The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
What kind of engine is pictured below? In the last edition of VeloceToday, we told readers that it was removed from a damaged car in a U.S. junkyard about 25 years ago. Many readers gave their opinion, but the answer was both surprising and yet so obvious. What was it and who got it right?
Just one day past the deadline, Michiel van den Brink was finally able to get in touch with famed Zagato designer Ercole Spada. We added Spada’s two comments after mailout. To see his favorite Zagatos, see “My Favorite Zagato”, below.
Name This Engine!
What kind of engine is pictured above? It was removed from a damaged car in a U.S. junkyard about 25 years ago.
[Read more…] about This Week, of Interest
Kent Patrick’s Type 37A GP rounds Mill Corner
The only Alfa G1 left.
Lobethal Grand Carnival, South Australia, 3-4 October 2009
Story and Photos by Vince Johnson
Seventy years ago the 1939 Australian Grand Prix was held on the Lobethal circuit in the Adelaide hills. According to the excellent book, “The Official History 50 race of the Australian Grand Prix” (R&T Publishing 1986) there were three Alfa Romeos entered in the event. The 2.9 litre Tipo B Monoposto, chassis 50002 finished sixth after 150 miles of racing; a 2355cc Monza chassis 2211134 driven by Alf Barrett finished 8th; and a 8C (2373cc) 2 seater chassis 23112028e (believed to have been raced in 1933 Le Mans by Chiron) driven by John Crouch, which finished 7th. [Read more…] about Lobethal Grand Carnival 2009
Last week we received the latest edition of Classic and Sportscar magazine, a bit late but always nice to see our VeloceToday ad in the back pages. When I picked it up, an insert fell out–and when I looked down on the floor to see what it was, a familiar set of eyes peered back at me.
Did I know this man? Maybe it’s a Wanted by Scotland Yard poster, or someone is lost, like the kids on the milk cartons. But as it came into focus I could tell it was Karl Abarth.
[Read more…] about Advertising Abarth
This feature is a first for the triad of VeloceToday.com, Coachbuild.com and SportsCarDigest.com.We all had input to this article and feature this article in our respective websites at the same time.
The recent and regrettable passing of Elio Zagato caused us to query a variety of noted car enthusiasts to tell us what is their favorite Zagato bodied car. Sounds easy, right?
Very few of the respondents could claim just one favorite. “Well, it might be the 6C1500 Alfa, but then again maybe the DB4GT, or wait, I forgot about those lovely Maserati Zagatos.” And so it went. It seems that there are so many interesting, unique, and/or beautiful Zagato designs that it is very hard to chose just one.
At the same time, although we tried to avoid it, several enthusiasts chose the same car–the Ferrari Zagatos. And with good reason, as it they be the most clearly stated Zagato effort of all –aggressive, beautiful, sculpted with great art, and of course light and very, very fast.
Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato
Ercole Spada, Zagato designer
“My favorite Zagato model is the Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato. That car might have been too modern for its days, and even in the late eighties the concept was copied by other manufacturers, take the Honda CRX for example.”
Karl Ludvigsen, historian, librarian, author
“I am completely and utterly nuts, nuts, nuts and just comprehensively nuts about the Alfa Junior Zagato. It was first shown at Turin in November of 1969 in 1300 cc form and then upgraded to 1600 cc a couple of year later. Zagato did a wonderful job on this car with its body pared to the minimum and chock full of fascinating details. It’s magnificent. I borrowed one from Alfa on a trip to Italy and found it an absolute hoot. Light, lively and a dream to handle, it is the quintessential sports car.”
Credit Ludvigsen Library
Ferrari 250GT Zagato
Simon Moore, author of “The Immortal Alfa Romeo 2.9”
“The Ferrari 250GT “double bubble” chassis number 0515.”
David Sydorick, collector
“From personal experience, I can certainly second Simon Moore’s choice of the Zagato Ferrari 250GT Zagato, s/n 0515.”
Ferrari 250GT Zagato
Michiel van den Brink, designer, editor for Coachbuild.com
“I go for the Ferrari 250 GT with chassis number 0537GT. Sydorick’s example #0515GT proves that Zagatos are very suitable for both Concours d’Élegance and racing and while #0537GT is practically identical to #0515GT, she’s more purpose built for racing and has some more refined details like the radiator. The fact that this car raced her first race in nothing but primer adds to the story.”
1952 OSCA V12 Coupe Zagato .
Brandes Elitch, contributor, VeloceToday
“I went back to my 2 volume set on Zagato, published by Giorgio Nada in 1989. Volume I, by Michele Marchiano, and while it is a fool’s errand to choose the most desirable car, one did stand out, one I never noticed before. On page 102, there are 2 photos of a 1952 Osca V-12 coupe. The car has an Osca V12 engine of 4500 cc displacement. This car is breathtaking, period.”
