Post by sandbachhatter on Sept 10, 2018 9:41:57 GMT
Morning all
I’m kicking us off with Week A, and feel rather guilty about it, as I’m somewhat spoilt for choice! I also need to apologise for not only the delay in getting C.H.E.A.P. underway – as I had intended to do so last week – but also for the fact my three write-ups (albeit not my selections) are somewhat rushed. I’m sure the rest of you will do a far better job with the remainder of the alphabet!
Anyway, the Ariel Atom and Alfa Romeo Spider probably deserve honourable mentions, but neither feature in my final list of three. Which begins with….
Without doubt one of the most recognisable – if not the most recognisable – of James Bond’s vehicles, and arguably one of the most iconic cars in cinematic history, for me the Aston Martin DB5 is also the most beautiful machine ever created.
Even leaving aside the revolving number plates, guns, tricks and ejector seat which featured on Bond’s copy, this car is just astonishing.
First released in 1963, it became world famous the following year in Goldfinger, and has been sought by collectors ever since. Indeed, Aston have just announced that they will be building 25 authentic reproductions next year (for delivery in 2020), so if any of my fellow Heaveners fancy chipping in, we’ll be needing $3.5 million between us in about 12 months’ time.
If money was no object, this is the car I would buy.
An Anglo-American sports car with a V8 engine, and if the DB5 tops my ‘pretty list’, then the Cobra is probably top 5.
Like the DB5, the Cobra was first produced in the early 60’s, and equally hasn’t aged as far as I am concerned, since it still looks just as good today.
I don’t know a huge amount about this car, so I have shamelessly lifted the following from Wikipedia:
In September 1961, American automotive designer Carroll Shelby wrote to AC asking if they would build him a car modified to accept a V8 engine. AC agreed, provided a suitable engine could be found. Shelby went to Chevrolet to see if they would provide him with engines, but not wanting to add competition to the Corvette they said no. However, Ford wanted a car that could compete with the Corvette and they happened to have a brand new engine which could be used in this endeavour…
Whilst the Audi Quattro perhaps hasn’t aged as well as my other two choices in terms of aesthetics, as it looks very much like a car first produced in 1980, it has still done far better than me (we share a year of birth).
Very few rally cars have come close to achieving what the Quattro did (and has) over the years, and back in the 1980s, when Audi’s weren’t solely driven by d**khead middle managers and estate agents, this car was virtually untouchable.
Over to you guys to either vote for your favourite of the above three nominees, or suggest alternatives. Voting closes midday Friday!
I’m kicking us off with Week A, and feel rather guilty about it, as I’m somewhat spoilt for choice! I also need to apologise for not only the delay in getting C.H.E.A.P. underway – as I had intended to do so last week – but also for the fact my three write-ups (albeit not my selections) are somewhat rushed. I’m sure the rest of you will do a far better job with the remainder of the alphabet!
Anyway, the Ariel Atom and Alfa Romeo Spider probably deserve honourable mentions, but neither feature in my final list of three. Which begins with….
Aston Martin DB5
Without doubt one of the most recognisable – if not the most recognisable – of James Bond’s vehicles, and arguably one of the most iconic cars in cinematic history, for me the Aston Martin DB5 is also the most beautiful machine ever created.
Even leaving aside the revolving number plates, guns, tricks and ejector seat which featured on Bond’s copy, this car is just astonishing.
First released in 1963, it became world famous the following year in Goldfinger, and has been sought by collectors ever since. Indeed, Aston have just announced that they will be building 25 authentic reproductions next year (for delivery in 2020), so if any of my fellow Heaveners fancy chipping in, we’ll be needing $3.5 million between us in about 12 months’ time.
If money was no object, this is the car I would buy.
AC Cobra
An Anglo-American sports car with a V8 engine, and if the DB5 tops my ‘pretty list’, then the Cobra is probably top 5.
Like the DB5, the Cobra was first produced in the early 60’s, and equally hasn’t aged as far as I am concerned, since it still looks just as good today.
I don’t know a huge amount about this car, so I have shamelessly lifted the following from Wikipedia:
In September 1961, American automotive designer Carroll Shelby wrote to AC asking if they would build him a car modified to accept a V8 engine. AC agreed, provided a suitable engine could be found. Shelby went to Chevrolet to see if they would provide him with engines, but not wanting to add competition to the Corvette they said no. However, Ford wanted a car that could compete with the Corvette and they happened to have a brand new engine which could be used in this endeavour…
Audi Quattro
Whilst the Audi Quattro perhaps hasn’t aged as well as my other two choices in terms of aesthetics, as it looks very much like a car first produced in 1980, it has still done far better than me (we share a year of birth).
Very few rally cars have come close to achieving what the Quattro did (and has) over the years, and back in the 1980s, when Audi’s weren’t solely driven by d**khead middle managers and estate agents, this car was virtually untouchable.
Over to you guys to either vote for your favourite of the above three nominees, or suggest alternatives. Voting closes midday Friday!
