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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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An Unusual Look at the Porsche Museum

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Some lesser known items from the Porsche Museum

By Graham Gauld

We live in an age where we have created almost an obsession about electric powered cars, but the concept is not new. Over one hundred and twenty one years ago at the 1900 Paris Expo the German coachbuilding company Lohner exhibited the Lohner-Porsche Mixed Hybrid. It was a car developed by their 24-year-old engineer Ferdinand Porsche who had joined the company with no particular qualifications as an engineer but who, from an early age, had been fascinated by electricity and electric power.

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London Classic Car Show, 2021

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Letting loose in the Delage.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

After missing 2020 for the usual reason, the London Classic Car show was back for 2021 and took place June 25 – 27. Not at the London Excel exhibition center as before, but in West London at Syon Park, and out in the open! [Read more…] about London Classic Car Show, 2021

Elitch on Model Car Collecting

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Story by Brandes Elitch

“There are some people that if they don’t know, you can’t tell them” – Louis Armstrong

Why would a person in their fifties, sixties, or seventies still collect model cars, spending perhaps hundreds of dollars on an individual model? Well, if I have to explain it to you, this quote from Louis Armstrong is right on the money.

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? Collecting is so widespread that there is even a “psychology of collecting,” which says that “this allows people to relive their childhood, and connect themselves to a period or time that they feel strongly about.” Collecting “helps people to relieve insecurity and anxiety about losing a part of themselves and to keep the past to continue to exist in the present.” Someone once said that collectors have “a genetic defect.” These comments are beyond psychobabble – they are nonsense, of course.

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Mystery Bandini: It’s the Readers, not the Car!

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Is this Jim Pauley’s car at Watkins Glen in 1953? Or is this Wayne Chapman, at his home in Fayetteville N.C. in 1957? Photo submitted by Dale LaFollette

In the end it is all about our fantastic readers, not the Bandini. First, we heard from José Ramón Arce, who lives in Spain. José seemed to know his stuff, and wrote in very good English. In a well reasoned and well reseached opinion, José believes that the mystery car is the one entered at Watkins Glen in 1953 by Jim Pauley. As can be read in last week’s VeloceToday, research on our part backed that assertion up, although we could not find other photos which would have verified this. Then we heard from Walt Carroll, who had a completely different take on our mystery Bandini. So we engaged both to tell us more about themselves. [Read more…] about Mystery Bandini: It’s the Readers, not the Car!

Bill Pollack, Remembered

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Pebble Beach, 1956. Bill Pollack in the Stovebolt Chevy HWM leads Phil Hill in a Ferrari 860, Ernie McAfee in a Ferrari 121LM, then the Jag D-Type of Pierce Woods, Bill Murphy’s Kurtis 500X, and the Aston of Jack Graham. Photo by Jim Sitz.

West Coast racer Bill Pollack passed away at the age of 92 on July 16, 2017. We originally published this appreciation on August 25, 2017, and a week later published a second article with material sent by our readers. We have combined the two articles for our Archives feature this week.

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It’s Showtime! Sharp at the London Concours

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This was my second favourite car at the show. In the Kustom Class was this 1953 Austin A40 Somerset.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

At last! A car show to go to, my first since Salon Prive last September. So it’s up to the City of London, to the 5 acre green oasis that is the Honorable Artillery Company and the venue for the fifth edition of the London Concours held June 8-10, 2021. [Read more…] about It’s Showtime! Sharp at the London Concours

Can’t Get Enough of the London Concours

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E Types on parade, starting with 77RW, the first production two seater, as famously driven by Norman Dewis overnight to Geneva to serve as one of the press demonstrators.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Due largely to download time, we’ve split the report of the London Concours into two posts. Part 2 begins with the celebration of the E Type Jaguar.

These are the winners of this year’s event: [Read more…] about Can’t Get Enough of the London Concours

More on the Mystery Car

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Last week we challenged our readers to be the first to tell us what kind of Etceterini this is, who is driving, when and where, and offered a free year’s subscription to VeloceToday.com. What were the results? Photo submitted by Dale LaFollette

By Pete Vack

It is heartening to realize, that despite the deep pockets of knowledge and facts offered by Internet sources as well as a cornucopia of books and magazines, period and otherwise, there are still a few mysteries out there that remain unsolved.

In reference to that mystery car from last week; first, Dale LaFollette had purchased the photo from eBay, with no identification or photographer’s name. Dale wanted to know what kind of car it was so sent it to us here at VeloceToday. We didn’t know for sure either. Many of the little ones look alike, so we didn’t want to make any assumptions. We decided to ask you, our readers.

Responses were many and varied, and we thank all who sent in a guess. But the first responder was JR, who wrote:

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Jim Sitz Remembers Phil Hill

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Phil Hill, World Champion. 60 years ago this week Phil won the Belgian Grand Prix for Ferrari. We celebrate his championship year. Photo of Phil Hill at the LA Times Grand Prix by Jim Sitz courtesy IMRRC.

Recently, working with Jim Sitz, we recalled that it was 60 years ago that Phil Hill won the Formula One World Championship. So why not put together something on Phil Hill, divide the photos up into four segments, each of which to be published close to the date of Phil’s remaining 1961 F1 races, culminating in the Grand Prix of Monza. And, in addition to Jim’s photos, we sneak in a couple from other photographers. But throughout we’ll get Jim to provide first hand recollections of his talks with Hill over the many years they knew each other. [Read more…] about Jim Sitz Remembers Phil Hill

Mystery Car Contest

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Be the first to tell us what kind of Etceterini this is, who is driving, when and where, and you’ll get a free year’s subscription to VeloceToday.com. Email answers to vack@cox.net. Photo submitted by Dale LaFollette

Prototypes at the British Motor Museum

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Great displays, missed opportunities.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Read Part 1

I suppose it is not that unusual that when two or more people attended an event or a museum together, the conversation on the way home often turns to “What was your favourite car/display?” Returning recently from the British Motor Museum, it was no different for my pal and me.

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Bandini 750 Crosley and Offy/Alfa

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Photo by Dave DeBrul

Below is an article first published in the August 5, 1985 edition of AutoWeek as a Escape Road feature, written by the Editor and featuring the Bandini 750 Sports, then owned by Dave DeBrul. Having gotten the reader suitabley reved up, we follow that with a description of the famous Offy-Bandini. It was known to many of us as “The Offy That Ran”, and seen in the June, 1957 edition of Sports Cars Illustrated written by Karl Ludvigsen. This Bandini has been restored and is now for sale.

By Pete Vack

Ilario Bandini’s main source of income was derived from owning and operating a thriving Lancia dealership in Forli, a small town whose main claim to fame was 1) being the birthplace of Mussolini or 2) the site of Nuvolari’s first victory with a Ferrari, or 3) a town through which the Mille Miglia was routed, depending on what history one chooses to read. [Read more…] about Bandini 750 Crosley and Offy/Alfa

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