Gulf McLaren F1 GTR Longtail Racing Coupe Heading to Bonhams Auction

Dressed in legendary livery, the ultra-modern competition coupe is one of the greatest sports cars ever built. 

One of the genuine icons of the modern-era sports car racing is heading to Bonhams Exceptional Motorcars and Automobilia auction this August.The ex-GTC Gulf Team Davidoff 1997 McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe - to give it its full and proper name - is dressed in Gulf Oil's pale-blue and orange team livery, colors worn by other legendary victors such as the Ford GT40 and Porsche 917K.
Heralded as one of the greatest sports cars ever made, this particular example, chassis '028R,' was the 28th and final McLaren F1 GTR built by the British McLaren Cars factory, and the last of only ten highly developed 'Longtail' cars.These ultra-modern competition coupes represented the pinnacle of McLaren's Le Mans-winning F1 GTR family, identifiable by their stunning Gordon Murray design, unique centerline driving position and sophisticated all-composite structure.The Longtails also featured longer noses and tails to reduce drag and achieve the maximum possible aerodynamic downforce.

In 1997 '028R' raced at the Nurburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Austria's A1-Ring, Donington Park, Mugello, Sebring and Laguna. The car was driven by Andrew Gilbert-Scott, Geoff Lees, Anders Olofsson and John Neilsen."We are delighted to have been appointed by an international collector to represent this breathtaking piece of competition machinery," says Mark Osborne, Head of Motoring at Bonhams. "Racing legends like the McLaren F1 GTR rarely if ever appear at auction."This is an epic car dressed in a legendary livery, which is why a year ago the same car was being offered for €3m.So when this particular Gulf McLaren F1 GTR Longtail crosses the auction block don't be surprised if bids surpass $4m.The 2012 Bonhams Auction of Exceptional Motorcars will take place Thursday & Friday, August 16 & 17 at Quail Lodge in Carmel, California.

Gulf McLaren F1 GTR Longtail Racing Coupe Heading to Bonhams Auction

1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Coupe in Paris

Bonhams’ Paris Sale is shaping up quite nicely with this classic Aston Martin. 

A 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Coupe is going up for auction at the Bonhams' Paris Sale next month. This classic Aston previously won the Tour Auto Regularity Class in 2005 and should turn plenty of heads in France.The Aston Martin DB4 Coupe was launched at the London Motor Show in 1958 and a year later, the British company came back with their GT version. The DB4 GT included a new-at-the-time steel platform chassis with disc brakes. 

It featured a racing-developed twin-cam 6-cylinder powerplant. Its aluminum body was designed by Carrozzeria Touring from Milan. The beautiful GT was meant to show the Italians just how far British engineering had come and that they could match them at their own 'Gran Turismo game.'Back then, the DB4 GT put out a serious 302hp. This was a big increase over its standard variant's 240hp and with the added power, could hit a top speed of 153mph. It was timed from 0-60mph in 6.1 seconds and set a world record at that time for a 0-100mph sprint back to stop in just under 20 seconds.

1960 Corvette JRG Special Racer up for Auction

Coming up next month at the Bonham's auction in Paris is this fully restored Corvette JRG Special race car. 

Coming up next month at the Bonham's auction in Paris is this extremely unique 1960 Chevrolet Corvette 'JRG Special' Competition Coupe. It was built by Tom Falconer, who was also the author of "Original Corvette, 1953-1962" and was the judging chairman of the UK Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society.According to Bonham's, the car was raced in the early 1960s at various East Coast circuits. It started off as just another 1960 Vette with the optional '419' hardtop and no convertible hood.
In addition, the bumpers and hubcaps were removed. It pretty much was a typical 'B-Production' Sports Car Club of America weekend warrior and was likely driven to the circuits. Nor was it heavily modified.
In 1963, however, the Corvette Sting Ray was launched. It had an all-independent suspension, superior brakes, and better handling. In turn, it literally pushed aside the old live-axle Vettes in SCCA races and this JRG Special was retired from track service. Interestingly, it found a new career in drag racing. The JRG is also a sister car to the four white Corvettes that went to Le Mans in 1960 which performed quite well.

Moving ahead to 1989, the JRG was bought by another collector who found it laying in a back yard somewhere in Long Island, New York.The rear wheel arches had been cut in order to accommodate giant drag-racing tires. Although it sat for a few more years, a restoration was eventually planned and completed in just 12 months.Today, the JRG Special Corvette is as correct as it can be while still being safe to race. The wheels are original steels that are properly painted Roman Red. Power comes from a 4.7-liter cast-iron small-block V8 that was prepared by a Chevrolet race engine specialist.
All told, it can deliver 370hp at 7,000rpm using a single Holley four-barrel carburetor. The completed car was displayed for the first time at Goodwood in 2007 when it collected its FIA papers.In 2011, it was updated to UK road specs by adding legal lighting and a second race seat that made it eligible for international road endurance events. Bonham's is estimating it will sell for somewhere between €55,000 to €65,000.