Fantastic £10k sports cars feature in the latest issue of C&SC

| 4 Apr 2013

May’s issue of Classic & Sports Car offers everything from a one-off Aston Martin to a battle between two all-time American classics and a buried Ferrari Dino.

First, though, we head back to our roots with a 10-page article showcasing brilliant sports cars that could be yours for £10,000.

With a respectful nod to the mainstays from Triumph and MG, we present our alternative choices – eight desirable models that can be had for less than the price of a modern hatchback, including such cars as the Lotus Elan M100, TVR Chimaera and Porsche 914.

We find out what makes each one special, what to look out for when buying one and then suggest alternatives that cost even less.

At the opposite extreme is the stunning Aston Martin Jet, which is expected to make £2.8-3.2million when it goes under the hammer at Bonhams on 18 May, but then it’s a unique coupé styled by Bertone. Mick Walsh exclusively tells the story of this unique Grand Tourer, from its DB4GT underpinnings and Giugiaro design to its passionate late owner who drove it all over Europe.

Walsh also recreates one of the most famous car chases on film as he brings together faithful reproductions of the cars that starred in Bullitt – the Ford Mustang 390 GT and the Dodge Charger 440 R/T.

While Hollywood is yet to tell the story of Bernd Rosemeyer, his life has all the hallmarks of a blockbuster. James Page pays homage to a man who, having never raced a car before, found himself behind the wheel of an Auto Union in 1935 and went on to become one of the stars of that epic era of Grand Prix racing.

Our deputy editor also takes to the road in four affordable GTs: the Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV, Porsche 924, Lotus Éclat and Mazda RX-7. All provide a sporty drive in a 2+2 package, but they deliver it in completely different ways.

Meanwhile, Serge Cordey recounts the fascinating life of Germain Lambert, a man whose first creation La Comionnette sported independent front suspension and front-wheel drive – in 1931! Germain’s car-building years would end with the lightweight streamlined Seize, which had a frame fabricated using 4mm-thick Duralumin, and the Type CS. The latter featured a multi-tubular chassis.

Martin Buckley has been taking a closer look at the personal car of another great man – Gianni Agnelli, former boss of Fiat.

Well known for his love of Italian exotics, Agnelli also had a soft spot for Fiat 130s, including the one-off Maremma Shooting brake and a Villa d’Este estate. Like its original owner, the wagon is an eccentric creation featuring a wood finish across its flanks and a wicker ski basket on its roof. Buckley – an ardent 130 enthusiast himself – finds out what made the Villa d’Este worthy of ‘the boss’.

Last but not least, Mike Spinelli tells the remarkable tale of a 1974 Dino 246GTS that was discovered in ’78, buried under several tons of earth in Los Angeles, having been reported stolen by its owner four years prior.

To top all that off, we have our regular features in the form of our Buyer’s Guide on the MG T-series, columns, Letters, Motoring art, historic racing and updates from Our classics.

Traditionally, of course, we’ll start the ball rolling with our free wallpapers.

For a full-sized pic of the wonderful Porsche 914, click here.

Follow this link for a static shot of one of the world's best handling front-wheel drive cars – the Lotus Elan M100.

For a wallpaper of the burbling TVR Chimaera, click here.

Click here for a stunning picture of the Aston Martin Jet.

Finally, for a picture of the Mustang 390 GT and the Dodge Charger 440 R/T, click here.