The Tour Auto came to town

[lowdrag]

Once every two years the Tour Auto comes to Le Mans. This fabled rally, comprising only original cars many of the highest quality, crosses France comprising a mixture of stages including circuits and regularity sections. Here are some photos of this year's event taken at the Le Mans Bugatti Circuit. I'd like to comment on two cars of which I have knowledge, commencing with my favourite Jaguar E type of all time, the lowdrag E type registered 49 FXN which raced at Le Mans and the Nurburgring in its time piloted by Lumsden/Sargent. The design of this car, so beautiful yet purposeful, is to me a work of art that translates to evocative savagery on the track. Seen from above and behind, I have also included a frontal shot taken at the Goodwwod Revival September 2006. Along with the famous CUT 7, another lowdrag coupé and perhaps the more famous one, it is now owned by Lord Michael Cowdray.

The GTO is well known to me and also shown is a photo of when we were at Donington together in 1992 - the 348 was at the time my racing car. The GTO was sold by the Pilkington family last year and the new owner sadly, to me at any rate, then proceeded to completely restore the car inside and out at a reputed cost of £1 million (double that in dollars) after buying it at a reputed cost of £7 million. I prefer it as it was; what do you think?

I'll leave you all to enjoy the photos

[Church of Noise]

First of all, thanks for the pictures

Secondly, concerning the GTO, I don't see that many difference before vs. after on the pictures, but in principal I prefer "battle-scared" to (over)restored...

[Jderh]

Very, very nice bunch of cars there.

[coco h]

Oh wow - what a display with some of my all time favourites BUT that E-Type that's what I would really like. In fact I'd happily give my right arm for it!
It's a coupe which I prefer, a great shape, the right colour and I'd bet it's fabulous to drive