Speed
The Ultimate Cars for a Riviera Jaunt
Looking to take a road trip through the South of France this summer? Take inspiration from these classic cinematic selections when picking the perfect convertible.
Words Christian Barker
/
1953 Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Mk 1
Made famous via its appearance as Grace Kelly’s conveyance in the classic Riviera flick, To Catch A Thief, the 1953 Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Mk 1 roadster is a rare bird indeed. Produced for just two years by the British coachbuilder Thrupp and Maberly, only 1,582 examples of the model were built, and of these it is believed that fewer than 200 survive today. The Alpine boasts not only cinematic provenance, but a strong motorsport pedigree, having enjoyed significant success in the Alpine rallies of the 1950s, with the great racer Stirling Moss among those to take trophies at its wheel.
/
1955 Lancia Aurelia Spider
Set in St Tropez, Roger Vadim’s …And God Created Woman is little more than a feature-length celebration of the physical attributes of the director’s girlfriend of the time, a young Brigitte Bardot. Aside from countless gratuitous shots of Bardot’s bodacious body, the film also showcases the luscious curves of the Pininfarina-designed Lancia Aurelia Spider, property of a wealthy suitor of Bardot’s, played by Curd Jürgens (best known for his 1977 portrayal of Bond villain Stromberg in The Spy Who Loved Me).
/
1956 Mercedes-Benz 220 S W180
Otto Preminger’s 1958 adaptation of Francoise Sagan’s breakout debut novel sees David Niven’s rakish playboy navigating the South of France in a beautiful Mercedes 220 S cabriolet — a highly collectible model today. An example almost identical to the grey car driven by Niven (though a slightly later, 1958 model) is presently listed for sale by Los Angeles classic car dealership Beverly Hills Car Club.
/
1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider
Alain Delon was quite the car connoisseur in his movie-star prime — a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder the French actor owned was auctioned for a record-breaking $18.5 million in 2015 — and often shared screen time with outstanding automobiles. His appearance in 1963’s Any Number Can Win (or Mélodie en sous-sol, as it was known in France), piloting a drop-dead gorgeous, drop-top Alfa Giulietta, is a prime example.
/
1961 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
Driven by the aforementioned Delon in real life, the Mercedes 190 SL convertible is fast becoming as sought-after a mid-century classic as its contemporary stablemate, the Gullwing. The 190 is the superior choice for Riviera cruising, however, as the Gullwing can get insanely hot in the summer (which is why you’ll sometimes see them in motion with the doors up during warmer months). In Francois Truffaut’s beloved classic Day For Night, Jacqueline Bisset cuts a swathe through the Cote d’Azur in a beautiful red 190 SL. (The Benz is the standout, but other cool, classic convertibles to cameo in this Truffaut masterwork include a ’68 BMW 1600, a ’67 Chevy Camaro, the 1970 Alfa Spider 1300 Junior, and the 1965 model Triumph Spitfire and MG B).
/
1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SE
Faithfully remade in the 1980s as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Bedtime Story stars Riviera habitué David Niven (the man Ian Fleming had in mind when he envisaged James Bond) and ‘method’ great Marlon Brando as competing conmen on the Cote d’Azur. Niven’s mature, sophisticated swindler ‘Lawrence Jameson’ ferries his rich female targets around the fictional resort town of Beaumont-Sur-Mer in a refined ’62 Mercedes 300 SE cabriolet.
/
1974 Rolls-Royce Corniche
In Bedtime Story’s hilarious ’80s remake, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, David Niven is replaced by Michael Caine, and the original ‘Lawrence Jameson’ Benz swapped for a 1974 Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible — a beautiful ‘land-yacht’ of an automobile. Similar ’70s and ’80s Corniches can be had for a song, and examples in good condition regularly sell for between $50,000 to $70,000, making this a marvelous means of touring the Riviera in supremely comfortable, old-school top-down style, without blowing the bank.
/
1986 Ferrari Mondial
The white Ferrari Mondial driven in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels by Steve Martin is another awesome Riviera-friendly ’80s ride — and like the Corniche, getting behind the wheel these days is remarkably affordable (you’ll spend less on a late-eighties Mondial than you would buying a new Buick SUV). Slip a Duran Duran cassette into the deck and roll through St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat like a boss.
[magento_products ids=”omega-noisette-leather-and-crochet-driving-gloves,persol-icons-po0714-steve-mcqueen-24-31-folding-havana-grey-lens,DAVA000003005″]
alain delon, alfa romeo, cabriolet, classic cars, convertible car, ferrari, french riviera, mercedes benz, Rakish, Rolls Royce, sunbeam alpine, to catch a thief, Vintage, Vintage Cars
share this article
[sharify] M
