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Tag: Silverstone Classic

ON THE BLOCK: Silverstone Classic Sale Expands to Two-Day Auction

1940 Alvis 12 70 Competition

For the first time this year’s award-winning Silverstone Classic (25-27 July 2014) will include an expanded two-day auction as one of the massive extravaganza’s major attractions.

Organised by Silverstone Auctions the enlarged Silverstone Classic Sale (26-27 July) will include a number of exciting lots that are sure to attract both collectors and enthusiasts.

Latest addition to the lots coming under the hammer is the eclectic ‘Molino’ private collection. It includes 14 classic cars and six motorcycles, spanning nearly 90 years of automotive history.

The collection, the first such to be consigned by Silverstone Auctions, is currently owned by well-known and highly successful Midland’s motor industry character, Mike Hewitt. Since retiring in 2011, he has spent his time acquiring and fully restoring a wide variety of cars and motorcycles that are now offered for sale at Silverstone circuit. It contains rare models from marques such as Fiat, Porsche, Jaguar and MG.

Topping the bill in the collection is a rare 1940 Alvis 12/70 Competition, estimated at between £100,000 and £120,000. This Alvis was raced in national hill climbs and international races from 2007 by the much-respected late Robin Everall.

Commenting on the collection, Nick Whale, managing director, Silverstone Auctions, said: “We’re very proud to be offering this, our first ever private collection, for auction and to play a part in the cars’ histories. What’s even better is that the cars appeal to such a variety of tastes.”

Another incredibly rare British sports car to be offered in Silverstone Auctions’ two-day sale is – fittingly – a 1950 Healey Silverstone, one of just 105 ever built.

The dual-purpose car was hand built at the Donald Healey Motor Company factory in Warwick and was designed to be equally at home on the road or racetrack. Powered by a 104 horsepower 2.5 litre Riley engine and mated to a four speed manual gearbox, the car proved highly competitive in a number of events, including a class win in the 1949 Alpine Rally driven by Healey himself. It has an estimated value at between £160,000 and £180,000.

“The auction is an integral element in the growing success of the Silverstone Classic,” said Event Director, Nick Wigley. “The event is growing bigger and bigger every year and the enlarged two-day sale at this summer’s Classic mirrors that expansion. Moreover with lots such as the Healey Silverstone and wonderful Molino collection coming under the hammer, the auction has some real quality on offer.”

Further information about the Silverstone Classic Sale can be found on the www.silverstoneauctions.comwebsite. For the latest news and ticket details on2014 Silverstone Classic, visit the officialwww.silverstoneclassic.com website.

 

ON THE TRACK: Sir Stirling Moss OBE to Reunite with Maserati 250F at Silverstone Classic

LeadImage-Sliverstone 1956 Maser 250F lg
Photo: Maurice Rowe

Racing legend Sir Stirling Moss OBE will be back behind the wheel of one of his favourite grand prix cars to lead both record F1 and Maserati centenary parades at this summer’s Silverstone Classic (25-27 July).

The world’s biggest ever F1 parade will mark 50 grands prix at Silverstone – a major milestone that will be reached in July. Maserati is the award-winning event’s official ‘Celebration Marque’ for 2014 and will be celebrating its first 100 years with a special cavalcade of its finest road and competition cars.

Both special commemorative parades will take place on the full Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit on ‘Super Sunday’ 27 July and, appropriately, both will be fronted by Moss driving a Maserati 250F.

Hailed as one of the greatest grand prix cars ever created, the 250F was pivotal in Moss’ early F1 career. He raced one to his maiden grand prix podium at the superfast Spa-Francorchamps circuit in 1954, and in 1956 won at both Monaco and Monza when competing for the Maserati factory team.

“It will be very, very special to lead both the wonderful parades in a 250F,” enthused Moss, now aged 84. “The Maserati is probably the most beautiful looking and user-friendly Formula One car ever built; it’s delightful to drive and a real collector’s item. It was also very important to me. Not many people know this, but my father went to see Mercedes in 1953 to ask Alfred Neubauer [the team’s legendary F1 team manager] to give me a drive. He said that he’d been impressed by my driving in crappy cars but wanted to see me in something that could win. So we bought the Maserati. My first race was the Swiss Grand Prix at the tricky Bremgarten circuit and, in the wet, I put the Maserati on pole in front of [Juan-Manuel] Fangio, [Alberto] Ascari and all the Mercedes! As I said, it was a fantastic car to drive.”

The Maserati 250F that Moss will be driving at Silverstone is the chassis originally raced by Roy Salvadori back in the fifties and is one of just 26 ever produced. In total, the 250F won eight grands prix and was instrumental not only in establishing Moss as one of Britain’s top sporting stars but also in the great Fangio winning world championship titles in both 1954 and 1957.

“It’s always wonderful when things fall into place so perfectly,” enthused Event Director, Nick Wigley. “To have Sir Stirling Moss – the only British driver ever to win a grand prix in a Maserati – leading both parades in a magical 250F is just the best possible scenario. Even in our wildest dreams, we couldn’t have hoped for a finer sight.”

Full details on tickets (which must be purchased in advance) to see Sir Stirling Moss leading both anniversary parades can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.

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