Steady Special ~ A Love Story

What is new from the other side of the Pond? My good friend submitted this Love Story

FAMOUS FORMER OWNER AND A VERY ‘SPECIAL’ LANCIA REUNITED AT AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL 2014 AFTER ALMOST SIXTY YEARS

The ex-Ronald ‘Steady’ Barker 1934 Lancia Astura makes its UK public début at Autosport International as the ‘Steady Special’, the car its owner redesigned almost 60 years ago

Currently undergoing complete restoration in Thornley Kelham’s workshops and, in the best coachbuilding tradition, soon to sport a bespoke body, the 1934 Lancia Astura ‘Steady Special’, once belonging to Autocar road tester and star columnist ‘Steady’ Barker, is unveiled at Autosport International 2014.

The Steady Special is no ordinary classic car: it is a piece of British as well as Italian automotive history. Steady Barker purchased it as a mammoth six-seat limousine and chopped almost four feet out of the chassis, replacing the limo body with a lighter, enclosed sports racer shell, fronted by a modified DB2 bonnet. This is the very car he drove to an interview for the position as Autocar's road tester in 1955, later securing the job as road test editor; he also raced it in the early Fifties.

Having lived a romantic life of varied fortunes, much like Steady himself, the car was delivered to specialist restorer Thornley Kelham’s premises in Gloucestershire in 2012. They were chosen by the Lancia’s current owner, classic car enthusiast and Guild of International Engineering Specialists founder Michael Scott.

“Our brief was to return the car to its original splendour, as well as turn Steady’s original design sketches of some sixty years ago into reality,” says Wayne Kelham, one of Thornley Kelham’s directors. “This has required a full restoration, including engine, suspension, gearbox and brakes. We are bringing the car back to life, including the fabrication of an all-aluminium body based on Steady’s sketches, turned into reality with the help of the latest technology, using the expertise of Stuart Brown of 3D Engineering.”

The car, fittingly unveiled at Autosport International (which, like Autocar, is part of the Haymarket publishing titles) will soon be ready to be driven again by Steady Barker, almost sixty years later. “I test drove the driving chassis in November, and was happy with the way the car responded; I cannot wait to see it, completed in all but details, at Autosport,” said Steady Barker. Big celebrations are planned for Steady’s 94th birthday in April, when the finished Steady Special will be a suitable carriage for the occasion.

THE END

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Vintage Cars Investments

By Larry FitzGibbon, All About Detail Classic Car News

Record prices at the major auctions indicate that the Vintage Car Market, that had been battered by recession, has rebounded. In fact it seems the recovery is complete. 

At the RM Auction a 1958 Ferrari sold for 8.8 million while Barrett Jackson had 1967 Corvette Coupe with a L88 engine sell for 3.9 million. 

More amazing though have been some of the cars that have sold that need work, "barn finds". An abandoned 1965 Porsche 911, a car that resemble something from the Mad Max movie, sold $166,600 at Bonhams. At Gooding & Co a tatter worn out Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing brought the seller 1.9 million. Of course to bring a car back to show level can sometimes be more expensive than its worth. 

So what is the appeal? As David Gooding put it, its having the ownership of an "undisturbed soul". Can you picture yourself driving down the road, the smells, the textures of your beautifully restored vintage car? Can you imagine the car making its maiden voyage, who sat there, what did they talk about, where did they go? Nothing in the world like that, I call it the smell of old leather.

Not all agree that this is a wonderful thing. One writer put it this way, "it's  almost like cash for clunkers had come to the Vintage Car Market". But that isn't it is it? Its a true indicator the the Vintage Car Market has pulled out of the recession. It is time to look around your garage to decide what to sell,  decide what to buy and what to restore. 

Of course I am here to help. Are you looking to sell, I will find the right buyer for you. Are you looking to buy, I will find the right car for you. All About Detail ~ WeBe Autos has over 5,000 fine automobiles for sale online right now. That is no accident. We have been very busy helping buyers and sellers connect. We would love to add you to our cause. 

Let me share with you two of my recent "barn finds" and see what your imagination can do. 

1951 Mercury "Darryl Starbird" Chop Top

1940 Lincoln Zephyr Convertible

Two really special cars waiting for some imagination. In these cases not much needed to be done to bring them back to thier glory days, have them out on the concour again. 

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Be sure to read my other articles as I chase Classic Cars in Southwest Florida such as "Simply Yum Yum Cars" and join us weekly for our latest articles. 

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