Adventurous classics for sale with RM Sotheby's

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It is a sad fact that, for one reason or another, some classic cars rarely get used. Maybe their owners don't appreciate just how much fun they could have with them, but it's a great pity because every old car carries with it the potential for a great adventure. We were reminded of this while perusing the catalogue for RM Sotheby's sale at the International St. Moritz Automobile Week on 15th September, which contains an impressive variety of classic cars with all manner of possibilities.

1976 Volvo C303 - CHF15,000-25,000 (£13,500-22,500)

Take, for example, the 1976 Volvo C303, a four-wheel drive, forward-control off-roader which looks like it will happily cross mountains, forests and deserts. Indeed, its aptitude for conquering the most formidable terrain has already been proven beyond doubt, as the C303 is perhaps best known for its participating in the Paris-Dakar Rally, although it has also achieved less glamorous renown as a military and civilian rescue vehicle. The example offered for sale has certainly proved its worth, having been in service at El Paradiso, the St. Moritz mountain club, where it has been relied on for negotiating the winter snow and ice.

Equipped with a torquey three-litre, six-cylinder engine shared with its better-known sister models such as the Volvo 164, it's fully equipped for off-road applications with a powered winch and powerful spotlights. It'll carry five passengers with plenty of room to spare, while there's a dedicated compartment at the rear for such provisions as may be necessary.

It could be the perfect transport for a few days in the wilderness, or you could simply use it for a winter skiing holiday, content that icy roads won't present a problem for you and your friends. It's perfectly tailored to an adventure of the beaten track, so why not see where it might take you?

1960 Fiat 600 Multipla ambulance by Coriasco - CHF60,000-70,000 (£55,000-65,000)

If you fancy something similarly unusual but don't anticipate ever needing to use four-wheel drive and locking differentials, you might appreciate this very rare 1960 Fiat 600 Multipla bodied as an ambulance by Carrozzeria Coriasco. Representing one of several different specialist applications for the Multipla, this one had a particularly interesting working life, having been first registered on 10th January 1961 in Milan and put to use at the airfield owned by the helicopter manufacturer Agusta.

Upon entering a private collection in 2013, it was immediately restored at a cost of over €50,000 and now appears in concours condition. While some historic ambulances are now enjoyed as caravans, the interior of this one presents exactly as it would have done in period, so we would advocate keeping it that way. It's sure to attract interest wherever you take it and it has the extra advantage that, if you do suffer a mishap while on that aforementioned skiing holiday, you will always have a very comprehensive first-aid kit at your disposal.

1973 Dino 246 GTS - CHF450,000-500,000 (£400,000-450,000)

Going off the beaten track isn't for everyone, but that doesn't matter - you don't have to leave the tarmac in order to find adventure and romance. With its sinuous, athletic curves, energetic handling and seemingly inexhaustible V6, this 1973 Dino 246 GTS is the sort of car one just wants to jump in and drive to the vanishing point on the horizon. Over the mountains of the moon, down the valley of the shadow, in a Dino 246 you may very well find your Eldorado.

Only 1,274 246 GTSs - the targa-topped Spider version of the GT - were made. This example was supplied new in Blu Dino Metallic with a Beige leatherette interior to an owner in Sassuolo, Italy, but in 1974 it was sold to a new owner in Germany. Now painted in the popular Rosso Corsa, upholstered in Pelle Nero and in single ownership from 1987 until earlier this year, we doubt there is a better car better suited to a romantic sunset drive around the hills of Tuscany or the Italian Alps.

Exotica galore

Of course, that's only a fraction of the many desirable cars which will pass under the hammer. You might prefer a Maserati Mistral for spirited drives along the French Riviera, or a Fiat 1100D Familiare for holidays with the whole family. Why not take a look at the catalogue and see what takes your fancy?

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