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.
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