Big-Bodied Bentley
For most living in the height of winter, and the entirety of the UK as we battle one storm after another, the thought of sliding the canvas roof back only to be enveloped in the rich warm air and glistening sunlight while 2Pac’s All Eyez on me thumps in the background sounds just about perfect right now. And in which car do we picture ourselves in this magical scenario? The effortlessly stylish Bentley Azure, of course.
Launched in 1995 and based on the platform of the Continental R Coupé, the Azure was the perfect symphony of refinement, performance, and elegance, with enough cabin space to comfortably seat four. Power came from the company's mighty 6.75 litre V8, featuring a single turbocharger and producing in the region of 380bhp. While the Azure takes its name from France, its birthplace from Crewe, and its style status from Los Angeles, due to limited space at the British factory, Italian powerhouse Pininfarina were the ones who designed and manufactured the car, further enhancing its unique charm!
Log-bearing Lancia
While we’re accustomed to seeing wood panels on mid-century icons like the Buick Roadmaster or Mini Traveller, there’s one unlikely addition to the wood-cladded line-up: a Lancia.
That’s right, reportedly much to Gianni Lancia’s dismay as he felt station wagons should only be work vehicles, after many requests from various dealers, Gianni conceded, and the car known as the Aurelia B53 Giardinetta was born, with bodywork courtesy of Viotti. It’s believed a mere 53 examples were produced, with only a few survivors remaining after many were used just as Gianni intended: hauling heavy goods around Europe. This lucky survivor has lived the good life, staying in the same family for over 50 years, before it was discovered by famed Lancia connoisseur Dr. Guido Lamperti, who restored the car to its former glory. As quirk-filled Italian rarities go, it doesn’t get much cooler than this one!
The Count
A Lamborghini Countach is an extraordinary beast in any incarnation from its almost two-decade-long lifespan, but for many, the LP5000 QV Quattrovalvole is the cream of the crop. This mighty example, born in 1986 and finished in Rosso Speciale over Chamapgne, is a true slice of Bologna’s best, topped off with some Campagnolo Bravo wheels finished in gold.
Starting its life in Canada, this Countach later belonged to a collector owner for 14 years and is believed to have had just three owners from new. Only driven sparingly over the past three and a half decades, it currently shows just over 33,000 kilometres on the odometer. Head-turner, fire-spitter, sweat-breaker, however you want to describe it, there's nothing with four wheels that has captured people’s hearts quite like the Countach.
Back in Black
Often described as the ‘most potent C-Class ever made’, you’d be correct in thinking there’s a bit more to the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series than what first meets the eye. This sleathy, blacked-out example may look like a regular Bahnstormer, but internally the Black Series has been treated to a wealth of extras usually found on the SLS AMG.
The Black Series was widened at the front by 40mm and a staggering 79mm at the rear, allowing the car to hunker to ground for better handling, which is further improved by fully adjustable coilover suspension system and an intelligent LSD. We’re big fans of AMG’s Black Series line, so much so we listed them in our '10 cars to watch in 2024' article, making this example the ideal candidate if you're looking for a worthy investment and a tonne of fun!
Orange Cars Drive Faster
It’s rare to see a race-ready machine dressed in a vibrant orange and not boasting a plethora of Jägermeister branding, and yet here we are with this stunning 1967 Porsche 910. A legendary racer in its own right, the 910 was powered along by a 2-litre flat-6 engine taken from a 911, ensuring this low-slung racer is as spritely as it is agile. This was Porsche’s ace, while many of their rivals opted for raw power to blast along the back straights of Sebring or Le Mans, the Porsche would make up for the lack of outright speed by being fiercely nimble on the twisty sections.
One of only 29 chassis built and driven in-period by Ben Pon and Gijs van Lennep, this example is now eligible to compete in the most important historical races in the world, including Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion & Le Mans Classic. It is, without a question, one of the most exciting historic racing cars to experience, all it needs now is a willing driver.
