The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
By Brandes Elitch
The car collection hobby has a number of specialists who have devoted many years of their lives to a particular aspect of the restoration process, and it is safe to say that Mike Rabin’s name is synonymous with wheel discs. If he hasn’t made the one you want, just call him, and he will likely say, “I think I can make it – send me a picture.”
[Read more…] about Mike Rabin: Discography
By Brandes Elitch
Senna, the movie, won the World Cinema Audience Award in the documentary category at the Sundance Festival this year.
Abarth750 (inset), Pat Olsen with the 'Herbie' Scorpion Abarth. Large photo by Petya Elitch.
By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Petya Elitch
For the automotive enthusiast, there cannot be too many experiences like the Monterey Historics. The two Goodwood events might come close, but I draw a blank after that. I started attending in 1979, and I have never missed a year. For me, it’s just a three hour drive south, so as I see it, it would be negligent of me not to attend, right? Yet, even after all those years, the first few hours there are still a shock.
The most amazing cars are everywhere, on every street and in every driveway (the good citizens of Carmel-by-the-Cash-Register are happy to rent rooms in their homes for the visiting hordes). As my photographer/wife and I drove the detour through Seaside on our way to the Concorso, a small green car pulled up next to us at the light. She asked me what it was, and I turned to look at it. I started stammering, and she said, “What’s wrong?” I said, “Well, it looks like it looks like the Frazer Nash coupe that raced at LeMans in the 1950’s, but I’ve only seen it in photographs.” Here is a car that you could spend an hour looking at; the problem is that there is stuff like this everywhere! Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of activity, it is easy to see just the most outrageous and miss many other jewels that are not so obvious. In this column, I want to talk about two cars that you might have missed, but it would have been a shame if you did. They are Abarths.
Robert Strand's restored Abarth 750 Zagato. With all the right bits and pieces aside from a full leather interior. Photo by Pety Elitch.
The first of three featured cars selected from Concorso Italiano is this Lancia Flaminia Berlina. It was one of Batista Pininfarina's favorite designs; simple, elegant, refined and very attractive. Photo by Petya Elitch.
By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Petya Elitch
Last year I wrote a historical retrospective of the Concorso, which you can find at (click here). This is a large show – about 850 cars were displayed this year. Even in Italy, you wouldn’t get close to a thousand collector cars in one venue. If you are an Italian car collector (and if not, why are you reading this?) the Concorso should be on your list of things to do before you are permanently flagged off the course, so to speak. I would like to feature three cars which I found compelling, a purely arbitrary selection, and give you an overview of the event.
Panhard: the Dynamic was made from 1936-9. It was the largest unibody car made at that time, with the steering wheel in the center of the dashboard. Even today, the styling is very dramatic!
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos courtesy of the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum
At Retromobile, a few years ago, I picked up a copy of “Le Guide: Musees Automobiles de France,” published by the magazine “Auto Passion.” The guide covers 36 car museums. Some are well known: the museum at the LeMans circuit, the Schumpf (their equivalent of a National Motor Museum), Le Manoir, near Rennes, the Cadillac museum near Tours, the Henri Malartre museum, housed in an old mansion, near Lyon. I’ve seen all of these, and they are definitely worth seeing. But as it turns out, you can visit one of the most outstanding French car museums, without even leaving the US. That’s because it is located on the west coast of Florida – the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum. [Read more…] about French Cars at Florida’s Tampa Bay Museum
Commentary By Brandes Elitch
Last week (February 7th), two different cars were listed for sale on eBay Motors. While they appear to have nothing in common, these two listings raise some important questions. The first, item 220734001769, was a 1952 Ferrari 212 Pinin Farina coupe. To quote from the listing, “212 body in great condition, mounted on a metal dolly with wheels to roll around…it is unbelievable…you could fit an American engine and chassis and have a half million dollar look at the country club. The chassis and engine was used to build a beautiful 212 Touring- bodied barchetta.”
[Read more…] about Delage and Ferrari in the Barn: Reality as a Concept
The Doctor's fine four door carriage. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt and Steve Snyder
“I like cars that nobody can maintain!”
Dr. Rick Zeiger, on the restoration of Excellence sedan EX12A
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is still the most famous in the world, and likes to feature recently restored cars that have never been shown since their restoration. This year, Dr. Rick Zeiger entered his 1958 FACEL Excellence sedan, a car that he has owned for 12 years and only recently finished. [Read more…] about Facel Vega Excellence Sedan
Searching in vain for Car Night. Photo by Ean McDowell
By Brandes Elitch
One rotten apple…
Many large metropolitan areas have some kind of weekly or monthly version of “Car Night,” where car guys get together, show off their cars, and (typically) eat and drink for a few hours. [Read more…] about Car Night in L.A. Goes Dark
Rare stars often appear at Concorso Italiano. This Bizzarrini Manta, for example--
By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Petya Elitch
Twenty five years ago, Francis “Frank” Mandarano began what has become known as the “Concorso Italiano.” Mandarano had previously started a club for Maserati owners, and a company to sell Maserati parts, and even a restoration shop, located outside of Seattle. [Read more…] about Concorso Italiano–Opening Shots
Preservation is preferable to restoration for Dr. Fred Simeone. Above, his Alfa 8C2900.
Doing no harm to historically accurate artifacts
By Brandes Elitch
In June of 2008, Dr. Frederick Simeone opened the doors of a unique car museum, dedicated to the spirit of competition, and featuring some of the most valuable and desirable sports and racing cars ever made. About 60 cars are arranged in dioramas, many with a common theme such as Le Mans or the Mille Miglia. [Read more…] about Simeone’s Automotive Hippocratic Oath
The French and Italians at Hershey…
Story and Photos by Brandes Elitch
For many years, I have attended the Antique Automobile Club of America’s (AACA) Annual Fall Meet, also known as “Hershey,” its actual location. By some happy coincidence, my birthday usually falls during the Hershey swap meet. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate it than walking through the flea market that has attracted car collectors worldwide since 1955. [Read more…] about Hershey: An American Tradition
By Brandes Elitch
One of the most striking cars at the first edition of La Dolce Vita at the Monterey Historics was a 1957 Alfa 1900 Primavera coupe with a Boano body. This car is so rare that I have never even seen a picture of one. [Read more…] about 1957 Alfa 1900 Boano Primavera