Oliver Taylor-Lane Engineer HERO-ERA

Born Oxford 08/09/2002

Growing up in South Oxfordshire, cars have always been a big part of Oliver’s life. With both his father and grandfather being car collectors, he never really had much choice but to get involved with them from an early age.

Oliver said; “I spent much of my childhood taking things apart to see how they worked, and despite never really being able to get away from cars, I have always loved working on them. That eventually turned into a career, and I have now been working professionally with cars for around ten years, starting my apprenticeship working predominantly on pre-war Rolls-Royces and Bentleys.”

Since then, Oliver’s experience has expanded across a wide range of historic competition and road cars. He has built and prepared 1950s and 1960s circuit cars, as well as restoring road cars from the same period. He has had the opportunity to work on some particularly special machinery, including 1950s and 1960s Formula 1 cars, an Aston Martin DBR4/2, Ferrari 625, prototype Ferrari 250s, a 250 SWB and 250 California Spider, as well as a Lamborghini Miura and Maserati Ghibli SS.

Although still only young, he has a broad work experience already! Oliver, or Oli as he is known at work, explained the extent of his work; “I have also worked on one of only two surviving Rolls-Royce Light Twenty cars. What I enjoy most is the variety and problem-solving involved in keeping these cars working and getting them ready to take part in events.” Certainly, a great talent and a work ethic that can only be of benefit to HERO-ERA.

But learning from tasks that don’t always go to plan is also important. Oli takes up the story; “One lesson that has certainly stayed with me was putting a small chip in the paintwork of an £8 million car while fitting a rear axle. It is safe to say it was one of the worst feelings I have ever had!”

Away from the workshop, Oli enjoys sailing, having spent his teenage summers teaching sailing, and he played rugby throughout school. These days he enjoys playing golf at the weekends and spending time in his vegetable garden.

In conclusion, Oli is a valued member of the HERO-ERA engineering team, but as ever he enhanced his skills on the job; Oli, “One of my early experiences with the company was perhaps a good indication of what was to come: I found myself taking an angle grinder to the Arrive Drive HERO-ERA 1 Mustang in the courtyard of a French chateau. It was certainly not something I had expected to be doing when I started my career!”