Modern classic convertibles | Six of the Best

Big engines, bigger skies, middling spend...

Aston Martin Vantage, 2008, 31k, £35,490

There was a story doing the rounds a couple of years ago that suggested UK’s love affair with the convertible was coming to an end. Fat chance. Open-top motoring promises to combine three preoccupations of the British enthusiast: the fruity sound of a petrol engine, the fluttering kiss of wind in your hair, and an abiding fascination with weather conditions. The fact that you can have the whole lot parcelled up into a new breed of modern classic (i.e. the sort of cars being built 15 to 20 years ago), only makes the daydream more appealing. Case in point? The thought of owning a V8-powered Vantage for the used hot hatch money. Granted, old Aston ownership is not without significant peril - but the pay-off, when the sun is out and all is well, is one of those experiences that makes life worth living.

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Porsche 911 Carrera, 2005, 59k, PH Auction

If you prefer your convertible to come with Germanic reputation for build quality, then naturally you’ll need to look no further than Porsche. If you prefer the mid-engined niceties of the Boxster, then we totally get that, but we’ve gone for the slightly more senior prospect of the 911 Carrera - precisely the car Aston failed to knock off its pedestal. Later, much pricier iterations of the 997 are held up as some of the finest sports cars ever made, but even the entry-level 325hp convertible has it all going on; the sound and fury of the naturally aspirated flat-six is almost worth the price of admission on its own. This one, due for auction on Sunday, has seen its fair share of owners, but the service history is comprehensive and the MOT history spotless. It’s as good a time as any to see what all the fuss is about.

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Jaguar XKR-S, 2011, 34k, £56,995

By rights - and certainly for the asking price - you would probably be better off buying an F-Type than its gnarly predecessor. But there is something about the XK that Jaguar didn’t quite recapture in its better-looking follow-up. Of course, it helps if old-school charm comes with some new-school moves, and the 5.0-litre supercharged V8, in its 550hp flavour certainly brought that. This being the XKR-S, you can expect a full-throated sound, of the sort that no manufacturer today would get away with. Still looks the part, too, especially in red. This one has been sparingly used and while its MOT expired last month, it seems to have been sailing through them up that point. An outlier now in the grand scheme of things - though if it’s heads you’re hoping to turn, look no further.

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Alfa Romeo 4C, 2016, 19k, £42,995

Though almost a decade newer than some cars here, the Alfa Romeo 4C had classic written over it almost from the day of conception. It carried that badge, for starters, plus it was going to be carbon tubbed, stripped out, and beautiful to look at. The ‘Mini McLaren’ headlines were written before anyone was behind the strange little steering wheel. Alas, the 4C wasn’t the greatest roadster in the world to drive, it being hard work and unpredictable, though that contributed to the mystique. It was characterful, it was raw, it was - if nothing else - not a car you’d forget in a hurry. Now, with suspension, geometry and powertrain upgrades available from the aftermarket, the 4C’s potential can be fulfilled. With that gorgeous styling untouched. Alfa won’t make anything like it again, and few were produced in the first place, so residuals are fairly strong - this one is almost a decade old and still commanding more than £40k.

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Maserati GranCabrio, 2010, 18k, £27,995

For those who prefer their Italian roadsters a little less highly strung though still beautiful, the Maserati GranCabrio presents a very strong case for itself. Even a decade and a half from its introduction, it’s hard to think of many better-looking four-seat cabrios than the original drop-top GranTurismo. It was elegant, refined and debonair, just the kind of cabriolet you’d imagine Maserati should make. As the GranCabrio arrived later than the hardtop, too, there’s no need to avoid the lower-powered V8 - because it wasn’t available. All have the 4.7 and at least 440hp, meaning the sort of performance to really do the drop-dead styling justice. Don’t forget the spectacular sound, a truly operatic V8 howl that’ll be all the better for no roof. This one has been mollycoddled by three owners since 2010, so much so that it basically presents as new. With tan leather and silver wheels, it’s as stylish as ever - and now new Polo money…

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BMW Z4 M Roadster, 2007, 70k, £18,450

If the Z4 M Coupe always suffered for comparisons with the M3, there are no such concerns for the Roadster. Because if it’s a drop-top M car you’re after, who could really look past this handsome hot rod for a 3 Series convertible? Your friends can make their own way - you’d want to be seen, and you’d want to be driving, the only Z4 M Roadster ever made. And now we know, thanks to BMW’s announcement this week, the only Z4 M that’ll ever exist. Not that it needed any help in the modern classic cool stakes, with that engine, a standard manual, and a design that’s looking better with each passing year. Especially this one, in a Ferrari-esque Imola Red over Champagne leather. The condition is lovely, the service file ‘huge’ and the MOT history impeccable - it’s really been loved for 18 years. We believed for a while that a BMW like this wouldn’t exist again, and now it’s been confirmed. If not now, when?

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wistec1

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