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Perhaps no possession embodies lasting allure quite like a classic car.
Perhaps no possession embodies lasting allure quite like a classic car.
Perhaps no possession embodies lasting allure quite like a classic car.
In the world of luxury, true value often lies in the timeless - a fine watch, a vintage wine, a well-kept estate. But perhaps no possession embodies lasting allure quite like a classic car. These machines are not just built, but sculpted; designed not just to move, but to move you. Decades after their debut, classic automobiles continue to captivate collectors, connoisseurs, and those with an appreciation for engineering elevated to art.
Here, we present ten of the finest classic cars ever created: machines that have defined eras, broken records, and earned their place in the pantheon of automotive greatness.
1955
A car so rare that it exists in legend more than in garages. Only two were built, and one sold in 2022 for €135 million; making it the most expensive car ever sold. Derived from the dominant W196 Formula 1 car, the 300 SLR is a fusion of racing ferocity and aesthetic restraint. Its long bonnet, gullwing doors, and raw mechanical performance represent the pinnacle of post-war German engineering. The SLR defines what it means to be priceless.
1962–1964
If any car can match the 300 SLR in mystique, it’s the Ferrari 250 GTO. Built for GT racing, but styled with grace, the GTO is considered by many to be the most beautiful Ferrari ever made. Just 36 were produced, each with its own subtle differences. Beneath the svelte Pininfarina-designed body lies a 3.0-litre V12 that sings at every rev. Values have comfortably exceeded $70 million at private sales - the ultimate status symbol, and for many, the ultimate car.
1956–1959
The car that delivered Aston Martin its first and only outright win at Le Mans in 1959. The DBR1 isn’t just beautiful, it’s victorious. Driven by legends like Stirling Moss and Carroll Shelby, it stands among the rarest and most celebrated competition cars of the 20th century, with only five ever built. Its flowing curves evoke a sculpture in motion, and its performance helped define Aston Martin’s golden era. The DBR1 is British motorsport royalty - graceful, historic, and undeniably iconic.
1966–1968
A grand tourer of extraordinary poise and presence, the 275 GTB/4 represents the perfect marriage of design and dynamics. Sleek, muscular, and V12-powered, it marked Ferrari’s transition from the 250 series to the modern GT era. The four-cam engine added depth to the performance, while Scaglietti’s bodywork captured Italian craftsmanship at its peak. Prices now range from £2.5 to £4 million - for many, a relative bargain compared to its rarer siblings.
1904–1906
Where it all began. The 10 HP was the first model jointly developed by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, a motor car of elegance and engineering precision. Only 16 were built, of which just a few survive today. One example sold at auction for over £3 million. It may not be described as fast or flashy, but its significance is immeasurable. For serious collectors, the 10 HP is not just a car but the genesis of a legend.
1961–1967
No list of classic cars would be complete without the Jaguar E-Type. Revealed at Geneva in 1961, it stunned the automotive world. With a top speed over 150 mph and styling to rival Italian exotica, it was both a technical marvel and a cultural phenomenon. Available in coupé and convertible form, it remains one of the few icons you can still buy today - with pristine examples ranging from £100,000 to £250,000. An icon that endures, not just in memory, but on the open road.
1954–1958
Favoured by the likes of James Dean and Steve McQueen, the 356 Speedster is pure, purposeful driving. Lightweight, minimalist, and imbued with Porsche’s early racing DNA, it’s as rewarding to look at as it is to drive. The low windshield, bucket seats, and stripped-out interior give it a raw charm. Collectors prize the original Pre-A and Carrera versions, often fetching over $500,000 at auction.
1971–1973
Sensual, audacious, and utterly revolutionary - the Miura redefined the sports car as we know it. With its mid-mounted V12 and impossibly low stance, it shocked the establishment in 1966 and matured into the sublime SV by 1971. The SV variant delivered 385 hp and sculpted rear haunches that bordered on erotic. Values have soared in recent years, with mint examples crossing the $3 million mark. Still, there is no price too high for automotive perfection.
Unveiled at the Carrozzeria Bertone stand at the 1968 Brussels Motor Show, the Miura Roadster (pictured) remained a one-off and is considered one of the most beautiful show cars ever produced. The color combination itself was designed to dazzle: Lamè Sky Blu for the paintwork, with white leather interior and red carpeting.
The Miura Roadster has no side windows or roof closure system, which allowed the Bertone stylists to maintain a unique purity of line. Many aesthetic changes were made compared to the Miura sedan, with the rear part completely redesigned to leave the engine fully exposed, and the secondary control switches in the cabin interior, usually mounted on the ceiling, moved to a different position.
1954–1957
Part spacecraft, part sculpture, the 300SL Gullwing was the world’s fastest production car when it launched. With its distinctive upward-opening doors and advanced fuel injection, it was a technological tour de force. Even today, few cars attract as much admiration. Values remain strong, typically between $1.5 and $2.5 million - and every penny is justified by its engineering brilliance and undeniable glamour.
1986–1991
Proof that modern classics now command just as much reverence as vintage grand tourers. The E30 M3 was BMW’s special - a DTM-bred saloon with sharp handling, boxy aggression, and a howling 2.3-litre four-cylinder. This is the definitive driver’s car of the 1980s. Once obtainable for £10,000, exceptional examples now command six figures. It’s not just nostalgia, it’s a legend reborn.
These ten cars are more than mechanical marvels, they are stories on wheels, investments in artistry, and testaments to human ambition. Whether admiring the uncompromising purity of a Ferrari 250 GTO or the heritage embodied by a Rolls-Royce 10 HP, each invites reflection. Some remain parked in private collections, others occasionally appear at prestigious auction houses, but all represent a standard of design and craftsmanship that modern machines, for all their speed, rarely match.
Speak to your audience directly within articles of their interest both digitaly and through our printed issues.
Speak with our friendly team today and discover how you can stand in front of our readers.
Speak to your audience directly within articles of their interest both digitaly and through our printed issues.
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