Is anyone interested in the title "the fastest car in the world" any more? Or the quickest four–seater, for that matter.

The reason I'm asking is that this week's top feature car, the Iso Rivolta Fidia, was a Rocky–like contender for the latter position in the late–60s. Things like that Really Mattered in those days — although my money for overall honours would have been on a Mercedes–Benz 300SEL 6.3.

At least you could rely on the German car's ability to outpace most other saloons on the Autostrada... and get you to your destination on time and mechanically intact.

Nowadays, anything from Audi, Mercedes AMG or BMW is a colossally fast all–rounder and most likely limited to a maximum of 250km/h. You might well say, "Where's the fun in that?" but we are where we are: 'socially responsible' and all that. Fair enough.

But from where I'm standing, lap–times round the 'Ring just haven't got the same pizzazz as the good old–fashioned top speed. As a measure of performance to boast about, it's been a favourite in playgrounds the world over and should be preserved.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

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