Amelia Island 2018 Concourse d Elegance

Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2018 – Best of Show Winners

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2018 was held Saturday, March 10th on the fairways of The Golf Club of Amelia Island next to the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, Florida.

With more than 300 cars and motorcycles in attendance, the judges at the 23rd annual Amelia Island Concours were tasked with a difficult job of not only picking class winners, but also awarding the Best of Show Winners. The Concours awards Best of Show for two designations — Concours de Sport and Concours d’Elegance.

Best of Show Concours de Sport at the Amelia Island Concours 2018 was awarded to the 1963 Ferrari 250/275P from The JSL Motorsports Collection in Redwood City, California.

To contest the new World Prototype Championship in 1963 Ferrari introduced its first of many mid-engine V12 powered prototypes, the 250P. Four cars were constructed with three litre engines. All were factory team cars and immediately successful. Ferrari entered two cars in the Sebring 12 hour race and finished first and second overall. They went on to overall wins at the ADAC Nurburgring 1,000Kms and the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year taking the 1963 World Prototype Championship. The cars were updated with larger 3.3 liter engines in 1964, now called a 275P and went on to overall wins at Sebring and Le Mans again.

The Amelia winning Ferrari 250/275P won the overall at the 1963 ADAC Nurburgring 1,000Kms with John Surtees and Willy Mairesse and the 1964 Sebring 12 Hours with Mike Parkes and Umberto Maglioli driving. This car finished second at the 1963 Sebring event and won the first race at Mont Tremblant as a NART entry with Pedro Rodriguez driving. The car was campaigned as a NART entry in 1964 and 1965.

Best of Show Concours d’Elegance at the 2018 Amelia Island Concours was given to the 1929 Duesenberg J/SJ Convertible owned by Harry Yeaggy from Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Duesenberg J was advertised as “The World’s Finest Motor Car”. The list of Duesenberg owners was a Who’s Who of Hollywood elite along with captains of industry. No wonder — a bare chassis cost $7,500 and coachwork added another $10,000 to $15,000.

Duesenbergs were built from 1913 thru 1937. Industrialist E.L. Cord purchased the Indianapolis, IN, company in 1926 and hired Fred Duesenberg to design a chassis and an engine that would be the best in the world. The Model J was introduced at the New York Car Show of 1928. In unsupercharged form, the J produces 276 horsepower from a straight-8 engine with dual overhead camshafts and was capable of a top speed of 119 mph. The supercharged version, the SJ, could do 135-140 mph in third gear; and at a time when the best cars could rarely reach 100 mph.

The winning Duesenberg J/SJ Convertible has Murphy roadster-style coachwork that was restyled in period by Bohman and Schwartz of Pasadena, California. Styling changes included a lengthened hood, slotted fenders and more modern bumpers. One of the early owners of this car was Edward Beale McLean, who owned the Hope Diamond and whose family owned The Washington Post.

“I could not be more pleased with the judges’ decisions for the 2018 Amelia Island Concours winners,” said Bill Warner, Chairman and Founder of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. “We are overjoyed to present the Duesenberg and Ferrari with these honors. These cars are prime examples of automotive prestige and we are proud to recognize them.”

1992 Ferrari F40 Right Hand Drive For Sale

1 of 7 RHD F40 models made exclusively for the Sultan of Brunei by Pinninfarina at enormous expense.

Ferrari’s F40 is the definitive supercar and has a formidable reputation alongside the 250 GTO as possibly the best road Ferrari built to date. With the F40 Pininfarina produced an era defining creation, one that even today is instantly recognisable by old and young enthusiasts alike.

The 2936cc motor produces approximately 500bhp at 7000rpm with the help of two water-cooled IHI turbochargers running 1.1bar of boost – at 1202kg the F40 still has a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio, resulting in a top speed of 201mph flat out making it the first production car to surpass this mystical boundary. The F40 was a landmark not just on account of its crushing performance and stunning looks, but it was fittingly the last ever car presented by Enzo Ferrari, this taking place at Maranello in June 1987, 14 months before the great man’s death.

