25 super-cool cars you can buy this week

Can you resist temptation?

We’re all ready for a little excitement after… well, you know what we’re on about.

Anyway, the forthcoming Race Retro Live Auction from Silverstone Auctions, on 27 and 28 March, gives you the perfect opportunity to indulge your desire for something that’ll get the butterflies going every time you open the garage, because there’s a whole host of amazing machinery available.

The auction is being held online, albeit with the option of telephone bids, so now’s the time to download the catalogue and prepare for a bidding war.

Here are 25 cracking lots for you to look at.

1. 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL (est: £90-110,000)

The 3.0 CSL (Coupé Sport Leicht) was born out of BMW’s desire to have a Group 2 competition racer, and as such its bodyshell was made of thinner steel, the bonnet, bootlid and doors were of aluminium alloy, and the side-window glass was replaced by Perspex.

Only 500 right-hand-drive examples were built, of which this car is number 306. It had a full restoration in 1984, and the running gear was rebuilt in 1996.

There are fewer than 80,000 miles showing.

2. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette C2 ‘Split-Window’ (est: £100-120,000)

Fancy this?

It’s a super-rare example, because the split-window Corvette was only ever made for a solitary year, which makes it incredibly desirable these days.

This car is in apparently brilliant condition (the seller specifically set out to find the best one out there, and the car has covered fewer than 100 miles since purchase), and has a four-speed manual gearbox.

3. 1974 Datsun 240Z ‘Super Samuri’ (est: £45-55,000)

This Datsun 240Z was bought by a British Army captain in Cyprus in 1974 (it even has a bullet hole in the rear deck from when he was ambushed!), and was converted to ‘fast road’ specification by the famous Samuri Motor Company a while after it was imported to the UK.

This car has been overbored to 2565cc, and just last month the brakes and clutch were refreshed to the tune of £1500.

4. 1961 Jaguar 3.8 Mk2 (est: £30-38,000)

This Jaguar was first sold through Jaguar Cars New York, but they only named it once.

It was originally fitted with an automatic gearbox, and is in the rare combination of Bronze metallic with magnolia leather.

It was imported to the UK in the early 1990s, and was fitted with a manual/overdrive gearbox at that point. The current owner has had the car for more than 30 years, and it is said to have been fastidiously maintained. Go on, indulge your Inspector Morse fantasies.

5. 1955 Jaguar XK140 DHC (no reserve)

When we say barn-find, we mean it – there are still cobwebs and dust on this one. It’s ripe for restoration, though, so would make a fabulous project.

This XK140 was owned by one family from 1966 and has an extraordinary history file, all the way up to the last MoT certificate, which was issued in 2005.

It was originally Pastel Blue, but was repainted white at some point in its first decade, and has remained so ever since.

6. 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL (est: £18-22,000)

Back in 1987, when Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher paid a visit to German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, there’s a good chance one of these would have picked her up from the plane. Probably to show how much better German cars were than British ones of the time. It’s the epitome of 1980s-politician cool. In green.

This one has a 5.6-litre V8 up front and can do 0-60mph in 6.9 secs, so would be ideal for outrunning the German intelligence services!

7. 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III (no reserve)

“Don’t be a plonker, Rodders, we’ll fit right in at this auction.” Well, sort of.

This is believed to be one of the original half-dozen Reliants from the television sitcom Only Fools and Horses, and is owned by the BBC’s John Mansfield.

Prior to this month’s auction it has had the brakes and fuel systems overhauled, and new tyres fitted, so it’s ready to hit the mean streets of Peckham. Or wherever its winning bidder takes it.

8. 1997 Renault Sport Spider (est: £35-40,000)

It doesn’t look 24 years old, does it? That’s probably because it’s done only 7800 miles, or an average of 325 miles a year. If that doesn’t constitute ‘lightly used’ we don’t know what does.

This is one of only 60 examples that were produced in right-hand drive and with a windscreen. The 2.0-litre F7R engine is said to be in fine fettle, having had a recent full service, including a new cambelt and water pump. Go on – the sun’s out, make the most of it.

