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5 collector cars to put in your garage this week

As the coronavirus tightens its grip on the world, there’s never been a better time to for idle distraction. And who knows – you could enjoy one of the following cars from the Classic Driver Market on your first post-quarantine blast…

Longtail 

There are just two McLaren F1 GTR prototypes. The first, a short-tail version, belongs to the drummer of the world-famous rock band Pink Floyd. The second, a ‘Longtail’, is currently for sale in the Classic Driver Market. Not only is chassis #19R the first of the 10 1997-specification F1 GTRs built by McLaren, but it was also the first to be converted for road use by Lanzante and Gordon Murray Design. That’s right, if you really wanted to, you could nip to the grocery store in this snarling bewinged V12 monster. That’s a sure-fire way to quash the isolation blues. 

‘Bilstein Billie’

Affectionately nicknamed ‘Billie’ because of its distinctive blue and yellow Bilstein sponsorship, this Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 became a firm fan favourite from 2013 to 2015. Following a sterling maiden outing in the gruelling Nürburgring 24 Hours, in which it made a serious play for victory but ultimately fell short due to poor weather, ‘Billie’ was campaigned as a Works entry and scored successes in the fiercely competitive Blancpain Endurance and Britcar series, to name but a few. Modern-era racing cars are hot property right now and a car with such reverence as this Aston is a ticket to many of the world’s most prestigious events. 

We must be dreaming 

If we could dream up our ideal specification for a B7-generation Audi RS4, we reckon it’d look pretty much identical to this magnificent two-owner example from 2008 that’s just emerged in the Classic Driver Market. Firstly, it’s an Avant, which is simply a must for a load-lugging fast Audi. Secondly, it’s got the six-speed manual gearbox. And thirdly, the unspoiled Daytona Grey paintwork is complemented with premium Audi Exclusive Moccasin Valcona leather – not the usual black or grey. What’s more, unlike most of these B7 RS4s, said interior is actually visible through entirely un-tinted windows. The original owner went to town on the specification of this car (it even has factory carbon-ceramic brakes!) without overdoing it, as is so often the case with these Audi stealth bombers. 

A fully-fledged member of the family 

The Range Rover celebrates its 50th birthday in 2020, and if this wretched virus loosens its grip before the summer is out, we imagine there will be a plethora of events looking to mark the occasion. This Davos White Series 1 Suffix A would be a wonderful car with which to join the festivities. Purchased in 1972, the Range Rover was kept by its original owner until 2018, when he sadly passed away. Ownership was then transferred to his daughter, who had the car mechanically recommissioned. The recipient of an extensive 10-year restoration between 1986 and 1996 and accompanied by a bumper book of invoices, this really is among the finest of the original breed. 

Sunny days 

Remember when we were free to leave our houses and roam to our hearts’ content? Spring has most definitely sprung in London this week, which is only making the pangs for virus-free days gone by even stronger. If we could choose a car from the Classic Driver Market to make the most of this beautiful weather, it’d have to be this Alpina V8 Roadster. Forget the Bond association – Alpina’s take on the BMW Z8 was the car the Z8 should have been all along. And this stunning example that’s travelled from Germany to Los Angeles and back looks to be in fine shape, having covered just 44,000km from new. 

Photos: ChromeCars, Great British Classics, Tom Hartley Jnr, BV Collector Car Auctions