Porsche 911 Targa (992)

 

The 992 is the latest generation of the Porsche 911 Targa. Like its previous generation, the 911 Targa is available in only 4, 4S, and 4 GTS trims, making the newest Targas AWD-only. A 4 GTS trim will also be offered with the current Targa, but won't hit dealers until early next year. The Targa has the same rear-engine 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six as the standard 992-gen 911 coupe and convertible. This engine produces 379 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque in the Targa 4 and 443 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque in the Targa 4S, with 0-60 mph times of 4.2 and 3.6 seconds respectively. Like other 992 Porsche 911s, the 992 Targa is available with an 8-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox. Pricing for the 992-gen Porsche 911 Targa starts at $121,300 for the Targa 4, while the Targa 4S starts at $136,550. Overall, the Porsche 911 Targa is a stunning and impressive sports car. It may not be my favorite Porsche 911 model, but I am always fascinated by the Targa due to its distinct B-pillar and greater exclusivity than the standard 911 coupe and convertible.

Bentley S3 Continental by James Young

 

This isn't a typical Bentley S3 Continental, but one that is coachbuilt by James Young. It was produced from 1962 to 1965, and like the standard S3, it is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 but upgraded to 200 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque. In addition, the James Young Bentley S3 Continental has a top speed of 115 mph, which is an increase from the standard S3 Continental. Its standard gearbox is a four-speed automatic. Other than performance upgrades, The James Young S3 Continental has sleeker styling compared to the standard S3 Continental. Only 20 examples of the Bentley S3 Continental by James Young were ever built and are all basically right-hand drive, which I find mind-boggling. On a side note, the Bentley S3 Continental is visually and mechanically similar to the 1960s Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, in which Rolls-Royce and Bentley had the same parent company until the early 2000s. Overall, the Bentley S3 Continental by James Young is an absolutely stunning and classy ultra-luxury sedan. I also see it as more special than the average classic ultra-luxury sedan mainly due to how few of them were made.

Corvette C2 Stingray

 

The Corvette Stingray from 1963 to 1967 is the second generation of the iconic American sports car and the first Corvette to bear the Stingray nameplate. The C2 was also the first Corvette to introduce a coupe body style and an independent rear suspension. The 1963 model, which is three of the four examples featured in this post, is powered by a 327 cu Small-Block V8 ranging from 250 to 360 horsepower. Later C2 model years also offered the 396 and 427 cu Big-Block V8s making anywhere from 390 horsepower up to 435 horsepower. 1963 was the only model year of the Corvette Stingray coupe to have the signature split rear window. The split rear window didn't carry over for the 1964-67 model years because of safety concerns. Three gearbox options were available on the C2 Corvette: a 2-speed Powerglide automatic, a 3-speed manual, or a 4-speed manual. Like many classics of its era, the C2 Corvette Stingray contains a body made of fiberglass. It started out with drum brakes but switched to standard four-wheel disc brakes beginning for the 1965 model year. Its aerodynamic design set the standard for later Corvette generations to come. 

Overall, the second-gen Corvette Stingray is my favorite classic Corvette model and one of my favorite classic American cars due to its beautiful design, solid performance, and all-around coolness. Whenever I attend classic car shows, the Corvette C2 Stingray is usually one of the cars on display that stands out to me and I enjoy seeing the most.

Jaguar E-Type Roadster

 

The E-Type, also known as the XKE, is Jaguar’s most iconic sports car and one of the most iconic sports cars of all time. It first made its debut for the 1961 model year and ended production in 1975. The above model is a Series 2 E-Type from 1968 to 1971, which will be the main focus of this post. Powering the Series 2 E-Type is a 4.2-liter six-cylinder producing 246 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. Both the horsepower and torque figures of the Series 2 are downgrades from the Series 1 models. Compared to the Series 1, the E-Type Series 2 loses the glass headlight covers and gains a wraparound rear bumper, a larger grille, twin electric fans near the engine, and bigger front turn signals. In addition, the taillights have been re-positioned below the bumpers on the Series 2 models compared to being above the bumpers on the original E-Type models. Its interior is typical of that of a classic British sports car, consisting of a large wooden and aluminum three-spoke steering wheel, leather bucket seats, and several analog gauges, buttons, and switches. Power steering and air conditioning were optional on the E-Type, which were often seen as premium features on vehicles back in the day. In general, the Jaguar E-Type is an incredible classic sports car, and I am in awe of its beauty and sophistication no matter what series model it is.

