Porsche Semper Vivus Hybrid【Video】

German car manufacturer has even released a video preview of the Porsche Semper Vivus Hybrid.

From concept cars to new technology, these events are held as a big show and tell for the world’s automakers. So, when a company brings out something that’s over 100 years old to debut at one of these events, it seems a bit odd.

They spent four years at Porsche Museum recreating this magnificent vehicle so it can once again, after 111 years on, drive into the limelight at the Geneva Motor Show 2011 followed by future appearances as part of the Porsche Museum collection in Stuttgart.





Press Release

SENSATIONAL PORSCHE WORLD PREMIERE IN GENEVA

• Porsche presents first functional, full hybrid car in the world, the Semper Vivus, 111 years after its World Premiere in 1900. http://origin.porsche.com/uk

• Recreation of ground-breaking car will make its debut on March 1 at Geneva Motor Show

• European debut of 918 RSR concept underlines ‘Porsche Intelligent Performance' philosophy

The name Porsche has been associated with pioneering innovations in automotive engineering since the beginning of the last century. In 1900, Ferdinand Porsche, founding father of the present-day Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, entered unchartered territory. With the first functional, full hybrid car in the world, the Semper Vivus ('always alive') http://origin.porsche.com/uk, the principle of the serial hybrid drive had been born.

In a stunning four year project the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart has had the Semper Vivus recreated. Next week, 111 years after this ground breaking innovation by Ferdinand Porsche, the Semper Vivus will again drive into the limelight at the Geneva Motor Show 2011 followed by future appearances as part of the Porsche Museum collection in Stuttgart.

Appropriately, Porsche is putting the spotlight of its presence at the 81st Geneva Motor Show on the world premiere of a contemporary parallel full hybrid model. In the wake of the success of the Cayenne S Hybrid it signals a new chapter in the Stuttgart company's ‘Porsche Intelligent Performance' philosophy. Along with the Semper Vivus, the new hybrid model is being unveiled on March 1, 2011 at the press conference to be held on the Porsche stand in Hall 1, stand number 1050, starting at 07:30.

These world premieres in Geneva are being complemented by the 918 RSR hybrid racing car concept, making its first public appearance in front of a European audience. The mid-engine coupé combines the design of the 918 Spyder with the technology of the 911 GT3 R hybrid racing car.

Porsche is also showcasing the 330 hp (243 kW) Cayman R in Europe for the first time, alongside the the 911 Black Edition, limited to 1,911 units, based on the 345 hp (254 kW) 911 Carrera, and the Boxster S Black Edition, limited to 987 units worldwide.

1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta

The RM Auctions’ event in Arizona on January 20th-21st is already featuring an impressive line up of rare and exotic vehicles, including a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Dayton Spyder previously owned by Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson.

On offer this season is the rare race-bred 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta. Commissioned for the 1949 Paris Motor Show, the 166 MM is considered to be one of the rarest and most historic Ferrari, having been owned and raced by many notable individuals in the Ferrari world, including Aprile Palmer in 1951.

Under the hood, power is provided by a 2.0-liter V12 engine with an estimated 140 hp (104 kW / 142 PS). It is connected to a five-speed manual transmission, which enables the roadster to accelerate from 0-100 mph in approximately 27 seconds.

Chassis number 0024 M – the 10th of only 25 examples made – was originally displayed at the 1949 Paris Motor Show in Argentina's official racing colors, yellow and blue, before being sent off to South America to win the 1950 Mar del Plata. True to its name, it was also campaigned in the 1951 Mille Miglia rally, and has since undergone a thorough restoration – including the red paint job you see here.

The beautiful racer, expected to fetch between $1.9 million – $2.4 million, is one of 11 Ferraris slated to cross the auction block during the marquee event, including Reggie Jackson’s 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder that we told you about last month. Originally commissioned for the 1949 Paris Motor Show, the 166 MM on offer is considered one of the rarest and most historic early Ferraris, having been owned and raced by many notable individuals in the Ferrari world.




Press Release

COVETED FERRARI 166 MM TOURING BARCHETTA JOINS RM'S ARIZONA SALE

• Rare 1949 Ferrari 166MM Touring Barchetta latest star attraction for RM's Arizona Biltmore auction
• 166 MM headlines exciting list of 11 important Ferraris slated for January 20 - 21 sale
• RM's 2011 Arizona sale kicks off with ‘The British Are Back', Thursday January 20, celebrating a host of great British marques

BLENHEIM, Ontario (December 2, 2010) - With preparations well underway for the 2011 collector car auction season, RM announced today the consignment of a rare, race-bred 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta, chassis number 0024 M, as the latest star attraction for its Arizona sale, returning January 20 - 21, 2011.

