'I hated the colour, really didn't like it at all - when the sun comes up, it burns your eyes.' These are the words of Anton Raaymakers, Dutch owner of a Jensen C-V8 that has been hoovering up concours trophies since 2019. 'It was my wife Lianda who said "If you are doing it properly like you say you are, you have to go back to the original paint." Thank heavens she insisted, not only because this gleaming Jensen C-V8 looks so much more vibrant in California Sage than the dull blue it was when Raaymakers bought it in 2015, but because it also shores up my theory that concours-winning green is 'a thing.
I said it last year when I was privileged to help show Christie Chiltern-Hunt's beautiful Bell Sport & Classicrestored Ferrari 330 GTC at Salon Privé (Octane 234) and I stand by it now. This Jensen C-V8 is probably the prime example. Anton started showing it in 2019 and has scooped a boot-full of trophies, most recently a class win and the Chairman's Award from Peter Read at the London Concours, which is where Octane caught up with Anton - and where the Raamsdonksveer HR consultant dropped his second bombshell: 'I am not a concours guy at all. I hate polishing cars. I only entered it in the first place because the guy who restored it said he would fly over and do the polishing.' Okay...
Given the above, it will come as no surprise that the 57-year-old didn't even set out to buy a C-V8, although he already was a devotee of the marque, which remains a bit obscure' in Holland. His first car was an Autobianchi A112 bought for 1750 Guilders and he had a penchant for Saabs, but about 20 years ago decided that it was time to get into classic cars: 'I didn't know what brand or anything. I looked around on the internet and found a Jensen-Healey, which I had never heard of. I called around and started getting involved and learning about them and then bought a Jensen-Healey, one of only 14 original Dutch cars.' He still has it.
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Octane.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Octane.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Jem Marsh
The hard-bitten Marcos boss was driven like few others and never knew when he was beaten. Thankfully
Vandamm House
A Mid-Century Modernist masterpiece that was immortalised on celluloid - despite never actually existing
Making light
Alfa Romeo's post-war renaissance began with the 1900 saloon - and matured with Zagato's featherweight coupé version, as Jay Harvey discovers
FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Is burgeoning classic car interest in the Middle East good for the global classic market? Nathan Chadwick investigates
Before the beginning
This rare Amazon Green pre-production Range Rover is Velar chassis number 4. James Elliott charts its historically revealing factory restoration
Ben Cussons
As the outgoing chairman of the Royal Automobile Club hands on to his successor, Robert Coucher quizzes him about the evolution of this great British institution
BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES
We gather five motoring masterpieces by avant-garde designer William Towns - and drive all of them
Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg
As the Audrain organisation grows, we take a look behind the scenes at the huge car collection that feeds it
Flying the Scottish flag
Young Ecurie Ecosse driver Chloe Grant gets to grips with the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type at Goodwood. Matthew Hayward is Octane's witness
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO
Audi Tradition has unveiled the Auto Union Type 52 Schnellsportwagen - only 90 years since it was designed. Glen Waddington takes an exclusive ride with Hans-Joachim Stuck
