LOT 603

1936 Austin Seven Formula 750 Racing Car 'Sacre Bleu' Registration no. CVR 418 Chassis no. 253784

Sold for £20,125 inc. premium

Lot 603

1936 Austin Seven Formula 750 Racing Car 'Sacre Bleu'
Registration no. CVR 418 Chassis no. 253784

The Beaulieu Sale: Collectors' Motor Cars & Motorcycles and Automobilia|7 September 2019, 16:00 BST|Beaulieu, National Motor Museum

1936 Austin Seven Formula 750 Racing Car 'Sacre Bleu'
Registration no. CVR 418
Chassis no. 253784

Footnotes

A familiar sight at Formula 750 meetings in the late 1950s, 'Sacre Bleu' was built and raced successfully by the Toft brothers, Roger and Brian. Based on a 1936 Austin Seven Ruby, this unique car was usually driven by Brian Toft as part of the CAT Racing Team alongside Joe Anziani's sister car, 'Sans Egal'. 'Sacre Bleu' took part in the annual Birkett Six-Hour Relay Race at Silverstone in the early 1960s and also raced at Aintree, Mallory Park, Oulton Park, and Snetterton before being sold in 1962. Crashed at Oulton Park by next owner, Frank Taylor, the car was abandoned in an orchard, remaining there until 1993 when it was rediscovered by Warrington Motor Auctions' Keith Robinson. Exhumed and offered for sale, it was purchased by Tony Lindsay of Blackpool and faithfully restored to 'as raced' specification at considerable expense, much of the work being carried out by Austineers of Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire (see press cutting on file).
Completed in 1995, 'Sacre Bleu' enjoyed several further owners before being purchased in 2003 by John Hunt of Northamptonshire, who campaigned the car in historic racing over the succeeding four years before selling it in 2007 to Simon Toft, son of Roger. The current vendor purchased 'Sacre Bleu' at Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed sale in 2009 (Lot 315), since when it has mainly been in storage, enjoying only the occasional local outing in summertime. This historic Formula 750 racing car is offered with sundry bills, a V5C Registration Certificate, and a FIVA Identity Card.

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