BMW E38 L7

I like the E38, I really do. And I've always desired a 750iL.

And the B12 6.0 from Alpina (or even a 5.7) would be wondrous. The E38 is such a classically proportioned car; elegant and butch in equal measure.

Then again, I also really adore the E32. A V12 Highline with cocktail cabinet in the rear would do me just fine. When BMW said goodbye to those menacing, hooded, exposed, twin headlamps, was a sad day. And the top of the range 7, looked all the better for them.

Indeed I'm alse a huge fan of the outgoing E65/66. The Bangle-ised Seven in 760i format, I would also treasure. Spot the theme here? I like the Seven Series.

I sat in the back of a long wheelbase 730d the other day with my mate. There was so much room. He, at 6'2, is a couple of inches taller than me, and yet he could fully stretch out. The seats reclined and moved in sixteen ways. They were heated. The centre console has switches so you can automatically move the front chairs forward. The TV screen was also manipulated from this station, and that's when you aren't speaking on the built-in phone. The rear blinds drop down to give you all the privacy you need and when the door closes, the lights dim as if you've just settled into a high quality auditorium. In short it's first class travel for those who need to keep their feet on the ground. For certain a Phantom offers another experience altogether, and three hours in a Maybach is like easing back in a boutique hotel room. But there's plenty of room in the LWB version.

When the LWB E38 was around, you'd have thought it catered for all senior businessmens' needs. But for a choice few there was always that next step.

The L7.

The L7 contains a coolbox in the centre armrest, a sliding partition window to keep the driver at a distance, and a fax machine is just one device that takes care of rudimentary office needs. With seperate climate control systems from those in the front, most of these will be purchased by those who'll seek to have them upgraded with certain 'protection' capabilities. An extra heavy duty battery would also be installed to cater for the heavy draw, and behind the rear seat bank, would be located the on-board oxygen supply. The extra 25cm of wheelbase space is hidden behind the extended central pillars and all in all makes this one of the rarest cars to be seen, anywhere.