Windrush opened its doors 20 years ago this year, so we look back at some of the best cars of the last 20 years.
When the gates first opened at Windrush Cotswolds in 2004, a local gentleman, who owned an S1 Jaguar E-Type, became our very first client. While many things have changed at Windrush, our drive and passion to be the best has never waned and today, 20-years later, we are still in a constant stage of evolution, to continuously improve the levels of service we offer to our clients, including our renowned classic car storage services.
As we looked back on 20-years of Windrush, we (naturally) started to discuss the great cars that were on sale in 2004, and it seems we were having a good time of it, with great cars and a more relaxed outlook towards cars in general.
At that time, ULEZ was a fairly new concept, Smart Motorways didn’t exist and if you were caught speeding, there was a high chance you could have a conversation with an officer at the roadside, instead of getting a surprise in the post. And who, at the time, could have imagined that ICE engines would be banned by the government, that supercars would be hybrid powered and that a normal family hatchback, powered solely by electricity, would beat a 911 Turbo from the lights? Things change, rapidly.
Our favourite classic cars of the last two decades
2004 was a good year for car enthusiasts, with many great cars launching onto the market including the Ferrari F430 and the 997 Porsche 911. Here are some of our favourites.
Ferrari F430
The F430 was a special car with a return to Italian elegance after the curvy 360 Modena replaced the sublime F355. Nicknamed the baby Enzo by ‘EVO’ magazine, the F430 was a seriously potent car and, so say marque specialists, is relatively easy to live with due to having no belts to maintain, as the new 483hp V8 replaced belts with a more reliable chain. Fast, furious and beautiful, the F430 remains a seriously desirable car.
Porsche 997 911
The 997 911 is a generation still held in high regard and is another model that replaced a lesser-loved variant, the 996 911 in this instance. The 997 looked great, and with the usual multi-model line-up, there was a 911 for everyone from the humble (but still awesome) 325hp base Carrera to the ballistic 530hp Turbo S, and all with a delicious range of GT cars in between. Still a popular choice of driving enthusiasts today, the 997 (.1 and .2) remain very capable sportscars.
Honda S2000
Lower down the market we had the Honda S2000, the Porsche 986 Boxster and the second generation Lotus Exige. The revvy Honda was known for its tricky on-limit handling, especially in the wet, but its 2.0, 4-cylinder, VTEC motor could (and would) happily rev to 9,000rpm day in, day out, which is quite something. 237hp, rear-wheel drive and a great gearbox made it a genuine driver’s car, despite the driver needing to be fully committed when attacking a B-road, ready to catch the guaranteed oversteer when it arrived.
Lotus Exige
And if drivers’ cars are your thing, Lotus had something very special for you in the form of the S2 Exige. At launch it was offered with an NA 197hp Toyota motor, later models (from 2006) came with a supercharger, but even without, the Exige was designed for one thing only. Driving. Revving to 8500rpm, and requiring a service every 9000 miles, the S2 Exige is a reliable and remarkable way to drive to the track, have serious fun and drive home again without drama.
986 Porsche Boxster
The 986 Boxster was also still available in 2004, its last year of production. At this time, you could get the latest and greatest versions of the 3.2 S as well as the special edition S 550, built to celebrate 50 years of the Porsche 550 Spyder. The 550 was presented in a silver previously only available on the Carrera GT, with Cocoa brown leather as well as trick suspension, short-shift gearbox and a power hike to 266hp. Whatever model you choose, the 986 Boxster is probably one of the most beautifully balanced roadsters money can buy.
Maserati MC12 Stradale
The 2004 supercar market was also as outrageous as ever, with the racetrack refugee Maserati MC12 Stradale. Created to homologate the model for international GT racing, it remains the fastest Maserati road car ever made, with a top speed exceeding 205 mph. The technology of the MC12 was based on the Ferrari Enzo model, though substantial modifications were made to engine, chassis and aerodynamics. From 2004, only 50 models of Maserati MC12 were made. When did you last see one?
Bugatti Veyron
The car that coined the phrase Hypercar – the Bugatti Veyron was a no-expense-spared hypercar that only exists because VW boss Ferdinand Piëch had a wish to create the world’s greatest and most expensive supercar. The outrageous 8.0 quad-turbo W-16 offered 987 hp and 922 lb-ft of torque and dashed from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds. As we all know, the base (many special editions later followed) Veyron was able to reach a top speed of 253 mph. Still a very special car today, despite being replaced by the Chiron.
What are these classic cars worth today?
20 years of classic car storage
We’ve been looking after customers’ cars for 20 years at Windrush Car Storage in the Cotswolds and London. Whether your car is an investment or not, we know how much you value your motor and we’ve spent two decades perfecting our services to reflect this.
Our car storage facilities in London provide clients with top-tier classic car storage when space is at a premium. With state-of-the-art security, climate-controlled environments, and a dedicated team of professionals, our London facility ensures your classic car remains in pristine condition at all times. Contact us today to learn more about our classic car storage in London and how we can provide the perfect home for your prized possession.
