RE: PH Service History: Monte Carlo or bust

RE: PH Service History: Monte Carlo or bust

Sunday 27th May 2018

PH Service History: Monte Carlo or bust

When it's not just the destination, but the journey that matters, only the very classiest of cars will do



A couple of weekends ago, I spent a good chunk of time watching on, feeling rather envious of my friends and colleagues out at the Monaco Grand Prix Historique. The feeling wasn't helped by Richard Webber's fantastic review of the event for PH (which, incidentally, if you haven't read, you should do immediately - just make sure you come back here afterwards).

So I've resolved to try and get there when it's next run, in 2020. And it seems I'm not alone - a good proportion of the commenters on Richard's piece expressed similar intent. But we don't want to simply take the easy option of flying out there, do we? Especially when it's such a perfect excuse for a cross-continental grand tour.

What to pick for such a trip, though? Well, it seems appropriate to go for a period-correct grand tourer, I'd say. That means choosing something from before 1980; something fast yet comfortable, but most importantly, something which simply oozes class; something that'd be just as at home cruising the D559 which hugs the Cote d'Azur as it would schlepping down the autoroutes to get there.


My first thought was of something that echoes the forward-thinking nature of Formula One in the late 1970s; something that would have looked utterly futuristic back then, but that you could still imagine a driver or a team boss arriving at Monaco in: this Porsche 928. It's one of the earliest UK cars still left, with the single door mirror, teledial wheels and a body unadorned by the aerodynamic aids that came along later. What a terrific thing an early 928 is now; a pure expression of futurism mixed with Porsche's classic design cues, surrounding a glorious 4.5-litre V8 engine perfect for crossing continents. This one's £26,995, too, which given its condition - and the price of some of its later successors - feels like a distinctly reasonable sum.


Too schporty for you? How's about this sublime Citroen SM, then? Granted, it's on the pricey side, but then again it has done just 8,000 miles - and while the advert's skimpy in the details, by the sound of things it was mothballed soon after being bought new, before being fully rebuilt when it next saw the light of day in 2012. A rare thing, then, and arguably one you might not want to put the miles on - but sod it, cars are there for the driving, and even if you put 2k on the clock it'll still have done just 10k, which would remain a remarkably low-mileage. Besides, what cooler or more appropriate car is there for cruising through France? With its Maserati-derived V6 engine, Robert Opron styling, oleopneumatic suspension and an interior plusher than Ron Burgundy's bungalow, the SM oozes 1970s chic.


But why stop at a Maserati engine? Why not have the whole car made by Maserati, too? This Maserati Mexico fits the bill, and has the added benefit of being suitably obscure as to leave your fellow Monaco attendees whispering 'What was that?' as you glide past. Beneath that fabulously proportioned three-box profile, complete with requisite lashings of chrome, sits a 4.2-litre V8 which, believe it or not, was the smaller engine option - there was also a 4.7-litre. Nevertheless, it still endowed it with a very healthy 260hp, more than enough to allow you to cruise to the coast effortlessly.


No? Then how about this Lancia Flaminia GT 3c Touring Superleggera? Yes, yes, I know it's another six-figure Italian GT from the 1960s, but hopefully you can forgive me for including more of the same when they look this good. For me, this is the epitome of grand touring class; elegant, restrained yet jaw-droppingly beautiful styling enveloping an achingly stylish interior and long-legged mechanicals designed to soothe. Few cars would look more right making their way into Monaco.


But perhaps continental class isn't the be-all-and-end-all. Certainly, as grand tourers go, there can be few better than this glorious Mulliner-bodied Bentley S1 Continental Fastback. Owned by just one family since it was 10 years old, it does elegance in a very different way to the Italian crowd, that bluff nose giving way to a sweeping tail and long, drawn-back haunches. Inside, of course, swathes of burr walnut with beautiful inlays and rich red leather are the order of the day; as a way to waft down to the South of France, then, this takes the biscuit - as well it might for £450,000.

Any one of these would do me just fine for a trip to the next Grand Prix Historique, then. But what about you? I'd like to open the floor to your suggestions. Show me your ultimate, money-no-object grand tourers for your journey to Monaco.





Author
Discussion

sidewinder500

Original Poster:

1,096 posts

93 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all
Of course it has to be a Ferrari, either a 400 or if a little more oomph required a berlinetta boxer, as you have an apartment nearby, you can afford to travel light...
Or fly in and have one of these...

