The Guide to Stratford-Upon-Avon

6. Lamborghini Gallardo LP540-4 Spyder (2008 - )
The second Lamborghini on the list and the longest name in the world. The Gallardo is a Lamborghini from the Audi owned period which many thought may be the death of the true Lambo. I have to say that this is one of the best car shapes I have ever seen and I am sure this will be a classic in years to come.

This thing will accelerate from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds so if you are wearing a wig with the roof down you’re going to lose it. It’s a work of art and about as subtle as Ozzy at the Alamo. It’s great they have kept the drama of the Lamborghini and coupled it with a more German approach to reliability under Audi. An absolutely stunning car for any lottery winner or premiership footballer but for the rest of us they make a great screensaver.

Price when new -       £147,000
Top Speed -              202 MPH
Power -                     552 BHP
Price Now -               £ to new to find a used example

5. The original Mini
Ok so now quite the headturner that the rest of the cars so far have been but the Mini was a revolutionary small car and when the last one rolled off the production line in October 2000 over 5 Million had been produced. Not bad for a car that started life as an idea in 1956 as a result of oil rationing due to the Suez Crisis. Designed by Sir Alec Issigonis who working with a remarkably small team produced the design and first prototypes for the British Motor Corporation (BMC). The Mini was the BMC's answer to the booming popularity of the Bubble Car that was riding a wave of popularity due to the oil shortages. (Sound familiar?).

Not only was the Mini a landmark of Automobile history but it also became a film star in the Italian Job and twice won the Monte Carlo rally in 1964/67. The Mini is the one car in the list that we can all own if we want to and as such is a real car of the people. Fancy owning a Monte Carlo winning legend for yourself? Prices start at £200!

The Mini is one of the best selling cars of all time and as you know has now been recreated or pilfered depending how you look at it by BMW bringing the concept up to date with their marketing know-how and is now one of BMW's most porfitable models.

The Mini's history is to vast to go into here but if you want more info you can see a good history on the ever reliable Wikipedia

Price when new -       £Not a lot
Top Speed -              72 MPH
Power -                    34 BHP
Price Now -               £200

4. Ferrari Enzo (2003-2004)
The Ferrari that bears the name of the companies founder needs to be something special and with a 6.0L engine generating more than 650 BHP and allowing you to rev up to 8,500 RPM it certainly is. The Enzo came equipped with an F1 style paddleshift gearbox meaning you can keep your hands on the wheel as you accelerate from 0-60 in around 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 227 MPH should your nerve hold and you find a road long enough.

The looks split opinions when it was launched with function definitely ruling form giving a shape that not everyone will love. That said I think it looks superb and it has awesome presence when you see it in the flesh. Its one of those cars like most on the list that are much more impressive when you can see them in three dimensions that when looking at a photo on a screen or in a mazazine.

Lets face it though the thing that attracts you to this car is that fact that it was the ultimate Ferrari of its day and the prospect of feeling 650 horses pinning you into the seat would feel and sound like is an awesome thought. The fact that you needed to be invited by Ferrari to buy one new and that used examples have traded for around $1 million dollars means that it is not an experience most of us will ever get to try.

Lets hope some of these cars are being used in anger and are not all sat under dust sheets in a private collection somewhere inflating in value.

Price when new -       £400,000
Top Speed -              227 MPH
Power -                     650 BHP
Price Now -               £725,000 + (good news I have found one on Auto Trader!)

3. Ferrari 255 GTO (1962-1964)
Only 39 GTO's were ever made so to say this is a rare beast is a bit of an understatement. This is without doubt one of themost beautiful cars ever made and is still seen as one of the all time great sports cars. Performance of the GTO is strong given its era despite being in a different scale to most cars on this list. That said a car is about more than just the numbers. Its about how it makes your feel when you look at it and without sounding like the worst sort of TV it's about that all important X-factor.

The Ferrari has racing credibility having gained real racing pedigree through out its life in the early 60's The GTO squashed the competition in its first year scoring maximum points in 1962 Division 3 Chamiponship. By the end of the GTO's first year Jaguar, Aston Martin and Chevrolet tried to get the GTO banned by claiming it was not a GT car.
However for me the attraction is it is simply a beautiful car and one of the finest cars ever to wear the evocative Ferrari badge and as a result a standard against which modern day cars are judged. Of course then there is the Ferrari Dino - Damn I didn't realise how hard this was going to be!

Price when new -       $18,000
Top Speed -              173 MPH
Power -                     296 BHP
Price Now -               £15 Million (UK Auction in 2008)