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Chris Evans Ferraris at Haynes Museum

Just come back from the Haynes Motor Museum at Sparkford, Somerset as an item in our local paper said Chris Evans would be there with his collection of Ferraris for an event connected with Children in Need.

Sure enough, parked up just outside the entrance were six white and one black Ferraris.

They were:-

1959 250 GT Berlinetta
1964 250 GT Lusso
1967 275 GTB
1972 246 GT Dino
1985 288 GTO
1989 F40
and last but not least
1961 250 GTB swb California

There were about 50 people there, the cars were unlocked, the keys were in them and we were free to admire, photograph and sit in them all.

Evans himself had arrived in a Rolls Royce Phantom, Reg No FAB 1.

He was perfectly affable and effusive, posed patiently for photos for all and sundry before rounding all the cars up to head off for a drive in the countryside and lunch.

What a wonderful site and sound. V6, V8 and V12 engines wailing off up the road.

Well done to Chris Evans for being so generous with his time and toys. Mind you, the California had ropey paintwork on the bonnet. Don't think I'd have paid £6m for it, but at least I've had my bum on its seat.


{typo in header amended}

PLEASE try to be specific in your headlines. "Once in a lifetime experience" tells no one what your thred is about. HJ

Comments

Mick Snutz    on 3 July 2009

Nice report and glad you had a good time.

At least these cars are being driven too rather than sat looking far too shiny in a museum somewhere.

OldSock    on 3 July 2009


Who is Chris Evans?

maz64    on 3 July 2009

Who is Chris Evans?


www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/presenters/chris-evans/

Lud    on 3 July 2009

Who is Chris Evans?


You wouldn't like him on TV OS. Anyway I don't. But stackman reveals a human side.

He lives or used to live up the road from me. Anyway I think I saw him in a house there once. But perhaps it was some other shark-like hornrimmed ginger whippersnapper...

Edited by Lud on 03/07/2009 at 14:37

OldSock    on 3 July 2009


Thank you.

old crocks    on 3 July 2009

What a great way to spend a morning.

But....."six white and one black Ferraris." Surely he must be able to afford at least one red one ;-)

What colour was the Rolls?

Dynamic Dave    on 3 July 2009

What colour was the Rolls?


According to the DVLA website, it's Black.

www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/

The enquiry is complete
The vehicle details for FAB 1 are:

Date of Liability 01 06 2010
Date of First Registration 01 09 2004
Year of Manufacture 2004
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 6749CC
CO2 Emissions 385g/Km
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour BLACK
Vehicle Type Approval M1
The information contained on this page is correct at the time of enquiry.
Vehicle Excise Duty Rate for vehicle
6 Months Rate £118.25
12 Months Rate £215.00

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 03/07/2009 at 14:55

maz64    on 3 July 2009

>> What colour was the Rolls?
According to the DVLA website it's Black.


Interesting - according to ASKMID FAB1 is a Ferrari 250 GT SWB California.

Lud    on 3 July 2009

Wasn't FAB 1 the number of the six-wheeled pink Rolls-Royce convertible used by a doll called Lady something, driven by a grim looking chauffeur doll, on some ancient TV programme?

Wherever it comes from it's a genuinely embarrassing number plate that one really wouldn't want.

maz64    on 3 July 2009

Wasn't FAB 1 the number of the six-wheeled pink Rolls-Royce convertible used by a doll


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAB1

stackman    on 3 July 2009

Yes, the Rolls was black. If you're going to have an outrageous car why not have an outrageous number plate. The Lady Penelope reference points him out as a child of the seventies like myself.

He also had his black 599 there with the reg 1 FAB.

Someone said that he had had the cars painted white, except for the 250 California, and I thought they looked great. The museum had their 308 out and it looked quite brash in red against the white cars.

The Ferraris all had appropriate plates like ENZ 246, ENZ 250, ENZ 40. I think the California had FER 1.

Whatever you think of the bloke, to have money to burn and spend it on such iconic metal, and be prepared to let it loose bumps him up in my estimation.

Edited by stackman on 03/07/2009 at 15:31

Dynamic Dave    on 3 July 2009

Interesting - according to ASKMID FAB1 is a Ferrari 250 GT SWB California.


