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Top Ten: Retro throwbacks

8 Vignale Gamine 1967-70
IN THIS FEATURE
Retro throwbacks
1 Panther De Ville 1974-85
2 Excalibur 1965-to date
3 Alfa Romeo Zagato 4R 1966-68
4 Duesenberg II 1966
5 Bugatti 101C 1965
6 Stutz Blackhawk 1970-93
7 Panther J 72 1972-81
8 Vignale Gamine 1967-70
9 VW Type-181 (The Thing)
10 Nissan Figaro 1991
The Gamine was built by Vignale, an Italian coachbuilder who marketed several special-bodied Fiats on the chassis of the tiny two-cylinder Fiat 500. With its mock front grille (the engine was at the back, cutaway doors and free-standing lamps, the Gamine bore an undeniable resemblance to Noddy's car in the Enid Blyton childrens' books, though this probably wasn't the effect Mr Vignale was looking for.

Frixos Demetriou, a Greek casino owner, imported a substantial number of the cars into the UK, which he managed to sell for £700 a time - the price of an MG Midget in the late '60s. Good examples of the Gamine are now quite sought-after.


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