The Collector
David Newton’s collection comprises all the cars that made an impression during his Seventies childhood, from Austin to Porsche
David Newton’s love of cars and his taste for particular models is reflected in his impressive collection of automotive memorabilia. ‘They are the cars that I recall fondly from my boyhood – there isn’t a car that I have wanted to own that is not included,’ he smiles as we leaf through bundles of manufacturer’s brochures, booklets and period magazines. It’s a theme that continues as we enter his L-shaped garage to view his collection of real cars – opening the doors reveals an eclectic mix of models from the Fifties to the Nineties.
David says neither his father nor his brother had any interest in cars and although his uncle was an enthusiast, David says his love for cars emerged gradually. ‘As a child I had a small metal-bodied Triang pedal car that I hurtled round the family garden in, using it so much that twice it had to have new pedals welded on. Then, just as my friends were all into comics such as Beano and Eagle I was reading car magazines on subscription, a present from my parents.’
David’s first car with its own motive power was bought after he’d gained a degree in education and business management. ‘I was approaching 21 years old and it was a choice between a GT6 with the 2.0-litre straight-six engine or an MGB with the 1800 B-series unit. I preferred the Triumph and bought a GT6 from a local dealer. It was a MKII with the improved rear suspension and I kept it for a couple of years. Later I had a new MGB roadster followed by a GT, which I also bought new. Unreliability eventually pushed me toward a Porsche and my first was a 924. Then I had a second before owning two 944s.’
The idea of beginning a collection first emerged toward the end of the Eighties. In 1987 he bought a new Porsche 911 Carrera Sport and used it as his daily driver until 1989, when he purchased an MGB GT V8 and a Jaguar E-type SII coupé. ‘The Jag was imported from California needing restoration and took about two years to complete. However, the driving experience didn’t match my expectations. Perhaps had it been a Series I E-type, with its purity of style and engineering, it would have been different. Anyway, it was sold while the Porsche went into semi-retirement as the first car in my collection and the V8 MGB became my daily car.’
1970 Porsche 914/6 GT
We begin our tour of the collection with a Porsche 914/6 GT. ‘I bought this from an auction house at the Racing Car Show in 2005. I knew the previous owner, Nick Faure, who had competed with it on the Corsican Rally; it was then restored by Roger Bray. This is the GT version with aluminum boot and bonnet, GRP Targa top, front oil cooler, upgraded suspension and wheelarch extensions. Inside is a full roll cage while under the bonnet is a 2.7-litre 911S engine which delivers 210bhp on Weber carburettors.
‘We did a thorough service and I’ve used the car ever since. It’s given me tremendous pleasure. About two years ago we went to a classic car meeting at Zandvoort. The downside is that it’s very noisy; I think it drove my wife to distraction. It’s also been to the Le Mans Classic several times as well as various events in the UK.
‘To drive it is totally different from any other Porsche I’ve owned, especially on track. You’re very aware that it’s mid-engined, producing enormously balanced handling. It’s highly responsive and still puts a smile on my face.’
1998 Porsche 993
Next to the 914/6 GT is David’s latest Porsche in a dehumidifying tent. Lifting the flap he explains, ‘It’s a 1998 Porsche 993 Turbo with few owners and low mileage, originally ordered in Ferrari Giallo Fly yellow with the Turbo S rear scoops – an £8000 option.’
David says he first saw one at the Goodwood Festival of Speed driven up the hill climb. ‘It was thought of at the time as being a direct descendant the Porsche 959 and I recall thinking what a fantastic car. I bought it from a dealer in the West Country, but not before I’d read all the 993 Turbo road tests and had a drive in one; it fulfilled all my expectations. It has 402bhp, four-wheel drive, power steering, short-throw gearbox action and air conditioning, all of which makes it a pleasure to drive.’
1969 Austin-healey Sprite
Moving round clockwise our next car is a 1969 1275 Austin-healey Sprite MKIV which he bought in 2006. ‘It is one of the cars that had an impact on me as a youngster and I remember thinking how I’d like to drive one. It’s been in the family for about 12 years and one of the first jobs we did was to respray it from its original yellow to ‘Big Healey’ ice blue. The hard top is a Bermuda type and was added a couple of years later.’
David bought the car from a lady who lived locally. ‘My son took it to university and we had it restored for his 21st birthday present in 2009. Since then he has driven it back from Monaco and Reims on several occasions. It’s been incredibly reliable.’
1987 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Sport Turbo
Lurking behind the Sprite is the black Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2, also in a dehumidifier tent. ‘By the time I bought this one I’d had eleven 911s – eight new ones and three secondhand. I bought this one new from Dick Lovett in Swindon and it came with linen-type cream leather interior, tinted windscreen, wider rear wheels, heated front screen and cruise control. Black was very much a colour of the period.
