Articles/Interviews

HOW'S this for motor power? Wild man Oliver Reed has taken delivery of a monster car that can match his thirst and flamboyance. It is a ten-miles-to-the-gallon, 130 mph limousine.

Like outrageous Olly, it's unique a one-off job that took four men nine months to create by hand. And like film star Olly, it's always full of grog... stored in a refrigerated booze cabinet.

A Panther de Ville built in Surrey, it is styled on a 1930 Dusenberg used by Al Capone. So when Olly first saw his new super-toy he donned his Godfather gear for the day. Those sinister shades hid not just the previous night's hangover but a gleam of pride at owning one of Britain's most luxurious cars. The metallic gold and brown machine cost him �60,000. The engine, as fiery as Olly's temper, is a 5.3 litre Jaguar unit - and he has made sure of lunch with punch by installing a picnic hamper in the boot.

Says Olly: "I promise not to drink too much when I drive it." But if you see him on the motorway don't try to prove your wheels are as hot as him - he also has a rack of shotguns in there somewhere.