Simon de Burton

Auction picks include Stig Blomqvist’s Sierra, an Escort Mexico estate and a £750 Rolls-Royce barn find

1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth Sold by Bonhams, £165,833 Not only was this billed as “the most original surviving Group A Sierra RS Cosworth”, it was driven as a factory…

Auction results: The most immaculate Jensen Interceptor III in the world?

1974 Jensen Interceptor III Sold by Dore & Rees, £62,150 If you’re on the lookout for what is probably the most immaculate, original, un-restored Jensen Interceptor III in the world…

The rare Lotus Elan boosted by BRM

No fan of 1960s Formula 1 racing could fail to recognise the livery of BRM on the car pictured here – but what, might you ask, is it doing on…

Incredible Bugatti Tourbillon watch has crystal ‘engine’ with moving pistons

If you happen to have seen a Bugatti Veyron recently, you might have looked into the cockpit and got the impression that it all looks rather old-fashioned. Which is understandable…

The World Performance Car of the year that sold for less than £12k

2006 Audi RS4 B7 Avant Sold by Collecting Cars, £11,350 Whoever bought this will have discovered that practical cars don’t have to be boring. With a 4.2-litre 414bhp V8 engine…

The best-preserved Ferrari Dino 246 in existence?

Examples of Ferrari’s much-loved 246 Dino are not difficult to find – with more than 3500 built, there are plenty in circulation. All the same, we challenge anyone to find…

Chanel Monsieur Superleggera Intense Black Edition is latest watch from coachbuiler collab

Yes, it’s a Chanel watch – but don’t panic, you haven’t mistakenly picked up a copy of Vogue. This is the latest horological collaboration between the celebrated couture house and…

Auction results: Laverda race bike for the road sells for £31k

1974 Laverda 750 SFC Sold by Gooding & Company, £31,130 When talk turns to Italian race bikes, MV Agusta and Ducati are usually mentioned – but don’t forget Laverda. In…

Ariel’s endurance racing Atom — an ultimate one-of-a-kind machine

The phrase ‘ultimate track-day car’ will be familiar to anyone who regularly scans the adverts in search of race-ready exotica – but it could be a description that’s wholly justified…

Monterey Motorsports Reunion tells the history of track racing in on wild week

It’s a given that wherever you find the best of motor sport, you’ll also find the name Rolex. The Swiss watchmaker’s presence on the race track encompasses everything from the…

The chairperson behind Pebble Beach Concours and her plans for change

The automobile world has always been a male-dominated one. So it’s partly refreshing and partly ironic that one of the greatest motoring events on the planet has run like clockwork…

Chopard’s Mille Miglia watch is a tribute to Jacky Ickx

The career of the great Jacky Ickx will be familiar to many, not least for encompassing six Le Mans wins – a record that stood until 2005, when Dane Tom…

July 2024 Issue

By Simon de Burton