There have been many articles about the day John Shakespeare loaded up 30 Bugattis to have them shipped to the Fritz Schlumpf in 1964. But none like our exclusive story below, told by David Gulick, who took the now famous photos. We asked artist Paul Chenard to create a painting commemorating the sale and we’ll send free poster to anyone who
Jonathan Sharp at Prescott Hill Climb, 2016
Steven Gentry lights up the rear tires of his Bugatti T35B.
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
“In point 2 of a mile turn left”, said my Sat Nav. I had arrived at the Prescott Hill Climb, deep in the heart of the Cotswolds. A quick glance in my rear view mirror; oh where did they come from? An Alfa 6C and a Type 35 Bugatti are following me in. I have been following a Lamborghini Espada for a mile or so; it looks like it is going to be a good day and at last the sun is shining. Or maybe like Camelot, the sun always shines on this shrine to Bugattis.
Mille Miglia, 2016
This 1932 Fiat 508 S “Balilla” is one of the prototypes built by Ghia for the Fiat 508 S.
Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
2016 Mille Miglia May 19-22
A few days after the Monaco Historic Grand Prix another important event on the classic car calendar, the glorious Mille Miglia takes place, snf that is immediately followed by the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como, near Milano.
Subscribe Now to Receive this Free Paul Chenard Art
FREE! Sign up for a $5 subscription to VeloceToday and receive this numbered and signed 8 x 10 Paul Chenard poster, commissioned by VeloceToday to commemorate John Shakespeare’s sale of 30 Bugattis and based on the stunning photography of David Gulick.
This offer is limited so act now. When you have subscribed to VeloceToday via PayPal, we’ll contact you for your mailing address so we can send you your copy.
Shipping is FREE worldwide.
To subscribe for only $5 per month, simply click on the ‘subscribe’ button below. A short two more clicks and you’ll be subscribed and we will contact you via email for your address.
VeloceToday for May 31 2016
Monaco Historics with Hugues Vanhoolandt
Bugattis T35 and 37 were in majority in the Prewar field.
Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
First run in 1929, the Monaco Grand Prix for Grand Prix cars has been accompanied by the Historic Grand Prix since 1997. The Historics are held every two years, and two weeks before the F1 event.
This year was the 10th edition, held on May 14-15 and some 250 cars were entered in the various classes, ranging from the Prewar Grand Prix cars from 1929 to 1939 to the F1 cars of the 1973-1976 period.
It must be noted that for the first time, the Prewar cars were only demonstrated, not raced, certainly due to the rarity of these cars and the difficulty to repair them. Needless to say that there are not many run off areas in Monaco; even a slight error can have costly consequences, and it is worse when rain occurs, making the track extremely slippery as on Saturday afternoon. But the rain was limited and the races on Sunday were held under a sunny sky.
Now let’s see the on-track action:
Graham Gauld: Bosley versus Michelotti
The Bosley GT, a superb, stylish design that predated cars like the Berlinetta Lusso by a number of years, yet designed in America. Gauld photo.
Richard Bosley and Giovanni Michelotti: A styling dichotomy.
The 1957 Vignale-bodied Triumph TR3 parked in a Modena street, built as a styling exercise by Michelotti to help persuade Triumph to hire him as a consultant: it worked. Gauld photo.
By Graham Gauld
A couple of stories this month which bring up the matter of style and coachbuilding. (see last week’s Michelotti Corvette article) If you read the two stories you could be forgiven for thinking the photos showing the first car described was designed in Italy and the second in the United States.
But it was the other way around.
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, 2016
Lancia Astura series II berlinetta Castagna 1933 prize winner as best in show.
Story and photos by Alessandro Gerelli
The Concorso Villa d’Este was held on May 20-22. Saturday’s competitive event is held at the Villa d’Este, and on Sunday, all the cars are shown in the nearby Villa Erba; this day is open to the public.
While often confusing, the official definition is Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, while Villa Erba is a location within the show.
The Concorso Villa d’Este has a very long history since 1929, but only recently a new class “Concept Cars and Prototypes” was included in the show.
This year I looked at the new creations of a make or of a coachbuilder, and compared them with their original or older cars in the same show.
Of course there are the pictures of the many other jewels shown in the crowded court of Villa Erba, where I took the following images on Sunday. [Read more…] about Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, 2016
Alfa Romeo 1900 Ghia and Company
Eltich found this rare one off Ghia Alfa at Concorso. But does it have a twin? Photo by Petya Elitch.
By Brandes Elitch
Color photos by Petya Elitch
From the Archives, September 2011
“The early fifties were a magical time for all Italian coachbuilding, one of those magical moments when, for no particular reason…a series of favorable conjunctures determine the success…of an entire category. These were the years in which the Italian bodywork line was born…Mario Boano participated in Italian coachbuilding’s moment of grace with the Lancia Aurelia B20 and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint. A third model worth remembering is the 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 C coupe. This is a model which is understandably influenced by Ghia’s contemporary work with the Chrysler stylists.”
From “Ghia, Catalog Raisonne, by Valerio Moretti, Automobilia, 1991, Milan
VeloceToday for May 24, 2016
EBay Michelotti Corvette
Not the Rondine but we bet a Michelotti Corvette is still worth a lot of money. Credit McLaren Philadelphia
By Wallace Wyss
On eBay, you gotta figure that everything comes up one time or another. Even Corvettes bodied in Italy by famous carrozzeria. We found it on eBay, but the car is still available at McLaren of Philadelphia, who kindly allowed us to use these photos.
You take a name like Giovanni Michelotti and you think, whatever chassis he designs coachwork for, it’s gonna be wonderful, right? Especially when the actual coachbuilder is Ghia.
Uh, no.
Quail Motorcycle Gathering 2016
1964 MV Agusta Triple, Virgil Elings
By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Dave Fetherston unless otherwise noted
In my previous article, I interviewed Gordon McCall, the organizer of the motorcycle show held every May since 2009 at the Quail Lodge Resort in Carmel Valley, California. It is generally regarded as the premier motorcycle concours in the country.
One of the emcees at the show is Paul d’Orleans, a well-known motorcycle writer (www.the vintagent@blogspot.com). Paul describes the ambiance of the show better than anyone. “The world of motorcycles has all the ingredients of a good, enriching drama: heroic deeds, political intrigue, design brilliance, cut-throat business practices, quirky characters, national tensions, cultural biases, Eros and Thanatos. When diving into the muck of motorcycle history, we find unexpected riches.” [Read more…] about Quail Motorcycle Gathering 2016