Cars

An automotive déjà vu came over us at the recent Geneva Motor Show. And if the car pictured looks familiar to you, too, that’s because we reported on the GTA Spano back in 2009, at its inauguration at that year’s show. What’s changed since then? The Spano has now been approved and finalised for production, and 99 examples will be built under the direction of Domingo Ochoa. Unlike many other small-series production cars which use a mish-mash of parts, the GTA Spano has already received a number of global patents itself.

It was created alongside the Stratos rally cars intended to beat the Renault Alpine, Ford GT70 and other mid-engined lightweights which were ruling the World Rally Championship at the time. The ‘Stradale’ road cars were built as homologation specials: cars which only existed to the meet the regulations of the WRC, and they were hurriedly put together, with debatable build quality, not helped by the Italian strikes of 1974.

Now that they are so obviously 'styled', the danger is that these new Mercedes-Benzes will date more quickly and lose the air of permanence that was once one of the marque's defining characteristics.

So it's perhaps a surprise that the outgoing SL was in production for 10 years, and that it looked fresh to the end with just one little facelift along the way. Maybe it was one of the last pure Benzes; certainly it was a handsome, taut-looking sports car which disguised the need to stow its bulky coupé-cabriolet roof very well.

As with the SLS AMG, the bodyshell is all-aluminium for impressive weight reduction: some 170kg less than before. Meanwhile, the ‘expressive’ front section is dominated by the new ‘twin blade’ radiator grille and a front apron with a lower cross strut in high-sheen chrome. The lightweight construction also contributes to improved fuel efficiency – now a Combined figure of 24.4mpg, a fairly staggering 17 per cent improvement on the previous SL 65 AMG and, claims Mercedes, a new benchmark in the 12-cylinder petrol engine segment.

Sir Stirling, what significance does the Jaguar marque hold for you?

The birth of this very special model was in 1949, when Italian styling house Touring showed a new coupé at the Villa d’Este Concours, a car designed by Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni and built on the 6C 2500 Super Sport chassis. It won the Gran Premio Referendum (People’s Choice) and another 24 were built – and named ‘Coupé Villa d’Este’ in honour of that concours victory.

March sees the launch of Jaguar Heritage Racing, an inspirational commitment to the vibrant and growing world of historic motorsport, with works-supported C- and D-types racing at venues such as Goodwood and the Nürburgring for the first time since 1956. To operate and manage the racing programme, Jaguar has appointed JD Classics – a huge coup for the classic Jaguar specialist, a highly respected dealership and race preparation outfit based in Maldon, Essex.

Among the cars taking part is the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 that Nanni Galli drove in the 1968 Targa Florio, alongside Italian driver Ignazio Giunti (chassis number 017, race number 186), to come second at the end of an intense race which the pairing had led for much of the time. When they crossed the finish line, they were convinced they had won: only Vic Elford, at the end of an incredibly fast lap, was able to deny the Italian team a victory that would have been as brilliant as it was unexpected.

The example which William Loughran currently has for sale was ordered new by none other than Chris Evans, who matched the Vinaccia paintwork with a Nero Alcantara interior, set off by Grigio contrast stitching. Good choice, Chris. With less than 6,000 miles on the clock, and in right-hand drive, this fabulous Ferrari has the dual-clutch F1 gearbox, along with yellow brake calipers, iPod connection, satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity, plus front and rear park assist and large racing seats.

A peek in the Classic Driver Marketplace reveals a selection of competition cars certain to set the pulse racing:
 

Porsche 904 GTS