2016 - The Year in Review

2016 has sped by in a melee of activity at DK Engineering! Choosing the car to feature on the front of the Christmas cars is often a difficult choice with so many worthy and memorable moments throughout such a busy year. Ultimately for a variety of reasons returning the "Lost Competition Daytona" to action in the summer has been a very significant occasion. This car which has been beautifully depicted by Dexter Brown, is the last true Competition Ferrari of the golden Era. This car is the last of just 15 Competizione Daytonas completed at the factory in 1972. The car was supplied to the legendary Ecurie Francorchamps racing team in Belgium and in 1973 would compete in the two most significant races in Europe, the 1,000kms of Spa in May and then in June the Le Mans 24 Hours, both races this remarkable car finished. By the end of 1973 the car had made its way to England where it was purchased by an English Gentleman and Motor Racing Enthusiast. In this ownership since the late 1970s the car languished in a storage and then for the last twenty years off the road in DK Engineering's store. In the spring of this year it was decided that DK would be instructed to bring this sleeping legend out of hibernation and back into action. A very sympathetic overhaul has been carried out to ensure that the essence of Le Sarthe remains on this preservation great. The car was driven appropriately on the Royal Concours Tour and displayed at Royal Concours of Elegance at Windsor Castle, the first appearance of its type in the cars history. Dexter Brown, who we are privileged to have had paint our Christmas artwork for over 30 years has wonderfully depicted the car at Le Mans in 1973.

However the Daytona has only been a small portion of the wonderful work in DK's workshops, a number of significant restorations have seen completion in the last 12 months, including a brace of 275 GTS's which had been sent from the USA for a DK Engineering Restoration. The 250 GT Tour de France 0585 GT (a car previously owned by David) has now been restored by DK twice! The completion of the Right Hand Drive 365 GTC has been worth the wait as this car, this car, also invited to Windsor is regarded as the best example of its type. Restorations in progress include a pair of 250 GT SWB California Spyders, an Aston Martin DB4 GT, the ex Ron Fry 250 LM, and the Peter Sellers 275 GTB/4.

Whilst the Competition Daytona was attracting the admiration of the Guardsmen at Windsor DK had presented no less than 7 cars on the lawns of Blenheim Palace for Salon Prive the UK's most prestigious Judged Concours event. Amongst these cars was the 1956 500 Testarossa, which DK had restored from a very sorry car over a three year period and raced at Goodwood in 2015. We were delighted to have the class wins bettered by "Best of Show" with this spectacular motorcar.

Away from the Concours Lawn, and on the Motor Racing Calendar, DK have had another exceptionally busy (and successful) year, starting at the Goodwood Member's Meeting with a win for James Cottingham in the Daytona Cobra Coupe and ending in Portimao, with further successes, wins and Podiums on events including; the Tour Auto, Le Mans Classic, Goodwood Revival, Spa 6 Hours, Silverstone Classic, Brands Hatch Italia Festival, Silverstone International Trophy, and the Ferrari Passione Event! DK's 500 TRC has now completed over 100 races in its current ownership and has been campaigned alongside various other DK driven and entered cars. New for 2016 DK were preparing and running a 355 Challenge for a client in the Ferrari Formula Classic and had a most successful season including a perfect weekend at the Brands Hatch Festival Italia, fastest lap, two pole positions and two race wins! David received the "Whithead Cup" for FISCAR driver of the year to further fill DK's trophy cabinet.

For the Acquisition Consultancy and Sales team it has been business as usual with around 150 cars having passed through our hands. Some very significant cars have been sold under the radar and we continue to enjoy finding collectors the cars which others cannot necessarily locate.

2017 will no doubt follow on from 2016 and we look forward to welcoming our clients old and new to see our new extended premises which should be complete and open by summer 2017 and will give us the ability to continue to service our clients every need.