Valgar

850 posts

134 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all
Shame, I thought this was going to be about a banger rally.

I'm doing Monte Carlo or Bust in a leggy MG ZT I bought for £500 in two months time, where there is a real possibility of it gong bust.


samoht

5,633 posts

145 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all

This is basically the 'Harry Metcalfe' question - many of his cars seem to be those that would suit such a jaunt.

I can imagine going for a Facel Vega - gorgeous French style with straightforward American durability and power



For a more realistic budget, a Jaguar XJS combines the full complement of cylinders with open-air motoring


Along very similar lines, an Aston Martin DB7 V12 convertible would be a nice way to travel, and to arrive



DBRacingGod

609 posts

191 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all
Always loved the SM. Not exactly Bullitt, but...
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xc12t4

ess

791 posts

177 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all
Thank God someone mentioned Aston Martin above.

Lagonda or Oscar India would suffice.

S





Hairymonster

1,419 posts

104 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all
Jensen Interceptor convertible would be suitably classy: Body designed by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring, with solid Chrysler V8. Gorgeous looks, big V8, able to waft down the autostradas comfortably at 130mph, whilst probably doing about 5mpg!

Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all
That 928 is wonderful! I didn't realise they were so attainable...

Scrof

197 posts

153 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all
Wow! Some terrific suggestions so far. Facel Vega is a terrific shout, and I almost picked an AM V8 to include in the piece but ran out of space. Hard to argue with as a proper grand tourer with real class!

85Carrera

3,503 posts

236 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all
samoht said:
This is basically the 'Harry Metcalfe' question - many of his cars seem to be those that would suit such a jaunt.

I can imagine going for a Facel Vega - gorgeous French style with straightforward American durability and power



For a more realistic budget, a Jaguar XJS combines the full complement of cylinders with open-air motoring


Along very similar lines, an Aston Martin DB7 V12 convertible would be a nice way to travel, and to arrive
Some good choices there.

I’ll throw a Gordon Keeble into the mix.

And a Lamborghini Espada.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all
A Bristol 411. I used to live in Hampshire and a stylish gent used to waft down to his boat for the weekend in a dark blue one.
Am I right in thinking that Bristol offered a re-engineering service with an updated Chevvy LS engine for extra oomph before they went bust?

belleair302

6,835 posts

206 months

Sunday 27th May 2018
quotequote all
An XJ-S would be great, an old school Merc from the 70's too. 380 SL maybe or a De Tomaso.

j90gta

563 posts

133 months

Monday 28th May 2018
quotequote all
Only time I ever drove down to Monaco for the GP was in 1998. Sadly had to take a 512TR. Somebody had to do it!

normalbloke

7,401 posts

218 months

Monday 28th May 2018
quotequote all
Valgar said:
Shame, I thought this was going to be about a banger rally.

I'm doing Monte Carlo or Bust in a leggy MG ZT I bought for £500 in two months time, where there is a real possibility of it gong bust.
I saw a UK banger 'rally' group pass through while were there last year, it was cringeworthy.

Blackpuddin

16,409 posts

204 months

Tuesday 29th May 2018
quotequote all
Great choices in both story and forum. I'd be very happy to take SM, either Lancia, Bristol, Bentley or 928.

TWPC

838 posts

160 months

Tuesday 29th May 2018
quotequote all
Nice story, especially love the Citroen SM and Bentley Continental S1.

In the '80s Supercar Classics wrote about the Pegaso Z102 which would be my choice for the trip.

Pegaso make trucks, coaches and trains but in the '50s decided to build the fastest 'production' car in the world. They were powered by a DOHC desmodromic 32 valve V8 in a range of capacities from 2.5 to 3.2 litres driving through a 5 speed box. The most powerful supercharged versions produced 360hp and could do over 150 mph. Production started in 1951. According to Wikipedia 84 cars were produced (though some think only 71). Production stopped in 1958 because they were so expensive to make... The Supercar Classics article has stuck in my head - it sounds an incredible car and a ridiculous story.

However I suppose Monaco is the one place where you actually might not be the only Z102 on the street.




TWPC

838 posts

160 months

Tuesday 29th May 2018
quotequote all
P.S. The other thing I love about the Pegaso Z102 is that IMHO it is unquestionably the coolest car to come out of Spain.