The first, the finest?
There were myriad special edition variants of the Bugatti Veyron over the course of its 10-year lifespan, but none quite captured the subtle elegance of the original 16.4. A 1,000HP, 250mph supercar with freakish levels of refinement, the Veyron shredded the rulebook when it exploded onto the scene back in 2005, no doubt helped by a certain Mr Clarkson. This bi-colour black and blue example from 2007 has only covered 8,145km and as you’d expect from a car so sparingly used, looks to be in immaculate condition.
Everything a Lamborghini should be
An intriguing glimpse at how Lamborghinis of the 21st Century might have looked from a time when the Sant’Agata marque was transitioning into the Volkswagen era, this is the Pregunta. V12. A one-off concept car that was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1999, the Pregunta exhibits all the characteristics a Lamborghini supercar should: it’s bold, brazen, ridiculously powerful, and wouldn’t look out of place on any teenager’s bedroom wall. In fact, it makes the Diablo VT look a bit pedestrian. Pebble Beach or Villa d’Este – you could take your pick with this unique Lamborghini prototype…
Braking the Ferrari 612
When we posted this unique Shooting Brake version of the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti on Instagram last week, the response from our followers was as divided as it was overwhelming – it seems the Internet really is a sucker for a Shooting Brake. Created by the Dutch design studio Vandenbrink Design, this Ferrari wagon boasts a genuinely intriguing design, one that we happen to think works very well indeed. Though the revised C pillars are a touch on the large side, the integration of the windows in the roof lends a real air of light and space to the interior. You might not like the aesthetic, but you can’t argue with the quality of the execution: it’s flawless.
Longtail
McLaren never intended to build a drop-top version of its hardcore 675LT but soon bowed to pressure from customers who missed out on the coupé. A like-for-like run of 500 cars was announced, of which this Silica White example was one. It’s fully loaded with over 40,000 US dollars’ worth of optional extras, including a raft of carbon-fibre exterior bits and bobs, the Meridian surround sound system, and the convenient front lift. We’re not sure how the car’s first and only owner exercised the restraint to drive just 125 miles, but that’s beside the point.
An extraordinary résumé
The competition history of this Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RS – one of 55 built by the factory in 1974 – is nothing short of extraordinary and spans its entire life. In addition to a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1976 (a race, by the way, that it’s entered four times in period and once in its retrospective form), the 911 has raced in the Tour de France Automobile, Giro d’Italia, and La Ronde Cevenole. In the latter, it was driven by the French rally legend Jean-Claude Andruet to outright victory. As a result, this Porsche is eligible for a whole host of prestigious historic racing and concours events. The historic racing world really would be your oyster.
Photos: Classic Youngtimers Consultancy, Speedart Motorsports, Autodrome Paris, William I’Anson
