Now that is my kind of coffee shop. Maserati Tipo 26 located in the coffee shop at the Anantara Palazzo Naiada Hotel, the base hotel for the whole event.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
This is a continuation of the start of the Giro d’ Anantara on April 17th. I was so blown away by the cars I saw outside the Anantara hotel I had not realized that there was another selection waiting for the start of the tour across the square, I am so glad that somebody told me as it would have been a shame to have missed them. So I hurriedly photographed as many cars as I could as they snaked their way through the streets. This was a rare event in Rome, and apparently no one minded being a little late for work.
We will report on the actual Anantara Concorso Roma next week.
Tom Peck’s 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Coupe Speciale Ghia is about to get underway. Commissioned by Robert Wilkie, a personal friend of Enzo Ferrari, chassis 0476 AM was the last 375MM built, and also the last Maranello car clothed by Carrozzeria Ghia. First shown at the 1955 Turin Motor Show then shipped to New York in the hold of the Andria Doria.
Wolf Dieter Baumann’s ex Ernie McAfee 1953 Siata 208S Berlinetta.
Roberto Crippa’s ex-Scuderia Ferrari, ran in the 1953 Mille Miglia (Villoresi/Cassani). The 340 MM chassis 0294AM was later sold to Swiss driver Hans Ruesch who took podiums and class victories in 294 and also gained fame as an author who, amongst his works, wrote the best seller which was later made into the film, The Racers starring Kirk Douglas.
John Bentley’s 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Cabriolet by Castagna. Long wheel base chassis 2311214 was sold new to Erminio Cidonio, heir to the Imprese Codono Construction Company best known for having built the ports at Ravenna and Cagliari, and for the reclamation of the Littoria marshlands.
Fondazione Gino Macaluso per l’Auto Storica’s 1968 Bizzarrini 5300 GT. Chassis IA3/0302 was originally sold in Switzerland. Gino Macaluso purchased the car in 1988 and had it restored in 1990 by Salvatore Diomante.
Fritz Kaiser’s 1968 Lamborghini Miura chassis 3586, and if you think you have seen it before then you have, as this is the Miura that featured at the start of the 1969 film starring Michael Caine, The Italian Job
Caspar Sturm’s 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast, Chassis 6043 SF, is number 11 of 36 examples constructed and was ordered new via Maranello Concessionaires by Lord James Hanson.
You can go years without seeing a Superfast then lo and behold you see two! This example, entered by Byron DeFoor, is chassis 7817, the twenty fifth example constructed, delivered new to Barbara Hutton, heiress to the Woolworth empire.
Ronnie Kessel’s 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB chassis 07869, finished in Oro Chiaro with red leather interior.
This Flavia Zagato was not a Concourso entrant but took part in the rally and was displayed at the show on the Schedoni Modena stand.
David Sydorick’s 1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 SSZ. Zagato Chassis 100279 is one of only two of the 39 Coupes produced with the double bubble roof. First exhibited at that year’s Geneva Motor Show and sold shortly after to a Swiss customer..
David Gooding’s 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider Pinin Farina. Chassis B24S.1056 was delivered new to Italy and finished in grey but by the 1960s had taken up residence in Switzerland. Owned by David Gooding since 2000 and subject to a multi year restoration by Carrozzeria Nova Rinascente.
From a private collector, 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider Pinin Farina. Chassis B24S.1093 was supplied new to its first owner in Cuba returning to Europe in 1978 having also passed through the hands of various collectors in the USA. The current custodian has owned her for 47 years.
Jurrian Schowenburg’s 1958 Lancia Aurelia B24 Convertible Pinin Farina. This example, chassis B24S.1628, was delivered new in Paris to a recently married couple who then used it to tour Europe, visiting Goodwood in 1962 and Venice in 1963.
Dennis & Susan Garrity’s 1952 Ferrari 212 Coupe Speciale Ghia is the only 212 clothed by Carrozzeria Ghia. Chassis 0233 EU was displayed on the Ferrari stand at that year’s Paris Motor Show where it was seen by Argentine President Juan Peron, who subsequently purchased it a few months after the death of his wife Eva. Before delivery the factory changed the chassis number from 0233 EU to 0191 EU to make it like it was a used car, thus reducing the import tax.
Lukas Huni’s 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider by Touring. Chassis 2211096 was delivered to Swiss department store heir Walter Grosch and took part in that year’s Spa 24 Hours race.
From a private collection. 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Grand Sport Zagato, Chassis 10814314 was initially registered to Alfa Romeo then sold to the factory’s driver Giuseppe Campari, who shortly after sold it on to Mario Vanoni of Portoferraio on the island of Elba. Having survived the war, the car was brought to Berlin by a British diplomat in 1949, and then in 1960 was sold to a US Army captain and taken to the USA.
… and if the excitement gets too much for you, what a way to go.
Another Maserati hearse I saw in Sorrento Italy. What a way to go!
https://www.bobdinkins.com/Travel/Viking-Cruise-2022-2023/Sorrento-Italy/i-qGfVXBv
It is indeed fortunate that the Ghia-bodied Ferrari 375MM of Tom Peck was shown at the 1955 New York Show. If it had been aboard Andrea Doria on its way to the 1956 Show, it would now be an unrecognisable pile of rust, alongside the Chrysler Ghia Norseman (in a similar state) on the ocean floor off Nantucket, following the sinking of Andrea Doria after a collision with the Swedish cargo liner Stockholm.
Tom Peck has commissioned a book on his 375 Ghia Coupe, s/n 0476 AM, written by yours truly. It should be out later this year. By the way, the Auriana Maserati was Best of Show while the Ghia coupe was a class winner and runner-up for Best of Show. Great report and photos from Rome.
As a reformed Alfista, I loved every one of these photos and wish I’d been there. But as a coastal engineer (Ret’d) I must object to the ‘reclamation’, filling in of marshlands by the Imprese Codono Construction Company