French cars from lost manufacturers are a common sight at Retromobile. This 1950 DB HBR cabriolet by Antem was produced in 32 examples; some competed in great motorsport events like Le Mans and Sebring.
Photos and captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Events
Retro by Jonathan Sharp
Patination, Bugatti on Lukas Huni's stand.
Photos and captions by Jonathan Sharp
Cavallino Part 3: Mar-a-Lago
A Ferrari painted by Duaiv.
Part 3 of this year’s Florida Ferrari Fest
By Alessandro Gerelli
Classic Sports Sunday at Mar-a-Lago
The end of the Cavallino Classic long week-end is always at Mar-a-Lago club on Sunday, with a charity brunch and an exhibition of stunning cars, this year featuring the classic Bentleys and the most charming cars of the Ferrari meeting. I have focused on these cars plus other Italians old and new; a wonderful environment and wonderful cars. [Read more…] about Cavallino Part 3: Mar-a-Lago
An Enthusiast’s Retro
1955 Simca Comete Monte Carlo with bodywork by Stabilimenti Farina taking pride of place on the 'L adventure automobile Poissy Stand.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
“Have you set the alarm dear?” my wife asks as it rings. Yes, what time is it? 3.30am; 3.30am! “You must be stark raving mad. Why would you want to get up in the middle of the night on a cold and very wet Saturday in England in February to go all the way in Paris to see cars that you have probably seen already!?”
The plane leaves Heathrow an hour late and the pilot sounds like Alan Prost. The landing into Charles De Gaulle is the bumpiest I can remember. Then it‘s public transport to the hotel, dump the cases and straight to the show. Things start to improve as does my mood as I walk into the exhibition hall. I wonder what delights await me. [Read more…] about An Enthusiast’s Retro
Graham Gauld at Retromobile
The Baird-Griffin Maserati at the Craigantlet hill climb driven by Sydney Durbridge, about 1953-4. It re-appeared at this year's Retro. 
Story and most photos by Graham Gauld
Small stand, big transporter
Retromobile time again! For me it was fun to ferret around and under the stands looking for things that others might have missed, and some things you simply couldn’t miss, such as the 1956 Bartoletti Ferrari transporter.
As soon as I saw it, it brought back fond memories of the 1956 British Grand Prix, when I photographed it arriving at Silverstone with the factory Lancia-Ferraris on the back for Fangio, Castellotti, Collins, Gendebien and Fon Portago; five cars, none of this two cars per team business. [Read more…] about Graham Gauld at Retromobile
Cavallino Part 2: The Breakers
Ferrari 625/500F2 (#0210F) of 1952.
Photos by Alessandro Gerelli
Alessandro Gerelli, a native of Milan, has been submitting interesting photos and stories to VeloceToday over 10 years. He has covered most of the Mille Miglia Retros and this is his fourth time at Cavallino. He prefers to let the cars speak for themselves-Ed.
Cavallino 2014 Part 1: Palm Beach International Raceway
Maserati 300S at the Palm Beach International Raceway.
Story and photos by Alessandro Gerelli
Even though the Cavallino Classic event is now in its 23rd year, it is still very young and healthy.
As usual, the four days were very busy with Thursday and Friday reserved for track time at Palm Beach International Raceway.
On Saturday, the main exhibition at The Breakers Resort takes place, this year’s theme being the 50th birthday of the Ferrari 275 GTB.
And finally, on Sunday everyone gathers at Mar A Lago for an exhibition of cars produced up to the 1970s, and a charity brunch. As usual it was a great success of weather, people and, last but not least, of cars! [Read more…] about Cavallino 2014 Part 1: Palm Beach International Raceway
Martini Racing at Museo dell’ Automobile
The Beta Montecarlo Turbo, driven by Riccardo Patrese, Markku Alén and Ilkka Kivimaki which won the 1980 Giro Automobilistico d’Italia. 
Text and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Captions by Martini PR and staff
It was always the stripes that caused me problems.
As a child, like most children I would spend hours putting the car kits together, even more hours painting the bodywork, usually using an aerosol paint which made the house stink. Then it came to the Martini stripes. Even though they came as decals there was always one set of stripes that would not sit right on the bodywork no matter how many times you lifted them off and put them back on again. But the picture on the box looked so neat one had to get it right.
I had forgotten how cool they looked until I had made my way through the turnstile entrance of the Museo dell’ Automobile in Turin. Right in front of me was the Martini Racing-striped Lancia Beta Monte Carlo Turbo of 1981- oh those stripes. With the car parked next to a blue lit Christmas tree I wanted to dig out my model making box again and have another go at those stripes.
The reason the Monte Carlo was sitting in the middle of the Museum’s main atrium was because of an exhibition to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Martini & Rossi Brand and 45 years of Martini Racing. (Exhibit closes January 26th). The cars on display covered the entire history of Martini Racing, starting with the Porsche 917, winner of the 1970 Le Mans 24 hour race,to the 1973 Targa Florio-winning 911 RS, right up to the current Porsche 918 Hybrid race car of 2014. [Read more…] about Martini Racing at Museo dell’ Automobile
Epoqu’Auto in Lyon, 2013
Story and Photos by Thomas Bromehead
Next month everyone will be headed to Paris for Retromobile, France’s largest classic car show. But last November 8-10, 50,000 people attended France’s second largest event, Epoqu’ Auto. No newcomer, the event celebrated its 35th anniversary and now boasts more exhibitors than even the fabled Retro. [Read more…] about Epoqu’Auto in Lyon, 2013
Beatle’s Cars Star at NEC
George Harrison's Dino 246 GTS. George purchased the car in the early 1970s from Rodney Turner. George owned the car for 4 years
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Variety is very important when running a very well-established show. This year’s Classic Car show at the NEC in Birmingham was the 30th running and was probably the largest yet, with over 65,000 people attending over the three days, and the hundreds of cars and bikes being spread out over 11 halls. As the show attracts mainly car clubs as well as exhibitors, amazingly, each year the clubs bring out more cars you hardly ever see, if at all. And while perhaps this year’s content was a bit down on exotics, it certainly made up for it with rare, offbeat, and unusual items.
