The Plight Of The Phoenix
In Part Two of his investigation into GT cars, Michael Cotton asks if sportscars have risen from the ashes only to fall back into the flames Remember what you thought…
● Check your inbox – you wouldn’t want to miss a visit to the new invite-only Lamborghini Lounge NYC. This 5400sq ft Manhattan venue is an Italian melange of cars, dining and brand partners. “It’s a space that our friends and customers can call their own,” said Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini’s president and CEO. The Huracán STO will be one of the first models on display.
● In Jaguar circles, the Frankensteinish 1960 Jaguar XK150 Foxbat ‘shooting brake’, top, has cult status. This unlikely mid-1970s amalgamation of a 3.4-litre coupé and a Morris Minor is on sale for £44,995 at Justin Banks in Tunbridge Wells.
● On an estate theme, there is much excitement at Nicholas Mee in Herts over a trio of rare Aston Martin DB5 Vantages. Just 66 DB5s were of the high-performance Vantage variant, and only one was a Shooting Brake, made to accommodate Aston Martin chairman David Brown’s gun dog and polo gear. And here it is, offered along with a coupé and a convertible. “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said MD Nicholas Mee. The collection price is £4m.
● Read all about it! A new three-level Harwoods Jaguar Land Rover dealer with upper floor barista bar has opened in Hollingbury, Brighton. The site was formerly the home of local rag The Argus. “We’ve commissioned a local artist to create public artwork that will feature the print presses,” said head of business Marc Sack.
● While bagging car brochures at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1975, you might have spotted a gleaming Ferrari 365 GT4 Berlinetta Boxer next to Niki Lauda’s F1 312T. It’s with Simon Drabble, priced £275,000.