Former Jordan Grand Prix Team owner Eddie Jordan OBE has requested that his collection of historically important cars and memorabilia should be sold, with all the proceeds going to CLIC Sargent and the Amber Foundation.
“These two F1 cars were kept because of their history,” Jordan commented, “the good memories and what they meant to the team. But it’s time to let them go, and the money will be used to good effect helping young people and their families cope with cancer (CLIC Sargent) and getting young adults back on the straight and narrow (Amber Foundation).”
The collection includes the first Jordan Grand Prix car ever built, chassis number 01. Designed by Gary Anderson, 191 is a highly significant car as it was driven by Michael Schumacher in the German’s F1 debut. It comes complete with Michael’s original helmet, signed and given to Eddie Jordan personally by the seven-time World Champion to express his gratitude for his first Grand Prix racing opportunity.
Still wearing its striking bright green 7-Up livery, it was the very first F1 car to be designed by Anderson, who explained, “I wanted to produce a car that looked good and handled well, I wanted something the mechanics would be proud of and the drivers confident to push.” This first Jordan Grand Prix car bestowed instant credibility on the Silverstone-based outfit after they finished 5th in the Constructors World Championship.
The second car in the collection is the first Grand Prix-winning Jordan chassis 198. This car was driven to victory in the 1998 Belgium Grand Prix by Damon Hill ahead of teammate Ralf Schumacher, and comes complete with the Constructors World Championship trophy won on that historic day, as well as Damon’s race suit and his helmet.
The 1998 season was the first when the team used Honda engines, and after a difficult start to the year things started to turn around at the British GP when both cars finished in the points. Famously at Spa, after early lap carnage, Hill won the race in the rain with Schumacher 2nd.
Also on offer are 12 Driver and Constructor World Championship trophies, eight Jordan team drivers’ helmets and a selection of other memorabilia. Each individual item is complete with a certificate of authenticity, signed personally by Jordan, who will formally present everything to the new owner at Silverstone, where the Jordan Grand Prix story began. This sale represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a unique part of F1 history.
The collection is not going to auction, but is being sold privately through Cars International, who have the benefit of a full F1 engineering team with the expertise to provide service and maintenance to these vehicles should the new owner wish to use them for demonstrations or racing. Interested parties should contact Cars International on: +44 (0) 1488 71029
