Greatest Post WWII Road Cars - saloons and sports

[storeynicholas]

What are members' views on the greatest post WWII road cars in the 2 categories:
1. Saloons, and
2.Sportscars?
Any car from 1945 to now counts. Photos will help to explain. There is an awful lot more out there than some people realize.
NJS

[Manself]

The ultimate GT car - surely the category closest to the collective heart of the Lounge - is, in my opinion, the Bentley R-Type Continental.
At this moment I can't remember how to post an image, but there's a weblink if you're curious:

www.continental.org.uk

[Bishop of Briggs]

I like Morgans, the automobile equivalent of Savile Row.

[storeynicholas]

The ultimate GT car - surely the category closest to the collective heart of the Lounge - is, in my opinion, the Bentley R-Type Continental.
At this moment I can't remember how to post an image, but there's a weblink if you're curious:

www.continental.org.uk

This was, of course, one of the Bond books' cars (from the Universal Exports' pool) - supercharged to race Tracy's Lancia in OHMSS. Manself, you might bring this thread to an early close! However, there was after this, the S1 Continental and then, of couse, from 1955, the HJ Mulliner coachworked (4 doored) Flying Spur - later applied (not strictly as the Flying Spur) to the RR marque too; I think most fabulously to the RR Silver Cloud III: I've already posted one image of this today in another thread - but, hang it all, I'll post it again:


[/img]

Here also is the 1960 version of the Bentely S1 Flying Spur 4 door saloon - in British racing green - combining the best of sports' coachwork and performance (for the time) with touring comfort:



I suppose the best way to choose between the R type, and either of the Flying Spurs would be to toss a sovereign! Interesting that, so soon in the thread, these cars come to the front of the queue. Here is one 1953 H J Mulliner 'R' Type Bentley Continental, of the kind mentioned by Manself:



I have to say that I prefer the RR equivalent of the Flying Spur (the example above is in regal red) - as it is, to me, a truly timeless masterpiece - and only 54 made, to slightly different specs, with the radiator grills famoulsly made, without instruments; by hand and eye alone; representing everyone's ideal of a Rolls Royce: then, now and, pace VW (the Nazi's lasting contribution to the world), forever: long, sleek, low; not snarling - not even purring - since the loudest noise, they said - came from the clock. I have to say that, given a budget and a choice between the most reasonably complete wardrobe of new clothes and this motor car, (around the same price, I would say), I would take the motor car - and leave to future chance for the clothes. However, there are many other cars (I have to say, Great British cars) - such as the Alvis, Bristol, Aston Martin (to name a few), in competition here. Let's see what you all think.
NJS[/img]

[RWS]

The Flying Spur was indeed a handsome and comfortable car (I'd the opportunity to ride in one several times and now wish I'd asked the owner, before he died twenty-some years ago and the car disappeared from the estate, to be allowed to drive it for a few miles). Somehow, though -- and I'm not particulary italophilic -- the modern motorcar that captured my dreams was a Maserati Quattroporto (have I the spelling correct?) from about 1980 or '81, in the palest lemon yellow: a Platonic ideal of "automobile".

What I actually drive, however, is another matter.

[culverwood]

Saloon
Bentley Arnage
In a saloon I am after comfort and speed with a little style as an everyday car and new cars are better in every functional way than classic ones.

Sports Car
Dino
Ferrari BB
E Type
Iso Grifo
In a sports car I am after romance and style so the Dino does it for me. On a purely functional basis the McLaren F1 is probably the best though.

[Cufflink79]

Alright, like suits and cuff links I love cars especially luxury sedans.

When I was young I used to daydream about having a car dealership with a tailor shop within the dealership. In the showroom I'd have mannequins next to the automobiles wearing something made from the shop.

Business suits for the sedans, and country attire for the Land Rovers.

Enough about my daydreaming lets get to the cars.

Saloons
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud from the mid 1950s to mid 1960s

http://www.theweddingsite.com/johnsgara ... _cloud.jpg

http://betterthanblank.org/wordpress/wp ... -cloud.jpg

http://www.alexandracars.co.uk/carpics/ ... udIII2.jpg

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow from the 1970s to the early 1980s

http://www.cobrateam.ch/images/rolls11.jpg

http://northeastclassiccars.com/vehicle ... 0Royce.JPG

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/206/4406 ... cd.jpg?v=0

Mercedes Benz S Class from the mid 1980s to late 1990s

http://image.motortrend.com/f/features/ ... r_view.jpg

http://www.koolkarsflorida.com/images/Picture_7931w.jpg

http://mpdiecast.net/models/560sel_mc.jpg

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/aut ... 990001.jpg

http://www.digi-go.biz/ixc1aaa/dsc_0134.jpg

Early 1960s Lincoln Continental

http://www.acmewebpages.com/graphics/lc01.jpg

http://www.milkmandan.org/dev/null/arch ... nental.jpg

http://www.tntclassiccars.com/100_0569.jpg

Lincoln Town Car from the 1980s to 1997

http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Ar ... n_Full.jpg

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/lincoln-cars13.jpg

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/aut ... 990104.jpg

Cadillac Fleetwood from 1993

http://www.analogstereo.com/images/om/c ... etwood.jpg

Cadillac DTS from 2008

http://www.cadillacpedia.org/wp-content ... lacdts.jpg

Daimler Limo

http://www.classic-dreams.co.uk/sitebui ... ofront.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/4967 ... 49.jpg?v=0

