1939 Citroen Light 15 owned by Chuck Forward.
Story by Bettina Van Curen, Photos by Don Hodgdon unless otherwise noted
November 7, 2010
On a chilly but sunny early Sunday morning in Van Nuys, CA a handful of volunteers distribute signs and set out cones as the first of the Alfa Romeos, Fiats and Citroens start to roll in. All is chaos as my husband Chuck has the maps and he is about ½ mile down the road doing something under the hood of his 1955 Citroen Traction Avant.
For 16 years four friends and a host of their friends who get up early to help make it all happen are here again for the 16th annual Best of France and Italy, or BOFI for short.
Best of France and Italy was created in 1996 by this author, Chuck, Sam Williams and Merkel Weiss. We all wanted to give Italian and French car owners a place to gather and show off their cars. The idea was, and still is, to provide a venue for the cars you don’t see at all the other shows. Originally it was subtitled “Under Three Liter Cars”, as that defined our focus. We decided to make it a European style non-judged “meet” and set our pricing to encourage collectors to bring ALL their cars. The fee to show a car is $15 for the first one, 10 for the second and 3 or more free while swap meet space is also $15. Admission is free to spectators. The swap meet is an important part too as most of the items bought and sold, cars included, cannot be found anywhere else. We recruit our friends to volunteer for the day and many have done the same job for us for years. We also get some help from the Alfa and Fiat club who organize their own areas.
We had 65 cars in 1996, and this year we have passed 400. The show has taken on a life of its own. People look ahead to it all year; many simply call it Woodley Park (the location) in some circles it is known as the “Frog and Pizza Show”. The reason it is so popular is that it is not just a car show; it is an international gathering of enthusiasts and a place to see both exotic and simply uncommon cars. Walking between the Alfas, Citroen, Fiats and Renaults one hears French and Italian and sees gourmet picnics and pick up games of Bocce Ball or Pétanque. All French and Italian cars, motorcycles and scooters are welcome and represented. Even after 16 years we always see something we have never seen before. Although BOFI is not a judged event, the four originators of the event of arbitrarily give awards for Best French, Best Italian, and Most Outrageous, on an informal basis.
In 2008 Dennis Gage did a piece on the show for “My Classic Car”. He was really taken by a Deutsch-Bonnet HBR-5, never having seen one before. The Maserati 5000GT fell into the same category. He marveled at the Bizzarrini, ogled the Alfas and finally did his tag line in our Citroen Mehari. Such is the variety that attracts so many car lovers to the event year after year. In case you’d like to view this, the show can still be seen here:
This year, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo the local Alfisti brought out 173 cars. Some are daily drivers, a few are works in progress, most are well preserved or nicely restored. Some are beyond perfect, like the green boat tail Spider. There were two Sprint Speciales, a newly restored beautiful TZ and several currently competing race cars including Charlie Thieriot’s GTA which the Rimicci’s have run at the Monterey Historics. Al Cortes brought his newly completed handmade replica of the C52 3000 MM (otherwise known as the Disco Volante) which he built from the original plans from Touring.
Al Cortes just completed this CM3000 Disco replica. Photo by Dave Mericle.
There are always a variety of Lancias, a name not many people recognize but they are a staple of this event. In addition to a 1920 Brescia Bugatti, Tina Byrd brought two rare Lancia Lambdas. Tina is the widow of Gary Byrd, and is maintaining their cars and showing them when possible. We were very happy to see her driving the Bugatti and she was obviously happy to be there and proud of her newly polished brass gas tank. This year she won the Best French award with the car.
The Fiats enthusiasts once again demonstrated the amazing variety of cars made by Fiat and powered by Fiat. The Best Italian car award went to a spotless Autobianchi Bianchina. In addition to the usual 500’s. 600’s 124’s and various sedans there were several very nice X-19’s. Among the most exotic and beautiful cars in the show were Merkel Weiss’ Moretti, Dan Kolodziejski’s Fiat 8V Zagato and the two gorgeous 1955 Siata 208 S.
BOFI attracts PB cars as well--two 208 Siatas, the red one belonging to Dan Kolodziejski who also owns the Fiat Zagato Otto Vu in the background. Photo by Dave Mericle.
The Citroen contingent keeps growing. How often do you see a whole row of SM’s? There were numerous good looking DS including 5 wagons, more than we knew existed in So Cal. A selection of 2CV’s and Tractions rounded out the group. Alain Gerard showed off his newly restored H-Van which will soon be joining the ranks of the local gourmet food trucks offering French delicacies on the go.
