The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
By Pete Vack
Photos by Clyde Berryman
Clyde Berryman began collecting die-cast model racing cars as a young boy in the early 1960s in Tripoli, Libya, where his father was working for a major oil company. His passion for motor racing dates back to this era, and hearing stories from longtime Italian residents of Libya talk about the glory days of the pre-WW II Tripoli Grand Prix held at the Mellaha circuit. [Read more…] about Grand Prix Dioramas
Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Jonathan Sharp will be back next week with his views of this year’s Members’ Meeting, and in the meantime, below, we have selected a group of Jonathan’s photos of the most interesting Grand Prix cars built from 1907 to 1953.
[Read more…] about Goodwood Members’ Meeting
Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Jonathan’s track shots at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting (see story) were so good we simply had to enlarge the cockpit area of the photos and let our readers see vintage race drivers in action. [Read more…] about In the Driver’s Seat at Goodwood
I don’t know how many people are aware that there are prancing horse ceramic tiles made in Italy specifically for the Ferrari factory. A good number, I assume. I got mine from Hilary Raab back in 2000. Then my neighbor Dave Rex happened to mention that he had a few, still in the original box. And when I asked AutoMobilia Editor Marshall Buck about these beautiful black and yellow tiles, he said he had one too! But all of us wanted to know more about them. Marshall ran with it and here is his story….
Story by Marshall Buck
Here is what I know, which I’m sure is not the complete history. I’ve heard and read various bits of information and stories about the use of these tiles in other locations, some verified, and some not. I admit that I have not delved too deeply into this; I know more than some, and less than others – pretty much just enough to be dangerous!
Story by Pete Vack
Photos by Alan Boe unless otherwise marked
It was raced first by Franco Cortese, then the great and soon-to-be late Raymond Sommer. It was owned by the aristocratic Besana brothers and sent to South America and participated in a multitude of events and returned to Italy to win the GP of Bari. It was then adorned with a unique Motto body which was later removed. It may have been driven at some point by Tazio Nuvolari.
Story by Wallace Wyss
Where are the modern day playboys?
I don’t think they stand out as much as the playboys of the ’50s. Probably not politically correct nowadays.
One of my favorites in the tabloids back then was Ferrari-driving Porfirio Rubirosa, from the Dominican Republic, born in 1909.
This guy didn’t come from money so it’s a bit of a mystery how he ended up with homes in Paris and Palm Beach. His claim to fame was in two sports: polo and racing. His name is associated with several significant competition Ferraris.
We enjoy our brochures and rather than keeping them in hidden in a folder, we made a montage with a grouping per above. No damage to the brochures, however! From our archives, below we present a group of Fiat brochures on the Fiat 600 series. Ed.
Photos and text by Graham Gauld
I made my usual trip to Avignon last week (March 22-24) for the Avignon Motor Festival, which is similar to Retromobile in Paris, but even more eclectic with a group of buildings and open-air stands selling everything from rusty bits of unremarkable French cars to books, car models, and machinery.
Story and photos by Vince Johnson
Over four hundred and fifty cars and drivers from across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Germany descended on the Phillip Island circuit, south of Melbourne, to help the Victorian Historic Racing Register celebrate their 30th Classic Festival of Motorsport. They weren’t the only ones commemorating milestones.
Parody, April 1, 2019
Words and illustrations by Richard Bartholomew
A renegade group of disgruntled Ferrari mechanics has possibly been committing atrocities on certain Ferraris, but so far nobody is sure of what the heck is going on. Some owners of the fabled Italian brand have reported returning from vacations and finding their prized Ferraris refurbished and redone in odd ways. Inside jobs are suspected but nobody has taken credit yet. The changes range from the simplistic, like the Cyclops-Dino in our lead image, to fantastic, complex modifications like making an SUV out of Testarossa. [Read more…] about Ferrari Owners Mystified by Modifications
From the Archives, November 1st, 2002
By Ed McDonough
Photos from the collection of Ed McDonough
As the 1940s drew to a close, three of Alfa Romeo’s most talented drivers in the pre or post-war years were all lost to the Milanese company within one year. Forty-four year-old Achille Varzi died in practice for the Grand Prix d’Europe at the Bremgarten circuit at Berne, in Switzerland. His teammates were Jean-Pierre Wimille, Count Trossi, and Consalvo Sanesi.
By Brandes Elitch
From the Archives, September 7, 2011
During the Monterey Car Week, the most amazing cars are everywhere, on every street and in every driveway (the good citizens of Carmel-by-the-Cash-Register are happy to rent rooms in their homes for the visiting hordes).