Classic Touring Car Up for Auction!
One of the most significant touring cars to hit th market in recent times is coming to Silverstone Auctions sale on the 26th to 28th July at the Silverstone Classic Sale.
Sir John Whitmore’s Ford Lotus Cortina that took him to the 1965 European Touring Car Championship crown is being offered for sale with an estimated price of £190,000 to £220,000.
Prepared by Alan Mann Racing for Sir John Whitmore, this car dominated the 1965 season, it won eight out of the nine rounds, leaving all behind in its wake. The great Jack Sears shared the car with Sir John Whitmore that years for an assault on the Nurburgring 6 hour race which they won overall and set a new lap record. It was then retired from competition at the end of the 1965 season, where it was used by Ford for a promotional tour.
In 1967 Sir John bought the car and it remained in his ownership until 1995. During that time, the car resided in the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu from 1972 to 1978 and also spent some time with Jack Sears on his farm in Norfolk. It was then purchased by an American enthusiast who had no intention of racing the Cortina but continued to preserve the history of this most famous car.
In 2013 the Ford Lotus Cortina returned to the UK to be sold at auction having just covered 1,000 miles whilst in the care of the previous owner. The current vendor, who is a family friend of the Manns, is now offering the car for sale with just 11,464 miles, albeit mainly race miles. The history behind this car is so complete, with results, articles from Autosport, correspondence and period photographs.
This is one of the most historical and important race cars to come on the market that was raced and belonged to one of the legends of British Motorsport.
Other race cars being offered for sale is a rare 1965 Studebaker Lark Daytona 500 estimated at £65,000 to £80,000 and excitingly is offered at No Reserve. Having secured invitations to some of the most high-profile historic race meetings such as Goodwood, this is a highly developed, expertly prepared and extremely competitive car. It comes with a host of spares including wheels, tyres, differentials, body panels and further assorted parts. This car is welcome in the Masters Series, HRDC Historic Touring Cars, Bernie’s V8s and HSCC Touring Cars. There is also highly likely to be an invitation from Goodwood when their period for racing is 1960s saloons.
