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Driving the Wild Miura S

November 8, 2016 By pete

Paying attention to the Miura, circa 1973. Wright’s students are getting a good education.

Last week we did a story about a drive with Paul Wilson in his Miura and noted the lack of interest the car elicited as we drove around. But that was not the case, says John Wright, back in 1973 when his students got a chance to see a Miura up close. Wright also finagled a drive in the ‘beast’ so do read on….Ed.

By John R. Wright

For three years, I taught in Toronto at a school called Thornhill Collegiate, just north of Toronto. Because I was racing a Formula Vee at the time and had an interest in cars, the head of the Technical Department asked me to be a staff sponsor for a school autosports club. We would meet regularly, and I would sign out films from various sources like Labatts or Players on racing or rallying and show them in my classroom after school was over. The club would also organize various events like driving skill contests and gymkhanas. We would also participate in local fun rallies organized by the Deutsche Automobile Club in which I had a membership. In addition, we would also get in guest speakers, usually local race car drivers, like Formula Ford Champion Gary Magwood or Canadian racer Horst Kroll. [Read more…] about Driving the Wild Miura S

VeloceToday for November 1, 2016

November 1, 2016 By pete

Marcello Gandini, Maestro of Design Reviewed

November 1, 2016 By pete

Photo of Stratos by Piotr Degler

Marcello Gandini, Maestro of Design Volume One by Gautam Sen
ISBN 978-1-85443-279-7 regular, ISBN 978-1-85443-280-3 deluxe
2 Volume set 400 pages in each volume
924 images (449 Volume I and 475 Volume II) – many never seen before!
Over one hundred of Gandini’s designs featured
600 copies of the regular editions, 400 numbered and signed by both Marcello Gandini and Gautam Sen
Published by Dalton Watson, 2016
Our Price: $350.00
Shipping Costs: FREE SHIPPING TO USA AND UK. Shipping to all other countries will be charged one flat rate for first item, additional books in the same order are shipped for no additional s/h charge.
Order Here

Read Part 2

By Pete Vack

Right up front, let us tell you that this 800-page, two-volume set entitled Marcello Gandini, Maestro of Design is one of the best books on automotive designers we’ve ever read. We did a quick Internet search and found many new (and old) books on Italian designers, (see list at end of this article) but none that approached the coverage of Gandini. It is devastatingly interesting, beautifully illustrated, nails down the history of every design and/or car touched by Marcello Gandini. The author, Gautam Sen, weaves the designer’s comments (from an introvert who is almost incapable of commenting on himself or his work) into a fascinating story backed by interesting and relevant histories. [Read more…] about Marcello Gandini, Maestro of Design Reviewed

Driving and Maintaining a Lamborghini Miura S

November 1, 2016 By pete

By Pete Vack

The way to gain entrance into the realm of the Dallara/Gandini masterpiece that is the Miura is to gently push the door latch button from the Fiat 850 and pull a bit on the chrome fin at the bottom of the row of black fins to the rear of the door window.

“Be careful getting in. Here’s how you have to do it. Get your butt over the seat and gently lower it straight down. Don’t wiggle. Don’t squirm. The reason is because the seats are original cloth inserts and any heavy lateral movement stresses out the material,” said Paul Wilson.

27 year-old Marcello Gandini’s first assignment following his employment by Bertone was to design a body for the Miura chassis. Paul Wilson’s Miura S captures the excitement of the Gandini work of art.

[Read more…]

Firle Hillclimb Revival, U.K.

November 1, 2016 By pete

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

On the Sunday following the Goodwood Revival rather than taking a rest or perhaps cutting the lawn, my pals and I took a trip just down the road from our respective homes to the Firle Hill Climb Revival, being run for the second year by the Bo Peep Drivers Club.

The first Firle Hill climb took place in 1949, run by the Bentley Drivers Club. The climb was 600 yards in length and quite steep, running up Bo Peep Lane to the top of the Sussex Downs. [Read more…] about Firle Hillclimb Revival, U.K.

