The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
The new Aperta, meeting with mixed reviews. Photo Ferrari Media.
By Wallace A. Wyss
And now, the third iteration of the streetable 599, following the GTB, the halfway new “ Handling Gran Turismo Evoluzione”,and the GTO, introduced last April, is the Aperta, or “open” 599.
[Read more…] about Design Critique: Ferrari 599 SA Aperta
By Wallace Alfred Wyss
I remember visiting a guy in Newport Beach about 20 years ago who was a Can-Am racer who had just bought a Ferrari 250GT Lusso. I felt sorry for him because , as far as Ferrari 250s go , that model was known at the time as strictly a boulevard car with no racing potential, and therefore little investment potential. [Read more…] about Beauty As a Liability: The Ferrari Lusso
Beauty, interrupted. At its best, pictured here, the Mangusta is a work of art. At its worse...well... Car and photo courtesy Daryl Addams.
Beauty, Interrupted
By Wallace Alfred Wyss
The DeTomaso Mangusta is one of the most beautiful cars ever to come out of Italy. But it does have its problems. [Read more…] about DeTomaso Mangusta, A Critical Look Part I
John Huggins' 1966 Ghia 450SS.
By Wallace Alfred Wyss
Photos by John Huggins
Long ago, you could go to an Italian carrozzeria and order custom-made bodywork for your Chrysler, or Cadillac or whatever and pay a few thousand bucks and have a car that looked like a million bucks.
[Read more…] about Sugarman’s Express: The Ghia 450SS
Winning Delage D86 Roadster. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.
By Wallace Wyss and Brian Winer
French cars, Italian coachbuilders at Pebble Beach.
Story and photos by Wallace A. Wyss
[We were holding this article on the Greystone Concours held at the Doheny Mansion and run it along with an article about Bill Doheny and his cars. But information is not easy to obtain and we are still doing research. (yes, we need help!) In the meantime, we can’t let this neat story by Wally Wyss simply slip away. Late, but still good, we present it now with our apologies. Ed.]
If there really was a Bruce Wayne (aka “Batman”) and he had a mansion in Beverly Hills, then Greystone Mansion would be it. In fact it’s been used as a set for many films, including “Batman and Robin” with George Clooney. It is a genuine fieldstone mansion, with a slate roof, cobblestone courtyards, manicured gardens, all located high in the hills above Sunset strip, and was built by E.L. Doheny who reportedly was the first to strike oil in L.A. He built the mansion in 1928 for his son Ned, whose son William would eventuall become very active in the Southern Cal sports car movement. It is now a recognized historical landmark. Doheny’s place made a near perfect site for a concours d’elegance on April 11, 2010, and yours truly was privileged to be one of the few reporters invited to the $100 apiece spectator price event.
A 1937 6CM 1500 Maserati, chassis 1540. Once owned by UK vintage racer R. Fielding, and it was sold at a Goodings Auction in 2006 for $726,000. No name tag on the car but plenty of interest.
DiCicco and Boano at the Petersen. He had a solo exhibit there in 2005 which ran for three months.
By Wallace A. Wyss
For a better view of Jeff’s work, click on paintings to enlarge.
Jeff DiCicco is based in Santa Monica. Born in Pittsburgh, DiCicco’s artistic abilities were recognized at a very young age. From his youth he has been an avid car enthusiast and autos have since been the subjects of his work. Now living in California, his works were prominently displayed at the Greystone Mansion Concours de Elegance in early April where Wallace Wyss interviewed him for VeloceToday.com
[Read more…] about Jeff DiCicco: Interview with an Artist
Art by Wallace A. Wyss
Mr. Wyss wrote this for us some time ago but it still passes muster even with the revelations of the new book “Rebel Rebel”. And a nice way to introduce one to the subject of the incredible Ferrari Breadvan. Ed.
By Wallace Alfred Wyss
Yes, there are Ferrari racers with a sense of humor. The Ferrari 250GT ‘Breadvan’ is a result of one such owner’s sense of humor. It was based on a 1961 competition 250 GT SWB modified by Ing. Giotto Bizzarrini.
[Read more…] about The Count’s Revenge
Life is too short for Project Cars
By Wallace Wyss
Photos by Erik Nielsen
It takes a man to admit it, and being a man, I’ll admit it.
I failed to finish a project car.
Not one, but several.
[Read more…] about Guest Speaker: Wyss on Project Cars
The Maserati BiTurbo just may have saved Maserati from extinction.
By Wallace Alfred Wyss
In the late 1970s, Alejandro de Tomaso came to America to find out what kind of car Americans want. He had been building the Pantera since 1971 (continuing even after 1974 when Ford ceased importing it to the U.S.) and bought Maserati yet he wasn’t sure what kind of car Americans really desired.
It was by happenstance he dropped by Dick Guldstrand’s shop and Guldstrand invited me over to talk to Alejandro about what I thought he needed to build. I mentioned the BMW 2002 to the Italian car builder and told him what a great car it was in its time. He left and not long after I heard about the Maserati Bi-turbo. [Read more…] about Bi-Turbo: The Car that Saved Maserati
At Pebble Beach, Arnold explains the fine points of the MT4 to an eager audience. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Motoring journalist and artist Wallace Wyss, has worked for Car Life, was an associate editor at Motor Trend, and is the author of ten automotive books. Below, he continues his humorous look at the Monterey Car Week on a motoring scribe’s budget. (Read Part I)
By Wallace A. Wyss
Saturday August 15th
Saturday morning Sylvia’s still back at her ranch messing with horses so I roll to Mecum’s auction at 9:30 kick-off time. They have a table of delectable fruit, and coffee and rolls and I ask first who’s it for and they say “bidders”. I look at my badge, I’m a seller but figure, hey, we’re all here to have fun so I dip in with both hands and nobody shoots me.
[Read more…] about Monterey on a Dollar a Day: Sat, Sunday
Citroens were featured at La Dolce Vita, while our correspondent sold paintings there to get him through the night. Credit: Petya Elitch.
The Internet abounds with blogs about Monterey Car Week impressions, or ‘what I did this summer.’ Some are very good indeed. But none are written by a motoring journalist and artist who has worked for Car Life, was an associate editor at Motor Trend, and is the author of ten automotive books. Below, Wallace Wyss of the above description gives us a unique and humorous look at the Monterey Car Week on a motoring scribe’s budget.
By Wallace A. Wyss
Wednesday, August 12th
Leaving a smog-shrouded Los Angeles at Wednesday morning of Monterey Car Week, I toodled northward in a wheezing Geo Metro loaded to the gills with art and memorabilia. My goal was to immerse myself in that heaven-on-earth for exotic car enthusiasts known as Monterey for as many days as I could on as few dollars as I could spend. [Read more…] about Monterey Car Week On a Dollar a Day