Greatness in Grigio Flemington
It’s a mid-1960s delight that is severely overlooked, and we think that needs to change. The Maserati Mistral is up there with some of the very best golden-era sports cars, and with just 124 Mistral Spyders built, this Grigio goddess makes the likes of a 250 GTB or E-Type seem as mass-produced as the Ford Fiesta.
124 cars is scarce, but the car presented here by Scuderia Azzurra Klassische, however, belongs to a series of only 12 examples in total that feature the classic dashboard and the beautiful Jaeger instruments, making it a truly rare gem. Having been extremely well preserved in period, and since restored to an impeccably high standard, this Mistral is arguably better than it ever would have been when it rolled off the assembly line in 1965. The “frame-off” restoration symbolises the commitment to perfection, and after a staggering 3,800-4,000 hours of dedication, this drop-top is now ready for its lucky new owner.
“For Virgil”
The automotive and fashion world aren’t so different. Both follow trends religiously, both seek to appeal to their audience with such precision, a feeling of need engulfs the individual who a car or piece of clothing is designed for. Many try, many fail, few triumph, but no one broke boundaries like the late Virgil Abloh.
Illinois-born and raised, Abloh was best known for being Louis Vuitton Men’s Artistic Director and the CEO of the streetwear label Off-White, but his talent extended way beyond the world of fashion, branching into architecture, engineering, music, and, as you might have guessed, car design. Abloh collaborated with Mercedes Benz on Project Maybach, creating two unique vehicles. The first, a outrageous, solar powered roadster designed for the luxury-loving off-roader folk among us, and the other, a reimagined S680. While the roadster remained a show car, 150 S680s were created, with all being snapped up immediately by the world’s celebrities. If you’re quick, you might be able to snap this one up from AutoSL!
The Full Monty
Maybe it’s just the intense heat many of us have experienced over the last month or so, but here at the Classic Driver office, we’ve been dreaming of the perfect sun-soaked classics to feel the breeze in, and few do it with such charm as the Alfa Romeo Montreal.
Thanks to films like ‘The Graduate’, which portrayed the Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto to the world as an encapsulation of freedom like no other, the late 1960s was a fantastic time for the Italian brand. Their status as a global icon of cool was extended with the Montreal, which also launched in 1967. As the years rolled by, models such as this Oro Metallizzato example from 1972 display just how beautiful this sports car really is, all thanks to the then 29-year-old Marcello Gandini while working at Bertone.
The Rallying Rolls-Royce
Refinement, opulence, quality, charm. All words that can easily be used when describing the land-yacht nature of a Rolls-Royce. That is, until someone decided to take one to compete in the world’s most gruelling rallies, the 1981 Paris Dakar. While some may already know the fascinating story of the two Frenchmen who tackled the fearsome rally, we caught up with the original car in St Moritz last year, allowing you to get fully up to speed on this unique creation.
Therefore, you must think of this 1982 Silver Spirit as the road-going sibling to the mud-loving Corniche. Featuring some subtle graphics and boasting upgrades from AV Tuning, this is one stately wafter that screams 1980s chic.
The One Nobody Wanted
It’s hard to believe we once lived in a world where the Porsche 912 was deemed ‘useless’ and ‘not worthy of the Porsche name’. While the 912 has carried the burden of being the slower and less exciting sibling to the golden child that is the 911, the limelight has now finally been shone on this wonderful machine, and we think it deserves every glimmer of it.
Built to bridge the gap between the 356 and the fresh-faced 911, Porsche launched the cheaper and significantly less powerful 912 in 1965. This example was born just two years after the initial launch date and has been treated to a full nut and bolt restoration, making it readier than ever to be enjoyed once more.
