Taking over-the-top to new heights
Clénet was a manufacturer of Neoclassic automobiles based in Santa Barbara County, California, in the 1970s and 1980s.
IT’S long, low, powerful and 100 octane American bling.
With buyers including Farrah Fawcett, Rod Stewart, Sylvester Stallone and King Hussein of Jordan, a Clenet just shouts the riches of an owner to the rest of the world.
Produced from 1976 to 1982 in Santa Barbara, USA, the amazing Clenet range was the brainchild of French-born Alain Clenet.
Clenet’s cars provoke extreme comment outside America.
Some say that they are the most beautiful cars ever built, while others brand them as replicars, combining the looks of classic Jaguars and Mercedes and not getting it right, while the really unkind say they look like a kit car.
Well the truth of the matter is that the Clenet, which is staunchly upkept by a rather exclusive and usually very rich band of enthusiasts in America, is very much a hand-built quality performance car with a character of its own.
It encapsulates the thoughts of many over what an American luxury sports car should be.
In its own way it is the modern equivalent of the mighty iconic Cord of the 1930s.
The styling of the Clenet certainly takes you back to the golden days, but the power department is modern mailed fist stuff with a Yank-Tank 5,732cc V8 pumping out a typical 181bhp under the bonnet, giving a maximum speed of 120mph plus.
Each limited-production model was conceived, designed and produced by a small team of dedicated men and women with some meticulous craftsmanship.
Featuring an all-steel body the Clenet boasted amazing features such as etched glass and Waterford crystal ashtrays.
It is even said that dashboards were made from hand-rubbed walnut taken from 1,200 year old trees.
Some models have sold secondhand for $100,000 in the USA which gives an idea of the esteem in which this car is held . In the USA a Clenet is a prized possession and when they do come on the market there is always a flurry of interest among buyers keen to net an example of this status symbol.
And it is no wonder why these cars are such gems to the enthusiast. With its enormous outside exhaust pipes, and stack of detail work, a Clenet would take 1,600 hours to build.
Its moment of real fame came in 1986 when a Clenet was selected as official car when President Reagan declared the Centennial Year of the GasolinePowered Automobile.
But only around 125 a year were built during the company’s short life, hence the sky-high prices.
To me, Clenet provides a heady cocktail of high life features and perspectives on the vintage greats.
American, in-your face, brash, some might say but the Clenet is, without doubt one of the greatest of the modern classics. It will go down in history for taking overthe-top to new heights.
But like so many great cars, there was always a bit of English know-how involved because some Clenets used MG doors and windscreens.
Love it or hate it, the Clenet goes into the hall of fame as a showpiece of American moneyno-object aspiration.
Every car has its place they say.
For this one it is the driveway of a Hollywood mansion.