Could you tame the Hyena?
The regular Lancia Delta Integrale’s styling was deemed too commonplace by Zagato designer Marco Pedracini in the early 1990s, and not befitting of its incredible rally pedigree. So he decided to draw a more sporting – and quintessentially Zagato – shape to sit atop the hatchback’s mechanicals, taking cues from older Lancias and Alfa Romeo’s bodied by the Milanese design house. The resulting Hyena was one of the great ‘might-have-beens’ of the 1990s. Zagato mooted proposals for 500 examples to be produced, but the Fiat Group was put off by the complicated and logistically difficult build process. Ultimately, just 24 reached completion, thanks to the investment of both labour and finance from Dutch Lancia importer Paul Koot. This car, the final produced and the only example finished in Madras Blue, was delivered to Koot himself.
Dino Blue Metallic
Perhaps more impressive than this three-owner Ferrari 308 GTB from 1979’s Dino Blue Metallic paintwork is the comprehensive history file that accompanies the car, testament to the fastidious attention to detail of its original owner, a Sacramento dentist by the name of Mr Yee. To give you an idea of the extent of the documentation enclosed, included is a letter from Ferrari thanking Mr Yee for buying the car, the original Ferrari of Los Gatos salesman’s business card and nearly 50 pages of service receipts including hand-written service entries in the warranty booklet chronicling the mileage from 1979 to the early 2000s. That this 308 has subsequently earned Classiche certification and won various awards at concours is therefore of little surprise.
Roses are red
It takes a brave person to specify a luxury German saloon in Brilliant Red. Then again, it’s telling of an enthusiast’s desire to use and cherish the car he or she went out of their way to configure. This 1992 BMW 850i is proof of that. An ‘every-box-ticked’ example of the handsome V12-powered coupé, it’s had just three owners, all of whom have maintained the car regardless of cost, and shows a mere 50,500km on the clock. The colour might not be your cup of tea, but you certainly can’t argue with the condition.
When Porsche set out to win the N24
Back in 2001, Porsche decided to have a stab at winning the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Its preparation for the notoriously challenging endurance race was typically Teutonic in its thoroughness. Two brand new 996-gen 911 GT3 RSs were supplied to PZK Phoenix Racing, one of the marque’s preferred privateer outfits, along with some hot-shoed youngsters and endurance veterans, all of whom were on the factory’s payroll. This car, number two, was driven by Timo Bernhard, Christian Abt, Jurgen von Gartzen and Horst von Saurma. Despite its promise, a bodged repair after a debris-induced stop prompted retirement at around 9am. It returned to tackle the Nürburgring 24 Hours twice, in 2002 and ’03, under the Raffay Racing banner. The fourth-place overall finish in 2002 was no mean feat and elevates this Porsche’s eligibility above much of its Stuttgart-born GT3 brethren.
1990s oddball
If you were inspired by our recent story about photographer Andrea Klainguti celebrating the opening of the Flüela Pass in the Swiss Alps with his father’s Alfa Romeo SZ, then how about joining the club with this very low-mileage example of the 1990s Zagato oddball? This SZ presents beautifully, especially its crease-free interior, which genuinely looks as good as the day the car left the factory in 1991. Unusually, it’s also still accompanied by the rare and desirable fitted Zagato luggage set.
Photos: RM Sotheby’s, Jarrah Venables, LBI Limited, Oldtimer Galerie Toffen, Rock ’N Roll Classics
