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[WantaDrive?]
JAMES’CARCV
Campers,Alfasandplentyof Saabs
It’stimeforJamesto sampletheFerrari’sfeelinmoredetail,so
weturnoffontothetrack’s innersanctum– TheSnake,a tortuous,
twisting rollercoasterofa roadfullofwildcamberchanges,tight
corners,sweepingbends, andrapidinclinesanddescents.It’s a
truetestforany car.Unfortunately,areasoftheroadsurfaceremain
decidedlymoist under tree cover; couple that with rotted leaf
matterontheroadsurfaceandit’stiptoetime.
‘Itfeelsjustaswellplantedhere asoutonthehigh-speedarea,’
saysJames.‘I like thesteeringandthesensationisthat it workswell
withthethrottleto manage therearend.I getthefeelingthat if you
pushon,it’ dremainbeautifullybalancedbetweenoversteerand
understeer. I’d loveto explorethat furtherwithlesssubtleinputsof
throttleandsteering,butrespectandtheseroadconditions,aswell
asthefact thecarisworthsevenfigures,definitelyrulethat out.’
Would hisSaab 96 excelinthis? ‘Mostdefinitely,I’veneverdrivena
carthat’squitesoat homeinthesnowandslippery conditions.’
OurtimewiththeDKEngineeringtwo-cam275GTBisdrawing
toaclose, soit’stimeforafinalfewhigh-speedlapsandsome
closingthoughtsonthecar.Jamesisstilldrivingwithmechanical
sympathy,butrevvingtheengineharderandsavouringeverylast
musicalnuance of eachdouble-declutch.‘Seeingthe carin the
metal,drivingandhearingit hasmostdefinitelyliveduptothe
dream;I amdelightedby that, asdreamsare oftentaintedby reality.
Everythingisright aboutit; thelooksandthenoise,combinedwith
theexperiencebehindthewheel,make thewholething sublime.
I haven’tgota bucketlist,butif I hadthiswouldbea prettybigtick!’
What aboutitsvaluetoday– isit ridiculous,overblownorspot
on?‘Thatissuchahardquestiontoanswer.I supposeifI were
incrediblywealthyI wouldsayyesit isworththemoney. Ifyou
considera DavidHockneypaintingfrom 1972 recentlysold for$
million,thenthispieceofautomotiveartfrom 196 5 isverygood
value.Notonlyisit art,it alsosoundsandgoesaswellasoriginally
intended.Theysay Enzo FerraricalledtheJaguarE-type“themost
beautifulcarintheworld”,butformeit’salwaysbeenthe275GTB
- it’smoremuscularandaggressive,somoreof aheavyweight.
I don’t currently buy lottery tickets for the Euromillions; hell,
maybeI should popdownto thenewsagentsto getone!’
Asthecontroltowerloomslargeonceagain,Jamesturnsand
says:‘Onelastlap?’Sure,it’dberudenotto.
Thanks to: David and James Cottingham of DK Engineering
(d keng.co.uk)
[The List] Ferrari 275GTB
PEUGEOT205GTI
‘Oneof my favouritecars,a realhoot to drive
and,apart froma faultyalternatorat 35k miles,
no trouble at all up to 105k miles when I sold it.’
VOLKSWAGENTYPE2 (T3)
‘Althoughit waswoefullyunderpowered we had
greatfuninit. Nowreplacedby a T4camper
with the more potent 2.5-litre turbodiesel.’
ALFAROMEO 159 Q 4
‘MyfirstAlfa wasa 1562.5, followedby a GT with
the3.2BussoV6, another 156 andthenthis 15 9
Q4 with the GM Holden-based V6.’
SAAB 96 V
‘Myfourth 96 , extensivelymodifiedwith sport/
rallyparts:a differentcrankmakesit 1740cc, it
has a Weber twin-choke and a gas flowed head.‘
NUMEROUSOTHERSAABS
‘I’vealsohada 95, three99s,a 9000Turbo and
a 9- 5. My 99 Turbowaswickedfunthanks to the
untamed nature of its early turbocharger.’
The Ferrari’s willingness to
brave leaves on the track
ultimately outdid James’