When was the last time you cast eyes on a Renault 30 from the early 80s, a Lancia Trevi, or a Fiat Uno Selecta? (By the way, the Fiat Uno also celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.) Another nice feature of the show is the grouping of the cars; the Italian car clubs are together in one area, the French cars together in another area. You only need to find the appropriate hall and see cars that are of particular interest to you; no need to trudge around 11 halls to find them all. But that would be a shame, because if variety is important, you may just miss something that you had never seen before, even if it was out of your normal sphere of interest.
The Beatles car display added interest, but the display area for the four cars was very small, which is why my shots do not show the whole car; too many ropes in the way. They did however, paint what we in the UK call a “Zebra Crossing” leading up to the display area, similar to the famous Abbey Road Album cover.
John Lennon's Iso Fidia. It is believed that John owned three Fidias during his lifetime. This was number two. The car was originally silver with a blue leather interior.
Paul McCartney's Aston Martin DB6.
London to Brighton and the Classics of Regent Street
Mr. Harold Pritchard's 1903 De Dion Bouton on Regent Street. (Click to enlarge)
In our twelve years of publishing weekly, VeloceToday has never covered the London to Brighton Run. Yet it is the oldest vintage car event in the world, usually dominated by French cars. In the last four years the start in London is augmented by what is billed as the ‘largest free motor show in the U.K.,’ the Regent Street Motor Show. This year, Jonathan Sharp reports on the activities from both London and his hometown of Brighton. See also “Brighton in Photos” (link) for Sharp’s excellent Vintage photos. Remember to click on photos to see larger image!
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Be sure to click on the photos to see much larger images!
Regent Street Motor Show
Early Christmas shoppers had a pleasant surprise when they went down to London’s famous Regent Street on the morning of Saturday the 2nd November. Gone were the red buses and black cabs that normally haunt the glamorous shopping street, replaced by a small lineup of Porsche 911s, there to celebrate their 50th Anniversary, a much larger line up of Aston Martins of all ages there to celebrate their 100th Anniversary, and an even larger line up of Veteran Cars there to celebrate the 117th running of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
Aston Martin brigade on London's Regent Street.(Click to enlarge)
Billed as the largest free motor show in the UK, the display is called the Regent Street Motor Show and is now in its fourth year. The Aston Martin line up was a good cross section of David Brown models and later V8 models, Saloons, Vantages and Volantes, brought right up to date with many current examples. From a photographer’s standpoint they had been roped off, which made photography a lot easier. Alas, that was not the case with the Veteran cars which proved very popular with the crowds, so patience was called for when taking shots. I am grateful to the sales assistants in the Jaeger store for allowing me to photograph the racing Napiers from the second floor windows of the ladies wear department, and to the Westminster City Council for positioning street lamps along the middle of the street (which gave me something to climb up!)
Getting the high view. Note the crowd on Regent Street, which seemed very interested in learning more about these Veterans.(Click to enlarge)
Three important Napiers [Read more…] about London to Brighton and the Classics of Regent Street
Brighton Run 2013 in Photos by Jonathan Sharp
1898 Peugeot Double Phaeton Type 15 owned and driven by Mr. Colin Clarke. Between 1897 and 1900 Peugeot built 182 Type 15s. This example left the factory on the 16th July 1898. The Type 15 was fitted with the first engine ever built by Peugeot, a horizontal two-cylinder engine with 6 hp allied to a four-speed gearbox and twin-chain drive. One of the Type 15s was sold to Charles Rolls of Rolls-Royce fame. This example is fitted with a Double Phaeton body and still runs on its original hot tube ignition. The chassis tubes form part of the cooling system. The car has a top speed of 25 mph. (Click to enlarge)
Jonathan Sharp highlights the Brighton to London Run in photos. Be sure to read his story, London to Brighton, also in this edition of VeloceToday. Also, click on each photo to see much larger images!
1902 single-cylinder 8 hp Deckert, owned and driven by Mrs. Barbara Dedman. The Deckert company was founded in Paris in the early 1900s by Henri Deckert. They built motor cycles, motor tricycles and motor cars. To promote his company Henri entered his vehicles in various trails but without success. The company folded in 1906. This is the only surviving example and is a regular entrant in the London to Brighton run. Aurore means dawn. The wheel depicts the rising sun and the bird heralds the dawn of the age of the motor car. (Click to enlarge)
1903 4-cylinder 7700cc 50 hp Napier, the oldest surviving complete British Racing car. The car was driven by Charles Jarrott in the 1903 Gordon Bennett race. Now owned by the National Motor Museum Beaulieu. (Click to enlarge)
This Napier, a 1904 11100cc 100 hp, is now owned by the Louwman Museum. (Click to enlarge)
[Read more…] about Brighton Run 2013 in Photos by Jonathan Sharp