Hot Hatch Hero
Renault Sport reliably turned the RS versions of the Clio and Mégane into the best hot hatches on the market. The second generation of the Mégane, easily recognized by its unconventional rear end, was no exception. While the standard RS already left the competition in the dust, things got truly serious in 2008 with the limited R26.R, a range-topper reduced to the absolute essentials. In June of that year, it set a new world record for front-wheel-drive production cars on the Nordschleife, achieving this with an unchanged, turbocharged inline-four that produced 230 horsepower. The edge came from a radical diet, shaving off 123 kilograms compared to the Mégane RS F1 Team, alongside a suspension setup uncompromisingly tailored for the racetrack. An optional roll cage and bucket seats with six-point harnesses made it one of the most radical hot hatches of all time. Only 450 units were built. The Leuba Collection is currently offering number 20 of the 26 cars originally destined for Switzerland.
The Grey Eminence
Naturally aspirated V12 engines are an integral part of the Lamborghini myth, and the Murciélago LP640 Roadster allows you to experience this powerhouse in an especially dramatic way. Without a fixed roof, the sonic fury of the 6.5-liter engine washes over the driver completely unfiltered. When required, 640 horsepower combined with standard all-wheel drive catapults the fighting bull to 100 kph in just 3.4 seconds. Scissor doors, exposed carbon fiber, the hoarse voice of the engine, and the dark aesthetics of a stealth fighter all come together in this example, finished in Grigio Telesto over black leather with white stitching. This 2008 roadster, available from the inventory of US dealer The Cultivated Collector, is almost symbolic of the sheer excess that came out of Sant'Agata in the late noughties.
VIP-Space Shuttle
Large Citroëns have always been popular with French industry bosses and the political elite of the Grande Nation. Yet even the iconic DS, known to be the favorite of the unusually tall Charles de Gaulle, was never available as a factory long-wheelbase version. It was only with the CX that the brand with the double chevron finally catered to tall clientele requiring extra legroom. The CX Prestige, introduced in 1976 and stretched by 25 centimeters based on the estate chassis, elevated the already first-class comfort to an entirely new level. Rear passengers could lounge on soft velour or leather upholstery, resting their feet on plush footrests while enjoying the wafting ride quality of the hydropneumatic suspension. Well-preserved Prestige models built before the 1985 facelift are rare finds today. The Swiss company cartech.ch is offering this completely rebuilt 1978 car, whose Gris Largentière paintwork harmonizes perfectly with its futuristic lines and the later TRX-style alloy wheels.
Gecko with a Bavarian Heart
Starting in 1993, brothers Friedhelm and Martin Wiesmann set out to build open-top sports cars with fiberglass bodies that would do full justice to the image of German craftsmanship. Powered by inline-six engines sourced from BMW, these retro-designed two-seaters were intended to be not only exceptionally well-built but also highly agile. To visually emphasize this handling prowess, a small lizard was chosen as the brand logo, symbolizing that their cars would stick to the road like geckos to a wall. Thiesen Hamburg GmbH is currently offering a Wiesmann Roadster MF28, a specific iteration of which only 47 examples were ever produced. Under the long bonnet sits the 193-horsepower engine from the BMW 328i, which has an easy time propelling the mere 1,080 kilograms of curb weight. Combined with a taut suspension, it guarantees a decidedly analog driving thrill.
The BMW 507’s Jet-Age Cousin
In 1953, advertising graphic designer Harry Birdsall and his business partner Joe Mascari dreamt of creating a luxury convertible that would steal the show from all the mass-produced models coming out of Detroit. The initial design was penned by Birdsall himself, while his friend Albrecht von Goertz, the man responsible for the iconic BMW 507, provided the finishing touches. The technical foundation was the chassis and V8 engine of a 1953 Cadillac Series 62 that had tragically caught fire at a dealership. Over the course of 30 months, the Turin-based Carrozzeria Motto hand-crafted a unique aluminum body that was subsequently married to the chassis. The final result was fittingly christened Elegante. The US auction house Kruse is now offering this elaborately restored one-off, complete with a perfectly functioning hydraulic hardtop, for its very first public sale during its annual Auburn Auction from September 2 to 5.
