911 + 885 = Fast
Let’s face it, only the craziest of 992-generation 911 Turbo S owners have left their Porsches wishing it had a little more power, and yet, the option is still there. From the factory, the Turbo S is arguably all the supercar you would ever need, boasting 640 horsepower and just over 590 Nm of torque, but for those wanting a little more, RUF have the answers.
This example from Bavaria Motors NV has been given the RUF Performance Upgrade, upping the horsepower to a monstrous 885, thanks to upgraded VTG turbochargers, an uprated engine ECU, as well as the gearbox GCU and the all-important RUF Sports exhaust system with valve controls, which we suggest you fully open at all times!
Scaglione’s Speciale
If you were to present just about any Alfa Romeo from the 1950s and 1960s to the Classic Driver office, we’d most likely all be weak at the knees within seconds. Renowned for their charismatic styling and gratifying driving characteristics, models such as the Giulia Spring Speciale quickly became the go-to for driver’s looking for the whole package, encouraging those lucky owners to take the long way home from work on a Friday evening to let their engines sing.
Designed by the legendary Franco Scaglione, this example of the Guilia SS lived much of its life in Japan after it was imported there in 1998. Although not original, it boasts a stunning shade of Champagne Gold which suits the bodylines perfectly. It underwent a part-restoration some years ago, allowing its next owner to enjoy the car to its maximum without the risks involved with owning a concours example, essentially making this exactly the sort of example we would look for!
Call the Dealer
Remember the days where local car dealerships had enough influence on the brands that they could create their own ‘special edition’ cars unique to that dealer? No? Just us in the UK? Well, maybe this Jaguar XKR ‘Stratstone Edition’ might jog your memory.
Back in the early 2000s, it was all the rage, and it seems well-established UK-based dealers Stratstone chose one of Jaguar's most expensive models to work their branding magic on, with 30 examples such as this being produced. Despite Ian Callum’s design work arguably only now being recognised, the supercharged, 400 bhp V8 and ample room for two adults made the XKR a wonderful grand tourer. Available only at their Mayfair showroom, 16 were coupes and only 14 convertibles. All XKRs were produced in the last months of the X100-generation’s production, and all were the final Jaguars to leave the world-famous Jaguar Cars, Browns Lane in Coventry. Despite ageing well, the XKR Stratstone Edition stands out that little bit further than the rest with more aggressive body styling, lower suspension, 20-inch OZ wheels, numbered door sills and unique limited edition badging aplenty!
BMW’s Most Beautiful
Although first glances may have you thinking of far more Italian-looking coachbuilders, this gorgeous pale blue drop-top you see before you is in fact a product of BMW. One of just 78 examples of the BMW 503 Series I Convertible ever built, it was launched alongside the 507 at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show, a car that many believe to be the best-looking BMW ever made. We, however, might have to disagree, as for us the larger, more sculpted lines of the 503 Cabriolet give it truly spell-binding looks and charm.
Having been cherished by just three prior custodians, this example heading to RM Sotheby’s upcoming Tegernsee sale was subject to a three-year restoration from 2018, and is finished in BMW’s stunning Fjord Blue, complemented by a Blue Sonnenland convertible hood with Cognac upholstery. As mid-century cabriolets go, this BMW-badged beauty is hard to beat!
Group-Moon
We’ve seen some outrageous Porsche 911s pass through the Classic Driver Market, but this one at Joe Macari might just be the wildest. Born from a collaboration between Singer Vehicle Design in California and renowned specialists Tuthill Porsche in the UK, the Singer All-terrain Competition Study or ‘ACS’ is a 911 that can rocket you and a passenger to just about anywhere on earth, extremely quickly.
Built at the request of a long-standing customer who wanted an air-cooled 911 that could "compete in off-road racing and demonstrate all-terrain exploration capabilities”, it is based on a 964-generation air-cooled Porsche 911 and takes its inspiration from legendary rally cars, including the 911 SC/RS and the Paris-Dakar 959s. Opporunties to add something of this calibre to your collection are few and far between, with this being the first time this one-of-one has been made available for sale. If we ever saw the madness of Group-B rallying return, this ultimate off-road 911 built by two of the most experienced parties in the air-cooled 911 world would be the only machine for us!
