Here's Everything You Need To Know About The Alfa Disco Volante

Last weekend's Top Gear saw the boys back on form, but the limelight was stolen by that stunning Alfa Romeo Disco Volante. Crafted by Milanese coachbuilders Touring, it is based on the chassis of the already stunning 8C Competizione.

But how do you get one? Well, it's pretty simple. First, you have to shell out around £150,000 for your own 8C coupe, of which only 500 were made. Then you give Touring a call and book it in for its conversion - though the firm is only making eight, so you'll need to get on with it. Oh, and prices are strictly "if you have to ask, you can't afford it."

Once it's in the workshop, Touring hacks off your gorgeous 8C's panels, leaving behind the chassis and drivetrain. It's a good thing to leave in place, given that it has a 444bhp 4.7-litre V8 at the heart of it. Touring's talented workmen then set about fitting the mix of beautifully hand-crafted aluminium and carbonfibre-reinforced plastic panels.

And all that aluminium really is hand-crafted, beaten into shape by skilled craftsmen. The rear arches, rear bumper and boot are formed of a single piece of metal. There are no welds. A machine just couldn't do that with such a complex shape.

This work of art is an homage to the original 1952 C52 lightweight racing Alfa, which shares the Disco Volante name (meaning Flying Saucer in Italian). It's easy to see why the name was chosen, with the futuristic low-drag design evoking images of a 1950s sci-fi vision of the future.

So if you've got a fat wedge of cash in your wallet, or a very generous bank manager, it's definitely worth a trip to Milan to see these guys.