Race and Rally Cars Going Under the Hammer!
Click on the Gallery tab for images of our top ten cars!
A feature if this weekend's Race Retro exhibition is the sale or road and race cars by Silverstone Auctions - and here we pick our top ten favourites from their selection of competition cars. These are just our choices for cars that would grace any garbage, or team workshop, check out the Silverstone Auctions web site for the full list of cars going under the hammer!
1954 Austin A30 Speedwell
Estimate (£): 40,000 - 45,000
'The Austin A30 'Speedwell' was raced successfully in period by the Formula One twice World Champion, the late and legendary Graham Hill and this car isa recreation built by saloon expert Rae Davis as a nod to that original car replicating both the colour scheme and look.
This immaculate and special car was built from a lightweight seam welded shell and features a T45 welded in FIA roll cage, special front springs and roll bar with Armstrong adjustable lever shock absorbers by Pete Cauldwell of Worldwide Imports. The rear features special springs with an 'A' frame anti-tramp bar and adjustable Lever shock absorbers as well as EN40 steel half shafts, double bearing hubs and a limited slip differential. The new 'lightweight' interior features a a period Stack dashboard and instruments, with belts and seat all in date. Whle the engine is from Neil Brown.
Owned and raced by Gordon Shedden, twice British Touring Car Champion and all round nice guy, the car has been run by Team Dynamics and is being sold as Shedden has too many other commitments to race it this season. The car is 'on the button' and offered absolutely ready to race and win, and is eligible for numerous series - such as the HRDC series for 1950's cars, and is also a highly likely invitee for the next 1950's St. Mary's Trophy grid at the Goodwood Revival.
Uniquely, the new owner will also benefit from a test day ‘handover' if required from Team Dynamics and Gordon Shedden.
1987 Ford Sierra RS500 'Grp A'
Estimate (£): 105,000 - 125,000
The car to have during the peak of the Group A Tourinf Car period in the 19080, the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 became one of the most successful Touring Car racers of all time, winning races all over the world.
Chassis '0288' has been fully restored to a very high standard at Ian Gynne workshops approximately five years ago and since then it's undergone another full mechanical restoration and further body improvements whilst in the new ownership of Jim Whelan.
Renowned RS500 expert, Paul Linfoot, comments that this RS500 race car, in its current 'Icom' livery, is in 'outstanding mechanical and body condition having been maintained and lovingly restored with no expense spared. To replace a car in its condition would be extremely difficult to find anywhere in the world,' in Paul's opinion.
The seller bought the car 18 months ago and has loved his time in the car competing at various high profile events. During this winter, the engine has been fully rebuilt by Dave Hill, formally of Mountune. There are now fantastic opportunities to race these cars around Europe at great circuits with thrilling competition and experience Group A Touring Cars at their very best.
1966 FIA Morris Mini Cooper S MK1
Estimate (£): 25,000 - 35,000
This original UK, RHD, 1293 Mk.1 Cooper 'S' has resided with one Dutch/Belgian family since 1990 in the Netherlands and has won the European FIA Historic Touring car championship twice as well as numerous other notable races. In 2013, the car received a total upgrade by leading Mini Specialists Verbaas Preparations in the Netherlands and has only raced once since in the 2013 Historic Grand Prix at Zandvoort which resulted in a class win.
The car looks totally correct in Navy and Old English White and has current FIA Seats, Harness and Fire extinguisher and a 1293cc full race engine which is particularly 'torquey' which is advantageous on short circuits. The build spec is extensive but includes an LSD, SCCR gears, Koni race dampers, anti-roll bar, Minilites, Lexan windows, alloy foam-filled tank and more. Additional details are available if required.
