Funds are needed for the Grand Tour co-host’s new restoration company.
With The Grand Tour Present: Lochdown, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond are back on TV screens. They all have their own projects. Clarkson’s Farmrecently received a lot of praise. James May is making gin for a pub he owns. Richard Hammond has started a classic car restoration company.
Hammond will give up some of his cars in order to make this happen. He’s offering eight vehicles, five motorcycles and three cars for auction via Silverstone Auctions. All are available at no reserve and will cross the block at Silverstone Circuit in the UK on August 1. Pre-war classics such as a 1927 Sunbeam Model 2 or a 1932 Velocette SSS Mk1 are among the bikes. However, you will also find older machines such as a 1977 Moto Guzzi le Mans and a 1976 Kawasaki Z900 A4 and a 2019 Norton Dominator 961, which Hammond purchased for his 50th.
We’ll be focusing on the cars, and although there are only three of them, they are very special. We all know about Hammond’s love for Porsche and so he is selling a stunning 1969 911T, which is listed as a California 2.2-liter C-Series vehicle. According to the auction listing, it has an estimated mileage of 56,000 miles and is described as being in “lovely” condition.
A 1959 Bentley is equally stunning and was recently restored to its original two-tone exterior, according to the auction listing. The interior of the gearbox was rebuilt two years ago. It is estimated that it has approximately 63,000 miles. It is said to have had five owners over its lifetime. The auction also includes many additional items, such as photos, logbooks, and original blueprints.
By a large margin, the last car on this list is the fastest and most recent of all. The 1999 Lotus Esprit Sport 350, which is listed at number five out of 48 vehicles built, has a mid-mount 3.5-liter twin turbocharged V8 that produces 350 horsepower. The car has approximately 47,000 miles. It was rebuilt in recent years. This sale is due to the restoration business mentioned above. Silverstone Auctions confirmed that all vehicle sales will be used to fund the business, The Smallest Cog.
Hammond stated in the press release that “It is ironic that I support my new classic vehicle restoration business by selling some pieces of my classic car collection” They will not only be supporting the future development of the company and giving life to many other classic cars, but it is with a heavy heart that they are leaving. This series will chronicle the adventures of these individuals in a Discovery+ television program, which will air in the UK later in 2014.