G-Plan
Since its public debut in 1979, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has garnered perhaps the most loyal fanbase in the entire world. Work horses, grocery-getters, art pieces, celebrity runabouts, off-road pioneers, however you view Mercedes-Benz’s mighty G, their undeniable road presence often sucks you back into the temptation of owning one.
Just before Mercedes-Benz decided to focus solely on their 5-door iterations of the G-Class, a run of ‘Final Edition’ SWB examples were available to purchase. The model featured a redesigned dashboard and the revised V8 engine with 5.5 litres and 388 horsepower along with many visual details, like the AMG styling kit and 18-inch alloy wheels. The focus on the LWB cars has now left these quirky three-door G-Wagons skyrocketing in price, with even base model examples reaching six figures. That means this cream-of-the-crop SWB example in ‘Final Edition’ trim is most certainly a classic of the near future!
The ticket to our event with Pininfarina
You may have seen a fair amount of buzz around the Ferrari Testarossa as of late, and there’s good reason for that. This magnificent piece of design has reached its 40th birthday, an occasion we’ll be celebrating in Turin with the car’s designer Leonardo Fioravanti this November. If you’re desperate to join but haven’t yet acquired the correct set of wheels, you’re in luck…
This 1985 Monospecchio example is a real beauty, leaving the Maranello factory equipped with the desirable “Monodado” centre-lock wheels, and featuring a classic Ferrari colour combination of Rosso Corsa with a tan and brown interior. The car was first registered in 1986 and holds the distinction of being the very first Testarossa delivered to Sweden. Originally purchased by one of the country's most prominent car collectors, this Testarossa has stayed there for much of its life, travelling a mere 3,440 kilometres from new. Now might just be the perfect time to get behind the wheel of a Testarossa, all in the name of a good party!
Rare Gems
It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since the style study that would go on to become the BMW E46-Generation M3 was shown at the 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was a car that had almighty shoes to fill, with bulletproof foundations laid out by the E30 and E36 M3s, but BMW's engineers and designers seemed to relish in the challenge, and it's now become what many regard as the best all-round M3 in terms of driving experience and value for money.
Of the 56,133 Coupés that were produced, many were treated to unusual shades straight from the factory, but this example bound for its new owner in Germany was painted in the stunning Topaz Blue Metallic over a rare grey leather interior. It remained with the same first owner for a number of years, before being imported to France, and today it displays a staggering 9,445 miles on the odometer!
The Supercar of the Swinging Sixties
By now, we’re likely all aware of how an AC Cobra should look, sound, snarl, hell, even smell. Out of all the greats that came from the 1960s, the Cobra is potentially the most replicated, meaning the chances of seeing an original example is near enough impossible.
Well, here we have it. One of the mere 260 Cobra 427’s ever manufactured, and one of just 80 that were painted in red. Packing a colossal 7-litre V8 into a relatively compact and lightweight coil spring chassis, the Cobra was a rocket ship the US market, and much of the world for that matter, had never seen before. Capable of reaching 62 mph from a standstill in under 4.7 seconds, and laying down a 12.9 second quarter mile time, it's still faster than some of today’s sportscars. This example has been lovingly restored to its former glory, and is a rare chance to snap up what is without question one of America’s greatest sports cars!
Pop Culture
There are very few car makers who have mastered the art of the beach car quite like Fiat. Sure, many of the most famous beach cruisers built from the 500, Panda and 126 were created by external design houses, but the idea of taking the quirky hatchbacks onto the shore was a core aspect of Fiat's ideology.
The Fiat 126 is a great example of that, and while prices of the 500 Jolly and Panda 4x4s are most certainly on the up, customised 126s such as this one are something of a bargain. Produced by the Pop company and first registered in 1991, this white over white example is one of only a few hundred produced. Complete with notched doors and a soft top that elegantly protects its occupants, we can think of few cooler ways to get around when the sun comes out!
