Arriving mid way through the 1957 season, the 718 was Porsche’s second effort at a purpose-built racing car after the enormously successful 550 line. Owing to regulatory changes, the new model…

Having used straight six engines for all prior versions of its hot Motorsport 5-series, the E39 M5 launched in 1998 came with an enlarged and suitably uprated version of the V8 found in the 540i.

Although it unapolagetically incorporated an array of styling cues from Ferrari concepts of the distant past, the Daytona SP3 has quickly come to be regarded as a modern design classic. Built in a…

In addition to having been one of the most talented engineers of his generation, Giotto Bizzarrini was an extremely ambitious businessman who ultimately over-extended himself trying to compete with…

Because the DB7 Zagato Coupe launched in late 2002 was not type approved for sale in the lucrative US market, Aston Martin created a spectacular roof-less limited edition dubbed the DB AR1.

Among the most famous UK-domiciled Porsches during the 1980s was Peter Grant’s black 911 Turbo registered BAD 1. As manager of rock bands Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, Grant was able to…

Arguably the three biggest Hollywood icons to have taken up motor racing in their spare time were James Dean, Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. While Dean’s promising track career was cut short…

The third and final GT3 racing variant of Audi’s Type 42 R8 LMS was the Ultra which came on stream during 2012. As expected, it arrived with a wide-ranging upgrade pack that enhanced practically…

A little under two years after Bugatti had launched the ultimate Fixed Head iteration of its Veyron (the Super Sport), a similarly enhanced open top version emerged at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

When in 1986 BMW unveiled the first V12 from a German manufacturer since Word War 2, it was obvious the firm’s Motorsport department would be keen to apply their magic touch. Immensely…

Nearly 20 years after the company had last offered a front V12-engined open two-seater, Ferrari released a spectacular limited edition special based on the critically acclaimed 550 Maranello.

Famously, Enzo Ferrari had been a reluctant adoptee of the mid-engined layout, initially believing “the horse should pull the cart, not push it”. However, after a brace of promising outings with…

After a debut F1 season in 1984 that saw him bag a remarkable three podium finishes driving for the uncompetitive Toleman team, Ayrton Senna spent three seasons at Lotus where, in 48 outings, he…

Although Mercedes’ second generation SL was not a direct replacement for the W198, the new W113 began a line of supremely elegant open top boulevard cruisers that offered unmatched…

Porsche had originally planned a production run of 1500 Carrera GTs but, owing to relatively subdued demand in a post dot-com boom era, just 1270 were produced between 2004 and 2005…

During four years in production between early 1970 and late 1973, Ford’s Capri RS2600 Group 2 homologation special underwent a series of changes aimed at broadening its appeal. The first 50…

Although Aston Martin had quietly built around half a dozen open top examples of its formidable V8 Vantage for VIP clients during the first half of the 1980s, such a machine was not officially added to…

When Porsche added a turbocharged 911 to its range in early 1975, the firm finally had a model that was a genuine alternative to the likes of a Ferrari BB or Lamborghini Countach. However, while the…

Prior to the 3500 GT’s arrival, Maserati’s road cars had been low volume coachbuilt specials manufactured in an insufficient number to cover the firm’s extensive racing activities. By contrast…

At the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1999, BMW unveiled a flagship Roadster inspired by the car that nearly drove the company to bankruptcy 40 years beforehand: the legendary late fifties 507.

In terms of his road car division, one of Enzo Ferrari’s best decisions was made over the winter of 1952-1953 when il Commendatore signed an ongoing cooperation agreement with what was then…

In May 2013, a little under three years after McLaren had launched its spectacular 12C, a limited run special was created to celebrate the firm’s 50th anniversary. Dubbed the 12C 50th Anniversary…

Although Porsche had offered open top versions of its two prior 911 variants with all the Turbo equipment bar a forced induction engine, that policy was abandoned on the 993 which was only…

Despite the passing of almost 70 years, Aston Martin’s most impressive on-track achievement remains that famous 1-2 finish at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1959 with the DBR1. Of almost equal…

Ferrari launched what came to be the ultimate iteration of the 360 Modena at the Bologna Motor Show in December 2003. Dubbed 360 GTC, this latest contender for the junior class of GT racing…

As the Murcielago reached the end of its production life, Lamborghini decided to introduce a limited run special that revived the firm’s SV moniker previously attached to some of its most revered models.

During the early 1990s, Lamborghini offered arguably the ultimate two-car pairing by a single manufacturer: the Diablo and LM002. The Diablo was of course Lamborghini’s recently introduced…

Which 930 is most collectable, significant or desirable remains open to debate. By contrast, when it comes to the ultimate 930-based driving experience, the one-year-only five-speed model produced…

Although it went up against the rule-bending Ferrari 250 GTO which was scandalously accepted into the Group 3 Grand Touring class, Jaguar’s E-type Lightweight gave a very good account of itself at…

Somewhat surprisingly given the red hot nature of the late 1980s collector car market, Porsche only built 29 copies of the formidable 959 Sport between 1987 and ‘89. Conceived to take the 959…