Wheels of fortune! Legend Jim Clark’s car is sold for £10m
IT was once driven – and crashed – by legendary Scottish racing driver Jim Clark.
Now this iconic Aston Martin has become the most expensive car ever sold at auction in Europe after a collector paid more than £10million for it.
The British racing green 1961 DB4 GT Zagato – reg 2 VEV – was one of only three reconfigured by Aston Martin into its ultralightweight DP209 specification for racing.
It was driven by Fife-born Clark, who is still regarded as one of the greatest ever drivers 50 years after his death.
The car, which had been in private ownership for 47 years, went under the hammer yesterday at Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale, where it attracted interest from all over the world.
It was sold to an anonymous private European collector bidding in the auction room – for £10,081,500, including premiums.
There were audible gasps when bidding started at £7million. When the hammer finally came down, there were cheers and applause. Auctioneer James Knight, Bonhams’ group motoring chairman, congratulated the bidder, saying: ‘Fantastic, well done indeed – well played, well played.’
Clark most notably drove 2 VEV for John Ogier’s Essex Racing Stable team and Aston Martin to take on Ferrari in the RAC Tourist Trophy race at Goodwood in 1961 and 1962.
He brought the car home fourth behind team leader Roy Salvadori’s sister car 1 VEV in the 1961 race – but in 1962 he became involved in a multi-car accident.
Just after rejoining the race following a pit stop, Clark spun at Madgwick Corner into the path of race leader John Surtees’ Ferrari 250 GTO.
The two cars collided and crashed into the safety bank, to be joined by Robin Benson’s Ferrari 250 GT SWB, which careered into both of them.
Since being retired from competition, the car has been kept under one caring stewardship for nearly 50 years.
It underwent a full Aston Martin factory restoration in the mid-90s and is fully capable of taking part in vintage racing events and track days.
Mr Knight said: ‘Any DB4GT Zagato is special but we can safely say 2 VEV is the most prominent and charismatic of all. It has the totally unique combination of being one of the two VEV quasiworks cars and one of only three configured in the ultra-light DP209 specification.
‘Add single-ownership since 1971, Le Mans and racing superstar Jim Clark and these are attributes none of the other 18 DB4 GT Zagatos can boast.
‘The family has had nearly 50 years of enjoyment with 2 VEV and feels it is now time to pass ownership to its next custodian.’
Will it pass its MoT? – Page 59
‘Fantastic, well done indeed’