CATEGORIES

The Valjoux 7750

Rendered obsolete in the late 1970s, Edmond Capt's wonder movement is not only back, but selling 200,000 units a year

Lucy O'Reilly Schell

The first American woman to compete in a Grand Prix was also a distinguished rally driver and team owner

OCTANE CARS

OWNING+ DRIVING + MAINTAINING

OUR MAN IN JAPAN

James Elliott joins an exclusive Japanese classic tour in an exquisite Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato 1600

LONG-TERM LEGENDS

These two SS100 Jaguars have been in the hands of well-known and dedicated enthusiasts for five decades and more. Chris Mann divulges their entertaining histories

Micky Pople

Octane meets the 95-year-old and talks about his life with the stars as one of Bristol's Filton Fliers'

LEADING FROM THE MIDDLE

The René Bonnet Djet was the world's first mid-engined production road car. Glen Waddington enjoys a momentous French Lotus rival

BACK AGAIN FOR MORE

This Le Mans-winning Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato Spider appeared in the very first issue of Octane. More than 20 years on, Robert Coucher acquaints himself and finally gets behind the wheel

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Two legends of the rally stage also make for democratically enjoyable road cars: the Subaru Impreza Turbo and Mistubishi Lancer Evo

OCTANE'S FAVOURITE 250s

No celebration of Octane's 250th issue would be complete without venturing a little off-piste!

TINY GIANT

Only 250cc, but ten straight race victories thanks to six cylinders, six carburettors and six exhaust pipes! This is the rival-slaying Honda RC166

WINNING WAYS

A mainstay of Formula 1 grids for longer than any rival, the Maserati 250F powered the true greats of racing to championship domination. This is its story

THE SPEED KINGS

These are the brave knights of air, land, sea and two wheels who were first to crack the magic 250mph mark

THE PACE RACE

How the supercar arms race dashed from 200mph to 250mph - and more...

RHAPSODY IN BLUE

One of the rarest and most beautiful Ferraris, this Zagato-bodied 250GT garners awards wherever it is shown. But its owner is not afraid to use it, as Mark Dixon finds out

ROBERT COUCHER: The Driver

'WHEN I ARRIVED IN LONDON IN THE 1990S, THE STREETS WERE LINED WITH CHOCOLATE BROWN CLASSICS'

STEPHEN BAYLEY: The Aesthete

'THE PARKING SPACE OUTSIDE MIGHT ALREADY HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY ONE OF THE DAVE CLARK FIVE IN A MINI COOPER'

DEREK BELL: The Legend

'60 YEARS AGO I WON MY FIRST RACE AND IN DOING SO MY WORLDVIEW TILTED ON ITS AXIS'

JAY LENO: The Collector

'THERE ARE NO SPARE PARTS, YOU MAKE THEM YOURSELF. WE DID THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE WE GOT IT RIGHT'

Richard Hammond

Top Gear and The Grand Tour star who now runs DriveTribe and The Smallest Cog classic vehicle restoration workshop

Mongolian madness

George Ratcliffe's first proper drive in his newly purchased Bentley was across Mongolia

Royal appointment

Salon Privé gears up for its London spectacular

Mullin UK still 'on' despite US closure

Those close to the £150m scheme claim collector's passing will not derail it

What became of Bravingtons?

Our man's horological rabbithole heralds an improptu tour of London

Eddie Rickenbacker

War hero, racer, motor manufacturer and more

COALS TO NEWCASTLE

A Cadillac V-16 restored on a Mediterranean isle may seem an unlikely California concours star, but Jeremy Jackson-Sytner (aka Mr Concours) was there to witness it

Mark Grinnall

From V8-engined Trumph TR7s via the three-wheeled Grinnall Scorpion to being an official dealer for Indian motorcycles-and there might be another surprise in store yet

the LOCOMOTIVE

Tony Hunter had always wanted a Bond car-so he designed and built his own, based on the descriptions in lan Fleming's books

WHO NEEDS TARMAC?

This off-road adventure features some very special V8-engined Defenders. Matthew Hayward endures the Land Rover Classic Trophy

THE ACCIDENTAL HERO

This 1950 Aston Martin DB2 was built for Le Mans - but missed the race. Yet that fact sells short a storied car with celebrity connections and enormous driver appeal