‘I vividly remember collecting the car on March 6, 1987. Later I used it to bring my son Guy home from the local hospital maternity unit. I’m sure that’s where he gets his passion for cars.
‘This year we took the 911 to The Le Mans Classic and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It’s a wonderful car to drive. Rather like putting on a comfy pair of old shoes that fit perfectly.’ 1970 Lancia Fulvia HF Lusso 1.6 Next we come to this rich red Lancia Fulvia HF rally car. ‘It stands out in my collection because of all the stickers. It also has the HF grille badge with four elephants, representing Hannibal going over
‘By the time I bought this 911 I’d had eleven of them – eight new ones and three secondhand ones’
the Alps. Before being repurposed by the works team, it signified membership of Lancia’s exclusive High Fidelity Club – eligibility for which was proved by your fidelity to buy multiple Lancias!’
‘The Fulvia was the last of the front-engined, front-wheel-drive Lancias to win the World Rally Manufacturer’s Championship, which it did in 1972. I bought this one in 2017 from Richard Thorne, a Lancia specialist in Berkshire. I was attracted by its rally preparation. It has a rollcage, aluminium doors and bonnet as well as a tuned Group 4-spec V4 engine. Inside, it still has its woodcovered dashboard and interior trim although the front seats are from a Ferrari 355. The originals are in my loft. It’s had a lot of money spent on it and the previous owner did many long-distance rallies in it across Europe. Last year Guy took it to Vernasca and did well on the hill climb and trackday.
‘The engine is so far forward it makes the handling extremely neutral; it’s very responsive and it flies up to maximum revs with no torque steer, despite being front-wheel drive. It has very supple suspension even though it’s set up for competition. Lancias are so well engineered and have a character all of their own. I love it.’
1972 Ferrari Dino 246GT
Alongside the Lancia are the unmistakable lines of a Dino 246GT. ‘I bought it from a London Ferrari dealership in 2014,’ explains David. I’d always had a hankering for a Dino and recall going to a car show as a 17-year-old and walking round one. There was a lady in the passenger seat with the window down and I said, “This is the most beautiful car I’ve ever seen.” It still rings true today.
‘This was the right one for me – two previous owners and just 31,000 miles on the clock. I had been in a Dino before so I had my personal yardstick of how it should perform – this one didn’t let me down when I first drove it. The gear selection through the gate, the engine... it’s all spot on.
‘It shouts elegance and style, but, it does have its foibles, such as being difficult to select second gear when you start up and the gearbox oil is cold. That said, it’s everything I’ve ever wished for because it is so different from a Porsche and the foibles are all part of the Ferrari charm!
‘It’s probably no quicker to drive than many of today’s hot hatches – but it’s all about the way it travels. The ride quality is wonderfully compliant. It is used only sparingly and I keep an eye on the type of driving I’m doing as well as the mileage. We were stuck in traffic for 90 minutes in Salisbury in the spring, which did it no good at all. But we did have a good run down to Goodwood recently. It has all its provenance papers that certify this Dino is as it left the factory.’
1958 Austin-healey 100/6
David bought this few-owners, low-mileage car in 2008. ‘The reason I bought it was because of Donald Healey and what he and his cars achieved in the States, in racing in the UK and on international rallies driven by people like Pat Moss,’ says David. The lines of the Gerry Coker design are just glorious and it is as it left the factory – I had it resprayed in its original Colorado Red.
‘This is a MKII, so it has improved breathing in the cylinder head and produces 117bhp. Better yet, it is one of the few two-seater models – most were four-seaters. The bucket seats are wonderfully comfortable although it can get a bit hot in there in summer. Nevertheless, it has proved to be eminently reliable with five trips to the Le Mans Classic. The driving experience is quite different from any of my other cars, with a more vintage feel, but I always thoroughly enjoy my time behind the wheel.’
1969 Lotus Elan Series 4
The last car in David’s collection is a pale-blue 1969 Lotus Elan. ‘When you compare it to the ’Healey next to it, they are poles apart, even though the Elan was only launched in 1962,’ he says.
‘Like so many of my cars I bought the Elan because of boyhood memories – I remember seeing and hearing an Elan as a schoolboy and wanted one ever since. I bought this car through a London dealer and drive it every day, weather permitting. I drive with the top down to enjoy it; it’s a delight. The ACBC Lotus bonnet badge on this car has a black background in homage to Jim Clark.
‘It has the usual Lotus reliability issues; it broke down the first time it was taken out and had to be rescued on a flatbed. It’s been a love/ hate relationship ever since. The longest trip we have done in it was a motoring holiday to Sicily this summer – but it did not motor back. It took five weeks for the insurance company to arrange for its return.’ The keeper ‘I find this very difficult to answer. The car I would like to have my last dream drive in would have to be the Lotus Elan, but the car I would keep would be the 911 Carrera Sport.’