£100K Garage: Alastair Finn
Five cars favoured by his racing heroes for Alastair, from Jag Mk1 to Honda NSX
Previously owned: Citroen AX, Mini Cooper 1.3i
Currently owned: Mazda MX-5 NA, Caterham 1700 Supersprint
On the shortlist: "Given £100K I am likely to crumble in the face of PistonHeads classifieds with so much to choose from and such a long wish list! Who doesn't watch Formula 1 and want a go, secretly convinced that given the chance they would end up in the points? And who doesn't find themselves out on the open road fantasising about storming through Eau Rouge or belting through the tunnel at Monaco? But for a huge lack of talent that could have been me! But as it is I will never turn an F1 wheel in anger. This being the case, I decided to turn to racing royalty and let their choices guide me so that I would at least know what the cars they drove on the road felt like."
Cost: £29,950
Balance: £70,050
Why I chose it: "Lotus. Chapman. Clark. Surely motorsport's greatest triumvirate? I have always loved all things Lotus and you can't think of Lotus without thinking of Clark. I know he competed in the Lotus Cortina and I'm sure it is a phenomenal car but he chose to drive an Elan on the road.
"Who am I to argue? Elans look great too, especially the fixed heads (in my opinion). Jimmy won two world titles so I would be in auspicious company. This is my ideal choice for the summer days and B-road blasts."
Honda NSX
Cost: £30,995
Balance: £39,055
Why I chose it: "Good enough for Senna is good enough for me! The token supercar in the garage. All I need to do is buy a natty pair of driving loafers and practice leaving the paps in clouds of smoke as I heel and toe my way to immortality." [Unfortunately but not surprisingly Alastair's chosen NSX has sold. There were no substitutes at a similar price - Ed.]
Cost: £3,750
Balance: £35,305
Why I chose it: "This will be my daily driver, but living on England's north west coast I am not sure I'd have it long. But, for the brief few months before the sea air reduced the car to a pile of dust I would pay tribute to the likes of Hunt and Lauda who began their careers in Minis.
"It's a Cooper and it's got a walnut dash. All I'd need to do is use some cash to get rid of the Union Jacks and drown it in waxoyl. At least four world titles were won by Mini drivers."
Austin Seven
Cost: £6,500 (from euros, converted 31/03/2015)
Balance: £28,805
Why I chose it: "Stirling Moss began his career in an Austin Seven. I needed a Stirling-inspired choice (how else would I chase 'crumpet'?), but most of the cars associated with him are far too much of a stretch for even a dream £100K garage. I don't really know what I'd use this one for, maybe nipping to the shops? Or perhaps one day when the planets align, and I get a sufficient tailwind, I will get pulled over by the boys in blue and asked 'Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?' I would own an Austin Seven, and I would also have never won the Formula 1 world title; it's as close to being Moss as I'll ever get. No world title for this driver but an absolutely legendary Mille Miglia in '55 surely makes up for it?"
Cost: £28,000 (from euros, converted 31/03/15)
Balance: £805
Why I chose it: "I had to buy a bowtie for a dinner I attended with work once. I don't feel that I get enough use out of it, My inner Yorkshireman is frustrated with the unnecessary expense, so what better way to ensure I get my value for money from my underused garment? Buying a £28,000 Jag and pretending I'm Mike Hawthorn seems the only real option. Mike raced his and I intend to do the same with mine. This one looks like a beast and is track ready so I will at least look the part in the pit if not on track."
Funny that the heavy Jag is the track prepped one as all the others are ideal for the track.
That's probably what Alistair wanted, budget permitting...
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