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Sharp at Retromobile, February 5-9, 2020

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

How best to sum up Retromobile (February 5-9) in a few words; variety, rarity and quality! This year it was perhaps a little bit crowded at times and halls two and three could do with a renovation. But according to the press release from the organizers, 620 exhibitors exhibited, 1100 vehicles were on display over an area of 75,000 square meters, and 122,000 people attended over the five days of the show. Imagine what it would be like if it were to be held in summer! [Read more…] about Sharp at Retromobile, February 5-9, 2020

Siata Daina, Gran Sport and Assorted Others

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Daina, Diana, Gran Sport or none of the above?

Story by staff, and color photos by Gianni Petta

Gianni Petta, known for his wonderful Targa Florio dioramas, sent along a series of photos of a variety of Siatas, all taken in Italy, at the Targa Florio or the Mille Miglia vintage avents in the past few years. This prompted us to recall a very thorough road test of the Siata Gran Sport conducted by a rare early sports car magazine, which we quote from below. And why was it called a Gran Sport and Daina at the same time? [Read more…] about Siata Daina, Gran Sport and Assorted Others

Vanhoolandt at Retromobile Bertone Display

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Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Text by staff

Despite being under the weather in more ways than one, Hugues Vanhoolandt returned from Retro last week and was able to send us a selection of photos from the display of the Bertone collection, which now includes a few post Gandini era concept cars. While at the show, Hugues determined to wait and snap interior photos when possible, as unusual and advanced interiors were the hallmark of Gandini’s art, and it was carried on after his departure from Bertone in 1978. The magic left with him. [Read more…] about Vanhoolandt at Retromobile Bertone Display

Fiat Freakout 2019: The Winners

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Adam and Rheana Watts won best Fiat 500 in this year’s Fiat Freakout.

By Philippe H. Defechereux © 2020
Event photos by Tim Beeble

In Part 1 of this report, the participants’ spirit had already been brightened by a surprise-filled countryside rally, a go-pro go-kart challenge or, for the sightseeing-inclined, a well-staged visit to historical Old Salem. But the fun was far from over: a fabulous Friday evening experience was still awaiting those who love movie thrillers filled with spectacular car chases and it would take place outdoors in a vast bucolic area and start at 8 pm close to sunset.

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Cavallino Classic 2020

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Tom Peck’s 750 Monza prototype, s/n 0428 MD, won the Scuderia Ferrari Cup at the Cavallino Classic, awarded to the finest competition Ferrari on the field. This Ferrari started out as a 500 Mondial in 1954, but was quickly upgraded to a 750 Monza at the factory.

By Alan Boe

The 29th annual Cavallino Classic was held from January 22 to 26 in Palm Beach, Florida, headquartered at The Breakers Hotel and Resort. I’ve been lucky enough to have attended 26 of these Ferrari fests, many as a concours judge and concours entrant (for 2020, I was an entrant). This year, the weather was great, the Ferrari turnout was great, and it was great to reunite with dozens of Ferrari friends.

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Fiat Freak Out 2019

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By Philippe H. Defechereux © 2020
All photos property of Fiat Club America except otherwise indicated

From July 10th to 14th of 2019, on the vast and resplendent grounds of the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina, the 36th consecutive “Fiat FreakOut” (“FFO” for initiates) successfully took place. Why such a long-lasting and popular tradition?

For some peculiar reason, Fiat cars (and some of their close relatives) inspire a beguiling and enduring fervor in their American owners and even their families. The FFO, organized by the Fiat Club America, is the annual national celebration of that passion, mixed with a large dose of well-planned fun.

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The Vintage Sports Car Magazine

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Two recent issues of the VSCCA magazine.

By Pete Vack

Last week, the Vintage Sports Car Club of America (VSCCA) and VeloceToday sent a 2020 Italian Car Calendar to VeloceToday’s premium subscribers who responded to our free offer, and also included a complimentary copy of the rare VSCCA quarterly magazine called the Vintage Sports Car. We thought it an opportune time to tell our readers a bit about this rare publication and its editor.

