An iconic vehicle worth the price tag
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By John Henderson
THE FORMER Ecurie Ecosse racing team Commer car transporter, which hauled racing cars driven by future Formula 1 world champions Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, went under the hammer for more than £1.79m at Bonhams auction house in London on 1 December. The famous QX 4x2 rigid chassis is powered by Rootes' famous T53, 2-stroke supercharged diesel and carries a streamlined three-car body created by Selby Howgate, the chief designer at Walter Alexander & Co (Coachbuilders) of Falkirk
The iconic vehicle, registered VSG 7 entered service with the Edinburgh-based racing team in 1959 replacing an ageing 1932 Leyland Tiger T57 coach. Behind its Spartan crew cab, a 6ft 3in workshop space on the lower deck was open to the elements once its main cargoes were unloaded. The Flag Metal Blue liveried Commer transporter was also loved by a generation of
youngsters; the much-coveted 1964 Corgi toy cost 29 shillings and 11 pence.
Following the glory days, the Commer passed through a series of owners and was at one point rumoured to be for sale at £15 and still didn't sell. It ended up moving beer barrels and animal feed. Salvation came in 1992 when Dick Skipworth bought what he described as 'buckets of bits', and a 3,000-hour rebuild started at Lynx Engineering.
Bonhams also sold seven Ecurie Ecosse racing cars alongside the Commer, all part of The Dick Skipworth Collection and the group's total sale value reached an amazing £8.87m, including buyer's premiums.