This week’s Market Finds features the usual mix of classics and stars of the future, but also a few curve balls along the way. From an unknown BMW Art Car, to perhaps the coolest MINIs ever made, we’ve got plenty to show you this week…
Pop! Bang! BMW!
Warhol, Lichtenstein, Hockney, Calder. All unique, and all brought creativity to BMW products in ways us mere mortals couldn’t even possibly dream of. But when US artist Jeff Koons’ BMW M3 GT2 lined up on the start line at the iconic Le Mans 24hr endurance race, a new era of Art Cars was born. While the race car is special, having an Art Car for the public roads would be the stuff of dreams for many.
Thankfully for us, Jeff Koons and BMW joined forced once again, using the 2022 8 Series as a canvas. The expressive and striking design combines 11 different exterior colours, ranging from blue to silver, yellow to black, taking 285 hours per car to apply. Meanwhile, inside the cabin, there’s a multi-coloured interior filled with unique badging and the artist’s signature, with seats that are made up of the striking red and blue, reflecting the colours of superheroes from the comic-book universe. It’s bold, but we kind of love it!
VIEW CAR
The not so lazy Lancia
We’ve seen plenty of average looking saloons enjoy a mighty transplant to make a four-door supercar killer. Mercedes AMG, BMW M, Audi RS are all examples of how the refined family hauler can be converted into a lightning fast do-it-all performance car. Perhaps unknown to some, back in the 1980s, Lancia dipped their toes in this world too, creating the Thema 8.32.
Pop the bonnet of this oh-so-unsuspecting saloon and you’ll be greeted by a stunning Ferrari V8 engine, the same as the Ferrari 308 QV, that produces an impressive 215 horsepower. Inside, the Thema surrounds its occupants in richly-scented Poltrona Frau leather and walnut trim, adding to the subtle but seriously special feeling the car provides so well. We’re confident if you were to park this at just about any car show, you’d quickly have a crowd surrounding it!
VIEW CAR
If you know you know
Sure, you may think we’ve lost our mind adding a bang-average looking MINI Cooper to our coveted Market Finds line-up, but those who know will see why, and if not, allow us to explain. This 2013 MINI Cooper S is in fact one of just 1,000 examples made, known as the “Inspired by Goodwood” edition, made in collaboration with Rolls-Royce that featured exterior and interior finishing on par with the luxury automaker’s levels of quality.
While the exterior is extremely understated, with even the iconic Cooper S bonnet scoop being removed in true Rolls-Royce fashion, it is the inside where the magic happens. The Cornsilk leather upholstery extends throughout the cabin and is complemented by a luxurious walnut burr veneer. To take it even further, it also features a woven headliner, chrome-lined trim, gauges with Rolls-Royce font, and a plaque certifying that the car is indeed one of the 1,000 Goodwood editions built. While so many would simply overlook this sleek future classic, the next time you spot a metallic black MINI on the street, be sure to check its interior!
VIEW CAR
Seven-Three
It’s hard to believe that the R129 SL from Mercedes-Benz was launched as far back as the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989. It was a car that built on the R107’s success, but carried nothing from its previous model, something of a bold move for Mercedes-Benz, but one that ultimately made their new grand tourer even more desirable and popular over its 11-year life. There were many variants, ranging from the 280, 320, 500, right up to the 600, but standing tall at the very top was the SL73, a car that even today showcases jaw-dropped performance figures and an unforgettable drive.
A mere 80 examples were originally produced, making this gorgeous Designo Alanite Green metallic truly one of the best SLs to have ever left the factory, and it’s fully loaded with optional extras. In fact, the total cost of just the AMG options added to this car totalled over DM 85,000, and along with some choice extras from the factory, the end result was a car totalling DM 346,521! As prices of pre and post-merger AMG Mercedes-Benzes continue to show no signs of slowing, this is what we believe to be the ultimate SL and a must for any three-pointed star collector!
VIEW CAR
Slice of Lime
This summer style icon needs absolutely no introduction, for those who have experienced a Citroën Mehari are most likely still grinning and talking about it even today. The name “Mehari” refers to the word “Méharist,” which originated in the camel cavalry of the French Foreign Legion. The philosophy of the car is quite like that of the cavalry’s favourite mode of transport, being relatively high off the ground, low consumption, and above all, very lightweight, making it ideal for various terrains and adventures.
While the car was initially intended to be a rugged off-roader, the Mehari found its place along the sandy shores of Southern France, and has remained an iconic beach car ever since. Plenty of Meharis were produced between 1968 and 1988 and are largely made up of shared parts with the 2PK, the Dyane and the Citroën Ami, making it a true mixture of French icons, and one we could happily daily, if it was only to the beach and back!
VIEW CAR
