GAYDON | Red sector | Jul 2011 | 50231A

This gauge, with its aviation-inspired layout, somehow encapsulates so much of the story of early motoring. The red zone leaves you in no doubt that those big pistons and valves wouldn't survive the stresses of 3500 rpm for long. This was engineering as adventure, far from the bland ergonomic mouldings of today's plastic cup-holders and flat-screen displays. Progress?