Heveningham Hall Concours d’Elegance 2018

This AC Cobra GPG 4C was delivered new in part assembled form to Tommy Atkins’ ‘High Efficency Motors’ racing team in 1964. Sporting chassis HEM 6 the car was raced by Roy Salvadori in that years Goodwood TT race and the Autosport 3 hour race at Snetterton. In 1965 GPG won the GT class at the Goodwod Whitsun Trophy in the hands of Roger Mac. Owned by the Agg family during the 1980s, Passing to Graham Bryant in 1995. Since then GPG has been raced every season with much success.

McLaren display at Heveningham Hall.

By the time you read this, this ex Scuderia Ferrari/ Richard (Mad Jack) Shuttleworth 1934 Alfa Romeo P3 may have a new owner as she is to be auctioned at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. It is now considered almost certain that this car was originally driven by Guy Moll for the Scuderia. Richard Shuttleworth purchased the car from Enzo Ferrari in 1935 and raced the car throughout that season, his best result being a win at the inaugural Donington Grand Prix. In January 1936 Richard shipped the car to South Africa for the Grand Prix but whilst travelling at high speed on a seaside road an on shore gale caught the side of the car causing Richard to be deflected into the scrub land before hitting a boulder and crashing heavily. Richard eventually recovered from his extensive injuries but the car was not repaired until 1938. Richard joined the RAF but was to die whilst on a training flight in 1940. The car has been extensively raced over the past few years by Tony Smith.

Developed in the mid 1930s as a replacement for the 1.5 Liter Ulster model this 1937 Aston Martin 2.0 speed model has an Ulster/Le Mans style body built by Enzo Bertelli. Fitted with powerful hydraulic brakes the car was raced in the late 1930s at circuits such as Donington Park and Le Mans.

This Aston Martin DB3S is chassis 118, one of just 31 examples built. Ordered in 1956 by Dutchman Hans David who was an experienced racer and pre war had been the national motor cycle champion. Post war he drove a Jaguar C Type for Ecurie Ecosse before buying the Aston Martin. Hans completed in numerous events during the 1956 season achieving a first and a second at Zandvoort, his local track. In 1957 Han’s sold the car to Captain Paul Hyatt of the US Navy. Driven by Fred Windridge the car won its class at Bridgehampton on the 1st June 1958. Hyatt then sold the car to Joe Lubin who, in 1959, entered the car in a race at the Ponoma Fairgrounds track. Bob Oker drove the car but failed to finish due to an electrical problem but before retiring had been in a terrific dice with Richie Ginther in a Ferrari 500 TRC. The car was not raced again and in 1965 was sold to Richard Felt who purchased the car for $1815 paying for it over 24 months at $75 dollars a month.

Chassis No 0201 was the last Aston Martin DB4GT chassis to be completed during series production. Built by Bertone and displayed at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show. Known as the Jet this is the only steel bodied DB4 built and is unique as the Jet never made it into series production.

I had a double take moment when seeing this car upon arrival at Heveningham Hall on the Friday morning. Not exactly what it looks like. This is a Bamford 275 by George Bamford and is built around the running gear of a Ferrari 456.

The interior gives it away instantly though…

Chassis BA4 0106 is the only racing Bizzarrini built in right hand drive. Driven by Sam Posey and Massimo Natili in the 1966 Le Mans 24 hours where unfortunately they were disqualified for having crossed the pit wall line. The car also participated in that years Targa Florio and 1000km of Monza. The car was entered for Le Mans again in 1967, this time fitted with an L-88 7.0 Liter Corvette engine but failed to pass scrutineering. Following the bankruptcy of Bizzarrini in 1971 the car remained hidden for 34 years until resurfacing and being fully restored in 2003. Following display at Heveningham the car was due to be shipped to France for this years Le Mans classic.

Right hand drive chassis BC11A was the 11th example of the Bentley R Type continental Sports saloon completed. Ordered in 1951 for use in France by Mrs Loel Guiness and delivered via Franco Britannic Automobiles. Known as Glorious Gloria Mrs Guiness was the third wife of Mr Thomas Loel Guinness, an MP and a member of the eponymous brewing dynasty, though his branch of the family made their fortune in Banking and real estate. Mexican born Gloria Rubio y Alatorre was a known socialite and fashion icon and was photographed for Vogue and acted as a contributing editor for Harpers Bazaar.

Not yet another Bentley Le Mans replica this is the genuine thing 1930 Bentley Speed Six works team car old number 3. Bentley built two final Speed six team cars in 1930 to compete with old number 1 at Le Mans. Sadly old number 3 crashed at Le Mans but finished second behind old number 2 at that years Brooklands Double Twelve.

