My usual email address is vack@cox.net. In addition, however, also address any emails to me at pete@velocetoday.com to ensure I am receiving your messages.
Sebring 1958: Dawn of the Red Heads
By Willem Oosthoek
All photos by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.
Saturday March 22, 1958, at 10 AM, would see the Le Mans start for the 8th Annual International Grand Prix of Endurance at Sebring, Florida, more commonly known as the Sebring 12 Hours. If the latter term is used, 1958 was actually the 7th edition, since the very first one – held in 1950 – was a six-hour event. Alec Ulmann had been the driving force from day one and he selected an abandoned airfield by the name of Hendricks Field near the town of Sebring. [Read more…] about Sebring 1958: Dawn of the Red Heads
Those Lovely Italianate Aston Martins
TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLEN R. KUHN
On our trip down memory lane this week we will be gazing upon some of the beautiful Aston Martin “Chariots of Power” that I was able to capture through my viewfinder. All of those in this part were taken at Palm Springs between 1956 to 1958. I did not even discover one of them until a year ago. It was a photo taken at Pomona in early 1956 and was the first DB3S I ever shot. It was the winner of the main with Bob Drake driving. It will be featured in my Aston Martin Part 2 story. [Read more…] about Those Lovely Italianate Aston Martins
Marcello Gandini, 1938-2024 P1
Marcello Gandini passed away on March 13, 2024 (age 85 years) in Rivoli, Italy.
In November of 2016, VeloceToday published a review of Gautam Sen’s new book, Marcello Gandini, Maestro of Design, an 800 page two volume opus. Our review was also in two parts as we featured a closer look at many of Gandini’s designs. As a tribute to the late, great designer, we are republishing these reviews as our archival features this week. Note that Sen’s book is out of stock from publisher Dalton Watson but a newer, less expensive version, Marcello Gandini Maestro of Design Revisited, will be available soon.
By Pete Vack
Right up front, let us tell you that this 800-page, two-volume set entitled Marcello Gandini, Maestro of Design is one of the best books on automotive designers we’ve ever read. We did a quick Internet search and found many new (and old) books on Italian designers, (see list at end of this article) but none that approached the coverage of Gandini. It is devastatingly interesting, beautifully illustrated, nails down the history of every design and/or car touched by Marcello Gandini. The author, Gautam Sen, weaves the designer’s comments (from an introvert who is almost incapable of commenting on himself or his work) into a fascinating story backed by interesting and relevant histories. [Read more…] about Marcello Gandini, 1938-2024 P1
Marcello Gandini 1938-2024 P2
This is Part 2 of our archived review at a tribute to Marcello Gandini who passed away on March 13, 2024 (age 85 years) in Rivoli, Italy. Note that Sen’s book is out of stock from publisher Dalton Watson but a newer, less expensive version, Marcello Gandini Maestro of Design Revisited, will be available soon.
By Pete Vack
As we have seen in last week’s review, this set is 800 pages long documenting the cars (and trucks) designed by Marcello Gandini. Volume One left off with the Ferrari 308GT4, one of Bertone’s few flirtations with the Maranello firm. After studying Gandini styles for some 400 pages, one may look at the 308GT4 with new and more appreciative eyes, and according to Sen, the Ferrari “…epitomizes the wedge look of the 70s extremely well.” Volume 2 begins in 1974, just when one might think Gandini’s career at Bertone is reaching its peak. But in fact it had just begun. [Read more…] about Marcello Gandini 1938-2024 P2
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ V2 Reviewed
Review by Pete Vack, Photos from the book
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ
Size: 29 x 24,8 cm
Weight: 8,2 kg
Language: English – German
Authors: Martin Übelher & Patrick Dasse
ISBN 978-3-87166-086-3
Free shipping within Germany.
