The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Story and photos by Vince Johnson
Lead image: Richard Creasy, 1985cc Amilcar
Barossa Vintage Collingrove Hillclimb, South Australia, 7 October 2018 The oldies were back (the cars, not the drivers) in the wine country north-east of Adelaide for the Sporting Car Club of South Australia’s annual vintage hillclimb near Angaston. Entries had come from across the continent and while most took less than a minute to get to the top, the narrow track is challenging and there’s little room for error.
Story and photos by Richard Bartholomew
Why should children have all the fun of dressing up and scaring people? Though we get no treats from these endeavors that won’t stop us from pulling a little trick this time of year – actually all year – but here we go…spooky chopped tops and scary suicide doors abound, extra headlights or none at all, be afraid be very afraid. A lot of people are. [Read more…] about Supercars in Costume
Story and photos by Brandes Elitch
From the Archives, October 14, 2009
One of the most striking cars I’ve ever seen is 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 Alfa Romeo 1900 Primavera
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Steve Snyder
It would be difficult if not impossible to find a more compelling story than that of Peter Giddings. In his youth in England, he restored a BSA three-wheeler, then a Brooklands Riley 9, and then a chain drive Frazer Nash, which he rebuilt in his living room (I say “restored” because owning these cars in England in the sixties would require continuous attention just to keep them running). He started racing the Frazer Nash in 1959, and competed in virtually every race circuit and hillclimb in England, earning his full FIA International racing license in 1961. In 1985, he raced his Alfa Romeo Monza and his P3 Alfa Scuderia Ferrari Tipo B at the Monterey Historics, and was awarded the Phil Hill trophy. [Read more…] about Lancia D 24 and D 50R
By Peter Giddings
All photos courtesy Peter Giddings unless marked otherwise
Archives, November 2016
Jonathan Sharp wrote up a very nice piece for us about the Firle Hillclimb Revival, with plenty of enticing photos of car guys and girls just having fun with their classics. It certainly hit a note with our readers. Then Peter Giddings emailed us about his experiences driving a Frazer Nash ‘Chain Gang’ at the original Firle Hillclimb in 1963. We begged for more and here is his story:
I could not believe my eyes when I saw your “Firle Hillclimb Revival”, the setting for several of my early attempts at competitive speed hill climbing.” A report from Autosport, July 19, 1963 reads in part, “Last May P. H. Giddings had rocketed up in 28.69 secs. in a 1928 Frazer Nash fitted with a 1926 A.C. engine, and on Sunday this incredible device did 28.66 secs. to take third place in the most hotly contested class of the day. How this chain-driven car can be coaxed up Firle so quickly only Mr. Giddings knows!”
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
We remind our readers to click on images to double the size.
Held in Knokke-Heist and the fashionable Zoute area on the Belgian Coast the Zoute Grand Prix, already on its ninth edition, has quickly become a must-attend event for the classic car enthusiast. The event was held from October 4 to October 7, 2018. [Read more…] about Zoute Grand Prix 2018
Photos by Alessandro Gerelli
This is the sixth consecutive year Alessandro Gerelli has covered this event for VeloceToday, and each year he brings us cars rarely seen anywhere else in the world. For this reason, it is one of the editor’s favorite car shows; you will never be bored here or see the same cars over and over again. Indeed, it is often a guessing game for us. For example, this year Alessandro photographed three special bodied Traction Avant 11s; we ask our readers to help identify each one. [Read more…] about Automedon 2018
Photos by Alesssandro Gerelli
The annual Paris Motor Show aka Mondial De L’Auto in Paris was held from October 4 to the 14 at 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris, France. It is a huge event, as can be seen from the map below, with multiple features ranging from motorcycles to parts to displays of both new and classic cars. Some major manufacturers were missing, and there was much discussion of the new WLTP standards, electric cars and the death of the diesel. However, we shall remain focused on the classics. [Read more…] about Paris Motor Show 2018
Story by Roberto Motta
Put together in just three months by a team headed by Mauro Forghieri, the 512 is one of most iconic cars ever built by the Maranello factory. The Ferrari 512 is one of the cars that represent the last mystical period of high level motor racing that was filled with danger, heroism and an almost sexual attraction. Yet it posted only one major win in its career.
Story by Graham Gauld
Photos by Centro Storico Fiat
For nearly twenty years I was a consultant to Fiat in Britain assisting the public relations department. One area was liaison with Fiat’s own historian, Antonio Amadelli, who, at the time, ran Fiat’s own small museum and large archives. Antonio was later to go on to become head of the Biscaretti Museum in Turin and his knowledge of Fiat was immense. Amongst other things I was able to add photos of their early Grand Prix cars to my archive and Editor Pete suggested we share some of these with comments on the background to the photos. [Read more…] about Fiat Grand Prix Cars