Originally commissioned for the 1949 Paris Motor Show, for which it was painted in the Argentinean racing colors of yellow and blue, 0024 M is considered one of the rarest and most historic early Ferraris, having been owned and raced by many notable individuals in the Ferrari world. The 10th of just 25 examples featuring striking "Barchetta" coachwork from Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, it made its racing debut at the 1950 Mar del Plata in Argentina, finishing an impressive first overall (pictured left). It was also raced in period in the 1951 Mille Miglia, where it was driven by well-known female driver Aprile Palmer, who purchased the car shortly afterwards.

The subject of a complete and total restoration, 0024 M is today finished in red and fitted with its original components, including chassis, numbers-matching engine, gearbox and differential. As an original entrant in the famed Mille Miglia it is eligible for nearly any event open to historic Ferraris. (Estimate Available Upon Request).

"Over the years RM has earned the privilege of offering more important and historic Ferraris than any other auction house. We are thrilled to present another great series of Ferraris at our Arizona sale in January, including the rare 166MM, s/n 0024 M, arguably one of the most meticulously documented Ferraris we have ever had the pleasure of offering," says Rob Myers, Chairman and Founder RM Auctions.

Continuing RM's reputation as the global leader in the presentation of historic Ferraris at auction, the 166 MM will be joined by no less than 10 other Ferraris at the company's Arizona sale. Other notable entries include the previously-announced 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder, s/n 16835, offered from the personal collection of Baseball Hall of Famer, Mr. Reggie Jackson (Est. $800,000 - $1,000,000); a stunning, fully-certified 1966 Ferrari Superfast Series I, s/n 5989 SF (Est. $900,000 - $1,100,000); a fully-restored 1950 Ferrari 166 Inter Berlinetta, s/n 043S, one of just 37 examples produced and displayed at the 1950 Turin Motor Show (Est. $400,000 - $600,000); the 1995 Ferrari F50 Show Car, s/n 99999, the Ferrari show car used to introduce the F50 to the world and the last Ferrari with a five-digit chassis number (Est. $700,000 - $800,000); and a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, s/n 10199 (Est. $220,000 - $250,000).

In addition to the Ferraris, other recent lots include:

• A multiple award-winning 1933 Packard Twelve Sport Phaeton by Dietrich, the 1933 New York Show Car and previously part of the famed Otis Chandler Collection (Est. $1,500,000 - $2,000,000);

• A meticulously-restored, multiple award-winning 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Three-Position Drophead Coupe, boasting an intriguing World War II provenance (Est. $750,000 - $850,000);

• A 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger Concept Car, the ultimate of all muscle and concepts cars and likely the most important Hemi-powered car in existence (Est. $750,000 - $1,000,000);

• A superbly restored 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, CSX 3259 (Est. $650,000 - $750,000); and,

• A pair of Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupes, including an early production example from 1954 formerly owned by Benihana founder, Rocky Aoki (Est. $450,000 - $550,00); a beautifully restored 1955 model presented in Graphite Gray with a red leather interior (Est. $700,000 - $800,000).

RM's 2011 Arizona auctions kicks off on Thursday, January 20 with the exclusive ‘The British Are Back' evening sale, followed by the company's traditional Friday sale on January 21. For a frequently updated list of auction offerings, including star consignments for ‘The British Are Back', please visit www.rmauctions.com.

For those unable to attend the event in person, Internet, absentee, telephone and iPhone bidding options are available and the auction will stream live online at www.rmauctions.com to provide real-time coverage of the event.

Event Details - Automobiles of Arizona

Sale dates:
January 20, 2011 6.30pm - 9:00pm MT - ‘The British Are Back'
January 21, 2011 11:00am - 7:00pm MT

Preview dates:
Thursday, January 20, 2011 9:00am - 6:00pm MT
Friday, January 21, 2011 9:00am - 6:00pm MT

Location:
The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa,
24th Street & Missouri, Phoenix, AZ 85016

Admission:
An official auction catalog is available for $120 US and admits two people to the preview. Bidder registration is $200 US and includes an official auction catalog and admission for two to the preview, reception and auction days.

Allard J2X Making European Comeback

The Allard J2X, the racing car for the road car that 'did an AC Cobra' more than a decade before the Cobra itself, has been revived and is heading for sale in the UK and the rest of Europe.

The original Allard J2X was a limited production road racing car which totalled only 83 cars during its original production run between 1951 and 1954. The combination of powerful American V8 power and a lightweight chassis created a formidable machine that was put to good work in the hands of drivers such as Masten Gregory, Carroll Shelby and movie star, Steve McQueen.

