VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

All VeloceToday Articles for the 1st Half of 2014

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Today, 105 feature articles!

Once every quarter we gather up all the articles we’ve published to date that year. 2014 is now mid-way, so here are all the articles (105) published in VeloceToday from January 1st 2014 to June 24th.

*Use that scroll function to see all; we begin with January and if you scroll down far enough you will get to June.

*Click on each small photo to read the story.

*We’ll return next week with even more feature articles.


January

February




March




April



May

June

VeloceToday for June 24, 2014

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Looking for VeloceToday for Tuesday July 1st?
Well, wait until Wednesday as we are a tad behind.

Ferrari 410 Sport Prototype, first raced by Carroll Shelby; Offered by Rick Cole Auctions in Monterey. Click on image for details.

MotorBinder draws on the authors’ family archive of racing images from the mid -‘50s to the mid-‘60s and a long-lost photo collection from the former Motor Sports Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, Gordon Martin. The carefully restored images offer a unique and personal look back at this exciting era of Motor Racing. 321 pages, softbound 10.75”x8.25” ISBN 978-0-615-97059-2 Order from Motorbinder.com

As fast as the race itself, The 1000 Mile Dream, is a novel about the Mille Miglia. Author Jim Fontana ably creates characters that are reminiscent of a number of drivers, team managers and journalists of the era. He knows his Mille Miglia history. A fascinating winter read for everyone. On sale for $23 Hardcover, $19 Softcover, all signed by the author and shipping is FREE. jfont29118@aol.com .
Click here for review.

Alfa 1600 Sprint and Spider Instruction Book. Public no. 838-12/1963 (1500) R. Original, excellent to mint condition; spine is not broken, appears as new. Slight fraying on edge of Electrical diagram where it protrudes from the edge of the book. 80 pages, printed for US market cars. Price is now reduced; looking for best offer over $300. Click photo to see larger image. 1600 Giulia TI instruction book also available, good condition. Contact:vack@cox.net

Lancia Aurelia B 20 GT. Third Series, 1953 Engine: B20 3201 Chassis : B20 2923 Imported to Uruguay in the 1950s and used in a few races, reportedly driven by Juan Carlos Gutiérrez and dismantled. It was completely restored beginning in the mid-eighties and finished three years ago. Click photo for more details. Contact:julioberges@gmail.com

*ONE TIME ads ($25 USD) for anyone who has something to sell, to giveaway, or to holler about. Ad will be placed above the fold. Contact vack@cox.net .

Old Parts, Old Arts, Old …

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afdsa

Never know when you might need one of these…story by Pete Vack

John sat there and looked at the strange, delta shaped piece of metal for a two or three minutes before it came to him. There was a hole in the top of the triangle, and the other two sides were shaped like a small fork, somewhat like the letter A. His mind sought desperately to connect it to some previous experience. Finally, it registered. “Of course, this is the dumb collar that keeps the distributor locked down on a Fiat 600!” The relief (for anytime one finally recalls something a euphoric moment follows) was also accompanied by further memories. “The first time I recall seeing this device in action was when my friend’s Abarth 750 was running erratically at Lime Rock, must have been 1984-85. He couldn’t get the collar to hold the distributor tight enough. There went his weekend.”

Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen

Sorting through years of spare parts is akin to turning the pages of a treasured family photo album. A long table was full of parts, bits and pieces of a life, tangled indicators of what went right and what went wrong. They were from what John called his Fiat years. “Of course there were alot of things I’d like to forget about those years,” he said. He once looked all over for a Weber repair kit for his daughter’s Fiat 1200. After months of searching, he found one and proudly gave it to her for her 16th birthday. [Read more…] about Old Parts, Old Arts, Old …

Correspondent’s Cars: From Arkley to Australia to Arkley

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We don’t know if this will be a regular feature, but when our Australian correspondent (and author of our Montier Ford VTS Folio) told us about his latest purchase, we could’t resist running the story, even though Chris did not buy a French or Italian car. But his is a unique ‘full circle’ story and one you will definitely enjoy. [Ed.]

Story by Chris Martin
Color photos by Karen Martin

I was born and raised in Arkley near Barnet just north of London, and while still a teenager at school I had a Saturday job at the garage in the village that was owned by John Britten, a well known sports car racer in the Sixties. Britten dominated his class in the ModSports category in initially a yellow Lenham bodied Austin-Healey Sprite, and later a much modified orange MG Midget. [Read more…] about Correspondent’s Cars: From Arkley to Australia to Arkley

VeloceToday for June 17, 2014

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ALFRED DUCATO 1965 FERRARI 275 GTB COMPETIZIONE CLIENTI
OFFERED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 50 YEARS AT MONTEREY! Click for details.

