VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Lancia D 24 and D 50R

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Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Steve Snyder

It would be difficult if not impossible to find a more compelling story than that of Peter Giddings. In his youth in England, he restored a BSA three-wheeler, then a Brooklands Riley 9, and then a chain drive Frazer Nash, which he rebuilt in his living room (I say “restored” because owning these cars in England in the sixties would require continuous attention just to keep them running). He started racing the Frazer Nash in 1959, and competed in virtually every race circuit and hillclimb in England, earning his full FIA International racing license in 1961. In 1985, he raced his Alfa Romeo Monza and his P3 Alfa Scuderia Ferrari Tipo B at the Monterey Historics, and was awarded the Phil Hill trophy. [Read more…] about Lancia D 24 and D 50R

Frazer Nash Chain Gang

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By Peter Giddings
All photos courtesy Peter Giddings unless marked otherwise

Archives, November 2016

Jonathan Sharp wrote up a very nice piece for us about the Firle Hillclimb Revival, with plenty of enticing photos of car guys and girls just having fun with their classics. It certainly hit a note with our readers. Then Peter Giddings emailed us about his experiences driving a Frazer Nash ‘Chain Gang’ at the original Firle Hillclimb in 1963. We begged for more and here is his story:

I could not believe my eyes when I saw your “Firle Hillclimb Revival”, the setting for several of my early attempts at competitive speed hill climbing.” A report from Autosport, July 19, 1963 reads in part, “Last May P. H. Giddings had rocketed up in 28.69 secs. in a 1928 Frazer Nash fitted with a 1926 A.C. engine, and on Sunday this incredible device did 28.66 secs. to take third place in the most hotly contested class of the day. How this chain-driven car can be coaxed up Firle so quickly only Mr. Giddings knows!”

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Zoute Grand Prix 2018

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Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
We remind our readers to click on images to double the size.

Held in Knokke-Heist and the fashionable Zoute area on the Belgian Coast the Zoute Grand Prix, already on its ninth edition, has quickly become a must-attend event for the classic car enthusiast. The event was held from October 4 to October 7, 2018. [Read more…] about Zoute Grand Prix 2018

Automedon 2018

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Photos by Alessandro Gerelli

This is the sixth consecutive year Alessandro Gerelli has covered this event for VeloceToday, and each year he brings us cars rarely seen anywhere else in the world. For this reason, it is one of the editor’s favorite car shows; you will never be bored here or see the same cars over and over again. Indeed, it is often a guessing game for us. For example, this year Alessandro photographed three special bodied Traction Avant 11s; we ask our readers to help identify each one. [Read more…] about Automedon 2018

Paris Motor Show 2018

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Photos by Alesssandro Gerelli

The annual Paris Motor Show aka Mondial De L’Auto in Paris was held from October 4 to the 14 at 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris, France. It is a huge event, as can be seen from the map below, with multiple features ranging from motorcycles to parts to displays of both new and classic cars. Some major manufacturers were missing, and there was much discussion of the new WLTP standards, electric cars and the death of the diesel. However, we shall remain focused on the classics. [Read more…] about Paris Motor Show 2018

Cobra Daytona Coupes

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By Peter Brock
From the VeloceToday Archives

As soon as the first Daytona Cobra Coupe, CSX 2287, was completed and tested successfully at Riverside Raceway on February 1st 1964, Carroll Shelby decided to

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Ferrari 512 S/N 1002

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Story by Roberto Motta

Put together in just three months by a team headed by Mauro Forghieri, the 512 is one of most iconic cars ever built by the Maranello factory. The Ferrari 512 is one of the cars that represent the last mystical period of high level motor racing that was filled with danger, heroism and an almost sexual attraction. Yet it posted only one major win in its career.

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Fiat Grand Prix Cars

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Story by Graham Gauld
Photos by Centro Storico Fiat

For nearly twenty years I was a consultant to Fiat in Britain assisting the public relations department. One area was liaison with Fiat’s own historian, Antonio Amadelli, who, at the time, ran Fiat’s own small museum and large archives. Antonio was later to go on to become head of the Biscaretti Museum in Turin and his knowledge of Fiat was immense. Amongst other things I was able to add photos of their early Grand Prix cars to my archive and Editor Pete suggested we share some of these with comments on the background to the photos. [Read more…] about Fiat Grand Prix Cars

From Horses to Smart Cars

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By Pete Vack

There is no doubt that all of us have some connection to the distant automotive past through friends, relatives or experiences. But consider 91-year-old Frank Shaffer, whose great uncle Doctor Carlos Booth had a car constructed to his design at the dawn of the automobile in the 19th century; 125 years later, Frank drives a Smart Car and is witnessing the demise of what we have traditionally known as the automobile. What’s more, in a remarkable set of coincidences, we found that Frank’s great uncle Booth and his remarkable machine was documented by car collector and VeloceToday contributor Paul Wilson.

This incredible story began when I met Frank at a local auto parts store in 2006. He was younger then, zooming around Williamsburg, Virginia, in his three-wheeled motorcycle, having recently and regretfully sold his pontoon Mercedes 190 sedan. [Read more…] about From Horses to Smart Cars

Dr. Carlos Booth and his Horseless Carriage

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As we have seen (read The Frank Shaffer Story), the chance connection between Dr. Carlos Booth’s great nephew Frank Shaffer and Paul Wilson occurred via comments in VeloceToday. This prompted Paul to pay Frank a personal visit. Thanks to Frank, images from his family photo album illustrated Paul’s yet unpublished story about Dr. Booth and his horseless carriage. A complete, nicely published genealogy gave Paul the ability to trace the connections to the Shaffer family resulting in the final product you see below. [Ed.]

Story by Paul Wilson
Photos from the Shaffer collection

Dr. Carlos Booth had never liked horses. He was an energetic, restless man, who had found that obstacles encountered in most aspects of life yielded quickly to the application of energy and impatience. [Read more…] about Dr. Carlos Booth and his Horseless Carriage

The Royal Ferraris of Belgium

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Story and Photos of 0488 AM by Alan Boe

Three Kings met, with historic results: King Leopold requested it, Enzo Ferrari built it, Pinin Farina styled it.

Royalty and expensive motor cars just seem to go together. You know the types…Park Ward Rolls-Royces, Grosser Mercedes, and stretched limousines of various manufacture. They’re a normal part of any royal retinue. And why not? We’ve come to expect it.

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