The J2X MKII is a handcrafted modern incarnation of the iconic British competition roadster. The vehicle is powered by a GM Ram Jet V8 unit that delivers 350 hp and a peak torque of over 400 lb-ft (542 Nm).

A notable exception is the Allard J2X, which was designed specifically for American tastes and eventually powered by a Cadillac V8. The J2X combines the front of a Lotus Seven with an aggressive rear reminiscent of the Cobra to create something 100% wonderful.

The car can be seen on display at the Premium Classic Cars stand at the NEC Classic Motor Show this weekend (the 12th to the 14th of November) in Birmingham, U.K.
Price is expected to be around £95,000/€111,550.

Source: Premium Classic Cars


Press Release

Legendary Allard J2X to live again in Europe as a modern, bespoke sports car

The Allard name will once again be seen on European roads, with the announcement that the Canadian-built Allard J2X MK II will be distributed across the continent by UK-based Premium Classic Cars Ltd.

The original Allard J2X was a limited production road racing car which totalled only 83 cars during its original production run between 1951 and 1954. The combination of powerful American V8 power and a lightweight chassis created a formidable machine that was put to good work in the hands of drivers such as Masten Gregory, Carroll Shelby and movie star, Steve Mc Queen.

Now, the Allard Motor Works has revived this legendary machine with the launch of the J2X MK II; a bespoke, modern, handcrafted version of the famed British competition roadster which integrates modern build quality and safety technology into the iconic design. Comfort, reliability and blistering performance are assured via a comprehensive mechanical specification which includes a 350 bhp, fuel injected, GM Ram Jet V8 with over 400 lb ft of torque.

Premium Classic Cars Director, Phil Dunmore says: "The Allard J2X MK II is an outstandingly good, high-quality, high-performance low-volume sports car, and its appeal will be obvious to anyone who sees or drives one. It is true to the original design but offers far greater levels of comfort, reliability and refinement. This is a bespoke, modern performance car with its roots in a glorious past and that's a recipe that will appeal to a lot of discerning European enthusiasts."

In fact, so accurate is the attention to detail and the quality of manufacturing that the official Allard Registry grants official numbering to these MK11 cars. Full specifications will be announced shortly and pricing is expected to be from £95,000.

The J2X MK II can be seen on the Premium Classic Cars stand at the NEC Classic Motor Show, stand no. ID31, over the 12th, 13th & 14th November.

For press information, please contact:

Peter Haynes

Torque PR

Tel: +44 (0) 1306 871338

+44 (0) 7738 883259

Email: peter@torquepr.co.uk

About Premium Classic Cars:

Premium Classic Cars is an independent sports car company based in Suffolk which specialises in buying and selling the finest classic cars and prepared to offer the best value for any given car at any time. All cars have been handpicked and are HPI checked and cleared for which a certificate can be provided. www.premiumclaasiccars.com

1952 356 Cabriolet Is Porsche's Oldest Import in U.S.

The owner of the “Strawberry Red” 356 Cabriolet pictured above has earned the bragging rights for owning the oldest Porsche model sold in America. The discovery was made as part of the My Porsche Classic Search, which was launched in August to celebrate the brand’s 60th anniversary. The Porsche Classic Search was conducted online with owners having to submit documentation that their Porsche was one of the earliest in its category to be retailed in the USA.

The oldest documented sale was this rare 1952 356 Cabriolet owned by Dr. Robert Wilson of Oklahoma City, Okla. According to the company, Wilson's car was imported in November of 1952 by Austrian businessman, Max Hoffman, in New York, who brought the first Porsche cars to the U.S. beginning in 1950.

The 1952 Porsche 356 Cabriolet is powered by a 1.5 liter, 60 horsepower engine and was salvaged by its current owner from a salvage yard. The oldest Porsche in USA was completely restored.

The program also led Porsche to one of the first 356 cabriolets ever built--a 1950 model owned by Richard Brumme of Annapolis, Md. Brumme's Porsche is from the first batch of cars built in Stuttgart, Germany, after the company moved from Gmund, Austria. But because the car was originally sold outside the United States, Porsche gave the winning honors to Wilson's car.




Press Release

Porsche Classic Search Crowns Rare 1952 356 Cabriolet as America's Oldest Import

National search also finds 12 of the earliest models sold in America

ATLANTA, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, Porsche Cars North America embarked on a quest to find the oldest Porsche sold in America. The Porsche Classic Search, conducted online at www.Porsche60Years.com, encouraged individuals from coast to coast to submit documentation that his or her Porsche was one of the earliest in its category to be retailed on American soil. With awards and bragging rights at stake, the call for entries yielded an impressive collection of finalists, including the oldest U.S. - retailed model found, a lovingly restored 1952 Strawberry Red 356 Cabriolet.