From 1991 onwards, cars were fitted with catalytic convertors to meet ever tightening legislation and at this time adjustable suspension became an option. Production was discontinued in 1992 after 1311 examples had been completed in five years (600 or so being bound for the USA and being noticeably different to their lighter and faster European cousins).

This example offered for sale, chassis 91283, is one of the original ultra-rare cars built by Pininfarina for the Sultan of Brunei in RHD. Of the RHD cars just 2 are believed to currently be in public circulation and both have been sold by Talacrest. This car is presented in concours condition having covered just 10,257 kms. A large file accompanies the car detailing a thorough recent restoration totalling over $160,000 by a well know marque specialist justifying the cars exceptional condition and detailing all work carried out including the replacement of the fuel cells at that time.

Interesting and unique features of this car include electric windows and the seating set up for a taller driver with F40LM seats and a unique headlining (for extra head room).

Talacrest bought this car direct from Brunei and has passed it on to new custodians twice and we can confirm #91283 has been maintained with no expense spared.

7 Eyebrow-Raising Sales from Amelia Island March 2018

·         By CCW

Auction weekend at Amelia Island may have been slightly down in overall sales, but there was nonetheless a sensational crop of cars on offer, some of which stood out prominently from the rest of the pack. These seven cars, many of which were exceptional examples of lower-tier models, commanded significantly more cash than expected. There are always anomalies out there, and anything can happen when two bidders badly want in or when a car has special qualities like low mileage or famous ownership. Based on previous sales and values these seven top-market sales are likely to be outliers or signals of a rising market to come.

Outliers

1988 Mercedes 560SL

1988 Mercedes 560 SL, RM Sotheby’s

Sold for R1,2 million SA Rand (Hagerty Price Guide #1 value: R750000)

Great colours, showing 2965 miles, and in essentially showroom condition. Along with earlier SLs, these cars hit full prices and then started going down to more realistic levels. For the 560, Hagerty saw a decline starting in 2016. This is probably one of the very best 560SLs around, but for it to be more than 50 percent over Hagerty’s #1-condition price is a little extreme. Safe to call it an Outlier—this car is not going to sell for more than this any time soon.

1974 Porsche 914 2.0

1974 Porsche 914, Gooding & Company

Sold for R1,2 million SA Rand (HPG #1 value: R530000)

Solid colors, showing 4934 miles, a time-warp showroom-condition car. This result tied the record for most expensive four-cylinder 914 at auction. (The other one was at RM Monterey last year, in similarly like-new condition.) Obviously, a showroom-condition original 914 is rare, and Porsche collectors are going to clamor for it, but at greater than twice Hagerty’s  #1 value, it is hard to justify as anything but an Outlier.

1957 Triumph TR3

1957 Triumph TR3, Gooding & Company

Sold for R685000 SA Rands (HPG #1 value: R540000)

Hagerty has been cutting values on the ’57 TR3 over the last several HPG updates. This example was among the nicest TR3s ever seen, fresh from a concourse restoration and pretty much show-ready. TR3s are usually too cheap for a restoration this good, and prices at the moment are essentially flat. This car is top-notch but not likely the best in the world, so there doesn’t seem to be any reason (or a rational one, at least) for it to sell so far above our current #1 value.

Ahead of the curve

1956 VW Beetle convertible

            1956 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible, RM Sotheby,

Sold for R875000 SA Rands(HPG #1 value: R525000)

A car with nice period accessories, restored to excellent, perhaps near-concourse condition. Although it was very expensive, it’s tough to call this one an Outlier because a ’56 convertible is rare, and the car was in almost tip-top shape. And given what VW Sambas have done lately (shot up in value), maybe attention will next turn to certain special VWs like this.

1986 Porsche 944

1986 Porsche 944, Gooding & Company

Sold for R500000 SA Rand(HPG #1 value: R250000)

Not an ‘S’, not a Turbo, just a base 944 with 5100 miles and in showroom-fresh condition. While the ‘86 944 has remained flat for the past couple of HPG updates, this might be ahead of the curve. Still, it this car and its value could take several years to germinate and bear fruit—all of which is dependent upon the mileage remaining low. Prime low-mileage 944s specifically have done quite well at auction over the last year or so, but prices in general seem to have flattened out.