The Maseratis, Lamborghinis and Ferraris all brought out some gorgeous classics like the Boras and the Mexicos, the 375GTB/4, Daytonas, Miuras, Countaches and Diablos and many contemporary models. Tom Shaughnessy brought his 1958 Ferrari 250 TDF, beautifully restored in proper TDF livery. A group of Isos and De Tomaso cars rounded out the big bore crowd.
1958 Ferrari 250 TDF, Tom Shaughnessy.
In contrast, there was a dark blue Ferrari 400i with a homemade hood scoop. It is, in fact, Chevy powered. The owner refers to as a Chevarri. We were happy to see it after his close call with a cow on the So Cal TT a few weeks ago. (The So Cal TT is an old car backroads tour held annually in the fall.) It reminds us of other less than conventional entries we have seen over the years including an Alfetta powered dune buggy. Most enthusiasts prefer to keep it in the family but we do not turn away the half- bloods.
BOFI is the only event which welcomes all French cars, and that’s why we get the Matras and the Renaults and the Panhards alongside the Citroens and the Peugeots. We also get some very nice early Bugattis, many with Pebble Beach credentials. The Most Outrageous went to a Facel Vega, of which there were several.
After 16 years we have a database of over 1000 previous entries. This year we decided not to mail an entry form to all 1000 but to rely on club newsletters, the Best of France and Italy website and an email announcement to all who had registered online since we started that in 2008. Autobooks (which is owned by the author) is also a big supporter. They send announcements to their email list, display posters and hand out entry forms at the store. Autobooks events and customers are a great way to communicate with the car crowd in SoCal . We also advertise in their magazine, Automotive Calendar of Events (formerly known as Miss Information.)
Another rare Alfa was this Junior Zagato. Photo by Dave Mericle.
Bigger is not necessarily better, and our goal is to continue to provide a venue for interesting cars that are not generally seen at the formal concours or anywhere outside their small club events. We want to keep the show friendly, informal and affordable. We have had offers of sponsorship and even franchise. We are not a business, the show is for fun and for the enthusiast and we want it to stay that way. Well known collectors feel comfortable bringing cars fresh from Pebble Beach or the restoration shop or a newly acquired barn find. It is a car guy event and everyone enjoys the variety of cars and owners and the atmosphere the way it has evolved.
1969 Alfa Romeo Duetto, Chuck Schwartz.
1913 Fiat Type 55 Speed Car, Gary Wales.
Safe haven for Citroens of all kinds. Proper deference was paid to Citroens. Los Angeles has lots of French immigrants, but the usual buyer is an American who is a real Francophile.
1964 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint, Brad Turkington. Never too common, the Bertone coupe is an unrecognized classic.
Renault Turbo 2s were part of the growing French car participation.
1927 Lancia Lambda (Airway Coachwork by Albany), Tina Byrd.
Tina Byrd’s 1924 Lancia Lambda (Foreground).
1961 Facel Vega Facellia, Mark Morgan.
1959 Autobianchi Bianchina, Eric Parsons.
1968 Renault R-10, Jim Miller, and a 1967 Renault Caravelle owned by Kurt Triffet.
1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Berlina, Manuel Minassian.
1920 Bugatti Brescia, Tina Byrd.
1964 Fiat 600D Abarth, Fernando Glickman.
Care to guess what make of car most of these parts are from?
1973 Citroen HY, Alain Girard.
1957 Dual Ghia, Irwin Thaler.
1955 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint.
I didn’t attend this year and wish I had. This is always a fun event with such a great variety of cars.
This is one of the two shows that I try do every year, and is the BEST show in Southern California.
The variety is incredible. Where do you ever get to see multiple Facel Vegas? Several R5Turbo Renaults at once? Big Citroens? Numerous Zagato bodied Abarths, Alfas, Fiat 8Vs, 60’s Lancias, and Bugattis? . A hand built Disco replica? This wealth of exotic and esoteric Italian and French machinery is all local, and this is the one time of year to see it.
Even better, we get to visit with old friends who we only get to see once a year, but should see more often. As an R5Turbo owner, it is a chance to visit, and see all of the local cars together. That’s my Pearl R5Turbo2 pictured.
Tina and Chuck do a fabulous job with this show, even to the point selecting decent food vendors. It is low key, comfortable, and Woodley park is a great venue (though the restroom facilities could use some renovation). Now, if they could just do something about that music…
They do the same thing with the British Show. Another one not to be missed.
