Lean Green Alpine
It’s no secret that the standard Alpine A110 was already one of the most perfectly balanced sports cars on the market, so how does one enhance that recipe without ruining the harmony of this fabulous French coupe? Well, the A110R answered that conundrum with more power and less weight. With a 47 horsepower hike up to a total of 296bhp, the A110R made suitable gains in potency, but it was in the weight saving department that this Alpine truly impresses.
Tipping the scales at just 1,082 kg, the A110R adopts a plethora of carbon parts in order to afflict almost every other driver’s car with body dysmorphia. The hood, wheels, diffuser, swan-neck rear wing, and Sabelt bucket seats are all carbon, with even the rear window being deemed an unnecessary frivolity in the pursuit of weight saving. This example adds to its impressive stat sheet with a stunning specification of Verde Cendre (Ash Green) bodywork over a hardcore black Alcantara interior, complemented beautifully by the striking Or Vif (Bright Gold) brake calipers. With a mere 3,600 km on the odometer, this A110R has only just been run-in, and is more than ready to make your next back road blast one to remember.
Tyre Scrambler
As ICE power plants continue to dwindle into vestigial range extenders in increasingly electric-biased hybrid setups, it’s worth casting your thoughts back to the glory days of the combustion engine with this limited edition 1969 AMC Hurst ‘Scrambler’. Just 1,512 of these red, white, and blue muscle cars were built as an attempt to rectify AMC’s street cred at a time when their models were seen as the go-to for the elderly.
In order to deter pensioners, AMC sent a select few Ramblers to the performance tuning experts at Hurst to be fitted with a monumental 6.4-litre V8 capable of producing an impressive 310 horsepower. All those ponies were sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox equipped with the iconic Hurst shifter, while the patriotic colour scheme even continued onto the striped headrests. As if these Scramblers didn’t carry enough visual punch already, they were fitted with a gaping hood scoop large enough to inhale any unsuspecting birdlife in the neighbourhood. Today, the Scrambler is considered one of the coolest muscle cars ever built by AMC, and this fabulous 81,137 km example looks to be a stunning representative of a rare breed.
Chapman's Brainchild
Colin Chapman’s obsession with weight reduction lies at the core of Lotus’ brand identity — even if they seem to have forgotten that today — and the Lotus Elite is the perfect example, being not only the first production Lotus model, but also the world's first structural composite monocoque automobile. So, if you want to savour the essence of Chapman’s genius, adding this immaculate 1961 Lotus Elite Series 2 to your garage might be the best decision you make all year.
Benefitting from a world-class restoration, this Elite’s Bristol coachwork puts the ‘lime’ in simply sublime, making it an excellent candidate for any vintage road rallies or concours you’ve been longing to enter. Owned by just two families from new, this Elite boasts a highly detailed ownership history with a number of original manuals, while its 1.2-litre Coventry Climax engine and ZF gearbox are in excellent health. Now showing a mere 37,656 miles on the clock, this Elite would be the prefect addition to any collection of Britain’s sports car greats.
Silver over Tartan
Porsche’s PTS catalogue may have a near limitless number of fabulous colour options, but there’s still no denying the timeless appeal of a 911 finished in a classic shade of silver. However, if you want the best of both worlds, this 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 strikes a great balance between its reserved silver exterior and eye-catching Tartan interior, complete with matching luggage.
While it may not boast an ‘RS’ badge, its 2.7-litre flat-six with Bosch mechanical fuel injection is derived from that found in the legendary 2.7 Carrera RS, producing a healthy 207 horsepower. Even by modern standards, performance is still respectable with a 6.5 second 0-60 mph time, especially as this example was treated to a full restoration to its original specification around 2012. With just 33,350 km on the clock, this could be the perfect 911 to enjoy this summer.
Flying Without Wings
Resurrected by Victor Muller and Maarten de Bruijn in 1999, Spyker paid tribute to its aeronautic roots by producing road-going fighter jets, complete with riveted bodywork and a Messerschmitt soundtrack. This delivery mileage 2005 Spyker C8 Spyder is the perfect example of what makes these illusive Dutch poster cars so appealing, boasting a 400 horsepower 4.2-liter Audi-sourced V8 engine and a gorgeous hand-crafted cabin that still puts the majority of modern hypercars to shame.
Finished in Dark Sapphire Blue paintwork over a tan leather interior, this C8 Spyder was originally delivered to the Netherlands in 2005 and has covered just 25 km in two decades, having lavished in its current owner’s collection since new. Usually that would render such a time capsule of a machine almost undriveable, but in preparation for the sale, this example underwent a comprehensive engine-out major service that included replacement of all fluids and filters, along with a new timing belt, water pump, thermostat, pulleys, drive belt, and a fresh set of tires. Now in excellent health, this brand new C8 Spyder would be a worthy addition to any world-class collection, even if the next custodian simply plans to sit and stare at this Spyker’s unrivalled craftsmanship.