1969 Porsche 912

1969 Porsche 912, RM Sotheby’s

Sold for R850000 SA Rand  (HPG #1 value: R780000)

Showing 24,566 miles and far from perfect. Probably the most desirable year for the 912, and this example has to be one of the better unrestored ones out there. Given that this car has the sought-after five-speed, the price wasn’t all that outrageous for an original car. If 912 values move up any more, then this car (or one like it) could probably get a similar price again if it stays in this condition.

1975 BMW 2002 Turbo

1969 Porsche 912, RM Sotheby’s

Sold for R2,4 million SA Rand

This was a world-record sale at auction for the model, by 32 percent. As we previously noted, 2002 Turbos just keep on soaring, as do vintage BMWs in general, so prices may very well catch up to these mammoth transactions soon.

Vroom with a View

Dentist who has so many cars he keeps them in enormous warehouses is selling his 450 classic vehicles for £100 MILLION.

Britain's largest private car collection, built up by cosmetic dentistry millionaire James Hull, 53, pictured, is for sale as a whole for £100million

• James Hull has built up collection of unusual and valuable cars, from Elton John's old Bentley to rare Jaguar KXSS
• Multi-millionaire Dr Hull, 53, of Kensington, west London, keeps all his precious cars in warehouses in Herefordshire
• Having fought off cancer three times, he now wants to sell the collection, and is determined to sell it as a whole
• The founder of cosmetic dentistry pioneers James Hull Associates hopes to find a buyer with £100million in Britain
• Collection includes a rare Jaguar D-Type worth at least £4million, old pedal cars, and a Sinclair C5 from the 1980s.
   
• A car-obsessed dentist who has amassed Britain’s biggest private car collection is selling the whole lot for £100million.

James Hull, 53, who founded the James Hull Associates chain of dentists, owns more than 450 rare and classic cars, ranging from multi-million pound rare Jaguars to Winston Churchill's Austin, and a Bentley once owned by Elton John.

With no room to park them all near his home in Kensington, west London, he garages them in vast warehouses in Herefordshire, but has now decided to sell up because of health reasons.

All yours... if you've got deep pockets: Dr Hull's 457-strong car collection is currently kept in warehouses in Herefordshire

None of the cars are cheap, but a buyer with particularly deep pockets is needed, because Dr Hull says he is determined to sell the 457-strong collection as a whole.

He is hoping a buyer will come in with a £100million-plus offer, making it the highest value car sale in Britain.

For that price, the buyer will get 457 classic vehicles, 365 pedal cars and 300 pieces of memorabilia including model aircraft from WW1 and WW2.

As well as full-size motors, the collection includes more than 300 miniature pedal cars, pictured at the back, as well as a Sinclair C5 from the 1980s

Planes (no trains) and automobiles: Dr Hull has collected Bentleys, Rolls Royces and Jaguars, as well as some aircraft from the First and Second World Wars

With cars represented from every decade since the 1930s, the collection includes a Jaguar D-Type, worth in excess of £4million, a similarly valuable Jaguar C-Type, and Lord Mountbatten's Mini Traveller, as well as a super-rare 1950s Jaguar KXSS.

The collection also includes a Humber which was owned by the judge presiding over the Profumo Affair and a 1961 Jaguar E-Type which belonged to Britain’s world motorcycle champion Mike Hailwood.

 Dr Hull, who made his fortune pioneering cosmetic dentistry in the UK, has battled cancer three times in the past four years, earning him the nickname Lazarus to friends.  He traveled around the world to track down some of the rarer models in his collection, shipping them back to Britain and then having them stripped down before rebuilding them.

This classic racing car, right, driven in this picture by Sirling Moss.

He said: 'It's the culmination of a life-long hobby.  Each car has its own story and all have played a part in the history of British motoring.  It's part of our heritage.

'I'm merely a passionate custodian of this hugely significant part of British history and, with luck, I will succeed in finding a home that can not only be enjoyed and treasured by the British public but also be admired by visitors from across the world.'

