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Colin Crabbe
Late Scots Guards
by Alastair Crabbe
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Colin Crabbe, a charismatic figure known for his passion for historic racing cars, treasure-hunting rare automobiles, and even running a privateer Formula One team, passed away on 7 March at the age of 82. His life was one of adventure, discovery, and unrelenting enthusiasm for vintage machinery.
Born in 1942 into a family with strong ties to the British military, Crabbe followed his father into the Scots Guards. Commissioned in July 1962, Crabbe joined the First Battalion.
During his service, Crabbe’s penchant for automobiles became evident. He often parked multiple vehicles outside the Officer’s Mess, including a Maserati 3500 GT and a Downton-tuned Mini Cooper. His choice of a highly tuned, pillar-box red Volvo as daily transport led to frequent salutes from fellow officers, confusing it with the colonel’s similar vehicle. This situation culminated in a directive to repaint the car, a suggestion Crabbe declined.
After his service, he unsurprisingly turned his attention to the automotive industry, where he would leave an indelible mark.
Crabbe was a natural enthusiast and restorer, fascinated by rare and historic racing cars. His company, Antique Automobiles, became famous for locating and restoring long-lost classic racers, particularly pre-war Grand Prix cars. His most legendary find was a Mercedes-Benz W125 discovered near the Polish border in the 1960s, a car that he went on to race successfully at VSCC meetings, including wins in the Richard Seaman Memorial Trophy races in 1971 and 1972.
His interest in motorsport extended beyond restoration and collecting. In 1969, Crabbe entered Formula One as a privateer under the name Colin Crabbe Racing (Antique Automobiles). His intention was to be the driver but having failed to fit in the cockpit – he was cut out – he opted for smaller drivers. The team ran three different cars over two seasons, including a Cooper T86B Maserati, driven by Vic Elford, notably finishing seventh at the Monaco Grand Prix. This marked the final F1 appearance for both Cooper as a constructor and Maserati as an engine supplier. Other drivers included Neil Corner and Ronnie Peterson.
Beyond his F1 exploits, Crabbe competed in numerous historic and VSCC events, driving a variety of legendary machines, including a Maserati 250F, an Aston Martin Project 214, and a Talbot-Lago. His racing career came to a halt after a serious accident at Oulton Park in 1988, but his passion for vintage racing never waned.
A true adventurer, Crabbe’s legacy is not just in the cars he saved but in the stories he lived. Whether scouring Eastern Europe or South America for forgotten racing relics or competing in pre-war machinery, he embodied the spirit of historic motorsport.
Colin leaves behind an enduring legacy in the world of classic cars - one he captured in his book Thrill of the Chase. |
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