Richard Heseltine’s top 10 mid-engined sports cars

I am a huge fan of the Europa. It has its flaws, not least the gearchange, but the handling is sublime. I really want one, preferably in Pistachio Green.

Yes, another Lotus. I have covered thousands of miles in various kinds of Elise over the years and remain smitten. I must admit to preferring the second-gen styling, though.

See a theme developing? I have happy memories of drives in Exiges, some of them long-distance road trips. That said, they weren’t always (ever) watertight.

I have a weakness for sporting Fiats but weirdly it took me a while to warm to the X1/9. Nowadays, I really want an early pre-impact bumper car. The problem is finding one.

A leftfield choice, I know, but I have a bit of a thing for cars made by Britain’s cottage industry of small-series manufacturers. The Mini-based GTM was – and remains – a pretty little machine.

I really wanted one way back when and still do. They suffer by comparison with the Elise on many levels, but I still think it’s more attractive than the Elise S1 (cue the tar and feathers).

Hmm, this may be a controversial choice. I have fond memories of attending the model’s launch on the Isle of Man but most period reviews criticised the 4C for being a bit edgy. I couldn’t for the life of me see what the problem was, mind. I am still unsure of the styling, though.

I love older Porsches but am ambivalent about the more recent stuff, the Boxster included. This is the exception. I would have an first-series Cayman in a heartbeat.

Hmm, I have mixed feelings about the 3000ME. I loved the styling when I was a young ’un and still do. It looks fab. I am still not completely sold on it as a driver’s car, though, not least because of the gearchange.

This was a car I lusted after when I was a pre-shaver. It has been twenty years since I last drove one, but I still would. I’d have mine in metallic cinnamon.