When I first heard about the French / Italian Meet from one of the ‘founders’ of the event I felt it was a brilliant stroke of genius. Except for city/street type car shows virtually all shows want only the crème de la crème of the various makes. Or to phrase it another way, the unwashed masses of almost never seen outside of this show French and Italian cars. Don’t get me wrong, unwashed is just an expression and most cars there are spotless, or darn close. And when was the last time you just walked into a major car show located in a beautiful park, for free?
As a restrorer of ’55 to’75 Alfa Spiders I always have some detail I want to check out on a similar model at the Meet. Let me add there is also food available, and I rather liked ‘most’ of the music.
Fairly soon after the first few shows the Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati folks wanted to come. The original idea was to specifically exclude them by making the show under three liters – since these cars are welcomed at any show/concours. They relented and gave them the unused area of the park to the left of the driveway as you came in. I liked to think of their being relegated to the wrong side of the tracks. Actually they’re all terific cars and are located right where you enter the park.
Tina, Chuck, Sam, and Merkel’s efforts are beyond commendable.
I’ll be there next year. Wish I still had my Simca Oceane’.
What a wonderful west coast meet! We have a representative from our club who always attends and reports back with with an article for us out here in the east.
The selection of cars is just amazing and I have to get out there one of these years.
Thanks for the great photos and article.
This is a great event. I went in 2008 with my silver Bizzarrini. It is a very relaxed show where everyone just has a great time. I will likely come down there again next year.
Not that this is a bad thing, but I think we’re going to run out of room soon. Both the Fiat line and the Alfa line are extending clear across the park. The French end is becoming sardined in their ‘island’. Perhaps a larger venue is in the stars for future shows?
Thanks Tina for the great article. It really is the best show in SoCal. I believe we met at a Central Coast Alfa Owners event a few years back when I still lived in Santa Barbara. I might have to come down and be a volunteer one of these years! Thanks again!!
Corious to know if there was a Simca Vedette in attendance as I’d like to get in touch with an owner of a ’59-’61 Beaulieu or Chambord model.
I always attend and this year was as any, surprising, fun, great, etc. Some of these Alfas were stunning and the Etceterini are always fascinating.
A must event for anyone in the region.
That Renault R10 bought back memories of attempting to change the transmission in one of those, my brother’s, in Wales, in the UK. His garage floor was damp, bumpy and poorly lit and we eventually discovered that the replacement – from an R8 – wouldn’t fit even though “everyone” said it would!
In the middle 1960s to the late ’70s I got through many small Renaults and was frankly never let down by any of them (it was my brother’s R10 that was broken – did I tell you that?) My first was an 845 cc R4 van or Fourgon, front wheel drive and gear shift in the dash, then two more R4s, one with the full roll-back roof a la 2CV and a special aftermarket Dell’Orto carburetor. A yellow R8S came next. The “S” meant it had a little more guts in its 1100 cc engine and the front panel with four headlamps from the R8 Gordini. Easier to spin than a roulette wheel with those swing axles and rear engine weight, but I loved it. When that went it was replaced by an R6 (which Renault pretended was a grown-up R4. We knew what that really meant; reliable but all the charm was lost.) My Renault association was concluded with an early R5 in a metallic green. A wonderful car. No, really. Why is that cars that were perfectly good in the UK and continental Europe were perfectly rotten when delivered to the USA?
My father ran are R16 (after an Austin 1100) but soon succumbed to a Honda Accord.
Next came a Fiat 128, a Citroen GS, a Citroen 2CV and then an Alfa Sud, a BMW 2800 sedan, oh! and a Lancia HPE 2000 i.e…. Other stories for other times suffice.
Great low key event, good parking, no crowds. Always some interesting cars to be seen.
To Tim Parker:
One of the reasons “foreign” cars were bad in some parts of the States is salt, the white stuff that is covering our roadways at this moment. It’s there to prevent non-drivers from crashing into each other, but until better shielding and drainage and galvanizing came along, rotted many of the less robust foreign cars that came to the east and mid-west, including those from japan. And it probably did not help European electrical systems to get splashed with corrosive saline either. Fiats, Peugeots and Alfas all suffered our salt over here. Think how many such cars would still be around if not for road salting in winter.
Mark
Good friend Mark Mederski is, of course, right, at least in part. British roads carried salt in the winter, too. I cannot remember when the annual MoT Test came into being for cars more than three years old. That was the time at which all rusty cars were taken off the roads of the UK. But to my point… I used the word rotten, not in the sense of rusty or “rotted through” but “rotten to the core”, as in “bad car.”