The current set up is for circuit use but the car is built in such a way that it can be easily converted for Historic Rallying. The car was exported from the UK in the early nineties and comes with a Belgian registration as well as the original English V5. Also offered with a new set of 2016 HTP papers meaning this car can also run in FIA pre-1966 races (it can run as a '65 car) and equipped with a quick jack, this well-sorted Mini is ready to roll out of the collecting area and take on its usual adversaries.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Split Window Coupe
Estimate (£): 150,000 - 180,000
In 1963, Chevrolet introduced the (C2) Corvette Stingray. It was one of the most exciting introductions ever, but the Stingray's roots actually went back to 1956. In a reversal of the norm, a racing car-the Corvette SS, was the basis for the new road car and the genesis was plain to see. Both Fangio and Moss praised the race cars performance and predicted great things for Chevrolet's infant racing program. The production Stingray, in particular the '63 'split rear screen', is one the most collectable cars of all time.
This car is a 1963 Corvette Stingray FIA / HTP racer, well known in racing circles and a Goodwood favourite. It was purchased from Fred Meuller in 2008 by the seller who travelled to America to inspect the Corvette. It was presented in it’s Alto Racing livery and the history file contained various references to its early race history.
Since its arrival in the UK, this Stingray has been a multiple Goodwood RAC TT entrant proving reliable and competitive. Built by Steve Warrior, the 'small block' engine produces 481bhp and the history file contains a number of dyno sheets showing outputs at various settings. Over the last few years, it has benefitted from thorough preparation and knowledgeable input from its renowned historic race car owner/driver. Capable of lapping Goodwood in under 1minute 30 seconds, the Corvette is a very competitive prospect at a fraction of the usual costs and is a well-sorted, reliable race car. This Corvette has great presence, and with its original orange livery and period graphics brings a lot of individuality to the grid, ensuring that the car is likely to get asked back. The grey chassis is in great condition and the GRP bodywork is still very sharp. Remarkably, it's also road registered making ‘EuropeanTours' and other road events an option.
1964 FIA Ford Falcon
Estimate (£): 75,000 - 95,000
Built in 2012 by Falcon Hell Racing following a detailed two-year build, this car was finished to the ultimate FIA racing specification for European pre-'65 FIA saloons in the Masters series. Instantly successful, the car was on the podium three times that season in Masters, and again in 2014 at the Spa Summer Classic.
Complete with a Peter Knight ultimate spec, 440bhp fresh engine, a magnesium cased T10 gearbox, new axle with a Truetrack limited slip differential, Ohlin dampers, a £7,500 stainless steel custom made exhaust with ceramic coated headers, heat treated front discs and Kevlar lined, 11" rear drums, a bespoke aluminium 125litre fuel tank and a £4,000 DC Electronics aircraft spec wiring loom!
The shell was dipped, seam welded and fitted with an Andy Robinson FIA approved, welded-in roll cage, and as a consequence, it's very light and very strong and this car is an outright winner in capable hands.
It has the latest FIA HTP Papers valid from 2015 until 2025 and a comprehensive spares package including brakes, body panels, wheel bearings, brake cylinders and a spare set of lightweight wheels. Finished in 'New York Taxi' yellow, the price guide is a fraction of the build cost today and this immaculate 1964 Falcon is offered ready to race.
1965 Jaguar S-type
Estimate (£): 20,000 - 22,000
This 1965 S-type Jaguar was converted to a club racer car in the early 1980s to compete in the Jaguar Drivers Club pre-'68 Saloon car series. It was built by Ray Ingman & Dick Bradley and later featured on the childrens' television programme Blue Peter, so the car became known as the 'Blue Peter Car'.
Sold in the late 1980s to Colin Thatcher and purchased by our vendor in 1991, it was raced with the JDC and Jaguar Car Club up until 1995, when it was restored by the vendor to race with the JEC Saloon Car Challenge. The car was later brought up to specification to race in the Top Hat Series and the HSCC Historic Saloon Car Register where it competed well, with its last race being in April 2010 at Cadwell Park.
