VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Abarth Guy Revisited

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Guy Moerenhout with the iconic original photo of the train of Berlina Corsa models on the Monza banking in 1966.

Story and photos by Alain Raymond

“A living museum, with no rope or cordon” This is how he describes his still-growing 340 car collection, housed in a 43,000 square foot ex-tool factory, located in the small town of Lier, in Belgium. “Some 80 percent of the cars here are operational. I believe in letting the cars live and be used for the way they were intended,” explains Guy Moerenhout, ex-factory rallyman for Abarth and present-day guru for all things Abarth. VeloceToday first visited Moerenhout’s museum in 2010 and I went back this past June to further explore this unique homage to Carlo Abarth and his many creations.

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French vs Italian Coachbuilders

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Story by Gijsbert Paul-Berk

From the VeloceToday Archives, March, 2015

Once a thriving industry in France, by the mid-1950s, French coachbuilders such as Saoutchik, Figoni et Falaschi and Marcel Pourtout had all but disappeared. Yet in Italy, coachbuilders such as Bertone, Pinin Farina and Touring were succeeding beyond their wildest dreams, becoming known the world over as leaders in automotive design. Why was this so? What factors encouraged the coachbuilding industry in Italy, while virtually destroying it in nearby France? Gijsbert Paul Berk reports.

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Milano AutoClassica, 2019

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Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Freccia d’Oro

Photos by Alessandro Gerelli

Our faithful correspondent in Milan recently visited one of the largest automobile shows in Italy, Milano AutoClassica, held from November 22-25. Alessandro Gerelli lives in Bresso, near Milan, and has sent us his reports from this event for many years. We thought that since the AutoClassica event is well -described elsewhere, it is an appropriate time to say a few words about the author/photographer before we present this year’s AutoClassica coverage. [Read more…] about Milano AutoClassica, 2019

Ferrari Roma Design Critique

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Ferrari’s new hatchback is here. Top speed is estimated to be 199 mph.

Story and art by Wallace Wyss

Ferrari’s hit and miss marketing formula is to introduce model after model, then see what’s a hit, and then make more of that one. Witness the new Ferrari Roma. I enjoy analyzing new models so here’s a preliminary design critique, based on the current round of PR pictures, though subject to change when it is actually introduced and on the showroom floors.

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A Very “Speciale” Ferrari

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By Pete Vack

It took fifty seven years for Jose Fernandez to see his dream come true. But unlike most of us who share similar dreams, he had the staying power, tenacity and the money to see it through. The result is this devastatingly beautiful rebirth of one of Giovanni Michelotti’s greatest Ferraris.

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Baby Bugatti Part 2

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The car that started it all. Roland Bugatti in the first Baby Bugatti next to bigger brother Jean in a Type 43. The photo appeared in many newspapers and created a demand for the Baby Bugatti. Courtesy Bugatti Trust

Read Part I.
 In Part II, the mystery of “The Type That Never Was” deepens. Our intrepid model builder also tells us about chassis numbers, specs, and how to buy a Baby Bugatti.

By Marshall Buck

The very first Baby Bugatti was built for Roland Bugatti, Ettore’s five year old son. Proof again that it’s good to be born with a “silver spoon” or in Roland’s case, more like a silver steering wheel. The Baby made its public debut at the 1927 Milan Automobile show, and was priced at 3,900 FF, which seems to be the price most were sold for, though some were delivered at higher prices.

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Recent Comments from our Readers

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Ford v Ferrari

(Photo copyright Merrick Morton, 20th Century Fox)

Ford v Ferrari is a fantastic old fashion movie movie, well written, well directed and cut, wonderful cast, nice relationships and just enough “truth” to suggest the major themes. You want great entertainment in a movie, do not miss FvF. It’s no documentary, but it’s a great ride – for anyone. You want history, the real rather than reel story? Read a book. I could make a suggestion? (Twice Around the Clock, Yanks at Le Mans https://www.yanksatlemans.com/about.html, per the Editor)
Tim Considine

