Choice Rides from Around the World

Now is the season for exotic vintage cars in the Tri-state Region. Lans Christensen will share some special items throughout the summer.

Living the Dream — of Driving a McLaren Spider

No list of “cool cars” would be complete without one example of a true “Supercar. “That’s the official term for a small group of elite, exciting, breathtaking, road-bound rockets: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston-Martin and others.

A very special example, the McLaren Spider, recently seen in Kent, Conn., might just be the very coolest of them all.

These labors of love have been literally hand assembled since 2010 by McLaren Automotive in Woking, England.

The line was inspired by Bruce McLaren, a brilliant race car driver, designer and engineer from New Zealand. His cars were dominant in Formula 1 Grand Prix and Can-Am racing, winning world championships for many famous drivers.

So it was a total and unexpected thrill to see one on June 12, in Kent.

Owner Preston Ratliff and his wife were on a visit from Harrison, N.Y., and chose to drive the McLaren for an open-air fun drive.

Ratliff bought the car new in 2020 and said he and his wife enjoy it “on special days.”

“Supercar” is the perfect description of this extraordinarily ultra-cool McLaren. It is powered by a twin-turbo V8 developing 720 horsepower, which will get you to 212 miles per hour, and from zero to 60 in 2.9 seconds!

All that power is wrapped up in a space-age, ultra-aerodynamic and completely beautiful body.

Followers of the modern Grand Prix circuit will know that two orange McLarens are always on the grid, and always battling for wins.

To own a McLaren, or just drive one … which would be more fun? Most of us can only dream.

Alfa Romeo

As the “Cool Cars” series started to happen, the first choice for inclusion was the wonderful example from Alfa Romeo in the photo above.

They aren’t extremely rare, but despite extensive searching … none appeared.

Fortunately, and luckily, I still had a photograph that I made in Bolzano, Italy, in the early 1970s. How perfect: The Alfa parked on a quintessentially Italian side street!

This car always was, and always will be, a true favorite. I still hope to put one in my garage.

The Alfa Romeo GT1300 was introduced in 1966 as a more affordable, simpler version of the Sprint GT models.

It was an instant and huge success as its availability spread to a wider buyer base; it was the perfect “entry level” Alfa. This was a 1969 model with the distinctive “stepnose” feature — a simple, slightly raised front edge of the hood.

It was powered by a 1300cc twin cam, Weber carburated engine. Not exactly neck-snapping acceleration or top speed, but superb handling and drivability made it a true “touring car.”

But above all: The simple beauty of this car is timeless. It was a design masterpiece from the creativity of Giorgetto Giugiaro of Bertone. The lines and proportions are so right and visually perfect. It could be re-released as a 2022 model with instant popularity and success. They ceased production in 1977. I’m still waiting to find one, in great condition, in a forgotten barn somewhere. Not just a “Cool Car” — a WAY Cool Car.

Citroen Deux Chevaux

One of the coolest and most iconic French cars is the  Citroen Deux Chevaux (or 2CV).

It was produced from 1948 through 1990, and more than 5 million examples rolled out of the factories. “Deux Chevaux,” which means two horses, was not the car’s horsepower but rather it’s taxation classification.

It actually boasted an eye-popping 9 horsepower from its two-cylinder engine. It was  useful, dependable and economical, and was designed with some specific goals.  Aimed at farmers and country folk, the requirements included enough space to carry four large adults — and driving across a plowed field with a basket of eggs without breaking any (a test at which it succeeded easily, thanks to good ground clearance and a very compliant independent suspension).

Many, in varying condition, are still on the roads today and much loved by their owners. The beautiful 1982 in the photo above is a showroom-ready example,  owned by Charles Mallory, one of the new owners of the race track at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury, Conn. He found it fully restored, and brought it to Lime Rock for display during this summer’s Weathertech Grand Prix.

The author photographed this Alfa Romeo 1300GT Junior in Bolzano, Italy, in  1972. Photo by Lans Christensen

The author photographed this Alfa Romeo 1300GT Junior in Bolzano, Italy, in  1972. Photo by Lans Christensen

The author photographed this Alfa Romeo 1300GT Junior in Bolzano, Italy, in  1972. Photo by Lans Christensen