Race historian Carl Goodwin’s first book profiles of eighty drivers, rich and famous, well known and little known, who first raced with an MG. In almost all cases, however, those same drivers quickly got a seat in a faster, usually Italian car. Great stories, great photos. “They Started in MGs” has 291 pages, 278 photos and is 7 by 10 inches. Click pic to read review. The ISBN is 978-0-7864-6052-6. Price is $35.00 plus shipping and is available signed by the author at attlastt@frontier.net

Finally, a history of the 1963 – 1968 USRRC series. 438 pages of race stories, full results, course maps & records and more detail in a 9″ x 12″ hardback book with deluxe box. 500 color & b/w photos of Chaparral, Cobra, Lola, Lotus, McKee, McLaren, and drivers, on the track and in the pits. Superb layout includes program covers and Index.
Available from Autobooks/Aerobooks, or direct from the author at: Please check the author’s blog at grimeheel.blogspot.com

Lancia Aurelia B 20 GT. Third Series, 1953 Engine: B20 3201 Chassis : B20 2923 Imported to Uruguay in the 1950s and used in a few races, reportedly driven by Juan Carlos Gutiérrez and dismantled. It was completely restored beginning in the mid-eighties and finished three years ago. Click photo for more details. Contact:julioberges@gmail.com

Burt Levy’s super great book, The Last Open Road, will be available for 99 cents via Amazon and B&N, for only one week, between June 19 and June 26. Contact Burt Levy at thinkfast@mindspring.com Click image to read review.

*ONE TIME ads ($25 USD) for anyone who has something to sell, to giveaway, or to holler about. Ad will be placed above the fold. Contact vack@cox.net .

Gauld on the 250F, Ecurie Ecosse Tour

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Frank Stippler slides the ex-Temple Buell 250F Maserati (2533) through the kink before the swimming pool at Monaco.



Story and photos by Graham Gauld

250F Complications

Some weeks have passed since the Monaco Historic event but as it always triggers off various memories. Please forgive me for commenting on another couple of cars that took part this year. One was the Maserati 250F Picolo owned by Jos Koster and raced by German driver Frank Stippler. [Read more…] about Gauld on the 250F, Ecurie Ecosse Tour

VeloceToday for June 10, 2014

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ALFRED DUCATO 1965 FERRARI 275 GTB COMPETIZIONE CLIENTI
OFFERED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 50 YEARS AT MONTEREY! Click for details.

Finally. history of the 1963 – 1968 USRRC series. 438 pages of race stories, full results, course maps & records and more detail in a 9″ x 12″ hardback book with deluxe box. 500 color & b/w photos of Chaparral, Cobra, Lola, Lotus, McKee, McLaren, and drivers, on the track and in the pits. Superb layout includes program covers and Index.
Available from Autobooks/Aerobooks, or direct from the author at: Please check the author’s blog at grimeheel.blogspot.com

Classic Lancia Posters by famed artist Mark Stehrenberger. Offered in two sizes and prices: 12×20″ or 17×22″, both on hi-quality thick watercolor paper. S&H extra. Contact us at 1. 805.280.5849 (CA) orstehrenber@yahoo.comClick pic to enlarge.

1959 Moretti Brochure. 8.75x 5.5 inches, four pages, two color print. Mint condition. Covers the 750 Coupe Turismo, Superpanoramica Sedan, and the Spyder Super Turismo and Tech specs. Printed for the J.F.R. Company N. Attleboro, Mass. $200.Contact:vack@cox.net

Lancia Aurelia B 20 GT. Third Series, 1953 Engine: B20 3201 Chassis : B20 2923 Imported to Uruguay in the 1950s and used in a few races, reportedly driven by Juan Carlos Gutiérrez and dismantled. It was completely restored beginning in the mid-eighties and finished three years ago. Click photo for more details. Contact:julioberges@gmail.com

*ONE TIME ads ($25 USD) for anyone who has something to sell, to giveaway, or to holler about. Ad will be placed above the fold. Contact vack@cox.net .

Bucciali Part 3: The Greatest Automobile Inspiration Ever?

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Bucciali

Bart de Vries' Bucciali Inspiration.

Almost as remarkable as the Bucciali itself is the strange fact that while William Tishman was building his passion in a shop in California, 5,550 miles away in Holland, almost at exactly the same time, an artist, not an industrialist, was also creating an automobile inspired by the Bucciali. His name was Bart de Vries.
“I was not aware of the Tishman Bucciali when I built my car,” says de Vries. He finished his in 1985, Tishman in 1983. Both were inspired by the Saouctchik convertible, and both were based on a GM frame. The two never met. Tishman stayed in California, de Vries in Holland. Even more remarkable, de Vries created his dream car, fabricating almost every item in his garage by himself. But read on…

Bucciali art by de Vries based on the famous Olsylager drawing.


[Read more…] about Bucciali Part 3: The Greatest Automobile Inspiration Ever?

Prescott 2014: Almost Thoroughly French

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1928 Amilcar CGS

The 1928 Amilcar CGS Riley of Terry McGrath climbs towards the esses.

