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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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Jonathan Sharp Photo Gallery

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Photo Gallery by Jonathan Sharp

Six years ago, on July 5, 2012 we noted that newcomer Jonathan Sharp caught our attention when he sent along a few B&W images of the Bugattis at Prescott. He told us he lived in the Brighton area of the U.K., not too far from Goodwood. “My first love has always been Ferrari, a passion started when I was given a Dinky Ferrari 250LM model”, he wrote. “I am happiest pointing my trusty camera at cars (preferably Italian) or my other love, piston powered fighter planes; a Spitfire or Mustang will stop me in my tracks and I can hear them when they are miles away and out of sight.” We said that are sure we’ll be seeing more of Mr. Sharp in the near future.
[Read more…] about Jonathan Sharp Photo Gallery

1931 Lancia Dilambda Pinin Farina

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Marakand Baokar

The following is a chapter from the book “101 Automotive Jewels of India”, and it also includes a brief biography of Sanjoy Ghosh, who restored this remarkable Lancia Dilambda. Ed.

By Gautam Sen
Color images by Makarand Baokar

If the Lambda marked the very cutting edge of automotive technology in the 1920s, Lancia’s flagship model for 1929, the Dilambda seemed to be a step back in time. But there was a reason for that. The Dilambda project began in 1926 when Vincenzo Lancia decided to develop, for his wealthier clientele, a more modern follow-up of the famous Lancia Trikappa, to be powered by a large eight cylinder engine of 3.0-3.5 litres. And like the Lambda, it would also be a monocoque.
It so happened that a rich American customer, a certain Mr Flocker, when visiting the Lancia factory in Turin, succeeded in convincing Vincenzo Lancia that the brand could profit considerably by exporting to the US a model better adapted to the American market. [Read more…] about 1931 Lancia Dilambda Pinin Farina

Graham Gauld and the Motoring Aristocracy

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Story by Graham Gauld

Throughout the history of European motor sport the aristocrats and the titled were the true pioneers, mainly because they were the only people who had the money to indulge in this new and gentlemanly sport. Many embraced racing with great enthusiasm.

A number of them were Scots and since that is a topic dear to my heart, I would like to tell you the stories of three of them who were as different as chalk and cheese, from three distinctly different eras of motorsport.

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Lancia Flavia 1800 Berlina

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From the VeloceToday Archives, March 22nd, 2006

By Corrado Caruso
Photos by the author

Passion is created from youthful experiences: From Milan, this is Mr. Caruso’s story of a search and restoration which, if not financially astute, nevertheless was gratifying in a heartfelt manner, which cannot be quantified.

For many years, I have searched for a particular Lancia Flavia, as similar as possible to the car that was owned by my family, in which I learned to drive with the help of my late father. His was an 1800 Berlina, dark green in color, and I remember it well and fondly. But after years of searching I decided to buy the top of the line, and the decision was made to purchase a 2000 LX.

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Fiat Abarth 124

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Story by Sean Smith
Photos by Sean Smith unless othewise noted

Fiat made a big splash when they returned to our shores with the new 500. It was small, it was fun it had the proper retro look and it had Italian flare. We then got smacked upside the head with the Abarth version. A modern take on Carlo Abarth’s legacy – make Fiats go faster!

Fiat then reintroduced the 124 in three versions Classica, Lusso, and Abarth. It was time to see if the new creation lived up to the name, but first I wanted to go back a ways and see what an early 124 Abarth was like. I found a true believer, Mark Everett and his 124 Abarth Rally. [Read more…] about Fiat Abarth 124

Siata 1400 Coupe

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We first ran this story in April of 2006. Peter Voorhees was well into restoring this one off 1400 Siata. Then we lost track of both Voorhees and the Siata. Find out what happened-Ed.

By Peter Voorhees
Photos by the author and as noted

This is the abbreviated story of a Siata that I bought in 1985 at a flea market in Stowe, Vermont. Restoration process has been slow, however. I’ve been telling my friends ‘This is the Year!’ for so many years it’s really become a joke. But the journey has been so much fun I don’t mind at all. Every year I learn a little more and finish a little more, but there are still things to learn and do.

