944 magazine holiday gift guide OT

Thanks to those who made suggestions for exotic cars for the article - here's the final draft of the holiday gift giving guide for the stupidly rich, tongue firmly in cheek:

Once the Thanksgiving turkey is reduced to leftovers thoughts turn to the next holiday season and, more specifically, what we can hope to get out of it if we can scam Santa into believing we?ve behaved. Here?s a modest list of automotive stocking stuffers. Everyone knows about Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Bentleys and depending on where you live it can be easy to lose yours in the parking lot. Pull up in one of these and it?s guaranteed the valet will park it up front, probably with a security guard.

Bugatti Veyron

This is the holy grail of the need-for-speed crowd. At ? 1.127,210 it is the most expensive full production street legal car ever made. Production is scheduled for approximately 300 cars. If that?s too common don?t worry ? there is the ?Pur Sang? special edition, a limited run of

  1. The bad news is they?re sold out, so keep an eye on eBay. Producing
1001 bhp and a top speed of 253 mph as demonstrated by the Top Gear boys in the UK it was the fastest as well until our next offering came along.
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SSC Ultimate Aero

There?s a faster gun in town, and it hails from this side of the pond. Produced by Shelby Super Cars in Washington State (no relation to Carroll Shelby) this 1,183 bhp rocket was verified by Guinness World Records to have achieved 256.15 mph, taking the crown from Bugatti. With production limited to 25 your chances of showing up at the party with the same car as your arch-rival is slimmer than with the Bugatti, and it?s even more affordable at a mere $650,000. For the price of the Veyron you can have one in both your favorite colors.

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Pagani Zonda R

Sometimes only the most expensive will do, and that might mean sacrificing a few things. Like the ability to drive it on the street, for example. This car is likely to weigh in at more than $1.5M and while there is no word on how many will be made, there will be at least one. It was made at the request of someone who already owns 3 more pedestrian Zonda models and has been identified only as ?a lucky bastard?. Power and performance, while not in the same league as the above models, remains respectably ridiculous.

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Koenigsegg CCXR

If Al Gore wanted a supercar this would have to be the one. This is proof that green isn?t dull ? this environmentally friendly version of the renowned CCX is powered by the same twin-supercharged V8 but with a twist ? it runs on E85 Ethanol biofuel. With 1016 bhp it is more than able to run with the other big dogs. The base model is approximately $540,000, with all options $600,000. Add $80,000 for the biofuel motor and you?re down the road in green style.

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Ariel Atom

?No doors. No screen. No roof. Form following function, race bred design and truly uncompromising performance.? This is the promise from Ariel, producers of the Atom. This looks like more fun than even the best behaved should be allowed to have. 0-100-0 in just over 10 seconds, nearly equaling the performance of the famed Shelby Cobra but with much better track manners. At $35,000 - $75000 depending on configuration you can be a star at the local track.

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Beck 550S Spyder

When James Dean went out in a blaze of glory in his 1955 Porsche Spyder that left 89 of them. Now you can drive one, but with modern brakes, powerplant and suspension. Special Edition Inc. of Bremen IN has 3 models of classic Porsches updated for modern sensibilities. The hot ticket is the 550S, and at around $30,000 it?s hard to find a reason not to have one.

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Ducati Desmosedici RR

The ultimate Ducati. The only way you can get closer to MotoGP is to get Casey Stoner?s job, but then you?d have to commute with Valentino Rossi and who needs that kind of stress? At somewhere north of $75,000 it?s in Ferrari territory in the motorcycle world. One of the few vehicles you have to fill out an application to own ? when first announced only those who already had a 999R were eligible to put down a deposit.

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