The current editor is Jim Donick, who put out his first issue of the Vintage Sports Car in April of 1985. Though generally available only to VSCCA members, Donick told us that you’ll find the magazine in several of the neatest automobile museums in Europe, but he adds, “Usually on the desk of the director or other members of the staff. They don’t distibute it.” [Read more…] about The Vintage Sports Car Magazine

The Long Life of Birdcage S/N 2452 Part 2

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Riverside, October 1961. After a year’s reprieve, having just been bought by Harry Finer, chassis 2452 featured Bill Krause at the wheel in the Times Grand Prix. Its de Dion axle broke due to metal fatigue. Two Cunningham Birdcages pass in the background. (photo: Bob Tronolone)

Story by Willem Oosthoek

Read Part 1

During chassis 2452’s year of inactivity, tremendous changes had taken place in sportscar racing. The rear-engined revolution was in full swing and even Maserati had come out with a rear-engined model, the Tipo 63. The front-engined Tipo 61 Birdcage had been out of production for a year, so how would Bill Krause perform in this three-year old car. Well, not bad at all! At Riverside’s 1961 Times Grand Prix he qualified the Tipo 61 on the fourth row with a time of 2’06”6, despite dropping a valve during his run. He did feel bad about Connor losing his ride and offered him his own D-type/Chevy. It did not work out, since the tall Arizona driver would not fit the Jaguar cockpit.

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Allan McNish and the Ferrari 333 SP

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A Tom Schultz photo of Allan McNish at Daytona in 1999. Courtesy “Ferrari 333 SP” by Terry O’Neil. (Click to order book)

Story by Graham Gauld

I recently spent some time with Allan McNish, three time Le Mans winner (once for Porsche and twice with Audi) who also raced a Ferrari 333SP on two occasions, almost winning the 1999 Daytona 24 Hour race.

The What?

The Ferrari 333SP of the 1990s is a car that even Ferrari enthusiasts rarely talk about or even remember. Perhaps one reason is because of its exclusivity, namely a race car designed specifically and exclusively for the US market and the IMSA GT Championship of 1994. It was designed at Ferrari but the first cars were built by Dallara before Michelotto constructed a second series in 1997.

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The Complete Alfa 1300 Berlina Owner’s Manual

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From the Archives June 2011

All fifteen pages of a rare owner’s manual that included both the 1300 Giulietta Berlina and the Spider. All photos below © Alfa Romeo Automobilismo Storico, Centro Documentazione (Arese, Milano)

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Jonathan Sharp’s Visit to the FCA Heritage Hub

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Lancias are featured in the new FCA Heritage Hub.

This week we are happy to present to our readers a sneak preview of Fiat’s fantastic new museum, thanks to the assistance of Fiat Public Relations agent Umberto Hardouin. For this special feature, VeloceToday has installed a slide show feature, so you can enjoy the 36 images at your own speed. If you wish to speed up the slide show viewing, simply click on the right arrow.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

As we related last week, we visited the Fiat Centro Storico and then had lunch at the New Holland staff canteen. Our journey to the afternoon destination was a walk of just a few meters, as it was located in Workshop 81, situated next door. It is called the FCA Heritage Hub and it is not yet open to the public. [Read more…] about Jonathan Sharp’s Visit to the FCA Heritage Hub

Fiats, Panhards, and the Stinkwheel Story

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By Pete Vack and David Beare

First the name; we have to explain the name for those of us unfamiliar with British jargon. “The name Stinkwheel derives from 1930’s slang amongst motorcyclists for small-capacity, feeble two-stoke powered cyclemotors and autocycles which buzzed noisily but slowly around in a cloud of blue oily smoke- a stinkwheel,” writes Beare. His first two books were histories of such cyclemotors- “The Stinkwheel Sagas.” Thus came the name of the publishing company, which is at the very least, unforgettable. How Stinkwheel went from cyclemotors to Hispano Suiza is another good question. [Read more…] about Fiats, Panhards, and the Stinkwheel Story

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