Cars

Since Aston’s move to Gaydon, its engines and powertrain systems have been sourced mainly from Ford, at the time owner of Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover.

Nowadays, an engine is just one important part of a complex system of electronics controlling performance, economy and emissions. For such a small company, it’s no longer economically viable to develop its own systems – hence the tie-up with AMG, masters of powerful, economical petrol engines.

And there will also be the opportunity to share parent company Mercedes-Benz’s knowledge of advanced automotive electronics.

But that’s not the case with the drop-top Range Rover one-off created by California-based Newport Convertible Engineering. When the folding fabric roof is lowered, it leaves the rear windows and B-pillars standing proud… and we don’t like the angular, decapitated look one little bit. Some cars don’t lend themselves easily to ‘convertibilisation’ – or whatever the word is – and a no-nonsense off-roader is one of them.

...he plied the hard-nosed team manager with cocktails.

The contract outlined a partnership that was to last until 1975: the Gulf Oil Racing Team was born. And the Dry Martinis? Wyer was offered the use of the company’s Sabreliner for his transfer from New York to Pittsburgh. With the co-pilot doubling as “a most efficient steward”, he plied the hard-nosed team manager (ex-Aston Martin, and the man who started the GT40 programme) with cocktails.

Everyone knows that running an Italian supercar will never be cheap. And there will come times when even simple service work is held up for the want of a back-ordered part. The French company Red Parts is there for those occasions, stocking thousands of components, many (almost) worth their weight in gold.