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James Bond’s actual Aston Martin DB5 as driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger and Thunderball to be auctioned by world’s largest collector car auction house, 27th October in London, UK

PAY ATTENTION, BOND FANS! RM Auctions announces the consignment of one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century – the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 James Bond movie car – to its annual ‘Automobiles of London’ event at the Battersea Evolution in London on 27th October, where it is available for sale for the first time in history and expected to achieve in excess of $5 million. The car is being offered by RM in association with Sotheby’s, with whom RM has worked in the past.

Well-known around the world by its original UK registration number, FMP 7B, this Aston Martin is one of only two, and the sole remaining, of the original ‘007’ DB5s as featured on screen with Sean Connery behind the wheel in the enormously popular Goldfinger and Thunberball  movies. With its ‘rather interesting modifications’ originally conceived by Oscar-award-winning special effects expert, John Stears, this authentic Bond movie car is factory-fitted with the full complement of operational ‘Q-Branch’ gadgets, including machine guns, bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, tracking device, removable roof panel, oil slick sprayer, nail spreader and smoke screen, all controlled from factory installed toggles and switches hidden in the center arm-rest.

“Like ‘Q’, we never joke about our work, which is why RM is consistently entrusted with the sale of the world’s most significant collector cars like the REAL 007 Aston Martin DB5 movie car,” said Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe. “RM is known for world-record-setting results and we expect nothing less for 007’s iconic DB5.”
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“Action behind the wheel, luxury each night” is the motto of the “Classic”. Since its creation in 1993, we have spared no effort and our continued success suggests that we have got it right. The 2011 event will,we hope, live up to its predecessors.

It is true that few organisers have our unique advantages. Starting with the magic of Morocco, an ideal playground for lovers of old and modern sports and thoroughbred cars – those who enjoy on-road driving – thanks to the extraordinary variety of landscape and sites.

The 2160-km journey of this 2011 event – divided into seven legs and 19 regularity tests – will take participants from Rabat to Marrakech, via Tangiers, Fes, Boumalne Dades (using the brand new road through the Todra gorges), Ouarzazate and Marrakech.) This event will go through the Kingdom’s capital, the Gibraltar detroit, then the Rif regions, Middle and High Atlas. . .

The “Road of the Heart” is not only carefully planned: it is a paradise for the pleasure of your eyes!

None of this would be possible without the assistance of authorities of the Kingdom, especially the Gendarmerie, who work so hard and so skilfully to ensure the smooth running of the event and the safety of our participants.

Last but not least, the participants will certainly enjoy the welcome which awaits them at each of the overnight halts, which we have chosen with great care to ensure their relaxation and comfort in the nation’s very best facilities, such as the new Sofitel Rose Palace in Rabat, the mythic Palais Jamai in Fes, and, of course, the famous and exceptional Mamounia in Marrakech.

So all the ingredients are prepared for you to enjoy a great “Classic” in 2011. . . The One and Only.

NB: The MAROC CLASSIC supports a publicly-recognised charity, The Happy Hour Benevolent Association, from which it takes the name “The Road of Heart”.

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Plans are announced for the Re-opening motor race meeting at rebuilt track – September 3-5, 2010. Donington Park’s new leaseholders, Adroit, and Masters Historic Racing will jointly organise a programme of racing and special demonstrations to celebrate the re-opening of the famed circuit.

The three-day timetable will include a wide spread of historic races, from 1970/80s’ Grand Prix cars, to 1960s saloons, as well as a demonstrations by cars from Donington’s famous Grand Prix Collection, by modern race teams and by racing bikes. The two-day public programme is planned to widen the audience for historic racing, as well as to the loyal East Midlands region which has supported the circuit and the Wheatcroft family after the closure of the circuit during autumn 2009, under its previous tenants.

As well as the racing, there will be much to entertain fans of all ages and interests with special displays, parades, on-track demonstrations, bands, car clubs, music and parties for the competitors.

The event will be called “DONINGTON REVIVED! – A Celebration”
Circuit repair and refurbishment. New leaseholders Adroit, led by Group Managing Director David Broome, and Operations Director and Project Manager Steve Watton, with Donington Park’ s owner Kevin Wheatcroft, and the consulting engineers at Pick Everard, are underway with the rebuild plan, and in close consultation with the Governing Body of motorsport, the MSA, plan for a re-construction timetable which allows for the track to be fully ready and inspected to MSA and FIA Grade 2 level in good time before the event date.

All registered race entrants for the Donington Revived! Meeting, will enjoy a special preview and test day in late August, when the sights and sounds of many famous classic racing cars will once again echo around Donington Park.
Continua leyendo “Plans announced for Masters Donington Race Meeting”

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Just released and available is a new series of 2010 European automotive event videos. Challenging the notion that the viewer cannot take a lot of anything Ken’s videos show the whole show. It’s up to you to choose not someone in an editing room selecting what they think is important for you to see. No talking head standing in front of the subject and dominating the scene.