A number of Dr Hull's cars have appeared at motor shows around the world, competed in the Mille Miglia Italian road-race, and even been used for the Queen’s 80th birthday parade.

There are also dozens of cars which have won concourse awards, and a collection of British campervans from the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as early Land Rovers, classic Range Rovers, and a Sinclair C5 from the 1980s.

The collection, which is being sold privately, has already had a 'huge amount of interest' from private buyers and consortia, from overseas as well as nearer to home, but Dr Hull hopes it will remain in Britain.

Graham Searle, from the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, said: 'Dr Hull is a well-known Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club member with an immense passion for Jaguar cars.

This classic Bentley is among Dr Hull's collection - he travelled the world finding rare cars before shipping them back to Britain and having them restored

Most of his cars are very original or restored to original specification with great attention to detail, and over the years he must have won more concourse awards than any other Jaguar collector.

'He does immense service to the classic car movement in keeping these cars in top condition, and the sale of the collection will attract enormous interest from around the world.

Mint condition: This shining red Mini Traveller was once owned by Lord Mountbatten, and is now for sale as part of a job lot going for at least £100milion

'We of course hope that whoever buys them allows them to be seen and enjoyed by enthusiasts for years to come.'

James Hull made his money after founding James Hull Associates in 1987, becoming the market leader in cosmetic dentistry, specialising in teeth whitening, veneers and implants. 

A Classic Alvis.  

He was devastated in 2006 when vandals broke into one of his warehouses, before hotwiring the Jaguars and crashing dozens of them. Police later said they had 'treated the cars like dodgems'.

Over the past decade, prices for classic cars have shot up, outperforming every other investment and sending the value of the collection soaring. 

If he finds a suitable buyer, Dr Hull will need a new hobby, but he's not yet sure what it will be.

He said: 'I’m a collector, so who knows what will turn up next.  My wife hopes it will be something smaller like stamps.'

Jaguar XKSS

Is now the time for Collection Classic Motorcycles ?

The Las Vegas Bonhams auction shows that the classic bike market is healthier than ever, at a time when classic car prices have rightly flattened off.

The Bonhams motorcycle auction in Las Vegas yesterday brought together an excellent collection of vintage and collectible motorcycles. This sale was a typical collection for Bonhams in that most of the bikes on offer were serious collector’s items. The sale went on for a few hours with, basically, business as usual – and then the original condition, Australian speed record-setting, 1951 Vincent Black Lightning motorcycle hit the block.

Bidding started at around $400,000 (R4,4 million SA Rand) and just kept going. The sale for this bike finally hammered sold at an unbelievable $929,000(R10,3 million SA Rand), which makes it the most valuable motorcycle ever sold at auction.

The bike was built as a special order and imported new into Australia by Tony McAlpine. The Vincent Black Lightning, number 7305, is one of just approximately 30 Black Lightning models built by the Stevenage, England factory.

At the time when it was built, another well-known Vincent, nicknamed 'Gunga Din', was undergoing work in the factory as well and was prepped to smash speed records. After both were completed, the two machines were raced at an airfield where it is said that McAlpine's bike was a clear 30 yards ahead of Gunga Din, and factory records indicated that it achieved speeds in excess of 130mph in third gear.

The story gets better though, in that in 1953 the McAlpine-ordered motorcycle smashed the existing Australian speed record when Jack Ehret rode it to an average speed of 141.5mph.

'Rollie Free and Marty Dickerson [legendary Vincent riders], knew of this motorcycle and Ehret's acclaim,' according to Ben Walker, Bonhams head of motorcycling. 'After the "Bathing Suit Bike" ridden by Free, the Ehret bike is likely the most important Black Lightning in existence and is one of the world's most desirable machines.'

This piece of history is the most important motorcycle seen offered at a US motorcycle sale and speaks to a market that is ready and willing to step up and pay whatever it costs to acquire important and significant motorcycles.

