THAT WAS THEN – THIS IS NOW
10 May 2007 - Duncan Hamilton

During a glorious decade from 1947 to 1957 Duncan Hamilton was one of Britain''s foremost racing drivers and a distinctly larger than life character on track and off.

Duncan Hamilton drove Formula One and Two Grand Prix cars from Lago-Talbot, Maserati, HWM and Gordini, as well as works team sports cars for both Jaguar and Ferrari. He won two iconic endurance races - the 1953 Le Mans 24 Hours and the 1954 Rheims 12 Hours – as well as many more national events, whilst his own company - Duncan Hamilton & Co Limited - has been in operation for over 50 years.

Since its late founder''s retirement, Duncan Hamilton & Co Limited has continued to thrive under the direction of Duncan''s son, Adrian.

The Company has developed an extensive range of services around its core business as a market leader in sales and brokerage of thoroughbred post-World War II historic competition cars.

Acknowledged world-wide for its expertise and International contacts within this rare and growing market sector, Duncan Hamilton & Co Limited have found new owners for more than 60 Historic Formula One Grand Prix cars over the past two decades, including such milestone race cars as the 1955 Mercedes-Benz W196 and the 1960 Ferrari Dino 246.

Marques of Distinction

Duncan Hamilton and Co’s unique experience in placing cars amongst enthusiast collectors and investors, worldwide, is acknowledged. The company has been responsible for placing some of the most significant cars ever sold. Adrian Hamilton’s intimate everyday involvment with the market, and its wide range of services, reflect a lifetime closely involved with the high performance motoring racing scene.

We Also Serve

In addition to its core activities in brokerage and sales of truly significant historic and competition cars Duncan Hamilton has also provided clients with high quality machines as diverse as Armoured Fighting Vehicles to Vintage Fire Engines and many others.

And your day-to-day transport

Duncan Hamilton can supply any new or pre owned motorcar you may require. If it exists Adrian will find it for you. Through numerous professional contacts, gained over many years, he can obtain vehicles of all makes complete with verified histories. They always try to have selected a number of late low mileage vehicles in stock, and up to date stock lists are always available.

JAGUAR XJ220 1993

The Jaguar XJ220 is a supercar produced by Jaguar luxury marque in collaboration with Tom Walkinshaw Racing as Jaguar Sport between 1992 and 1994. It held the record for the highest top speed of a production car (350 km/h, 217 mph) until the arrival of the McLaren F1 in 1994.

Jaguar executives who saw the concept were sufficiently impressed to formally commit company resources to producing a car for the 1988 British Motor Show. Tom Walkinshaw Racing was tapped to produce a 6.2 L version of Jaguar''s legendary V12 engine with four valves per cylinder, quad camshafts and a target output of 500 hp (373 kW). The all wheel drive system was produced by FF Developments who had experience with such systems going back to the 1960s and the Jensen FF. The styling of the car was done by Keith Helfet and included scissor-style doors similar to those in use by Lamborghini in several of their cars. The name XJ220 was assigned as a reference to the targeted top-speed of 220 mph (354 km/h).

The prototype car was significantly heavier at 1560 kg (3440 lb) than other Jaguar racers like the XJR-9. But as it was intended to be, first and foremost, a roadcar, it would be more appropriate to compare it with something like the XJS; in spite of being 30 in (762 mm) longer and 10 in (254 mm) wider and even with the added weight of the all wheel drive system, the XJ220 was still 170 kg (375 lb) lighter than the XJS.

The car was officially announced in 1989 with a price of £361,000 ($580,000 USD) and prospective buyers were expected to put up a deposit of £50,000 ($80,000 USD) to be put on the waiting list for delivery. Because Jaguar promised to limit initial production to 220 units and that total production would not exceed 350, many of those who put deposits on the cars were speculators who intended to sell the car at an immediate profit.

