Jack Sears’ Galaxie is out of this world
This ex-Jack Sears Ford Galaxie 500 is set to go under the hammer during Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival Meeting sale on 30 September.
It marks the first time this legendary touring car will have ever been offered for public consumption, and follows Sears’ death in August 2016.
In 1963, Sears joined the John Willment Automobiles squad and enjoyed class-- winning success in a Cortina GT before upsetting the establishment aboard the 7.0-litre Holman Moody-built Galaxie from May of that year. It demolished the Jaguar opposition first time out at Silverstone, with Sears driving the entire distance in top gear. He was near-unbeatable thereafter and bagged his second British Saloon Car Championship title at a canter.
In 2011, Sears said: ‘ The Jaguar lot were livid and a lot of their protests concerned the roll-cage; that it was only there as a means of stiffening the car. It got to the point that more and more was cut away until it was pointless having it. Jaguar’s team manager, Lofty England, was our most vociferous opponent. He couldn’t stand the fact that Jaguar’s dominance had been broken.’
The car claimed four more wins in 1964. It was then sold to Bob Olthoff who took it to the 1966 South African Touring Car Championship title. Olthoff kept the car until 1989, when it was sold to Sears who entrusted ex-Willment mechanic Tony Brown with its restoration to 1963-spec. It’ s expected to make up to £220,000.