Nissan Figaro

 

I'm not a huge Nissan guy, and this is a radical departure from the types of cars I've been featuring on here lately. However, the Nissan Figaro is a rare and quirky classic that I couldn't pass up creating a post about. 

The Figaro was introduced at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show for the 1991 model year and was primarily sold in its native Japan. Powering the Figaro is a 1.0-liter turbo four-cylinder producing 75 horsepower and 78 lb-ft of torque paired to a three-speed automatic. Its top speed is listed at 106 mph, which shouldn't be much of a shocker for a small front-wheel drive roadster that looks much older than it really is. The upper side panels of the Figaro are fixed in place, while its soft top retracts in conjunction to its fixed side panels. Its interior has a pretty simple layout, which includes leather seats, chrome knobs and gauges, air conditioning, and a CD player, among other features. 

In total, Nissan made just over 20,000 units of the Figaro for only the 1991 model year, all of them being right-hand drive and legal to import to the U.S. It isn't a performance vehicle from a premium automaker, but the Nissan Figaro is a cute and interesting roadster with a retro design that was never originally sold stateside. Cars like the Figaro and other rare imports always entice me no matter how flawed those vehicles may seem.

Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster

 

The V12 Vantage roadster is a very interesting, unique, and desirable Aston Martin. This specific rendition of the Vantage was released for the 2013 model year and powered by a 5.9-liter V12 producing 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque mated to a seven-speed Sportshift II automated manual gearbox. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 190 mph. Distinguishing the V12 Vantage from other Aston Martin Vantage models include two long and short carbon fiber hood vents, additional carbon fiber trim, and wider rear tires. The example above has also been fitted with matte black paint, carbon fiber trim on the center console, and gold buttons, switches, gauges, badges, and other interior trim pieces. Somewhat amazingly, the V12 Vantage roadster is a limited edition model with only 101 units ever made. Aston Martin replaced the V12 Vantage with an improved version of the car known as the V12 Vantage S in 2014. Overall, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage roadster is an incredible, special, and one-of-a-kind car that may be one of the last of its kind.

Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport

 

The Clubsport is a Porsche 911 GT2 RS modified specifically for racing and track use. As you may have figured out by now, the GT2 RS Clubsport isn't street legal. It is also very similar to the reborn 935 that I featured on here not that long ago, except the GT2 RS Clubsport has a more toned-down design and is less exclusive. Like the 911 GT2 RS road car, the track-only Clubsport is powered by a 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six producing 700 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque paired to a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds. Distinguishing the Clubsport from the GT2 RS road car are a larger rear wing, a vented front hood, additional aerodynamic parts, a racing steering wheel, and a completely stripped-down interior that seats only the driver. The Clubsport's center console contains necessary controls for racing such as traction and stability control. In addition, the GT2 RS Clubsport still has air conditioning unlike some track-focused Porsche vehicles.

Only 200 911 GT2 RS Clubsport examples were built, each starting at $478,000, which is a bargain compared to the more insane and more exclusive 935. Another version of the GT2 RS Clubsport was recently unveiled; known as the GT2 RS Clubsport 25, it commemorates 25 years of Porsche's partnership with Manthey-Racing. Although it doesn't stand out as much as the similar 935, the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport is an absolutely bonkers race car.

Included below is a Porsche 911 GT2 RS road car that I saw at the same car show that had the GT2 RS Clubsport on display.

