Saturday, February 26, 2011

Man Amasses Ridiculously Awesome Gulf Oil-Liveried Racing Car Collection


The ROFGO Gulf Collection by Duncan Hamilton is one man's dream of assembling the largest assortment of racing cars ever to compete in the legendary colors of Gulf Oil. The collection comprises 14 of the most prominent Gulf Oil-liveried competition cars and has been created by Duncan Hamilton & Co.’s Chairman, Adrian Hamilton, for an unnamed but obviously passionate and extremely wealthy client.

All 14 cars were tracked down and acquired in just two years. The collection includes a variety of models ranging in age from the 1967 Mirage, which was the first Gulf-liveried car to run at Le Mans, to the 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo that competed in the GT2 Championship.

Commenting on the collection, Adrian Hamilton said: “My career has been punctuated by many remarkable cars – eg the one and only Mercedes-Benz 196 Grand Prix car in private hands, some nine Ferrari 250 GT0s, 20 GT40s, seven Porsche 917s and numerous Jaguar C and D-Types etc – but few projects have been as enjoyable and satisfying as this one. Like all racing enthusiasts I’ve grown up with the Gulf brand and it is a tremendous privilege to be able to build such a unique and lasting tribute to one of the greatest names in our sport. I am extremely indebted to my client for the opportunity.”

A total of 12 cars from the ROFGO Gulf Collection by Duncan Hamilton will get their first public outing for all to see at Retromobile, an annual show of classic road and racing cars, which takes place at Porte de Versailles in Paris, from February 2 to 6.


In chronological order the 14 cars are:

  • 1967 Mirage

Chassis No.10002 – the first Gulf-liveried car to run at Le Mans

  • 1968 Ford GT40

Chassis No.1084 – 4th, SPA 1000 km, Hawkins/Hobbs

  • 1969 Brabham BT26

Chassis No.BT26/4 - 1st German GP, Ickx

  • 1970 McLaren M14

Chassis No.M14/A2 – 2nd South African GP, Hulme

  • 1971 Porsche 917

Chassis No.026 – 2nd, Le Mans 24 Hours, Attwood/Muller

  • 1970 Porsche 908/3

Chassis No.12 – Nürburgring 1000 km, Siffert, DNF

  • 1972 McLaren M20

Chassis No.M20/3 – 1st, Watkins Glen, Hulme

  • 1974 Mirage

Chassis No.704 – 4th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Bell/Hailwood

  • 1994 Kremer K8

Chassis No.K8/07/SP – 6th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Bell/Lassig/Donovan

  • 1996 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail

Chassis No.022 – 3rd, Hockenheim 4 Hours, Bscher/Nielson

  • 2006 Courage C65 LMP2

Chassis No.07 – 7th, Le Mans 24 Hours, Gosselin/Ojeh/Ragues

  • 2008 Aston Martin DBR9

Chassis No.007 – 4th in GT1, Le Mans 24 Hours, Frentzen/Piccili/Wendlinger

  • 2009 Aston Martin LMP1

Chassis No.DBR1-2/2 – 1st, Asian Le Mans series, Okayama, Mucke/Primat

  • 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo

GT2 Championship, Giroix/Goethe