http://www.zaphoduk.com/ivan/Vehicles_f ... age006.jpg

2008 Crysler 300

http://www.kfz.de/hersteller/chrysler/300c/300C.jpg

Sports Cars

Morgan old and new

http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/20 ... r-2-lg.jpg

http://www.baronscraighotel.co.uk/images/morganV8.jpg

http://k43.pbase.com/u38/booster286/lar ... G_1679.jpg

1950s Jaguar XK Roadster

http://www.imcdb.org/images/002/278.jpg

http://www.hunterclassicsportscars.ca/i ... k140_1.jpg

Jaguar E Type Roadster

http://www.idcow.net/idcow/products/ym2027.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... een_vl.jpg

http://www.motorsm.com/gallery/art/DI/DI_E_TYPE.jpg

Aston Martin DB5 from early 1960s

http://www.pistonheads.com/pics/news/13 ... _db5-L.jpg

http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/100- ... in-db5.jpg

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[storeynicholas]

Cufflink79 - it will take us all a while to go through these properly - thanks for all the effort - I am sure that everyone will apprecaite it.
NJS

[Cufflink79]

Thanks Storeynicholas, I got a bit carried away when I started looking up photos on Google.

These are but a few of some of my favorite models.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[storeynicholas]

Cufflink79 I think that: respect for our elders and love of our families; laughter and fun amongst true friends; courtesy, generosity of spirit and charity, an ability to admit when we are wrong; an ability to believe that it might be more often than we used to think; the application of some fixed standards in our own minds (even if not entirely understood by others); enthusiasm for: well-made clothes, cars, sailing yachts, guns, fishing rods, watches, cufflinks, cigar and cigarette cases, lighters, snuff boxes, boxed English duelling pistols; the taste for: good wine, ancient spirits, simple, but great, food, well-blended tobaccos and (dare I say, in this day and age?) last, but not least, mysterious, spirited, beautiful women and all the components of these things and people which make us chase them; through fearless endeavour; through plain desire and love of living, lie at the heart of a well-lived life. But, equally, I am sure that maintaining balance in these various (sometimes competing) pursuits brings contentment. I am well up there in the desire - and the balance I hope to find on the farside of fifty. By then, or sometime, near then, I might be able to get into a Flying Spur and say to myself ""One Day, Sonny, One Day!" Is............. Now"
NJS

[storeynicholas]

Here are two splendid variations on a theme -
First an Alvis TD21 DHC with coachwork by Park Ward:















secondly, an Alvis TE21 DHC :
[/img] Note the striking vertically aligned double headlamps. Both cars for summer days in the sun.

[Cufflink79]

Cufflink79 I think that: respect for our elders and love of our families; laughter and fun amongst true friends; courtesy, generosity of spirit and charity, an ability to admit when we are wrong; an ability to believe that it might be more often than we used to think; the application of some fixed standards in our own minds (even if not entirely understood by others); enthusiasm for: well-made clothes, cars, sailing yachts, guns, fishing rods, watches, cufflinks, cigar and cigarette cases, lighters, snuff boxes, boxed English duelling pistols; the taste for: good wine, ancient spirits, simple, but great, food, well-blended tobaccos and (dare I say, in this day and age?) last, but not least, mysterious, spirited, beautiful women and all the components of these things and people which make us chase them; through fearless endeavour; through plain desire and love of living, lie at the heart of a well-lived life. But, equally, I am sure that maintaining balance in these various (sometimes competing) pursuits brings contentment. I am well up there in the desire - and the balance I hope to find on the farside of fifty. By then, or sometime, near then, I might be able to get into a Flying Spur and say to myself ""One Day, Sonny, One Day!" Is............. Now"
NJS

NJS:

Your remarks are very well said, growing up I learned how to be a gentleman by helping others, respecting others, and understanding that when we leave this world you can't take it with you. As much as I enjoy fine things, my love and respect for family and friends comes first.

Wearing bespoke suits, driving a nice car, and other temptations of the world are a good motivational tool to help one work hard and succeed, but it shouldn't be the only reason.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[culverwood]

A couple of pretty cars:

[storeynicholas]

Culverwood - yes very good looking cars - what are they?

Here is another Alvis TE21 1965 again coachwork by Park Ward:

[img][img]http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg55 ... n_by_P.jpg[/img][/img]

[culverwood]

The Alfa is the Type 33 Stradale - whenever people talk about Italian mid-engined supercars of the 60s, most remember the Lamborghini Miura and De Tomaso Mangusta, or the Ferrari Dino. They forget the 1967 Tipo 33 Stradale.

The Ferrari is a GT 250 California once owned by James Coburn recently sold for £5,500,000.