Motorsport rules and regulations aren`t always well received but, occasionally, the various products developed to accommodate them filter down in a surprisingly good way to the general public, and the requirement to build a minimum number of road legal versions of a manufacturers competition cars has given us some absolutely awesome road-rockets over the years.
This month`s Classic Cars comparison road test looks at three, early nineties homologation specials in their ultimate ‘Evo’ editions and produced for the German DTM racing series regulations: the Mercedes 190E 2.5 Evolution 2, Opel Omega (Lotus Carlton) Evo 500 and BMW M3 Sport Evolution, mmm…
Also featured this month is a road test of a lookalike tribute to a competition car from an earlier generation; a rare, 1972 Lancia Fulvia S2 1.3S Monte Carlo, complete with a full works paint job and in all original, unrestored condition which must mean it was built from different steel to that used in the, now infamous, Beta model.
From the same era, we are taken for a drive in a recently restored, and very special, 1972 Triumph 2500 estate. Very special because the example in the article was previously a development model for Ferguson Ltd and is fitted with a bespoke four-wheel drive system, a limited slip differential and a 3litre V8 from a Triumph Stag.
The competition theme continues with a detailed article on a D-Type Jaguar with a fascinating racing history and it`s recent restoration to original condition after it was rebuilt in period into two ‘identical’ cars. There is also a tentative motorsport link with the featured 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom 2 Continental which, in 1931, was entered by its second owner in the first running of the RAC Rally and finishing 38th out of 232 entrants, and which was but a prelude to its entry in the 1933 Rallye Monte Carlo where it started from John O`Groats and eventually finished in 30th place overall.
Of course, if the current crop of sports cars just aren`t quick enough for you, then you can always commission your very own car; which was the reason behind the creation of the rather gorgeous, 1954 Bertone Zeder Storm Z-250 which now resides in the world famous Petersen Museum in Los Angeles.
This month`s in-depth guide features the Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2, produced in various guises from 1973 until the late eighties model 412i, but never as popular in the UK as it was in the USA, and which therefore, provides a very cost effective entry to V12 Ferrari ownership – but never forgetting the potential running costs – so definitely read this review carefully if you`re contemplating a purchase.
Classic Cars takes a detailed look in every issue at certain cars pulled from the classifieds and this month they feature a fully restored 1968, ex-Liverpool Police Morris Mini Cooper S with an asking price of £18,995, a near perfect 1963 Rover P4 110 for a very reasonable £6,750, and if you want something with just a tad more poke, how about a 1969 TVR Tuscan that`s had the original Ford V6 boat anchor replaced with an American 5 litre V8 – yours for £32,995, which is quite a saving over a contemporary Griffith model with a similar specification?
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The Triumph 2500 ‘V8’ estate sounds interesting, particularly with 4WD. Didn’t we see a V8 estate at the NEC Classic Car Show a few years back? Matt.