Gregor Fisken’s London showrooms welcome prototypes, GTs and single-seaters from a variety of competitions spanning several eras. A passion for historic automobiles,  elevated to the status of works of art, kindled by the pleasure of historical research and, of course, the thrill of driving.

How did you start your activities in classic cars? Was it before or after your first Le Mans start? 
Having grown up within a family who were interested in cars and racing, I have naturally always adored and had a passion for them since I was a child. My interest was taken even further at the age of 17, when I began working as an apprentice for Bunty Scott-Moncrieff, a Scottish restorer and dealer of pre-war motorcars.  I learnt a great deal about restoration and the car business from Bunty, I then went on to work in a Sales and Auction department of a classic car dealership in London for a number of years. It was in 1991 that my passion for classic cars led me to open Fiskens Fine Historic Automobiles at the Mews in Kensington, where the business is still based today. This was all some time before my first Le Mans start in 2004.

Regarding Le Mans classic cars, which ones are your favourite, and do you also have favourite periods in the history of the 24 Hours?
It is hard to say which one is my favourite but I particularly enjoyed driving the 1959 Aston Martin DBR1, which was the actual 1959 Le Mans winner. It was my considerable honour to drive this car, as well as driving it on the track at Le Mans! It would be too difficult to pick a favourite period of the Le Mans 24 Hours. I enjoy looking back at the 1920s and 30s with Bentley and Alfa Romeo, as well as the 1950s when Jaguar D-Types did so well, and of course the 1960s with the GT40s and the Ferrari 330 P4.

How do you rate the importance of the Le Mans 24 Hours in your activities in classic cars?
The 24 Hours of Le Mans bears great importance on my activities with classic cars. I always feel privileged to have handled some fantastic cars with history at Le Mans. Each time a car comes to the Mews, the team and myself really do our research into the history. We are currently in the midst of extensive research on our new arrivals, and without fail, the Le Mans connections are always fascinating! Part of our custodial duty is to bring a car's history to life, a great example of which was a striking Ferrari 275 Competizione – the famous Ecurie Francorchamps entry for the 1966 Le Mans – which we handled a year or so ago. For the 275, we loved looking through the period images from Le Mans and finding actual footage from the race which we put together in a film.  We also got the opportunity to speak to the driver, Claude Dubois, who told us about his Le Mans experience in the 275, which was brilliant!

What are some of the greatest cars with Le Mans history that you have come across?
There are almost too many to list, however, if we start with the younger cars, the Audi R8 LMP900, for instance, achieved pole position, fastest lap and 2nd overall in the 2000 Le Mans 24 Hours. My own Aston Martin DBR9 was a factory entry and made the podium twice and finished in our hands with team Labre.  Then there is our own AC Cobra 39 PH which was the works entry for the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours and class victor! The Fangio 1951 Talbot Lago T26, the 1926 Bentley 3 Litre Supersport Le Mans, but of course being specialists in cars with Le Mans history, there are many many more!
 

How many cars does Fiskens have on sale at the Mews, and what is the average number of Le Mans cars available?
On average we have around 25 of our cars available residing in the Mews, and whilst we’re preparing to publicly launch a number of cars in the next few months, many cars are more discreetly available. At the moment our showroom features the ex-Fangio 300S, the race-ready 2000 Lister Storm GTM 002, the Malaysian Grand Prix-winning and absolutely beautiful Ferrari F1 399, the ex-Count Trossi 1936 Maserati Works Tipo 6CM, the Shadow DN5 I raced at Monaco, and of course a few wonderful vintage Bentleys including a 1931 4½ Litre Sportsman coupe. New arrivals to the showroom include the ex-Jacques Menier Delahaye 135 CS which was entered in the 1936 Le Mans, the Ecurie Nationale Belge Lister Jaguar that came 4th in the 1958 Le Mans 24 Hours, not to mention, another exciting car launching later this spring with period Le Mans ties!

Which classic car is the most enjoyable for you to drive at Le Mans?
Again, it is too hard to choose! With the next Le Mans Classic, I am looking forward to driving a vintage Bentley 4½ litre and my own AC Cobra, known as 39 PH, which won its class at Le Mans in 1963 in the hands of drivers Peter Bolton and Ninian Sanderson under team manager Stirling Moss. I am very much looking forward to racing 39PH at Le Mans, hopefully with friend and co-driver [and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner] Dario Franchitti .

Which car have you always dreamt to drive on the Le Mans circuit?
A Matra MS670! It has got to be one of the greatest Le Mans cars of all time! What a wonderful noise!

PHOTOS – TOP: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 2007 24 HOURS OF LE MANS. The last car driven at the 24 Hours by historic car dealer Gregor Fisken, this DBR9 was jointly entered by Aston Martin Racing and French outfit Larbre Compétition, three-time GT class winner at Le Mans. CENTRE (© FISKENS FINE HISTORIC AUTOMOBILES): this Ferrari 275, driven by Frenchman Pierre Noblet and Belgian Claude Dubois, finished 10th in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Dubois greatly assisted the Fiskens Fine Historic Automobiles team with their historical research.