The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
By Roberto Motta Photos courtesy and copyright GRAND-AM/Brian Cleary
As we reported last week, the new Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am would be tested at Daytona. The results were a positive debut for Italy 458 Grand Am, concluded after two days of testing at Daytona International Speedway’s track in Florida.
[Read more…] about Ferrari Grand Am Flies at Daytona: In English and Italian
By Wallace Wyss
Rear photo courtesy Ferrari Media
OK they don’t call it a “shooting brake” but…
At the Geneva Motor Show, Pininfarina introduced the new FF, which they call “the fastest and most versatile four-seater in Ferrari’s history,” and also proclaim it as the brand’s first four-wheel drive model.
Designed by Pininfarina in cooperation with the Ferrari Style Centre, they claim that “the car’s forms and volumes achieve perfect harmony between the car’s sporty spirit and its extraordinary versatility.”
A personal account by Eric Davison
With thanks to Marcel Massini and Richard F. Merritt
The recent story by Wallace Wyss about Ferrari ‘beaters’ (The Joy of Beater Ferraris) brought back a memory about a time when there were even Vignale Ferraris that were beaters, although that pejorative had not yet been used in conjunction with automobiles.
Unlike today when the name Ferrari evokes dollar signs and the older the Ferrari the more dollar signs, in the late 50s and early 60s an old Ferrari sports racing car was just a tired old piece of outdated aluminum that had outlived its competitive life having been surpassed by the latest model.
0332MM in the early 1990s after a complete restoration. Car in lead image above is not 0332MM. Photo courtesy Marcel Massini
But, there were people who had an inkling of what was to come. One such man was a gentleman named Herb Armstrong. Herb was employed by Chrysler International and was headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. [Read more…] about (Vignale) Ferrari Beaters
By Roberto Motta
Photos: Ferrari Media
After the GT2, GT3 and Challenge versions of the 458, on 18 July, at the Fiorano circuit, debuted the Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am, a model name one is more likely to remember, if in fact it becomes official nomenclature.
Based on the GT3 version of the Italia and destined for the U.S. Grand Am North American series, it was built in collaboration with Michelotto Cars of Padua, Italy,
[Read more…] about Ferrari 458 Grand Am Italia in English and Italian
Antony Berni with his Fiat Abath 1000 TCR.
Words and photos by Roberto Motta
Italian text at end of photo selection
The idea of creating a gathering dedicated to owners of Abarths stems from the fact that there are not many opportunities to enjoy Abarths. Therefore, about a year ago, a few friends and sympathizers of the marque decided to organize the Historic Abarth track day.
Giorgio Solda in a 1979 Formula Fiat Abarth, Carlo Abarth's last project.
Friends included Tony Berni, Abarth specialist and founder of Berni Motors, Perry (Pierangelo) Passini of Franzoni’s Auto Brescia, and Giuseppe Giuffré, president of the Italian Abarth Historic Register.
This year was the second event and was held on June 30 2011 at the Circuit de Francia Corta ‘Daniel Bonera’, (located in the province of Brescia in Lombardy) with participants from all over Europe, had both a race and show. Abarth owners were able to prove their car on the track, and a show is held for those not eager to race. This year the show turned the paddock of the circuit in a real open air museum.
Horst-Pichler with SE021, a 2000 sports prototype built for the 1971 European Constructor's Championship.
The event drew about 100 participants and over fifty cars registered for the track. The cars were divided into four categories, and each category was allowed to use the track for a test period of 25 minutes each.
Berlina 1000 TC Radiale of Giuseppe Giuffré, president of the Italian Abarth Historic Register.
All Black and White images © Alfa Romeo Automobilismo Storico, Centro Documentazione (Arese, Milano)
This is the third in our series of articles about the 1955-1961 Alfa Giulietta Berlina.
For Italy, the post war era was full of significant changes that would last more than a decade; these were the years of the Cold War as opposed to the dream of a united Europe; the launching of the first atomic-powered submarine; the Warsaw Pact; the birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll; Sputnik from the east and Barbie dolls from the west; the success of the Beatles and the death of Kennedy that signaled the end of an era.
[Read more…] about Alfa Berlina 1300, Italian Style
WYSS GOES WARHOL (ESQUE)
Our frequent contributor, scribe/artist Wallace Wyss announced his newest illustration trend–a la Warhol. “I really didn’t think of making a tribute to Andy,” Wyss says, “but when I had to change the color a few times on the printing press for my illustration of one car, I thought , why not show the variations? Maybe that’s how Andy thought of it.”
Wyss will award one signed print to the first person who posts a comment below identifying the make and model of the car.
Those who are planning on attending the Concorso Italiano on August 19th should find a booth where Wyss will be displaying the tribute to Andy print, plus a few other design rendering prints in the original designer’s styles along with his regular full color depictions of Italy’s greatest sports cars. Those who won’t make Monterey can find his work on www.albaco.com Also, interested parties can write photojournalistpro@hotmail.com
Winner of last week’s contest
Last week’s winner of a copy of McQueen’s Machines was Barry Morgan, who almost instantly bought several raffle tickets in support of the Waktins Glen IMRRC. Thanks Barry!
This week’s articles
*Oosthoek’s book on sports car racing in the south is reviewed
*What’s in Your Driveway? Alfa 2600 Zagato
*Premium Article Update: See them all!
*Snooze Alert: Grand Prix of Europe
2600 Alfa Zagato in 1970. Credit VeloceToday.com
By Pete Vack
“It looks like a giant praying mantis about to leap.” Kyle Fleming’s assessment of the Alfa 2600 Zagato, was, if not overly kind, at least somewhat accurate. Zagato was never known to be anything but bold about its designs, and the Zagato was big, bold and eye catching. Fleming, used to dealing in Maseratis and Ferraris, couldn’t quite put the Alfa Zagato into focus. Such was the attraction of Zagato. The Big Z was different, rare and unusual at a time and place when the U.S. was a veritable candy store, full of rare and unusual cars at bargain basement prices.
[Read more…] about What’s in Your Driveway?: Zagato’s Alfa Romeo 2600
This is the second in our series of articles about the 1955-1961 Alfa Giulietta Berlina, the first was the Alfa Berlina Brochure. In the following weeks, VeloceToday will present four more articles on this particular car, including:
Alfa Berlina, an Italian Perspective by Roberto Motta
Alfa Berlina Portfolio
Book Review: Evan Wilson’s Alfa Giulietta Book
Why the Alfa Berlina Failed
Below are fifteen images from the Berlina/Spider owner’s manual.
All images below © Alfa Romeo Automobilismo Storico, Centro Documentazione (Arese, Milano)
All Alfas at the Intereuropa event. Credit Scuderia Portello
Photos by Roberto Motta unless otherwise noted
[Read more…] about Coppa Intereuropa: All Alfas
The entrance to the exhibition with an image of Mauro Forghieri sitting in a 8 cylinder formula one car.
Photos and story by Alessandro Gerelli
Scroll down for Italian text
At the beginning of 1960s, I was a boy attending high school who didn’t know anything about cars; my family didn’t even own one.
But automobiles suddenly got my attention and quickly expanded to include the car-racing world, where I quickly discovered the existence of a brand called Ferrari, competing in many different classes.
We always believe in eye catching lead photos. Don't we?
A brief look at Maserati at Indy
By Roberto Motta
Photos Courtesy Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
The American racing world has many famous and prestigious races and tracks, like the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. But while these venues are undoubtedly rich in history, nothing compares to the one whose name immediately reminds us of the American dream. For millions of Italians, the Indianapolis 500 is truly “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
[Read more…] about Maserati’s Indy Interludes
