If your interested in buying a vintage Ferrari in Europe? And having a place where experts can also service the car, possibly store the car and prepare the car for the Mille Miglia or Goodwood rally?

Then one name stands out. DK Engineering based outside of London.  They are the only shop in Europe that offers a one-stop shop for their clients.

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DK Engineering was founded more than 35 years ago by David and Kate Nottingham.

What started out as a small operation has turned into an impressive globally known family operation. Over the years David has built up a formidable reputation as one of worlds leading experts on restoration of 1950s and 1960s Ferrari. There is hardly a well known Ferrari that has not passed through his hands for restoration, 250 SWB, 250 TDF, 250 TR and 250 GTO, countless 275 GTB’s.

What sets DK Engineering apart from others is that DK offers its customers a complete ‘package’.

You see most dealers of Ferrari in Europe do not service them and do not have the engineering know how to restore or maintain them. Dealers outsource that. Not DK Engineering.

We believe that they offer a unique value proposition to the customer in that they are a dealer of Ferrari but also have the engineering know how to maintain them, restore them, keep them in storage and race prepare them. All in all DK Engineering looks after more than 150 cars for its clients worldwide.

I had a chance to visit them at ‘Little Green Street Farm’ and we came away impressed. Its a well run family operation. And what is rare in the classic car world: The Cottinghams are down to earth and nice people.

We sat down with James Cottingham who is in charge of sales with his brother Jeremy but with time plans to take over other operations. (For more information on DK Engineering click here).

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LME: The classic car market seems to be stronger than ever in 2013. how do you see the market?

J.Cottingham: Even better than 2012 which was a very good year. Lead times from advertising a car and selling it are getting even shorter and although the value of the cars has increased, demand has not weakened. Additional the ‘ecosystem’ for owning a classic car has never been better. There are so many great events, so many great rallies, for the collector of classic car

Can the ever rising prices for Ferrari continue?

J. Cottingham: Well right now there are more people wanting to buy cars than there is availability. The prices are strong and I do not seeing that changing right now.

What makes collectors gravitate towards Ferrari? What is special about this brand?

J. Cottingham: First and foremost, Ferrari always made fantastic cars. Throughout much of their history, the cars be it a 250 SWB, 250 TDF or 250 TR or even an F40, at the time of introduction- Ferrari had made the best cars that beat everything else out there. Ferrari always made cars that were ‘cutting edge’ in terms of performance when they were released. So although Ferrari was always very expensive- there was justification for that expense. Their cars were the best out there.

You apparantly sold four 250 SWB last year. Why is this model so sought after?

J. Cottingham: The 250 SWB is still seemingly well within wealthy peoples grasp. It is the last dual purpose Ferrari where you could race it and drive it home afterwards. It is a beautiful car and has a great combination of engine, gearbox and superb handling. It is rare enough as well at only 167 examples made. Lastly the 250 SWB has great racing heritage. In short the 250 SWB has everything a collector could want.

What differentiates a good collector versus an average collector? 

J. Cottingham: The best collectors are the ones who use their cars and can accept that the car has had a previous life with another owner. Collectors who only view their cars as investments and never drive them are not good custodians for the cars. A good collector will also have many different cars and appreciate variety. I also think a good collector will accept that perhaps during its life the car may have a had an issue whether it be a small accident or a gearbox replacement for example – just because a car isn’t exactly as it was when it was new doesn’t make it an example not worth owning.

What should collectors watch out for when buying a car? Today they (collectors) can find so much information on the internet- what role can DK engineering still play in advising clients?

J. Cottingham: While the internet can be a great resource for finding information, I also find the internet is hard for collectors to really find out ‘the real truth’. Is the car really matching numbers? Is it maintained well? Is the information available on the internet really correct? We at DK come across more cars than any individual, and we have restored so many cars we know better the value of cars than most people. Our many clients and years of experience means that we have a broad interaction with the cars, with the owners, with the history which is valuable to our clients in the long run.

Twenty years ago most buyers of classic cars were European and Americans. I presume that has changed. Where do you see buyers coming from today?

J. Cottingham: The strongest collections and buyers are still European based or USA based. Interestingly we have seen some new buyers from places such as Singapore, Australia and even Argentina. But what is more interesting is you see they keep the cars in Europe or the USA as simply that is where the best people are to look after the cars and of course more importantly the best events are to use and enjoy them!

You also restore classic cars especially Ferrari. Tell us about the most complicated restoration you have dealt with!

J. Cottingham: It would have to be Chassis 857 S, a Ferrari racing car used in the 1950s by drivers such as Gendebien and Carrol Shelby. This car was especially challenging because there was a lot of things we had to get right: Making the chassis exactly correct and reunited and finding the original engine with the car.

If you could have any car you wanted (road or race car) in your garage- it would be what car?

J. Cottingham: To narrow it down to one car is just not possible.

Alright you can have a choice of 5 cars!

J. Cottingham: Alright a F40, 288 GTO, and 250 GTO. Then I would have a lightweight E-type Jaguar (my fathers old car 49 FXN) and a Long nose Jaguar D-Type.

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Now I ask James to chose one, or the other  and or both:

DK Engineering is located at Little Green Street Farm. Indeed entering DK has a ‘farm’ like atmosphere with lots of wood and little brick buildings. Outside a beautiful 246 GT Dino in light blue- you know you are in the right place.

In the next room we see several engine blocks of the 250 SWB.

And the gearbox of a 500 TRC 

Its the beautiful details like the side vents which make the 250 SWB so Iconic and perhaps the most sought after car in the world after the 250 GTO.

One last shot of the back of a 250 SWB before we move on to another LME favourite, the 275  GTB series. Notice the outside fuel cap.

Now a pair of lovely 275 GTB’s. The yellow one is a 2cam model while the one in Grigio Fumo is a four cam model.

David Cottingham knows Ferrari’s well, very well. Below the chassis of a competition 250 SWB which he stripped down to bare metal.

And the chassis of a 50o TRC

And lastly the chassis of a 14 Louvre TDF

Two brothers below who were gracious hosts and who make things happen at DK Engineering. Right James Cottingham and to the left his older brother Jeremy Cottingham standing next to a very rare racing Dino 6 cylinder that was once raced by the famous Rodriguez Brothers from Mexico.