Our pick this week celebrates the appeal of the unusual. All five cars are very different in terms of speed, handling and design, but each exudes character and style like few others on the road. Which one is worth tempting you?
Le Mans on Sunday, le Shops on Monday
In the early 1990s, Jaguar was obsessed with redefining the term “supercar.” The pursuit of greatness led the brand on a whirlwind journey that would culminate in the creation of the XJR-15, the world’s first road-going car made entirely of carbon fiber.
Powered by a lightweight 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, Jaguar’s supercar offered unquestionable performance and, with its superb design by Peter Stevens, ticked all the boxes to become an overnight hit. This beautiful example, which is on display at DK Engineering, is one of only 27 cars built for the road, making it one of the rarest supercars of the 1990s. It has the five-speed synchromesh gearbox of the “road version” – an optional extra that was added to the list price of 685,000 euros in 1991 for a good 62,787 euros! As an icon of the British art of building cars, it doesn’t get much better than the XJR-15!
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Performance for the Hammer
No matter how many Mercedes-AMGs come and go, no model has the sheer road presence of a 6.0 SEC Hammer. Wide, muscular, and with a soundtrack that rattles teeth, AMG took the rather unremarkable 560 SEC and created a gas-guzzling, monstrous masterpiece.
If you’re looking for a great car, then this blue-black example is the one you want and need to own. Luckily, it’s among the lots in RM Sotheby’s upcoming Las Vegas auction. The clock shows just 89,044 kilometers: an invitation to the new owner to drive this AMG to their heart’s content. The values for AMGs built before and after the merger with Mercedes are climbing almost weekly, so we expect 2024 to be very positive for cars like this.
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Racy in Red
How many models are there that are instantly recognizable as a classic Mini? Those cheeky headlights, that fun short wheelbase, and the special editions had the added charm of being exceptionally configured. Few in the latter category are as unique as this Mini, which received the Car & Driver treatment in its day – a customization that is very dear to our hearts, as it comes from the company that gave birth to Classic Driver. If you don’t believe us, you can read all about it in our new book celebrating Classic Driver’s 25th anniversary!
This scarlet example even has impressive Recaro seats in black Connolly leather, a sports exhaust and a generous portion of burl wood, which together give this Mini a unique look. Prices for classic Minis continue to be at a consistently good level, which is why unique creations such as this example promise an excellent investment. And because they are so small, many more fit into a collection. Do you follow our logic?
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Safety first, style second
Formula 1 has a long history of extremely cool safety cars. Equipped with the famous star, the latest AMG models are usually used as safety and fire protection vehicles, chasing after the roaring racing cars. But on race tracks like Monza and Imola, it is not possible for a German make to take on these tasks.
This was the moment of glory for the Alfa Romeo 156 GTA Sportwagon, a racy, stylish and very Italian station wagon that was the perfect machine to be on the spot in an emergency. It comes with firefighting equipment on board, plus it has a quick-opening tailgate, a full roll cage and a tank for a fire extinguisher system. Basically everything you need when a racer runs out of talent or luck. Car collectors dedicated to the heroes of motorsports look for racing cars, but we think this is a station wagon that will turn heads.
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It also works without a windshield
The De Tomaso Guara is a rare and highly idiosyncratic car, even in the more conventional hardtop version. Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1993, the hardtop was quickly followed by a Spider and, probably the coolest variant of all other brands, the Barchetta.
One of just ten examples built, it will go under the hammer at Bonhams’ Abu Dhabi auction. Another attraction is the BMW M60 engine, which delivers power and theatricality to match. This lightweight V8 ensures that overall weight is kept to a minimum – it tips the scales at an impressive 1,050kg. Configured in a stunning gunmetal grey with a turquoise green cockpit, this Guara also rests on ten-spoke alloy wheels, has optional Schroth seatbelts and BMW-sourced instruments and switches. We’d love to add a helmet or goggles to that list, though!
