Far from a lady
She may be called the Fairlady, but there is nothing delicate about this 240Z. Beneath the long-sculpted bonnet of this Japanese jewel sits the race-derived, 1,989cc DOHC 24-valve heart of the legendary Hakosuka Skyline GT-R. One of only 420 produced, this 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z432 will be offered by RM Sotheby’s at its Amelia Island sale — let's just hope the new owner uses the car in anger and allows lucky passers-by to witness the ear-shredding metallic howl of this holy grail Nissan.
Swiss shooter
This 1955 Mowag is crying out to be loaded with tweed-clad marksmen and Purdy Sporters for a day’s shooting, or with fortunate friends for an off-road adventure. Having led a surprisingly sheltered life given its Swiss military background, this example has covered just 3k miles from new. Undeniably in need of some proper use, the only question left is where: Scottish Highlands or South of France?
(Prototype) Phoenix from the ashes
The passion project of an ex-NATO British General (seriously), this 2012 AC 378 GT Zagato Prototype was meant to be the start of a bold new future for the AC brand, following decades of start-stop production attempts. Despite the curvaceous Zagato body and thumping 6.2 V8 of their prototype, the resurrection was not a success, and AC remains a brand of the past. But, thanks to Historics at Brooklands, one lucky bidder can take home this gorgeous, fully road-legal prototype, the very car to arrive at the 2012 Geneva Motorshow, in typical AC fashion — late, that is.
German Goliath
It may be the latest bi-turbo offerings from AMG that catch headlines as the craziest Mercedes yet, but back in the 1990s AMG was truly unhinged and hell-bent on bolting gigantic engines into restrained German cruisers, with similarly mad buyers lining up to take ownership. Take this 1995 SL72 — Mercedes approached select clients and offered them their R129 SL model with a 7.2-litre, 525bhp V12 (later chosen to power the Pagani Zonda) wedged into it at an exceptional cost. Only 35 were made (with the Sultan of Brunei snapping up 25 of them, of course), and this example from Symbolic Motorcars has covered 58k very brave miles from new.
Visionary Volante
Supplied new to Aston Martin of Kensington, this aggressively angled, hidden headlight spaceship must have looked entirely other-worldly on the quiet cobbled London streets. One of just 12 right-hand-drive examples from 37 produced, this 1989 example from Hexagon Classics was ordered in very British Salisbury Blue with Magnolia hide and has covered just over 6k miles from new — presumably due to the hoards of amazed onlookers flocking around the vehicle making every journey difficult…
