"I acquired VW Beetle RSI number 078 (of 250) in 2006, it having had two previous owners and having covered some 60k miles," says Tony Ashley. "I imported her from Frankfurt, its last owner being a US Marine (band corp) who was stationed in Iraq during the time of purchase (I purchased it through a proxy dealer who had power of attorney - all a bit concerning at the time)."
And that wasn't the end of the trouble: "After flying into the wrong airport and hiring a suitable eurobox to get me to the correct location (a few hundred kilometres away), I bought the car without ever seeing another example, in fact I still haven't seen another example."
But it seems to be worth it. The car, with its 3.2-litre V6 and Haldex four-wheel-drive system, was the testbed for the first Golf R32 (albeit with Audio S3 running gear) and is a seriously - er - serious piece of kit.
The suspension is greatly altered at the rear over the regular Beetle, with geometry more geared to the race track and a rear cross brace behind the rear seats. Visually, the 80mm-wider front wings, unique front and rear bumpers, large rear wing, and 18x9 OZ Superturismo wheels mean it makes quite a statement - this car is forgotten about due to its rarity rather than any innate subtlety...
The RSI feels just as special from the driver's seat. Acres of carbon fibre trim, tan leather bucket seats and the sense that you're sat in the dead centre of the car, touring car-style makes just sitting in it feel like an event.
And as for driving it? Well, from the snick-snick gearbox, to the gloriously growly V6, to the planted, firm four-wheel-drive handling, it is point-blank awesome. In fact the only vague criticism I can think of is that the V6 sounds too civilised at idle. Otherwise the RSI is truly sensational - and feels as though it's done half its six-figure mileage.