When Engines Had Soul: A Tribute to Three NA Heroes

With all the nostalgia talk recently, I ended up looking back at some of my favourite shoots we’ve done over the years, and the second series of naturally-aspirated heroes is right up there. It was a gloriously sunny day in North Wales with three of the greatest engines ever to grace a road car to listen to from dawn ’til dusk.

This series was never about finding a winner; it was about celebrating motors that made cars special, that dominated the whole experience, and that hadn’t lost their soul in search of numbers. We’ve done others before and since, but this trio really stood out to me as a three-car garage a young kid would dream of, with the legendary Mezger engine and manual ‘box of the GT3 RS (the very same car we revisited in the new GT3 RS Generations film), the brutal 6.2-litre V8 of the SLS and the iconic evolution of the Bizzarrini V12 of the Murcielago SV.

If you haven’t seen these videos, sit back, turn the volume up and enjoy. If you have seen them before, the same applies! Oh, and if you're tempted, we've found an example of each at our trusted dealers.

Porsche 997.1 GT3 RS

2011 | 4,630 Miles | £449,995

Ok, I couldn't find a 3.6 or even a 3.8 997 GT3 RS at one of our dealer partners, they're that scarce on the market these days, but I did find the holy grail, a GT3 RS 4.0 — quite possibly the finest driver's car I've had the pleasure of being behind the wheel of. It costs three times a 3.6 in left-hand-drive guise, and probably four times if it was right-hand drive. Is it three or four times better? Well, no is the simple answer, but the torque of that four-litre and the way Porsche had perfected the 997 recipe by 2011, plus the rarity, makes it a very special machine if you have the means. If not, better be patient for a 3.6 or 3.8 to show up, and watch the video below on repeat until then!

Full details here.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

2010 | 25,893 Miles | £186,995

The SLS seems like a relative bargain compared to the other two cars we've found today, but values of these have actually doubled since the mid 2010s when you could pick up an SLS for less than £100k believe it or not! They're becoming an ever rarer sight, and the legendary 6.2 V8 is of course no more, and of course there's the 300SL inspired styling and doors, so I'd put a hefty bet on the SLS becoming a sought-after classic in years to come. If you need any more convincing, watch the video and just listen to it!

Full details here.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV

2009 | 14,565 Miles | £799,990

As luck would have it, our friends at Furlonger are selling an SV identical to the one we featured (although it is actually a different car). Values of these have skyrocketed, doubled in fact, since we did that feature, and it's no surprise given what a rare sight any Murcielago is, nevermind the SV. Will they stay this high? Only time will tell, but if you want the last of the old-school Lambos oozing with drama, you have to try a Murci SV.

Full details here.