McLaren 720S Spider

 

The 720S Spider is the current open-top version of McLaren's Super Series models. It is also McLaren's flagship roadster besides the more exclusive and recently-unveiled 765LT Spider. Powering the 720S Spider is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 710 horsepower (720 metric horsepower, hence the name 720S) and 568 lb-ft of torque mated to a seven-speed dual clutch. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 212 mph. The Spider is a tenth of a second slower than the coupe, while both body styles share the same top speed. The 720S Spider's retractable hard top goes in place and back down in 11 seconds each interval, one of the fastest in the auto industry. One option available on the 720S Spider's hard top is an electrochromic roof, which can darken with the press of a button to provide more shade to the cabin if the sun is shining through a bit too much for the driver and/or passenger. When the vehicle starts up, its gauge cluster screen moves forward and up, while the partial screen on top of the main screen will only display the most important information needed when the vehicle is set into track mode, such as speed, gear, fuel level, tire pressure, and engine temperature. 

Other notable features of the 720S Spider include a 360-degree parking camera, a vertically-shaped infotainment display, a trip planner to enter multiple destinations instead of only one, and multiple-color ambient interior lighting. The Spider's tonneau cover consists of clear glass panels, not just solid black ones. Pricing for the McLaren 720S Spider starts at around $310k. In all, the 720S is absolutely incredible and one of my favorite 'mainstream' mid-engine supercars alongside the Lamborghini Huracan Evo. Both the 720S and Huracan Evo look and sound amazing and have out-of-this-world performance rivaling that of more expensive and exclusive supercars.

Ford GT (2005-06)

 

2005-06 was the original return of the Ford GT since the GT40 from the 1960s that was aimed to take down Ferrari at Le Mans. Its overall design pays homage to the original GT40, except the mid 2000s GT is bigger, wider, and slightly taller. Powering the 2005-06 GT is a 5.4-liter supercharged Ford Modular V8 producing 550 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque paired to a six-speed manual. It launches from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 205 mph. Probably the most interesting Easter egg of the previous Ford GT is that there is a "100" shape inside the headlights since the previous GT was created to commemorate Ford's 100th anniversary. Just over 4,000 previous-generation Ford GTs were made, and they continue to appreciate over time and be a hot commodity among collectors. 

Although this example was from a car show I attended back in April, it wasn't the most recent time I saw a 2005-06 Ford GT up close. That would be in late June at a different car show. This specific car show also had several planes and helicopters on display as well. However, I couldn't get any photos of the previous-gen Ford GT that I saw there because it was in a private and enclosed residential area with a gatekeeper at the front that wouldn't let me in no matter what. I remember that one being dark blue with white stripes, but I had no choice but to take the L that day and accept the situation for what it was. 

Overall, The mid 2000s Ford GT is an incredibly cool, special, and amazing supercar. It shouldn't be used on a daily basis due to its lack of cargo space and creature comforts, but that doesn't take away from its great retro design and unbelievable performance.

Mercedes-Benz 190SL

 

The Mercedes-Benz 190SL was introduced in 1955 as a lower-cost alternative to the iconic 300SL. The 190SL's styling is very similar to that of the 300SL as well. Powering the 190SL is a 1.9-liter four-cylinder producing 104 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque paired to a four-speed manual. It has the same engineering and fully independent suspension as the more upscale 300SL. However, the 190SL uses a shortened chassis that was modified from the 180/190 (W120/121) sedan compared to the 300SL's tubular spaceframe. In addition, the 190SL was only offered as a roadster with either a soft top or removable hard top. Both the 190SL and 300SL were replaced by the 230SL 'Pagoda' in 1963, and Mercedes-Benz sold almost 26,000 examples of the 190SL before the end of its production run. An average 190SL is currently valued at around $110,000 on the used market. Despite being the entry-level SL model from the mid 50s to early 60s, the Mercedes-Benz 190SL is a beautiful and elegant classic roadster that is great for cruising down the street on a warm and sunny day.