Cars

London-based oil consultant Steve Roberts and his twin brother David had long been debating the requirements of the ideal modern GT car, eventually arriving at the conclusion that a V12 was a must, as was a manual gearbox. With the latter in particular narrowing down their options somewhat, the brothers test-drove the remaining candidates and decided the Aston Martin DBS was the most desirable. Dave promptly purchased a low-mileage Islay Blue example and, keen to share his positive experience of ownership, spent hours searching for an equally good example for Steve.

Built and unveiled at Classic Motor Cars’ impressive new headquarters, the revised Jaguar Mark 2 has been 18 months in the making and will be used by Callum personally. The modifications are extensive, stretching far beyond the obvious cosmetic changes in a bid to make the car even more “exciting in shape and performance”. A number of modern aesthetic twists have been added, such as the integrated bumpers and four (working) louvres, while performance enhancements include a tuned 4.3-litre XK engine, revised suspension and steering, and upgraded front brakes.

Salon Privé, 3-5 September, London UK

Taking place on 4 September – halfway through the Salon Privé extravaganza, now in its ninth year – the auction has a lotlist to rival even the most hotly anticipated concours classes.

Brains and beauty

When Daimler released the DB18 in 1939, the timing could hardly have been worse, and production was soon put on hold so that the manufacturer could contribute to the war effort. It’s thought that 23 Drophead Coupé versions were initially planned for 1939 but only eight were built before the Blitz of 1940 saw the factory destroyed. Of those eight chassis, five were lost in the bombings, and only one of the remaining three – the car you see here – is thought to survive today.

Bugatti Type 35

Life without Enzo

When Porsche introduced the 911 Targa at the 1965 Frankfurt Motor Show, the U.S. export market rejoiced. The ‘secure cabriolet’, as the open sports car with its removable roof was unromantically dubbed by Porsche, complied with the strict American regulations, making it possible for customers from California, Florida and the Hamptons finally to enjoy the sports coupé from Stuttgart with the wind in their hair. After all, a 911 cabriolet proper didn’t emerge until the 1980s.