9. 1981 Mercedes-Benz 280SL (est: £25-30,000)

It’s a 1981 Mercedes-Benz SL, so it’s almost a legal requirement that it be painted Champagne Gold. Grey check interior fabric completes the period style.

This beautiful Mercedes was recommissioned a year ago after being dry-stored for eight years, and received a new battery, tyres, fluids, fuel pump and a brake service. It has covered just 34,283 miles in total, and a mere 3000 in the past 30 years, so is perfect for the summer months ahead.

10. 1966 Buick Riviera (est: £25-30,000)

Without a doubt, this is the sort of car that a late-1960s private eye would have pedalled. Long, low, subtle looks keep you under the radar or the bad guys, and the 7.0-litre V8 has plenty of mumbo should you need to make a quick exit.

This beautiful-looking example has electric windows plus electrically adjustable seats and steering, as well as air-conditioning, so it’s ready to cruise.

Oh, and did we mention that it’s finished in a very deep maroon with a white interior? Too cool.

11. 1963 Heinkel Trojan Model 601 (est: £16-20,000)

This is actually a right-hand-drive version, although it’s so small that it doesn’t really make much difference.

It has been recently restored to what looks to be a very high standard indeed and features a factory-spec check-cloth interior.

At the back lies a single-cylinder four-stroke engine that develops a mighty 10bhp. So if you need to get anywhere you’ll have to get up early. Still, any trip will be fun.

12. 1991 Honda NSX (est: £40-45,000)

When launched, the Honda NSX sent a seismic shock through the supercar world, and not just because Ayrton Senna helped develop it.

No, it worried rivals because it was quick, looked cool and managed to get to the end of each journey without breaking down or causing some sort of fuss. Unheard of.

This one is resplendent in the classic Formula Red and has just had a complete health check. It has only done 32,270 miles from new, so is in fine fettle.

13. 1961 Jaguar E-type Series 1 (est: £95-115,000)

Well, the Jaguar E-type has only just turned 60, so what better time to buy one? Better still, this right-hand-drive example is chassis 60, which cannot be anything but a sign that you should make a bid.

The car was given a ground-up restoration in 2000, and its gorgeous bodywork is clad in Opalescent Gunmetal Grey paint, while the inside is full of red leather. It’s also an understatement to say the accompanying file is comprehensive.

14. 1970 Chevrolet Camaro 396 SS (est: £25-28,000)

The second-generation Camaro appeared in 1970, and what a looker it was. Still is, to be frank. Chevrolet made just 600 of this 396 SS model that year, but this one’s a cracker.

It started life as a daily driver in Los Angeles, and was restored in the 1990s before being shipped to the UK in 2000.

Under the bonnet lies a 6.5-litre V8 that has paperwork to prove it produces 450bhp, which is probably enough to be going on with.

15. 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III (est: £80-90,000)

This is the sort of car you choose if you like to be looked at. Not because it’s loud and showy, but because when it whispers past everyone will believe they’re in the presence of royalty.

Presence. That’s exactly what it has, from the Spirit of Ecstasy up front to the gorgeous magnolia hide you sit on. It has been fully restored over a period of four years, and comes with a full photographic record. It has to be worth a bid. Your majesty.

16. 1978 Lotus Esprit S2 JPS (est: £55-60,000)

In the late 1970s, the Esprit was Britain’s supercar. After all, James Bond drove one with some gusto to evade the baddies in The Spy Who Loved Me, so it was instantly super-cool.

This is number 22 of 100 commemorative models that were built after Mario Andretti’s Formula One Drivers’ Championship win in 1978, and is resplendent in the black-and-gold colour scheme of the F1 team’s John Player Special major sponsor.

17. 1976 Ferrari Dino 308GT4 (est: £40-45,000)

This was the first Ferrari designed by Bertone, and there were only ever 547 right-hand-drive examples delivered to the UK.

The 250bhp 3.0-litre V8 engine has had an easy life (as has the rest of the car) because it has covered only 22,550 miles from new. Indeed, it has spent much of its life in a private collection.

Rosso Corsa and Nero leather are the classic combination, and the car has just been given a service and MoT, so it’s ready to be enjoyed.

