The perfect Mille Miglia sidekick
Few classic car events place as much value on contemporary style as the modern Mille Miglia. It is completely understandable, as man and machine should not contrast too heavily with the picturesque and stunningly beautiful Italian surroundings. To make the most tasteful appearance possible, it naturally makes sense to avoid any compromises when choosing the support vehicle, even if the strict 1957 age limit only applies to the main participants.
This 1955 Lancia Appia Furgoncino perfectly embodies the aesthetic of the famous road race's golden era, which is why this charming transporter has actually been part of the modern Mille Miglia entourage before. The elegantly wood-lined cargo compartment alone turns this practical and highly rare commercial Lancia variant, offered by Luxembourg dealer Eau de Petrole, into a true eye-catcher. Engineering-wise, it also stands out from the crowd of faceless modern fiat vans. Under the hood sits a 38 horsepower V4, a engine layout that remains a rarity in the automotive world even seventy years later. Should the new owner enlist it as a loyal companion for the next edition of the race, this rugged Italian will likely turn more heads than the majority of the official starting grid.
Reincarnation of a racing icon
Some cars tell a genuine story rather than simply trying to stand out at any price. While modern Ferraris today often show off in candy colors dripping in carbon fiber, this 812 Superfast, refined through the Tailor Made program, takes a timeless and wonderfully nostalgic path. Offered by British dealer DK Engineering with a mere 112 kilometers on the clock, the coupe is a stylistic homage to the Ferrari 166 MM chassis number 0146E, which made its racing debut at the 1953 Nurburgring 1000 Kilometers.
Instead of an aggressive high-downforce look, this Grand Tourer relies on the simple yet elegant aesthetic of early Pinin Farina classics. The bespoke dark blue paintwork and the contrasting silver roof form a perfect symbiosis. The discerning Ferrari client opted out of the usual Scuderia wing shields and commissioned highly polished wheels reminiscent of the manufacturer's early chrome wire wheels. Inside, you will look in vain for modern exposed carbon fiber. Instead, pleated leather and body-colored dashboard elements dominate the cabin. The absolute highlight is the center console featuring an elegant wood insert, paying tribute to the wooden shift knob of its historic ancestor.
The untamed Baja missile
The current Ford Bronco is a thoroughly talented off-roader, but in the United States, its iconic retro design often condemns it to the dreary life of a suburban pony, where a trip to the local Walmart must suffice as exercise. This spectacular 2023 Ford Bronco DR, to be auctioned by Broad Arrow Auctions at The Quail, leaves all the pretensions of modern lifestyle SUVs in the dust. The lifted bolide is the spiritual successor to the famous Big Oly Bronco, which Parnelli Jones used to conquer the notorious Mexican desert in 1970.
Limited to just 50 units, this beast counters the softened image of conventional SUVs with a rugged and purpose-driven brutality found only in professional motorsport. The bespoke gold and white fiberglass body makes it instantly clear that this Bronco means absolute business. Massive 37-inch tires and an incredibly capable high-end suspension ensure the vehicle effortlessly absorbs the deepest craters even at top speed. Powered by a 418 horsepower 5.0-liter Coyote V8, this collector's piece has just 19 miles on the odometer and is waiting for its first real deployment. The future owner has the choice of either whipping this purebred wild horse through the dirt of the SCORE Unlimited class or simply parking it in a collection as a brutal display piece, though the latter would be a massive waste of potential.
Green over Tan Testarossa
Forget the deep black favored by the Wall Street yuppies of the eighties or the predictable, almost tiring standard Maranello red. Anyone who thinks of a Ferrari Testarossa inevitably pictures a cocaine-white wedge, with Sonny Crockett behind the wheel and Rico Tubbs in the passenger seat, chasing crooks through Miami. That is exactly how this early 1987 example saw the light of day upon its initial delivery in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, painted in Bianco Fer 100. However, when the flat-twelve was imported to France in 1990, the owner at the time decided on a fundamental makeover that would ultimately prove to be an absolute stroke of genius. He had the icon repainted in the elegant shade of Verde Scuro Metallizzato, giving it a sophisticated, almost British touch.
Combined with the immaculately preserved beige leather interior, it created a dream specification that, according to the Ferrari Classiche department, technically should not exist from the factory. It is a look that lends the coupe, currently offered by Mecanicus, an incredibly noble Grand Tourer aura. Mechanically, the nearly forty-year-old diva is in prime condition with a mileage of around 45,000 kilometers. The timing belt and clutch were replaced as recently as 2024, and the engine was treated to an extensive dry ice cleaning.
Clockwork Orange
Exactly ten years ago, arguably the purest modern 911 triggered a massive hype within the Porsche scene. Practically overnight, collectors were paying astronomical sums for the limited manual 991-generation 911 R. Yet, as spectacular as this purist 911 was, it feels almost like a luxury cruiser compared to its historical predecessor. About half a century earlier, a myth was born that simply cannot be replicated in a marketing office.
With the original 911 R, Zuffenhausen launched one of the most radical diet programs in automotive history in the late sixties. It was a factory experiment reduced to the absolute minimum, weighing a mere 800 kilograms thanks to fiberglass body panels and a complete absence of creature comforts. Production ended after just 24 units due to a rule change, but the original R became the blueprint for the Carrera RS and thus the nucleus of the brand's entire GT philosophy. Its mechanical precision easily rivals that of a fine Swiss watch.
The vehicle offered by Mechatronik is number 14 of this tiny special series and perfectly embodies the essence of classic motorsport. In 1968, the car was delivered to its first French owner in innocent Light Ivory before finding its way to Spain a few years later. There, it received the distinctive orange livery of the Escuderia Orense racing team, embarking on a highly successful racing career. Under the paper-thin engine cover sits not a well-behaved production engine, but the high-revving 210 horsepower two-liter power plant from the Porsche 906 racing prototype. After a sensational four decades in the possession of French racing driver Guy Chasseuil, this historically significant 911 comes with a flawless history and an FIA passport, fully ready for its next chapter.
