Octane March 2019

AS I WRITE THIS, night has already descended on London. At 4.30pm. It was not even a case of blue skies turning black, but grey skies gradually working their way through the spectrum of greys until they got to Very Darkest Grey. We have not seen the sun today. Yet on my screen is everything that would make the world right just at the moment. It is a picture of the Lichtman 300 SL Gullwing arrowing across Arizona under unfeasibly cloud-free skies. A highly desirable car blasting along incredible roads through majestic scenery, bathed in sunlight. For me – especially at this depressing time of year – this is the entire classic car dream wrapped up in a single image. Being lived to the full. Properly. Better even than the…

DONALD OSBORNE ‘Driving a 300 SL Gullwing through the Arizona desert connected with my passion for old cars. The experience of driving vintage cars is the highest form of engagement, and doing so in an automotive icon through spectacular geology sends me to heaven.’ Read all about Donald’s dream drive in a Gullwing on pages 58-68. DELWYN MALLETT ‘Over many years I’d witnessed the gradual and painstaking restoration of the Jowett Jupiter R1 to its Le Mans specification. So it was with great pleasure that I finally got the opportunity to take the rejuvenated old girl for a spin. It was well worth the wait.’ Find out more on pages 88-96. JETHRO BOVINGDON ‘For me the Bizzarrini was always a proper dream car. As a teenager I’d watch it in…

Rally Round Africa 1-27 OCTOBER More than 25 crews took part in the four-week Rally Round Africa that started in Dar es Salaam and travelled nearly 7000km through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Swaziland and South Africa. Vintage winners were David and Barbara Berks in a 1929 Chrysler 75, while Australians Steve and Ruth Lambert, driving a 1972 BMW 2002 Touring, claimed the honours in the Classic group. INDOCHINA ROAD CLASSIC 30 OCTOBER – 21 NOVEMBER Limited to 25 cars, this epic rally was amusingly described by the organisers – Destination Rally – as ‘90% asphalt, 10% dirt… but good roads’. Over 4700km and 23 days it took in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL 10-13 JANUARY New life has been breathed into this event at the NEC, Birmingham, and highlights…

A ramshAckle BelgiAn garage has yielded a million-pound treasure trove of three fabulous Bugattis that have been stashed away for more than half a century. The cars were the property of Dutch sculptor August Thomassen, who kept them because of their stunning form rather than to drive. Thomassen so worshipped Bugatti that he cast a bronze of Ettore, now on display at the Cité de l’Automobile in Molsheim. The star of the discovery is a Graber-bodied 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet. Estimated to be worth between €400,000 and €600,000, chassis 57500 is one of just nine Type 57s given bodies by the Swiss coachbuilder and it still has all the unique features and details that hallmark it as a Graber build. Thomassen bought it in 1960 and it was little…

‘Just as it happened for the baillon collection, i received a call from one of the two daughters of the owner and we met up immediately. i discovered a woman deeply concerned about the safety of the bugattis her father august Thomassen had owned since the 1950s. She explained that someone had attempted to break into the barn and she wanted to prevent this from happening again. The cars had to be taken away as soon as possible. We arranged a meeting for the following week. i took Pierre Novikoff with me and we headed to Liège in belgium. as we arrived on the spot, after arranging the meeting with the carrier, we found out that we would have to suffer somewhat to disinter the bugatti 57. at least 300…

Rotten Yiura in huge Hrench barnfind A dilapidated Lamborghini Miura LP400 is among 81 cars discovered in Tarbes, in the Hautes-Pyrénées region of France. The collection belonged to Henri Ruggieri and was scattered around his overgrown property. It only came to light when local authorities ordered the site to be cleared after his death. Many are everyday fare, but highlights include a Porsche 356 pre-A, Jaguar E-type, Hotchkiss Grégoire prototype, Lancia Flaminia Coupé, and three Oldsmobile Toronados. The collection was due to be sold by Adam Enchères on 20 January, the Miura estimated at €400-600k. Gongs for motoring gurus There was a welcome trio of motoring-related awards in the New Year’s Honours list in the UK. Legendary F1 and road car designer Gordon Murray was made a CBE (Commander of…