Alfa’s famous green Cloverleaf badge has adorned many great cars over the decades. Here are five modern Cloverleaf classics – which one would we take home?
The boss of BMW M, Markus Flasch, refers to them as ‘submarine projects’; namely the sort of after-hours labours of love that created cars like the E86 Z3 M Coupe
The collection of Milan-based Architect Corrado Lopresto ranks among the best in the world. The Key — an annual which ranks individuals based on the value and provenance of their collections — placed Lopresto at 22nd: more significant than Andreas Mohringer, but not quite so important as Ralph Lauren. Though, if you are like me and think a list is just another divisive tactic to get people arguing over something they might normally bond over, you can appreciate the life’s work of Corrado Lopresto for what it is: an immense and valuable tribute to Italian automotive design.
Since Enzo’s passing, in 1988, the prancing horse had struggled to get out of the gate. Despite top-tier Drivers — including Mansell and Prost — Maranello was a different shade of red. Having not won a driver’s title since 1979, the Ferrari 642 went embarrassingly winless in 1991 — with Prost acrimoniously sacked. Then, both Mansell and Prost would claim the 1992 and 1993 drivers titles, respectively — for rival, Williams.
The 3.0 CSL and its contemporary, the 2002 Turbo, laid the foundations for BMW’s ‘ultimate driving machine’ adventure. Along with their less powerful but still charming siblings, they pointed the way to BMW’s modern car-making template: mixing the excitement and drama of the better Italian sports saloons and coupes with the reliability and quality of a German car. It’s been paying dividends ever since.
Cars can leave a profound impression on our childhood, and as car enthusiasts we can probably all think of one we wish our parents had never sold. David Watt did better than that – he bought it and brought it home.
The attraction of a restomod 911? It has to be the chance to create something purely personal, as brilliantly demonstrated by Martyn Luke’s 993-based Retro Works GTR 3.8...
Ford Heritage: Diesel-engined Mk2 Granadas haven’t tended to be looked after, let alone saved in excellent condition but this 1985 example is a rare exception!
In the 1950s, automobiles were not only a means to display one's success but also a reflection of one's character. Buyers of the Citroën DS were known for their avant-garde taste and willingness to take risks, while those who favored the Simca Vedette were drawn to American influences and conservative engineering.
Not one but two attempts were made to spin a two-seater sports car off the original Mini’s platform, but flaws in their designs would see both stall at the prototype stage.
