Eric Richardson

Starting life with a five-cylinder turbodiesel engine, this 123-series coupe soon found itself on the receiving end of a five-litre M117 V8 conversion. The 123-series Mercedes-Benz arguably represents the pinnacle of Mercedes' over-engineering, and bridges the gap between classic and modern. That explains, at least in part, why so many enthusiasts covet good ones - especially the coupes. Here in North America, the vast majority of C123s came to us in diesel form - first as the naturally aspirated OM617 and subsequently the OM617 turbodiesel. We got a handful of M110 powered 280CEs, but those came in a lethargic, detuned US specification that made the diesels the more Appealing proposition. And that’s how this car started life, as an OM617 turbodiesel powered, US spec C123. Needless to say, it's come a long way since.

World war Z. Serial slammer, Niall O’Dowd, kills it yet again with this super stanced and rather dapper BMW Z4 E85... You may be looking at these pages thinking this dude and his number plate look familiar, and you would be right. Yes, Niall O'Dowd has been here twice before with a fine little Lupo and a grid-look Mini. Each car was blessed with the S24NCD number plate and he built them to live up to the name - or rather down to it.