Authentication services: history dossiers

As part of OldRacingCars.com's authentication services we can compile a dossier on any significant racing car. This includes Formula 1, Can-Am, Tasman and Formula 2, as you would expect, but also subjects such as 1980s Group C sports racing cars, mid-1960s Group 2 touring cars, and late-1960s Group 4 GTs. The key ingredients of the dossier are a full race history, ownership history and a statement on the authenticity of the car.

When applying for papers allowing a car to race, or applying for entries at high-profile events such the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique or the Le Mans Classic, an objective, independently-produced history is of significant value.

Dossiers completed recently or in progress include examples of Williams FW08, Cooper T53, Shadow DN5B, Ferrari 312B, Lotus 18, Alfa Romeo GTA, March 741, Porsche 908/3, March 761, Chevron B19, Tyrrell 009, Brabham BT23C, BRM P160, Lancia LC2, De Tomaso 505, Jaguar XJR-14, Brabham BT2, Lola T280, Surtees TS9B, Spice SE90, March 722, Chevron B8, March 782, Shadow DN2, Ralt RT1, McLaren M19C, Mirage M6, Cooper T51, March 731, Frissbee GR2, Arrows A3, Brabham BT35, Hesketh 308C, Shadow DN9B, Ensign LNF3, Tyrrell 010 and Lotus 59. The total number completed is now heading towards 200.

Dossier contents

Example dossier

A standard dossier is a 16 to 20-page A4 booklet covering the following information:

• summary
• details of this model
• specific history of this car
• photographs: typically around six to eight period photographs of this car depending on availability
• race history
• ownership history
• discussion of the car's authenticity, if there is any doubt around it

Depending on the space available, dossiers may also contain

• drivers: brief biography of the main drivers of this car
• context: details of the category, formula or championship
• context: history of this constructor
• sources: a list of significant sources

Dossiers will naturally vary according to the information available and will be constructed from the information in OldRacingCars.com's files, in the author's own files, details provided by the owner, and through up to five days of specific additional research.

The research library owned and held on site by OldRacingCars.com is growing all the time but currently includes around 7,500 magazines, all major annuals and yearbooks, virtually all the Formula 1 Register publications and innumerable books. Research is conducted in the National Motor Museum Library at Beaulieu and at the British Museum at St Pancras as required.

Please note that we will not accept commissions for dossiers where we do not believe there to be sufficient information to provide a satisfactory level of authentification.

Authors

Allen Brown leads on researching car ownership histories and race histories on Formula 1, Formula 5000, Tasman/Intercontinental, Indy/USAC and sports racing cars. Starting in October 1978, Allen has kept close track of every one of 3-litre Formula 1 cars built in the 1966-1985 period, plus most Tasman cars and many of the cars built for the 1½-litre Formula 1 of the early 1960s. Allen's extensive unpublished files include continuous ownership histories for the majority of these cars.

There is currently limited capacity to work on Formula 2 and the Junior Formulae, but we hope to be in a position to take on further commissions in this area again in the future.

Contact Allen to discuss your requirements.