We take a nostalgic trip back in time to find some of our favourite supercars of the past couple of decades with less than 1,000 miles on the clock.
We've been talking a lot about the theme of nostalgia recently, and it seems to be affecting our choice of cars more and more. We're leaning towards the cars we remember growing up, or that we saw going head-to-head on those old episodes of Top Gear, cars that make us feel something, rather than those that simply go fast without fuss.
That got me looking at the market, remembering the time some of these cars came out, and should you really want to feel like you're back in the day they were released, there are some stunning examples that are almost box fresh, waiting to be enjoyed.
Obviously, I'm not naive, I understand that people will be nervous about ever putting another mile on these cars in fear of impacting the value, but we're Supercar Driver after all, and we believe more than anything that cars are to be driven, and memories are the most valuable asset you can have, so the optimist in me hopes these cars will be enjoyed in the future, and their value will be a secondary consideration at best.
Right, I think it's time we took a journey back in time.
2015 (65) | 306 Miles | £239,995
I remember the 675LT being launched like it was yesterday, yet somehow it’s now 10 years old! Despite the decade that has passed, and the fact that the 675LT offers one of the greatest modern driving experiences, this example has covered just 306 miles from new.
The car has reportedly been in storage since 2018, and the resulting mileage combined with the rarity (only 500 675LT Coupes were ever produced worldwide) surely make this a safe bet for your money, and yet as it stands its value isn’t night and day higher than an example with several thousand miles on the clock — although this is left-hand drive. That said, it would be a crying shame for the next owner not to use it as intended, because these cars are a truly wild ride.
2005 (05) | 830 Miles | £119,995
The 458 may be the last naturally-aspirated V8 Ferrari, but you could argue that the F430 is the last truly analogue Ferrari, because even though the 458 had a wonderful NA engine, and is indeed a wonderful car, it was a real tech-fest in its day.
The F430 was technically impressive in its day, but now, it feels like a brilliantly back-to-basics driving experience and it seems more people are appreciating it accordingly. To satisfy the nostalgia of remembering these cars appearing in showrooms back in 2005, this car is essentially box-fresh with just 830 miles on the clock. At £120k, it’s asking about 50% more than a car that has been used throughout its life, but it’s a very attainable sum for a barely used Ferrari that’s sure to be a classic one day.
Oh, and if you don’t like the hardtop, Alexanders Prestige also have the matching Spider for the same price, though that has a whopping 930 miles on the clock!
2006 | 338 Miles | £374,990
The Murcielago was the daddy of supercars in its day. Sure, the Bugatti Veyron would leave it for dead, but the styling and V12 soundtrack of the Murci meant it was still the (usually bright yellow) car of choice for a bedroom wall poster.
They’re heavy (and they feel it) and the E-Gear single-clutch ‘box is clunky, but no one cares. The Murci is all about the theatre, and it is almost unmatched in the way it delivers that. I recall in the early days of Supercar Driver, these were often present at events and they really did steal the show. Nowadays, they’re a much more rare sight and are a surefire future classic.
With just 338 miles on the clock, this example is even fresher than the ones we used to see back in the day, but will the next owner wrap it in cotton wool for the sake of investment, or enjoy that V12 as intended and surely still keep their money safe?
2017 | 274 Miles | £175,000
I’m going to go out on a limb and say the GT8 is Aston’s greatest driver’s car for the road, especially in manual guise as this one is. Sure, the GT12 features an incredible engine with monstrous torque, but that was Sportshift only. The GT8 has a more revvy, lighter V8 for a more exploitable balance, and having three pedals only furthers the engagement. Oh, and the sound from its stainless steel exhaust system wouldn’t be out of place down the Mulsanne Straight.
It almost seems unfortunate then, that this example of such an incredible driver’s car has almost never been driven, but given Aston no longer offers a manual, naturally-aspirated road car, and that only 150 of these were ever made, it is at the very least an attractive place to put your money, but I hope the next owner says stuff the money and enjoys this car as it deserves to be. Given its rarity, I’m sure it’ll be worth more in years to come even with some miles on the clock, and money is no replacement for memories.
2018 (18) | 228 Miles | £339,950
Finding Ferraris and Lamborghinis for an article like this is easy, but Porsches? Not so much. Porsches are a more functional proposition, and if you go to any high-end track day, you’ll see why they mostly have some miles under their belt. A good thing, if you ask me!
That said, there is the odd one, and this GT2 RS is the lowest-mileage car here today, with just 228 miles in its seven-year life so far. The GT2 RS offers a brutal driving experience dominated by torque, and there are few faster ways to lap a race track in a road car. This car’s sole purpose is to go fast, it isn’t a show pony, so I once again optimistically hope its next owner forgets the mileage and holds on tight.