Description
This car is Lot 130 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at The Goodwood Auction on Saturday September 13th, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Friday September 12 from 09:00 until 17:00, Saturday September 13 from 09:00 at The Goodwood Revival.
Lot 130
Offered from an important overseas collection
1969 Piper GTR Le Mans Sports-Racing Prototype
Registration no. not registered
Chassis no. BJS-3
Entered in the 1969 Le Mans 24 Hour Race
Raced extensively in the USA
Recommissioned circa 2005
Finisher at the 2006 Le Mans Classic
Class winner at the 2008 World Sports Racing Masters at Donington
The unique sports-racing prototype was built by the Piper Car Company, an offshoot of the eponymous tuning firm, which had been established in 1966 by George Henrotte and Bob Gayler.
Piper's GT car project took off following the recruitment of up-and-coming designer Tony Hilder from McLaren. Despite the enormity of the task, the fledgling concern was able to exhibit a prototype in 1967 alongside a Formula 3 chassis. Brian Sherwood, an existing Piper customer, was interested in the GT project and joined the company, which was split into two separate concerns: tuning components, overseen by Henrotte and Gaylor, and Piper Cars, managed by Sherwood, whose Wokingham premises would be the operation's new home.
Development of the original GT design having reached its conclusion, attention switched to a new 'GTR' car, intended to contest the Le Mans 24 Hour Race. Once again the design was entrusted to Tony Hilder, who came up with an aerodynamic mid-engined coupé built around a central monocoque. Advanced for its day, Hilder's design featured rear-mounted water and oil radiators and a tail section configured to divert cooling air from the radiator underneath the car, an arrangement designed to leave the flow of air over the car undisturbed, while the unusual twin-pontoon nose was bridged by an aerofoil adjustable from within the cockpit. As for the monocoque itself, this was a composite construction of end-grain balsa wood, polyester, glassfibre and polyurethane foam, an immensely strong combination. Tubular subframes front and rear carried the engine and suspension, and the GTR was capable of accommodating a wide variety of engine makes and types. The finished car stood barely 30" high and weighed a mere 600kg (1, 320lb).
In the event, only two GTRs were built: a 2. 0-litre and a 1. 3, but only the latter - the car offered here - made it to Le Mans, entered by Sherwood's Team Concorde to be driven by Tim Lalonde and John Burton. Only Lalonde had prior Le Mans experience, having driven for the Mini Marcos team in 1967, and it was him that took the untried Piper GTR out in practice, clocking up an encouraging 164mph. Unfortunately, the team had neglected to get the 1, 300cc twin-cam motor stamped as such by the RAC. The ensuing debacle saw the French authorities exclude the Piper GTR from the race, ostensibly on the grounds that only Lalonde had taken part in official practice, though rumours abounded that the real reason was to remove a potential threat to the all-conquering Alpines.
After Le Mans Lalonde was given the Piper GTR in settlement of a debt and, being broke, had no option but to sell it. Resurfacing in the USA, the car was raced extensively before being retired in the late 1990s. Circa 2005 the immediately preceding owner acquired the Piper - still entirely original apart from a change of colour - and recommissioned it. Works undertaken included removing and rebuilding the subframes and reinforcing the tub attachments. A full crack testing of all suspension components (as well as two sets original magnesium wheels) was carried out in May 2006 by NDT Services, a copy of whose technical report is on file. The composite monocoque was thoroughly checked and found to be completely sound. The car was fully repainted, accurately matching the original colour, while the original graphics were replicated and applied. To prevent any overheating caused by the radiators' location at the rear, an electric fan was installed.
Following the aforementioned restoration's completion, the rebuilt Piper GTR was exhibited at the 2005 Goodwood Festival of Speed and the following year was invited to the Silverstone Classic. In 2006 the car returned to France to contest that year's Le Mans Classic, where it was reunited with Tim Lalonde some 37 years after its solitary appearance at the Circuit de la Sarthe. The car's speed surprised Lalonde and on this occasion it not only started but finished the race. The Piper GTR also contested the World Sports Racing Masters event at Donington Park in 2008, winning its class. In 2010 it was again invited to the Le Mans Classic and will no doubt continue to be welcome at prestigious Historic events for many years to come.
The current vendor purchased the Piper at a UK auction in January 2011, at which time it was fitted with a 1, 600cc Piper-tuned Ford Lotus twin-cam engine. The car has not been recommissioned while in the present ownership and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Offered with expired HTP papers dated 2005.
Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK, will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