The production version of the car was first shown to the public in October 1991 after undergoing significant changes. The most obvious of which was a completely different drivetrain and the elimination of the scissor doors. TWR was charged with producing the car and had several goals/rules in producing the car: the car would be rear wheel drive instead of all wheel drive; turbocharged V6 instead of the big V12; and performance goals of over 200 mph, 0 to 60 mph under 4 s, and the lightest weight possible.

The 6.2 L V12 had been judged too difficult to get past increasingly strict emission regulations and there were also reportedly some design problems caused by the size of the power plant. It was replaced with a Tom Walkinshaw-developed 3.5 L V6 based on the engine used in the Rover Metro 6R4 rally car and fitted with twin-turbochargers, generating 549 bhp of maximum power at 7000 RPM and 473 ft·lb of torque at 4500 RPM. This engine was not only the first V6 in Jaguar''s history, but also the first to use forced induction. In spite of the smaller displacement and half the number of cylinders, the engine produced more power than the V12 would have. However, potential customers judged the exhaust note to be harsh and the lag from the turbos to be an annoyance. Also missing from the production version of the car was the Ferguson all wheel drive - the production car had only rear driven wheels, through a conventional transaxle.

The car entered production in 1992 in a purpose built factory at Bloxham near Oxford, and the first cars were delivered to customers in July. Original customers included Elton John and the Sultan of Brunei.

Many of the initial customers were dissatisfied not only with the modifications to the original specification but the significant increase in delivery price from the original £361,000 to £403,000 ($650,000 USD). Further complicating the issue was Tom Walkinshaw''s offer of the faster (by acceleration, not top speed), more expensive and more exclusive XJR-15 which was based on the Le Mans champion XJR-9. Some customers reportedly either sued Jaguar or threatened to sue—in any case, Jaguar gave the customers the option to buy themselves out of the delivery contract, as a result, many of the owners challenged Jaguar in court which they the Judge eventually sided with Jaguar.

In spite of the drama surrounding its creation, a total of 281 cars were made and by 1997, few of there remained available for sale new at £150,000. Nowadays, it remains a sought-after collectible supercar.

Racing version
A racing version called the XJ220C was also made. The XJ220C, driven by Win Percy won its first race, a round of the BRDC National Sports GT Challenge at Silverstone. Three works XJ220C''s were entered in the 1993 Le Mans 24 Hour race, entered in the newly created Grand Touring Class. Two of the cars retired but one XJ220, driven by John Nielsen, David Brabham and David Coulthard took the checkered flag to take a class win, which was revoked two weeks later, when the XJ220C was disqualified for a technical infringement.

Chassis No. 220696. Spa Silver with Grey Leather Interior. Supplied New By Us In August 1993 and Now Having Covered Only 2650 Miles The Car Is In Superb and Unmarked Condition. The Car Is Right Hand Drive and UK Registered and Just Received Full Service, Cam Belts, Clutch and Fuel Cell Replacement.

ASTON MARTIN Vantage V8 1986

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was hailed at its 1977 introduction as ''Britain''s First Supercar'' for its 170 mph (274 km/h) top speed. Its engine was shared with the Lagonda, but the it used high-performance camshafts, increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for increased output.

The Vantage name had previously been used on a number of high-performance versions of Aston Martin cars, but this was a separate model. Although based on the Aston Martin V8, numerous detail changes added up to a unique driving experience. One of the most noticeable features was the closed-off hood bulge rather than the open scoop found on the normal V8. The grille area was also closed off, with twin driving lights inserted and a spoiler added to the boot-lid.

The Oscar India, introduced in 1978, featured an integrated tea-tray spoiler and smoother bonnet bulge. Inside, wood replaced some of the vinyl padding giving a more luxurious appearance. This line was produced, with some changes, until 1990.

The 1986-1989 580X V8 Vantage was more of a mechanical update. 16-inch (406-mm) wheels were now fitted, as was the more powerful V8 from the limited-edition V8 Zagato.