Order here
Volume two of five naturally begins where V1 left off, chronicling the events of the second half of 1964 beginning with the Cesana-Sestriere hillclimb on the 26th of July and continuing to the end of the Le Mans race of 1966. [Read more…] about Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ V2 Reviewed
Medardo Fantuzzi by Graham Gauld
Story by Graham Gauld
One outstanding element in the rise of Modena as a center for high performance road cars and racing cars in the 1950s was the proliferation of specialist artisans each of whom contributed something unique to the picture. As a result, there were numerous coachbuilders, many of whom were linked to companies like Stanguellini, Maserati, OSCA and Ferrari, so it was normal that at one time or another they would intermingle.
A typical example would be Carrozzeria Fantuzzi founded by Medardo Fantuzzi, who was born in 1906 in Bologna and trained as an engineer. In 1927 he and his brother Gino joined Maserati as apprentices shortly after the Maserati brothers started building their own racing cars.
Fellini’s Fantuzzi Ferrari and the 540 Aperta
By Wallace Wyss
From the VeloceToday Archives, 2010
Let’s say you have more money than God and way back you saw an old Italian movie that had a sexy car in it. The movie was by Fellini and the car, as near as anyone can tell, was a special by Fantuzzi, and/or originally installed on a racing chassis.
According to our friends at Coachbuild.com, “Fantuzzi’s golden Spider body was first installed on the chassis of 330 TR-LM #0808TR in 1963. After its racing career, this 330 TR-LM also received a new Coupe body by Fantuzzi and the car was once offered for sale with both the Coupe and the Spider body. In 1964 the Spider body was constructed onto #4381SA – originally the first of four 1963 330 LM Berlinettas.” All this before appearing in its first and only movie.
The Incredible F1 Alfa powered Racecars P2
Story by Robert Young
The 1962 South African Grand Prix season would also be see successful Alfa powered racecars. Ernest Pieterse, a proprietor of an Alfa Romeo dealership engaged Peter de Klerk to assist with the fitting of Alfa power to his championship winning Heron.
The South Africans were adept at building ‘specials’ and Doug Serrurier of LDS fame, a close friend of van der Vyver and de Klerk, used Alfa power in his early constructions. “Pure racing parts were hard and expensive to come by and I remember that to make larger valves Doug modified Model T Ford valves in his engine,” recalled Lew Baker.
The Incredible F1 Alfa powered Racecars
Story by Robert Young
In the late 1950s, after years of austerity following WW2, as motor racing became more ‘professional’ in South Africa and factory-built racing chassis began to take their place on the grids and displace the ingenious ‘specials,’ the drivers sought the cheapest and most efficient engine power.
The 1½-liter South African Formula One Championship from 1960 to 1965 up to the adoption of the 3-liter formula was notable for the use of Alfa Romeo power for many of the contenders. Contrary to popular opinion these engines were not imported racing motors but were self-modified by the resourceful locals.
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ V1 Reviewed
Review by Pete Vack, Photos from the book
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ
Size: 29 x 24,8 cm
Weight: 8,2 kg
Language: English – German
Authors: Martin Übelher & Patrick Dasse
ISBN 978-3-87166-086-3
Free shipping within Germany.
Order here
Once upon a time many moons ago Marcello Minerbi put together a fine book on the series, titled Alfa Romeo Zagato SZ e TZ but it was slim; less than 200 pages were devoted to all three Zagatos, the SZ, TZ and TZ2. It did have a comprehensive list of chassis numbers with owners up to 1985 when it was published by La Mille Miglia Editrice. In 2017 Vito Witting Da Prato published his excellent, first hand look at the development of the TZ 1 and TZ 2, Alfa Romeo TZ-TZ2 Born to Win. As good as both books were, the definitive TZ book remained unwritten. [Read more…] about Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ V1 Reviewed
Miska’s Models
Story and photos by Herb Miska
Sixteen years ago, I moved for the second time since I retired – this time into an old ranch house with a huge basement which included a beautiful workshop. It gave me the place and incentive to resume a hobby I hadn’t practiced for over 50 years, the building of model cars from scratch.