Mercruiser Sterndrive Pre Alpha Outdrive Steering Tube on 2040-parts.com

Monterey in a Mulsanne – a Bentley mission to Pebble Beach

After a ten-and-a-half-hour flight from London, the idea of steering headlong – and solo – into the early Los Angeles rush-hour traffic in a five-and-a-half-metre-long, left-hand drive Bentley Mulsanne (worth some £230,000 with extras) and on the other side of the road to which I am familiar, might seem a little daunting. But as soon as I sink into the super saloon’s big leather seats, Bluetooth my iPhone to stream some music via the Naim premium audio, turn up the air-conditioning and press the accelerator gently, all becomes well. LAX Airport may be my starting point but the final destination is the Monterey Peninsula towards San Francisco, some 400 miles northward, for the world-famous annual classic car show Pebble Beach.

Mustang cocreator Donald Frey dies

Donald Frey, a senior product planning manager at Ford Motor Co. in the 1960s who along with Hal Sperlich and Lee Iacocca developed the iconic Ford Mustang, died on March 5 in Evanston, Ill., from a stroke. He was 87 years old.

Volvo V40 & V40 Cross Country: 2014 updates announced

Volvo are updating the new V40 for 2014 with new engine and gearbox options and a new 4WD option for the V40 Cross Country in Europe. There’s a new petrol engine choice – to go with the existing T3, T4 and T5 – in the 120PS T2 petrol engine, a 1.6 litre which offers 53.3mpg and emissions of 124g/km, a good choice if you don’t like to hustle, don’t do big mileage and pay your own bills. As well as a new engine option, Volvo are offering an auto option on the V40 D2 and V40 R-Design D2 which manages economy of 68.9mpg and emissions of 102g/km.