Scheckter buys his debut GP McLaren

The sale of Maserati 250F chassis 2524, in which Spanish aristocrat Francesco ‘Paco’ Godia-Sales finished in fourth place in the German and Italian Grands Prix of 1956, was the highlight of last month’s Brooks auction at London’s Olympia.

Godia’s compatriot, former FIA Historic champion Joaquin Folch-Rusinol, bought the machine for £500,000 (including the buyer’s premium), but the short-nosed Jaguar D-type which also came from David Pennell’s stable failed to sell.

Much interest surrounded cars from the late John Foulston’s collection, none more so than the shapely Formula One Yardley McLaren M19A-1 in which Jody Scheckter made his Grand Prix debut at Watkins Glen in 1972. This machine was acquired on behalf of the 1979 World Champion himself for £144,500.

The same figure secured the ex-Dan Gurney McLaren M8D-3 Can-Am car, but one of the two aggressive-looking ex-Jackie Stewart Lola 1260 sportcars made £150,000. A British buyer bought the later VDS-bodied T530, but as there is nowhere to run this central-seat Can-Am car in Europe this stunning car’s future as a racer will inevitably be in the USA.

The buy of the event, though, was the ex-works/Graham Hill 1967 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk2. Powered by an FVA engine from the Formula 2 cars of the era, it will give its new owner tremendous fun and unbeatable value for money on track.