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Photos of the MOMA Cisitalia, 1951

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The Cisitalia number 042 at the MOMA exhibition in 1951. It had just come out of the body shop where “…most dents were removed before the body was sprayed a light metallic blue…”. We might submit that they missed a few here and there!

Could this really be the MOMA Cisitalia?

Story by Pete Vack
Photos by Jerry Lehrer

From the VeloceToday archives, July 2017

Over the years there has been a great deal of press concerning the “8 Automobiles” show at the Museum Of Modern Art held from August 29th to November 11, 1951 in New York. It was, after all, the “first exhibit anywhere of dealing with the aesthetics of automobile design.” The star of the show was the Cisitalia 202, and we have heard much about that as well.

But, does anyone remember seeing what the fabled and famous Cisitalia looked like as it appeared at the automotive exhibition of the century? Fortunately, photographer Jerry Lehrer was there, and took these amazing and previously unpublished photos of the Cisitalia as it was being set up in the Museum of Modern Art. [Read more…] about Photos of the MOMA Cisitalia, 1951

Behold, the Narwal

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Delahaye Figoni 800516 at the Blackhawk Museum, August 2018. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.

By Pete Vack with special thanks to Hugues Vanhoolandt and Richard Adatto

Richard Adatto (with Diana Meredith), in their new book Figoni On Delahaye (read review) allowed us to reflect upon one of the strangest of the already strange French confections of Figoni. Early readers of Road and Track came face to face with a Narwal via the February 1949 cover, and probably never forgot it, even if they couldn’t describe it.

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Packard Epiphany

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1934 Packard Senior Series

Story and photos by Brandes Elitch

I can remember riding my bicycle to the local Packard dealer in South Orange, NJ, to get a 1956 brochure, which I still have. I also own an original, unrestored 1956 Patrician, the last Packard. I consider Packard to be the greatest American marque, and I had a bit of an epiphany at the show, which I will explain below.

For our many readers who may not be familiar with the marque, here is a brief overview. [Read more…] about Packard Epiphany

Gauld Drives a 1958 Fiat 500 Abarth

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One of Carlo Abarth’s first production modified Fiats, the Fiat 500 Sport.

Story and photos by Graham Gauld

The scene was the Albergo Della Rocca, a small hotel in Bazzano near Modena in 1958.

Vittorio Rocchi, whose father owned the hotel, told me that a friend of his had just taken on the Abarth distributorship for the area and was going to bring one of the brand-new production Fiat Abarth 500 Sports to the hotel for me to try out.

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Charley Seavey F1, 1973

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The Marlboro BRM crew working on Jean Pierre Beltoise’s car. He would finish 9th.

Story and photos by Charley Seavey

As with a lot of my European pictures I’m amazed at the ability then to wander around pit and paddock and watch the guys at work. In this day no bits and bobs of cars lying around on the ground, or random guys with cameras snapping away. I’m glad I was around for those days. Here are some shots from Silverstone, 1973. [Read more…] about Charley Seavey F1, 1973

Graham Gauld talks to Bernard Asset

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Change indeed. Bernard Asset’s art. McLaren at Eau Rouge on the Spa circuit. F1 photography would never be the same again. Copyright Bernard Asset. All rights reserved.

By Graham Gauld
From the VeloceToday archives June 2013

At a recent race meeting I met up with an old friend of over 25 years, the famed French Formula 1 photographer Bernard Asset. You may not have heard of him, but he completely changed the style of motor racing photography back in the 1970s.

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Jackie Cooper, Race Driver

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Jackie Cooper at the SCCA Nationals at Westover NY on June 13, 1954. Photo copyright Robert F. Pauley and used with permission.

By Pete Vack

In 1951, a 30 year old Hollywood actor named John Cooper, Jr, aka Jackie, was driving from Los Angeles to New York City in his Jaguar XK120. Thoughts of his long lost father often crossed his mind as he drove the lonely miles across America. When John Jr. was still a toddler, John Cooper Sr. walked out on the family and simply disappeared. The strange loss of his father had a major negative impact on the actor. But life moves on and he kept on driving.

