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
Ferrari 512 S/N 1002
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.
Fiat Grand Prix Cars
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
And How! Mustang Wagon’s Origins Revealed
From Horses to Smart Cars
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
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
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.
Goodwood Revival, 2018: A Gallery
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
We present, a bit late perhaps, Jonathan Sharp’s view of this year’s Goodwood Revival. While his cohort Hugues Vanhoolandt did trackside photos, Jonathan concentrated on the people and the paddock area. Always so much to photograph, yet so little time and space. But enjoy, everyone below did!-Ed.
Don Racine and the Aardvark
A Conversation with Don Racine: The story of his H-Modified Class Aardvark
By Peter Darnall
Photos courtesy Don Racine Collection
From the Archives, October 2016
Don Racine has been involved with sports car racing for many years. He has developed an affinity for small-bore front engine/front wheel drive machinery and is an acknowledged master of the Mini Cooper’s unique handling characteristics. Don founded Mini Mania in 1974. The firm, which is now located in California’s picturesque Gold Country, has grown to become the largest United States based supplier of parts for the Classic Mini.
Recently I had the opportunity to meet with Don at Mini Mania headquarters. The subject or our discussion was not the ubiquitous Mini, but his amazing Aardvark.
Lamborghini SVR Restoration
Story by Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy Lamborghini
Lamborghini Polo Storico has completed restoration of one of the most famous Miuras ever built: the SVR. Upon delivery last summer, the car was exhibited at Japan’s Nakayama Circuit. [Read more…] about Lamborghini SVR Restoration
Ferrari Art, Concept Cars and Facebook
Story by Pete Vack
Images by Richard Bartholomew
My first reaction was a huge, shit-eating grin, chuckles, and guffaws. There was a photo of a Dino 246GT embossed with all sorts of geegaws and looking totally weird. Then, a Ferrari PF 250GT, now featuring a chopped top and outside exhausts. To cap it off, my favorite Ferrari of all time, the 166 barchetta (little boat), was turned into a jacuzzi. “Ferrari at Spa”, said the artist. It was as if the ghosts of Dean Jeffries, von Dutch, and George Barris had gone berserk and inhabited the computer of Rick Bartholomew. [Read more…] about Ferrari Art, Concept Cars and Facebook
Talbot Lago Grand Prix Cars
Story by Pete Vack
From the Archives, March 28, 2012
Lead image: Peter Giddings drives his first Talbot Lago, #110007, ex-Chiron. Courtesy Peter Giddings.
Hindsight is a good remedy for perceived mediocrity. Looking back on the 20-odd year run of the French Talbot Lago, it is easy to see that the cars of Anthony “Tony” Lago (born in Venice in 1893) were not only were winners on the concours circuit, but significant winners on the Grand Prix tracks in the post war era. After five major Grand Prix wins, nine lesser ones and victory at Le Mans in 1950, Cyril Posthumus would write, “Lago, in his retirement years could look back on a remarkable chapter of accomplishment.”