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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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A Past Recalled: Gijsbert-Paul Berk

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We asked Gijsbert-Paul Berk to tell us about his visits to Saoutchik and Franay in the early 1950s, as mentioned in Peter Larsen’s three volume book on Saoutchik. One question led to another and soon we had a very interesting article about a very special man.

From the Archives, November 2014

Story by Gijsbert-Paul Berk

Thank goodness for Sir Peter Ustinov. The versatile British actor was known to many car buffs of previous generations, even those with little theatrical interests, thanks to his hilarious Riverside recording of the Gibraltar Grand Prix and other records. However only intimates were aware that Ustinov himself was a lifelong car enthusiast with a penchant for classic automobiles and sports cars. [Read more…] about A Past Recalled: Gijsbert-Paul Berk

Bugatti Type 57 G Tank: What Lies Beneath

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Above, a picture of the Bugatti T57 G Tank, just before the start of the 1937 24 hr. of Le Mans with J.P. Wimille. The use of Elektron alloy in the body would not be discovered for another 76 years. Photo courtesy Bugatti Trust

By Alan Yankolonis

In addition to winning two French Sports Car Grand Prix and setting land speed records in 1936 which stood for 29 years, the Simeone Foundation’s Bugatti T57 G Tank was the first Bugatti to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Initially the car was built for the 1936 French Sports Car Grand Prix that was established and later to set speed records in 1936. Of three, perhaps four built, this is the only Bugatti Tank known to survive.*

In 2013, Audi was introducing the new limited-edition Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, and Audi USA approached Dr. Fredrick Simeone to obtain color samples from the 1936 Bugatti T57G, and to discuss the possibility of displaying that car at the Quail Lodge during the 2013 Pebble Beach Concourse in Monterey, California. The idea was to paint the show car in the same color scheme as the 1937 Le Mans winner. Their request to Dr. Simeone was to conduct color matching tests on the Le Mans winner and explore the opportunity to have the museum car displayed side by side with the new Vitesse at the Quail Lodge. After much discussion an agreement was made to copy the color of the Le Mans winner, and make arrangements to have the museum car transported to California for display alongside the Vitesse.

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The Ferraris and Maseratis of Dr Wax

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1739GT at Monterey in 2014. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo

Story by Graham Gauld

For companies like Ferrari and Maserati, the importance of the private customer could never be underestimated, and with Ferrari in particular, Enzo was always willing to do anything for certain clients. One such was Dr Enrico Wax from Genoa, who always demanded something special and different. As a result, he had the ear of Mr Ferrari. [Read more…] about The Ferraris and Maseratis of Dr Wax

The Renault 4CV Part 3: The Competition Cars

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Le Mans 1952 – the factory R1063 group just before the start. © Renault Communication

Story by John Waterhouse*

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After the new Renault 4CV was exhibited at the October, 1947 Paris Motor show, the car went into series production. The new model was soon involved in competition, the first recorded example being the July 1948 “Rallye Internationale des Alpes” . After this, various private and factory (“usines”) entries followed in a range of events, initially using the 760 cc R1060 model, competing in the 751 to 1,100 cc class.

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Fred Simeone: Honors and Displays

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Our favorite diorama at the Simeone Foundation. Courtesy Simeone Foundation

By Pete Vack

On June 8th, Fred Simeone turned 84 years old, but his energy and enthusiasm for the Simeone Foundation has not abated. Perhaps that is another reason he topped The Classic Car Trust’s list of 100 car collectors. We explain the honor and also look at how Fred designed the fantastic dioramas that are so much a part of the magic of the museum.

The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum is the only organization to have been awarded “Museum of the Year” (2011), “Publication of the Year” (2012), and “Car of the Year” (2014) by the International Historic Motoring Group, and in 2017 the Foundation also won the Octane Award–Museum of the Year.

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The Renault 4CV Part 2: 14 years of production

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The author’s late-1950 R1062 car, with wind-up front windows. The characteristic spider wheels were discontinued in 1957.

Story by John Waterhouse
Author photos unless otherwise noted

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Background

After being exhibited at the October, 1947 Paris Motor Show, production of the Renault 4CV gradually increased from 503 cars for sale that year to a peak of 138,000 in 1955. The grand total was 1,089,918 by the time production stopped in 1961.

The Renault 4CV was the first model in France to exceed a production total of one million, quite enough to put it in the automotive history books. The outcome was more noteworthy as it was a complete change for Renault, who pinned the very survival of the Regie to the success of a small, unorthodox car that was unlike anything they had built before.

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Etceterini Corner Number Two

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Fiat 508 C Ala d’Oro, Mille Miglia 2017. More on this in our mini feature below.

Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt unless otherwise noted

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For our second edition of Etceterini Corner, we present another series of images by Hugues Vanhoolandt taken over a period of years. Although seven of the eight images are of different Erminis, we focus on the Ala d’Oro, a fascinating car meant more for the street than the track. How many were made is a good question.

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Dale Powers’ Fascinating Finds Part 4

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1953 DB racer

Story by Eric Davison
Photos courtesy Dale Powers
From the Archives, December 2016

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Over the course of his life Dale Powers searched out, owned, repaired, restored and driven too many cars to be either recorded or described. They have included, Jaguars, including an SS100, Porsches, Fiats, a Sprint car or two, MGs and just about anything else that is interesting.” What an automotive life!

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Fred Simeone: Gifts of the Father

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A young Fred Simeone stands next to the 1937 Cord owned by his father Anthony, who inspired him to not only become a great neurosurgeon but an avid car collector. The car is still part of the Simeone collection.

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy Fred Simeone

Twelve years ago your Editor wrote an article for Automobile Quarterly about the Simeone Foundation Museum, which had just opened. Soon, the Museum will open once again after closing for the Covid-19 pandemic, and we decided to update that article for use in VeloceToday. Below is the our story about Dr. Simeone and his father Anthony, as published in V48 N3 of AQ; the first of several about the Simeone Foundation.

Fred Simeone inherited his father’s acute intelligence and penchant for medicine but also a passion for cars.  “What Dad gave me was more important than money,“ said Simeone.

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The Renault 4CV Part 1: First of a Million

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Renault’s first 1942 prototype (destroyed when the factory was bombed by the allies). ©Renault Communication

Story by John Waterhouse*

The Renault 4CV was a child of World War II. The German army had occupied northern France, including the Renault works at Billancourt on the outskirts of Paris and production continued, under strong pressure to provide vehicles for Germany’s war efforts. [Read more…] about The Renault 4CV Part 1: First of a Million

The Final Splendors of Hampton Court, 2019

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Following display at the Paris Salon this prototype Pegaso, along with two other cars, were presented to General Franco at the Pardo Palace.

Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Information in captions from event catalog

Bet you thought we were done with Hampton Court 2019, but we only gave you Alfa to Ferrari. Here are the rest in all of their splendor. We hope the swans will be return to the next Hampton Court Concours, still scheduled to take place on September 4-6, 2020, and they have lined up a number of very special Alfas for the event.

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Dale Powers’ Fascinating Finds Part 3

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Dale and his very special 4 1/4 sports racing Bentley posed with the motor home that took him and Marcia to vintage events around America.

Story by Eric Davison
Photos courtesy Dale Powers

From the Archives, December 2016

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Vintage racing was an activity ideally perfect for Dale Powers. He joined the SVRA in 1978; his membership is #9. In 1978 vintage racing was a great place for those who had dreams of being Stirling Moss, and magnificent old race cars were available on the cheap.

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