Antoine Prunet, seen facing the camera in this picture with former Renault Formula 1 Team Manager Jean Sage, was the author of many books on the history of Ferrari.
Text and photo by Graham Gauld
I was very sad to hear that the much-respected Ferrari historian Antoine Prunet died last week of cancer. He had been ill for some time and only a few weeks ago his wife passed away, so the end of his life was very tragic.
I knew Antoine for about fifty years as we often met at one event or another and emailed frequently. Those of us who knew him will testify that he was always approachable, and appreciative of any assistance and information one could bring to his massive archives.
He and his Italian friend and historian, Franco Lombardi, had been working on the ultimate history of the four-cylinder Ferrari models for many years. I supplied some photos for the 4-cylinder book and he helped me identify cars I saw being built at the Ferrari factory. Antoine and Franco were able to nearly complete what has turned into a huge two-volume tome with over a thousand photographs, but it remains to be seen whether it will be published
A partial list of his most popular works:
Ferrari: Sports racing and prototype competition cars (A Foulis motoring book) 1983
Ferrari Sport et Prototypes 1978
Mythos Ferrari. 1991
Ferrari Sport E Pototipi 1983
Pininfarina 2001
PININFARINA Art and Industry 1930-2000 2000
The Ferrari Legend: The Road Cars 1981
Fantastic Ferraris (English and French Edition) With Peter Vann | 1988
Ferrari : Sport Racing and Prototypes Competition Cars 1988
We offer our condolences to his family and close friends.
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Sue Dixon, 1951-2023
We recently learned that Alfa enthusiast, lawyer and Morgan horse breeder Susan Dixon passed away in Connecticut on February 20. She was 72 years old. She was a most remarkable, intelligent and courageous person. Our condolences to her friends and family.
Instead of an obituary, we republish a story she wrote for VeloceToday in 2013. Click on the link below.
in the early ’80s i think it was the ferrari club magazine that had an article about a couple guys who were developing a nice sideline by finding 4cyl ferrari parts. they recalled one being blown up at the first stuttgart arkansas race–’59–and over 20 years later found the engine in a local garage! careful negotiations got them the engine, and although it had thrown a rod, had the other 3/4ths in near-perfect condition; the crank was unhurt. i haven’t heard anything about them since.
As editor of Prancing Horse, I worked with Antoine Prunet on a recurring article he called “Hidden Gems.” We had many an animated long distance call from Denver, Colorado to France trying to get things right. I had to really focus and concentrate on the calls as Antoine didn’t like his stuff edited, and he would get a bit excited and hard to understand. He particularly didn’t like being limited to just two pages, and I could see him on the other end of the line throwing his head back and raising his arms to make a point to me.
We’ve lost another one of Ferrari’s dedicated historians. I hope the book Graham Gauld mentions is, in fact, published to continue to carry on Antoine’s legacy.
Well respected & a friend.
Will bE missed.