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Incredible Balilla Spider Barn Find: SOLD!

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What you need to know:
Is it for sale? SOLD

The vast majority of enthusiasts cannot afford a pre War Italian sports car. This Fiat Balilla, a truly rare barn find, may be the last opportunity to own a genuine pre War Italian classic at an affordable price.

By Steve Gurr and Pete Vack

All photos by Steve Gurr

Last month Steve Gurr and his wife were minding their own business happily driving to their home in Gainesville, Ga. when they spotted what looked like an old Austin Bantam on a trailer a short distance ahead. Catching up, a closer look revealed a pre-war Fiat roadster with a “Balilla” script across the grille.

Steve is a longtime car enthusiast who has owned MGs, Porsches, Miatas. He owned only one Italian car, an Alfa GTV, but was astute enough to know that he should find out more about whatever kind of Fiat was on that trailer. At the next traffic light he hopped out and approached the driver. “What are you going to do with the car?” he asked. The two young men in the truck enthusiastically hollered back, “Want to buy it? We have more!”
By Steve’s watch, it was about 4 P.M. on Sunday when the traffic light turned green.

Ahead of Steve and his wife in the traffic of an Atlanta suburb was a Fiat Balilla, identified by the script on the grille. It turned out to be a 508 M, found in Ethiopia and probably used in the Italian-Ethiopian war in the mid 1930s. This would lead to the discovery of the Balilla Coppa d’ Oro.

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VeloceToday Interview: SPEED’s Bob Varsha, Part II

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In Part I of VeloceToday’s exclusive interview with Bob Varsha, he discussed how the Formula 1 SPEED team evolved, took us on behind-the-scenes tour of the studio, and talked about the future of F1 in the U.S. In Part II Varsha talks about Monterey coverage, the BJ Auctions and his most memorable moments as a broadcaster.

Surprisingly SPEED’s Formula 1 anchor Bob Varsha was brought up not as a car enthusiast, driver, mechanic or designer but a lawyer by profession and a cross country runner by choice. Yet for over 20 years, Varsha has reported on our favorite sport with great enthusiasm, in-depth knowledge and professionalism far above par. Unflappable, with a magnetic memory and smooth, even, assured delivery, he is an anchor’s anchor, rising above the noise and screams and conjecture whether at BJ Auctions or a Formula 1 race. It would be hard to imagine watching a Formula 1 event without Varsha at the helm.

David Seibert is well known to Ferrari race fans and VeloceToday readers, having been in charge of the U.S. Ferrari Historics for many years. A long-time friend of Varsha’s, Seibert conducted this exclusive two-part VeloceToday interview with the dean of Formula 1 broadcasters.

Interview by David Seibert, Interview photos by Sidell Tilghman

VeloceToday: Will SPEED be doing more programs like Victory by Design and Behind the Headlights?
[Read more…] about VeloceToday Interview: SPEED’s Bob Varsha, Part II

Phillip Island Classic, Australia, 2011

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Story and photos by Vince Johnson

Australia 18-20 March 2011

Maserati 250Fs haven’t been thick on the ground at race meetings since the fifties, but there were three of them at the Phillip Island Classic in March. During Sunday’s lunchtime demonstration they ran together for several laps. Peter Giddings in 2501/2523, Tom Price in #2525 and Jeffrey O’Neill in #2527 were obviously enjoying the moment. They’d filled the podium in their first race on Saturday morning in that order, proving they weren’t there just to circulate, and the sound of these three Italian classics had grown men misty eyed.
[Read more…] about Phillip Island Classic, Australia, 2011

This Week, of Interest

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“Confronted with a tragedy like the one that has struck Japan today, Formula 1 and all its problems to do with tires, wings and engines is way down the list of priorities and today, my thoughts go first and foremost to the victims and their families.”–Fernando Alonso upon hearing of the disaster in Japan. His comment reflected our feelings as well.

What's in your driveway? Back in 1967 or 1968, Eric Davison of Troy, Michigan, looked out his window to see this Ferrari Mexico 340 Vignale Coupe, s/n 0224AT, sitting in his driveway. Unfolding out of the low-roofed Ferrari was his friend Cal Gleason, who had driven the Mexico over to show Eric his latest purchase. Cal was not a rich man, merely a man with good taste, recalled Davison, who took this photo. Today, Cal would have also been a very rich man, had he kept the Ferrari. It was sold last weekend at the RM Auction for $4,290,000.

Baby Bugatti Part II: A Free Premium Feature

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Read Part I.
 In Part II, the mystery of “The Type That Never Was” deepens. Our intrepid model builder also tells us about chassis numbers, specs, and how to buy a Baby Bugatti.

By Marshall Buck
The very first Baby Bugatti was built for Roland Bugatti, Ettore’s five year old son. Proof again that it’s good to be born with a “silver spoon” or in Roland’s case, more like a silver steering wheel. The Baby made its public debut at the 1927 Milan Automobile show, and was priced at 3,900 FF, which seems to be the price most were sold for, though some were delivered at higher prices. [Read more…] about Baby Bugatti Part II: A Free Premium Feature

Ettore’s Baby Bugatti Part I: A Free Premium Feature!