According to a google search, he previously had it on that motor. Obviously AskMid haven't updated their records yet.

www.flickr.com/photos/tonysphotos/3498069322/

old crocks    on 3 July 2009

Thanks Dave. I was hoping it was pink!

When I read the OP I thought it was just like a mini version of the Goodwood Festival of Speed but without the crowds.

Then ten minutes ago a friend rang, told me the Festival of Speed was this weekend and invited me to go with him!

Life's looking up. Must go and pack. Drive to Chichester this afternoon, night on the town, cars tomorrow, gentle drive back (not mimsing,Lud ) and a report on Sunday !

Lud    on 3 July 2009

Heh heh... have a good time, and take it carefully in Surrey if you have to go that way...

old crocks    on 3 July 2009

Heh heh... have a good time and take it carefully in Surrey if you have
to go that way..


Thanks Lud. Yes I do have to but I'll get through it as quickly as I can.

.....if you can't be good, be careful... ;-)

rtj70    on 3 July 2009

If I remember correctly, one thing auctioned for Children in Need was a day out driving the Ferrari's of Chris Evans, i.e. the winning bidder and friends didn't just get to sit in the cars they got to drive and ride in them.

tinyurl.com/nhbmz3 (This is Devon news article)

Apparently the bids to drive the cars raised £450,000 last year!

Edited by rtj70 on 03/07/2009 at 16:12

stackman    on 3 July 2009

Yes, there was clearly a party of people who were pasengers in the cars. I believe they were heading off to play golf in the New Forest with dinner and a disco thron in. I believe tonights radio show will come from the New Forest.

old crocks    on 3 July 2009

There is already a picture of the event on Chris Evans blog.

www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisevans/2009/07/blogging_li...l

and details of the cars here
www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrisevans/2009/07/hi_guys.sht...l

Would two red, two white and two blue look better?

(Isn't google wonderful! )

Edited by Honestjohn on 04/07/2009 at 12:35

Pugugly    on 3 July 2009

Friend caught a glimpse of FAB 1 being loaded onto an Ireland bound ferry a couple of weeks ago. Engaging "Parker" in conversation on board reveled that the car was on its way to a wedding there. Evans was flying out. Nice working for the BBC !

Edited by Honestjohn on 04/07/2009 at 12:35

AlastairW    on 3 July 2009

I didnt think Evans owned all of the cars on the tour - I though some at least were borrowed.

For those unfamiliar with his radio show, he is much calmer person than in his TV days, and much easire to listen to then his predecessor at drive time IMO.

Edited by Honestjohn on 04/07/2009 at 12:36

Martin Devon    on 4 July 2009

He's gorn up in my estimation, but his voice on that drive time show is soooo boring. Johnny Walker or Mike Reid/Read are and were the best vocally.

MD

Edited by Honestjohn on 04/07/2009 at 12:35

David Horn    on 4 July 2009

Aww, come on, you could call Chris Evans's voice anything but boring. For truly boring, you have to look to 6.30pm on a Sunday evening when they wheel out *shudders* Alan Titchmarsh.

Edited by Honestjohn on 04/07/2009 at 12:34

ifithelps    on 4 July 2009

Fairly sure some, if not most, of the cars were borrowed.

Evans gave the event extensive coverage on his R2 show on Friday evening.

A year or so ago he announced to the listeners: "We didn't get on well to start with, but everything's fine now."

Interesting remark, acknowledging he got off to a poor start on R2 - Johnnie Walker was a very hard act to follow.

I think Evans now has the second most popular show on radio, after Wogan.

Number_Cruncher    on 4 July 2009

>>I think Evans now has the second most popular show on radio, after Wogan.

Not with me it isn't - at the first sound of the ginger menace, I'm off to radio 4.

ifithelps    on 4 July 2009

Give him a try, he's a lot more grown-up, now.

Unless you already have, in which case I'll leave you to get with the shipping forecast. :)

Robin Reliant    on 4 July 2009

Not with me it isn't - at the first sound of the ginger menace I'm
off to radio 4.

Same here. Evans sounds like one of the nicest blokes you could meet but he isn't a patch on Walker, I find the show irriteating and childish. JW often had a motoring theme with guests like Damon Hill and Murray Walker, and his music choice was much better.

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