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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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Brandes Elitch on the Alfa 1900 SS Ghia

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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

“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

While not as famous as Pininfarina or Giugiaro, Ghia has an illustrious history, employing designers such as Michelotti, Frua, Savonuzzi, Boano, Exner, Tjaarda, Giugiaro, Sapino, and others. Most American collectors would be surprised to learn that the contract for the Lancia B20 was personally given to Ghia by Gianni Lancia, although it is one of the best known of Pinin Farina’s products. Likewise, they would be surprised to learn that Alfa Romeo gave Ghia stylists Boano and Scaglione the brief for the Giulietta, which was then produced by Bertone. There are a lot of surprises in the Ghia Catalog Raisonne. On page 148 is a picture of a 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 C, a straight side view. In this view, there are a few seemingly contradictory design elements, but there is no question that it is a compelling design. And then it was my turn to be surprised, when I saw this same car, now a show quality restoration, likely better than new, on the field at the Concorso Italiano during the Monterey Historics.

Elitch ponders the Ghia's influence on the 1964 Mustang and wonders what would Bob Cumberford think? Photo by Petya Elitch.

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Morgan-Adams Concours 2011

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1963 330 America 2+2, Chuck and Janice Kirkpatrick at Morgan Adams.

CENTENNIAL COLORADO AIRPORT, August 27th

Text and Photos by Al Axelrod

A concours event at an airport? Didn’t we all complain when Concorso Italiano was held at the airport a few years ago? But when the planes are vintage WWII like the P51 and a B25 combined with a select group of excellent vintage cars and bikes, the airport setting becomes a plus rather than a liability. And that was the ambiance of the Morgan Adams Concours, held on August 27, 2011
[Read more…] about Morgan-Adams Concours 2011

This Week, of Interest

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Monterey’s Magazines and our Contributors

Every year, each of the events at Monterey produce their own high quality, ultra slick event magazines. The feature articles are of course the gems, surrounded by luxurious advertisements. Although VeloceToday correspondents have written for these publications in the past, 2011 seems to a banner year. Here are the articles written by VeloceToday contributors (in alphabetical order) that appeared at Monterey this year:

Karl E. Ludvigsen
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Program:
Moss, 722 and the 1955 Mille Miglia.

Michael T. Lynch
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Program:
The Last of the Grand Touring Race Cars: The Ferrari GTO

The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering Program:
A Playground for the City of Speed (History of Riverside International Raceway)
Reunion to Quail Run (Reprise of 2010 Event)

Pete Vack
Concorso Italiano Events Magazine:
Ferrari F50: The Essential Thinly Disguised Grand Prix Car

Wallace Wyss
Concorso Italiano Events Magazine:
Confessions of a (former) Barn Finder

There are six new in articles VeloceToday this week so scroll down…

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The Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance is scheduled for Sunday, September 18, Westport, CT. with a full day of programs on Saturday, Sept. 17. Three Cunningham C-3s will be on view at the show: a recently discovered Barn Find, a fully restored example owned by VeloceToday Contributor Chuck Schoendorf, and Briggs Cunningham’s car that is still in the collection of his family.

This Week, of Interest

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VeloceToday is a bit late this week due to Hurricane Irene, which left us without a/c, power, Internet, telephone and water for several days, reminding us of what the 17th century Williamsburg was really like. Our thanks to the members of Dominion Power of Virginia, who have done wonders to restore service in record time.

Our many correspondents have also been working overtime to bring you the following stories this week:

Eric Davison wrote the Belgian Grand Prix report. Eric is a contributor to VeloceToday, the author of the recent book “Snake Bit: Carroll Shelby’s Controversial Series 1 Sports Car”, and as we’ll see later on, attended Watkins Glen in 1948 and recorded those early events with a color camera. That’s over 63 years of watching and reporting on races! Quite a guy.
Hugues Vanhoolandt attended the Belgian Grand Prix for VeloceToday and returned with stunning exclusive photos to accompany Eric’s text.

Brandes Elitch begins our coverage of Monterey week with a view of a Lancia Flaminia at Concorso Italiano. Two more to come from Brandes and next week, as well as much more from our other correspondents who covered Holy Week for us.

