VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

pete

Vanhoolandt at Retromobile, Part 1

By

Germain Lambert is one of those French craftsmen who distinguished themselves until the beginning of the post-war period by building sophisticated cars for the time. He built around 60 cars including this 1951 Cabriolet Sport with Ruby engine at the wheel of which Lambert himself won the 1100 Sport category at the 1953 Bol d’Or.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The Linas-Montlhéry Autodrome, near Paris, celebrates its centenary at Rétromobile, 2024.

At the end of the First World War, the question arose as to where and when France would have its first permanent automobile circuit. The answer came in 1924 when an industrialist named Alexandre Lamblin began building a speedway in Montlhéry, south of Paris, which had one astonishing characteristic: in places, its banking was too steep to stand upright on. A 12 kilometer road circuit was quickly added to the speed ring, which would become a favorite with French manufacturers and drivers.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Sharp at Retromobile, Part 1

By

1959 Lancia Flaminia Sport Zagato Sperimentale

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

With train strikes (again!) at home in the U.K., I was beginning to think that I would not make it to Paris this year. Then the French farmers decided to blockade the roads around Paris it was looking likely that if I did get Retromobile, I would find the exhibition halls empty, with all the delectable cars I had come to see stuck behind the farmer’s straw bale barriers.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Ferrari 312 P V12: Much Praise, No Wins

By

Story by Roberto Motta
Photos Centro Documentazione Storica Ferrari e Archivio Automobile Club Milano

From the VeloceToday Archives, January 2019

The 312 P powered by the V12 engine is a beautiful but unfortunate car, and never won a victory during its brief racing career. However, it is one of the most aesthetically satisfying cars ever made in the Ferrari workshops, and is the last prototype made before the agreement the agreement between the ‘prancing horse’ brand and FIAT.

The story begins when, after boycotting sports car racing in 1968 season to protest a rule change that banned their 4-litre 330 P4, Ferrari built a 3000cc prototype for the 1969 season, based on the existing F1 Ferrari 312 with a 60 degree V12. It was presented to the press on December 14th 1968 at the Fini Hotel in Modena. During the meeting, Enzo Ferrari announced his intention to participate in the 1969 Manufacturers World Championship with the car, called the 312 P for prototype. [Read more…] about Ferrari 312 P V12: Much Praise, No Wins

A Charley Seavey Photo Gallery

By

Not exactly what one expects from Fiat. When I first saw it I thought it was one of those later Chrysler Ghias. The resemblance is not accidental as this was designed by Ghia. RM auctions, 2014

Photos by Charley Seavey

There is always something about Charley Seavey’s photos that sparks one’s interest, opens the eyes, surprises, delights, fascinates. He sees and photographs things that most, or at least, I, would not notice or simply ignore, like the baggie disc brake or the door at the ACD Museum. Even a simple shot of a well-known make or model like the Alfa SS and Arnolt Bristol catches the light in a more dramatic way that we normally see it. His comments too, originate from a different point of view, often with less knowledge than one might assume but with charm it adds rather than detracts from the composition. And he often does so with a humor we can all recognize. So we make no apologies when we present the work of Charley Seavey. Enjoy.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

A Tickford Healey For You

By

Finally ready for the road. Note the finish is bare aluminum.

Story and photos by Bernhard Linck

Bernhard Linck is a custom furniture maker in Munich, Germany, and for his own pleasure restores cars and actually uses them on the road. Therefore he is not concerned about Pebble Beach standards, and has his own idea of how an old classic should be repurposed. Linck, an avid reader of VeloceToday, thought we might be interested in a short story about the rehabilitation of a rare Healey Tickford Saloon. Loved the idea as the Tickfords are truly rare and unusual cars, with dashing aluminum bodies powered by a healthy 2.5 liter Riley engine. Although some of the following article has also appeared on other classic car sites, here Bernhard takes us in a bit more depth with many additional photos. About Bernhard Linck

After I restored my 1962 Austin Healey, I needed a coupe for the cooler days, and so I went looking for something suitable. I found this very British 1954 Healey Tickford Sports Saloon offered on Ebay from a Turkish used-Porsche dealer in the north of Germany.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

American Etceterini: On Track Again at Lime Rock and Best of Show

By

Santo and the PBX debut at the 2023 Historics at Lime Rock Park. Photo by Sean Smith

By Sean Smith

Santo knew the PBX he purchased from Orrie Simko was tired and needed some love. So he stripped it down to a roller and sent it off to have any imperfections massaged out and a new coat of paint applied. Researching historical pictures, Santo found the little experimental car had gone through several color changes, but there was one that seemed to suit it best. Samples were looked at and a shade was chosen. The PBX is now resplendent in a bitchin shade of green.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

F.O.R.A. The Short Fast Life of the Ferrari Owners Racing Association

By

F.O.R.A. –the Ferrari Owners Racing Association in action with Graham Hill up.

