Reincarnated
Sure, our Classic Driver Market is jam-packed with European exotics, icons of Japanese car culture, rarer-than-rare race cars and just about everything in between, but occasionally a car from the US has the entire office nodding in admiration. This week’s charmer is this 1987 Buick GNX – a car with more presence than a Mike Tyson right hook and a unique engine that’s turned it into a cult classic.
Buick turned to McLaren to help develop the GNX – not the ones who made the F1, but a Michigan-based engine shop renowned for their ability to crank Buick’s engines up to their limit. Despite its muscle car looks, the GNX is powered by a turbocharged V6 which was rated by the company for 276 horsepower, but many media outlets during the car’s launch stated that figure was likely closer to the 300 mark! Now a staple in style, culture and music, the GNX is bursting with charisma and brutish charm, and is the ideal machine for a slow cruise around the city.
12Cilindri Symphony
Drawing inspiration from the grand touring legends that rolled out of Maranello in the 1950s and 1960s, the 12Cilindri reignited the brand’s love for a front-mounted V12, and was an immediate hit upon its launch just over a year ago.
With many excited clients receiving their unique specified examples, this example has become one of the first to appear for sale, and is finished in the stunning Verde Zeltweg with Nero accents throughout the exterior and interior. One key addition comes in the form of airbrushed Ferrari shields, which immediately stand out against the deep emerald shade. If you’re keen to experience what is one of Ferrari’s best looking, most capable supercars of their new-age era, now is your chance!
Rock ‘n’ Roll Star
Rockstars and their choice in cars is always a topic worth a deep dive into. While we’re all familiar with Eric Clapton’s plethora of Ferraris and Keith Richard’s love for a classic Bentley, but French rock ‘n’ roll star Jean-Philippe, better known as Johnny Hallyday, may claim the prize for coolest celebrity car.
Ordered new by Hallyday, this 1979 Porsche 911 SC was promptly sent to the Alméras brothers, where the car was uprated to a new, 3.5-litre flat-six at Johnny's request. After a few years of enjoyment, the car would take on a new look with the help of Meznarie in 1993 to meet Group IV racing standard, which included a meaty bodykit, full roll cage, Recaro Pole Positions and much, much more. After being treated to an overhaul in 2018, this unique creation is ready to be cranked up to 11 once more!
The Italian M3
Talk M cars to any four-wheeled fanatic and many will flock to the E30-generation as their ultimate M3. It was a car that led us to some of the greatest sports saloons and coupes the world has ever seen, and played a key role in ensuring every model below the mighty M was given the attention they rightfully deserved.
That’s where this unique variant comes in. The BMW E30 320iS was never officially built for the German market, it was born in the late 1980s as the "Italian M3": a compact, lightweight 3-Series fitted with the legendary S14 engine, of which it shares with the M3. Making 192 horsepower, this understated example provides all the joy of its M-badged sibling, without the fear of its ever-increasing rarity and value, and is truly built for pure driving pleasure!
*Rubs Eyes*
In the early 1980s, Franco Sbarro wanted to develop a compact and powerful car, unveiling the “Super Twelve” at the Geneva Motor Show in 1982. The stats were frankly ludicrous - a 12-cylinder engine was jammed into a hatchback that weighed 800 kilograms, toting outrageous looks and a unique paintjob. If the goal was to cause a stir, Sbarro well and truly stole the show. Despite the car's appeal, Franco Sbarro did not continue development of the Super Twelve, but later with the support of Bernard Grohe, he got back to work and introduced the Super Eight in 1984.
Aesthetically very similar to the Super Twelve, the main difference being, you guessed it, an 8-cylinder engine instead of 12. Not just any V8 was added, but one taken Ferrari’s 308 GTB, as well as its 5-speed gearbox. The result, as you could imagine, was a car just as unhinged as the original 12-cylinder, with jaw-dropping power and agility thanks to its incredibly low weight. If utterly bonkers creations of the 1980s are your thing, nothing comes close to the Sbarro Super Eight!
