28 Jan 09
VW Campervan
Volkswagen Microbus
This VW van is a curious beast. Avoid the hand-painted ones and plump for the gorgeous early Type 1 Microbus model and you'll have something utterly cool and desirable.
Cool and desirable until you climb behind the wheel, that is. It's cursed with a snail's pace, it's noisy and tiring to drive and it's largely owned by tossers.
People will judge you, but let them judge all they like. You have a motor that celebrates smugness, but that's no reason to feel ashamed.
AC Cobra
AC Cobra 1961-1967
The AC Cobra is one of the most beautiful cars ever made, but one that you should never own.
Based on the elegant AC Ace, the polite British roadster was transformed in 1961 by Texan racer Caroll Shelby, who tore out the six-cylinder and replaced it with a fire-breathing 4.2-litre Ford V8.
Realising his mistake at the lack of horsepower, he replaced the 4.2 with the even larger Ford 289 engine (4.7-litre). Then he went off the deep end and dropped in the monstrous Ford 427 lump. With a 425bhp 7-litre V8, power was no longer a problem - but being brave enough to drive it was.
You will be admired for owning an original Cobra, once the fastest accelerating car (0-60mph 4.2 sec) of all time, but you'll also be hated: clearly, you have way too much disposable cash.