Launched in August, the My Porsche Classic Search received hundreds of submissions from Porsche owners across the country. Among them was a rare 1952 356 Cabriolet owned by Dr. Robert Wilson of Oklahoma City, Okla. Wilson's car was imported in November of 1952 by Austrian businessman, Max Hoffman, in New York, who brought the first Porsche cars to the U.S. beginning in 1950. The 1.5 liter, 60 horsepower gem was discovered in a salvage yard by Wilson years after arriving on U.S. soil and meticulously restored.

The My Porsche Classic Search also yielded the discovery of another distinguished and even rarer Porsche - a blue 1950 356 Cabriolet owned by Richard Brumme of Annapolis, Md. This car is one of the very first series production 356s built in Stuttgart, after the company relocated from Gmund, Austria. Impeccably restored with original parts sourced from around the globe, the 1950 356 Cabriolet was also recently honored with the 2010 Best in Show and Best in Class Awards at the 356 Registry's annual gathering in Cleveland, Ohio. While Brumme's car is unique and special, it was not the oldest Porsche actually retailed in America. This distinction goes to Wilson's 356 Cabriolet of 1952.

Porsche also encouraged owners of cars spanning 12 model ranges to enter their cars for a shot at earning the 'oldest' designation for their respective car model. Apart from the 356 lineup, entries were submitted for the Porsche 911, 912, 914, 924, 928, 944, 968, Boxster, Cayenne, Carrera GT and Cayman. The oldest Porsche models in America and their owners are:

• 1965 911: Barry August of Clarksville, Md.
• 1965 912: Steve Torkelsen of Wilton, Conn.
• 1970 914: Ralph Stoesser of Marco Island, Fla.
• 1977 924: Jay Hoover of New Haven, Ind.
• 1977 928: Jim Doerr of Richmond, Va.
• 1983 944: John Denning of Covington, Wash.
• 1992 968: Jeffrey Coe of Trumball, Conn.
• 1997 Boxster: David Adrian of Worcester, Mass.
• 2004 Cayenne: Adam Reichard of Magnolia, Texas
• 2005 Carrera GT: Robert Ingram of Durham, N.C.
• 2006 Cayman: Eugenie Thomas of Martinez, Calif.

A photo gallery of the oldest Porsches and car details can be viewed at www.Porsche60years.com.

Porsche plans to honor the owners of these cars with an exclusive badge issued by the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, and by featuring images of the cars at the new "Sixty Years of Porsche in America" exhibit, which opened in the museum on Oct. 12. Additionally, the 1950 356 will be displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, where it will join the company's newest models.

The celebration is not yet over. Porsche aficionados still have an opportunity to participate in Porsche's 60th anniversary. Open until Nov. 1, the My Porsche Passion Contest encourages enthusiasts to submit a 500-word story that communicates their passion for a specific Porsche car or an experience with the Porsche brand at www.Porsche60Years.com. The top 20 stories, selected by a special panel of Porsche judges, will be available for public judging Oct. 25 – Oct. 31. Fans are encouraged to vote online for their favorite essays from the list of 20 finalists. The three entries with the most votes will win an all-expense-paid trip to the Porsche Sport Driving School in Birmingham, Ala.

About Porsche Cars North America, Inc
A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing.h.c.F.Porsche, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. and its 197 dealers offer U.S. customers some of the most technically advanced and high-performance vehicles in the world. Porsche is also synonymous with supreme quality and first-class customer treatment. A testament to this is the fact that Porsche has been ranked No.1 in J.D. Power and Associates' prestigious Initial Quality Study (IQS) during four of the past five years. Also, Porsche is fully and publically committed to being a leader in significantly lowering emissions, and saving fuel. The company's guiding credo is "Porsche Intelligent Performance" and the goal is to prove that Porsche's high performance and efficiency are not contradictory terms. A dramatic example of this is the highly-anticipated 918 Spyder - a super sports car that is also a planned plug-in hybrid. Of course this is nothing new for Porsche, which for 62 years has developed numerous technologies that have advanced vehicle performance, improved safety and spurred environmental innovations. Obviously, one expects such achievements from the most revered race car brand in the world --- one that has accumulated more than 28,000 motorsport victories. Today, PCNA imports the cars that are the product of this great history, including the iconic 911 series, the renowned Boxster and Cayman mid-engine sports cars, the high-end Cayenne sport utility vehicles and the four-passenger Panamera Gran Turismo cars.

Alfa Giulia GTAm – best Alfa Romeo ever

Alfa Romeo have made 70 models in their 100 year history. 2010 just happens to be the centenary year of the famous Italian marque, so what better time to work out which car Alfa fans (that’s Alfisti to you and I) think is the best Alfa made to date. As the article title suggests the Giulia GTAm won the poll, with a narrow margin over the 8C Competizione. Voting was conducted via the Alfa Centenary website.

