2018-06-18 13:01:06 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 7/18
www.artcurial.com/en/lot-1955-jaguar-xk-140-maurice-gomm-special-3359-25

Auction description:
Lot 25
1955 Jaguar XK 140 Maurice Gomm Special
Sale: 3359
Date: 07 jul. 2018 14:00
Auctioneer: Hervé Poulain

British title
Chassis #804418DN
Engine #G5219 - 8

- Unique bodywork, spectacular line
- Restored and professionally prepared to race
- Amazing performance on the road and on the track

The county of Surrey, south of London, was certainly one of the cradles of the British racing craft industry of the 1950s. There, the following names sprouted: Cooper cars, Alta, Connaught, Emeryson and Gomm Metal among others. After having worked during the war in the manufacture of bomber aircraft, Maurice "Mo" Gomm started a craft activity specialized in the making of bodywork and structures for racing cars in aluminium as well as fibreglass. His company, founded in 1951, designed and manufactured a number of bodies for the top makers of the 50s, and continued doing so into the 90s with his three sons. To name the most famous, HRG, Brabham, Vanwall, Lister, Tojeiro, Cooper. In the sixties, he manufactured the magnificent AC M1 aerodynamic coupé. His work on John Cooper's single-seaters put him in contact with race car drivers Jack Brabahm and Bruce McLaren, who became his customers while they were themselves becoming manufacturers and it was in fact McLaren who put him in contact with Ford for the development of the Ford GT 40! Eric Broadley, the founder of Lola cars, moved into Maurice Gomm's former premises and it was Maurice Gomm who created the very first Lola. In the seventies, he contributed to the evolution of the Bailey's Mirage to accommodate the Renault engine instead of the Cosworth. He also designed the bodywork for the winning Lola in Graham Hill's Indianapolis 500 (his Embassy team was located next door), Jackie Stewart's Tyrell 001 and Nelson Piquet's winning Ralt F3, to name but a few. For Ford, he prepared the carbodies for the hugely special cars produced Ford Escorts and for the cinema, he was involved with various James Bonds and the unforgettable Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The special Gomm that interests us was commissioned by Sir Waterlow, a rich war hero, to Paul Emery (Emeryson). He wanted a special racing model, commonly called "Boy's own racer", to participate in the many events organised every weekend in peaceful England. The chassis used was that of a 1938 Grand Prix Alta Monoplace with independent rear wheels, the must of the brand, and powered by a 2.6 litre Aston Martin DB 2. The rear of the body was similar to that of a DB 2, and the front to that of a Keift or HWM 1. The result was used in England by Sir Waterlow in national events from 1955. The car was found at the end of the 80s in a barnfind and the dilemma was either to restore the whole, or to give new life to the Grand Prix Alta. This was done. The Alta 67-IS-GP was restored to its single-seater configuration and regularly participates in historic international races with David Baldock. The somewhat tired Aston Martin LB/49/32 engine was sold to Roger Ludgate, the founder of Lynx Motor. The complete and intact aluminium bodywork therefore remained put to the side until Charles Fripp, a Jaguar XK specialist from Twyford Moors in Hampshire had the idea of assembling it on an XK 140 chassis, the wheelbase being practically the same. He used a 140 chassis from 1955, moved the engine back to ensure better weight distribution and created an air inlet to house the XK engine and cool it, and the special Gomm came to life. The 3.4 litre engine was put into competition condition by Sigma engineering and associated with a Type E gearbox with 4 synchros, a reinforced clutch and a 3/54 autoblocking differential. An aluminium radiator combined with two fans, an alternator, adjustable dampers and stiffer polyurethane silent-blocks were used on all suspensions. 4-piston Coppercraft XK 150 caliper discs are mounted at the front. A rebuilt C-type lap counter shows the rpm counter-clockwise and a speedometer counter-clockwise, both placed on the typical aluminium instrument panel of the time. This special Jaguar has been invited to a number of important events in England FISCAR (Fifties Sports Car Racing Club) and HCS (Historic Sports Car Club) on roads and circuits (Silverstone, Castle Combe, Snetterton and Oulton Park), at the Royal Tour of Wessex as well as in Italy at the very chic "Modena Centro Ore Rally", which presents 11 stages and events on the Mugello, Magoine and Misano circuits. The seller confirms that the car behaved perfectly during all these tests, without heating or overheating consumption of water or oil, that its use on road is very pleasant and also very effective for sporty driving. Indeed its 900 kg weight combined with a short wheelbase, its powerful and flexible engine and its well tuned suspensions give it a behaviour very close to that of a C type or an Aston Martin DB3S, light and precise but much more expensive. This magnificent specimen with its colourful but faultless history will, we hope, be a joy to an enlightened amateur wishing to own and enjoy a versatile racing car, easily usable on the road, powerful and fast, with a stunning and sleek line, marked by one of the best British designers of the last thirty years.

Bibliography:
The history of Brooklands, by William Boddy
A to Z of formula racing cars from Cambridge, by Paul Skilleter
Developing the legend, by Norman Dewis and Paul Skilleter
Special British sports racing cars of the fifties and sixties, by Anthony Pritchard
Encyclopedia of Motor racing, by G.N. Georgano
Autosport, Motor Sport, The Automobile and Motor racing
Vintage and race car

Estimation 300 000 - 360 000 €

2019-04-08 08:12:22 | pauls writes:

Seen at Goodwood 4/19