Tropicana Nov-Dec 2017 #116 Celebrating the Classics

THE DRIVE
JAGUAR E-TYPE
In some cases it is the racing pedigree of a car that helps
to build its fan-base and seal its place in history – and this
can happen independently of whether
a car is particularly appealing to begin
with. On the one hand, cars like the Ford
GT40 were already highly sought after
before they went to war against Ferrari at
LeMans, while cars like the Volvo 850R
were regarded as boring and boxy until
their triumphs in the British Touring
Car Championship at the time.
And yet speed need not necessarily
be a deciding factor for a car’s classic
status. There are plenty of examples of
high end luxury cars that would never be
caught dead on the tarmac of a racetrack,
but still command ridiculous prices at
auction. The Rolls Royce Phantom VI
would be one such car, being the epitome
of luxury at the time – and it is for that
reason that they are highly sought after
by collectors.
Of course, sex appeal is definitely a strong argument
for regarding a car as a classic. The Jaguar E-Type would
Some cars achieve
classic status briefly
after the end of
their production;
arguably cars like
the Nissan Skyline R32
GT-R qualify for the
title, despite being in
production up until
the late 1980s.
be the best example, with a timeless design that other
manufacturers are referencing even until today. It is so
highly sought after that it has an entire industry
focused on the restoration of these sleek, sexy
British sports cars.
But even for the boxy, rigid, unlovable
looking cars, there is hope yet – and this lies in
how fun they are to drive. This is an aspect of
a car that may not be as appealing to a newer
generation of buyers, simply because ‘fun-todrive’
isn’t something that people regard as
exciting these days.
But for those in the know – those who can
truly appreciate a well weighted steering wheel
or a slick gear shift – a car that feels intuitive and
light on the road can be highly desirable. Cars
like the first generation Toyota MR-2 are a prime
example of this, being unreservedly Japanese in
design and yet one of the most entertaining cars
to throw around a twisty back road.
Perhaps most important of all is the emotion
that a car evokes. A car’s value as a classic is only
in the eye of the beholder: A die-hard Ferrari fan is not likely to
appreciate the underdog status of a Datsun Skyline GT-R, nor
TM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
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