The Alfa Giulia GTAm, which was voted as the best Alfa veer by 20.4 per cent of the overall tally, is based on the 1750 GT Veloce production model. It managed to win the 1970 European Touring Car Championship with driver Toine Hezemans at the wheel.

Coming in a close second with 19.8 percent of the votes was the 8c Competizione supercar, the fastest and most capable Alfa Romeo to date. But that's what you'd expect from a $180,000 (£123,000) supercar.

“The Giulia GTAm was a great Alfa and a deserved winner. It’s really interesting to see how people voted in the poll. We all have our favorites which is testament to the fantastic cars Alfa Romeo has produced over the past century.” For those of you interested, the latest GTAm is on sale in dealerships across the UK.






Press release

Although Alfa Romeo has to date created more than 70 models in its rich 100 year history, it all came down to a battle between just two iconic Alfas in a poll of fans’ favourites, initiated to celebrate the Italian marque’s centenary year.

And it was the Alfa Giulia GTAm that came top of the poll, beating the 8C Competizione supercar to the chequered flag with less than one percent more of the vote.

The Alfa Giulia GTAm, which gained 20.4 per cent of the overall tally, derived from the standard 1750 GT Veloce production model, and secured its place in the Alfa Romeo elite by winning the 1970 European Touring Car Championship in the hands of Dutchman Toine Hezemans. The votes for this poll were collected from admirers and owners – known as Alfisti - who submitted photos of their Alfas to the alfacentenary.co.uk website to create a unique piece of mosaic artwork.

The GTAm and Alfa’s current supercar, the 8C Competizione, led the way against a shortlist of classics including the 2900 B Le Mans, Alfasud and the 156 GTA.

A worthy runner-up with 19.8 per cent, the 8C Competizione - worth more than £123,000 - debuted as a concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003 and went on to be produced in 2008 as a limited edition model of just 500 examples and selling out almost immediately. The car’s name derives from Alfa’s world famous 8 cylinder (8C) engine and the marque’s racing pedigree.

The Alfa Spider Duetto, widely regarded as a design classic, finished in third place with 16.01 per cent of the vote. This car was first launched in 1966 and famously starred in the legendary film The Graduate in 1967, alongside Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft.

Alfa Romeo UK Brand Communications manager, Damien Dally, says: “The Giulia GTAm was a great Alfa and a deserved winner. It’s really interesting to see how people voted in the poll. We all have our favourites which is testament to the fantastic cars Alfa Romeo has produced over the past century.”

The latest five-door Alfa Giulietta model, which takes styling cues from the iconic 8C Competizione, is now on sale in dealerships across the UK. For further information visit www.alfaromeo.co.uk

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB TdF Race Winner Auction in Monterey

One of the most glorious cars ever made and a mighty champion at that, a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France is on sale.

Stunning as it is in pristine condition with its original red and orange livery with original racing number, that only conveys the racing heritage behind this particular 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France. In the same year as its construction, chassis number 1321 took first in its class and third place overall at Le Mans and won the 1000km Nurburgring race as well.

It has changed hands a few times only and has been maintained really well. It will now be auctioned by Mecum at Monterey, California. The auction will take place during the Pebble Beach concourse week, after it makes its first public appearance in almost 20 years.




Press Release

Mecum To Offer 1959 Ferrari 250 GT at Monterey Auction

Star Vehicle Took 1st Place in its Class at Le Mans in '59

Marengo, IL - June 4, 2010 --

A Le Mans-winning 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB TdF will headline the second annual Mecum Monterey Auction, August 13-14, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa.

Driven by Jean Blaton and Leon Dernier, the Ferrari 250 GT – serial number 1321 – won 1st place in its GT class and 3rd overall at Le Mans in '59 as the No. 11 car. Earlier that same year, it took 1st place at the 1000 km Nürburgring endurance race. After its race career, the Ferrari was privately owned by only a few collectors – the most recent owning the car since the 1970s – and this 250 GT was last seen in public in the early 1990s at Road America.

"We are excited to offer collectors a chance to bid on this world class Tour de France 1959 Ferrari, the type of car that offers quality, provenance and is fresh to market," said President Dana Mecum. "The list of amazing vehicles continues to grow for our upcoming Monterey Auction. We have expanded it to two full days as more than 400 investment-grade collector cars, exotic vehicles and ultra rare boats are scheduled to cross the block."

