Since the Goodwood Members’ Meeting was revived in 2014, the Chevrolet Camaro has emerged as the leading candidate if you want to win in the Gordon Spice Trophy races, much in the same way as the 7.0 litre Ford Galaxies tend to lead the way in the (Sixties) St Mary’s Trophy races at Revival.
The Bastos Camaro is the actual Luigi Group 1 touring car that bagged pole position at the Spa Francorchamps 24 Hours in 1981 driven by GP driver Reine Wisell.
As is often the case leading historic car dealer David Clark of Taylor & Crawley Ltd chanced across a small ad in a magazine whilst in Italy, recognised the car and swiftly arranged for a Camaro expert to fly out and accompany him to a viewing.
It had been somewhat discarded at the back of the owner’s garage along with some other cars, but the Camaro expert was very excited and confirmed that it was the real thing in completely original condition. The car was brought over to the UK where it was very carefully and sympathetically restored, retaining the gorgeous patina built up over the years.
Old and original it may have been but in its first outing at the Goodwood’s 73rd Members Meeting the brutish V8 Camaro qualified on the front row, finished second in the Owners Race and in spite of an over-enthusiastic Tiff Needell punting David into a terrifying spin entering St Mary’s at full chat, Matt Neal took over and completed a superb victory in the Gerry Marshall Trophy.
As well as placings at Spa, Silverstone and Donington the Bastos Camaro has become something of a Goodwood fixture, in the 80th Members Meeting in 2023 Rob Huff was again victorious in the Gordon Spice Trophy, the renamed Gerry Marshall Trophy, after another fraught final lap.
The Camaro, referred to as “Big Red” by David and the team is certainly not for the faint-hearted, but driven with confidence it’s a very fast and controllable racer. Final word from David “I absolutely love it to bits!”
Exterior Colour Red
Interior Colour Black
Drive Rear
Type Race
Year 1981
Garage 1, The Courtyard, Harrowby Court, Harrowby Street, London W1H 5FA T: +44 (0) 20 7823 2599
