Retro

Patination state. A ‘weathered’ 1960s Italian hybrid GT might not be most people’s choice as an everyday family classic, but engineer Peter Fareham is not most people.

«At a time when everyone fantasized about seeing a car fly over the earth, the most innovative of French manufacturers created the DS, a prototype halfway between a flying saucer and a car, but available for purchase on the market. Well, do you know what? Some even saw it fly… in the movies.

To aid development of the Tadek Marek-designed V8, Aston Martin produced a one-off DB5/DB6 hybrid in early 1966 that was powered by the new unit. Despite being a well-used prototype, the car survived and we’ve driven it.

Instigated by David Brown himself but hand-built by a London-based coachbuilder, Harold Radford, the DB5 Shooting Brake was aimed at Aston Martin owners who enjoyed outdoor pursuits and therefore needed more interior room. Just 12 were produced and we’ve tracked one down.

With a price of 30,000 Deutsche Mark, the BMW 503 was extremely expensive even for affluent customers at the time. Unlike the 507, the 503 was offered as both a convertible and a coupe. Under the long hood, it had a V8 engine producing 140 horsepower, which was later upgraded to the 150 horsepower engine from the 507. The 503 remains a rarity to this day but has always lived in the shadow of the legendary 507. And both V8 models nearly bankrupted BMW.

Serial Porsche owner, Jon Stevenson, throws us the keys to his 1958 Porsche 356 A Coupe. And for one Classic Porsche journalist, it’s quite an education...

Henry Ford II himself commissioned Cisitalia to build the 80S. Ford’s first sports car? Time to lay bare a real rarity.

The ultimate pre-war MG wasn’t a sports car but an ultra-rare, long lost drophead coupe designed to entice Bentley customers. Peter Tomalin drives a stunning recreation.

Many manufacturers included an ultra-basic model in their line-up to offer a low entry point. Often this was available more in theory than in fact, but as Andrew Roberts discovers, in the case of the Vauxhall Cresta PC, the most basic of models was still a fine motor car.

Mazda is relaunching its rotary technology so we took a fresh look at what the only manufacturer who had sales success with this technology achieved in the past.

Despite being a brilliant machine, the first M5 Touring couldn’t generate enough enthusiasm within BMW to launch a dynasty of rapid Bavarian wagons.

We trace the roots of the 2004, which represents the first line of BMWs built specifically for the South African market, and which was based on the Gias 1700.

These 1960s showroom pin-ups from Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia are all talented everyman coupes. But which one has the most charm and allure on the road?

This 1956 XK 140’s first owner kept the car for six decades and also restored it over a 19-year period resulting in the perfectly presented example seen here.

This year marks 100 years of the Austin Seven. Mark Dixon drives a rather special example to a very special event.