Letter to readers, April 1988
Going by the book Dear Reader, Last month I was on about lavish and expensive books; this month a book with a difference has arrived. This is the 1988 Year…
Sold by Gooding & Company, £30,620
This was the first Defender built for the Bowler Challenge one-make off-road series organised by Land Rover and Bowler. Chassis R01 was used as a development and publicity vehicle before being driven in events such as the 2016 Scottish Borders Hill Rally and the 2018 Hill Rally Championship.
A Stage Two engine tune gave it 195bhp and it benefited from brake and suspension upgrades. It had covered fewer than 15,000 miles from new and was among seven Bowler Land Rovers sold by the firm’s former director, Richard Hayward.
Sold by Bonhams for £17,730
Recently rebuilt as a replica of the car driven to victory in the 2007 Carrera Panamericana. It runs a NASCAR-spec 5.7-litre Chevrolet V8 engine and has a proliferation of competition parts.
Sold by RM Sotheby’s for £23,500
After being appointed the Ferrari importer for Benelux countries in 1952, racing driver Jacques Swaters’ Garage Francorchamps became famous. This van served as a parts delivery vehicle.
Sold by Collecting Cars for £62,000
One of eight BT18Bs built, this was originally used as a test car. It was sold to Peter Parnell who campaigned it in South Africa and Zimbabwe, winning F2 championships in 1968 and ’69.
Sold by Bonhams for £157,600
A few years ago this 512 BBi with 44,000 miles on the clock might have fetched in excess of £250,000. But even accounting for a softened market, this is a bargain. Well bought, sir/madam!
Sold by RM Sotheby’s for £961,000
This was the sole Commendatore made. It featured a 6-litre, V12 Mercedes engine that resulted in a top speed of 220mph. The single windscreen wiper was made for a Japanese bullet train. Mad.
Sold by Bonhams for £413,000
It was probably not God who raised a hand to secure this 964 Carrera 2 originally owned by Diego Maradona. One of just 1,200 convertibles built to similar specification.
Sold by The Market for £20,300
With a tuned Rover V8 and distinctive Sebring bodywork, this is a great all-rounder that could provide a lot of fun as a trackday, hillclimb or rally car. Also good for popping to the shops.