Roberto Motta brings us the latest Rally results from Germany with many great action shots, plus the news of the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider.

Alessandro Gerelli brings us his views of the Italians at the Oldtimers Grand Prix at the Nurburgring held in August.

Now, who could ask for anything more?

VeloceToday Contest Winners, Prizes, and Answers

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6/22 Barry Morgan:“McQueen’s Machines.” IMRRC Raffle Tickets
6/29 Virgil Taylor: Wyss Artwork. 1964 Series II Ferrari GTO
7/6 Paul Jewell: Wilson “Giulietta Book.” Mascherina is the grille.
7/13 Gérard Gaud:“Nardi, a fast life.” Car in photo was a 1936 Morettini.
7/20 Richard Diver: Pena Rhin art. Four French Ferrari drivers retired in the race.
7/27 Rick Stephenson:“Rendezvous 458 Italia” poster. Ideas to improve VT.
8/3 Robert Rose: Schumacher print. Linda Christian last kissed Portago and was in “Tarzan and the mermaid”.
8/10 Kevin O’Malley: “The Art of the Poster”. Hank Ketcham was a resident, designed posters and a judge.
8/17 Ted Sechowicz: “Ferrari 250 GTO” GTOs have four Dzus on the nose and one for the oil filler flap located in the passenger side c-pillar.”
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Below, a summer re-run. We hope to be back with much much more next week, weather and hurricane Irene permitting.

Ferrari GTO S/N 3987

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Stephen Mitchell recalls his youth in California during the 60s and his GTO.

Filmmaker Stephen Mitchell recently wrote “Rendezvous Redux” for VeloceToday. Below, for the first time, is the full story behind Stephen Mitchell, the amazing YouTube videos and GTO 3987. And whether you view the two film clips before or after reading the article make sure you do and watch them all the way through. You will be amazed. Trust me.

GTOs at Willow Springs

The Great Putdown

In early 1964, Car and Driver’s Editor David E. Davis thought it would be a great idea to compare the new Pontiac GTO with a real Ferrari GTO, and bet the March cover on it. Came the big day and a Ferrari GTO couldn’t be found. Uh-oh.
[Read more…] about Ferrari GTO S/N 3987

Driving the Ferrari GTO

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Aside from the videos (which you don't want to miss) there are few still shots of Mitchell actually driving his GTO. But here is Tom Price enjoying his GTO in 2009. Photo by Richard Prince.

By Stephen Mitchell

Seen in the context of its time, there was nothing quite like the GTO.

When entering the cockpit, I never got used to the fact that the pedals were so close. I’m 5’10″ and my knees were splayed around the steering wheel in an effort to fit into the car. Anyone who has ever made this complaint about a Lusso (which I also owned at the time) or GTE never sat in a GTO! This lack of legroom was probably a result of the rearward placement of the engine for better weight distribution. The bulkhead behind the seat limited aft seat travel, so there was no way to adjust for comfort. I always had it in mind to have the pedals moved forward, but never did. You adapt to the GTO, it doesn’t adapt to you. I’ve heard similar remarks made about the Old Man.

Headroom was fine and the seat was comfortably wide. One of my favorite things about the car was the position of the gear lever in relation to the steering wheel. Visually, that marvelous aluminum gear knob looked as though it would be too high for comfort. One is accustomed to having to reach down for the lever to shift. With the GTO, the knob was only inches away from the wheel, so shifts could be made very quickly with a short lateral move of the hand. In front of you, the tachometer had a telltale that would move to…and remain at…the highest revs attained. I never exceeded 7500 rpm.

GTO shift lever and knob was more than prominent but well placed. This is the interior of chassis 4399 as photographed by Hugues Vanhoolandt.

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This Week of Interest: Win a Pebble Beach Poster Book

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This week we have another great prize, and just in time for Pebble Beach. Written by Robert T. Devlin, “Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: The Art of the Poster” has 58 color plates of the Pebble Beach posters from 1950 to 2003. From the start, posters have been created to promote the Concours, and over time, these posters have become treasured works of art in themselves. Created by prominent artists, these posters not only document the history of the Pebble Beach Concours, they dramatically depict the importance of the automobile in our society and in our lives. Devlin discusses the art, the subject the times and the artists involved. We thank Dalton Watson for their contribution to our contest.

