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Gijsbert-Paul Berk Remembers: To Paris With Portfolio

November 25, 2014 By pete

I was great a fan of Bugattis. This was one of the reasons why I designed this Coupé de Ville body for a Type 57 chassis. Of course I was inspired by the prewar designs of Jean Bugatti but tried to give the car a more modern appearance. I used the horse- shoe symbol not only as a fake radiator for the cooling intake but also as headlight covers. I did send a photocopy of these drawings to Monsieur Pierre Marco, then the Managing Director of Bugatti. However I never got a reply. Note that the headlight arrangement bore a striking resemblance to the last Saoutchik to be produced, the Pegaso SIII. Ed.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk
Photos and drawings courtesy Author unless otherwise noted

Read Part 1

Off to Paris with Portfolio

As related in Part 1, I wanted to work as am automotive designer, and became very interested in Bugattis. In fact I had the chance to restore such a car. In 1949 one of my friends discovered in the port of Rotterdam a Bugatti type 40 roadster with a Bordino type or boat tail factory body.

The car was used there as a tractor to move freight cars and in a deplorable state. But we bought it and together restored it. A 1928 four-cylinder Chevrolet machine of just over 2 liters had replaced the original 1500 cc engine. Because it functioned very well in the car and we could not find nor afford a comparable Bugatti unit we retained it. But the chassis and body were renewed bolt for bolt. It took us several months.

This did nothing to diminish my desire to become an automotive designer. Having had no luck with local coachbuilders in the Netherlands, I was at a loss until a friend of the family remembered that he knew John (Johan) Sijthoff, scion of a printing and publishing family and – more important in my case – a shareholder and director with Carrosserie Saoutchik in Paris. He organized an introduction for me. [Read more…] about Gijsbert-Paul Berk Remembers: To Paris With Portfolio

California Dreaming at the Ferrari Museum

November 25, 2014 By pete

Thomassima. Tom Meade's third creation and probably his most famous. Tom Meade was an American living in Modena who had his own ideas as to how Ferrari's should look. This example is based on a 250GT Coupe.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The article covers the cars and current displays at the Ferrari Museum. Click here to read about the items and artifacts at the Ferrari Museum

2014, in addition to being the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Maserati concern is also the 60th anniversary of the presence of Ferrari in North America.

This anniversary also ties in rather nicely with the recent launch of the new Ferrari California T. These two events are currently being celebrated at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello with an exhibition by the name of “California Dreaming”. The display covers five halls, each with a different theme, whether that be racing cars that won in the States, street cars, American-designed one-off’s, and even the films of Hollywood. [Read more…] about California Dreaming at the Ferrari Museum

Displays and Automotive Artifacts at the Ferrari Museum

November 25, 2014 By pete

Museo-Entrance

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The article covers the artifacts and items of interest at the Ferrari Museum. Click here to read about “California Dreaming” at the Ferrari Museum

There’s one, then a few minutes later, there’s one, oh there is another one. So goes the conversation between my wife and I whilst sightseeing on foot around Maranello. The ‘ones’ in question? Ferrari’s of course. Not just new ones coming out of the factory, but ones belonging to the various companies within the town where you can book a test run, and also many owned by visiting owners on pilgrimage. You do become a bit blasé, though a “La Ferrari” on its first test run from the factory will stop you in your tracks. If we had got to the pedestrian crossing five seconds earlier it would have had to stop to let us cross- probably something its non-smiling, sunglass wearing, cool-looking Italian test driver, may not have been used to. [Read more…] about Displays and Automotive Artifacts at the Ferrari Museum

Roy Smith at the NEC: An Old Friend Returns

November 25, 2014 By pete

The A220 Apine 3 Liter Chassis 1731 at this year's NEC.

By Roy P. Smith
Color photos by Roy P. Smith
B&W photos courtesy Roy P. Smith and Veloce Publishing from Volume 1 of Alpine Renault- The Sports Prototypes.

