Inside Girardo & Co.: Iconic Cars, Motorsport History, and an Unrivaled Photo Archive

A Tour of Girardo & Co.

• 💡 The visit to Girardo & Co. in the UK showcased an incredible collection of cars, but the highlight was the comprehensive motorsports image archive.
• 🚗 The collection features a wide range of vehicles, from WRC rally cars to classic Ferraris, with many items available for sale.

Iconic Cars and Their Stories

• 🚀 A 1998 WRC Safari rally car, previously driven by Colin McCrae, was a standout, highlighting its specific modifications for the Safari rally, such as a bullbar, snorkel, and extended fuel tank.
• 🏎️ The McLaren F1, described as the best of the driver's era before electronic aids, was presented as a precious centerpiece, noting its lightweight construction and unique longtail design.
• 🚗 A 2001 Ferrari 550 Maranello Prodrive was detailed, a car built for GT1 class racing with a unique history including five Le Mans 24 Hours entries and a third-place finish in class with Colin McCrae driving.
• 🌟 The 1953 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta by Vignale was admired for its design, intended for the Carrera Panamericana, and its unique features like a bug deflector.
• 🏆 The 1967 Ferrari 206S, the ultimate evolution of the model, was noted for its fuel-injected V12 engine and its restoration by Ferrari Classiche.
• 💨 A one-off Bugatti Veyron Super Sport World Record Edition was showcased, distinguished by its satin matte carbon finish and a unique orange shade.
• 🏁 A 1976 Formula 2 Ferrari raced by Jackie X and Derek Bell was highlighted, having spent 30 years with a couple deeply connected to the Festival of Speed.
• 🐎 The 1994 Ferrari 333 SP was presented as an icon of '90s GT racing, with a history including multiple wins at Sebring and podiums at Daytona and Le Mans.
• 🚀 The Lancia LC2, chassis 7, the last of its kind, featured a Ferrari engine prototype and the iconic Martini livery, known for its speed but not durability.
• 🚗 A Group B homologation car, the Lancia S4, was described as rare, especially in black, with a beautifully designed interior and working air conditioning.
• 🏎️ The 1987 GTE F187 Ferrari Formula 1 car, the last Ferrari F1 car Enzo Ferrari saw win a race, was noted for its powerful turbocharged V6 engine.
• 🚗 A 1973 Dino GT with an astonishingly low mileage of 5,800 miles, retaining its original paint and interior, was a prime example of meticulous preservation.
• 🚗 The 1985 Menardi Formula 1 car, used by Max for historic racing, was highlighted for its carbon tub and adaptability for historic racing with a DFV engine.
• 🚗 A rare 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM Cabriolet, one of only six right-hand drive models, was praised for its power and extensive use of carbon fiber.
• 🚗 Two limited edition V12 Ferrari 575 Super America and 550 Barchetta models, both with extremely low mileage, were displayed side-by-side.
• 💥 The Lola T70, UK road registered with a big Chevy engine, was presented as an ultimate weapon for events like Tour Auto and a great car for a pub visit.
• 🏎️ A 1974 Ferrari 308 GT4 LM, nicknamed 'Denato', was a unique one-off built for NART, featuring external fuel fillers and a distinctive design.
• 🏆 A 1991 Lancia Delta Integrale Group A car, upgraded to 'Deltona' spec, with a history of racing at Monte Carlo and the Race of Champions, was shown with its original race damage.
• 🚗 The 1924 Lancia Lambda, the first monocoque car with independent front suspension, was presented as possibly the finest condition example in the world, featuring a unique indicator system.

The Girardo & Co. Photo Archive

• 📸 The Girardo & Co. archive, purchased from Photo 4, contains an estimated 5-7 million images, with 900,000 digitized.
• 🎞️ The collection includes developed film on slides up to 2003 and digital images up to 2019, covering major motorsport categories.
• 🖼️ The archive serves as a valuable resource for research, documentation, and licensing for books and documentaries, enabling Girardo & Co. to provide unparalleled historical context for the cars they sell.
• 🌟 Photographers like Romano from Photo 4 and Photo Dom, the Lancia Martini photographer, contributed to this vast collection, documenting iconic moments and the evolution of motorsport and car culture.