RE: £100K Garage: Eric van Spelde
Friday 12th September 2014

Name: Eric van Spelde
Previously owned: Saab 900 GLS auto, Saab 900 Turbo (x3), Citroën ZX, Mini
One R50, Mini Cooper R56, Mini Cooper S R56
Currently owned: TVR Chimaera 4.3; MG ZT-T CDTi
On the shortlist: LPG'd MG ZT-T V8? Or if the current daily slogger takes a few more years before expiring, an XF Sportbrake of some description. You'll have to prise the TVR from my cold, dead hands, although over time it will probably be developed still further along Eagle E-type sort of lines.
Cost: £50,000
Balance: £50,000
Why I chose it: Simplicity of arithmetics! Being the last of the Newport Pagnell-built Astons and the first of the modern age line up of the hallowed marque, offering just about everything you can possibly want from a big-league GT bruiser, does help. Perfect for long-distance jaunts through the continent with a passenger who might appreciate the more sophisticated, less in your face experience compared to my beloved TVRs - and for chasing other cars up the Furka pass.
Cost: £50,000
Balance: nil
Why I chose it: See above! Last, and quite a few would argue, best of the Blackpool rockets - likely representing the end of an era where cars this intense and unapologetic could be unleashed to the public. No driving aids, no prisoners. Under the slashed bonnet you'll find the most charismatic straight six ever produced. Won't likely depreciate, either. For those days when one feels more like starting a riot than playing Bond.
£100K Garage: Eric van Spelde
Two Brits, 18 cylinders, over 800hp and £100,000 exactly for Eric's garage

Previously owned: Saab 900 GLS auto, Saab 900 Turbo (x3), Citroën ZX, Mini
One R50, Mini Cooper R56, Mini Cooper S R56
Currently owned: TVR Chimaera 4.3; MG ZT-T CDTi
On the shortlist: LPG'd MG ZT-T V8? Or if the current daily slogger takes a few more years before expiring, an XF Sportbrake of some description. You'll have to prise the TVR from my cold, dead hands, although over time it will probably be developed still further along Eagle E-type sort of lines.
Aston Martin Vanquish
Cost: £50,000
Balance: £50,000
Why I chose it: Simplicity of arithmetics! Being the last of the Newport Pagnell-built Astons and the first of the modern age line up of the hallowed marque, offering just about everything you can possibly want from a big-league GT bruiser, does help. Perfect for long-distance jaunts through the continent with a passenger who might appreciate the more sophisticated, less in your face experience compared to my beloved TVRs - and for chasing other cars up the Furka pass.
Likely amore shrewd investment than real estate or anything you care to name too, provided one keeps the mileage reasonable (which at the running costs associated with that V12 would be a given).
See all Vanquishes for sale on PH here.
TVR Sagaris
Cost: £50,000
Balance: nil
Why I chose it: See above! Last, and quite a few would argue, best of the Blackpool rockets - likely representing the end of an era where cars this intense and unapologetic could be unleashed to the public. No driving aids, no prisoners. Under the slashed bonnet you'll find the most charismatic straight six ever produced. Won't likely depreciate, either. For those days when one feels more like starting a riot than playing Bond.
Of course, I'd still need something to celebrate open-air motoring, but I'll be building that myself from a bare Chimaera shell because that's what I do, and cars for the daily grind should be more or less disposable and bought for beer money - and as such, have no place in my 'dream garage'.
See here for every Sagaris on PH.
Discussion
Well done Eric - meetup at Spa to make up for the DSR14 mishap? - and bravo on the Aston.
Not so sure about the Sagaris. The shotgun experience did not convince me. At all.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?actio...
A sorted Cerbera for me. Next to an S3 Espada. Which leaves some small change for a RWD Alfa, like a Spider or Bertone.
Not so sure about the Sagaris. The shotgun experience did not convince me. At all.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?actio...
A sorted Cerbera for me. Next to an S3 Espada. Which leaves some small change for a RWD Alfa, like a Spider or Bertone.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff








