Four auction cars (and a bike) that you must buy

We start with the most expensive of our five selections from RM Sotheby’s Santa Monica sale, which takes place at the end of June. Simply because it’s a good ‘un: a low mileage, impossibly rare 599 GTO.

Just 599 models were built, and each comes with a 6.0-litre naturally-aspirated V12 with 670bhp, a 0-60mph time of 3.3s and a top speed of 208mph.

Numbers are one thing. The noise, feel and level of engineering geekery thrown at this thing quite another. It’s expected to go for between $650k-$750k.

Is there anything about this car that needs saying again? OK, fine. We’ll say it again. “This might be the best McLaren road car since the F1.”

Only 500 were built, and all sold out pretty sharpish, so here’s your chance to grab an example of McLaren’s recent form in the supercar trade. Sure, at an expected sale price of between $335k-$375k, there’s a bit of a premium from McLaren’s original asking price of £260k.

But then you’re getting a limited edition, 666bhp twin-turbo V8 in Chicane Grey, with just 730 miles on the clock and a lifetime of apex-hunting ahead of you.

Find the money.

Big Read: Top Gear vs the McLaren 675LT

A bit of a change of pace, no doubt. Though consider that the Phantom will enter its eighth generation in 2017, and therefore this feels like a perfect time to pick a particular highlight: a 1970s Phantom once owned by Tom Jones. At least we think it once was...

Anyway, it’s hand built, one of just 374 reportedly built, gets a Philips 45rpm record player in the back, a wood TV, window curtains and custom coachwork. Bit of a masterpiece, this, and a bargain at its estimated sale price of between $85k and $95k.

Here is each generation of the amazing Rolls-Royce Phantom

There’s not much info on this entry, so we'll be brief. It is a custom electric motorbike built in the style of the Tron:Legacy light cycle. It’s therefore quite excellent.

It features a 60bhp 48-volt engine, and “the highest grade composite body linear kickstand that allows parking and display anywhere”.

The HIGHEST GRADE, people. Yours for between $55k and $70k.

Using untested and probably quite ropey Top Gear logic, the original BMW 8 Series is our pick for a future classic.

Because a) BMW is bringing back the 8 Series for 2018 (previewed by this gorgeous concept), and b) it looks class.

This one has just 55,500 miles on the clock, which means the 5.0-litre V12 is barely run in. It’s also pretty mint, and a bargain at its estimated sale price of between $25k to $35k.

Read all about why the original BMW 8 Series is cool by following this link HERE.

Which one takes your fancy?