Paolo Diana – Onboard with a sideways madman

He’s one of the most loved Italian rally drivers, known for his drift-like style.

Paolo Diana is a very entertaining driver to watch; he steers a unique little Fiat 131 and from we can tell, drives the absolute wheels off it at every event! His style is best described as ‘completely sideways’, and his car is nothing short of awesome – big old school flares, a sequential transmission and all the right noises. It’s a homegrown monster reminiscent of Group B.

It’s easy to get a grip on why people love this guy so much, whether intentional or not – he’s a showman! For us, the Fiat 131 has long been a favorite, we even wrote a piece about it a little while ago and spoke about its not inconsiderable rally heritage. If you’ve got the time – check that out too!

Just listen to his co-driver too, a man of few words -

from motorsportretro.com

Cruising Lake Garda with the Frauscher 747 Mirage

As luxury day cruisers go, the 747 Mirage by Austrian yacht-builder Frauscher is exceptionally pretty. Said to take direct inspiration from supercar design, it couldn’t look more at home than it does in the stunning surroundings of Lake Garda…

The 747 Mirage’s long, low nose, exaggerated lines and big side air-intakes are features clearly suggestive of land-based automotive design. The lady in the video certainly seems fairly smitten with the boat (or could it be the chap who hands it over?) as she thrashes it round Lake Garda. With up to 430HP available from the range of engines, it’s fair to say it’ll go like a supercar. And with an on-board fridge, Bluetooth connectivity and loads of storage space, it’s also highly versatile.

We admire the way the piano-black body contrasts with the teak decking and tan leather, reminiscent of Sixties Italian Grand Tourers. There’ll be no wet cushions following a dip in the Med, either, thanks to the gangway that admits access to the cockpit – how sophisticated. The 747 (denoting its length in centimetres) is priced from 117,900 euros (ex. VAT), and is available in a range of colour combinations. Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2015. 

For more information on the 747 Mirage, visit Frauscher’s website. You can find more luxury day cruisers in the Classic Driver Market. 

cromwell

A four-star celebration: 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL honours the champions of the world

While high above Rio de Janeiro, Christ the Redeemer is softly illuminated in black, red and gold light in tribute to Germany’s momentous World Cup victory, this Mercedes-Benz 300 SL appears to have taken a less subtle approach…

At the German Mercedes-Benz restoration specialist Mechatronik, unusual classics are not uncommon. But a 300 SL in the national colours of Germany – that’s quite a sight, whether you like it or not. Fortunately the ‘paint’ on the Gullwing is merely a spray-on film that doesn’t affect the original bodywork and is easily removable. 

The fact that this particular 300 SL was built in 1954, the year in which Germany won its first World Cup, is, of course, no coincidence. We wonder if any other high-end classics will follow suit? 

You can find Mechatronik’s current inventory in the Classic Driver Market.