This S-type has raced at all the major circuits in the UK and Ireland, the Isle of Man and around Europe, including Spa, Hockenheimring and Nurburgring. It has been campaigned successfully on road and track, whilst also being involved in hill-climb and sprint events. The car was invited to compete in a support race to the 2008 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The car always attracts a lot of attention and interest, as well as having many class wins to its credit. Notably, it was the overall Class A winner in the 2006 HSCC & HRSR, whilst being 3rd overall in the championship.
1980 Ford Escort RS 1800
Estimate (£): 40,000 - 50,000
This Escort, recently driven by Matt Edwards from North Wales, is without doubt, the most successful in the last few years. It was originally owned by Baz Jordan and had a Holbay engine but this engine gave up the ghost on Matt's first event. After this, famous Escort guru Geoff Jones took over the preparation of the car in his workshop near Machynlleth in West Wales. Geoff is not just a builder of cars, but a hugely successful driver who does test and development work for many teams throughout the world, and his first step was to order a BDG engine from Paul Gardner Engines in Lancashire. Anyone, even slightly interested in rallying, knows the unmistakable sound of the high revving BDG engines which now produce up to 275 bhp but this particular engine was set up to sacrifice a little power in exchange for mid-range torque and drivability.
Jones then spent some time on the suspension and used his expertise and years of knowledge to make small modifications which resulted in a car, that those who have driven it, say handles and stops like no other Escort they have experienced. One of the toughest British rallies in many years was the RAC in 2014, specifically on the first night with fog and slippery roads, and Matt was in no doubt that his 58 second lead after only twenty minutes of competition was largely down to Geoff providing a car that did everything required in the most difficult conditions.
This car is fitted with a close ratio, straight cut Rocket type gearbox with zero competition miles since a full rebuild by John Roberts, who also rebuilt the Atlas axle with a 5.1:1 ZF differential and the axle has less than 250 miles of competition use since then. The Gardner engine has only had nine hours competition use so has plenty of life before a rebuild is required. New front discs and pads have also been fitted.
Before its last event the car, which has a full historic specification, welded-in roll cage, was treated to New Forest arches and a complete respray and was fitted with a new RSD professional wiring loom. Seats and belts are in date currently but will need to be replaced for the 2017 season. Matt is only selling the car as he is intending to compete in the 2016 British Rally Championship for modern cars. For anyone who wants to move into Historic Rallying for the first time or move up to the top class and wants a car to help them to do this, this Escort must be the car to purchase. A small spares package will be supplied with the car.
1960 Ford Anglia race car
Estimate (£): 20,000 - 25,000
This car is a competition prepared 1960 Ford Anglia 105E with a superb history. A letter in the file from 11th November 1992 states that the car was previously owned by a Mr John Charles D. Smith, at which point it was registered URX 949. The car was eventually passed down to a Mrs P.G. Griffin, daughter of the first owner, who later sold it to a Mr Toplis of Nottingham. URX was built up into 'club rally' spec and then sold to well-known Cobra racer John Atkins of Banbury. He persuaded the DVLA to release the iconic Anglebox registration '105E' made notorious in the early days of saloon car racing by the infamous 'Doc' Merfield. FIA Appendix 'K' papers as a 1200 were gained in 2000 and the car was invited to the Goodwood Revival where it finished 12th of 22 competitors in the St Mary's Trophy race that included famous names like, Smokin' John Rhodes, Jackie Oliver, Gerry Marshall and Silverstone Auction's very own MD Nick Whale. Atkins repeated the exercise the following year before dismantling the car and selling the car to Alex Postan who rebuilt it as a 1650cc Anglia in the style of the Superspeed cars as raced by John Young and Chris Craft.
Another Goodwood Revival weekend was completed in 2003, this time driven by Atkins and Karim Ojjeh. Each year at Goodwood, the roof of this Anglia was signed by many of the drivers in attendance, including motorsport legends Barry Sheene, Frank Sytner, Steve Soper & Derek Bell to name but a few....
