Porsche 911 named greatest driver's car ever

A 38-year-old Porsche 911 has been named the greatest driver's car ever in a poll of 100 leading lights of the classic car world.

The 911 Carrera RS 2.7 which dates from 1972 and sells for £300,000 in today's market, took the title by a whisker from other top models - including two British sports cars which can be bought for less than £10,000.

A survey sought opinions from a select band of owners, from Sir Stirling Moss to Lord March, to determine which cars held the biggest thrills and the best memories.

• Click on the gallery to your right to count down the top ten

Car expert Alain de Cadenet then assessed the five most popular choices at Millbrook Proving Ground to make a final judgement of the most rewarding road car ever.

The Porsche took the title just ahead of the £2 million, 238mph, 627bhp McLaren F1 and the £5 million-plus pre-war Alfa Romeo 8C-2300.

But the more affordable Lotus Elan Sprint and the original Mini Cooper S - with a sub-100mph top speed - were only fractionally behind in the final showdown.

Classic & Sports Car editor Alastair Clements, who helped organise the survey, said: "The most exciting thing about our top five was not the presence of some of the most exclusive and expensive cars ever made, but the inclusion of two that just about any enthusiast can go out and buy today."

And group editor James Elliott added: "With three out of the top five to its name, Britain can rightly revel in its glorious motoring past."

Among the celebrities polled were rockstars Mark Knopfler and Pink Floyd's Nick Mason. Knopfler's choice was the Porsche 993 Carrera which came 10th. Mason said of the Ferrari 250GTO which finished ninth: "Still the ultimate supercar."

See the top ten list in our gallery.