Built in 1886 the Benz Patent motorwagen is widely regarded as the world’s first automobile. In 1886 the Benz cost $1000 which in 2016 money is equivalent to $26337. Karl Benz applied for a patent in German on the 29 January 1886 and was granted patent number 37435. Interestingly Karl’s wife Bertha had financed the development so under current law would have been granted the patent but as she was a married women she was not allowed to apply for the patent. The Benz was officially unveiled to the public on the ringstrasse in Mannheim on the 3rd July 1886. It is believed that about 25 examples were built between 1886 and 1893.

Behold….

The listed top speed of this 1939 BMW 327/8O Cabriolet is 78 mph. The 327 sits on a shortened BMW 326 chassis with power coming from the 80 bhp M78 straight six engine of the 328.

This BMW 507 was acquired new by the late John Surtees in 1957. John first saw a 507 being used by BMW engineering director Alexander von Falkenhausen at Hockenheim and instantly fell for its charm. At the behest of von Falkenhausen John tried the car and fell in love with it. Later when Count Agusta told John he would like to buy him a gift to reward him for winning the World Championship for MV Agusta John replied that he would like one of those BMW 507s. The Count then asked the price and winced when John told him £8000. They finally agreed to go 50/50.

Miss Margaret Bond purchased this 1927 Bugatti T37 Grand Prix from Sir Malcolm Campbell. She first raced the car at Brooklands in 1928, despite having lessons from Sir Malcolm she crashed damaging the tail which is still distorted. She raced no more but kept the car until 1935. Another keen lady motorist, Moira Dobson then ran the car until the outbreak of the war and all subsequent owners are known.

This gorgeous 1937 Bugatti T57S (sport) chassis 57482 with bodywork by Vanvooren was purchased new by Georges Halphern in Paris. A very rare car, only 42 examples where built of which only 16 had open coachwork, and only three of those had coachwork by Vanvooren. Recently fully restored by a marque specialist. Heveningham hall concours was its first public appearance since the work was completed.

This 1903 Clement 12/16 HP is very original having been owned by a Spanish family for over 60 years. The car arrived in the UK a few years ago and has completed the London to Brighton run notably with a group of walking with the wounded charity drivers in 2016.

1939 Delage D8 120 Cabriolet chassis 51760 was delivered to Henri Chapron on the 21st June 1939. This is a second series model with a lower and lighter chassis. The D8 120 engine has aluminum pistons with four piston rings, steel connecting rods and overhead values. Reportedly commandeered by a collaborating French General of Vichy government who, when the war was over shipped the car to California. Unable to obtain a visa for himself he fled to Argentina but managed to sell the car to RKO Studios. In 1951 the car starred alongside Gene Kelly in the MGM musical ‘An American in Paris’ though for the film the car was slightly modified and painted green. After filming the car returned to Los Angeles where it was acquired by Thol Simonson, a member of the RKO Studios production team. He took the car in lieu of a pension which was owed to him by RKO Studios following Howard Hughes take over of the company. Si drive the car until 1987 when the car was put up for auction where it was acquired by the cars current owner Peter and Merle Mullin.

The 17th car made by the Ferrari factory was chassis 017, a 166 Inter Superleggera. This is that car. First sold to Mr Franco Cornachia in July 1949 it was probably road tested by Enzo before sale. In addition to being the 17th Ferrari built this Inter was the 9th road car built and is the oldest Ferrari in the UK.

Long nose, short nose, two cam, four cam, torque tube, 6 carb, alloy body etc. You need to be able to speak 275 to understand them all. To my mind they are all gorgeous and this gorgeous example is a 1964 GTB/6C long nose 6 carburettor model. Number 43 of 48 right hand drive examples. Supplied new to Mark Konig via Maranello Concessionaires in January 1966. The car has remained in the UK ever since.

This 1964 Ferrari 500 Superfast chassis 5981SF is the fourth example built and was originally displayed on the Pininfarina stand at the Paris and Turin motor shows before being delivered to her first owner in Naples Italy. In 1970 she made her way to New York before coming back across the pond to reside in London, then Cheshire and then back to the USA in 1977. Then back across the pond in 2003. Supplied originally in Blu Chiaro later changed to silver and then back to Blu Chiaro during an extensive restoration.

Nick Masons 1962 GTO chassis 3757.

GUT 497, a 1951 Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica was first purchased by David Clarke who raced the car in the Silverstone Production car race, RAC Tourist Trophy, British Empire Trophy and the Goodwood International. During the following season David competed in the prix de Monte Carlo. 1964 found GUT 497 being exported to New York before returning to the UK in 2005.

Frazer Nash Targa Florio, so named in hounor of Franco Cortese’s victory in the 1951 Targa Florio driving a Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica. YMG669 shown here is one of only 14 built and has competed at numerous events across Europe and the UK for the past 65 years.