Ready to start a car collection? You’ll want rarity, usability and exotica of the highest order

So you've finally won the lottery, and now you want to fill the garage with the finest cars money can buy. Here are five to get your car collection started.

1 - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster (2007-2009)

You can’t go wrong with side-exit exhausts, can you? Well, the curious product of Mercedes-Benz’s and McLaren’s collaboration isn’t the finest example of ankle-burning motoring around, but it’s a serious bit of kit that blends a 617bhp 5.4-litre V8 with a five-speed automatic gearbox, super-sharp steering, finickety brakes and a hefty kerb weight. Jaw-dropping top-down looks and a raucous exhaust provide much compensation, however, as does a 0-62mph time of 3.8sec.

Expect to pay £300,000 for an immaculate example of the rare and distinctive Roadster with less than 15,000 miles on the clock. It should be reliable and usable, too, furthering its appeal.

2 - Saleen S7 (2000-2006)

If you’re in the market for a hand-built supercar, Saleen isn’t a name that jumps to mind. The Saleen S7, however, is unquestionably a serious contender in  its class. It was well engineered, primarily in the UK, and used high-end materials and components throughout.

Opt for a 2005-on example and it’ll feature a twin-turbocharged 7.0-litre Ford V8 that produces 750bhp and 700lb ft. A kerb weight of just 1338kg and sleek aerodynamics further help it to dispatch the 0-60mph sprint in a claimed 2.8sec, and, if you’ve room, Saleen says the S7 will touch 248mph.

Around £850,000 will net you an immaculate imported example of what is a very rare, interesting and capable car.

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3 - Pagani Zonda F Clubsport (2005)

Only 25 beautifully engineered Zonda F coupés were made, so you’ll be joining an exclusive club if you buy one. Go for a Clubsport version, with more power, bigger brakes and reworked aerodynamics, and it’ll be even rarer. Expect to pay a hefty but depreciation-free £1.5 million or so for a sub-10,000-mile example in excellent condition.

The Zonda’s 641bhp naturally aspirated 7.3-litre V12 helps the bespoke supercar to sprint from 0-62mph in 3.6sec. You don’t need to drive it hard to enjoy it, though, with its fabulously detailed interior, evocative engine and staggering presence. Pleasingly, Pagani has a reputation for reliability, so embarrassing stoppages should be rare.

4 - Maserati MC12 (2004-2005)

The MC12 may have been slower, less powerful and less well received than the Ferrari Enzo on which it was based, but fewer were built and it’s more affordable - comparatively speaking, that is. Maserati built a total of 50 road cars (as opposed to the some 400 Enzos created by Ferrari), and you’ll pay ‘just’ £1.2 million for an MC12. That’s a saving of £300,000 compared with the least expensive Enzo, so pocket the difference and spend it on driving your Maserati in anger.

Most have less than 5000 miles on the clock and will have been cosseted from new. Fire up that glorious 623bhp naturally aspirated V12 and enjoy a road-legal race-bred Italian supercar that’s capable of 0-62mph in 3.8sec.

5 - Koenigsegg CCR (2004-2006)

The CCR was the evolution of Koenigsegg’s first production car, the CC8S. As well as giving us all a second chance at spelling the company’s name right, the CCR heralded several key improvements, including twin superchargers for more performance, bigger brakes and a revised chassis.

It hit home with a sledgehammer-like 805bhp blow from its force-fed 4.7-litre V8, aiding it on its way from 0-62mph in 3.2sec. Wind it out and it could even exceed 242mph.

Just 14 were made, but, despite that, you can pick up a CCR for £650,000. Given that Koenigsegg is going from strength to strength, if you have the wherewithal, now is the time to buy one.

Join the debate



26 December 2015
... looking at a pre-owned Bentley Mulsanne the other day. So tempting.

27 December 2015
Is actually faster around a track than an Enzo thanks to it's better aerodynamic's if that's your thing

27 December 2015
I'd start with the McLaren 650S. MP4-12C was a stunning entry which gave the establishment a right royal bloody nose, and the 650S only builds upon it. It's everything it should be: quick, and well engineered. Not just some flash Harry that only looks good, and not just a name either. Plus, I've checked and I fit in one nicely. After that, who seriously could resist an Aston Martin?

27 December 2015
Sure they are fine cars but maybe you should check the reliability record of the "well engineered" Mclaren cars before you give them such high praise. Or maybe it their steep price falls that appeals to you.


1 January 2016
I have just bought a porsche 996 turbo cabriolet and firmly believe the car is the best available for the money in the world.
The fact is if your not happy with its 420 bhp you can tune it up to 800 bhp so if its ultimate performance you want you can have it at a basic price a lot less expensive than an Aston Martin which do not perform anywhere near as well.
You will have to be quick as prices are on the rise people are realising just how good the car is and buying them up for their collections.

2 January 2016
Had I woken up today to discover that I had won the lottery, the first names into the search engine, from my list of dozens, which has an ever-changing order, would have been 1) Ferrari Scaglietti 612; 2) Bentley Flying Spur; 3) Rover 75 Estate; 4) Volkswagen Type 2; 5) Mercedes Unimog. I don't suppose I'd need to win as much money as would Lewis Kingston.



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