News & Events

Visitors to the Fiskens stand at the Salon Rétromobile this week have been treated to three important Grand Prix racers from different eras of the sport. The iconic lines of a 1954 Maserati 250F contrast with the design of the only remaining 1958 BRM P25. Although just four years separate them, the progression of the fifties period is clear to see. Fast-forward to the 1980s and a rare 1982 Brabham Ford BT49D, which Fiskens believes is the first of its kind to be offered for public sale, graces the stand. Taking second place in the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix with Riccardo Patrese at the wheel, it has been campaigned widely and successfully in historic racing in more recent times.

Putting the spotlight on the Maserati 250F, the poster child of Grand Prix lore, this 1954 example (chassis 2516) was a double 1955 Grand Prix winner in the hands of Works driver Jean Behra at French tracks in Pau and Bordeaux respectively. Another podium was claimed by Luigi Villoresi at the Syracuse Grand Prix later in the season, taking third position. After the end of the season, a driver by the name of Reg Hunt was appointed Australian Works racing driver. He duly purchased 2516 and shipped it ‘down under’ where it enjoyed a thorough and consistent racing career over the following decade. In the early sixties, the Maserati came to the UK and has been campaigned in historic racing even since, being driven by some of the most notorious names in the sport. Recent notable appearances have included the Goodwood Revival and The Oldtimer Grand Prix in Germany.

The 1958 BRM P25 is the only remaining example of its kind, having been saved by BRM owner and Chairman, Sir Alfred Owen on account of it having been the first BRM to win a Grand Prix. Driven by Swedish driver Joakim Bonnier, who went on to be BRM’s star driver, this chassis, 258, took victory at the Dutch track of Zandvoort after a long and hard dual with powerful Coopers and V6 Ferraris. This celebrated win for the BRM team came 14 years after their foundation and 11 years after the launch of their first Formula One racing car. Described by Sir Stirling Moss as the ‘best-handling and most competitive front-engined Grand Prix car that I ever had the privilege of driving’ the BRM P25 is a well-loved icon of the sport. This example has had an illustrious career in historic racing and has regularly been a winner and multiple podium finisher at the Goodwood Revival. This is an unrepeatable opportunity to own the only Grand Prix-winning BRM P25 and, furthermore, the only example in existence. The P25 is a veritable gem of Formula One history.

Moving forwards to the eighties and the 1982 Brabham Ford BT49D, proudly displayed on the Fiskens stand, is the last in the line of the BT49 series, which marked an end for the non-turbo-charged era of Grand Prix racing. Designed by fabled South African designer, Gordon Murray, the BT49 was updated over four seasons taking a total of seven wins, six poles and 135 points. Just 17 BT49s were built of which only three were to BT49D specification. Team owner, Bernie Ecclestone, eventually gifted this example, chassis 18, to Gordon Murray who subsequently loaned the Brabham to an important motor museum collection, whence it passed into private ownership and there followed a period of intense success, with it winning more than 20 races and the FIA TGP Championship in 2005.

A supremely rare Grand Prix car, the BT49D stands testament to Murray’s renowned eye for combining function and beauty. With Bernie Ecclestone retaining his four BT49s and one other in private ownership, Fiskens are rightly proud to be representing this exceptional Brabham, successful both in period and historic racing and offering an unlikely to be repeated opportunity to acquire a true Formula 1 great.

Speaking about these Grand Prix greats, Robert Fellowes of Fiskens comments, “It’s been a wonderful week for Fiskens at Salon Rétromobile so far and these superb examples from Grand Prix racing’s past have attracted a huge amount of attention to the stand. As ever, we have been pleased to see many of our customers and friends in Paris and look forward to welcoming many more to the Mews on our return to view these exceptional cars.”

For more information about Fiskens and to view the current selection of stock, please visit: www.fiskens.com