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Interview with Giovanna Scaglione: The Last Years

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As told to Robert Little, Renzo Carbonaro, Vladimir Pajevic and Ulrich Zensen
Copyright: 8 November 2017 All World Rights Reserved
Republished with permissions with changes to suit the format of VeloceToday.com

Nuccio Bertone’s Final Words to the World’s Greatest Auto Designer

Nuccio Bertone wrote the following letter to Franco Scaglione on May 19, 1993, only thirty days before the great designer passed away on June 19th:

My Dear Scaglione,

It is a long time or better to say, I didn’t have any news of you since our collaboration ended.

I asked around if someone had any news about you, but always in vain.

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Ferrari S/N 041S by Stabilimenti Farina

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Story and photos by Alan Boe

When recounting the story of one of Ferrari’s earliest models, the 166 series of coupes, cabriolets and barchettas, names such as Carrozzeria Touring and Vignale play an important part. Theirs was the job of providing coachwork for most of the early two-liter Ferraris.

But the names of other carrozzeria also come up when tracing the history of those little V12s. In addition to Touring and Vignale, Allemano, Ghia, Bertone and Stabilimenti Farina all had a hand, to a greater or lesser degree, in clothing Ferrari’s 166 Sport and Inter chassis. Allemano did a coupe and a cabriolet, Bertone a lone 166 cabriolet, Ghia bodied a berlinetta, Zagato did a fastback coupe and Stabilimenti Farina did five coupes and three cabriolets. (A ninth car, a 212 Inter coupe was the last Stabilimenti Farina bodied Ferrari.)

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Interview with Giovanna Scaglione Part 10

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As told to Robert Little, Renzo Carbonaro, Vladimir Pajevic and Ulrich Zensen
Copyright: 8 November 2017 All World Rights Reserved
Republished with permissions with changes to suit the format of VeloceToday.com

Giovanna Takes Her First Stradale Ride with Teo Zeccoli

Giovanna Scaglione relates here experiences riding in the Stradale:

Every new car designed by my Babbo was a sister to me! When he designed the 33 Stradale and realized the car, I bothered my “Babbo” so much that, one day, fed-up and desperate, he asked our personal friend Teodoro Zecccoli, Autodelta test driver, to take me for a ride on the car.

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Techno-Classica Essen, Germany 2018

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Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

For the 30th consecutive year, Techno-Classica continued to set records, despite the fact that another event, Retro Classics in Stuttgart, was organized at the same time and only 400 kilometers from Essen.

If the classic car market has calmed down after the hype of recent years, at shows like Techno-Classica, there is always the same amount of classic cars, if not more. And the prizes remain strong for the quality cars.

In fact, one of the world’s leading auction house, RM Sotheby’s, has announced that it will organize a spectacular auction during next year’s Techno-Classica, bringing this event to another dimension.

But before that, let’s have a look to a small selection of what was on show this year. [Read more…] about Techno-Classica Essen, Germany 2018

Pssst! Sexy French and Italian PostCARDs

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By Pete Vack
All photos courtesy Erik Verhaest

A little more than five years ago I put away my copy of Erik Verhaest’s amazing booklet of post cards with an Italian car theme. It’s a small booklet, and went unnoticed in a large stack of books stored in a corner until the inevitable clean up revealed it once more. And again I was amazed and delighted with the postcards, most of which were in color and from the 1960s. And so I went to the huge archives of VeloceToday.com and retrieved the below article, updated it, and made contact again with the delightful Mr. Verhaest.

After a few days of enjoyable email discussion about his postcard collection and helping to identify some cars in the gorgeous locations, Erik Verhaest, aka “M.carpedi”, reflected a bit on the fun we had guessing the cars. “What a wonderful hobby!” he said. We couldn’t have agreed more. [Read more…] about Pssst! Sexy French and Italian PostCARDs

Eisenstark’s Siata Part 3: Making Amelia

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Story by Sean Smith
Photos by Smith unless otherwise noted

Read Part 1 All in the family
Read Part 2 The Big Ouch

March 1, 2018—two days before Walt Eisenstark’s SIATA goes on a truck to take its trip down to Amelia Island—work continues.

It’s not like the automotive reality shows where everyone is running in circles throwing parts around and some heavily tattooed owner is screaming “if it’s not done in the next 8 hours it won’t be on the truck and it won’t get to auction and we won’t make a huge profit and you’ll all be fired!” This is Automotive Restorations, Inc. Everything is moving along smoothly with a purpose—no histrionics, just pure, professional calm. Everything gets done, no show-boating. The SIATA goes out for a drive on the last day of February: no seat, but a very nice milk carton in its place. The car has never run better; it now idles beautifully and pulls strongly to 5000 RPM.

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