See the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa D’Este on beautiful Lake Como, Italy, in wide colorful screen clarity as the European classic car world comes to show and tell. Be there in glorious Monaco for the Grand Prix Historique, its fast and furious historic auto racing on the famous street circuit of Monte Carlo. Then there’s the famous Mille Miglia retro car adventure celebrating the fabulous race of the past with a world entry list of cars. Imagine this scene all happening in one day as cars start on their great road adventure through the towns and country side of beautiful Italy.

2010 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

On the shores of beautiful Lake Como, the elegance and beauty of the automobile is celebrated. Since 1929, this major event has set the standards of classic and cutting edge prototype automobiles in a setting that fitting for only the best. It’s an inside video look at the finest and best at a yearly gathering of the who’s who of the European automobile culture.
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Name: China Open of International Classic Cars
Date: 2010-10-24
Place: ,China

Description:
We’ll soon publish more information about the China Open of International Classic Cars

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** Photo credit: Tom Wood © 2010, courtesy RM Auctions **

RM Auctions presents the most important and valuable collector car ever to be offered during Monterey week – a rare and highly-sought-after 1958 Ferrari 250 ‘Pontoon Fender’ Testa Rossa, 0738 TR

25th anniversary ‘Sports & Classics of Monterey‘ event features no less than 23 important and significant Ferraris
RM is the proven global leader in the sale of historic Ferraris, holding seven of the top 10 all-time auction records for the marque

A rare 1958 Ferrari 250 ‘Pontoon Fender’ Testa Rossa, serial number 0738 TR, will be presented at RM Auctions’ 25th anniversary Sports & Classics of Monterey event in August, making it the most significant and valuable motor car ever offered during Monterey’s famed collector car auction week.

Considered one of the most highly-sought-after and iconic of all Ferrari racing cars, the beautiful and unmistakable Scaglietti-designed ‘Pontoon Fender’ 250 Testa Rossa was produced from 1957 to 1958 during which only 21 were constructed, including 0738 TR. Delivered new to Brazilian Jean-Louis Lacerda Soares, 0738 TR was raced for several seasons in South America under the Esquardari Largatixa banner where it recorded a number of successful finishes. For the past 14 years its current owner, a gentleman racer, has extensively campaigned 0738 TR in its yellow and green Brazilian racing colors, recording numerous wins and podium finishes at the world’s most prestigious historic racing events. (Estimate Available Upon Request).
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Grandstand Motor Sports has the ideal gift for Fathers Day on June 20th. Planned, organised and run by professional enthusiasts that enjoy motor sports as much as those they plan the holidays for. Whether buying one-off race tickets or a full package, the service includes attention to detail only possible through firsthand knowledge.

“Moins de Vitesse, plus de Champagne”.
A superb individual short break with the hire of a classic car for an unforgettable adventure in Charente, France:
This short break offers less speed, more scenery and the chance to take in France’s countryside in an old classic car. The base is, Le Logis du Paradis, an old complex of buildings dating from 1712 including its former cognac distillery, built around a large classic Charentais courtyard set in a tiny hamlet on the banks of the small river Ne. This is the heart of the Grand Cru Grand Champagne Cognac region, famous for the best cognacs and pineaux.

In between exploring the beautiful and empty D-roads of rural France in a fully insured classic car, champagne, cognac and premier cru tastings, good food and relaxation on the lawn and pool are in order. More details page 60
Continua leyendo “Fathers Day 20th June Classic Events, Classic Cars, Non Classic Packages”

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The gorgeous, matching numbers, Fiesta Red 1963 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible entered for this week’s (June 9) H&H sale at Buxton, way surpassed even its top estimate to return a whisker under £300,000. One of just seventy made, the suave four-seater soft-top was originally the property of Sefton Myers, the property developer and theatrical agent who fostered the careers of Sir Tim Rice and Baron Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Restored some thirty years ago, it was one of five splendid cars from the Midlands-based MJF Collection, all of which were hotly contested.

Bearing in mind H&H’s recent run of success with AC Aces, it was perhaps no great surprise to see the wonderfully patinated, 100D2-engined, metallic red, 1959 Ace Bristol fetch £170,500. Pleasingly sharp, MJF’s 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS had covered a mere 12,800 miles and had little trouble finding a new home for £37,400. The red 1977 Triumph Stag had been part of the collection from new and, though it had covered 120,500 miles (proof that well sorted examples can be reliable!), it was nicely presented and made £8,580. The last member of the MJF quintet was a bronze 1980 MG B LE Roadster. With just 2,500 miles to its name, it sold for £7,700.

Other notable car results
Another delightful lot was the 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III – the model driven by Bond in the novel, Goldfinger. A former entry in the Louis Vuitton Concours, the dark green example offered was knocked down for £93,500. The seductive dark blue 1959 Jaguar XK150 S 3.4-litre Roadster was on the money at £56,100, while the stunning metallic blue 1962 E-Type that had been converted from fixed-head coupe to roadster guise and subsequently featured in a variety of magazines returned £43,450. The prize for the biggest surprise of the sale must surely go to the Sky Blue 1966 Lotus Elan S2 Convertible that had lain untouched in a garage for the last 10 years. A non-running project in need of restoration, it carried an estimate of £1,000-2,000 yet finally sold for £16,060.

