Nestled in a nondescript corner of south London, Joe Macari is a haven for supercar spotters. From blue-chip classics to seven-figure hypercars – oh, and a Lamborghini tractor – the showroom is crammed with automotive exotica.
Owner Joe set up his business servicing Ferraris and Maseratis in 1988, and it’s been an official aftersales centre for both brands since 2007. He’s also a talented racer, with Le Mans and FIA GT1 on his CV.
Video: a tour of the Joe Macari showroom
Today, Joe Macari continues to specialise in high-end Italian cars; we counted upwards of 20 Ferraris at the time of our visit. Other nationalities are represented by Bugatti, McLaren, Porsche, Shelby, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and more.
Watch our video for an immersive showroom tour, then read on to discover our personal favourite cars.
Bugatti Chiron
Front-and-centre in the showroom, what else but the world’s fastest hypercar? The Bugatti Chiron’s 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 develops 1,500hp and 1,180lb ft of torque. Zero to 60mph takes 2.4 seconds and VMax is electronically limited – yes, limited – to 261mph. No road-legal tyres are safe beyond that speed, apparently.
This Ruby Red/Nocturne Black Chiron has covered just 400 miles from new. Options fitted include a carbon fibre steering wheel and Comfort seats. Yours for a mere €2,825,000 (£2,447,000).
Lamborghini Miura
To paraphrase Prince, ‘Could you be… the most beautiful car in the world?”. The voluptuous Lamborghini Miura is certainly at the top table, battling the Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari Dino and Peugeot 406 Coupe for all-time catwalk kudos. Just us on the Pug? Right, moving on…
This 1969 Miura S featured in the film Road Hard and has rare factory-fitted air conditioning. It’s advertised at £1,349,950 – around half the price of the low-mileage, ex-Saudi royal family Miura SV in the background.
Italdesign Zerouno
Italdesign was founded 50 years ago by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the man who penned the BMW M1, Alfasud, Lotus Esprit, Mk1 Volkswagen Golf and more. The Zerouno is his company’s first own-brand supercar: ultra-rare and ultra-expensive. Only five were built, at €1.5 million (£1.3 million) apiece.
Powering the Zerouno is the naturally aspirated 610hp V10 from the Lamborghini Huracan – truly one of great road car engines. With lightweight, all-carbon fibre bodywork, suffice to say it’s no slouch. This particular car wasn’t for sale at the time we visited.
Porsche 993 Carrera RS ‘Black Snake’
This modified Porsche 911 Carrera RS is a far cry from the Zuffenhausen original, but nobody could doubt its performance or pedigree. In 1998, driven by Horst von Saurma, it lapped the Nurburgring in 7min 46sec, setting a new road-car record.
Externally, the Porsche has the bolt-on wheelarches and monster rear wing from a 993 GT2. Its flat-six engine is boosted to 530hp by two turbochargers, while its four-wheel-drive system comes from a 993 Turbo. You’ll need £244,950 to drive home in this former Lord of the ‘Ring.
McLaren 675LT
A meaner, leaner version of the 650S, the McLaren 675LT remains one of the finest supercars we’ve driven. In 2016, we said: “The 675LT hurls you towards the horizon with a ferocity that’s intoxicating, addictive and mildly terrifying… Its chassis is so intuitive, its responses so immediate, that it feels hard-wired into your brain”.
This car is the drop-top Spider version – one of 500 made. Finished in stealthy Chicane Grey with acres of exposed carbon fibre, it’s offered at £249,950.
LaFerrari and Ferrari F50
Take your pick from two of Ferrari’s finest: the LaFerrari Aperta in the foreground or F50 behind. We sense that banana in the background is struggling to make up his mind…
The F50 has a carbon chassis tub and racing-style rose-jointed suspension, plus the small matter of a 519hp F1-derived V12. The LaFerrari ups the stakes with an 800hp V12 and 163hp electric motor (963hp total). The price, if you’re interested, is ‘on application’.
Fiat Abarth 595 SS
There have been many replicas, but you’re looking at the real thing. One of Joe Macari’s personal collection, this Fiat Abarth 595 SS is permanently on display in the showroom – and worth around £60,000.
Abarth tuned the Cinquecento’s two-cylinder engine to a mighty 34hp, fitting new pistons, an uprated oil pump and a spikier cam. The engine lid was permanently propped open to aid cooling. It’s no Ferrari, but probably offers a similar quota of smiles per mile.
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