If you’ve ever felt the need to look like a head of state, or reckon you’ve reached that point in your life where you need soothing while out on the road, we have a suitably sybaritic selection of cars for you to consider.
 
Any of these will look perfectly at home at a classic car show or event, but they are also amazingly comfortable to drive (or ride in) if you’re planning a long-distance tour or continent-hopping.
 
It goes without saying that, while paying less than £10,000 for a Silver Shadow sounds like a bargain, you’re still looking at big repair bills if things go wrong. Further up the scale, the Cadillac is a nice compromise between luxury and affordability, while the Facel Vega is going to be the trickiest of this quartet to track down. Values for the Mercedes-Benz are on the ascendancy, but be aware that some parts prices are capable of making a third world dictator weep.

But then, who said buying your way into ultimate luxury was ever going to be easy?

£10,000
R-R SILVER SHADOW
In Rolls-Royce terms, the Silver Shadow is comparatively common. But don’t let its popularity put you off – it’s still a big beast and stands out on the road. When well maintained and kept in fine fettle, a Shadow can be as relaxing as a hot bath. It had an advanced specification at launch, with unitary construction, all-round disc brakes and self-levelling suspension. It enjoys great specialist support and is a known quantity, but a rusty, tired example could ruin you.

£25,000
CADILLAC ELDORADO
Aside from its size (which seems less outlandish with each passing year), the big Caddy is easy to drive, laden with equipment, and – most importantly – easy to buy parts for. There’s a great club and social scene, too – when you’re buying a Caddy, you’re buying into a rock ’n’ roll legend. Issues to look out for include corrosion in UK cars, and hydraulic/electrical failures. After all, you want all those power goodies to work.

£75,000
FACEL EXCELLENCE
The Excellence is powered by a range of Chrysler V8s, and is distinguished by its ‘suicide’ rear doors – making it an elegant alternative to the Lincoln Continental of the 1958-1964 era during which the Excellence was made. So, from the mechanical viewpoint it’s straightforward to keep running, but repairing its bodywork is a specialist proposition. With only 152 built, finding one is the toughest proposition of all.

£115,000
MERCEDES-BENZ 600
It’s easily the coolest car you were likely to see a ’60s head of state in. And because of this, the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman has been enjoying a sustained rise in values unmatched by any of its opposition. All parts are still available – at a price – through Mercedes-Benz in Germany, and that’s refreshing in today’s market. Stately to drive, lovely to ride in, but restoration and repair can easily exceed what you’ll pay to buy one.