The Italian Purebreds
Other than the French-Italian connection cars, the Retromobile 2007 comprised all the usual Italian makes, such as Ferrari, FIAT, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, as well as an ISO, a Bizzarini, an Abarth and a Stanguellini Formula Junior, a Siata and a De Tomaso. Most strikingly Maserati was represented only by one very tired Ghibli Coupe that was offered for sale at Euro 52 thousand, and an older Grand Prix car(both for sale).
Ferraris were, similar to every car show elsewhere in the world, present in large numbers. Particularly noteworthy (to the organizers as well as to the public) were the Ferraris of former rock-star Nick Mason, the 250 GTO Breadvan, and the various formula Ones with the boxer 12 engines, mostly of the Seventies.
In our opinion, the most unique Ferrari in show was the Dino Prototype by Pininfarina, a car that was donated years ago by the coachbuilder to the Le Mans Car Museum, and that now served to draw the public’s attention to the “Fête de l’Automobile” to be held on the Le Mans Circuit from September 28 to 30, 2007 (www.feteauto.com) . The FIAT stand was combined with that of Alfa Romeo. FIAT showed a meager four FIAT Nuova 500s (including the Gamine), while Alfa Romeo brought two cars from their collection, one of which was the fabulous 33 Stadale.
In the lost corners of Retromobile were further found one DeTomaso Pantera and a prototype Lamborghini, conceived just prior to the take-over of this prestigious car manufacturer by Volkswagen, plus a very tired Abarth 1000 SP Barchetta, a yellow Siata Sport and a Cisitalia Nuvolari barchetta(all of which for sale).
Finally there were two apparently competing Lancia Club stands, one presenting a less than flawless Appia Zagato and a similar Flaminia, the other showing a superb but rather ugly special from the hand of the American designer Raymond Loewy, the same person who was responsible for the Coca-Cola bottle and the Studebaker Avanti -- and it showed!
MV Augusta, ready for an upcoming RM Auction where it should bring at least $300,000.
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Well known Ferrari Breadvan made an appearance in Paris.
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Stanguellini Formula Junior among the varieties of Italian cars at Retro.
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Lancia Stratos as polished by MeGuiars wax.
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A 1966 Ferrari 275GTB Comp, an Ex-NART car originally owned by Luigi Chinetti.
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1928 Isotta Fraschini, one of the best cars in the world when Gloria Swanson was young.
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Model cars were seen in large quantities and all for sale.
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Alfa Romeo P3, for sale, an ex-SF car.
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Prototype Dino, must be worth a king's ransom but not for sale.
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The Dino is not in great condition and probably hasn't been started in twenty years.
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Engine bay of Dino Prototype.
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Ferrari B2 as driven by Ickx and the late Clay Regazzoni.
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American Raymond Loewy's Lancia show car with many fake intake vents.
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Loewy Lancia is owned by the Lancia Museum in Turin.
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Fiat stand had only a range of 500s;no four, or six cylinder cars appeared.
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Bizzare Bizzarrini in chromatic yellow.
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1932 Alfa 6C1750 Zagato, for sale.
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Fiat was clearly prepping the market for the Nuova 500, to be introduced this summer.
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2.5 Flaminia looks good from ten feet, and had horrendous vinyl interior.
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A car built by Maurice "Maus" Gatsonides, a famous Dutch race and rally driver. Wheels are very advanced for time as they were all aluminum. The car is known as the "Platje" which in Dutch means 'flounder'.
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