The rest of the sale also saw some very strong numbers, especially with the other Vincent’s and Bough Superiors on offer. These included the all-original two-owner 1950 Vincent Comet selling for $33,925(R375000 SA Rands), the 1953 Vincent Black Shadow Series C selling for $88,550R975000 SA Rands), the 1955 Vincent Black Prince selling at $104,650(R1,1 million SA Rand), and the 1939 Brough Superior SS80 (above) that sold for $120,500(R1,4 million SA Rand).

Some of the Italian motorcycles did not fare as well as the British counterparts. A pair of MV Agustas, a 1975 750 America (above) and a 1977 850SS were no sales, as were the 1985 Ducati-NCR 850 Pro twin, which had a pre-auction estimate of $80,000 to $100,000R880000-R1, million SA Rand), and the 1987 Ducati 750F1 Laguna Seca, which had only a $23,000 to $26,000(R250000-R325000 SA Rand) pre-auction estimate.

On the Japanese bike front, a huge winner was the 1990 Honda VRR750R RC 30 that sold for what could be a record $92,000(R1,1 million SA Rand), or basically R130k more than the Vincent Black Shadow. The best buy for Japanese bikes was, for me, the competitor in period to the RC 30, the 1991 Yamaha FZR 750RT OW01 (below) that was bought extremely well for $34,500(R375000 SA Rand).

Despite all of this serious heavy metal selling at strong prices, Bonhams also brought a number of entry-level collector bikes to their sale. The standouts of these were the 1975 BMW R75/6 that was a strong buy at only R40000-00 the 1970 Norton Commando 750S café racer for a bargain R60000-00 the stunning Jacaranda Purple over Silver Sheen 1970 Triumph T100C (below) that sold for R100K.

This year looks like it could be a banner year for classic motorcycles, and being a collector of these bikes myself I think that it is about time.

The Most Expensive British Car to go on Auction

Famed DB4GT Zagato ‘2 VEV’ to go under the hammer at Goodwood.

The most celebrated Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato – ‘2 VEV’ – will hit the open market for the first time in almost half a century when it crosses the block at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed auction on 13 July. Bonhams expects the car to make well in excess of £10m.

The Essex Racing Stable 1961 Zagato ‘2 VEV’ is easily the best known of the 19 cars produced, and ranks somewhere near the top of Carrozzeria Zagato’s most important creations. Raced in period by Jim Clark, ‘2 VEV’ is one of just two quasi-works cars and one of only three configured in the ultra-light – and ultra-desirable – DP209 specification. Incredibly, the FoS sale represents the first time that the car has been offered for 47 years, having spent all of that time in the care of the same family. 

Owner John Ogier campaigned the Zagato throughout 1961 and 1962 under his Essex Racing Stable banner, during which the car was driven extensively by the great Jim Clark. The future two-times Formula One World Champion famously took the wheel during the 1961 and ’62 RAC Tourist Trophy at Goodwood, finishing fourth behind sister car ‘1 VEV’ – driven by Roy Salvadori –  in the first race before colliding with the Ferrari 250GTO of race leader John Surtees during the second. 

Clark also drove the Aston at Montlhéry, and finished sixth in the Paris 1000km alongside Innes Ireland. The car also took to the grid of the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1961, though, along with its Essex Racing sister car, it failed to last the distance. 

A fruitful career in historic racing followed once the Zagato retired from top-flight competition, being raced with great success throughout the ’80s and ’90s by Roger St John Hart, and later by Nick Cussons of the Aston Martin Owners’ Club. 

The car benefited from a full Aston Martin factory restoration in the mid-1990s and is described as being ready for track action. Bonhams’ James Knight said: “Bonhams is absolutely delighted to be bringing this landmark vehicle to auction, which continues our history of offering the world’s most important and celebrated sports and collectors’ motor cars to market. It is, by some distance, the most valuable British motor car ever to be offered at a European auction, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for this historically significant vehicle.”

