Market Finds – McLaren’s first road car and the ‘world’s best Dino’

In this week’s edition of ‘Market Finds’, we explore an example of McLaren’s first road car, possibly the finest Ferrari Dino in the world, and a number of other ultra-desirable classics all currently listed for sale in the Classic Driver Market...

1988 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante X-Pack

The X-Pack was the Aston Martin V8 Vantage’s swansong, the ultimate – and final – iteration of the then-10-year-old coupé. As such, the model has become highly desirable to collectors, particularly the even more exclusive Volante. This beautiful ‘Rolls-Royce Royal Blue’ Volante X-Pack, currently listed for sale by Aston Martin Works, has covered a scarcely believable 1,500 miles from new, and looks to be a genuine time-warp example. 

1973 Ferrari 246 GT ‘Dino’

This stunning right-hand-drive ‘Chairs and Flares’ Ferrari 246 GT Dino is, in its vendor Tom Hartley Jnr’s opinion, the ‘world’s best’ example. Boasting just 12,000 miles from new, rare – and original – Campagnolo alloy wheels, a bumper history file (including spare key and factory brochure) and a host of concours trophies, we think Tom might just be right. 

1988 BMW E30 M3 ‘Europameister’

 This is the only ‘Europameister’ E30 M3 in the States, according to its vendor, Grand Prix Café – a car built to celebrate BMW’s dominance in the 1988 Touring Car season. Said to have been garaged its whole life, it looks to be in fantastic condition, benefitting from a re-spray in its original Macau Blue. And just how cool are French yellow-tinted headlights? 

1965 Lancia Flaminia

The pretty Touring-Bodied Lancia Flaminia GT is easily our favourite variant of the model and, resplendent in baby blue – as is this car, offered for sale by Pendine Historic Cars, it’s impossibly elegant. Reputedly one of the best examples of the rare 3C GTL, this car is “a stylish alternative to many of the more mainstream coupés of the period”. 

1969 McLaren M12 GT

Had Bruce McLaren’s eponymous company had the means to build 50 of its closed-coupé GTs in order to homologate the car in Europe, it might have proved to be a competent sports-racing car. Alas, the task was too demanding and just eight were produced, of which this M12 GT was one. A ‘semi-civilised’ Can-Am car for the road and a key piece of early McLaren history, it has passed through the hands of several collectors, and is currently offered for sale by Jan B. Lühn. Are you brave enough? 

1974 Porsche 911 RSR 3.0

A mere five right-hand-drive Porsche 911 3.0 RSs were produced, of which this blue car – currently for sale with Speedmaster cars – is one. In terms of sought-after 911s, they really don’t come much better than this and, with long-term ownership, a well-documented history and matching numbers, superlatives here are simply not needed. 

Numerous classic and modern cars are added to the Classic Driver Market every week. You can find them all listed here.