18. 1998 Lotus Elise Series 1 (est: £25-30,000)

It’s fair to say the Lotus Elise rather rocked the sports-car world when it appeared in 1996, because it was exactly what a Lotus should be – light and fun. Its 731kg meant that the 1.8-litre engine didn’t need to be that powerful for the car to be a hoot, and so it proved.

It certainly attracted Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, who was this car’s first owner. And the current keeper has had the car restored to the tune of £15k.

It has done just 27,000 miles and is just waiting to be driven with plenty of enthusiasm.

19. 1988 Porsche 924 S Le Mans (est: £20-25,000)

The Porsche 924 was pretty maligned when it appeared, but unfairly so, because it simply wasn’t that bad.

In 1988, this 924 S Le Mans edition was produced to mark the marque’s 12th win at Le Mans. It was based on the 924 S and is the rare and desirable transaxle model.

Just 74 examples were produced, 37 in Black and 37 in this Alpine White hue. The car here was also given a full ‘Porsche restored’ refurbishment in 2016, so is ready to be driven and enjoyed.

20. 1977 Porsche 911 E 2.4 targa project (est: £22-26,000)

It’s fair to say you’re not going to be driving around in this car next week. But what a car it could be.

According to Silverstone Auctions, it was in regular use before the restoration commenced, and mechanical issues (it needed a clutch, for example) were dealt with before the car was professionally stripped.

It is accompanied by £13,000-worth of new panels (still in boxes), and the shell has been dipped and is ready for pre-paint preparation. A bit of spanner-twirling has rarely looked so enticing.

21. 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T (est: £60-70,000)

There were some human actors employed in the 1971 road movie Vanishing Point, but really they were the supporting cast. The real star was the white Dodge Challenger in which our hero evaded every attempt by the law and various other miscreants to halt his progress.

So, you too could be Kowalski in this superb-looking Alpine White Challenger R/T, complete with 390bhp 7.2-litre ‘Six Pack’ V8.

In fact, all it needs is a CB radio.

22. 1957 Citroën 2CV AZL (no reserve)

The L in AZL actually signifies that this is the luxurious version. No, really. So, it comes with a strip of polished aluminium on the bonnet and superior seat cover material. Yes, really.

It is also one of the last of these models fitted with a full-length sunroof, and is of such a high standard that it was a Best in Class winner at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed’s concours.

The 425cc engine has its full complement of 12.5 horses, so progress will be… leisurely. But surely that’s the whole point.

23. 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback 390GT (est: £70-80,000)

This is a quite stunning-looking 1967 Mustang Fastback. And do you know what the best news is? It isn’t green. You know what we mean.

Under the bonnet lurks a 6.4-litre V8, which drives through a four-speed Toploader transmission and Equa-lock differential.

It was actually driven daily until 1986, when it was put into storage for a decade, after which a restoration began. It was bought by a UK buyer who wanted to finish the restoration, but never quite managed it. The current owner bought it and completed the job, and the car looks superb for it.

24. 1972 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1.3 (est: £15-20,000)

This little Alfa saloon is the second generation of a car that found fame as the slightly hapless pursuer of a trio of Minis through the streets of Turin in The Italian Job.

It is, in fact, a genuinely amusing sports saloon, which is powered by a high-revving 1300cc engine driving through a five-speed gearbox. It even has disc brakes all round.

Better still, it has had just one solitary owner from new, has been garaged all its life, and has barely covered 2000km a year. The paint is original, the numbers match and it has never even seen a welder. Superb.

25. 1970 Dodge Charger 500 (est: £55-65,000)

Well if there’s a Mustang Fastback in the auction, there might as well be a Charger as well.

This example arrived in the UK in 2004 and has been with the same owner for a decade.

A superb restoration has brought this Charger to a state that, if the catalogue is to be believed, is genuinely eye-watering. For a start, the 7.2-litre V8 generates more than 500bhp, and the bare-metal respray is in the original Light Green Metallic hue.

The black vinyl dashboard appears to be original, and the instruments and radio are certainly from the period.

You can check out all of these cool classics and many more in the catalogue for Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro Live sale – there’s a vast array of lots to get your heart pumping!