My favourite Martin

THE Aston Martin One-77 has a top speed of 354km/h, but Frank Hillier didn’t get anywhere near that as he inched the $2 million handmade supercar into position for this year’s Sydney Motor Show.

Given it’s the only car of its type in Australia and one of 77 in the world, the semiretired transport operator was concentrating on not scraping the paintwork.

‘‘ I always take my shoes off, but I leave my socks on,’’ Mr Hillier, 67, says.

The One-77 is a late surprise for the show, confirmed last Friday after the owner, who wishes t o remain anonymous, agreed to put the car on display for 10 days.