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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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Loewy’s Lancia Loraymo

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Steve Snyder’s son with the Loraymo when found circa 1987.

Wait, haven’t we done this before? Well, yes, the editor reviewed this back in 2016. But along comes Gary Medley a Fiat enthusiast, good writer, not to mention son of Tom Medley, who created the famous Stroker McGurk cartoons for Hot Rod magazine back in the 1950s. And Gary, who also writes for FuelCurve.com website, loved Elitch’s book. And seeing a Elitch does a great deal for VeloceToday, we felt we could do something for him too. The book is still available. Get a copy.

By Gary Medley

Factory concept cars are a dime a dozen. Major manufacturers trot them out at major car shows to dazzle the attendees and boost a brand’s bone fides. Few ever make it into production. Most drive (or are trailered) quietly into the dustbin of automotive history. [Read more…] about Loewy’s Lancia Loraymo

Alfa Romeo Disco Volante C52

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In the summer of 1952, on July 19th and again on July 26th, there were both radar and visual sightings of “Flying Saucers” in and around Washington D.C., and throughout the summer there were similar incidents all over the world. From 1947 to 1953 there were 26 major sightings, from Washington to Brazil, Japan, Italy, West Germany and Sweden. The Unidentified Flying Objects generated headlines and inspired an entire genre of movies. Most UFOs could be explained but some remain a mystery to this day.
Meanwhile, in Milan…

By Roberto Motta and Pete Vack
Photos from Centro Documentazione Storica Alfa Romeo, and Roberto Motta

In Italy, there was another sighting in June of 1952, but this time it was real and tangible (as well as loud, no doubt) when the aptly named Alfa Romeo “Experimental Department” proudly put their own UFO on display for the press to view at Monza. The timing couldn’t have been better; as the new C52 1900 was called the “Disco Volante”.

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And How! How Much is a GTO Really Worth?

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By Wallace Wyss

An Illinois man has just bought what is probably Most Expensive Ferrari Ever. The 53-year old man is the founder of a company making automotive accessories called WeatherTech based in Downers Grove IL, but which has a branch facility in Parma, Italy. [Read more…] about And How! How Much is a GTO Really Worth?

Jamie Kitman and the Peugeot 205GTI

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Story and photos by Sean Smith

Was it genetics or surroundings that gave Jamie Kitman his love of cars? His grandparents on his father’s side didn’t drive. His grandmother on his mother’s side didn’t; his maternal grandfather drove, but badly. He was brought home from the hospital in an MGA, so there was enthusiasm on his parent’s part, but that came and went.

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London City Concours d’Elegance, 2018

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

June 8, 2018

Last year it was called the City Concours, but this year the name was changed to London City Concours because, as put by Octane magazine’s James Elliot, the original name “…did not quite do justice to the scale, reach or importance of the event to the whole of London.” Ok we got that. [Read more…] about London City Concours d’Elegance, 2018

Mille Miglia 2018

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Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Enzo Ferrari once reportedly called the reenactment of the Mille Miglia “the travelling museum that is unique in the world.” And it is remarkable that since the event was reconstituted in 1977, it is still going strong after 35 editions. This year, some 450 cars of 73 different manufacturers were due to cross 7 regions of Italy and over 200 locations of art and culture, from Brescia to Rome and back.

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Ferrari 458 Italia: Comments on Design

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By Wallace Wyss

This article originally appeared in VeloceToday August 6, 2009

The King is dead…long live the King. Wasn’t that what they always said in the old movies? Anyhow, the sneak shots of the Ferrari 458 Italia are out a couple of months before its official roll-out, at least enough photos to enable this design critic to form an opinion and submit it ever so humbly to the cognoscenti, i.e., you.

The Ferrari 458 Italia is a robust-looking car; to sum it up in one sentence: “it takes the bizarre out of the Enzo” yet saves enough of the old car to make an all-new shape that is reminiscent of the late Enzo but still its own design. Although it may replace the 430, the 458 might be considered an “Enzo light”.

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And How! Peter Helck and Old Number 16

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By Dale LaFollette

On my way to the 1979 U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen and I had been invited to stay for a couple of days with the 86-year-old artist Peter Helck and his wife Priscilla. Peter and I had been “pen pals” for several years but this was the first time we had actually met. I had traded one of my sculptures with Peter for one of his paintings and our mail discussions hinged on Art and turn of the century auto racing. Helck is seen in the lead photo above, walking toward Old Number 16.

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Royal Enfield Flying Flea for D-Day

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It is June 5th, the day before D-Day, and we note the significant event by relating the story of the restoration of a Royal Enfield Flying Flea, a motorcycle designed to be parachuted out of an aircraft and used by British troops after the landing in France. In Part 1, Eric Davison recounted the joys of rebuilding the motorcycle his grandfather once wrote about. In Part 2, Davison has achieved the impossible; he’s gotten his Flying Flea running.
But will he ever be able to ride it?

Story by Eric Davison

The magneto came back from England and was installed. It generated spark but the bike would only cough.

About this time my brother and his wife came down for a visit. We tried to start the bike. Only coughs. We even tried bump starting it by pulling it behind my truck with brother Mark holding a rope. This was not only stupid but dangerous and ineffective. [Read more…] about Royal Enfield Flying Flea for D-Day

News Flash! The Return of the XKE

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Humor by Richard Bartholomew

May 31, 2018, Shanghai
An obscure Chinese company has captured the worldwide rights to all parts and spares for XKE Jaguars. Having achieved that, the company will produce new models using the original tooling and jigs, according to a press release from the Jusomgai Motors of Shanghai last Tuesday. Calls were made to current Jaguar owner TATA Motors for confirmation, but this reporter was unable to verify the authenticity of the press release. [Read more…] about News Flash! The Return of the XKE

Monaco Historic Grand Prix by Vanhoolandt

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Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Organized the first time in 1997, this year the Monaco Historic Grand Prix celebrated its 11th edition on May 12-13. Five Series (classes) covered the first 30 years of the Formula One World Championship, from 1950 to 1980. The two remaining Series were for the Pre-war Grand Prix cars and for front engine sports racing cars, in memory of the 1952 Monaco Grand Prix run for sports cars. [Read more…] about Monaco Historic Grand Prix by Vanhoolandt

The Royal Enfield Flying Flea Motorcycle

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This story does not involve anything Italian or French, and is about a motorcycle instead of a car. Long-time contributor Eric Davison (Memoirs of Watkins Glen) has written this timely, delightful article about restoring a WWII era motorcycle designed for D-Day, and after all, it is Memorial Day weekend; next week on June 6 we celebrate D-Day. What could be more appropriate? We know you will enjoy reading of Eric’s hilarious trials and tribulations bringing his “Flying Flea” back to life. As there were only two wheels, a tiny single-cylinder engine and a basic frame, how hard could this restoration be?

By Eric Davison

I am not quite certain of why and when I became infatuated with the motorcycle with the improbable name ‘The Flying Flea!’

In thinking hard about it I have come to the conclusion that it was a seed planted in my head by my paternal grandfather Augustus ‘Gus’ Davison, an Englishman. [Read more…] about The Royal Enfield Flying Flea Motorcycle

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