1928 Amilcar: French Joy
From the Archives, August 2017
Story and photos by Pete Vack
They are charming, as only a French car can be. They are rare; only a few were ever made, a long, long time ago. They are almost totally useless, as many classics are. They are relatively slow and they are stiffly sprung, as a car made in the mid-twenties can often be. Most have no differential, so a locked rear end is a way of life. They have no weather protection, making them inadequate outside of California. Parts must be fabricated, not bought. No one knows what they are. [Read more…] about 1928 Amilcar: French Joy
Ferrari Behind the Fence: Sebring 1961
Story and photos by Jeff Allison
Jeff Allison continues the series looking at Ferraris he photographed – this time in 1961. [Read more…] about Ferrari Behind the Fence: Sebring 1961
2026 Royal Automobile Club Concours
Margaret Hocking’s 1964 Abarth Simca 2000 Corsa, extensively campaigned in period at various Italian Hill climbs, and also contested the 1967 Targa Florio in the hands of Alfonso Vella and Alfonso Merendino, retiring after six laps.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
July seems to be the month for Concours events staged at the stately homes of England. This time it was supposed to be but a short drive up to Surrey to the country estate of the Royal Automobile Club on July 8 for the second edition of their Concours. But due to an accident on the southbound carriageway of the M23, the journey took twice as long, and these delays seem to be a theme starting here.
The RAC country estate, Woodcote Park, is up on the Surrey Downs just over the road from the Epsom horse racing track and it was yet another blooming hot day. Fantastic setting though, with parking on the golf course and then a short walk downhill to the main house passing a line of Supercars along the way. [Read more…] about 2026 Royal Automobile Club Concours
The Maserati 250 F: Discussion and Review
Appearing in 1954 with the new Formula 1 regulations increasing the engine capacity to 2.5 liters, the Maserati 250F has a tubular chassis. With its simplicity and elegant line, it symbolizes motorsport in the 50s. Its track record will culminate with the world champion title of Juan Manuel Fangio in 1957. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Text by the Editor
We shall not bemoan progress nor ignore change nor think that things were better in the past.
But wasn’t the Maserati 250F the greatest car of the greatest period in Grand Prix racing?
We think so. With 37 Grand Prix victories* credited to the 250 F (37 to Ferrari as well but with three different models), raced by every champion and would be champion, the 250 F was at once primitive, perilous, passionate, powerful, prolific, and praiseworthy, not to mention beautiful. [Read more…] about The Maserati 250 F: Discussion and Review
Heveningham Concours, 2026
Nick Mason is a strong supporter of this event as evidenced by his 1962 Ferrari GTO chassis 3757GT gracing the terraces.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Just back from the Heveningham Hall Concours, (July 4-5) lovely show but boy was it hot. Decided to travel to the event the day before and stay in a hotel so I could be at the gates bright and early. What should have been a two hour journey ended up taking over 4 hours; Friday afternoon in the South of England and the roads cannot cope. Anyway, arrived at the hotel at about 7pm with the outside temperature gauge on the Giulietta showing 37.5 degrees Celsius (99.5 F) and I thought, no that cannot be right, then I opened the car door…phew it was right… it was like opening an oven door.
The Bora Gets a New Lease on Life
One of just two racing Maserati Bora racing models built. ( Photo Grand Prix Library/Gauld)
Story and photos by Graham Gauld
For Jean Guikas, the French race car collector and dealer, two victories in the European Shell Ferrari-Maserati Historic Challenge finals at Vallelunga in November 1999 brought a happy conclusion to his quest to prove that the 1973 Group 4 Maserati Bora was a winner.
Fifty three years ago the excitement and enthusiasm of producing two special competition Maserati Bora’s was dampened by new rules and regulations which meant they could not be homologated for international racing. That appeared to be the end of the story but it was only the beginning.
Hillsborough Concours de Elegance 2026
1963 Citroën Ami 6 ( won best in the W* class)
By Brandes Elitch and Daniel De Gallo
Photos by Daniel De Gallo
Recently, it seems like all sorts of new car events are springing up in the “Concours d’Elegance” category. For instance, we have the new Wilton House Concours (“Concours des Legendes”), the Heveningham Concours, the London City Concours, the Concours at Hampton Court, the Royal Bahrain Concours, the Fuori Concorso, Moda Miami, Tegernsee, and the Aurora Concours in Sweden. You can’t tell the players without a scorecard. I imagine that our sophisticated readers would find an explanation for how and why this is all happening now.
The Annual Bastille Day Rally and Rendez-Vous, circa 2017
From the Archives, July 2017
Story by Philippe Defechereux
All photos by Philippe Defechereux
“Bastille Day,” which marks the official beginning of the French Revolution, is celebrated each July 14 in Paris along the Champs Elysées with great fanfare and a military parade. In the large cosmopolitan centers around the world where, often, sizeable French communities thrive, the commemoration varies according to the whims of the local French expatriate groups.
In New York City, this celebration of the French revolutionary spirit is conducted with particular audace and flair. In an event called “The Annual Bastille Day Rally and Rendez-Vous,” up to 40 vintage French cars and their owners gather up in the early morning in Grant’s Tomb Park, on Riverside Drive and 122nd Street. As the event’s key organizers are also the founders of the “Greater New York Citroën and Velosolex Club,” a majority of the cars are Citroëns, though you’ll find an occasional Peugeot or Renault.
Spa 24 Hours 2026
The Mustang attacks Eau Rouge, overlooked by the new grandstand. All the magic of night racing.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Two weeks after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s greatest endurance race, came the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, considered the greatest race reserved for GT cars.
While 2024 marked the race’s centenary and 2025 the 25th edition reserved for GT cars, this year, 2026, marks the 20th anniversary of GT3, an international class present in all corners of the globe and which makes up the entire starting grid.
Moreover, year after year, the success of this category remains undeniable, with 69 cars at the start, distributed among ten manufacturers as follows: 15 Porsches, 11 Mercedes, 8 McLarens, 8 Ferraris, 8 BMWs, 7 Aston Martins, 6 Audis, 2 Lamborghinis, 2 Fords, and 2 Chevrolets.
2026 ‘Simply French’ Car Meet at Beaulieu
UTELLUS
Story and photos by Gary Axon
Unlike the wet and cold ‘Simply Italian’ car meeting at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum that we reported on here late last year, this June’s 2026 ‘Simply French’ themed edition at the same venue was a very bright, sunny and hot meet that attracted a mixed variety of French vehicles, representing France’s top trio of current car makers, but with a few older classic Gallic machines too.
Wilton House Part 2
1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 ‘Testa Fissa’ meaning fixed head in this instance refers to the engine in that the block and cylinder head are all of a piece. Purchased new by British racing driver Sir Ronald Stewart and then raced at Brooklands by Land Speed Record holder Captain George Eyston, who it is believed designed the Leadbetter Coachworks-built aerodynamic body. Sold abroad, the bodywork became separated from the chassis but survived, allowing it to be reunited with the original chassis many years later.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
I thought, as it features quite heavily in the background of some of the photos, that I should perhaps give you a bit of history about Wilton House itself before we delve into what’s in the driveway and on the grass.