The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Ferrari 512 BBLM.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Salon Privé took place at Blenheim Palace in the heart of the Cotswolds, September 23-26, 2020.
Whilst I only attend Salon Privé for one day, the event has evolved into much more than just a posh day out eating lobster, drinking champagne and looking at gorgeous cars.
SIGMA Grand Prix by Pininfarina, 1969
Alessandro Gerelli has been covering the Milano AutoClassica event for years. Last year we presented a short biography of Alessandro in conjuction with the 2019 AutoClassica show.
Read more about Alessandro here.
Photos by Alessandro Gerelli
This event provided the opportunity to forget for a while the Covid virus and to enjoy the view of a lot of cars of the past. It was also the opportunity to celebrate the 90 years of Pininfarina, with many wonderful cars and the presentation of the new official book “Pininfarina 90 years” by Giorgio Nada Editore.
A half century separates the 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta and the 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette.
By Dick Ruzzin
What drives a company like De Tomaso or Chevrolet to demonstrate its soul by creating cars that will hopefully outperform those of its peers? To put its image on the line and be confident that it will win? To challenge what is considered the best in all the world and not be afraid?
This is really a story of two companies, one very small and one very big. Fifty years separate the two landmark mid-engine efforts, the Mangusta and the C8 Corvette. For Alessandro de Tomaso, it was very personal, as he wrote in the Mangusta Owners Manual. Fortunately, in the history and heritage of General Motors and Chevrolet, there remains a spark called Corvette, which still displays the very essence of what an automobile is about.
Herein, we examine both cars from an owner’s perspective. [Read more…] about De Tomaso Mangusta vs Corvette C8
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Lead image: Mussolini had decreed an order to Italianize foreign-sounding names, hence Carrozzeria Touring became Carrozzeria Turinga, as shown here on the bonnet emblems of the Trossi 6C Alfa Romeo, featured below.
Salon Privé event founders Andrew and David Bagley and all those involved in this year’s Concours (which took place at Blenheim Palace in the heart of the Cotswolds, September 23-26, 2020), must have breathed a huge sigh of relief on the morning of the opening day of the event, even though it was raining. [Read more…] about Salon Privé Concours, 2020
June 6th, 1958. Mike Hawthorn being interviewed near the Vanwall van at Reims. Photo by Robert Pauley
Story by Denise McCluggage
Photos and captions by Graham Gauld and Robert Pauley
On top of the Le Mans crash of 1955 that killed four score or more and for which many Germans, mostly in the press, blamed Mike Hawthorn as a key instrument, he was having his darkest season in Grand Prix racing. He collected not a point toward the championship. Nothing. He was driving for Tony Vandervell and the Vanwalls were still suffering from birth pangs. Vanwall, like Mike, still had three full years to go to its world championship.
Taking the Loeber receptionist for a victory lap at State Fair Park in 1981.
By BS Levy
Would you sell your soul for half-a-second? OK, how about a WHOLE second?
As detailed last time, with our extensive rulebook reading (much of it between the lines) and subsequent garage preparation at the dealership (which, BTW, rampaged through our checking account like Godzilla demolishing Tokyo…but, jeez, don’t tell Carol) we had a promising track weapon with which to do battle. Even so, it was obvious we had some dialing-in and detailing to do. Which meant money.
Grant Perryman, 1968 Lola-Ferrari T70
Story and photos by Vince Johnson
The Bend Classic, South Australia 5-6 Sept 2020
Scheduling a race meeting for local entries only, on a Fathers’ Day weekend, along with distancing and state border restrictions due to Covid19, would seem to be a recipe destined for limited success. The pandemic had meant car racing had been on hold for six months at South Australia’s ‘The Bend Motorsport Park’, a hundred kilometres south-east of Adelaide, but the state’s impressive record in managing the virus saw restrictions being gradually eased. Over seventy entries in six categories signed up for two days of timed sprints on the 3.41 kilometre West Circuit, and the public took full advantage of free spectator admission.
The first Ferrari Mike Hawthorn raced was this modified 375 4.5 litre car, the Thinwall Special entered by Tony Vandervell seen standing beside the car. The meeting was at the Turnberry circuit in 1953.
Story by Denise McCluggage
Photos and captions by Graham Gauld
There have been many “firsts” in the life of John Michael Hawthorn starting that tenth day in April, 1929, when he first saw light of day. His father, Leslie, was a garage owner and a man active in motorcycling and motor-racing circles, putting Mike close to this world from the time he was a tyke.
The fabled car’s first glimpse of daylight in 25 years. Note the color and also, to the left of the front wheel, and below the side view mirror, a Pabst Motors sticker.
Story by Bob Birmingham
After his impressive drive at Marlboro, finishing a close second to the Alfa engined Cooper, there occurred a major renovation to Dick Eisenmann’s Cooper.
From time to time, he frequented a foreign car repair shop just down the road from his office. In anticipation of a lengthy business trip, he took his Cooper there for a little “mechanical sweetening and anything else that was needed.” Upon returning, he found the car painted — a tomato orange had replaced the historic Team Cunningham blue over white. [Read more…] about Cooper-Fiat Part 2: Resurrection
Story by Dale LaFollette
Stop the Press! Oh, we can’t but this bit of YouTube just surfaced in reference to the below article and it simply must be seen. We’ve added this video to Dale LaFollette’s March 2019 piece on the Stapp record car.
I have spent the last twenty-five years collecting, buying and selling period racing photography that interested me. I have known of the car illustrated here and had spent several years looking for a good vintage print when this one became available. My reason for the search was based on the wonderful story surrounding the builder of this car and the car itself. [Read more…] about Stapp Record Car on Film
