Cars

St. Moritz is regarded as the world’s top winter metropolis. Here, every year, international glitterati meet up to enjoy life to the full, from the Cresta Run to Gunter Sachs’ legendary Dracula Club. Those who can afford it fly in by helicopter or private jet. A very glamorous mode of transport, certainly, but also a bit… boring? So we decided to conquer the mountainous Engadine differently this winter. Via a direct overland route. Across mountain and valley, hill and dale, through ice and deep snow. On our own three axles.

The perfect formula?

The Type 18 ‘Black Bess’ was one of the most important pre-War Bugattis – Ettore Bugatti himself campaigned it in numerous races, and also steered it to a class win at the 1912 Mont Ventoux Hillclimb. Its 5-litre, four-cylinder engine boasted 100HP and could surpass 100mph, also making it one of the fastest road cars of the era.

Maserati 450S, RM Auctions - estimate €4m - 5.5m

The majestic pre-War Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A is a rare delight, and this example is confirmed to be one of only 10 made to this particular specification (more powerful 5.4-litre engine twinned with traditional bodywork).

In the mid-60s, there were plenty of amateur racers competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours – and two such individuals with the means to do so were Count Jean de Mortemart (descended from a noble line of French aristocrats) and Régis Fraissinet (the heir to a dynasty of industrialists). In search of a respite from the monotony of everyday life, the duo bought a 1964 AC Cobra 289 – chassis #COX6010 – and steered it to an 18th place finish. “There are those who like to play tennis and those who prefer golf,” proclaimed Fraissinet.

Thanks to the car's early sales success and the vast array of model variants, that dream can be turned into reality by anyone from an entry-level enthusiast to a serious collector. This week, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the all-American icon – with a modern-day rendezvous, a selection of Mustangs from the Market, and a look at the wild, would-be 'Stangs that were eventually canned.