Classic & Sports Car

Production of the Mercedes-Benz 230SL in full swing at the firm’s Sindelfingen plant in Baden-Württemberg, in 1964. The new W113 model’s status was confirmed by it sharing the production lines with the flagship 600 (W100) limousine and, as here, the glamorous W111/2 Coupé and Cabriolet. In the foreground, a UK-bound right-hooker SL gets a final spit and polish, followed by a Federal-spec car complete with signature ‘Pagoda’ hardtop. Our birthday celebration starts on p84.…

Itʼs hard to believe itʼs 30 years since my father surprised me with tickets for a new event in Sussex called the ʻFestival of Speedʼ. Keen to show me his favourite racing car from his childhood, the Maserati 250F, with that gift he cemented in me a growing passion for classics that will stay with me for life. Iʼm too young to have ever seen competition at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in its heyday, but the launch of the Revival Meeting five years later gave me a chance to experience what it was like, in perfectly authentic period detail, and Iʼve rarely missed it across the ensuing quarter of a century. Then, just as I thought things couldnʼt get any better – indeed, as I was beginning to lament the…

‘The power of the Darracq and the long run to the line meant Walker took the win’ Goodwood’s celebration of the Motor Circuit’s 75th anniversary got under way in fine style at the 80th Members’ Meeting on 15-16 April, with the winners of four of the first five races decided by less than a second. Less than half a second, indeed, in part one of the Hailwood Trophy that opened competitive proceedings: 0.318 secs split the Yamaha TZ350Gs of Scott Carson and Dan Cooper. It was a photo finish for the first part of the SF Edge Trophy, too. Polesitter Julian Majzub in his Sunbeam ‘Indianapolis’ initially surrendered the lead to James Collins’ Hudson Super Six, before Ben Collings in the Blitzen Benz took to the front by the end…

1965 SHELBY COBRA 427 Bill Shepherd has recreated some inspired racers, including his latest big-block Cobra project. Running in the Gurney Cup against a squad of GT40s, the roadster, shared with Andy Priaulx, took a top-10 grid place, and in only its second race the pair claimed an impressive eighth. With a 500bhp Peter Knight engine, the coil-sprung open Cobra demands big respect, but, presented in the colours as driven by Elvis in Spinout, it was wonderful to see in action. MW 1981 ALFA ROMEO ALFASUD TI This little Alfasud, the only one at the event, is exactly the sort of car I come to the Members’ Meeting to see. It was never going to win the Gordon Spice Trophy, and Chris Whelan’s car (driven by Ben Colburn) didn’t get…

Four demonstrations, across Saturday and Sunday, celebrated 60 years of the Porsche 911, 20 years since Bentley’s Speed 8 Le Mans win, the glory days of GT1 and Brabham’s seminal BT52 Formula One car. No fewer than 18 racing 911s took to the circuit, ranging from the Carrera RSR 2.8 that won the Targa Florio in 1973 to the ’98 Le Mans-winning Porsche 911 GT1 – so extreme that it, and its Mercedes CLK-GTR rival, spelled the end for GT1. The Martini-liveried 935 ‘Moby Dick’, victorious on its 1976 Mugello 6 Hours debut, also starred (bottom). Thundering, howling and shining into Saturday’s sunset, the long-range headlights of 1990s-2000s GT1 Dodge Vipers, Chevrolet Corvettes, Aston DBR9s and Ferrari 550s paraded at speed (below left). At times, Le Mans heroes such as…

Visitors from across Europe converged on Essenʼs exhibition halls from 12-16 April for the annual Techno-Classica. While not quite back to the scale of the past, the 33rd German event filled eight halls, plus outside areas, and hosted large crowds and international trade. Mercedes-Benz had the biggest showing by far, as is traditional, and this year the final-built, 1981 600 saloon stood at the foot of the manufacturerʼs impressive stand. Adjacent was a busy arrangement of 19 club displays, with a neatly labelled map guiding visitors to each one and features including a W116 ʻpitstopʼ with live, timed servicing, plus a radio-controlled G-Wagen off-road course. Dealers were spread throughout the show, although Hall 5 was the centrepiece for collector cars as usual, with Europeʼs top vendors displaying their finest classics.…