Photos and story by Hugues Vanhoolandt
For the second time, the Grand Palais in Paris, near the Champs-Elysées Avenue, was home for the 230 cars that took part in the 2008 Tour Auto. The cars would then head south to Marseille for more than 1100 miles through the winding roads of France.
The Grand Palais was the perfect starting point as it was also where the Salon de Paris took place under its impressive transparent roof from 1901 to 1961.
The featured car was OSCA, but one third of the field was Italian in origin with 39 Ferraris, 19 Alfa Romeos, Lancias, De Tomasos, Fiats, to name but a few. The Tour Auto was definitely the place to be for any Italian classic car lover.
Fiat 124 Abarth of collector Dr Zweifler.
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ1 (Walton/Walton, USA).
Alfa Romeo 1600 Zagato of 1973
Siata 208S from Florida.
Lancia Stratos, rare without rear wing.
De Tomaso Pantera Group 4 of 1972.
Maserati A6 GCS (s/n 2066) from Argentina.
Sir Stirling Moss at 78 years young.
Message to ALL SIATA owners around the world : Please join our FREE club regrouping more than 25 countries and more than 150 cars. Next year : June 12, 13, and 14 a rallye meeting will take place on beautiful Lago Maggiore in Northern Italy.
Please join us ( with or without your SIATA ) For info : interimages@yahoo.com