Jordan F1 collection up for sale

Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan is to put his collection of cars and memorabilia up for sale in order to benefit a couple of charities.

Now a host of the BBC's F1 coverage, Jordan has requested that the collection of historically important cars and memorabilia should be sold off, with all proceeds going to CLIC Sargent and the Amber Foundation. Cars International will represent the Irishman in the sale process.

The collection includes the first Jordan Grand Prix car ever built, chassis number 01. Designed by Gary Anderson, the 7-Up liveried 191 is a highly significant car as it was the chassis driven by Michael Schumacher on his one and only appearance with the team - and f1 debut - at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix. It comes complete with the German's original helmet, signed and given to Jordan by the now seven-time world champion to express his gratitude for his first F1 opportunity.

The second car in the collection is the first race-winning Jordan chassis, the 198 driven to victory by Damon Hill at the 1988 Belgian Grand Prix. Hill finished ahead of team-mate Ralf Schumacher to take an historic 1-2 for the Silverstone-based outfit, and the car comes complete with the constructors' world championship trophy from the event, as well as Hill's racesuit and helmet. The 1998 season was Jordan's first with Honda engines and, after a difficult start to the year, things started to turn around at the British Grand Prix, when both cars finished in the points.

"The two F1 cars were kept because of their history, the good memories and what they meant to the team," Jordan commented, "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 and getting young adults back on the straight and narrow."

There are also a further collection of twelve significant drivers' and constructors' world championship trophies, eight Jordan drivers' helmets and a selection of other memorabilia in the collection. Each individual item is complete with a certificate of authenticity, signed personally by Jordan himself, and everything will be formally presented to the new owner by the Irishman at Silverstone.

The collection is not going to auction, but 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 the vehicles should the new owner wish to use them for demonstrations or racing.