The classic cars we’d trade our firstborn for

We are living in an age of nostalgia. Our increasingly digitised world has fuelled our appetite for the analogue relics of bygone days. Nowhere is this more apparent that in the world of classic cars, where rare models are trading hands at record-breaking prices – prices that can render these cars undrivable, transforming them in to a collector’s item that will never again touch the tarmac. They might be impractical, uncomfortable and downright dangerous, but a vintage car is also a monument to engineering, innovation and a chance to own a piece of motoring history. Hailing from a time when automotive design was dictated more by taste than safety standards, these machines also possess an elegance that is rarely found in the cars of today. If the current market is anything to go by, we have never been so willing to succumb to their siren call.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO

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(Photograph: Bonhams)

Often said to be the model that epitomises the brand, the Ferrari 250 GTO has become the most sought after – and expensive – model in the marque’s history. In 2014, the GTO made for renowned driver Stirling Moss set the world record for a car at auction, fetching a mammoth $38m – a sum that was nevertheless below some of the estimates. The 250 GTO was helped on its way to racing success by its innovative aerodynamics, a somewhat ironic fact given Enzo Ferrari’s one-time remark that “aerodynamics are for people who can’t build engines.”

1936 Mercedes 540k Special Roadster

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(Photograph: Peter Harholdt)

Launched at the Paris Auto Salon in 1936, the 540k Special Roadster is seen as one of the finest cars of the pre-war period. Built for the the 1930’s elite, it is an ode to Art Deco design and the machine. The flowing, tapered curves give an impression of constant movement, while the exposed exhaust pipes, curving like four chrome ribs from bonnet to sill, are an unapologetic flaunting of power. Jay Gatsby may have driven a cream Rolls Royce, but it should, really, have been this. It’s a car that epitomises an era of progress and forward momentum.

Jaguar C-Type

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(Photograph: RM Auctions)

Revered for its smooth, streamlined curves and its sporty profile, the Jaguar C-Type is an icon of British motorsport. Seen to be the model that kickstarted Jaguar’s successful racing program, the car won the 24 hour Le Mans twice; the first time was in 1951, the car’s debut year. Unsurprisingly, C-Types don’t come to market very often, and those that do tend to carry a hefty price tag. The car driven to victory in the 1953 Le Mans was recently sold for £7m.

Mercedes-Benz 300SL

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(Photograph: Kidston)

Arguably the poster child of german motoring, the 300SL is revered for its elegant lines, racing heritage and, of course, for its distinct ‘gullwing’ doors. Created as high-performance car for the top end of the market, the 300SL was a road going version of the title-winning W194 race car, giving it performance levels that equalled its highly-coveted looks.

Jaguar E-Type

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(Photograph: Bestcarmag)

For a car manufacturer, there can be no higher praise than Enzo Ferrari stating that one of your models is “the most beautiful car ever made”. This was, of course, precisely what Ferrari said of the E-Type in 1961 – despite Jaguar being every inch their racing rivals. A sensation from the moment it was unveiled, the E-type is regarded by many as being a near-perfect fusion of high performance and beauty.

Toyota 2000GT

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(Photograph: Darin Schnabel/RM Auctions)

Toyota’s first supercar, the 2000 GT transformed Japan’s motoring reputation. Prior to its release, Japanese cars had been seen as an unapologetically practical – and therefore distinctly unglamorous – counterpart to European machines. The 2000 GT’s desirability was further increased when a customised convertible model appeared in the Bond film You only Live Twice. Needless to say, its now one of the most sought after Japanese cars in the world.

Porsche 356

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(Photograph: classicandperformancecar.com)

The Porsche 356 was the first production model made by Ferdinand Anton Ernst Porsche, preceded only by the 356/1, a one-of-a-kind prototype. Its refined yet undeniably Beetle-like look was a consequence of Porsche working at Volkswagen, where his father developed the VW Beetle. Immensely popular at the time of its release, the 356 gained a reputation as being a car that was reliable enough for daily use, yet sufficiently exhilarating to warrant taking it to the track at the weekend.

Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

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(Photograph: RM Auctions)

The Testa Rossa, meaning red head, gained its moniker from the red painted valve covers on the cylinder heads of its engine. A true racing classic, the car holds 10 World Championship titles, including the 24 hour Le Mans, the 12 hour Sebring – where it was driven by legendary American racer Phil Hill – and the Buenos Aires 1000km. In terms of modern-day value, the Testa Rossa is matched only by the GTO, with recent examples going for as much as £24 million.

Aston Martin DB5

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(Photograph: Bestcarmag)

The Aston Martin DB5 with the iconic ‘silver birch’ paint is one of the most famous cars in the world, having been immortalised as James Bond’s car in the 1964 blockbuster Goldfinger. Inextricably linked with Bond’s own character and retaining its aura of intrigue, this iconic car has come to epitomise 1960s glamour.

AC Cobra

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Built to be a ‘Corvette-beater’ on the racetrack, this Anglo-American sports car gained a reputation as true muscle car; the 427 model sported a 7 litre, V8 engine. The car gained notoriety in 1964, when it was driven at a reported 186mph along the M1 during shakedown tests – an event that was rumoured to have encouraged the UK government to usher in the 70 mph speed limit.

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