Story by Willem Oosthoek
All photos by Jim LaTourrette [Willem Oosthoek Collection], unless stated otherwise.

In 1965 the long-distance racing scene for the World Championship began at Daytona in February where, after 2,000 KM, Ferrari was trounced by the Carroll Shelby’s team of Ford GT-40s and Cobra Daytonas. The next challenge came at Sebring in March, where the Automobile Racing Club of Florida would be hosting its 12 Hours race. The difference with Daytona was that at Sebring the organizers created an open class for sportsracers, cars not meeting the FIA’s Appendix J standards. This meant that Appendix C cars of unlimited engine capacity were allowed to enter, and these cars were likely to be lighter, more powerful and faster than the prototypes that contested the Championship. Whether they would last the full 12 hours to finish was another question, but Enzo Ferrari did not like the idea of facing another category of strong competitors that might interfere with overall victory.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Balancing the Lancia V4

By

The Lambda was the first in a long line of narrow angle V4 Lancias. Did the V4 generate more vibration than the standard four? And how were they balanced? Geoff Goldberg wanted to know. Photo by Jonathan Sharp

By Pete Vack with Geoff Goldberg and Jonathan Sharp

From the VeloceToday Archives, August 2021

NOTE: To order either of Geoff Goldberg’s books and avoid confusion, go directly to the author at gg@g2a2.com. He will provide the method best for you and apply the VeloceToday discount.

The display of Lancia Lambdas at the London Classic was a wonderful outing for this rare Lancia. In a serendipitous moment, while ace photographer Jonathan Sharp was snapping at every Lambda he could, back in Chicago Geoffrey Goldberg emailed and asked if we would like a copy of his latest publication, a booklet entitled Balancing the Lancia V4. Since the Lambda was the first production V4, a good opportunity.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Frank Lance: Lonestar Mechanic Part 9

By

Indianapolis, May 1967. Delayed during qualifying, Frank Lance and A.J. Foyt are in the process of installing a new magneto in Foyt’s Coyote/Ford. [Photo Frank Lance Collection]

Story by Willem Oosthoek

With John Mecom winding down his racing program, Frank Lance left the Mecom team at the end of 1966, but he had fond memories of his time there.

Frank: “In 1966 Mecom flew in some of his company people, as well as my wife Carolyn, to see the Indianapolis 500. His company airplane was a four-engine Lockheed Electra. They flew up just for the day, and flew back to Houston that night, after celebrating Graham Hill’s win in the Mecom Lola. I got to see Carolyn for a few minutes before the race and for a couple of hours afterward. I had been away from her for the whole month. Carolyn had a seat in the stands behind the pits, with all of the drivers’ wives. I thought it was very thoughtful of Mecom to include her on that trip to Indy. By 1967 the theaters would show the race in closed circuit. My mother came up to Houston to help Carolyn with the kids, and they all went to see the race there in Houston. This was the first time my mother ever got to see what it was that I was doing for a living.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

American Etceterini: Scanning the PBX

By

The PBX and other H Mod racers at Lime Rock Park.

Story by Sean Smith

Santo Spadaro saw Orrie Simko in the PBX buzzing around the A and B paddocks at the 2021 Lime Rock Historics and asked if he could take it for a spin. Just driving it around the infield was a blast. Santo came back from his ride. He was interested. He loved the history, the car had Italian components that gave it extra interest, and Candy was a mechanic/racer similar to Santo. He was hooked. It was the perfect fit. This way, the PBX would stay in the VSCCA and be raced and not hidden away where no one would see it and get to appreciate it. For Orrie Simko and Jeb Ebbott, finding the PBX a new and understanding caretaker in Santo Spadaro was a privilege.

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe

Dibdin’s 3D Printer Keeps OSCA Going

By

How to keep an OSCA MT1500 TN on the road…


Story and photos by Sean Smith

From the VeloceToday Archives, November 2019

Steven Dibdin had been working flat out for a startup company in Brooklyn and was rather burned out; he wasn’t sure if he wanted to work for someone else, and anyway he had an idea for a new company. He went over to White Plains, NY, and asked Santo Spadaro of Dominick’s European car repair https://dominick-european-car-repair.business.site/ if he thought the idea was viable. Santo thought for a minute and came back with “Do you think you can make one of these?” It was a twin spark rotor arm for an OSCA. The honest reply was “I think so.” And behold, a 3D printed OSCA distributor rotor became the first project for Steven’s new company,

This content is for Premium Subscriber members only.
LoginSubscribe
MENU