JCC Classic and beautiful cars

Yeah I'd say so. I mean, even the non-convertible model in The Living Daylights had the regular grill.

 

New one for you: 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spyder:

 

Lotus Turbo Esprit



The Esprit is by far my favorite Lotus (I don't like any of the current line-up, although a new version of the Esprit is apparently being introduced later this year). And of all the Esprit variations, I like the one shown above the most: the third generation, from 1980 to 1987. Before that they were less refined, and after that the design got too rounded and lost its cool, sharply angular style that set it apart.

 

Thanks for sharing this, Ender. I can just imagine Stirling Moss sitting here, behind the wheel.

One of these was brought to a concours d'elegance south of here (SF) a few years ago, and what surprised me was that when it was on
idle, it sounded like a lawn mower on steroids; however, when it was opened up on parade, it sounded like a automotive cross between
Mozart and Wagner. What a magnificent, classic roar.

Thanks again.

 

I took this photo of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage on my way to work this morning, while sitting next to it in traffic.

 

Plenty of cars in here aren't vintage... the Aston Martin I posted above is a current model. Most of the others I posted are from the 80's... not sure that's old enough to be "vintage". I take "classic and beautiful" to mean that a car in here can be contemporary as long as something about it has a classic and timeless appeal. But to be sure... Ender Sai : what's the operating rule here?

 

Porsche 918 Spyder



Check out the video from Yahoo Autos: https://autos.yahoo.com/video/driving-porsche-918-spyder-worlds-190605411.html

And Top Gear's piece. I think I have to change my pants now. And Mrs Yankee can have the night off.

 

Yeah, that car is insane.

 

The car has to be hot. It's classic AND beautiful, but should be classic AND/OR beautiful.

So long as we all agree:

1) Most American cars are rubbish (excepting muscle cars and the GT-40 Ford, which like the Hennessy Venom was engineered in Europe and powered by the US)
1a) The Chrysler 300C is especially rubbish
2) Day to day sedans, from aforementioned US monstrosities to the S-Klasse Mercedes aren't really classic and beautiful, but their sports variants are. i.e. C63 AMG, M3/M5, RS5 = pretty
3) If you would see it and briefly consider what increasingly convoluted steps you'd take to own it, you should post it here.

Easy!



Also, my office is in the background of this shot; the white cross-crossed patterned one.

 

The only good and decent M3 was the first generation. That was when you had good solid car that needed a driver who knew how to drive. The new ones are just tarted up 3 series that only a few stockbrokers get to buy. The rest settle for the regular three series lease. In fact the new 3 series are so big and so posh you need to buy a one series just to get the feel what the 3 series use to be. A good track car.
Oh and AMG is nice but Brabus is the king of Mercedes. So much power in their engines the traction control works three quarters of the time while you are on the track.

 

beezel, you were told not to post here. You're not welcome. Your comments detract from the thread. Get the **** out.

 

Next up - a British class. The Austin Healey 100-6 and 3000:

 

I think the main takeaway from this thread is that Ender has a nice salary.

 

What, because of the GTI?

 

That and your office.

 

Ah right. Yeah I work for an investment bank with pretty good real estate. It's also the first of its kind building in Australia: http://www.clivewilkinson.com/feature/mac_description17.html

 

To celebrate their centenary, Aston Martin made a one off car called the C-100. It's an indicator of things to come, and utterly gorgeous.

 

First building of its kind, but no porn filters on the computers on the trading flour, amirite?

 

Jaguar's new F-Type:



Sounds and sounds sexy as all hell.

Some other things to feast your eyes on - insane hot hatches.

#1 - the Volkswagen Golf R400



But it's just an R-kit Mk7 Golf with naff yellow highlights you say!

Yes, but...

"The Golf R 400 uses a modified version of the engine found in the Golf R: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine (Type EA888). The extra power of the 400 helps propel this six-speed DSG-equipped model from rest to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, a whole second faster than its 300 PS sibling. Its top speed is 174 mph."

400bHP in a hatch? BARKING MAD. Wocky mad.

#2 - the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG



BMW's 135i M-Power was previously the hot hatch God, and the Golf R400 may change that. But this beast? It's here, now. 360bHP and 0-100km (60mph) in 4.6 seconds.

WHen top end marques make this much power in a relatively affordable package, putting most sedans to shame... it's our job to buy them, right? Sod the German-made Ford Focus RS or ST; these two are the future!

 

Kind of interesting how Mercedes has redesigned the A-Class, going from a bizarre attempt at something like a luxury mini-compact-minivan or soemthing to luxury Golf-class as an answer to BMW's 1-series.It went from ugly duckling to beauty in one fell swoop.

 

Yep, pretty much nailed it. THe interior is stunning too - my brother has an A250 Sport.



Strangely they have a column shifter, but it frees up centre console space.

Although not apparent, the dash is carbon fibre which adds to the feel of luxury and performance.

Basically, with the GTI and R Golfs, the Scirocco R, the 135i (and the 1M, despite its limited production run), the A250 Sport/A45 AMG, S3 and R3 - there's some damned, damned fine choice out there for luxury compact cars which look and perform beautifully. The A-Klasse really cemented the niche, in my view.

 

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO