Rush drummer's epic 'Silver Surfer' car collection up for sale

Monday, 28 June 2021

Neil Peart’s Silver Surfers. Plus a black Cobra.

The late Neil Peart, who you might know as the drummer of legendary Canadian rock band Rush, wasn’t only known for being one of the most technically proficient drummers ever – he also amassed a healthy car collection.

And now some of them are being put up for sale as part of the Gooding & Company auction to be held during Monterey Car Week in Pebble Beach, California.

Peart gave his cars the ‘Silver Surfer’ nickname, reportedly because he felt like he was riding the waves of the California coast as he drove alongside the water. All but one are painted silver, and every one is an absolute minter.

The odd one out is a black 1964 Shelby Cobra, estimated to sell for between US$900,000 and US$1 million. It predates the big-block 427 engines, instead running the smaller 298 Ford V8. Peart bought the car in 2015 after it was fully restored in the mid-2000s.

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Starting the silver cars is a nice 3.8-litre Jaguar E-Type from 1964, which features a Tremec five-speed manual transmission, Wilwood disc brakes, a lightweight flywheel and uprated suspension, according to the auction description.

Next is a 1973 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Coupe, which is both glorious and one of just 425 built. Inside is a tan interior while the wheels are Campagnolo centre-locks.

The third Silver Surfer is a 1964 Maserati Mistral Spider, one of 125 soft-top Mistrals built. This one was restored comprehensively while Peart owned it, and has an “oxblood” leather interior.

Up next is an Aston Martin DB5, and there’s really not much to say about it other than it has the chassis number DB5/1690/R. It looks to be largely original, with a silver exterior and navy blue interior, along with a five-speed ZF manual gearbox and period-correct, alloy-rimmed Borrani wire wheels.

If you'd rather something more American, perhaps a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-Window Coupe could interest? It has a 254kW version of the 327ci V8, paired with a four-speed manual. Rest assured, it was extensively restored before Peart bought it in 2011.

Finally, the most expensive car going under the hammer is a lovely 1970 Lamborghini Miura. Like the DB5, it’s not a unique car, it’s just a Miura. Which is to say, it’s astoundingly pretty. It even has air-conditioning.

The Gooding & Company auction will run from August 13 and 14, 2021.