6 liveried lots being auctioned at the Festival of Speed

1983/2004 Ford C100 Mark III

Estimate: £230,000 to £250,000

In the 1980s, Ford had hoped to rekindle its Le Mans-winning ways with the C100 Group C racer. Unfortunately, a slightly tortured development programme meant the C100 never achieved the heights of its GT40 predecessor, but this Mark III car has an interesting history as a consequence.

Tony Southgate led the team that created the Mark III, and it was started from scratch. Only the windscreen bore a similarity to its forebear. For pre-season testing in 1983, the new turbocharged Cosworth engine wasn’t ready so it ran with the existing DFL engine. Even with natural aspiration, the C100 outpaced its turbocharged competition, the Porsche 956, Rondeau M482 and the Sauber C7. 

Despite showing promise, the project was cancelled so that Ford could concentrate on rallying with the RS200, also designed by Southgate. The C100 Mark III’s fate was to underpin the Ford Supervan III publicity vehicle. However, Bryan Winffield eventually bought the Supervan and finished the project that Ford had canned.

The C100 Mark III was finally finished in 2004 and had its first official outing at the 2007 Silverstone Classic as part of a 25^th anniversary celebration of Group C. Could it have won the Le Mans 24 Hours? It had the pace but would it have had the durability? The C100’s story is an intriguing one of what could have been.

c.1995 Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R V-Spec N1

Estimate: £100,000 to £120,000

Race specification Nissan Skylines with competition history don’t come onto the market very often, so this R33 built by Nismo to N1 regulations represents a rare opportunity for fans of JDM racers. This one was raced under the FK Massimo Falken banner, hence the distinctive blue and turquoise livery.

N1 regulations meant that engine internals, turbochargers and intercoolers had to remain standard but allowed for modifications to the air intake, exhaust, fuel system, boost pressure, fuel and ignition maps and suspension and brakes. Aerodynamic alterations were allowed from 1997. For the R33’s first competitive outing in 1995, all six failed to finish and the race was won by an older R32. Fortunes reversed thereafter, with the new car becoming dominant. 

This example has two wins and a third place under its belt, with race coverage available on YouTube. It remains in 1997 Phase 2 specification having been dry stored since then, while in 2022 it underwent a service in Japan before being shipped to the UK. It remains a timewarp representation of 1990s saloon car racing.

1974 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Classic

Estimate: £100,000 to £140,000

Is there a model of car left on the planet that doesn’t have at least one example in a Gulf livery? This Porsche 911 restomod was built by Berkshire-based Rindt Vehicle Design and takes the inspiration for its classic blue and orange colour scheme from JW Automotive 917s of the 1970s.

Despite the racy look, this 911 was specified to be a touring car and therefore has a four-speed automatic gearbox to contrast with its flared wheelarches and ducktail spoiler. There are also heated seats from a 964, a Kenwood touchscreen and air conditioning. The 3.2-litre engine is updated with Jenvey fuel injection and a programmable ECU.

Rindt sourced a ‘basketcase’ bodyshell that was minus its engine and gearbox to underpin the project. The body was renovated on the company’s jig before being built to the customer’s exacting specification. Since the build, the car has covered just 1,000 miles. It’s now looking for an owner that shares the consigner’s original vision.

1972 Datsun 240Z IMSA

Estimate: £65,000 to £85,000

Unlike the Nissan above, this Datsun is a Japanese car with an American twist. It was built in 1974 from a new body in white by Oregon-based Ger-Brock Racing. Although it’s dubbed a 240Z, it was configured as a 280Z in its race trim.

It was raced in SCCA events in western States from 1975 to ’78, chalking up wins and class Championships as it went. Datsun lent financial help to convert it to Can Am spec the following year and it continued to race in Trans Am events from 1979 to ’81. When Group 2 was dropped from Can Am at the end of 1981, it was rebuilt to IMSA specification.

It later continued to compete in SCCA events before coming to the UK in 2014 and made its debut on these shores at Donington in 2021. Bills for its UK restoration total more than £75,000 with another £13,000 worth of work having been carried out in 2021. It’s now ready to be enjoyed in its very 1970s colour scheme.

1972 Datsun 240Z

Estimate: £30,000 to £40,000

The second Datsun 240Z differs hugely from the one above. The black bonnet, a row of spotlights and oversized mudflaps all tell you it has been adapted for terrain that’s tougher than a race circuit. It’s an arena where the 240Z has historically acquitted itself well: it won outright the Safari Rally in 1971, ’72 and ’73.

This example was rally prepared during 2014 and 2015 to MSA Historic standards, the papers granted in 2016. The bodyshell that formed the basis of the project was imported from California.

In the first four years after its conversion to rally specification, the car was contested by Ricky Proffitt before being sold in 2020. Since then, it has been used for display events until 2022, when the current owner bought it. Other cars have meant it has seen little use in the past three years. The car now has a close-ratio gearbox, limited-slip differential, Bilstein dampers and disc brakes all round. For historic competition use, the rear drum brakes will need to be reinstated.

2010 Morgan 4/4 Sports

Estimate: £35,000 to £55,000

Now for something completely different. In many respects, this Ford Sigma 1.6-litre powered Morgan 4/4 is regular Malvern fare – as much any hand-built car from the Worcesterhsire factory can be described as ‘regular’. What makes it stand out, as if you haven’t already guessed, is its far from ordinary colour scheme.

In 2010, Morgan collaborated with Danish artist Kristian Hornsleth who painted ten Morgans. This is the first in the series, and the paintjob was completed live on Morgan’s float at the Lord Mayor’s Parade in London. The band LSD on CIA performed while Hornsleth worked in front of a live crowd and a television audience of around two million. The car was subsequently displayed at Milan Design Week.

The psychedelic Morgan has been converted to left-hand-drive and is being sold without reserve.