Mecum's Monterey Auction takes place at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa. Cars will be displayed outside on the beautiful Del Monte Golf Course, while the bidding arena will be staged in a 10,000-square-foot ballroom. The auction is open to the general public. For a complete list of vehicles, visit www.Mecum.com.

The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 23 years, now offering more than 5,000 collector cars per year. Consignment, bidder and event information is available online at www.Mecum.com or by calling 815.568.8888.


Mecum Monterey Auction
August 13-14, 2010
Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa
1 Old Golf Course Road
Monterey, CA 93940

Vehicle check-in:
Wednesday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Preview:
Thursday 12 – 5 p.m.

Auction: Gates open Friday and Saturday at 9 a.m.

Auction begins Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m.

Auction: 1935 Bentley 3.5 Litre

We've seen our fair share of auto auctions over the years. At this point, it takes something truly rare and truly unique to catch our eye. The car in question has to be more than four wheels and a beautifully engineered engine, which explains why we're all riled over word that a 1935 Bentley 3 ½ Liter Saloon will be auctioned off by Historics at Brooklands. Yes, the car itself is something special. It wears a unique Flying B hood ornament – one of only three ever created – and has extensive documentation following nearly every mile on the odometer, but that's not what makes this particular lot so interesting.

You see, the car is being sold along with complete ownership of Freestone & Webb – the company that originally built the Bentley's special body way back when. The company is being auctioned off with neither assets nor debt, so the winning buyer will essentially have rights to the name alone. The coachbuilder hasn't built anything since closing its doors for good in 1958.

The Bentley and Freestone & Webb will be sold alongside a total of 65 other classics on June 2.

via:autoblog




Press Release

Classic Bentley to be auctioned, complete with free ownership of the company that built it

75 years after it was coach-built to the highest standards of the day, a 1935 Bentley will be auctioned at Brooklands on June 2 with a unique, free 'accessory' - ownership of the British coach-building company that created it.

Billed as one of the finest examples of its kind, the fine 1935 3 ½ litre Bentley Saloon is a jewel amongst 65 other fine classic and collector cars offered by specialist auction company, Historics at Brooklands.

Valued at between £75,000 - £90,000, the Bentley is offered by Historics with a comprehensive array of diaries documenting it's many trips in great detail. It is adorned with a single winged 'B' radiator mascot; believed to be one of only three examples of the experimental design ever produced, whilst the company which originally built the bespoke bodywork and interior of the car - Freestone & Webb - has even greater rarity value.

The renowned British coachbuilder was formed in 1923 by V.E. Freestone and A.J. Webb and, at its height, was producing 15 Rolls-Royces and Bentleys a year with exquisite hand-crafted bodywork and interiors. Freestone & Webb regularly exhibited at the London Motor Show and, for nine consecutive years, its excellence in the industry was recognised with the Gold Medal in the Private Coachbuilders competition.

Following the death of Webb in 1955, the company was taken over by HR Owen and continued to build bodies until 1958, after which the name was shelved.

The car's vendor discovered and acquired the company name and registered the limited company in 1990. It is now offered, together with the Bentley, as asset and debt free, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own not only a fine motor car, but also an iconic piece of British automotive coachbuilding history.

For more information, and to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction on the evening of June 2, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk. Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the evening.

3-litre Bentley Saloon.

Christened 'The Silent Sports Car', the chassis of the 3 ½ litre Bentley Saloon was built from September 1933 in Derby alongside Rolls-Royce – and indeed designed under the influence of Sir Henry Royce - earning its moniker, in part, to excellent handling characteristics and a top speed of 97mph when adorned with the lightweight bodywork.

Despite early examples of the Bentley 3 ½ litre costing around £1,500, the unique blend of style, grace and performance proved popular amongst the inter-war elite, with over 70% of the cars built between 1933 and 1939 said to be still in existence some 80 years on.

A small selection of the 65 fine motorcars consigned to the first Historics of Brooklands auction on Wednesday, June 2, includes the following. Please visit
http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/online-catalogue.aspx for the full consigned list of vehicles.

High res photographs are available of all vehicles

1930 Bentley 4.5 litre Vanden Plas Tourer

A beautifully presented 1931 Bentley 4.5 litre boasts a well-documented and wonderful history, a fabulous finish with the correct engine and period-style supercharger. Examples of these important cars rarely come to the market, and a high level of international interest is expected £625,000 - £775,000

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe

Very original, four owners from new, long-term owner since mid 80's
£110,000-£145,000

1954 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe

Discovered in a barn after 20 years and recently re-commissioned
£48,000-£50,000

1987 Aston Martin Zagato Volante

Extremely rare, 1 of 37
£45,000-£60,000

1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I

Body by Thrupp & Maberly. Engine, body and interior restored
£130,000-£155,000

1955 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

Stunning body on uprated XK140 chassis
£45,000-£55,000

1937 MG TA Special

All aluminium body, built to very high spec, demonstrated at Le Mans Classic 2004
£25,000-£35,000