Alex Postan, himself no stranger to motorsport, rebuilt the car for a final time with an Autosportif all steel 1650 cc Ford pre-Crossflow engine, along with a full gearbox rebuild and some other remedial work at a total cost of over £10,000. The car was dyno tested by DTW engines and showed a figure of 151 bhp at 7500 rpm. Raced and rallied in England and on the continent, '105E' has proved to be an excellent, multi-discipline, tarmac competition car. To the Historic Ford aficionado, '105E' has the ultimate specification: all steel 1650cc pre-crossflow with twin Weber 45 carburettors and A6 camshaft; the gearbox is a straight-cut, TranX three rail, Rocket 'box; and the "A" frame rear axle has a Quaife Torsen differential and three-piece competition half shafts.
Finished in dark metallic blue with a silver roof, the cockpit houses 2 Sparco seats and safety harnesses. There is also a plumbed in fire extinguisher behind the driver's seats, hidden neatly underneath the original rear seats which still remain in situ. Potential buyers should satisfy themselves as to the legality and currency of all the safety equipment in this car. In the hands of our vendor, himself a successful ex-World Endurance Championship racer and multiple British Modsports Champion, the 'Anglebox' has recently only made it out into the competitive arena a handful of times, the last of which was at Prescott last year.
This versatile little Anglia is crying out not to be stuck in a garage in the Cotswolds with a doting custodian, but should be back 'out there' on the circuits with the HSCC, tarmac rallying, Prescott and Shelsley, or possibly even used as the most fun way to get between pubs on a Sunday morning! Supplied with two box-files of invoices and correspondence, workshop manuals, (now expired) FIA papers and a UK V5c, '105 E' is now ready for the next chapter of its celebrated life!
1963 Jaguar E-Type Fixed Head Coupe Race Car
Estimate (£): 100,000 - 120,000
This fabulous full-race 1963 E-Type Fixed Head Coupé has only just come to market. Only very recently completed, it has been built by Wren Classics to be eligible for the 2016, Carol Spagg 'Pre-'63 GT' series. Supporting major meetings in the UK and Europe, the 'Pre-'63 GT' races are normally one hour, two driver events with a mandatory pit-stop and are for closed GT cars built and raced in the Tourist Trophy and other high profile race meetings before the end of 1962. Split into four classes based on capacity, cars must be prepared to their original specification and must be presented as they would have looked in period. These carefully thought out regulations have resulted in full grids of immaculate, iconic GT cars and some very close racing.
Wren Classics are completely familiar with the regulations for Pre-'63 and have built this car accordingly with a steel bonnet and competition wire wheels. It's powered by a Sigma engineering, Peter Landers, 3.8 triple SU race engine producing around 320 BHP and feeding through a straight-cut box. Details of suspension, brakes and set-up are all on the specification sheet. All the safety equipment is brand new and complies with FIA Safety Regs. Further technical details are available.
This immaculate E-Type is offered today at a fraction of its build cost and is potentially a front-running car in the right hands.
1980 Ford Capri Grp 1
Estimate (£): 22,000 - 28,000
This particular Group 1 Capri was built in early 1980 by George Houthuyzen for the ‘Toerwagen Kampioenschap' and was raced in period in the Netherlands before being sold in 1982 to Peter Elgaard in Denmark who campaigned it for a couple of seasons in the Danish national series. It was subsequently traded in 1986 for a Group 'A' Volvo 240 in Sweden.
Currently in very original condition, having not raced or turned a wheel in anger for over 30 years, this car may well present an ideal entry opportunity for the ever expanding and popular Goodwood Members Meeting in years to come. Given the popularity of this event ( particularly the Gerry Marshall Trophy) and other Historic Group 1 championships, the real difficulty is finding an original Capri with an established period competition history. This car therefore, is an excellent base for an exciting project to create an eligible Capri racer for future events such as Goodwood and the Silverstone Classic. With the sensible guide price reflecting the level of commissioning required, what a perfect and rare opportunity to get involved in the developing Group 1 racing scene.
