SO LIGHT, IT WAS LETHAL

Porsche pays lip service to lightness with its modern sports cars. But even ostensibly track-spec RS models are near enough 1500kg with some fuel onboard and a lump behind the wheel. By contrast, the 1968 909 Berspyder was a true featherweight. Tipping the scales at a ludicrous 375kg, the Bergspyder achieved its incredible lightness courtesy of an all-aluminium chassis, titanium suspension, silver loom wiring instead of copper and balsa wood ballast resistors, among numerous other details. But the killer feature, pun intended, involved the beryllium brake discs. Very light while remaining strong, the slight snag was the dust they gave off. It was highly toxic. This glorious 1:18 model of the Bergspyder has no such issues and can be had from www.selectionrs.com for €219.95 or £185.