Ferrari Tipo 166 Zagato
Michael T. Lynch, author, historian
“A Zagato coupe on a Ferrari 166 chassis that was later rebodied. This is obviously a more sophisticated version of Zagato’s aerodynamica or panoramica coupes on Fiat chassis. Front 3/4 is a little ungainly, but that rear shot just makes you want to pat it on the ass, like that Radcliffe College girlfriend in the 50s. Posed with car is Stagnoli, the owner who enjoyed so much success with Ferrari Gran Turismo coupes in the 50s, before there was a GT class.”
Bandini Zagato GTV
Pete Vack, VeloceToday editor, author
“It may be the most perfectly proportioned and beatiful small car in the world.”
______________________________________________________
If you are enjoying this article, why not consider a donation to VeloceToday? Click here for details..it’s easy!
______________________________________________________
Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ
Raffi Minasian, designer
“Small cars are extremely difficult to design well. Add to that a very round, full surface theme combined with manufacturing limits to the day-light openings and you can imagine the challenges the SZ package presented Zagato. Yet the execution, proportions, and final form is simply perfection. There has never been a better closed bodied short wheelbase design than the Zagato bodied Alfa Romeo SZ.” Credit Michael T. Lynch
Photos by Richard Prince Photography
(Millville, NJ, September 21) Two champions were named–neither new to the honor–and another driver turned in a pair of strong victories in his first time racing in the Shell Historics as the series completed its 2009 season at the New Jersey Motorsports Park. [Read more…] about Shell Historics at New Jersey Motorsports
A Zagato in the closet
Bill Henry called me at Automech. We met a couple of weeks earlier during a Riverside SCCA weekend. He had stopped by the shop and admired my bright turquoise Mini, with the ivory stripe to match its wheels. Now he was proposing a trade. An even trade for pinks. [Read more…] about A Car Life by Larry Crane
Today the subject of this article resides in a collection in New York.
The story of a particular Zagato in America
Story and Photos by Pete Vack unless otherwise noted
The name sounded odd–Fiat Derivazione Abarth 750 GT Zagato–and did not easily roll off American tongues. But once seen, the car was not easily forgotten, while the long, strange name was quickly replaced by the nickname “Double Bubble”. Not only did it refer to the unique top, but Dubble Bubble is also the name of the original chewing bubble gum, which was very popular at the time, that being 1958-59.
[Read more…] about A Zagato in America
Nuvolari and Guidotti at a control point in the 1930 Mille Miglia, which they won with this Zagato bodied Alfa 6C Gran Sport.
The late Elio Zagato learned his trade from the very best
By Pete Vack
A free pdf version of this article can be ordered from Pete@velocetoday.com.
April 17, 1930, Brescia
In an awesome demonstration of speed, reliability and advanced design, Alfa Romeo 6C 1750s, all with ultra-light bodies by Zagato, won the first four places in the 1000-mile Italian marathon known as the Mille Miglia. It came as little surprise to master coachbuilder Ugo Zagato, for he had seen it before; Alfa Romeo Zagatos had already won the epic event in 1928 and 1929.
[Read more…] about Masters of Light
Pininfarina designed Chevrolet Corvette Rondine-Best of Show winner at the Fairfield County Concours last year.
By Werner Pfister
In a few weeks the Sixth Annual 2009 Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance will be held in Westport, Connecticut, and it will be expanded to a two day event. On Saturday, September 12th, a fifty mile rally through Fairfield County for classic cars. In addition, a Classic Car and Bike Club show will be added to the schedule. On Sunday September 13th, the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo will be celebrated and a complete array of historic Alfas, including Dr. Gary Kaberle’s B.A.T. 11 dk will be on display.
[Read more…] about Preview: Fairfield County Concours
By David Seibert
Photos by Bruce B. Miller
Facebook/MySpace: bruce@forza.cc – wtiger
(Mont Tremblant, PQ, Canada, July 27) A small field and a wet race track don’t sound like the ingredients for a fun weekend, but Shell Historics drivers at Mont Tremblant faced just those conditions last weekend–and yet it was a really enjoyable event. The small field removed some of the usual pressures, and the weather allowed drivers more time to relax and talk with other drivers and enthusiasts, making for a low key, fun weekend.
[Read more…] about Shell Ferrari Historics at Mt. Tremblant
Thinking about buying a new illustrated book on racing or your favorite car? Soon, in fact now, you can easily view the entire book online at no cost. Here’s one on Porsche.
By Pete Vack
There is a lot of buzz going on these days about the free economy–those services and products offered via the Internet for free. For example, Google is free. WikiPedia is free. Social networks like My Space and Twitter are free. Winding Road is free.
[Read more…] about Great Books for Free Online