Cars

Mean in green

The 120-lot ‘Vintage Grand Prix’ sale not only comprises a significant number of American classics, from the Ford Model T to muscle cars of the 1960s and 1970s, but also some exceptional European cars. While we’ve listed our 10 favourites below, you can find the full catalogue listed in the Classic Driver Market. 

Our 10 favourites from Motostalgia in Austin

A quick glance at the catalogue for Artcurial’s Automobiles sur les Champs 9 sale is enough to whet the appetite of enthusiasts from across the classic car spectrum.

Homage

Down to earth

Distinguishing features on the 911 S – Porsche’s flagship 911 prior to the Carrera RS of 1973 – included the timeless Fuchs forged-alloy wheels, an enhanced front ‘chin’ spoiler designed to reduce drag and increase high-speed stability and, as seen on this car, an optional external oil-tank filler just aft of the passenger door – a feature that was soon discarded following reports of people mistaking it for the fuel tank, with predictably disastrous consequences.

Exploring automotive culture of the past, present and future, all in terms of design, the popular Car Classic event in California attracts some of the very finest cars ever built – last year’s entry-list included Bruce Canepa’s Gulf-liveried Porsche 917K and an Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, to name but two. The roll call of significant names from the world of design who assembled to judge the concours competition – such as McLaren’s Frank Stephenson ­– is equally impressive.

If you’ve seen the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy, you'll know that when Marty McFly and Doc Brown landed in the year 2015 (on the 21 October, no less), the world had fundamentally changed from the one they had left behind in 1985. Cars had learned to fly, young people were surfing through the air on hoverboards wearing a bizarre mix of clothing, shoelaces were tying themselves, and ‘Jaws 19’ was showing at the cinema. Even classic cars were still being built, albeit in heavily modified form. 

The F512 M might be the ultimate iteration of the Testarossa, but something doesn’t quite figure when you glance at the Ferrari for the first time. Pininfarina’s classic Testarossa design is clearly at its heart, yet there are myriad aspects that don’t appear to belong there…