1937 MG TA

Well-known 'Team Rosbif' racing T-Type. Raced extensively from early sixties onwards in the UK and Europe
£23,000-£28,000

1955 Ford Thunderbird

Imported to the UK in early 1960's
£12,000-£18,000

1969 Chevrolet Camaro 396 SS Convertible

Genuine numbers-matching 396SS in restored condition
£30,000-£40,000
1968 Ford Escort AVO Rally

Absolutely correct period rally car, beautifully restored.
£35,000-£45,000

1939 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith by Mulliner & Co

A stunning Razor-Edge saloon with a 6,000 hour restoration.
£30,000-£40,000

1970s Mercedes C111 show car Damaged During Attempted Theft

A rare 1970s-era Mercedes-Benz C111 was the target for some thieves as the car waited on a transport trailer for a Channel crossing on its way to the Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands. They tried to nick it off a lorry bringing it to England. Of course, they didn't make it as the car the car is a mock-up and has no engine.

According to reports from across The Pond, the truck transporting the vintage concept car from Germany to the UK was hijacked by criminals looking to make off with the C111. The attempt was thwarted, but though now repaired, significant damage was reportedly incurred to one of the showcar's gullwing doors and to the front fender.

The C111 was a concept car by Mercedes-Benz which came in various alternative power train iterations, for which it was intended, throughout the 60s and 70s. Besides being fitted with turbocharged petrol/gasoline engines, Mercedes tried diesel and rotary engine power plants on it too. A C112 version also followed, fitted with a 6.0 liter V12. No version ever made it to production.

via: WCF

BMW 328 Kamm Coupé

The BMW Classic has been creating some buzz around automotive circles. Recently the BMW sub-brand instituted a Motorsport division and then they rolled down around Munich in some old-school, classy chariots.

Recreating the BMW 328 Kamm Coupé, named after the German engineer Wunibald Kamm, became a project of BMW Classic over the years. In fits and starts, various recreation programs were begun and abandoned until the Munich-based automaker found the right partners to do the work in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Mille Miglia win.

The project intitiall started in the 1990s, but there was a serious lack of information regarding the car. Only after receiving aid from a private collector who had detailed photographs of the car (including "a good number of shots detailing the car's tubular frame construction") could they proceed.

The bulk of the work was done by René Große, who had previously restored the BMW 328 Touring Coupé and Mille Miglia Roadster for the BMW Museum. Using modern materials, such as plastic, carbon fiber and alumimum, Große came as close to recreating the famous racer as possible given that none of the original design drawings were still in existence. 

Aside from recreating the body of the car, BMW Classic also had to deal with challenges to reproduce the drive train, radiator, and the rear axle. Looks like they have done a great job looking at the pics.





Press Release

Back to the future - the BMW 328 Kamm Coupé

Today the BMW racing cars which made history in the 1940 Mille Miglia continue to enthral and delight wherever they go. For many years, however, the fleet of silver BMW racers has been one car short. The BMW 328 Kamm Coupé, named after the German aerodynamics pioneer Wunibald Kamm, disappeared without trace back in 1953. But now - 70years after BMW's famous Mille Miglia victory - BMW Classic has recreated this legendary racing car, once again illuminating an important milestone in both motor sport history and the development of vehicle aerodynamics. "We are very proud to be able to bring this car back into the public spotlight," said Karl Baumer, Director of BMW Group Classic. "We've come up against some major technical challenges, had many discussions and racked up countless hours of research, but when you see the car for the first time you can sense the passion and expertise invested in the project by everyone involved - all those years ago and today."

BMW was quick to appreciate the unique status of its Mille Miglia cars following the victory in 1940, and they were soon moved out of Munich into a rural hideaway to save them from potential destruction during the Second World War. The evacuation was successful, with all five surviving the hostilities essentially unscathed. However, in the upheaval of the immediate post-war period BMW lost track of the cars. With Allied soldiers scouring Germany for rare racing cars, it was hardly surprising that the three Mille Miglia Roadsters resurfaced in Russia, England and America. The winning Touring Coupé from 1940 was initially seized by the Americans before being whisked away by a senior BMW employee. However, it also found its way across the Atlantic when the employee decided to emigrate.

Only the Kamm Coupé remained in Germany, former BMW Director of Racing Ernst Loof having acquired the car for his personal use. By this time he had become a manufacturer in his own right, supplying speedy Veritas racing sports cars to customers in a resurgent post-war Germany.

