Prowling Pantera

The De Tomaso Pantera is a prime example of the successful marriage between European styling and American power – a combination pioneered by Carroll Shelby with the Cobra. The edgy and muscular Ghia-penned bodywork is quintessential of the wedged aesthetic fad of the time, while the small-block American V8 provides ample (and trusty) power. This well-documented Pantera GTS was delivered new to Austria, and has covered just 500km in the two years since it was extensively restored. 

A partnership that bore fruit

Peugeot’s relationship with the legendary Milanese design house Pininfarina stretches back to 1951 with the 403, of which over a million were sold – far more than either firm could have imagined. The succeeding 404 was every bit as elegant, particularly in coupé guise. This example has just had a frame-off restoration, and is estimated to fetch 48,000-60,000 euros when it goes under the hammer next month.

Taxi!

‘German taxi yellow’ – that was, admittedly, the first thing that sprung to the minds of our colleagues in Switzerland when they saw this unique Ferrari 599 SA Aperta for the first time. If the streets of Berlin or Hamburg were littered with examples of the 661bhp drop-top V12, the world would certainly be a better place. Alas, only 80 were produced – each with wildly different specifications, as this car demonstrates perfectly. To put it simply, we couldn’t have specified it better ourselves.

End of an era

With the Vantage V600 Le Mans, Aston Martin not only reminded us of its illustrious motorsport heritage, but also brought a close to a long, memorable era of coach-built Astons. In a fitting tribute to both, it boasted a 5.3-litre all-alloy V8 tuned to deliver 600bhp, an interior teeming with magnolia hide and Burr Walnut veneer and, in this particular case, ‘Aston Racing Green’ paintwork akin to that of the 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1. Just 40 were built, of which this two-owner, right-hand-drive example was the 11th.