The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
This 2006 Maserati MC12 Strada version was an entrant in the Evolution of the Supercar part 2 class.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
For fans of old cars, the number of events one could attend increases year every year. A new event for 2017 was the City Concours which was held on the Cricket pitch of the Honorable Artillery Company right in heart of the financial district of the City of London, on June 8-9.
[Read more…] about London City Concours 2017
As part of our ongoing series of articles about Italian coachbuilders, Brandes Elitch provides some thoughts about the recent Crossroads Exhibit in Turin. One of the cars in the exhibit is this superb blend of cultures as penned by Giovanni Michelotti on a Lancia B24 chassis. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt and the Nuvolari Museum
Currently, and until June 25th, the National Automobile Museum of Turin (MAUTO) features an exhibit called “Crossroads: Italy – USA Intersections from after the war to the postwar economic boom.” It explores the cross-pollination and cultural themes of American and Italian designers and their work from 1945-1975. It is an important exhibition, and if you are able, do not miss the opportunity to see this remarkable combination of American and Italian styles. [Read more…] about Crossroads: Italy – USA at the National Automobile Museum of Turin
A car not designed for Concours d’Elegance … the 1935 Lurani Nibbio was destined to break records. Despite its 500cc Moto Guzzi engine, the car was capable of more than 100 mph. It received the Best of Show by public referendum at Villa d’Este, better known as Coppa d’Oro.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este held on the shoreline of Lake Como is considered by many as the most exclusive and elegant classic car event in the world. Surely it is due to the unique backdrop constituted by the grounds of Villa d’Este and Villa Erba as well as to the tradition that stretches back to the year 1929 when awards were made to the most beautiful new cars of the time.
Today, the awards are sometimes given to the same cars, now considered as the most beautiful ‘old’ cars. But the selection made by the organizer committee also includes some racing or record cars never thought to parade in a Concorso d’Eleganza. Nevertheless they did impress the jury and the public as we will see below.
Below is our selection of the most interesting cars at the event on May 27, 2017. [Read more…] about Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2017
Interior of the Franay Talbot T26.
Story and photos by Alessandro Gerelli
Historic photo courtesy Jim Bandy
Alessandro Gerelli found fourteen selections of interest at the RM Auctions at Villa d’Este on May 27 to add to what Hugues Vanhoolandt selected in his report. We all found the ex-Jim Bandy Talbot T26 Cabriolet to be delightful, so we’ll lead off with the car.
Notable below are the number of not-solds. [Read more…] about Fourteen Chosen from the RM Villa Erba Auction
1947 Peugeot 202 Sedan.
Story and photos by Chris Martin
The National Motoring Heritage Day is held on the third Sunday of May every year and celebrates Australia’s motoring heritage in all forms, from veteran and vintage to modern classics, cars, ‘bikes and commercials. [Read more…] about National Motoring Heritage Day, May 21, 2017
The Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider Pinin Farina s/n 0418 MD finished 15th overall in 1954. Today it is a Mille Miglia regular with the Bean family from Atlanta.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
A few days ago, the Mille Miglia celebrated 90 years since its first edition in 1927.
It is also 60 years since the last ‘real’ thing happened.
For more than 30 years, a regularity rally has resurrected the glorious days of the Mille Miglia.
From Brescia to Roma and back, the long caravan of more than 400 classic cars goes through the old cities of Italy and the landscapes of Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Marche and Tuscany to name a few. Here is but a small overview of this anniversary edition.
The Brooklands Memorial stands behind this Fiat 850 Coupe. Built by Vickers Armstrong to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Motor Course, it was unveiled by Lord Brabazon of Tara in July 1957.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
This is the fifth year in a row that Jonathan Sharp has covered the Italian Car Day at Brooklands. And despite the narrow focus, there are very few repeats, as can be seen by Sharp’s photo selections over the years.
As Pete has said, I have covered the Italian Car Day at Brooklands for VeloceToday for the past 5 years but I have been attending the Italian Car Day in its various guises and locations for over 30 years. This year, as usual, Brooklands was groaning under the weight of Italian cars. But there seemed to be a higher percentage of newer cars, which would seem to indicate to me that those who currently buy new Italian cars also embrace the Italian life style and motoring heritage. Walking around the site I kept coming upon cars that I once owned, or have wanted to own – and I am not talking about the Ferraris and Lamborghini’s that were present in reasonable numbers. I get more of a buzz coming across an immaculate Alfa Sud or a Fiat 130 than I do finding a paddock full of 458’s and Aventadores. And, therefore, it is those types of cars that we present in this article.
1957 Mondial GP is the author’s first focus bike.
Story by Brandes Elitch, photos by David Fetherston
On May 6, about 3000 motorcycle enthusiasts gathered at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel Valley, California for the 9th annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering. Carmel Valley is a surprisingly rustic and rural stretch of road that runs from Carmel Village on the bay to Salinas inland. The program states that “what began as a small gathering of enthusiasts has grown into one of the premier celebrations of motorcycling in the country,” and this is an understatement. There may be other “events” such as Daytona Bike Week, but there is no other motorcycle show like this or anything close, anywhere in the country. On the green in back of the Lodge were about 350 motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles, with a special tribute to 50th anniversary of the Norton Commando. [Read more…] about The Quail Motorcycle Gathering 2017
Maserati 250F of Graham Adelman just ahead of the Ferrari 246 Dino.
Formula Vintage – Round 1 – Silverstone
National Circuit, Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 April 2017
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Last week Jonathan Sharp took us into the Silverstone Paddock area, and this week he gets trackside at Silverstone, bringing us over thirty images of track action.
Results of the events can be found here: Silverstone Results [Read more…] about Silverstone VSCC Formula Vintage Trackside
Formula Vintage – Round 1 – Silverstone
National Circuit, Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 April 2017
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
The well-established ‘Spring Start’ season opener was a spectacular two-day feature at Silverstone, with the celebrated Pre-war and Historic content taking center stage across the weekend’s program. [Read more…] about Silverstone Formula Vintage, April 22-23
A year later, Gangloff also penned the body of this Type 57 C. The design has evolved to a more exuberant style, more usually seen on Saoutchik or Figoni creations.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
“Techno Classica Essen, the entire classic world under one roof”. This was the motto of the German show now in its 29th edition and held from April 5-9.
The numbers speaks for themselves as the show attracts more than 1,250 exhibitors and 220 clubs and communities of interest, showing more than 2,500 collector cars. Needless to say that two days are a minimum to see the entire exhibition, still at a fast pace. We will therefore concentrate on some specials from France and Italy. [Read more…] about Techno Classica Show Essen, Germany, 2017
Karanfilovski Alfa Romeo, turn 2.
Story and photos by Vince Johnson
Drivers from the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Belgium, Germany and New Zealand joined the Aussies at the 28th Phillip Island Classic on the weekend before the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. Attracted by the sweeping island circuit south of Melbourne, they enjoyed three days of racing across nineteen categories.
Following practice and qualifying, the oldest of them all, (car not driver) Alan Telfer’s 1926 Bugatti 37/37B was the most consistent of the forty-one competitors in the first Regularity matched-lap-times event on Friday afternoon. During the weekend, second places were earned by Gerard Knapp’s 1974 Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior and Bob Pinkerton’s 1955 Peugeot Belchamp GP. Others to do well were Trevor McPherson’s 3rd in his 1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 GT Veloce, Ernst Luthi’s 4th in his 1971 Alpine Renault A110 and Peter Axford’s 1970 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato. Richard Longes’ 1927 Bugatti 35B almost matched Telfer’s in the age stakes. [Read more…] about Phillip Island Classic, 17-19 March 2017, Australia