Templar’s New Ride?
A 3D depiction of a “Hirondel “Kit” costing £30,000. For more information.
Many a hero, villain, or spy has been defined to some degree by what kind of car are they drive.
Simon Templar, this began with the infamous Hirondel, A mythical car created by Leslie Charteris, but according to one of his biographers – Ian Dickerson (The Saint I ain’t) The car was based upon one of Charteris’ favorites – the Lagonda radiate (seen below).
Perhaps because it is mythical – the Hirondel continues to capture the imagination of even young readers with its long lines and stylish and yet rugged swashbuckling natural fit to Simon Templar and his exploits.
1960s
The infamous P1800 Volvo “touring” or sportscar has become synonymous with The Saint. Has more than one Rider is pointed out, Jaguar committed one of the greatest sins of omission when they passed on providing one of their cars 4 the TV series and the prize went to to Volvo new P1800.
There are many versions of the original P1800 Volvo “ST1” car owned by a variety of different people including the late Sir Roger Moore and celebrities like Jay Leno (see video on Front Page) who is added to his massive car collection. The car continues to be my collectible in various forms as a diecast car model of various scales. some can be quite pricy.
1970s
In the 1970s, Jaguar finally had their chance to compete installing a Jaguar XJS ( white withST1 licence plates, making it very reminiscent of the Volvo) Ian The Return of the Saint starring Ian Ogilvy.
1990s
Val Vilmer, returning in Paramount’s Thee Saiint, returned to a misguided Volvo – a great car (the C70 Volvo Coupe) but they had other options like updated customized P1800s that would have been better. Just comparing the C70 coupe used with updated Volvo sportscar shows they had real hot options!
2010s
In the ill-fated 2018 attempt to revive the TV series with Adam Rayner as Simon Templar (mnus both physical gravitas and real humor or authority) he simply had no signature car at all. We see him briefly in two different cars which look to be corvettes, yet later (and for no apparent reason) Patricia Holm picks him up in someone else’s 1964 Shelby GT for a short ride (which is headed in the right direction – but hey – it wasn’t even a British version (American-side driven).
2020s
Which brings us to a serious crisis? We have not had a decent car )not really) since the Jaguar and the P1800 Volvo (43-52 years). So what should Chris Pine be given to drive in the upcoming film?
I want YOUR suggestions – which I will post here at TEMPLAR with a brief one or two paragraph “reasoning” for why.
My pick? Hands down the 1984 Shelby Cobra 427 (the British version of course) with its light but strong chassis and 427 cu, inch engine – built for stealth and speed – it is like the best of the Hirondelland the P1800 combined in one unstoppable automobile. with elegance and no small amount of intimidation. It has the swashbuckling panache of the Hirondel (plus open canopy), superb engineering, and is a favorite of the Brits (an earlier incarnation of this classic was featured in the same edition of Automobile Quarterly that gave the lead to the Hirondell). This brings us to a serious crisis. We have not had a decent car )not really) since the Jaguar and the P1800 Volvo (43-52 years). So what should Chors Pine be given to drive in the upcoming film?
And forget the racing strip down the hood. Keep it clean and classy (and small and inconspicuous when it needs to be. White or black.
I want YOUR suggestions – which I will post here at TEMPLAR with a brief one or two paragraph “reasoning” for why.
My pick? the 1984 Shelby Cobra GT (the British version of course) with its light but strong chassis and 427 cu, inch engine – built for stealth and speed – it is like the best of the Hirondell and the P1800 combined in one unstoppable automobile. with elegance and no small amount of intimidation. It has the swashbuckling panache of the Hirondell (plus open canopy), superb engineering, and is a favorite of the Brits (an earlier incarnation of this classic was featured in the same edition of Automobile Quarterly that gave the lead to the Hirondell).
PLEASE SEND IN YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR A FOLLOW-UP ARTICLE WITH THE TOP TEN SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NEW “THE SAINT” CAR.
We will then VOTE and the top THREE will get some small “|Saint” gifts from me (like “The Saint” butane lighters or a cigarette tin.
(Write to: infamoussimontemplar@gmail.com)