Cars

When it goes on sale next month, the new Range Rover will be the first SUV with an all-aluminium body structure. This will contribute towards a very substantial overall weight saving of up to 420kg, which should naturally lead to improved performance, economy and handling.

Not that handling improvements have been left at that, however: revised all-corner air suspension is said to further improve agility, while also maintaining the ride quality of its predecessor. Other advances in refinement include lamination to the windscreen and door windows, which reduce unwanted acoustics.

Video: Porsche



 

Kent farmer Frank Quay bought the Series One pick-up for £320 in 1973 from a friend who had secured it at a farm contents sale held by Churchill's son-in-law, Christopher Soames.

For a while, Quay used the dark green pick-up for light farm duties and towing his daughter's horse trailer until the last road fund licence disc expired in 1977, at which point he stored it in a lean-to 'for his retirement'.

But its gestation was inspired by a car from Woking, not Stuttgart. The McLaren F1 GTR dominated the 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours race, finishing first overall and 1-2-3 in class – and the fact it was propelled by a BMW V12 didn’t sit well with Porsche. Just six weeks after the F1 had cleaned up in France, Porsche announced that it would be restarting its factory-based GT programme and producing a new car to oppose the McLaren.

The Mangusta was the second car to be produced by De Tomaso after the initial Vallelunga, with both models sharing the same chassis. It was also the predecessor of the legendary Pantera, and enthusiasts will note some strong similarities between the two cars.

It was penned by Giugiaro while he was employed by Ghia (owned by De Tomaso at the time), and included some striking features in addition to its purposeful stance. Particularly notable were the gullwing engine covers, which rose to reveal the brawny Ford V8.

Carroll Shelby called John Edgar’s Scaglietti-bodied 410 Sport Spider, chassis number 0598CM, “The best Ferrari I ever drove”. That was back in '56 when Ol’ Shel was winning races right and left for my father with this 4.9-litre Lampredi V12. Decades later, for present owner Roger Willbanks, Shelby autographed the car’s fuel tank with a black Sharpie that Willbanks had happily handed him.

Part 1 gives us a teasing glimpse of some of Porsche's 'could-have-been' cars; a vision of a possible parallel universe for the brand. Stay with Classic Driver for Part 2, coming soon...


Video: Porsche





 

Having spent the 1960s recovering from financial troubles, the 1970s saw BMW keen to start a new chapter. The 1972 Paris Motor Show seemed the perfect stage for the Munich marque to show the world that it was thoroughly revitalised, and head designer Paul Bracq set to work.