Classic Cars February 2018

When I was a kid, the sight of an Aston, Porsche or anything wedgeoid and Italian would invoke the same pattern of behavioiur. First the bewitched stare, projected from a respectful distance to take in the impact from the front, the sides and rear. Then moving in for the details – a vent here, an identifying badge there – before inevitably I’d find myself with nose against door glass and hand shielding reflections for a view inside. The thickness and diameter of steering wheel and the plumpness of the seats helped me imagine what it would be like to climb in and drive, but the ultimate fuel for my imagination could be found in the instrument cluster – 120, 130, 150, 170mph? Oblivious to the tenuous connection between top markings…

Welcome A childhood habit of peering inside supercars in search of fantasy top-speed markings has never left Phil When I was a kid, the sight of an Aston, Porsche or anything wedgeoid and Italian would invoke the same pattern of behavioiur. First the bewitched stare, projected from a respectful distance to take in the impact from the front, the sides and rear. Then moving in for the details – a vent here, an identifying badge there – before inevitably I’d find myself with nose against door glass and hand shielding reflections for a view inside. The thickness and diameter of steering wheel and the plumpness of the seats helped me imagine what it would be like to climb in and drive, but the ultimate fuel for my imagination could be…

‘I love that instant nose up, tail down thing it does with the merest touch of the throttle. It puts me in mind of an expensive motor boat’ Some of our dream drive candidates tap into their inner Steve McQueen and arrive with an air of nonchalant cool. Matthew Taylor is at the other end of the scale, hiding none of his bubbling enthusiasm – I feel like Santa. ‘Is that the car?’ he says eagerly, pointing out through the window of Silver Lady Services’ Bournemouth reception area. The Corniche is managing to look almost diminutive – no mean feat for any two-tonne-plus Roller – lined up between a Silver Spirit and Bentley Azure. I confirm that it is indeed, and Matthew immediately tackles the obvious, ‘It very much of its…

[ The List ] Your dream drive made real ‘I love it for its old-fashioned glamour’ Matthew Taylor tells us that the Roll-Royce Corniche has always held a special place in his heart. Time to find out if his dream passes the reality test Words RUSS SMITH Photography LAURENS PARSONS ‘I love that instant nose up, tail down thing it does with the merest touch of the throttle. It puts me in mind of an expensive motor boat’ Some of our dream drive candidates tap into their inner Steve McQueen and arrive with an air of nonchalant cool. Matthew Taylor is at the other end of the scale, hiding none of his bubbling enthusiasm – I feel like Santa. ‘Is that the car?’ he says eagerly,…

PEUGEOT 304 ‘My first car at age 17, bought as a “bargain” from a local garage and completely full of rust. It only lasted a year.’ CITROËN CX ATHENA ‘Now forgotten by most folk, it was a great car with amazing ride quality and futuristic styling. So idiosyncratic; in 15 years they’ll be looked at like the DS is now.’ TOYOTA CRESSIDA ‘An impeccably maintained early-Eighties survivor that I kept for three years. The crushed velour seats were a joy!’ MERCEDES-BENZ 280 CE ‘A great GT I owned for five years in the Noughties. Lots of space and a large relaxed engine – it did drink a surprising amount of petrol though.’ BENTLEY ARNAGE R ‘Owned for four years until 2016. Beautifully made, and with that imposing 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 it had impressive performance for a car weighing more…

MATTHEW TAYLOR’S CAR CV A long and winding road that leads to fulfilling Matthew Taylor’s childhood dreams of prestige badges. PEUGEOT 304 ‘My first car at age 17, bought as a “bargain” from a local garage and completely full of rust. It only lasted a year.’ CITROËN CX ATHENA ‘Now forgotten by most folk, it was a great car with amazing ride quality and futuristic styling. So idiosyncratic; in 15 years they’ll be looked at like the DS is now.’ TOYOTA CRESSIDA ‘An impeccably maintained early-Eighties survivor that I kept for three years. The crushed velour seats were a joy!’ MERCEDES-BENZ 280 CE ‘A great GT I owned for five years in the Noughties. Lots of space and a large relaxed engine – it did drink a surprising amount of…