Somewhere outside of Kansas City, MO, it began to rain and the wind tore the top off the Jag. Soaking wet, Cooper drove through town and happened to find an upholstery shop that also repaired convertible tops.

Thankfully, a man came out to help and offered to make a new top for the Jag, and went right to work on the task. After an hour or so, the craftsman took a break and looked at Cooper. “Say, you’re Jackie Cooper, aren’t you?” Cooper admitted to being the Hollywood star.

The man thought for a minute and then told Cooper to look outside, pointed to an apartment window with a light and curtain. “Your father lives right up there.” [Read more…] about Jackie Cooper, Race Driver

Jim Clark’s First Race

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“Drivers jockey for position at the start of the Sports Car Race up to 1500ccs at Crimond. On the right is well known J.B.G. Campbell in his MGA.”

By David Ross

ODD looking and totally out of place in an event for sports racing cars, the DKW Sonderklasse might have been but could anyone ever have imagined that the driver in the wacky little German two-stroke saloon car would go on to win countless Grand Prix races, two drivers’ world championships and become recognized across the world as one of the finest single seater drivers of all time.

When he arrived at Crimond, the old wartime airfield situated between Peterhead and Fraserburgh where the Aberdeen & District Motor Club ran races for both cars and motorcycles on the same day, Jim Clark didn’t have the slightest inkling that he was about to experience his first race.

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Trackside at the Revival

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Dear readers, if you will allow me just one more outing before we say goodbye to racing at Goodwood for the 2023. The follow are just some random shots taken by me from the chicane and assembly area track exit. No driver’s names, no race positions, just some photographs of old racing cars doing what they do best…..racing. Goodbye Goodwood, see you again in 2024.

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Experiencing the Lamborghini Miura S

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By Pete Vack

From the Archives, November 2016

The way to gain entrance into the realm of the Dallara/Gandini masterpiece that is the Miura is to gently push the door latch button from the Fiat 850 and pull a bit on the chrome fin at the bottom of the row of black fins to the rear of the door window.

“Be careful getting in. Here’s how you have to do it. Get your butt over the seat and gently lower it straight down. Don’t wiggle. Don’t squirm. The reason is because the seats are original cloth inserts and any heavy lateral movement stresses out the material,” said Paul Wilson.

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Back by Popular Demand

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My first and almost forgotten Maserati shot is of Jimmy Bryan in the Henry Maag entered 300S at Willow Springs on March 4, 1956. Bryan also was a pilot in the Indy 500. To keep everyone happy, it’ s/n 3058.

Story and photos by Allen R. Kuhn

As I start my one-digit waltz once more upon my keyboard, the letters begin to flow. Sometimes they make sense, sometimes not. We’ll do the best we can.
“Back by popular demand” might be a bit of a stretch. There were three guys from Sheboygan who said they wanted to see more Maserati pictures. I started thinking that this would be a most salient time to cull the archives once again, with purpose. The archives didn’t let me down.

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In the Paddock at Goodwood

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Vintage Goodwood!

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

The Goodwood Revival is renowned for its attention to detail, and the ability to get up close and personal to the cars and drivers across the site. However, between the track fence and race track, obviously, and the tow road and assembly area are places which are considered to be less safe for the general public and are only accessible to the teams and accredited members of the press.

I hope the following photos give you a small taste of what goes on in those two areas and if, in some of the shots, it looks like chaos, let me tell you that it is all beautifully choreographed thanks to the skill and dedication of the hard-working marshalls. Oh and just a thought with regards to attention to detail, each year the Driver’s Club is built around a theme. Last year it was the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, this year it was a jungle theme even down to the weather which was tropical to say the least. [Read more…] about In the Paddock at Goodwood

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