Adam Carolla is Selling His Incredible BMW 3.0 CSL Racer

Adam Carolla is one of the lesser known celebrity car collectors. He isn’t as big of a name as, say, Jay Leno or Jerry Seinfeld but Carolla has one of the more impressive and exciting collections of cars of all celebrity car enthusiasts. Back in 2016 he sold off a handful of excellent Lamborghinis that would make any enthusiast drool. Now, he's selling another car: A stunning BMW 3.0 CSL one of the most iconic BMWs of all time.

It started out life as a road-going 3.0 CSL but was converted to race-spec by  Heinz-Jorgen Dahmen back in the ’70s. It was an active racing car from 1974 to 2004 and accumulated several victories and podium finishes. At some point during that time, it was bought by then-actor Cullen “Cuffy” Crabbe, who continued to race it.Crabbe eventually converted it to Group 2 racing spec and upgraded the engine

In 2011, Adam Carolla bought it from Crabbe, to add to his impressive vintage car collection. However, Carolla has never raced it. Although, he has had it professionally maintained and it’s said to start up and run well. The 3.0 litre I6 engine sounded devilish in its time.

The BMW 3.0 CSL is not only one of the most iconic BMWs of all time but one of the most iconic racing cars from any manufacturer of all time. There isn’t a price listed for the CSL, though don’t expect it to be cheap. It’s going to fetch a pretty penny, thanks to its prestige of its own and the fact that it’s changed celebrity hands a few times. We’re interested in seeing how this car’s sale turns out.

Lamborghini Meseum

Lamborghini didn’t actually have a museum until 2001, when the takeover by Audi freed up cash to put its rare treasures out on display.

Sitting next to the factory in Sant’Agata Bolognese, its two stories are packed with cars dating right back to the 1963 foundation of Lamborghini

7 LAMBORGHINI FACTS

1. Ferruccio Lamborghini used to drive a Ferrari. When the clutch broke, he noticed it was the same as a tractor’s. He went to Ferrari to ask for a replacement but received bad customer service there. So he started building his own cars.
2. Lamborghini as a company is now part of the Volkswagen Group.
3. It takes about 130 people to handcraft the Lamborghini Murcielago.
4. That same Murcielago goes from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.4 seconds and has top speed of 340 kmph.
5. The first Lamborghinis were… tractors. Lamborghini Trattori still exists but is a different company now.
6. Once, Lamborghini donated two AWD screamers to the Italian police so they could use the speedy cars to quickly deliver organs to patients in need.
7. Ferruccio Lamborghini, the man behind the brand, has Taurus as star sign. Hence the brand’s logo.

1964 350 GT

The very first Lamborghini ever, this lovely-looking machine was a rival to the Ferrari 250 GT. 120 were made between 1964 and 1966, whose 276bhp 3.5-litre V12 gave them 155mph potential.

1966 Miura P40

A prototype of the most famous Lamborghini in the world – and the earliest still in existence. It was first seen at the 1966 Turin motor show and arguably set the template for the modern super car look.

1972 P250 Urraco

In the early 1970s, oil prices were rocketing, and hurting supercar firms such as Lamborghini. Bertone thus designed the Urraco 2+2, billed as a more fuel-efficient model based around a 2.5-litre or 3.0-litre V8 engine, but also offered with a downsized 2.0-litre V8 where taxes were particularly punitive.

1974 Countach LP400

Like the Miura, famed Italian designer Bertone created the Countach, the original sharp-edged and ‘extreme’ Lamborghini. This is the very first production car, whose 4.0-litre V12 produced 370bhp – enough, it was claimed, for a top speed of 196mph.

1986 LM002

Did you know Lamborghini made a 4x4 in the 1980s? Not just any 4x4 either, but a ‘Lamborghini Military’ grade machine with 5.2-litre V12 engine from the Countach, capable of up to 434bhp. A monster in every sense of the word, of which the firm built 300.

1988 P140

Lamborghini was experimenting with more affordable cars way back in the late 80s. The P140 had its first V10, and a removable roof panel, yet didn’t make it to production, despite later reappearing in 1995 with the Cala name. We’d have to wait a while longer for the Gallardo to eventually arrive.

