The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
One of eight known to exist Cisitalia 303 DF berlinettas of 1953, still in original condition.
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Click photos to ENLARGE
Some of Hugues Vanhoolandt’s favorites from The Quail, 2015. [Read more…] about At the Quail with Hugues Vanhoolandt
Merlin powered Hadlye at Brooklands.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
To most people in the world of old cars, mid-August means one thing, Monterey Car Week. But there are other things going on. Take for example Sunday the 16th.
This was the day for a nice leisurely run up to the Brooklands Racing Circuit in Surrey. [Read more…] about Brooklands Reunion, 2015
This week, a few from our archives; Monterey coverage will begin next week.
A Shelby portrait taken in about 1956 by racing photographer Alix Lafontant. It is inscribed “The very best to my good friend Alix. – Carroll Shelby.”
By Carl Goodwin
Photos by Alix Lafontant copyright Carl Goodwin.
1956 was a great year for Carroll Shelby driving the Italian cars he loved. Up until a late-season off-course excursion in the sand at Thompson Raceway, he had notched 19 wins at road courses from coast to coast, driving a Ferrari 4.4, Ferrari Monza, Maserati 300S, and a Maserati 450S.
We were accustomed to seeing Shelby toss around the big Ferraris and Maseratis owned by John Edgar and Tony Parravano, but he was also a great driver in under two liter Italian cars such as the OSCA. One such race was at Road America. [Read more…] about Shelby Drives an OSCA
The latest wire wheel from Ruote Borrani is the X Ray, here making a big difference for the Maserati GTS.
In 2010, Borrani Americas partnered with Ruote Borrani Milano to be the exclusive importer and restorer of Borrani rims in North, Central and South America, thus bringing to the forefront a very relevant new story with a significant historical aspect that is rarely told. Our thanks to Ruote Borrani Milano, Borrani Americas, Roberto Motta, and David Seielstad for their help with this article.
For classic car enthusiasts, the name Borrani is synonymous with excellence. Their famed wire wheels have become an icon, known for quality, performance and design. In fact, the strength of Borrani is in its history and quality of its products. Borrani is still producing quality products, including their famous Borrani Classic wire wheels and new line of Xray, Sray and Bi Metal alloy wheels.
[Read more…] about Borrani Wheels: Overview and History
Above: Ferrari 500 TRC s/n 0682 MD TR was entered by Ecurie Nationale Belge at Le Mans in 1957, and placed 7th overall with the team of Bianchi/Harris.
Photos and text by Hugues Vanhoolandt
When one thinks of Belgian race drivers, the name of Olivier Gendebien, Paul Frere and Jacky Ickx (whose daughter, Vanina, is also a race driver) naturally come to mind. [Read more…] about Belgian Race Drivers and Teams
A magic blend, the Stratos and Sicily…
By Dino Brunori
1000 km event to be held from September 27 to October 3, 2015
Sicily, the great Italian island known for its stunning landscape featuring volcanoes, islands, mountains, deserts, the Mediterranean, medieval towns; the friendship and warmth of the inhabitants and, last but not least, some great Italian roads, circuits and hillclimb races. [Read more…] about Raid dell’Etna
Bucking the trend: The finished buck created with CAD technology, laser scanning, digital imaging and 3D printing – all cutting-edge tools that Cooper Technica has incorporated into an innovative and unique approach to high-end automobile restoration. The finished buck is shown next to the body, which is mounted on a rotisserie fixture in Cooper Technica’s Chicago studio.
Begin at the Beginning:
Historical Research and Forensic Sleuthing Inform the Restoration of a 1943 Alfa Romeo Part II READ Part 1
© 2015 David Cooper, President, Cooper Technica, Inc.
Introduction
During the Second World War, Alfa Romeo built twenty-eight 6C2500 Super Sport Cabriolets. These were built exclusively for Mussolini’s close friends and associates – mostly high-ranking German officers. Seven of these cars had custom cabriolet bodies designed by renowned Italian coachbuilder Pinin Farina. Cooper Technica, Inc. is now restoring one of these seven, originally built for Luftwaffe Field Marshal Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen, a cousin of the WWI Red Baron and an ace pilot himself. In 1948, in the hands of a new owner, this car raced Italy’s famous Mille Miglia, finishing 3rd in class and 22nd overall. Altogether, the Alfa Romeo’s unique history and provenance make it particularly desirable to collectors today.
