Vintage Hurst 4 Speed T-handle on 2040-parts.com

Councils urged to shun yellow lines

COUNCILS are being asked to cut unsightly yellow lines as part of a Government drive to rid the streets of clutter. Local Transport Minister Norman Baker has urged local authorities to think about using restricted parking zones, instead of automatically opting to use yellow lines to control parking, particularly in single streets and environmentally-sensitive areas in towns and cities. Restricted parking zones require a limited number of signs which tell motorists if they can or can not park and during which times and are considered less intrusive than conventional yellow lines.

Ferrari SP FFX revealed – it’s not a looker

The one-off Ferrari SP FFX – complete with white fringe and coupe roof. Ferrari Special Operations is the division of Ferrari that relieves very well-heeled punters of vast quantities of cash to create one-off specials – just like Eric Clapton’s Ferrari SP12 EC. But a big bank account doesn’t necessarily equate to great taste, at least not if the only image we have of Ferrari’s latest one-off creation – the Ferrari SP FFX – is anything to go by.

Volkswagen 'will build the XL1' - Piech

Volkswagen will build the radical 313mpg XL1 eco cigar in 2013, Ferdinand Piech revealed at the Qatar motor show. In an interview with Automotive News, the VW chairman said: 'We want to go into series production with this car starting in 2013.' He insisted it would go on sale to real people, not just as media demonstrators. And VW chief exec Martin Winterkorn added the XL1 would be sold in Europe first, then be rolled into the US and Chinese car markets.