Cosmetic Vantages were built for the United States market — they lacked the powerful Vantage engine but retained the Vantage name, and the look was changed with a flattened hood. From 1980 they featured DOT-approved 5 mph safety bumpers front and A Vantage Volante convertible version was also produced.

1986 Aston Martin V8 Vantage - Suffolk Red with Magnolia Hide Piped In Red. 36, 500 Miles Only. This Rare and Mighty Classic Is In Excellent Condition Fitted With Sports Exhaust and Polished Bbs Wheels. Extensive Service History Records and An Outstanding Example.

NISSAN 350 Z Graded 2004

The Nissan 350Z is a sports car manufactured by Nissan Motor Co, LTD. The 350Z is the fifth (and current) generation of Nissan''s Z-car line, originally introduced in 1970 as the Datsun 240Z. The 350Z entered production in late 2002 and was sold and marketed as a 2003 model. It is currently available in several trim packages and is sold as both a 2 door coupé and roadster.

The 350Z is a front engine rear-wheel-drive 2 passenger 2 door sports car designed by Ajay Panchal of Nissan Design America located in San Diego California.

The vehicle features the long-hood short-deck design common to the Z-Car family. External design highlights include: sloping fastback style roofline, unique brushed aluminum door handles, high waistline, and bulging fenders that are pushed out to the corners of the vehicle.

Interior cabin design is straight forward with brushed aluminum accents. The main gauge pod is mounted directly to the steering column allowing their movement to coincide with steering wheel adjustments. Additional gauges are mounted in a center triple gauge cluster. The 350Z’s interior does not have a conventional glove box, instead it makes use of various storage compartments located either behind or between the two seats.

Released on August 20, 2002, the 2003 350Z coupe was available in the U.S. in 5 trim packages, including the Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring, and Track Editions. In Europe only the Base version and a GT pack were sold. The GT pack had leather seats, Bose stereo system, and cruise control over the Base model. Nissan''s performance tuning division, Nismo, began producing modified versions of the car shortly after its introduction, although in the UK these were only available one year after the car was launched.

In 2004 Nissan introduced the 350Z roadster featuring an electrically retractable soft-top hood. The car came in 2 trim packages (Enthusiast and Touring) in the U.S. market, and the Base and GT packs in Europe.

In 2005 Nissan launched a 35th Anniversary edition, which featured options such as ''Z'' emblems and 5-spoke wheels. The 2005 35th Anniversary edition 6-speed manual and 2005 Track trims both produce 300 hp and 260 torque (224 kW). In addition, The 35th Anniversary and Track 350Z also included revised pistons and camshaft profiles, and a new type of control to the variable valve timing. Although there were increases in power, the changes lead to a decrease in peak torque in the vehicle.

Nissan also added the Grand Touring trim to the Roadster trim packages for 2005. Since the anniversary edition all 6-speed models produce 300 hp / 260 ft·lb (224 kW / 353 N·m).

For the 2007 model year, the 350Z was moderately revised. The VQ35DE V6 was replaced with a new 3.5 L VQ35HR V6. It produced 306 hp at 6800 rpm with 268 lb-ft at 4800 rpm. The front bumper, hood, and headlamps were also revised with the hood featuring a bulge reminiscent of the original 240Z. Trims levels were also narrowed down to 350Z (base), Enthusiast, Touring, and Grand Touring.

Cruise Control, CD Player, Heated Seats, Parking Sensor, Stereo, On Board Computer, Climate Control, Power Steering, ABS, Adjustable Steering Column, Leather Trim, Immobiliser, ESP, Passenger Airbag, Alarm, Central Door Locking, Airbag, Electric Seats, Alloy Wheels, Electric Windows

These are just a sample of the machines available at Duncan Hamilton & Co.Ltd. To sample the best of the past and travel back in time to a period when marvelous machines and traditional service were taken for granted visit Hook in Hampshire

www.duncanhamilton.com

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