November 14-16, 2014 was the scene of the now-enormous NEC Classic Motorshow in the UK. I was there of course and having been tipped off was not disappointed to see the Alpine A220 Chassis number 1731 on display, fully restored and in fully working order with Alpine specialist historian Tim Moores in attendance. Of course having written a book about these cars I knew well the vehicle in question and Tim had kept me informed of the recent happenings. As with all Alpine Sports Prototypes there is a story to tell, so here is a little bit about this one. [Read more…] about Roy Smith at the NEC: An Old Friend Returns

VeloceToday for November 18, 2014

November 18, 2014 By pete

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Rent a Race Car to drive in the 2015 Mille Miglia, Bassano, and other Italian Vintage events! Drive this rare Siata Daina Coupe, an A.C. Ace, or a Colli barchetta or others. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. Contact me at vack@cox.net for further details.

All five of Burt Levy's fantastic racing novels now available as eBooks. Clic pic for more.

There are few good books on the Fiat Dino available. Now, Mike Morris’s great book on the Fiat Dino, “Ferrari by Another Name” is offered for sale. Like new condition, perfect dust jacket, a classic on a classic. Asking $300 USD plus shipping. Buy now to beat the XMAS postal rush.
Contact Will Grant,willgrant@yahoo.co.uk

Four issues of Historic Motor Racing USA, magazines published in the USA in the 2000s, sold as a group only at $100 plus $20 postage from France via paypal. V1 No 2, V1 No 3, December 2000/January 2001, V1 No 4, February/March 2001, V 1 No 5, April/ May 2001 Contact:Grahamgauld@Gmail.com

Four issues of Historic Motor Racing, magazines published in Hong Kong in the mid-1990s, sold as a group only at $100 plus $20 postage from France via paypal. V1 No 1 Aug/September 1994, V1 No 2 October 1994,V1 No 3 November 1994. V 2 No 1 January 1995 Contact:Grahamgauld@Gmail.com

*$25 Ads for anyone who has something to sell, to giveaway, or to holler about. Ad will be placed above the fold and run for one month. Contact vack@cox.net .

Gijsbert-Paul Berk Remembers

November 18, 2014 By pete

This rendering for an open sports roadster on a Delahaye 135 MS chassis I made for my interview with the coachbuilder Pennock in The Hague, who worked for the Dutch distributor of the French make. I admit that the nose was inspired by that of the Jaguar XK 120. Because I knew that this car was well liked by Americans, a potential export market for such a car. But the crease in the wing line was an adaptation of that on the mudguards of the very classic Pennock convertibles, originally designed by Chapron..

We asked Gijsbert-Paul Berk to expound upon his visits to Saoutchik and Franay in the early 1950s as mentioned in Peter Larsen’s 3 volume book on Saoutchik. How did that come about? One question led to another, And of course, like many of us, we find that his love of cars started when he was very, very young. Unlike most of us, however, as boy he built his own radios and hid them in books. Read on.

Yes, he’s quite mad, we are sure of it…

Thank goodness for Sir Peter Ustinov. The versatile British actor is known to many car buffs of previous generations, even those with little theatrical interests, thanks to his hilarious Riverside recording of the Gibraltar Grand Prix and other records*. However only intimates were aware that Ustinov himself was a lifelong car enthusiast with a penchant for classic automobiles and sports cars. In his endearing biography Dear Me, Ustinov reveals that as a young boy he honestly believed that he was a car. “I was an Amilcar,” he wrote. There are probably a number of subscribers to VeloceToday who recognize such a mental aberration from their own childhood; I, for one, found Ustinov’s admission very reassuring, because I remember going to school, always running and making brumm, brumm sounds, like changing into a lower gear for each street corner. Most adults along the route looked at me with bewilderment, certain that this small boy was quite mad.

