The cars we drive often say as much about our class as they do about our personality. We took a look at three undeniable classics that captured the essence of a particular class in their own times.

British through and through, the Ford Escort Mk1 RS Mexico, Lotus Esprit S2 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage all evoke the spirit of their times. But even looking at them, you get a true sense of their sensibilities, from the Escorts hard-working pride to the Esprit’s self-made affluence and the Aston’s effortless and cultured elegance. We had more great photos than we could possibly fit into the mag, so here are some more:

[Show as slideshow]

We also went behind the scenes with our camera and camcorder and captured some great shots.

[Show as slideshow]