If St. Moritz had wheels
The glamour, the heritage, the rugged terrain; there really is no place on earth quite like St Moritz. A haven for cool cars and even cooler characters, standing out in a place like this can be tricky, but we think we’ve found the perfect machine for the job.
Built as the "St.Moritz Edition" by Empre Projects, the car was built as a love letter to the Swiss Alpine region, with a strong urge to conserve the authenticity and the elegance of a Range Range Classic, all the while making it a true head turner even amongst the noisiest of hypercars. This clever design is built for all season use, with its original hard top being completely removable during summer months, ready to be simply mounted back on with some sturdy clips when it’s time to load up the skis and Glühmost. It's so well done that to the untrained eye it’s almost impossible to spot!
Stealth Bomber
It may be a bold statement, but we think both McLaren and Mercedes-Benz peaked with the SLR McLaren, truly a standout supercar that drove as good as it looked. It’s fast approaching 20 years since the car first launched, and over the years the two brands have reimagined their crown jewel into some incredible editions, such as the 722, Stirling Moss, and even a race-ready variant.
This example heading to RM Sotheby’s upcoming London sale is as rare as it gets, being one of only 25 examples upgraded by McLaren Special Operations, making it three times rarer than the Stirling Moss. Receiving the MSO options in 2011, this example is the sole SLR finished in this bespoke shade of Fire Black to complement a Black and Anthracite Exclusive Leather interior. In additon to the sea of stealthy black paintwork and carbon fibre extras, this example boasts black wheels from the 722 S roadster model. All in, the retail price for the ‘McLaren Edition’ upgrades totalled a staggering £162,496, on top of the SLR’s original purchase price!
Fast For(war)d
Ford have arguably the best legacy when it comes to creating incredible rally cars. Sure, Audi may have the Quattro, Peugeot have the 205 T16, Lancia have a stellar line up of fire-spitting monsters, but Ford’s greatest hits are simply outstanding. The early Escorts, RS200, Escort Cosworth, Focus RS and of course, the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. All mark a special moment in time for the brand’s motorsport outfits, and often led to some tremendous success.
This example is a private works car built by Mike Little Preparations England for Ford Europe in 1991, created specifically for tarmac stages. It was delivered new from Ford Motorsport to team Planning Sport Padova Italy as they eagerly awaited the 1992 season. The car was a beast, and returned some fantastic results and trophies, giving this now fully restored and rebuilt example some true rally pedigree.
The Influencer
By now, we shouldn’t need to wax lyrical about how utterly perfect the Lancia Stratos is, but we’ll happily do it anyway. Penned by the late maestro Marcelo Gandini, his design masterfully blends aggressive, futuristic styling with rally-focused performance, creating a true piece of art that continues to influence both rally and supercar aesthetics.
Finding a Stratos is becoming increasing difficult, as so many were destroyed in their heyday, and more recently the survivors have been left in air-conditioned garages as future investments. This example is perhaps our all-time favourite, boasting a striking Bleu Stratos exterior paired with an Alcantara Avana interior. With only 8,000 km since new, it remains in pristine condition and will no doubt cause a stir wherever you end up driving it!
Blue Suede Seats
Upon its launch in 2004, the Ruf RTurbo was one of the fastest production cars your hard-earned money could buy, all while offering its occupants a stylish, sophisticated cabin space and looks that draw infinitely more rubbernecks than any typical Porsche 996 Turbo could ever dream of.
Producing a staggering 581 horsepower, 20 years may have passed since this gloriously optioned example rolled onto the streets for the first time, but its performance figures are still mightily impressive. Finished in Pearl White Metallic, this RTurbo boasts a carbon fibre bonnet and doors, as well as an integrated roll cage. Inside, occupants are treated to a beautiful blue cabin filled with Alcantara and leather throughout. With minimal buttons and the absence of fiddly screens like in the newer 911 variants, this is one supercar you’ll never want to get out of!
