Covini's six wheeled sportscar

For a road-going six-wheeler though, there is no aerodynamic advantage and there's additional cost and mechanical complexity, none of which matter on a very expensive, low-volume supercar such as the Covini.

The P34 experienced a host of development issues which technology has since solved.

The P34 had trouble with cooling the rear-front-brakes - materials technology has solved that problem.

The P34 had trouble when front wheels locked, because a front-front lock-up effectively lengthened the wheelbase and slowed the steering whereas a rear-front lock-up shortened the chassis and quickened the steering. The development of anti-lock braking technologies in the subsequent decades can ensure that all four front wheels retain optimum traction.

Covini's car certainly looks the business - in the go-department it is powered by an Audi 4.2 litre V8 motor (283.4 kw / 380 bhp @ 6400 rpm) which powers it to a top speed of 300 kmh.

No price has yet been set for the Covini, but as the saying goes, 'if you have to ask the price on this car, you can't afford it.'

SPECIAL THANKS - thanks to FIA Thoroughbred Grand Prix World Championship for the photos of the P34 Tyrrell. The TGP F1 championship series will be the feature of an upcoming article - check out the series web site where you can follow what is essentially vintage motorsport in ex-F1 cars and if you have a lazy $500K don't miss their used car section which is comprised of largely ex-F1 racecars.