However, he also laboured consistently under financial woes and a few years later he was forced to part company with the Kamm Coupé. Sadly, this automotive gem was not blessed with a long life under its new owner, succumbing to the scrap heap after an accident in the early 1950s.

There was certainly no denying the historical value of this very special car and, after BMW founded BMW Mobile Tradition in the mid-1990s to oversee an extended reappraisal of the company's history, plans were put together to build a reproduction. But the resurrection project proved to be a tricky undertaking. All design drawings for the car seemed to have disappeared into thin air and there was hardly a rich supply of historical photos around either. It was only with the hands-on assistance of a private collector in Munich that the project team were able to gather together a much larger selection of photos showing the car from a wide variety of angles. Indeed, these even included a good number of shots detailing the car's tubular frame construction.

Now it was time to tackle the exacting task of piecing together a likeness of the complete car from the available information. Computer specialists in the design department embraced the challenge. They started by scanning in the most detailed photos to use as a basis for a 3D geometry program. Then the few reliable constants, such as the wheel rim diameters, wheel offset, headlight size, door handles, wing nuts, indicators and BMW logos, were added until they appeared in the same position in every projection. Every image provided a fresh series of reference points for wheel arches, windows and other parts linked to the fixed constants. Gradually, the well of information deepened until the experts were able to produce a virtual solid model, in which every detail looked right in every view of the car. This was used to generate a program for a five-axis milling machine, which would cut an original-size model from a massive block of highly compacted foam.

A restorer was then commissioned to stretch an original BMW chassis by 20 cm and build a steel space frame according to the templates provided by the photos. However, not long afterwards the project was put on ice. As part of the concept design process for the new BMW Museum an idea was floated of rebuilding the intricate Elektron space frame of the Kamm Coupé as a showpiece for the "Lightweight design" area of the museum. An exact copy of the original space frame was duly produced with the help of a specialist based near Munich. Aluminium was chosen as the material in place of the original Elektron, and the frame's weight duly came very close to that of the original. Although this display frame was never intended to be used in an actual car, the Kamm Coupé idea remained on the table. In the end, it was a project initiated by the Meisterschule für Karosserie- und Fahrzeugbau Leipzig-Leisnig-Erlbach (master craftsmen''s college for body and vehicle construction serving Leipzig, Leisnig and Erlbach) in partnership with the BMW plant in Leipzig that got the ball rolling.

The original plan was to cover the existing steel space frame with aluminium body panels to replicate the external appearance of the car at least. The Meisterschule produced moulds of the foam model in which the panels of the outer skin could be shaped. The finished body has since been on display at the Leipzig plant.

With the 70th anniversary of the Mille Miglia victory fast approaching, BMW Classic was determined to bring its plan to recreate the Kamm Coupé to fruition. However, highly skilled specialists were required to turn the collection of individual parts into a car that could actually be driven. With his excellent BMW 328 Touring Coupé and Mille Miglia Roadster restorations for the new BMW Museum still fresh in the mind, it was clear that René Große - based in Wusterwitz in the state of Brandenburg - would be the right man for the job.

Große used the foam model as the basis for a glass fibre-reinforced plastic mould. This was then shaped (with the help of additional wooden elements) into a strong casing which was split down the middle into two parts. The 25 mm-diameter tubes for the space frame - made from an aluminium alloy that allowed work-hardening - were then fitted into these two half-shells. Extreme precision was the order of the day here, as no corrections could subsequently be made to the outer skin. All this endeavour was aimed at ensuring that the frame would get close to the 30 kg weight of the original. For the outer skin, the team used pure aluminium body panels from a second set supplied by the Meisterschule. The newly made panels for the inside - for the inner front wings, bulkhead, double floor section of the body, dashboard and fuel tank, for example - then had to be integrated into the mould.

The body experts in René Große's team called on all their skill and experience to fit the body to the space frame. An interesting detail of the construction were the 40-mm-wide aluminium strips which were welded to the frame at the outer edges of the metal skin. The outer skin was then edged inwards around these strips to a width of a few millimetres to achieve the visually intricate edges on the bonnet, windows, doors and wheel arches. This detail, like the design of the bonnet hinge and door hinges, had been patented by BMW. And that meant there were sketches available which enabled the team to render the new parts as close as possible to their original templates.

Other challenges included the technical tweaks which set the Kamm Coupé apart from its series-produced siblings, such as the set-back radiator, engine and transmission, modified rear axle and a host of other alterations requiring meticulous detailing.

The BMW 328 Kamm Coupé was finally handed over to BMW Classic in a brief ceremony in March 2010. That left only a short amount of time to prepare the newly created racing car for its big day at the 2010 Mille Miglia - 70 years after its last, memorable appearance in the race.