Sadly, the digger that put paid to Roger Beckermann’s Miura in the film also finished off both E-types and Charlie Croker’s own DB4 Convertible.  All three were despatched to the bottom of a ravine at the start of the British gang’s adventures in Italy.

The sale, which takes place on 10 August, really does have something for everyone. For a leisurely ride around the 'Ring, how about a 1963 Ford Thunderbird or an Alfa Romeo 1750? More suitable for the famous and formidable circuit are the sweaty-palm-inducing, single-seater racing cars, of which there are several on offer. Our pick is the Minardi M186, driven by Alessandro Nannini and Andrea de Cesaris in the 1986 Formula One World Championship. With a powerful but reliable Cosworth engine, this car is eligible for many historic F1 events around the world.

We think so, at any rate. A few years ago, Classic Driver took a Blenheim to Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire. We collected the silver four-seater from the famous Bristol showrooms in Kensington and drove it to one of England’s prettiest areas, the Cotswolds — thus doing all the city townhouse and country retreat stuff typical of a Bristol owner.

Daimler has a distinguished royal connection; its limousines have carried monarchs in comfort and style ever since King Edward VII. In order to gain royal approval on the all-important delivery date, the manufacturer fastidiously prepared this 2001 Super V8 LWB through some 2,500 pre-delivery miles, testing every nut and bolt, ensuring everything was in order.

And when we say ‘finest’, we don’t simply mean the pick of the Conservative life peer’s extensive garage. No, when speaking of such cars as the ex-Camoradi Maserati Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage’, one has to say that these are best-of-the-best, Premier Cru lots with a virtually open entry to any one of the world’s best events.

Since Aston’s move to Gaydon, its engines and powertrain systems have been sourced mainly from Ford, at the time owner of Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover.

Nowadays, an engine is just one important part of a complex system of electronics controlling performance, economy and emissions. For such a small company, it’s no longer economically viable to develop its own systems – hence the tie-up with AMG, masters of powerful, economical petrol engines.

And there will also be the opportunity to share parent company Mercedes-Benz’s knowledge of advanced automotive electronics.

“Mon dieu!” one might exclaim – although the quirky ‘upmarket 2CV’ styled by Flaminio Bertoni has its fans. Back to more traditional fare, top-selling car was the 1965 AC Cobra 427 Roadster, which sold for 439,200 euros. This was followed by that sharply designed wonder of the 1970s, the 1976 Lancia Stratos that generated a winning bid of 312,900 euros.

Ami 6 apart, another quirky, futuristic entry that sold for good old-fashioned big bucks was the 45,700 euros, 1958 BMW Isetta 600 Moretti.

But that’s not the case with the drop-top Range Rover one-off created by California-based Newport Convertible Engineering. When the folding fabric roof is lowered, it leaves the rear windows and B-pillars standing proud… and we don’t like the angular, decapitated look one little bit. Some cars don’t lend themselves easily to ‘convertibilisation’ – or whatever the word is – and a no-nonsense off-roader is one of them.

Two kestrels have wisely chosen one of the most spectacular nesting sites in Munich. Located almost 100 metres up, the birds – perched on the blue and white corporate emblems – share their view with around 1,500 BMW employees in the dramatically styled high-rise.