Calling all Collectors
Ever since enthusiasts first laid eyes on the AMV8 Vantage concept back in 2003 at the Detroit Auto Show, Aston Martin knew they had created something special with a new era of the Vantage lineage. The car would go on to become one of the brand’s most popular models for over a decade, spawning numerous limited-edition versions and spin-offs along the way. Today, the Vantage sits at a fascinating crossroads for collectors, with manual V12 Vantage Ss — among the most powerful variants of the model — emerging as the ones to own.
This example takes that already high desirability and turns it up to the maximum. Known as the Satin Seven, the previous owner fully embraced Aston Martin’s ‘Q’ division, specifying Satin Cobalt Blue paint, a striking Spectral Blue interior to match, and a host of blue-tinted carbon fibre accents throughout the car. The result is a new-millennium collector’s dream: an already highly sought-after model with a truly unique specification.
Not a submarine
Now that we’ve got that statement out of the way, we can focus on the car. Of course, it’s hard to look at a late-1970s Lotus Esprit without picturing Wet Nellie gliding past fish in the crystal-blue waters of Sardinia, but this example has almost as many goodies as 007’s — and is far more practical. Finished in a bold shade of yellow that perfectly complements Giugiaro’s wedge-shaped design, it’s the interior that impressed us the most, transporting you back to an era of velvet, textures, and an abundance of patterns. If a vibrant, stylish classic that gives you a dose of disco fever every time you step inside is what your collection needs, look no further.
Cosmic Girl
The Lamborghini Diablo is one of those fine-wine supercars that looks sensational in almost any paint colour. Greens, blues, reds, stealthy black, or Miami white — this 1990s poster car hasn’t lost a single hint of its appeal. But a Viola SE30-shaded example will have Lamborghini fanatics falling to their knees. This celebratory edition boasts revised front and rear bumpers, reprofiled side intakes, and a slatted engine cover, all formed from carbon fibre, along with several technical advancements over the early Diablos. Examples such as this rarely appear on the market, and this one is being publicly offered for sale for the very first time through Furlonger Cars.
The baby SLS-AMG
Let’s face it: the fact that Mercedes-Benz and AMG thought it was a good idea to stuff their snarling 5.5-litre V8 into their smallest cabriolet in the first place is something to celebrate, giving the motoring world the SLK55 AMG. But what if this already rare and underrated rocket ship is just a little too obvious for your tastes? We’ve found the solution.
Boasting a frankly outrageous 596 horsepower and 770 Nm of torque, this Kleemann-modified example would give even the finest modern supercars a run for their money, sprinting from 0–60 mph in just 3.7 seconds — putting it on par with its distant sibling, the SLS AMG. As far as rare modern classics go, this one is about as good as it gets.
PTS-LaF
Just when you thought Ferraris of the 2010s couldn’t get any more popular, one appears that shines brighter than the rest, quite literally. A favourite among car spotters around the world, this 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari was originally specified by Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay and finished in Porsche’s paint-to-sample Signal Green — a rare choice that breaks away from the traditional shades of Rosso.
In truth, the reason to buy this car isn’t simply the outrageous performance figures or the cutting-edge technology. It’s the provenance. Jay Kay is one of Britain’s most devoted Ferrari collectors, and this specification feels as much like a piece of automotive pop culture as it does a hypercar. With recent auction estimates hovering around €4–4.5 million, the market has begun to recognise the long-term collectability of Ferrari’s first hybrid hypercar.
