Simon:
I drove a 246 quite a bit in the early 70s.
They have always been one of my favourite cars. To drive!
Wonderful handling, as you say. And the wonderful evocative sound from those downdraft IDAs..................................
A timeless classic.
Agree about the E Type: had two, both Series 1 1/2 4.2s.
Brutish but fun.
Couldn't stop and didn't handle; and worst of all, the nose acted as a sort of reverse air dam, lifting the car onto a cushion of air which meant lots of fun at speed on motorways when cross-draft hit you under an overpass!
The thing is that both the E and the 246 were really cheap, comparatively, in, respectively, the 60s and the 70s.
Lots of car for the money!