Words: Violet
Michael O’Leary may well have reduced the cost of travel to the price of a packet of crisps, but who’s ever made a notable entrance by stepping off a Ryanair flight? And would Frank Sinatra be asking so many people to come fly with him if he was trapped in Terminal Five? The answer to both of these questions is a resounding no, so here are ten reasons why driving adventures are the only way to holiday this summer. These are our top ten cars for a road trip…
EAGLE SPEEDSTER, Look familiar? It certainly should do, as the Eagle Speedster is, under the streamlined aluminum shell, a 1965 Series 1 E-type Jaguar. What it lacks in terms of boot space, it more than makes up for under the bonnet with a 4.7-litre engine which is happy either idling through French towns or peeling your cheeks away on the Autobahn. For these reasons, the Speedster needs no explanation to why it’s listed here but with a price tag of £600,000, it’s certainly going to require one when you’re up against the bank manager.
AUDI RS6, To those in the know, any RS model represents the panicle of German engineering, but to the vast majority, the RS6 looks like any other unassuming family wagon. It is here we find the party piece of the RS6. While its roomy enough to comfortably seat four in the cabin, with enough room in the boot to swallow up baggage or a large Alsatian, the RS6 will still manage to brush off an Aston Martin Vanquish Volante in the traffic light grand prix.
ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM DROPHEAD COUPE, Teak decking, brushed steel and artisan marquetry are just some of the options available to spec on the Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. By no means a motor for those wanting to keep a low profile, the Drophead is a little more suited to the Cote D’Azur than Coventry.
FERRARI FF, At £230,000, the Ferrari FF is a bold statement, especially when you can pick up the prettier drop-top 458 Italia for £30,000 less. Nevertheless, if road tripping’s on your agenda this summer then you’d be hard pushed to top this V12-engined, four-seat, mile muncher with a penchant for speed and agility.
ALFA ROMEO 8C COMPETIZIONE, Alfa’s 8C Competizione may not be the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to keeping up with the supercar club, but honestly, nobody cares when it looks this good; its almost as if the Alfa designers developed an allergy to straight lines when crafting the 8C’s curves. Either touring through the Alps or weaving around lake Como, we can’t think of any European environment that wouldn’t suit the 8C.
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER, Lets face it, the Range Rover had to feature. It’s the automotive equivalent of the gold star, straight-A student; a real all-rounder and to rub salt into the wounds, its not hard on the eyes either. The Range Rover will effortlessly swallow up miles on the motorway but also isn’t afraid to break a nail when the going gets tough.
CITROEN SM, Produced between 1970 and 1975, only 13,000 of these rare French classics saw the light of day. More than just a tribute to automotive architecture, upon its release, European critics marvelled at the SM’s ability to travel for hours at 120mph in comfort.
BENTLEY BROOKLANDS, As far as craftsmanship goes, the British-built Bentley Brooklands is a handcrafted showcase. Sporting more leather than Mulberry could shake a stick at, the Brooklands will transport four people plus luggage, in armchair level comfort, at a top speed of 180mph. Cigars and smoking jackets included as standard.
LINCOLN CONTINENTAL, Produced between 1961 and 1969, the fourth generation Lincoln Continental is as close to a land yacht as is mechanically possible. Reserved for US road trips only, this slab-sided stunner was the car of choice for John F Kennedy and starred in the opening sequence of hit TV show, Entourage.
ASTON MARTIN DB5 SHOOTING BREAK , Ever wondered what James Bond would drive the kids about in? Us neither, but we’re pretty confident he’d be bowling around in an Aston Martin DB5 Shooting Brake. This automotive anomaly was first developed as a ‘one-off’ for Aston Martin MD, David Brown in 1965. Brown struggled to squeeze his polo equipment, hunting gear and dogs into a regular DB5 and so had the factory make some appropriate amendments. Only 12 DB5 Shooting Brakes were created, so bag one of these beauties and Miss Moneypenny won’t be the only one asking for a lift.
By Rory FH Smith
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