Choosing A Classic For The Weekend

I had always been a car nut, as a kid my bedroom walls had been plastered with the models of the day but mostly with pictures of beautiful little open topped sports cars racing through the British countryside.

Now in adulthood I thought my chances of re-enacting these scenes were slim to none. However for a birthday gift one year my wife had contacted a classic car hire firm and not knowing which model to get had simply bought me a voucher for a weekend in whatever particular hire car I would like.

This idea was brilliant; to hire a classic car for the weekend would be fantastic and twinned with a couple of nights in a hotel would make for a very enjoyable trip. I went to the hire company's website and laid my eyes on possibly four of the greatest cars ever made; this was going to be a difficult choice.

Firstly they had a gorgeous little Austin Healey 3000 available for hire. As a 1965 model in British racing green it had been the car I had envisaged myself driving all those years ago. After seeing this car in various races throughout the sixties, being able to hire one of these glorious little motors would be a privilege, and one that would surely be memorable for the rest of my days.

Before I capitulated to signing up for the hire of this car I made a concerted effort too look at the other classics available for hire. If I had thought that the first option had bowled me over the second car I viewed gave me even more of a shock; a beautiful example of the fabled Jaguar E-Type, soft top of course.

This revolutionary car had transformed the sports car market, its engine, the handling, but above all its styling had placed this magnificent car well ahead of its time. So much so that even Enzo Ferrari, the creator of the Ferrari motor company had called it 'the most beautiful car ever made'.

The car today still does not look dated next to contemporary Ferraris and Porches, in many ways it is superior. Being able to hire one of these outstanding cars would be a delight I would have never expected to have.

They also had available a Mercedes Benz 280 SL, this cute little car can still be seen as cool today, with classic styling that will never be surpassed. The fact the performance and handling were clearly from a different generation was not important, it is not about going fast in a classic open top, it is about enjoying your surrounding and the company, anyway going faster than fifty in a convertible just ruins your hair.

Finally there was the veteran of the pack, the Triumph TR3A, being made up until 1962 it also had looks to die for, and its performance is also acceptable in the modern world. Being the first car with disc brakes as standard at least you know it will be safe and with a 0-60 of twelve seconds its acceleration is not all that bad. But as I said earlier, it is not all about performance.

These cars were from a different era, despite that they still have jaw dropping good looks and the ability to turn heads. The choice of which one to hire for my weekend away was a hard one, the Austin and Mercedes both had appeal, as did the little Triumph but there was no question really. Who could turn down the chance to hire a classic E-Type for the weekend?

To drive around what has been hailed as the best looking classic car of all time, the most iconic car of my generation was too good a chance to pass up. I would hire the Jaguar and tour the English countryside in style, my only worry now was the weather.

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