Part I of this article described how Cooper Technica first acquired the car, and then meticulously researched its complete history, provenance, and construction documentation. We found that, throughout its life, the Super Sport changed hands seven times, sustained a few minor crashes, and had its front end altered when the body was repaired in Milan in 1953. This historical record, as costly and time-consuming as it was to gather, proved essential to restoring the valuable Alfa to the highest achievable standards of authenticity.
Part II of this article will first explain the rationale behind key restoration decisions. Then, we will describe how Cooper Technica used the cutting-edge technology of laser scanning, digital imaging and 3D printing to determine the Alfa’s original shape; and then used traditional “trailing-edge” construction techniques to restore that shape. With archival photos from 1943 and 1945 as our guides, our innovative methods and unique approach have achieved a restored body shape within two millimeters of the original – a level of precision never before possible.
When Preservation Is Not an Option, What Then?
As both historians and restorers, our first goal is to preserve the car as-is, rather than to restore it. When the Alfa Romeo arrived at Cooper Technica, the paint had been stripped, exposing the original aluminum body skin. It was evident that various repair jobs and past alterations had left the body in poor condition. Given that that car was no longer original, and the fact that some restoration work had already been attempted, preservation was not a viable option.
Lancia Astura is the car, but what was the location? Italy? Maybe.
Thanks to Dale Lafollette of VintageMotorphoto for these photos of a Lancia. Clearly it is an Astura, and thanks to Paolo Giusti and Geoffrey Goldberg, we even know some of the history of this particular car. But what we didn’t know was where these photos were taken, by whom, or exactly when or who owned it at the time.
In the mid-1950s, when these photos were taken, the Lancia was apparently in Indiana or at least licensed in that state. Thanks to our astute readers, we now know where this rare Lancia was photographed and thanks to Jim Sitz, the probable owners at the time. [Read more…] about Mystery Solved: As Found Classic Number 13
The famous ex-Prince Bernhard 250 Europa GT, factory-equipped from new as a bespoke competition car with a multitude of mechanical upgrades and lightweight Pinin Farina two-seat alloy bodywork. Chassis and engine restamped by the Ferrari Factory at the Prince’s request when new and confirmed as such by Ferrari in 2001. Wonderful presentation and ready to take command of any Preservation class in judged concours events. Complete with excellent documentation including copy of the Ferrari factory Foglio Montaggio. A significant and irreplaceable opportunity for the serious Ferrari collector!
RICK COLE AUCTIONS RETURNS TO MONTEREY AUGUST 13-15
“Bidding by Handheld Device Engages Local and Global Collectors”
MONTEREY, CA – (08/06/2015) – Rick Cole Auctions Monterey will be held August 13-15 at the Downtown Monterey Marriott Hotel. This year 36 pristine collector cars will be offered with bidding by handheld device. The 2014 event boasted over $59 Million from less than 40 vehicles with three of the “Top Ten” record prices for the week’s auctions including a $23 Million 1955 Ferrari 410 S sports racer. The auction once again supports Kinship Center. [Read more…] about Rick Cole Auction to Use Handheld Devices for Bidding
New Chinese Supercar to be shown at Pebble: The question is; what will Ferrari say?
By Wallace Wyss
I have seen the future. And it’s still a long way off.
But maybe it’s coming closer. I am talking the very real possibility of Chinese supercars being launched into the market. A new firm called Icona Shanghai will be showing the Vulcano supercar at Pebble Beach, though they say it’s only a one-off supercar. When they showed the car in 2013 they said it was equipped with a 950 hp hybrid drivetrain based on a V12 engine and capable of sprinting from 0 to 200 km/h in less than ten seconds.
Styling-wise it strikes me as almost a line-for-line copy of a Ferrari F12. [Read more…] about Chinese Coming to Pebble Beach