The motorcycles and automobilia also fared well
The undoubted star of the motorcycle lots was the 1951 Vincent Black Shadow which, though not perfect, was a fine example of this highly sought-after British classic and fetched £46,750. The delightful maroon 1921 Indian Powerplus Combination made £18,700, while the rare 1939 Excelsior Manxman realised way over estimate at £17,600.

H&H had once again assembled a fine selection of automobilia, the vast majority of which sold, in many cases for excellent prices: a sensational example of the rare, double-sided Aeroshell enamel sign made £2,350 and a most attractive pre-war Wakefield Castrol enamel sign/thermometer returned £1,495, as did an impressive Hispano-Suiza Flying Stork mascot.

The June 9 sale was also notable for the return of an online bidding facility (i-bidder) which added a welcome extra dimension to proceedings not to mention a flurry of bids and purchases from some far flung time zones.

Further details on this and other H&H sales can be found at www.handh.co.uk. The company’s next auction of collectors’ cars, motorcycles, bicycles and automobilia will take place at the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton on July 21.

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The four times champion of the world of rallies, Juha Kankkunen, accompanied again on his right for Nicky Grist, has obtained an extraordinary and forceful victory in the Rally of Portugal Revival disputed this weekend in the same sections where that it has been disputed the sixth round of the World Rally of Championship. The Finnish pilot, to the steering wheel of a Ford Escort MkII of the Spanish team ASM Motorsport, has imposed himself in more than three minutes of difference on the second classified one.

‘Triple K’ practically it flew for the Portuguese specials, rapidly away from rivals from the rest of participants. To emphasize that in the edition of 1994, Juha Kankkunen and Nicky Grist already they obtained the absolute victory in this round of the World Rally of Championship. The driver of Laukaa underlined at the conclusion of the rally. “To leaving of side the victory, that always is important, over everything it would emphasize that it has been a great experience and that so much Nicky since me, we have spent it frankly well. The Escort has worked to the perfection, not uselessly it is one of the most robust vehicles and with that more you can manage to amuse in a rally of gravel. We are eager to repeat the experience with ASM Motorsport”.

ASM Motorsport was including in the round Portuguese the participation of his habitual drivers in the European Championship, Ferran Font (Ford Escort MkI) and Antonio Sainz (Ford Escort MkII), which premiered the colours Gulf in his vehicle. Both were staying out of rally during the first stage for two exits of road, though these didn’t have practically consequences, overcoat in case of the car of Sainz. The drivers were deciding not to start of the second leg when this one had only two special ones and the specials were very broken after passing the cars of World Rally of Championship.

After this new success, the team ASM Motorsport comes to house practically with the just time to change the suitcases and to put again in route, in this occasion with destination to the Island of Sardinia to dispute a new edition of the Rally of the Corallo, where Ferran Font will defend the leadership in the Category 2 of the European Historic Rally Championship. This one will be the third time that the Andorran driver disputes the Sardinian round, which in this occasion he will share role with the Intercontinental Rally Championship IRC. Together with Font, also Antonio Sainz and Javier Martínez-Cattaneo will be with the BMW 2002 Ti, who will repeat the lived experience the previous season.
Continua leyendo “Juha Kankkunen wins the Rally of Portugal Revival 2010 with ASM Motorsport”

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See other Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival Photos

General Racing’s Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival concluded after two days of racing at Infineon Raceway, and no one could have been happier about its outcome than Chris MacAllister of Indianapolis, Ind. who won the Sonoma Historic Cup “The Phil Hill Trophy” for top overall performance and presentation, wowing the crowds with his jet-fast orange 1971 McLaren M8F. He was one of 375 entries competing in 13 groups of vintage racing cars that spanned each decade of the 20th Century and included Pre-War Sports and Racing cars, Sports Racing Cars, Formula Cars, Historic Trans-Am, Historic Can-Am, IMSA GTP and FIA mfg, GT and Grand National cars.

“Having my name on the trophy means the world to me,” said MacAllister. “It has been 26 or 27 years that I have been racing all over the world, and the best events I have ever been to are those organized by General Racing. To participate is really cool, to do well is great, but to be recognized by all my peers with the great cars, the great drivers at the best event in the country is really the best…it’s as good as it gets.”

MacAllister gave credit to his mechanic for preparing the car “to the max.” “At the morning practice, I could put this car anywhere,” he said. “I was so comfortable; I was full-out everywhere.”

Competitors appreciated the challenge of Infineon Raceway’s 2.52 mile road course, and the fans enjoyed not only watching the action but also experiencing the open paddock areas where they could reach out and touch the cars.
Continua leyendo “Vintage Excellence Defined at Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival”

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