
For the 1980s, again no surprise. With contemporary rivals listed as the Porsche 959 and the Ferrari 288 GTO, the choice made was the Ferrari F40. This non-Cat, non adjustable example, displayed courtesy of DK Engineering was supplied new to France in 1989 and unusual in that it is fitted with F40 OZ racing alloys.
For the 1990s, and the ultimate winner was the McLaren F1. Rivals were the Bugatti EB110 and the Jaguar XJ220. This example displayed courtesy of McLaren Special Operations, is one of only two examples to leave the factory in Grand Prix Red, and was once owned by Michael Andretti who obtained it as part of the deal for signing to race for the team.
On the Friday morning of the show, the winner of the celebration of 100 Years of the Supercar was unveiled by none other than John Surtees, CBE.
On Friday afternoon those in attendance were privy to a fascinating interview between John Surtees and Henry Hope Frost. Amongst the subjects discussed was John’s split from Ferrari in which the name of Dragoni was much in evidence.
And the others, in Alfa beta cal order
Displayed on the Gallery Aaldering stand, all the way from Holland, was this stunning 1960 Giulietta 1300 Sprint.
Displayed on the compliment cars stand, and drawing a fair amount of attention was this Giulia SS.
To be auctioned at the show by Coys of Kensington was this rather nice Nuovo Giulia 1300 Super.
On the Aston Martin specialist Desmond Smail stand this DB4 would seem to be in the process of being Zagatoised.
Sharing space with the DB4 on the Desmond Smail stand was this DB7, a factory Zagato from 2003, one owner and only 2000 miles.
Designed by Luigi Rapi, and built at the Fiat/Autobianchi factory at Desio near Monza in December 1967, this recently restored Bianchina has recently been imported from Italy. Based on the Fiat 500 the Bianchina was a more luxurious mini car aimed at the affluent middle class Italian family.
On the Vintage and Prestige stand was this 1938 Delahaye 135C, reconstructed in Argentina using the remains of chassis 833049 by Rodolfo Iriarte.
It’s great that 250 GTEs and 330 GT 2 plus 2s are no longer being chopped up to make Testa Rossa replicars. This Blue Chiaro left-hand-drive 330GT 2 plus 2 dates from 1964 and is on sale at DD Classics in London.
On the Gallery Aaldering stand, a 1983 Ferrari 512 BBI, black with black interior. 21000 kms from new and only three owners.
Displayed to promote next year’s Ennstal Classic this Ferrari 750 Monza chassis 0504 was a works car driven by Michael Poberejsky, who raced under the name of Michael Sparken, and Masten Gregory at Le Mans in 1955. The car was later owned by Dudley Cunningham, Colin Crabbe and Luigi Chinetti.
Beautifully lit and waiting to be auctioned by Coys this Ferrrai 246 GT Dino E series from 1974.
Also waiting a trip across the Coy’s rostrum was this 1974 LHD Fiat 130 Coupe. Oh how I loved mine!
Tucked against the back wall of the Gallery Aaldering display was this rather unusual Fiat 501 Corsa Biposte listed as being from 1924.
Sharing space with the 330GT 2 plus was this Millie Miglia-eligible 1954 Fiat Topolino 500C Belverdere.
Displayed to show-case the restoration skills of Classic Motor Cars (CMC) to whom the car now belongs, this Jaguar XK120 is unique in that it was bodied by Pinin Farina. First shown at the 1955 Geneva Motor it is believed that the car was created for the New York importer of luxury European motor cars Max Hoffman. This was the cars first public appearance for 40 years.
This Jaguar XK140 fixed head raced at Le Mans in 1956, the only XK140 fixed head to do so.
Jaguar XJ13: I know you have probably seen this car on numerous occasions, but can you believe the design is now 50 years old? Designed to return Jaguar to Le Mans, unfortunately development was curtailed as there was a more pressing need to develop a new saloon. The saloon became the XJ6/XJ12. During the show Norman Dewis was reunited with the car and later talked about his experiences with the car including surviving a very high speed crash in 1971 when the car was being filmed as part of the launch of the V12 E Type. One of the rear wheels collapsed at high speed but Norman walked away unhurt mainly because he managed to climb under the dash as the car tumbled, having first switched off the engine.
Another well-lit Coys auction lot. Dating from 1953 this XK120 is a matching numbers example built for the export market.
Sharing space on the CMC stand with the Pinin Farina XK120 was this 4th series Lancia Aurelia B20 GT from 1955. Eight apprentices of the company have been tasked with her full restoration. When speaking to one of the team, I asked him how the build quality compared to the XK120. His opinion was that they were of a similar quality but what was noticeable when stripping the B20 was the dreadful quality of the so called restoration that was carried out in the 1980s. He knew it was carried out during that time as that was the date shown on the newspapers that they pulled out of the sills!
Supplied new to Sir Rod Stewart (how many has he owned? ) this 1971 Muira S is listed on the UK Lamborghini concessionaire delivery sheet as being right hand drive and fitted with air conditioning and seat belts. Sold for £909k at the Coys auction held at the show.
Another Coys lot, this Lamborgini Urraco is right hand drive and following 9 years of inactivity has just been through a £52k rebuild.
Maserait Ghibli SS. First registered on the 18th April 1972 and one of only 8 right hand drive Ghibli 4.9 SSs. Once owned by Adam Clayton, the drummer with the rock band U2.
This 1966 Maserati Mistral 4.0 displayed on the Gallery Aaldering stand is unusual in that it still retains its Lucas Fuel Injection system. A matching numbers European spec example restored in Italy about 8 years ago.
Another beauty displayed on the Gallery Aaldering stand, a very elegant Maserati Sebring.
This Maserati 3500 GT Vignale Spyder dates from 1962. European spec and one of just 245 Factory built Spyders.
Waiting for a new owner courtesy of Coys, this 1964 Renault 8 has been fully restored. The engine was rebuilt to stage one spec and is fitted with Webers. Looks great on its Cosmic Alloy wheels.
The sound of a Cosworth DFV echoed around the streets of North London courtesy of the six wheel Tyrell P34 Grand Prix car. .