Bingo!
I think it’s fairly safe to say that, in 10 years time, when the combustion engine is but a relic of the past, the 997-generation Porsche 911 will be considered a high watermark for the analogue sports car. The 997 was the last 911 before electric steering and bigger bodies became the norm with the 991-generation, and of the 997s, the GTS is widely considered to strike the best balance between handling dynamics and everyday drivability and comfort. This 2012 Carrera 4 GTS, then, with its manual gearbox and low mileage at just 23,400 miles, is modern classic bingo if we’ve ever seen it.
Evolved to win
Of all the many monstrous Mercs, the 190E EVO 2, built to compete with BMW’s legendary E30 M3, has to be one of the most gnarly. With a front splitter that could shave bubblegum off the tarmac and more wing than a KFC, this 1990 190E EVO 2 looks like a perfect example of a very limited breed. In fact, only 500 of these deranged saloons were built in Blauschwarz Metallic (with another two in silver), and this is number 187. While this car may look like a garage queen, it has seen a fair bit of action, having covered just over 60,000 miles, but knowing that this beast has been regularly exercised should only add to the peace of mind. If you like your cars to have road presence, then this has it in bucketloads.
Modena marvel
Here’s another prime example of modern classic material. With a six-speed gated manual between the seats and a flat plane crank Ferrari V8 behind them, this 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena is the embodiment of motoring nirvana. Finished in the understated shade of Nürburgring Silver, this 360 is for the man who has always dreamed of having a Prancing Horse on the drive, but doesn’t want to shout about it. This car has seen 33,555 miles of enjoyment, meaning that there’s plenty more smiles ahead for it to share with its next owner. I don’t know about you, but the 360 has never looked sweeter.
Riley good deal
Pre-war motoring is never cheap, but this 1928 Riley 9 Brooklands could be a good way of getting into historic racing without paying Alfa Romeo or Bugatti money. Fully restored by a pre-war specialist in 2019, this red rocket boasts ASI Gold Plate certification, as well as new tyres and brakes. Reported to start “on the button”, or as on the button as you could expect for a car with nearly a century of driving behind it, this could be a great way of transporting yourself back to a time when cryptocurrencies and NFTs were no more than the babbling of a crazy person.
Big bad bug
No, I don't mean Covid, this is a 2017 Bugatti Chiron, but you already knew that. Likely to go down in history as one of the most powerful dino juice-powered road cars ever, the Chiron is the VW Group’s middle finger to the laws of physics, and perhaps the pinnacle of 21st century excess, and isn’t it gorgeous? Equipped with the very expensive option of a fully exposed carbon fibre body finished in Blue Royal, this Chiron certainly looks every bit of its $3.2 million price tag, and the tan leather interior only adds to the desirability. Unsurprisingly for a car of this pedigree, just under 4,000 miles have been covered since it rolled out of Molsheim, so it should still have that new car smell for the next discerning owner.
