5 collector cars to put into your garage this week

Ferrari Française

During the 1990s, if you wanted something fast, French, and fabulous to behold, then very few cars came close to the Venturi 400 GT Trophy. Just 73 of these ultra-rare ‘French Ferraris’ were ever made, each representing the absolute pinnacle of performance from Venturi. These were the first cars to be offered with standard carbon ceramic brakes, while power came courtesy of a twin-turbo V6 producing the titular 402 horsepower output. Indeed, beyond the F40-aping looks, these rapid Venturis could hold their own against Ferrari’s supercars of the time with a 4.7 second 0 to 60mph time and a 181 mph top speed. 

This 1992 example has been maintained by Alvan Engineering, the Belgian Venturi importer, and was treated to a full restoration by SRO Race Centre in Le Castellet in 2016. This involved the installation of new Garrett turbos alongside a full engine overhaul and refurb of the bodywork. As the icing on top of this French racing blue gateau, the car was recently painted by French visual artist Bertrand Lavier at the request of the current owner as a tribute to the art cars that raced when this Venturi was brand new. Should you be on the lookout for a ready-to-race 1990s track monster, your search ends here. 

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Paint Not Included

As a pure marvel of mechanical engineering, very few cars can rival the Bugatti Veyron. Therefore, it makes perfect sense not to distract from the Volkswagen Group’s substantial investment into this record shattering machine with such frivolities as paintwork, which is where this 2008 Veyron Put Sang comes in. 

“When some of our designers were looking at production and once again became aware of the technical beauty of the structure,” said Achim Anscheidt, then Head of Bugatti Design, “They came up with the idea of finishing the car in its pure material configuration. And that means without a coating of paint.” Thus the carbon fibre monocoque central to the Veyron’s construction has been protected with nothing more than clear coat, while the remainder of the body presents in a stunning polished aluminium alloy used exclusively for the Veyron, known as AlMgSi 0.3 Vitral 42. 

Just five Veyron Pur Sangs were ever built, making them one of Molsheim’s rarest machines. This example currently shows a mere 7,629 km on the odometer and could become the shining crown jewel in your collection as it heads to RM Sotheby’s Munich auction on October 18th. 

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Pre-Merger Masterpiece 

In 2025, very few cars get petrol heads riled up quite like a pre-merger AMG, and these rare machines have been steadily climbing in value as Mercedes-AMG hastily back-tracks from their misstep in swapping their widely-loved V8s for hybridised four cylinder engines. Thankfully, not a single thought was given to emissions regulations when this Mercedes SL 600 AMG was built in 1994, and under the bonnet you’ll find a good old fashioned M120 6.0-litre V12 producing a whopping 441 horsepower. The eagle-eyed will recognise the M120 name as the same engine that later found its way into the Pagani Zonda, giving this AMG endless bonus points in our book. 

Fewer than 50 examples of these machines were built, and only a handful left the factory equipped with genuine AMG upgrades, supported by full documentation in the Mercedes-Benz archives like this SL. Beyond the power bump, this SL has been fitted with an AMG exhaust system, front and rear bumpers, side skirts, rear spoiler, 17-inch multi-piece wheels, and even an AMG speedometer. Finished in the perfectly understated combination of Brilliant Silver Metallic with Anthracite Exclusive Leather, this Japanese-market Merc now shows 84,163 km and is simply begging for you to add to that figure. 

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Built For The Kill 

There are very few people in this world who would look at the Lamborghini Diablo and think “Not quite bonkers enough,” but that isn’t to say they don’t exist. One such madman was Roland Affolter, the official Swiss Lamborghini importer, who modified just 10 Diablos in-period to “Evolution GT1” specification, among which this jaw-dropping Viola over blue Alcantara example is included. 

The bodywork was a concoction of carbon fibre and aluminium alloy, featuring more scoops, slats, and spoilers than you can shake a blank cheque at, while a quad centre-exit exhaust would let everyone know one of the world’s meanest raging bulls was in town. The bodykit was central to the Evolution GT1’s character, but a fittingly ludicrous power upgrade was also offered, which entailed the installation of four turbochargers to achieve an outrageous 620 horsepower peak figure. Although this Diablo’s 5.7-litre V12 appears to be unmodified, this freshly-serviced Lamborghini will undoubtedly leave its next custodian with an enormous smile after it’s auctioned at Broad Arrow’s Zurich sale on November 1st. 

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Bowled Over 

Range Rover Sports are a pound a dozen around England’s forested backroads, but despite sharing headlights with England’s SUV of choice, this 2013 Bowler EXR-S is anything but ordinary. One of just three right hand drive versions ever made, this EXR-S has been finished in the incredible combination of Lamborghini Verde Hydra over a tan leather interior, making it arguably the most spectacular example of the breed anywhere. 

As the ’S’ in the name suggests, the EXR-S was powered by the Jaguar XKR’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8, in this application producing a mighty 550 horsepower and 625nm of torque. Delivered in 2013 as Bowler’s first-ever road car, this EXR-S features a six-peed paddle shift automatic with permanent four-wheel drive. Stopping power comes courtesy of 360mm front discs with 6-pot calipers and 340mm 4-pots at the rear, while finding terrain that presents a challenge to this Bowler shouldn’t be easy thanks to its 285mm of suspension travel. So, if you want to make sure your kids are never late to school again, this brutish Brit might be the car for you. 

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