The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
The recent introduction of the Bertone Nuccio and its obvious (and striking) connection with the 1970 Bertone Stratos caused our Italian Editor to recall driving the famed Lancia Stratos Zero (see last week’s article) but also to dig through his archives, where he found these remarkable drawings from the Archive Bertone. We now present them with the sketches of the new Nuccio for your pleasure.
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Ford World Rally Team and Rally Mexico
Sebastien Loeb has won the third round of the World Rally Championship. It was his sixth win in Mexico, and this year he confirmed his supremacy from the opening round.
[Read more…] about Rally Mexico 2012 In English and Italian
Top, the Stratos Zero, bottom, the new Nuccio.
On February 10th, Bertone released the first images of the Nuccio, a dramatic showcar that will have its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show (March 8-18th 2012) to celebrate the centenary of Bertone.
As one can see, the Nuccio is an “extreme” sport design which represents the ultimate evolution of the concept of the central rear engine automobile. Do you feel a sense of deja vu? The new Nuccio was, you guessed it, inspired by the Stratos Zero created by Nuccio Bertone in 1970.
If anything, son of a legend is even more dramatic than the father.
The new concept car from Turin was designed by Michael Robinson at Bertone Style and has much of the flair and drama of the legendary Stratos. Like the Stratos, the Nuccio has a strong emotional impact; it is short, low, wide and powerful. It would be both difficult and a real thrill if one were to drive it on the streets.
By Roberto Motta
Photos Scuderia del Portello
Italian version below
Milan – The Scuderia del Portello celebrated 30 years of sporting activities with the “Trophy of the Thirty Years” held in Milano on February 17 to 19th. The event was held at the new Fiera Milano, a 345,000 sq meter pavilion in conjunction with the “Milano Autoclassica”.
The celebration was attended by the Alfa Romeo race cars such as the GTA, GTAm, and Giulia, and Giulia GT sedans. The cars were challenged to participate in a circuit specially designed in the square in front of the pavilions of Nations Autoclassica. Eighteen GTA/GTAms were on hand and divided into two classes. The winner of the trophy for the GTA category was Jason Wright followed by Arturo Merzario, while in GTAm, Sabino de Castro and Francesco Frisone were first and second.
Jason-Wright with his Alfa GTA won the GTA class.
A large, passionate audience attended the exhibition of seven historic cars of the Carabinieri, and watched performances by go-karts and cars of every make.
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesty of Roberto Motta, Dino Brunori and Alessandro Nassiri © Archivio Museo Scienza
As we have seen, (Read Nardi at Le Mans Part I) despite the early retirement of his car in 1954, Damonte was still eager to compete with a Nardi at Le Mans. At some point in 1954, the engineer-architect, pilot and aircraft enthusiast Carlo Mollino was taken by the lines of Damonte Le Mans OSCA. Mollino had been hired by Damonte to redesign his personal apartment and the two shared an interest in cars. Using a photo of the OSCA as it appeared in a magazine, Mollino began to sketch out an idea for an aerodynamic body that would not cover a racing car chassis, but instead, a chassis would be constructed to conform to the streamlined body. Mollino became part of a new project to create a new car for the 1955 Le Mans. It would become known as the DaMolNar (Damonte/Mollino/Nardi Bisiluro.)
Mollino first designed a car with an aerodynamic nose, no radiator, modeling it like a thin airfoil and then began to add essential elements. The final design was a totally asymmetric car, consisting of two separate nacelles.* The left side contained the engine and transmission; the right side was dedicated and designed for a driver of small stature (less than 5 foot 7 inches).
Drawings by Carlo Mollino were surprisingly close to the finished Bisiluro.
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Ford World Rally Team, Ford Motor Co.
After a real thriller, Jari Matti Latvala and his Ford Fiesta WRC won the Swedish Rally, his first of the season. Latvala hit a rock during the special stages but managed to recover and beat his ex-teammate Mikko Hirvonen, now driving for Citroen.
[Read more…] about Rally Sweden 2012 In English and Italian
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Media-Ferrari and Grand-Am Media
Daytona celebrated the 50th anniversary of the legendary International Speedway track in Florida with the Rolex 24 hour race held during the last weekend of January. The Grand Am Series kickoff saw the debut of the new Ferrari 458 Grand Am, the car is designed specifically for the Grand Am GT class. Based on Ferrari’s European GT3 racer, the new car turned its very first laps at the famous Daytona International Speedway in July of this year under the watchful and experienced eyes of both the manufacturer and its pre-eminent North American racing team, Risi Competizione.
[Read more…] about Ferrari at Daytona, New F1: In English and Italian
By Roberto Motta and Pete Vack
Photos courtesy of Roberto Motta, Dino Brunori and Alessandro Nassiri © Archivio Museo Scienza
Nardi
Enrico Nardi was always ahead of his time, even as a youth; take a close look at his very first car, constructed in 1932 with his good friend Augusto Monaco. With more imagination than money, the 25 year old engineering student put together a ladder chassis (designed by Monaco) with a 65 hp V twin JAP engine upfront and a five speed transmission driving the front wheels. It featured inboard front brakes; the lack of a driveshaft allowed the single seat to be positioned very low and it sits very low. Even if it weighed in at only 672 pounds, it was no lightweight contender, winning many hillclimbs in Italian National events from 1933 to 1937.
[Read more…] about Nardi at Le Mans Part I, In English and Italian
Text by Roberto Motta
Photos: Renault Internal Archive / Press
Symbol of a bygone era, the Alpine A310 V6 is still one of the most beautiful rally cars ever.
The 1971 A310 four cylinder had not fulfilled the hopes of the Alpine. This car had not been able to replace the legendary Berlinetta A110 on the track or in the hearts of fans because Renault had not seen fit to grant it an engine powerful enough to meet the current challenges.
Five years later, on April 12, 1976, when the workshops of the ‘Alpine Competition’ of Dieppe and Renault in Billancourt merged to form a new company called ‘Renault Sport’ with sporting director Gerard Larrousse, the management finally decided to equip the A310 with the 2.6 liter V6 engine.
NOTHING NEW ON THE THE RALLY FRONT
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Ford World Rally Team, Ford Motor Co., BMW AG.
After two months of waiting the 2012 season began but everything looks the same; Loeb and Citroen DS3 laid down the law, and dominated the Monte Carlo rally.
The season of World Rally Championship got underway on a beautiful sunny day and in contention were three World Rally Cars: Ford Fiesta RS, Mini John Cooper and Citroen DS3.
[Read more…] about The Monte Carlo Rally, 2012 In English and Italian
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy Ferrari-Media and Grand Am-Media
(Text in Italia below)
Daytona Beach, Florida.
The new Ferrari Grand Am 458 took part in a series of tests prior to the ‘Rolex 24-Hour Race’, the opening event of the American series, which will take place January 26 to 29 in Daytona, Florida.
[Read more…] about Ferrari 458 Grand Am Prepares for the Rolex 24 Hours
By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Ferrari-Media
For Ferrari’s 458 Italia, 2011 was an exceptional year. In addition to the many awards and accolades from the international press, the Prancing Horse berlinetta won many successes in major national and international GT racing.
[Read more…] about Ferrari 458 Italia’s Winning Year In English and Italian