VeloceToday for October 25, 2016

October 25, 2016 By pete

Zoute Grand Prix, 2016: Splendor in the Grass

October 25, 2016 By pete

Delivered new in Milan, this 1953 Fiat 8V berlinetta Rapi Corsa, # 000032, was owned and raced by Scuderia Ambrosiana. The car was fitted with lightweight body and sliding windows. It ran at the 1953 Mille Miglia with race number 506 and finished 18th overall. In 1954, it took part again at the Mille Miglia. Now owned by Jan de Reu, the Otto Vu won Best of Show.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

October 6-9 2016– The fashionable bathing resort of Knokke Le Zoute, on the Belgian coast, hosted the seventh edition of the Zoute Grand Prix. Spread over four days, the Zoute Grand Prix consists of five events:
– the Zoute Top Marques with 14 stages held in the streets of Knokke, presenting the newest models of 14 premium marques
– the Zoute Rally which is a regularity rally for almost 200 pre-1965 cars
– the Zoute Sale by Bonhams
– the Zoute GT Tour which is a short rally for the latest Supercars
– the Zoute Concours d’Elégance which is held on two locations: on Saturday on the Approach Golf and on Sunday on Fairway 1 of the

Royal Zoute Golf Club where the judging and the award ceremony take place. All participating cars are then shown to the general public on the Albert Place, in the city center.

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Steve McQueen’s Siata

October 25, 2016 By pete

McQueen’s 208-S. Photo by Tony Singer.

Surprised that Steve McQueen owned a Siata? That is interesting enough, but discovering that the young actor affixed a Ferrari badge to the 208S he bought might be even more surprising, and at the same time perhaps tells us about another side of the man himself. We must give thanks to Matt Stone for this information and presenting it in his book, “McQueen’s Machines”, and current owner Tony Singer, whose words constitute the bulk of the story below. In addition, collector Christophe Pund was kind enough to allow us to publish Michelotti’s original drawing of the Siata 208S, which is also supplied with the two volume Otto Vu set, authored by Tony Adriaensens. (read review). If you’d like to know more about Tony Singer, read about him here. Ed.

Automédon 2016: Love in the Parking Lot

October 25, 2016 By pete

Panhard CD coupé

Photos by Alessandro Gerelli
Text by Staff

This year Automédon was held October 8-9 at the Parc des expositions du Bourget in Paris, France. While not yet RetroMobile, the weather is far better and many of the neatest cars are found in the car park outside. Per the PR sheet, “The vintage car-park is Automédon’s icing on the cake. Busy, lively and always renewed, it presents each and every brand, all the models from the most popular ones to the rarest ones. The vehicles are over 30 years old. The cars keep arriving and going during the two days of the Show, thus creating a continuous, vivid ballet.” It is certainly the editor’s favorite part of the event. [Read more…] about Automédon 2016: Love in the Parking Lot

Automédon Monte Carlo Rallye, Mondial de L’Automobile 2016

October 15, 2016 By pete

Lancia Fulvia coupè HF 1600 (1972) was one of the many Monte Carlo Rallye cars seen at Automédon.

Story and photos by Alessandro Gerelli

Automédon is held yearly in the Bourget exhibition center near Paris. The main theme of the show this year was the Monte Carlo Rallye and many winning cars of the past were shown and are below. Part 1 featured the French cars at the event; in this article I have included many of the interesting Italian cars found there.

Automédon is held on the same weekend as the Mondial de l’Automobile, also in Paris. My report on that show begins after the Monte Carlo Rallye cars below. [Read more…] about Automédon Monte Carlo Rallye, Mondial de L’Automobile 2016

VeloceToday for October 11, 2016

October 11, 2016 By pete

The Editor and Publisher are traveling and will return with many more new stories. Therefore there will be no VeloceToday for October 18th. We will return to our normal selves next week. Promise.

Tales of Abarth

October 11, 2016 By pete

Bonnie’s Abarth 750GT hidden in the woods. It was totally original with even the headliner intact. Photo by Mary Decker Vack

Story by Pete Vack

It was noted, some time ago, that there was a disproportionate number of Fiat-based Abarth cars in the United States, sitting broken or unused in garages, driveways and because most Abarths were small enough to fit, in a large outdoor sheds common to so many backyards.

There were, it seemed, ample antique Allemanos tucked away under tarps and willow trees, sitting askance with the ground side of the rear wheels pointed inwards, relieved of the weight of the rear engine. [Read more…] about Tales of Abarth