To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
$190,000 - $250,000
- One of three Works cars constructed for the 1955 24 Hours of Le
Mans
- Driven to 14th place overall and 5th in class at Le Mans by
Ninian Sanderson and Bob Dickson.
- Also competed in 1955 Tourist Trophy at Dundrod, finishing 22nd
overall and 3rd in class.
- Immaculately restored by North Devon Metalcraft, CTM
Engineering and Company Langbauer.
- Accompanied by FIA HTP papers, U.K. V5, BMIHT Certificate, and
Coventry Transport Museum Certificate of Vehicle Authenticity
- Eligible for numerous Historic events including Le Mans
Classic, Goodwood Revival and the Mille Miglia
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, a healthy but fiercely competitive
rivalry existed between the two main pillars of the British Motor
Industry, British Motor Corporation (BMC) and Rootes Group. The now
infamous 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans would see the two sides lock
horns once again, with BMC entering three experimental MGAs whilst
Standard Triumph entered a team of three Triumph TR2s. Although in
different capacity classes - up to 1,500 cc, and 1,500 cc to 2,000
cc respectively - the battle for bragging rights was of vital
importance to both concerns. Le Mans remained the most important
race of the year for manufacturers and, critically, was perhaps the
only European race which carried significant weight in the
all-important US market.
The build up to the race saw Standard Triumph assume the moral high
ground: whilst the MGAs and the 2.0-litre class-pacesetting Bristol
450s were experimental prototypes, the TR2s remained defiantly
production based. Save for 1�" SU carburettors replacing the
standard 1�" items, the use of 62-spoke competition wire wheels
alongside four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes, and the fitment of a
long-range fuel tank, the cars remained in virtually showroom
specification.
This particular car, known by its original British registration
number PKV 376, was driven at Le Mans by the Anglo-Scottish pairing
of Bob Dickson and Ninian Sanderson. Both had previously driven
Jaguar C-Types for Ecurie Ecosse, whilst Dickson had finished
fifteenth overall at Le Mans the previous year in a
privately-entered TR2. Tragically, the 1955 edition of the race
would be dominated by Levegh's dreadful accident in which some 84
people perished; Mike Hawthorn and Ivor Bueb's victory in their
works Jaguar D-Type rendered hollow in this context. In the wake of
this, PKV 376 ran faultlessly en route to fourteenth overall and
fifth in class, behind the three Bristols and a works Frazer Nash
Sebring.
The unassuming TR had covered a remarkable 2,040 miles at an
average speed of almost 85 mph, Triumph Competition Director Ken
Richardson later commenting - metaphorically one hopes - that the
car was so easy to drive that ".....at full speed one could steer
it with one hand and light a cigarette with the other". Although
shaken by the apocalyptic scenes which had unfolded before him,
Sanderson would return in 1956 and win the race outright driving -
ironically - an Ecurie Ecosse D-Type.
In September 1955, PKV 376 competed in the Tourist Trophy at the
daunting Dundrod road circuit in Ulster, the entry of which
included works teams from Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Ferrari, Aston
Martin and Porsche. Lead Mercedes-Benz driver Stirling Moss was
paired with John Fitch, the former putting in another virtuoso
performance which secured a resounding 1-2-3 finish for
Mercedes-Benz. Meanwhile, Dickson was co-driven by Ken Richardson,
the pairing finishing a creditable 22nd overall and third in class,
behind the Maserati A6GCS of Loens/Bonnier and the sister TR2 of
Todd/Titterington.
Following the conclusion of the car's short but illustrious
international career, it was used by Works Rootes Group driver
"Cherry" Osborn in a handful of UK events, which included victory
in the Ladies Trophy at Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb in 1955.
Thereafter the car was rebuilt and sold to its first private owner,
Malcolm Hurst, in 1956. In 1959, Hurst sold the car to Graeme
Forbes in Scotland, who in turn sold the car in 1962 to Gerald
Finch - an American GI serving in Germany at the time. It is
important to note that in the early 1970's ownership passed through
Donald George Phillips and Jeffery James Hogan of Des Moines, Iowa.
According to the consignor, these were Finch's cousin and brother
in law and therefore ownership remained in Finch's family
throughout this time. Finch kept the car until his death in 2000,
the vendor purchasing the car from his son in 2004.
During the vendor's ownership, PKV 376 has been subjected to an
exacting rebuild which included meticulous restoration of the
bodywork by North Devon Metalcraft, an engine rebuild by Company
Langbauer and the construction of a replacement frame by CTM
Engineering, yet the original frame accompanies the car. The car is
accompanied by a comprehensive history file, which includes an
original 1955 Le Mans programme, and is supported by current FIA
HTP papers, U.K. V5 registration document, BMIHT Certificate and a
FIVA Identity card.
Few cars can lay claim to having competed against the likes of
Moss, Fangio, Hawthorn and Salvadori; fewer still to have been
ex-works cars driven by a future Le Mans winner. Eminently usable
and beautifully presented, PKV 376 would be a very welcome and
historically significant addition to any number of the "blue
riband" Historic racing events for which it is eligible.
Please note that an import duty of 2.5% of the purchase price is
payable on this lot if the buyer is a resident of the United
States.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo20.