Cars

Legendary classics and modern supercars are hidden behind an utterly inconspicuous backdrop...

The relationship is already well into its half-century, and has been bountiful in terms of the stop-and-gawp nature of its offspring, if not the quantity. Its first, the achingly beautiful Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, is today considered one of the most desirable classics ever made. In the mid-80s, the Aston Martin V8 Zagato once again put focus on the partnership (this time with a more varied reception), and the early 2000s saw the romance rekindled with the arrival of the DB7 Zagato and its drophead princess, the AR1.

The BMW 507 would distance the marque from its pre-War design hangover

Using official parts is a vital factor that guarantees not only reliability, but also that all-important originality

Until now, the crowning variant of the XF Sportbrake range has been a 3.0-litre diesel – but rather than build on that by steadily releasing S and R versions, Jaguar will instead use the Geneva Motor Show to reveal the monstrous R-S version of its only estate car.

Of course, the Ferrari – famously built on a 250GT SWB chassis – has long been a regular at Goodwood. Sporting bodywork that represented the pinnacle of aerodynamic knowledge at the time, the Breadvan remains unmistakable among its peers, thanks to the visual effect created by its arrow-straight roofline and kamm tail.

Okay, so the United Nations proclaimed 1975 as the Year of the Woman – but that was unlikely to worry Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell and the other veterans of Le Mans. Nevertheless, on 14 June 1975, there was an unknown, blue-painted prototype in the pit lane, with a surprisingly feminine team: Christine Dacremont, Marianne Hoepfner and Michèle Mouton, the latter lady revered today as the most successful female rally driver of all time; but in 1975, her career was in its early stages. 

The high-rise district of La Défense in the northwest of Paris is certainly not the most picturesque location to run a meeting place for friends of rapid post-War sports cars. But the venue has a decisive advantage: "In 10 minutes, you are on the highway," smiles managing director Olivier Poelaert. That’s important, because his customers don’t enjoy the torment of an overheating engine and steam rising from the bonnet during the rush hour, while attempting to get away for the weekend or head off to a historic race meeting.

Early Porsche 911s, and even more recent versions such as the 964 and 993, have always represented a solid investment - almost regardless of specification. Most are loved, maintained properly and driven regularly by their owners, hence one is hardly stunned into awe-struck silence by seeing a good example on the road.