Andrew often joked that this Collection, the largest of its kind in the world, was “the beginnings of a modest collection”. One can only wonder what his vision of a full collection might have been!

 

What started with a few select pieces for his home study, soon took over his and Yvonne’s home, his office and his garage. But a lack of display space didn’t dull Andrew’s enthusiasm, after all there were innumerable photos of Ferraris and the like that just had to be purchased, especially if the drivers happened to be Christopher Arthur Amon or Gilles Villeneuve! And so started the idea of a structured motorsports gallery, to display the Collection in full and, importantly, to share with his friends and like-minded enthusiasts.

 

Following in the footsteps of some of the world’s finest art galleries, the Swift Gallery soon became a living, breathing display and every year a new theme would evolve. The first of these was “From Red to Green” charting the rise of British motorsport throughout the 50s. This must have been a painful story for Andrew to tell, such was his love all all things from Maranello and Modena!

 

From Red to Green was followed by “Team Mates” featuring the likes of Caracciola and Lang, Fangio and Moss, Hawthorn and Collins, Clark and Hill, Andretti and Peterson, Vettel and Webber, Hamilton and Rosberg etc. By now the rear mezzanine had been built and this became home to Team Mates and many future themes.

 

One year there was a Favourite Drivers display in which Gallery visitors and their friends were invited to vote for their favourite three drivers. In all over 130 names were submitted, headed by up Jim Clark and Juan Manuel Fangio, but also featuring the likes of Guiseppe Campari and Achille Varzi, which of course made for an entertaining and interesting exhibition!

 

Themes aside, the majority of the Collection was given over to the history of Grand Prix racing and visitors could trace the development of cars and circuits from early days through to the current era. Every Grand Prix winner from 1950 was featured with the exception of the 1950-1960 Indianapolis rounds; and the sense of history was enhanced by the number of signatures within the Collection, including every World Champion from Giuseppe Farina through to Max Verstappen.

 

In addition to Grand Prix racing, the Collection had separate areas dedicated to sports cars, specifically but not limited to Le Mans, the classic Italian road races (Mille Miglia and Targa Florio), Indy cars, MotoGP and Land Speed Record heroes. Principal characters from outside of the cockpit were also honoured, not least Enzo Ferrari, Sir Frank Williams, Bernie Ecclestone, Professor Sid Watkins and Denis Jenkinson. 

 

As if this wasn’t enough, the photographic Collection was enhanced with some beautiful art and a stunning array of high quality model cars from die-casts to hand-built Gallery specials.

 

The true joy of this Collection was that, no matter how many times you visited, there was always something new to see.

 

To view the full Collection, please join our Virtual Tour:

 

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Andrew sourced his images from many leading suppliers including the Jarrotts Archive, the Klemantaski Collection, LAT Photographic, Historic Art, Vintage MotorPhoto, AW Automobilia and others.

 

 

PHOTOS

 

Lost in thought. Andrew with Richard Attwood.

A typical piece. Mike Hawthorn in his Ferrari at Silverstone in 1958.

The Age of Nuvolari.

Le Mans winner Guy Smith entertains guests.

Motorsport art as well as photographs.

The photo that stopped Stirling Moss in his tracks.

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