1991 Lamborghini Lambo F1

Lamborghini had a sole season in Formula 1 back in 1991, with a car and engine designed entirely in-house. In its very first race, it finished in a creditable seventh place, but the 700bhp V12 racer then failed to even qualify for most of the races thereafter.  

  2001 Diablo 6.0 SE

Lamborghini built the Diablo for 11 years and to celebrate the end of production, it made 42 examples of this ‘Special Edition’. Finished in gold and brown, the car’s 6.0-litre V12 was given its most potent tune yet, for a top speed of 205mph.

2006 Miura concept.

Lamborghini celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Mura in 2006, with this lovely 21st century reimagination. Serious collectors were lining up with the cheque books but, despite this, no more examples were ever built, sadly.

2007 Reventon

 How’s this for a rare production Lamborghini – just 20 Reventon were made. Based on the Aventador, its 6.5-litre V12 was squeezed up to 641bhp, giving the F22 Raptor fighter jet-inspired car a top speed in excess of 211mph.

Missing "First Ever" Land Rover to be restored.

One of the earliest Land-Rovers is to be restored as part of the marque's 70th birthday celebrations, having been missing for the past 30 years.

The demonstration model was first shown at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show, but was last on the road in the 1960s. It then spent 20 years in a Welsh field, before disappearing off the radar entirely in 1988.

Finally, in 2016, it was spotted in a garden in Birmingham – not far from where it was originally built in Solihull.

Jaguar Land Rover is now embarking on a full restoration programme, with the team behind the successful Land Rover Series I Reborn scheme handling the project.

Not that it will be without its challenges; the vehicle has several features unique to the 48 pre-production models made before the firm began mass-producing the range, including thicker aluminium alloy body panels, a galvanised chassis and a removable rear tub. Even the original Light Green paint the original model sported will need to be recreated.

The project is the first of a series planned for Land Rover's 70th anniversary this year.

Tim Hannig, director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said, "This Land-Rover is an irreplaceable piece of world automotive history and is as historically important as ‘Huey’, the first pre-production Land-Rover.

"Beginning its sympathetic restoration here at Classic Works, where we can ensure it’s put back together precisely as it’s meant to be, is a fitting way to start Land Rover’s 70th anniversary year.

"There is something charming about the fact that exactly 70 years ago this vehicle would have been undergoing its final adjustments before being prepared for the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show launch – where the world first saw the shape that’s now immediately recognised as a Land Rover."

Porsche Restores its Oldest 911

Porsche is ready to show off the oldest 911 predecessor in its possession after three years of meticulous restoration: a 1964 901.

When Porsche engineered the 356's successor, the company began production of the 901. However, just weeks into production, Porsche had to rename its banner vehicle due to a trademark dispute. Thus, the 901 became the 911. Porsche had already built the first batch of 901s, so the cars were manufactured as a 901, but sold as a 911. This restored vehicle is actually one of the first 901s ever produced before the official switch to the 911 name.

Porsche purchased the rare car in 2014 after a German television show focused on finding old treasures stumbled upon the car during an episode. Upon its discovery, the team immediately contacted the Porsche Museum, which verified it was an incredibly rare car.

The lengths to which Porsche went to restore this missing piece of its history is simply mind-blowing. To see a company place such a value on its past is what keeps the flocks of Porsche faithful growing, and the desire to preserve a car that it hadn’t yet found (imagine that, Porsche couldn’t find one!) shows the steep efforts to which the company will go for one of its own. Porsche built just 235 911s in 1964, the first 82 of which were designated as 901s.

The company negotiated with the owner of this early 911 and another project in his collection. Porsche paid $125,000 for this car, which had been in the second owner’s possession for many years after it became too small to transport his growing family. The front wings were missing, the engine was seized and the interior was practically fragments of dust and cloth. But the chassis plate that identified this car as one of the elusive 901s was pristine.

The company used genuine body parts from other 911 models and the engine, transmission, electrics, and interior were all repaired in the same manner. Restorers took great care to retain parts and fragments when able to keep the car as original as possible. 

The 1964 901 turned 911 will be on display at the Porsche Museum through April 8, 2018 at the special exhibition “911 (901 No. 57) – A legend takes off.”