I used to be so much more into cars and such when I was a younger man than I am now. Although I've lost that lust to a large extent, I've become more and more interested in classic cars and motorbikes as I've got older. So yesterday was a real treat when I visited Steff's several workshops near Borgo Val di Taro in Italy.

The workshops hide quite a substantial collection of vehicular treasures at various stages of restoration including a Mercedes 300 Automatic, Lancia Flamina, Alpha Romeo GT, Austin Healey, and Mercedes SL. There are also numerous classic British motorbikes including Nortons, Triumphs, BSA, Royal Enfield. Sunbeam, Velocettes and Matchless.

My favourite motorbike has to be one one of the old BSA bikes with their distinctive sunburst tank badges.

In terms of favourite car, it has to be the Mercedes 300 Automatic, with its blood red interior; a proper mobsters car with a rich history that Steff was all to eager to share. I was later to find out that James Gandolfini Snr, father of the Italian/American actor who brought us the famous dramatised Mafia boss Tony Soprano, was born in Borgo Val di Taro. The car would have been a worthy chariot for Tony driving around New Jersey or maybe one of his ancestors.