Auto d’Epoca, Padova 2014 Part 1

November 18, 2014 By pete

Can you belive its been 40 years since the Alfetta Coupe first came out. Alfetta Turbodelta on the Alfa Romeo factory stand

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp

The Automoto d’Epoca show (Oct 24-26) was a feast for the major manufacturers, but Ferrari attracted the most attention. The two Ferrari museums…the Enzo Ferrari in Modena and the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, pulled out all the stops to put on a different display. With a back catalog as rich as Ferrari might have, it would have been very simply just to pull a couple of old racing cars from the museums and plonk them down in the display hall. That would have too easy. Instead they found six of the rarest but UGLIEST Ferraris you are ever likely to see. (and watch for them to appear on the auction circuit in five year’t time for an outrageous amount of money!) The cars in question? Six test mules, or as the placards said, “Mulotipo’s”. We’d provide more info on the cars but that’s all there was, folks.
[Read more…] about Auto d’Epoca, Padova 2014 Part 1

Auto d’Epoca, Padova 2014, Part 2

November 18, 2014 By pete

Disco-Volante

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp

The Automoto d’Epoca show (Oct 24-26) covers ten halls of the Fiera Di Padova (Padova Fair ground). The halls are stuffed with one make car clubs, event stands and dozens of local classic car clubs. The factories of Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, Porsche, BMW and Volvo also have a strong presence at the show, showing heritage models mixed in with their latest, but it is the halls and outside avenues containing cars for sale which will really grab your attention and wallet. When was the last time you saw a Fiat 125 Vignale Eveline for sale? There was a white one just outside hall 7. A Fiat 2300 Ghia coupe? Three for sale. In moments of madness I often fancy a Lancia Thema 8.32, I had two to choose from and I am sure there were more. You need parts, two halls full of parts sellers. A tidbit for your Topolino ? No problem, A grommet for your Gamma? How many do you need? Just don’t expect to find that missing bit for your Morris Minor. If I had any money I would have blown the lot and then needed a car transporter to carry my purchases home. Below are about 24 photos so keep em scrolling. [Read more…] about Auto d’Epoca, Padova 2014, Part 2

VeloceToday for November 11, 2014

November 11, 2014 By pete

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All five of Burt Levy's fantastic racing novels now available as eBooks. Clic pic for more.

*$25 Ads for anyone who has something to sell, to giveaway, or to holler about. Ad will be placed above the fold and run for one month. Contact vack@cox.net .

Alfas and Ferraris at the Enzo Ferrari Museum

November 11, 2014 By pete

The Alfa Bimotore is on display in a quiet, beautiful, chapel-like setting.

Last week Jonathan Sharp wrote a report on the Maserati 100th anniversary celebration at the Enzo Ferari Museum. But he didn’t forget about the Ferraris, engines, and Alfas also on display, many in the new engine room–plus a replica of Enzo Ferrari’s office. We saved that part of the story for this week.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp Clic on pics to enlarge

Nestling, as if being protected, in the curve of the new display hall is the original workshop of Enzo Ferrari’s father Alfredo. A long and narrow building lit by many large arched shaped windows. The building was built during the latter half of the 19th century and would not have benefited from electric lighting hence the many windows. At the far end of the hall, roughly where the “Enzo” is now displayed, was, along with the machine tools that Alfredo used to shape metal, a stable which housed the horses used to draw the sulkies (2 wheeled trotting rig) and carts of the time. [Read more…] about Alfas and Ferraris at the Enzo Ferrari Museum

CarsYeah: Interviews With People You Know

November 11, 2014 By pete

By Pete Vack

Carsyeah gave the editor a chance to chat about Mary, whose photos enabled him to get his articles published. Photo by Jesse Alexander

Mark Greene has got a good thing going. After spending the last 20+ years at Griot’s Garage where he helped the founder build up the business from the start, four months ago he started a new website, www.CarsYeah.com. [Read more…]

Touring, BMW, Victress: Designs Across Continents

November 11, 2014 By pete

How the BWM and Italian coachbuilder Touring influenced the Victress and Glasspar.

This week we take you to Geoffrey Hacker’s site, Forgotten Fiberglass.com, to review an article we know many of or readers would find interesting. [Ed.]

By Geoffrey Hacker

Designs That Influenced The Styling Of The Victress S1 And Glasspar G2: The 1939/1940 BMW 328 Mille Miglia Roadster

What is the styling heritage of each of the vintage fiberglass cars we are familiar with?

I think this is an important question when trying to understand the place our cars occupy in history – not just in the manner in which they were built but also in the ways each of these cars were styled. [Read more…] about Touring, BMW, Victress: Designs Across Continents