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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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Ercole Spada: One Step Beyond

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1963 Lancia Flavia Sport Zagato. Ercole Spada: “I felt a real necessity to design something completely different.”

By Pete Vack

All quotes attributed to Ercole Spada are from Spada by Bart Lenaerts, Lies de Mol with Ercole and Paolo Spada.

As we reflect on the life of the late Ercole Spada, I realized that for a good part of my life, my primary automotive focus was on the cars built by Zagato. I wanted a Zagato because they were race cars, lightweight, didn’t rust, and often are Alfa-based and just as often, beautiful. They were in a class of their own, and stylistically a step beyond the normal.

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Outrageous car, Outrageous article

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By Pete Vack

From the Archives, August 2011.
Scroll down to read the comments!!!

The brothers Zagato didn’t have a great deal of luck with Lancias.

The Appia Zagato was always too long and too little. Although somewhat successful in the Italian 1100cc events, the street version was underpowered and overwheelbased, and the 1100cc engine strained at anything like racing speeds. From the front it was attractive, but the side view and rear view failed to delight. From the same era, the Abarth, Alfa and the Bandini Zagatos (only one built), were far more pleasing to the eye.
[Read more…] about Outrageous car, Outrageous article

Elsie ‘Bill’ Wisdom

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Elsie ‘Bill’ Wisdom

Story by Giles Chapman

When we received Giles Chapman’s latest book we thoroughly enjoyed the short bios and interesting stories that comprised “Three Million Miles in a Volvo and other Curious Car Stories.” These are just perfect for the VeloceToday format, and here is the sixth in a series of excerpts from the book.

Embroidery, of the written kind, is an essential skill for every good hack. But the story of how correspondent and racing driver Tommy Wisdom met his wife Elsie takes some beating. Tommy was sailing off the south coast one day with his brother and a friend when their dinghy overturned. The pal drowned but the brothers were rescued and taken ashore, and Tommy recovered on the nearest sofa that could be found. It was in the home of Elsie Swain and, as he dried out, love blossomed.

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Abarth, Radbourne Racing and Me (Reviewed)

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Epitome: Lincoln Small driving the Abarth Sports Prototype SEO14 at Monza, 1997.

Review by Pete Vack

Imagine for a moment. Circa 1960. A life in London, a hard working young heir to a line of pharmacies with photo developing as a sideline (remember them?) in the swinging West End of London on Piccadilly. But this young man was sidetracked as an enthusiasm for things Italian resulted in going to Perugia to study the language. Returning after a love affair and carrying a suitcase full of Abarth accessories, his father gifts him a new Fiat 600 and, in search of more performance, finds a couple of friends in a shed and in no time, circa 1963, Radbourne Racing is born. It will survive and thrive as a tuning shop, dealer, parts source and race center for first Fiat Abarths, then Renault until the 21st century.

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Royal Automobile Club’s Magnificent Displays

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In a class of its own: Displayed in front of the clubhouse, 1955 Osca FS372. Introduced in 1955, the FS372 debuted with the upgraded 1491cc twin-spark engine. Only five were constructed. This example was purchased by Sir Stirling Moss in 2008 and raced by him at various historic motor sports events.

Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Last week we covered the RAC concours classes held on July 9th, so this week let’s take a look at the curated displays, the titles of which, in most cases, are self-explanatory except perhaps for the ‘1000 mile trial 125th Anniversary’ display.

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Celebrating the 75 anniversary of the Alfa 1900

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Text: Frank Rameckers
Photos: Frank Rameckers, Morgan Koetsveld, Alex Goevaers

During the annual Spettacolo Sportivo (Sports Show) of the Dutch Alfa Romeo Club SCARB (Stichting Alfa Romeo Bezitters) held June 28-29 on the legendary circuit of Zandvoort, Frank Rameckers of the 1900 Register celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Alfa Romeo 1900. The SCARB is one of the largest Alfa Clubs in the world with 2600 members, many of whom participate in the Spettacolo with their Alfa Romeos.

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Two Tails Have I: Alfa 1900 Mystery

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Detlef Nussbaum’s Alfa with a tale.

At this year’s Alfa 1900 meet (see story), Frank Rameckers helped solve a long time mystery involving a 1900 which defied attempts to identify it. So here is that brief by interesting tale of a tail or two.

Text by Frank Rameckers

At our meet was a very special 1900 dark blue 1900C SS Pinin Farina Coupé of the German Detlef Nussbaum with a very interesting story behind it. In 2023, Chris Jongsma sent me two photos of a silver-gray Coupé with race # 36 and a Dutch license plate that participated in races on the Zandvoort circuit.

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Allen R. Kuhn: A Little on the Side

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In a 2022 VeloceToday piece, Allen R. Kuhn described his life as a race photographer in Southern California and touched on his work taking PR shots of models for class assignments and later for sports car magazines. But we said, “Forget the girls, tell us how you became a race photographer,” we begged. But now, with all due respect for the models that grace this article, we allow Kuhn to focus on those memorable experiences. We apologize that in most cases the models’ full names are lost to the ages.

Photography and Captions by Allen R. Kuhn

Your Editor thought we should start this controversial article with at least one car being in the picture. I am happy to say that the little beauty belonged to me.  I speak of the Abarth, of course. The other beauty is Bridget, whose first words when she saw the Abarth were, “How the heck do you get into it?” The next was, “At least I can wash the top without getting a ladder.”

The late 1950s, Hollywood, California, aka La La Land

Welcome to a dream job in a dreamy capital of sun and stars. A budding race photographer drives about in an exotic Abarth 750 GT Zagato, attends a photography school and takes 8×10 shots of young models to be given to the studios. He’s the envy of all the boys, to paraphrase the Chiffons. [Read more…] about Allen R. Kuhn: A Little on the Side

Le Mans Classic, 1923-1961

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Guillermo Fierro’s 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage #2466.

Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Firmly anchored in the historic racing calendar since its creation in 2002, the Le Mans Classic, traditionally held every two years, was already in its twelfth edition this year. Given the success of this event, it will enter a new dimension next year by becoming an annual event, albeit with different grids from one year to the next. [Read more…] about Le Mans Classic, 1923-1961

Le Mans Classic, 1962-1981

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A Le Mans-style start was organized for grid 4, in order to recreate a moment in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Vanhoolandt continues his coverage of the 2025 Le Mans Classic with Grids 4-6.

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Royal Automobile Club Concours

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Winner of the Spirit of the Show award, Keith Harrison’s 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita. Built on the second day of the lightweight ‘Alleggerita’ production and supplied to Swedish racer Joachim Bonnier. This works prepared example, in Jo Bonnier’s hand, finished 3rd in class and 15th overall in that year’s Mille Miglia, and later in the year, again in the hands of Bonnier, finished first in class at the Nurburgring 1000km. One of only 58 known Alleggerita survivors.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

There is a new kid on the block when it comes to Concours of Elegance in the UK. Wednesday July the 9th was the date for the inaugural Royal Automobile Club Concours of Elegance. Held at the club’s country estate Woodcote Park located on the Epsom Downs in Surrey, just up the road from the Epsom Downs Race course. So bright and early on a boiling hot day I took the short trip up from the coast, followed the signs to the car park located on the golf course and took the short walk down to the show ground.

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