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This week we are pleased to welcome Marshall Buck to VeloceToday. I first came upon Marshall when we were both contributing to Ford Heacock’s Vintage Motorsport magazine in the 1980s. Marshall is a lifelong car enthusiast who parlayed his interest in cars into a highly successful business of producing high end models for some of the most noteworthy collectors in the field. One day, Marshall emailed VeloceToday, one thing lead to another and we asked him to do an article on a subject dear to both of us, the Baby Bugatti. Oh, yes, the Baby, and as Marshall found out, don’t ever call it the Type 52…

Part I

By Marshall Buck

I can’t believe that the answer has been in front of me all these years. The answer to what you ask? The answer to the question I often ask myself: How am I ever going to afford a genuine vintage Bugatti? Simple answer…buy a ‘Baby’ Bugatti; a child’s car to be precise. I’m not talking about one of those cheapy Toys R Us plastic jobs. No sir, the one I have in mind is very special….one of the authentic half scale renditions of a Type 35. [Read more…] about Ettore’s Baby Bugatti Part I: A Free Premium Feature!

Delage Barn Controversy: Views of the Owner

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Kitty Brunell behind the wheel of the Delage when new. Photo courtesy Derek Durst

A bit of a disclaimer here; I first met Derek Durst back in the 1980s, when he had in his possession one of the Le Mans HRGs. We wrote a story about the delightful Hurg and the article appeared in “Sports Cars International”. When Brandy Elitch’s story on the Delage and Ferrari in the barn was published last week, Derek wrote us a nice note to explain why he had a) changed the body and b) why he had run the ad on eBay in that fashion, which caused a good bit of confusion and speculation. While we fully support the views of both Brandes Elitch, the Delage clubs and Registries, we thought it only fair that Derek be given the chance to clarify a few issues. [Ed.]

By Derek Durst

I am a lifelong car-guy, a genuine car enthusiast albeit with a background in art, I am not a writer, but I feel obligated to respond to the above article in my own defense, as best I can. [Read more…] about Delage Barn Controversy: Views of the Owner

VeloceToday First Drive Exclusive: Fiat 500 Sport

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First drive in the new Fiat 500 Sport, thanks to Bergstrom Fiat in Milwaukee.

While Brian Winer scoped out the new Fiat in California, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, John and Lizzie Sexton high tailed it over to Bergstrom Fiat, where the exclusively Fiat dealership allowed VeloceToday to be the first enthusiast publication to road test the not-yet-available US Version Prima Edizione. They were lucky enough to test the aptly named “Sport” model.
[Read more…] about VeloceToday First Drive Exclusive: Fiat 500 Sport

Fiat 500 Revealed: California Dreamin’

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Will it be successful with an ad campaign pitching it as, in essence, the new Mini?
 
INGLEWOOD, CA. Feb. 15, 2011.  Laura Soave, the attractive 38-year old woman in charge of bringing Fiat back to America (for the third time, she says) predicts that the Fiat 500 will be a popular trendy car much like the new Mini. Soave made the prediction to  reporters from the Motor Press Guild at a presentation near Los Angeles International Airport. She also showed a commercial embodying that philosophy. The commercial revealed their marketing stance—they are aiming straight at the Mini buyer, i.e. the young fashionable person who already is equipped with ipod, ipad, Blackberry.
  [Read more…] about Fiat 500 Revealed: California Dreamin’

This Week, of Interest

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Toly Arutunoff update
Toly Arutunoff, race driver, racetrack owner and VeloceToday contributor, was severely injured last week after stopping to help a motorist in a snowstorm in Texas. He lost one leg at the scene of the accident and the other was crushed.This is the latest from his wife Karen:
Tomorrow will be surgery #4. Toly continues to amaze with his strength of spirit and mind if not body. He has no memory of the past week for the most part but seems to know exactly how this tragedy happened. He survived by the grace of God. Please send Valentine cards to: OU Medical Center-Presbyterian 700 NE 13th Street, Room 318 (Anatoly Arutunoff), Oklahoma City, OK 73104. Karen is updating information on his condition on her Facebook page, Karen Arutunoff

This week: One Premium article, and four regular features, so scroll down.

Iso Rivolta Four Passenger Vintage Racer

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Peter Whitehead hustles his four-seat racer through a turn. Photo by Racecarshot.com.

By Brian Winer

You would think, in a country like Italy, that once seeing Ferrari V12s or Maserati V8s in action, any Italians thinking of building high performance cars to compete with them would throw up their hands and say “It is useless to compete—you cannot improve upon perfection.”

And then there were guys like Renzo Rivolta who, after venturing from the refrigerator making business into cars with the tiny BMW Isetta in the fifties, decided to make a grand touring coupe.

Not using an Italian engine, of great complexity and cost, but an off the shelf Chevy V8 with an iron block, iron heads, overhead valves, low tech but high horsepower.

The result? A four seater coupe that can be out there on the same race course as a Ferrari or Maserati four-seater and blow their doors off. And if you live in the U.S. and blow a part, hey, you stop at Auto Zone or the nearest junkyard. Try that with your Ferrari or Maser.

The first Rivolta was shown in the Turin show in 1962. If you dig into its history you find that it actually was a phoenix arising out of the ashes of a British project called the Gordon Keeble.

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