Top of the world
For us, winter getaway destinations start and finish with St. Moritz, the glamorous Alpine retreat for those who live the jet-set lifestyle to the fullest. And what better way of serving as an ambassador for the ‘Top of the World’ than racing this St. Moritz-sponsored 2014 Ferrari 458 GT3? Campaigned and upgraded to 2015 specification by our friends at Kessel Racing in Lugano, this Ferrari would be a proud declaration of your allegiance to the Engadin retreat.
Concours queen
The painstaking two-year ‘frame-off’ restoration of this early 1959 Maserati 3500 GT carried out by its current vendor Scuderia Azzurra and completed in 2019 has already earned the pretty Gran Turismo gongs at two prestigious concours events: Classic Days Schloss Dyck in Germany and the Concours d’Elegance Cascais in Portugal. How fabulous does the elegant Touring Superleggera coachwork look painted in navy blue?
Prince of Wales poser
When the custodian of this 1988 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante, one of just 76 examples specified for the UK, decided an overhaul was in order, he took the chance to upgrade the pretty drop-top to full ‘Prince of Wales’ specification. This required extensive modification to the bodywork, an interior tweaked with the subtle ‘POW’ upgrades and trimmed in sumptuous black hide, a new roof in Boyriven fabric, and a respray in tasteful Cumberland Grey. If the specification looks familiar, that’s because it’s the same as James Bond’s V8 Volante in The Living Daylights.
Leichtbau
The Porsche 964 Carrera 4 Lightweight is so elusive that few enthusiasts are even aware of its existence. Just 22 examples were built (of which this 1991 model is one) under the watchful eye of former Le Mans winner Jürgen Barth, who sought to shave every last gram he could find from the car. You’d be wrong to think this was a simple case of using glass-fibre and stripping out the interior – a seam-welded motorsport tub was the starting point, the motorised rear spoiler was removed, racing Recaro buckets were drafted in and a special lightweight clutch and flywheel were fitted. The final weight was a sniff below 1,100kg, which reportedly translates to an especially spritely driving experience.
Range extender
Bang for buck. In our opinion, that’s what this 2010 Rolls-Royce Phantom VII Extended Wheelbase represents. Long considered the über-luxury limousine of choice for oligarchs, playboys and big businessmen, the Phantom is one hell of a machine. And the Extended Wheelbase example is arguably the daddy of them all. This car is finished in the elegant colour combination of Diamond Black Metallic over Crème light leather and has covered a mere 26,475 miles from new. Yet while the Roller belies its age, it’s listed for sale at a touch below £150,000 – a substantial saving over the original list price. Are you brave enough?
Photos: Nicholas Mee & Company, Loris Kessel Auto SA, Autostorico Ltd, Scuderia Azzurra Klassische Maserati & Lancia, International Collectables by Edward Lovett
