Banish the baby blues
You needn’t have forked out almost 500,000 US dollars to buy the Meyers Manx Dune Buggy driven by Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair. This beautiful baby blue example, which was built by a passionate Dutch collector at a cost of over 40,000 euros, would surely provide the same thrills and frivolities as the car in the film. Finding your very own Faye Dunaway to ferry across the dunes may be a more difficult proposition.
The 2006 British GT champion
Everybody knows that provenance is everything when it comes to racing cars. We like to think that, having drummed on about it for quite some time now, people are well aware of the fact that demand for modern-era endurance sports cars has skyrocketed. In light of these two salient points, this 2006 Aston Martin DBRS9 is a very desirable motor car indeed. Back in 2006, under the Barwell Motorsport banner and in the capable hands of Leonid Machitski and an especially young-looking Jonny Cocker, the lightweight V12 looker clinched the British GT championship.
Not so mellow yellow
Although this 2008 Ferrari 599 GTB’s striking Giallo Modena paintwork is its most prominent feature, it’s not the main reason it made our weekly shortlist. That honour goes to its price: 110,000 (excl. taxes), to be precise. On the face of it that figure might not raise too many questions. But then you discover that this is a single-owner example that’s covered just 1,800km from new, is fitted with the desirable HGTE handling package and is still accompanied by its ultra-rare factory luggage set. And then the price becomes a whole lot more appealing.
For the intrepid among you
If the thought of spending days on end driving your classic through some of the world’s most spectacular environments appeals more than relaxing on a beach for two weeks, then this fastidiously restored 1959 Jaguar XK150 Fixed Head Coupe may just be the perfect car for you. It’s been treated to a plethora of upgrades designed to make it the ideal partner for epic endurance rallies such as the Peking to Paris or the Carrera Copacabana. These include power steering, a smooth and reliable five-speed G-trac gearbox, a locking rear differential and a specially fabricated reserve fuel tank. Oh, and, in case you hadn’t spotted it, a custom roof rack, complete with a spare wheel and a bespoke suitcase. Who says you have to sacrifice style when the going gets rough?
Ultimate Driving Machine
The E46-gen BMW M3 CSL is an absolute honey and anyone who says otherwise is simply not speaking the truth. End of. Yes, the SMG gearbox is by far the most responsive transmission in the world, but with a spot of mindful patience, the shifts are crisp and don’t inhibit progress as is widely reported. This silver left-hand-drive example from 2004 was delivered new to Japan, before returning to Europe. Save for its non-standard Recaro bucket seats, it looks to be in fine fettle. With a recent gearbox overhaul, we reckon it probably feels every bit as good as it looks.
Photos: Cool Classic Club, Dylan Miles Ltd, Cartique by Mechatronik, The Houtkamp Collection, Real Art On Wheels B.V.