That was an excellent review for which, thanks. I think I agree in large or small part with each of the comments too. Overall, I enjoyed it as a movie (it’s arrived here in Australia), but wearied of so many clank/bang downshifts and malevolent Bandini portrayal. Pity the Shelby character wasn’t half a foot taller but he did the job well. An era of great style and bravery, wasn’t it!
John Waterhouse [Read more…] about Recent Comments from our Readers

The Hobby of Beverly Hills’ Joe Lubin Part 3

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Carroll Shelby takes the Lubin 250F out for a couple of laps at Riverside before the 1960 Times Grand Prix for sports cars. [photo; Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Story by Willem Oosthoek

Read Part 1

Read Part 2

The Birdcage sale left Lubin with one other competition car, the “piccolo” Maserati 250F. He had acquired the car at the factory in late 1959 with his friend Bruno Ferrari, 12 years older and the owner of Latrobe Construction in Pennsylvania. They bought it with the November 1960 U.S. Grand Prix at Riverside in mind, the season-ending Formula One event. It was chassis 2533, previously owned by U.S. privateer Temple Buell.

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3D Printed OSCA Distributor Parts

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How to keep an OSCA MT1500 TN on the road…


Story and photos by Sean Smith

Steven Dibdin had been working flat out for a startup company in Brooklyn and was rather burned out; he wasn’t sure if he wanted to work for someone else, and anyway he had an idea for a new company. He went over to White Plains, NY, and asked Santo Spadaro of Dominick’s European car repair https://dominick-european-car-repair.business.site/ if he thought the idea was viable. Santo thought for a minute and came back with “Do you think you can make one of these?” It was a twin spark rotor arm for an OSCA. The honest reply was “I think so.” And behold, a 3D printed OSCA distributor rotor became the first project for Steven’s new company,

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Baby Bugattis and the T52 Mystery

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British Speed King Donald Campbell practices his craft in his Baby Bugatti. Campbell would set many speed records both on land and water but died in a speed boat record attempt in 1967. His father Malcolm, also a Land Speed Record holder, assists. Photo courtesy the Bugatti Trust.

From the VeloceToday Archives, March, 2011

Part I

By Marshall Buck

I can’t believe that the answer has been in front of me all these years. The answer to what you ask? The answer to the question I often ask myself: How am I ever going to afford a genuine vintage Bugatti? Simple answer…buy a ‘Baby’ Bugatti; a child’s car to be precise. I’m not talking about one of those cheapy Toys R Us plastic jobs. No sir, the one I have in mind is very special….one of the authentic half scale renditions of a Type 35.

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A Bit About VeloceToday’s Editor

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Photo by Lisa Cummings

This article appeared in “Next Door Neighbor” magazine, published in Williamsburg, Virginia. Perhaps our readers would like to know a little about VeloceToday’s Editor.

Story by Narielle Living

“To do what you love doing while making people happy is extremely gratifying.” – Pete Vack

For Pete Vack, publisher of VeloceToday, an online magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts, the above quote embodies his approach to life and business. Pete’s unique skill set and experience with both cars and publishing made him the perfect choice to manage the magazine. “Since 1970, I was involved in the purchase, restoration and racing of classic cars, even working for Ferrari of Washington for a while as a mechanic. My experience with classic cars, racing and mechanics plus my knowledge of the Digital revolution, computers, writing and publishing, gave me the tools I needed to publish and edit VeloceToday,” he says. [Read more…] about A Bit About VeloceToday’s Editor

The Hobby of Beverly Hills’ Joe Lubin Part 2

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Los Angeles, November 1959. The spanking new, just arrived Lubin Tipo 61 on display in Los Angeles. No, that is not actress Barbara Eden, but JoAnne Pickens, mother of Greg Wood, who supplied the photo. The others are unidentified. [Photo: Greg Wood Collection]

Story by Willem Oosthoek

Read Part 1

It is doubtful that Alfieri would have made the commitment to Lubin for a larger Birdcage engine so quickly if he had not already been in the process of enlarging the 2-liter unit into the 3-liter range. As a result, Lubin received the first Tipo 61 ever built, the 2.9-liter chassis 2452.

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