This week’s question: Name three reasons the creator of Dennis the Menace was important to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Email answers to pete@velocetoday.com by Friday Noon EDT August 12th.


Author and artist Wallace Wyss will be manning a booth at Concorso Italiano to introduce his new novel, “Ferrari Hunters.” We like our fiction to be fast and furious, and that’s what Wyss has achieved here. Michael Steadman, a part time detective and Ferrari hunter, an ex-Navy SEAL hired to investigate a murder and the theft of a $2 million prototype sports car. A great summer read and yes, we’ve read and it and couldn’t put it down. Wyss can be contacted at photojournalistpro@hotmail.com to place an order before August 19th. If you visit Wyss at his booth at Concorso, be sure to tell him VeloceToday sent you.


Our friend Dino Brunori, author of “Enrico Nardi, A fast life”, is helping to organize another event in Italy this September 24th and 25th. Called “Aido 2011” for short, it’s open to 80 red, white, green cars to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italy. The event will take place in the region of Brescia, 220 km across hills, vineyards, Lake Iseo and two Alpine passes. Click here for a report on last year’s event. Get your entries in now and send an email to Dino at dbrunori@gmail.com.
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Last week’s contest was won by Bob Rose, who was one of many who correctly named Linda Christian as the woman who last kissed Portago at Rome during the 1957 Mille Miglia. Christian had a role in “Tarzan and the Mermaids” in 1948.

The Lancia Flavia Zagato

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This immaculate Flavia Zagato was on Flickr, for sale in 2008. Credit Chill in Zonda.

A Close Encounter of the Third Kind

By Pete Vack

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 The Lancia Flavia Zagato

This Week, of Interest: Win a Signed Schumacher Print

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Contest: Win a Ferrari F1 print signed by Michael Schumacher
Morry Barmak at Collector’s Studio in Toronto, Canada, has donated this 8.5×11.5 print of the Ferrari F2005 as driven by Michael Schumacher and signed by the seven time world champion. (See the new arrivals at Collector’s Studio.)

To Win: Answer these questions in an email address to pete@velocetoday.com by 12 noon EDT Friday August 5th 2011. Entrants with complete answers will be then drawn from a hat.

The famous womanizer Marquis de Portago was last kissed by who, when, where, and in what Tarzan movie did his last lover appear?

Last week’s winner of the Pena Rin poster was Richard Diver from Canada.

We also want to remind our readers of Automobilia Monterey 2011

The 9th Annual presentation of the serious collector’s “Candy Store”, with the only opportunity during Concours/Vintage Race Week to see these 40+ selected international dealers in a single venue!
Show hours as follows:
Tuesday, August 16, 2011: opens at 10am and closes at 6pm
Wednesday, August 17, 2011: opens at 10am and closes at 7pm

Located, as always, at:
The Embassy Suites, Seaside, CA
US 1 & Route 218, just north of 68 [Salinas-Monterey Highway]

Admission & Silent Auction, benefiting The Monterey Rape Crisis Center: Single day $15 ~ Two-day $20

For Questions: tony@automobiliamonterey.com

This Week, of Interest: Win Rendezvous Art

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Contest: Win a Rendezvous Poster
Artist Chad Glass, along with filmmaker Stephen Mitchell, got together to envision what a modern version of the famous “Rendezvous” video would entail. Instead of a Mercedes, it would be more fun to do the dash across Paris in a Ferrari 458 Italia. (Read story) Chad is offering an 18 x 24 inch print of this image to our contest winner.

To Win: Easy! VeloceToday would like your opinion. Answer these questions in an email address to pete@velocetoday.com by 12 noon EDT Friday July 29th 2011. Entrants with complete answers will be then drawn from a hat.
1. What do you like best about VeloceToday?
2. What do you like least about VeloceToday?
3. What can we do to improve VeloceToday?

Last week’s winner was Richard Diver from Canada. Thanks to all who entered.

Next week, August 3rd, enter our contest to win a Ferrari F1 photo signed by Michael Schumacher. This week, scroll down for five new articles.

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