Cars that famous people owned - that surprised you!

I've just acquired a newly released auto biography of my musical idol - jazz trombonist and band leader Chris Barber. (Celebrates 60 years of leading his band this year, aged 84!)

He is always happy to talk cars when we catch up so I knew he'd raced a Lotus IX, Elite, Elan and also entered the Lotus 47. I knew he was friends with Bernie Ecclestone, Colin Chapman, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Bruce McLaren etc . I knew he'd owned Aston Martins, Jaguars, Mercedes and a couple of La Salles.

What I didn't know was that he'd owned and enjoyed a Dodge Charger!!!

How about Peter Sellers and the string of Lotus 7s he owned and lent to "up and comings"?

Harry Secombe Daimler SP250 'Dart'
Paul McCartney Hispano-Suiza and Aston DB6, Ringo Starr Facel Vega , John Lennon Iso Fidia, read here.

Although no surprise as I knew he loved his cars, George Harrison's McLaren did have a Chris Barber CD permanently in the player and that was a surprise, even though they were close friends!

Jools Holland has a replica Rover Jet 1

James May had a Datsun 120Y:eek:

B-but that's not really a surprise ! :D

I was always surprised Denny Hulme drove a Chevette...

When we used to visit Mike Hailwood at his house in Mairangi Bay in Auckland in the '70s he used to get around in a Citroen / Maserati SM

Although most will know, James Hunt ran an Austin A35 van!

From memory at a talk given by Frank Williams at Frank Sytner's dealership, apparently when both were based in Nottinghamshire in their early days, they ran Austin A40s - and one of them managed to roll one, I believe in the City!

Of course there was the legendary A35 that Graham Hill used as a road car to get to races in the U.K and Europe in the 60's....
From reading various books the general word was that the A35 was "indecently" fast in the hands of it's talented owner and often attracted the attention of the law in various countries :)

Sir Stirling had a Standard 8 which was well modified by Alf Francis, Borrani wheels and all

Denny Hulme had a Range Rover. and a Granada at one stage.
Graham Hill owned Speedwell who made go faster bits for BMC cars

Oldfarts Standard 10

Brian Johnson ( ACDC) Lola T70

Patrick Head has a Beecham Jaguar Mk2

Steve McQueen had a Mini

Not to forget Brian Johnsons 4 1/2 litre Vintage BentleyAttachment 24240

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Originally Posted by bry3500

Brian Johnson ( ACDC) Lola T70

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Think Denny drove a Chevette only because he had to-seem to remember him advertising/endorsing them in TV ads. I was present at Manfield on one occasion when Denny rocked up at the pit entrance gate in said Chevette and without his pit pass. The exchange between Denny and the marshall on the gate was short and not very sweet with Denny asking "Don't you know who I am?" and (without waiting for an answer), driving straight through. You can't blame the poor marshall-it was stretching anyone's credibility to believe that an ex F1 World Champion would drive a Chevette!

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Originally Posted by bry3500

Oldfarts Standard 10

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Don't think that counts!

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Originally Posted by rf84

Think Denny drove a Chevette only because he had to-seem to remember him advertising/endorsing them in TV ads. I was present at Manfield on one occasion when Denny rocked up at the pit entrance gate in said Chevette and without his pit pass. The exchange between Denny and the marshall on the gate was short and not very sweet with Denny asking "Don't you know who I am?" and (without waiting for an answer), driving straight through. You can't blame the poor marshall-it was stretching anyone's credibility to believe that an ex F1 World Champion would drive a Chevette!

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He sure did'nt act like a former World Champ. I have photos of him unloading the Yardley McLaren with Greta at one of the MG Classic meetings. He towed it in behind his Commodore and they casually untied it and rolled it off it's open trailer....those were the days..even kids with karts have enclosed trailers now !!

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Originally Posted by Jeff

From reading various books the general word was that the A35 was "indecently" fast in the hands of it's talented owner and often attracted the attention of the law in various countries :)

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It was also modified at one Brands Hatch meeting to run on a real fuel cocktail. They wheeled it onto the grid and when the flag fell, he scorched away leaving clouds of tell tale smoke behind that made the eyes water! I think he was only a director of Speedwell.