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Click on photos to enlarge!

It is a shame that my Sat Nav does not use public houses as navigation points because being instructed to “turn left at the Bugatti Inn” sounds so much nicer than just “in 500 meters turn left.” My journey to Prescott was to cover the Bugatti Owne’rs Club’s La Vie en Bleu Festival which celebrates all things French. Last year the event welcomed the International Bugatti Rally. This year it was the turn of the International Amilcar Rally to enjoy the Bugatti Club’s hospitality. A very impressive line-up of cars enjoyed the shade of the trees in the paddock. The weather over the weekend was typical of an English spring, tipping it down on Saturday, warm dry and sunny on Sunday. The paddocks on Sunday did however resemble the aftermath of the Glastonbury Music Festival – mud everywhere. The event always attracts a good turn- out not just the entrants in the hill climb but also from the members of the various French car clubs who had been invited to attend. The runs on the hill were as usual very spirited with very few incidents to mar what was a very enjoyable event.

This is an Amilcar Tandem, of which perhaps two were built in 1923 to race in the Cyclecar Grand Prix.

Marius Mestivier at the helm of a 1100cc Amilcar Tandem. Courtesy 'Amilcar' by Fournier.

The driver had the gearshift between his legs and the mechanic the driver.

It is good to see that old fashioned camaraderie is still very much the watchword of a Prescott event as is evident here. Car 36 is the 1928 Bugatti T35B of Steve Curtis, car 37 Derek Howard Orchard's 1931 T51

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Readers Asked: Brits and Germans on the Mille Miglia

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1950 Healey Silverstone

1950 Healey Silverstone, welcomed with style in Senigallia, in the Marche region.

Photos and Captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt
CLICK PICS to enlarge!

Last week several readers wanted to see some photos of the British and German cars entered in this year’s Mille Miglia. We explained that VeloceToday was primarily dedicated to Italian and French Classics. However, we asked Hugues Vanhoolandt if he could supply a splash of Silver and Green, and presto, in came these magnificent images. What else could we do but run them! [Ed.]

1948 Bristol 400

1948 Bristol 400 followed by a 1949 HWM Jaguar and a Jaguar XK120.

1954 AC Ace

1954 AC Ace and a 1956 MG A works car, participated in the 1956 Mille Miglia.

Aston Martin DB3 S

This Aston Martin DB3 S, chassis number 5 took part to the original Mille Miglia, driven by Peter Collins. This car also was driven by Salvadori and Moss in its career.

1930 ‘Blower’ Bentley 4.5 liter.

1930 ‘Blower’ Bentley 4.5 liter.

Ecurie Ecosse Transporter

Jaguar did a great effort for this year’s Mille Miglia as they displayed the Ecurie Ecosse Transporter with a C-Type of the same stable …

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Cobra in a Sharkskin Suit

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The Willment Cobra in the 1980s as found by Sharp's boss. Note the rear end treatment!

Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp

The well-known story goes that John Willment of Willment racing fame had a spare 427 competition Cobra chassis gathering dust in the workshop, so he decided to fit the Savonuzzi- designed Ghia built body from a Fiat 8V which he had previously found in a scrap yard.

The power unit was a Holman and Moody 427 V8 with twin four barrel carburetors. Unfortunately, John lost interest in the project and sold the car before it was properly finished. But here is the untold backstory of the Cobra Italiano. [Read more…] about Cobra in a Sharkskin Suit

VeloceToday for June 3, 2014

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1959 Moretti Brochure. 8.75x 5.5 inches, four pages, two color print. Mint condition. Covers the 750 Coupe Turismo, Superpanoramica Sedan, and the Spyder Super Turismo and Tech specs. Printed for the J.F.R. Company N. Attleboro, Mass. $200.Contact:vack@cox.net

Lancia Aurelia B 20 GT. Third Series, 1953 Engine: B20 3201 Chassis : B20 2923 Imported to Uruguay in the 1950s and used in a few races, reportedly driven by Juan Carlos Gutiérrez and dismantled. It was completely restored beginning in the mid-eighties and finished three years ago. Click photo for more details. Contact:julioberges@gmail.com

SOLD!! Alfa Spider Taillight lens.
This is not a re-manufactured lens. Fits most 1600 Spider imported to U.S. Alfa Romeo Part number 101.30.65.012.01/01. Carello number 12.422.718. Solid red, upper part of a two piece tail light assembly lens. Two very light scratches, near mint condition never been installed.
$100.
Contact:vack@cox.net

Rent a Race Car to drive in the 2014 Mille Miglia, Bassano, and other Italian Vintage events! Drive this rare Siata Daina Coupe, an A.C. Ace, or a Colli barchetta or others. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. Contact me at vack@cox.net for further details.

*ONE TIME ads ($25 USD) for anyone who has something to sell, to giveaway, or to holler about. Ad will be placed above the fold. Contact vack@cox.net .

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