As an extraordinary year for the Bonhams Motoring team draws to a close and a new auction season begins, this issue of ignition provides a chance to take stock. Not only has 2012 seen the team defy a difficult economic climate to achieve a global sale total in excess of any other year in the company's history, but a number of records – both departmental and world auction records alike – have been broken. Among the sales that set departmental records in 2012 were the auction at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell in May, two sales at Goodwood in June and September, and November's auction at our flagship salerooms in New Bond Street, London. Meanwhile exceptional prices were achieved for a number of individual motor cars, motorcycles and items of automobilia, led of course by a new world record set at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale in June, where the ex-Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin 1929-31 Bentley 4½-liter 'Blower' Single-Seater sold for £5,041,500 to set the highest price ever achieved for a British car at auction. Our Review of the Year takes a look back at some of the highlights of this incredible year. Alongside this now-traditional review of the past year, this issue also looks forward to the first sales of the department's 2013 season,in particular a Bonhams return to the Grand Palais in Paris, France,in early February. We also offer our usual mix of news from the department and sale reviews, and present our expanded auction calendar for 2013.Finally, offering a particular insight into the man who built the Bonhams brand, our chairman Robert Brooks chooses his top motor vehicles of the 20th and 21st centuries in our Specialist's Choice. Expect some unusual choices...