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Originally Posted by Oldfart

Don't think that counts!

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Years ago in kawakawa, a bloke whose name I have forgotten owned a v12 Etype that used to belong to somebody from the rolling stones it had a worked engine with 6 ida webbers down the middle & was the biggest heap of junk I have ever seen until he made it the smallest heap of junk by going through a T junction at over a 100mph &totally demolishing it, it sat at the entrance to kawa for a couple of weeks then dissapeared, from memory the guy got out with hardly a scratch.

Former Australian Prime, Malcolm Fraser drove [and probably still drives] a Lancia Flaminia.

Doesn't Judith Collins still have an MG?

Judith probably has a Chinese MG. Maybe a milk-for-cars deal like the old NZ Dairy Board did with the Russians for Ladas?

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Originally Posted by rf84

Judith probably has a Chinese MG. Maybe a milk-for-cars deal like the old NZ Dairy Board did with the Russians for Ladas?

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LOL - I think its an MGB which is definitely pre-Chinese.

And, perhaps surprising considering his height, Mick Fleetwood has an Austin 7! Probably more room in it then most modern cars... :-)

Mick Fleetwood and his Austin 7

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Originally Posted by Malcolm McLeod

And, perhaps surprising considering his height, Mick Fleetwood has an Austin 7! Probably more room in it then most modern cars... :-)

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Originally Posted by Malcolm McLeod

And, perhaps surprising considering his height, Mick Fleetwood has an Austin 7! Probably more room in it then most modern cars... :-)

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Don Symon, NZ bronze medal rower at the 1984 Olympics, drove a mini. Told me it was the only car he could fit his long legs into. :-)

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Originally Posted by Jeff

When we used to visit Mike Hailwood at his house in Mairangi Bay in Auckland in the '70s he used to get around in a Citroen / Maserati SM

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Yeah - we used to see it around the Bays occasionally - only one I've seen

Spman, it lived up Matipo Rd way in Mairangi Bay did'nt it.

Also from same area Murrays Bay, way back a young fella had a model A with deck on back and surf racks with engine painted all different colours, and would drive it around the rocks from bay to bay when tide was out. Went on to become a NZ rally champion (few times) and maybe best known rally man from this country so far.

As far as I can remember Rod , Mike the bike lived in a side road near or directly off Maxwelton Drive near Windsor Park in Mairangi / Murrays Bay.
According to dad , who used to fix his tv ( first colour tv's such as Pye Vidmatic and Philips K9 etc broke down once a month ) there was a now priceless 250cc 6-cyl Isle of Man Honda mounted inside the house as a display and some interesting trinkets etc displayed within the house such as Mike's George Medal for bravery he got during his F1 career mounted under glass in a coffee table.
I recall rumours of one of his houses having an F1 or F5000 car mounted on the lounge wall. May have just been an urban legend ?
Phil Kerr will know for sure.
I remember Bob Haldane telling me that Mike approached him wanting a competitive bike to practice on in N.Z before heading back to the Isle of Man for his legendary comeback win on the Ducati 900SS.
Bob loaned him a Yamaha TZ and for a guy with a badly damaged ankle ( F1 crash ) they had to switch the gearchange to the other side of the bike and Bob was floored that Mike was close to the Pukekohe lap record after a minimal number of practice laps.
He hadn't ridden since '67 ( 10 years ! ) and this was his first ride of a bike with disk brakes.
Superb talent and down to earth guy with a great sense of humour

Legend

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Originally Posted by Rod Grimwood

Spman, it lived up Matipo Rd way in Mairangi Bay did'nt it.

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Originally Posted by SPman

Yeah - we used to see it around the Bays occasionally - only one I've seen

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http://www.citroensmaustralia.com/re...s/00SB8221.htm

Attachment 24453

Patrick Stewart

John Bonham sponsored a Can Am McLaren M8/E. He also collected hot rods

Ringo