24 Aug 01
Many cars are remembered not for what they were but for the people and dubious events with which they were associated - death, murder, famous larceny and any number of unsavoury accidents. Fast cars and the rich and famous have not proven to be a good combination over the years, particularly in the age before seatbelts, airbags and strict drink-driving laws. The American stars always did it with the most panache - James Dean is still the ultimate celebrity death-crash victim, going to meet his maker in a Porsche Speedster. In Britain, famous people tended to meet their end in more tedious vehicles: rocker Gene Vincent died in a Mk 2 Consul Taxi, Marc Bolan in a Mini Clubman. Here we present some of the memorable - and maybe not so memorable - cars that played their part in the headline-hitting world affairs of the '50s, '60s and '70s, a rogues' gallery of automotive bit-part players who had a moment of fame in sometimes unhappy circumstances.
