UK-based Classic Driver dealer Duncan Hamilton currently has this dream duo in stock, awaiting a buyer with the right sense of Sixties style. We dropped by with our camera before that fortunate individual arrives.
As we mention elsewhere, 1964 saw the debut of not only the super-important Ford GT concept, but also the marque's all-conquering Mustang. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Donna Marie was crowned Playmate of the Year – and became the first recipient of a 'Playmate Car' for her efforts. Coinciding with the launch of the Mustang, Donna was given a 1964.5 model painted in the later-popular 'Playmate Pink', as well as $100,000 cash and a host of other presents.
Photos: Classic Driver dealers
"I only sell cars that I would be happy to own myself"
Despite its positioning within the heart of a quiet mews in affluent Kensington, Graeme Hunt’s business premises is in fact one of the largest classic car showrooms in the Capital. With three sides of the showroom windowed, the varied array of its vehicular residents is apparent even before crossing the stone-cold stare of Patch the dog and meeting a much more welcoming Mr Hunt – turned out just as well as his showroom, a tweed jacket, a pair of corduroys and a wide smile his adopted uniform.
The ‘barn-find’ has become a buzzword in the last decade, often with the hope of increasing the value of a neglected car. Here, we concentrate on the ‘authentic’ side of this phenomenon: cars with few owners that have remained untouched for several decades, with their originality completely preserved.
Photos: Classic Driver dealers
For some time, the automotive press has been speculating that Ferrari would employ a turbocharged V8 to power the new California. Now comes confirmation from Maranello: the California T will use forced induction to offset the downsizing of the V8, now 3.9 litres rather than the 4.3 of its predecessor. With 560HP, it has a 70HP advantage over the previous model, but even more impressive is the new torque figure, up 49% to 557lb ft. The California T completes the 0-62mph sprint in a supercar-like 3.5 seconds on its way towards a 196mph V-max. Fuel consumption is reduced by 15%.
It was capable of 158mph, a higher top speed than that of the Porsche 911 Turbo
Now given the esteemed ‘S’ title, Mercedes’ new luxury coupé must become a technological pioneer in its own right – and it doesn’t disappoint, introducing a new feature that sees the car tilt into corners, counteracting body-roll. “The vehicle leans into bends much like a motorcyclist, thereby reducing the lateral acceleration acting on the vehicle's occupants,” claim the scientists of Stuttgart. The optional system is integrated into the ‘suspension with eyes’ set-up that was introduced with the debut of its four-door stablemate.