Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Every two years, Peter Auto, organizer of the Paris Rétromobile Show, of the Tour Auto, of Spa Classic and many other events, invites all the Le Mans lovers to the famous Sarthe circuit for a celebration of the history of the Le Mans 24 hours.
This year, on the weekend of July 6-8, six grids covered a period starting in 1923 through to 1981.
Although we will concentrate on the on track action, Le Mans Classic is far more than this with a gathering of 8,500 cars of clubs from all over Europe, a village of 200 exhibitors, the Le Mans Heritage Club which is a display of 25 cars that actually took part to the 24 hours race in period, an auction held by Artcurial auction house, a race for Group C cars, a demonstration of GTs and prototypes from the 1990s and 2000s.
But enough words, let see the action…
Grid # 1 is reserved for prewar cars ad covers the period of 1923 to 1939. The French make Chenard & Walcker won the 1st edition of the 24 hours of Le Mans. This is a 1924 car from this manufacturer.
1931 Bugatti Type 50, Mike Preston (GBR)
1936 Delahaye D6-70 S of historic racing regular Paul-Emile Bessade, France.
Lorraine Dietrich won in 1925 and 1926 with a B3/6 model as seen here, driven by Nick Grewal (USA)
After WWII, it took four years to revive the Le Mans 24 Hours. Grid # 2 commemorates this period, from 1949 to 1956, here with the 1954 Maserati A6 GCS barchetta of the Sucari family, from Argentina.
Many Maseratis were in this grid. Here the 1957 250S driven to 3rd overall by Brits Richard Wilson and Martin Stretton.
No luck for this Maserati 450 S of Josef Rettenmaier, who did only 5 laps in the first of the three heats.
The smoking 1953 Fiat 8V Zagato of Traber and Trenery managed to do only one more lap before retiring.
Not sure this is the real Cadillac ‘Le Monstre’ that took part to the race in 1950 as the car is normally part of the Collier Collection but it was impressive to see that thing on track.
Monteverde/Pearson/Smith were the overall winners in Grid 2 with this D-Type once driven by Jim Clark himself.
The Callista D 120 Ranelagh, with Panhard mechanicals, was a 1951 entry at Le Mans, finishing 28th.
The 1959 Tojeiro-Jaguar of Cottingham and Girardo was one of the favorite in Grid 3 (1957-1961) but it only took part in the practice session due to mechanical problems. It is seen here sliding through ‘Tertre Rouge’ corner before tackling the Mulsanne straight.
A 1961 Osca 1600 GT Zagato exiting the ‘S de la forêt’ (or S of the forest). There are no more trees there since the circuit has been transformed for modern racing and safety reasons.
1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SVZ with its distinctive double bubble roof.
The famous Ferrari 250 GT ‘Breadvan’ in action at Mulsanne corner. It finished 2nd overall of the final combined classification.
A CD Panhard at the same place.
Grid 4 (1962-1965) is the playground of the Ford GT40s as three of them made the final podium.
Many Bizzarrinis or Isos were also present in this grid. This is the 1965 Bizzarrini 5300 GT of German crew Fromm/Ebeling/Ebeling, 10th overall.
Another with Spanish drivers Delso and De Miguel.
This one is listed as an Iso A3/C Grifo, 8th overall with Brooks and Smith from UK.
The CD Peugeot SP66 with its two shark fins to improve stability at high speed.
This Alpine M65 was entered for Mauro Bianchi and Henry Grandsire in 1965. Quickest in practice in its category, it had to retire due to a broken gearbox. 53 years later, the car finally saw the chequered flag!
A Porsche 906 Carrera 6 at dusk.
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB of Frenchmen Desplaces and Bois.
A 1964 275 GTB with Spanish driver Carlos De Miguel and Colombian teammates Steuer and Steuer.
British collector Clive Joy entered his Ferrari 250 LM and partnered with Trenery and Collard. They had to retire during the second heat.
The 1964 René Bonnet Djet lacked of top speed in the Mulsanne straight just as it lacked of power with its small 1.1 liter engine.
Grid 5 was for the 1966-1971 cars. One of the stars of this grid was of course the 1968 Howmet TX, one of two built and entered in the 1968 edition. It seems more reliable today than in period as the car finished the three heats and was classified 24th over 78 entrants.
The reliability is the weakness of this old racing cars as experienced Rittweger and Hancock, only able to enjoy the driving of this 1971 Alfa Romeo 33-TT-3 during practice.
This 1971 De Tomaso Pantera Gr. IV was driven by German Ralf Kelleners, former Porsche official driver and son of Helmut Kelleners, famous Touring car driver of the 70s and 80s.
Another Alpine, a 1967 A210, looking very similar to the M65 shown above.
In 1968, the Alpine A220 succeeded to the A210, with a bigger V8 3 liter engine.
The 3rd heat of Grid 5 saw a battle between the 1971 Ligier JS3 and the 1972 Duckhams, both of them powered by the Cosworth DFV engine.
Roald Goethe, of the famous Rofgo Collection of Gulf liveried racing cars, and his team-mate Stuart Hall won the 1st heat of Grid 6 (1972-1981), held late on Saturday evening, aboard their 1973 Mirage Gr 7.
Italian collector and seller Franco Meiners entered the sole Lancia of this grid, a Beta Gr. V of 1981.
The Inaltera GT was the first attempt of Jean Rondeau to participate to the Le Mans 24 hours with a car of his conception. Driven in the 1976 edition by Frenchmen Beltoise and Pescarolo, when they finished 8th OA and 1st in the GTP class, the car was again driven by Pescarolo this year, now 75.
40 years ago, the Alpine Renault A442B of Pironi and Jaussaud won Le Mans. But before this, it is this Alpine, an A443, driven by Jabouille and Depailler that led the race for 18 straight hours before retiring, passing the relay to their teammates.
1979 Ferrari 512 BB LM, driven in period by Dini, Violati and Flammini.
With the Group 5 cars as the Porsche 935 K3, you can be sure to have some on track spectacle …
… as confirmed by the BMW M1 of the same period.
But what about a Peugeot 905 going off road?
Every two years, Hug Vanhoolandt, invites all the Le Mans lovers to the famous Sarthe circuit for a celebration of the history of the Le Mans 24 hours. Thank you to him to offer us beautiful pictures of this exceptional meeting.
Very beautiful picutre that of the Delahaye D6-70 of 1936 in front of the Dunlop grandstand…, full attack !!!
Great shots and I also appreciate the descriptions under the photos as well.