VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Ferrari Ends Pre-war Domination of Pebble’s Best of Show

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Ferrari s/n 0402

Jon Shirley and the Ferrari brave the traditional confetti shower as they pull over the ramp to take Best of Show at Pebble Beach. Credit: Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

By Michael T. Lynch

The biggest story of the week of automotive events on the Monterey Peninsula was Jon Shirley’s 375 MM Scaglietti Coupe winning Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It was the first ever win for a Ferrari.

In 1955, Phil Hill won Best of Show with a 1931 Pierce-Arrow 41 LeBaron Convertible Town Cabriolet he had restored. (Hill also won the race with a Ferrari 750 Monza.) The Pierce began a string of pre-World War II Pebble Beach winners that continued until this year, the lone exception being a Maserati Mistral in 1968. [Read more…] about Ferrari Ends Pre-war Domination of Pebble’s Best of Show

Brandes Elitch and Vanhoolandt at The Quail

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Tom Price with his Best of Show-winning 1938 Talbot 150C SS.

Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Some Californians think that they live at the center of the universe. You probably knew that. I even know some car collectors in this category. But most VeloceToday readers live outside of California, and indeed many live outside of the US. Of course, there are car related events everywhere. Vintage racing originated in England and is still very strong there. Italy has the Mille Miglia; France has Retromobile. But for one glorious week in August, about an hour south of San Francisco, the Monterey Peninsula really does become the epicenter of the motoring universe. [Read more…] about Brandes Elitch and Vanhoolandt at The Quail

Gallery Vanhoolandt: Pebble Beach

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Between 1954 and 1956, Maserati built 60 A6G/54s of which ten convertibles and seven coupés were bodied by Frua. This car is the only surviving A6G/54 Series III Frua coupé.

Again this year Belgian photographer Hugues Vanhoolandt has outdone himself at Monterey. We present the first of series of “Gallery Vanhoolandt” articles from This year’s California Car Week.

Photos and captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt

[Read more…] about Gallery Vanhoolandt: Pebble Beach

Monterey Round Up

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Seems that dirt is in this year at the Auctions.

By Wallace Wyss

Photos by Wallace Wyss and Wayne Martin

McCall’s

One of my first stops was the McCall Motorworks Revival party. This is an evening event thrown at an airplane hangar at the Monterey airport and has a mixture of old planes (one bearing little swastikas for every German plane its pilots shot down—making me wonder, at displays of wartime airplanes in Germany do they have little stars-and-stripes on the fuselage?) modern biz-jets and collector cars and new cars. [Read more…] about Monterey Round Up

VeloceToday for August 19, 2014

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Answer to our Engine Quiz is a CTA Aresnal, and Anton Krivanek was the first with the correct answer. Our thanks to all who made a guess!

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Help us create a historical documentary about the men who created the Italian automobiles of the 1950s-1970s! Many remain enigmatic; the producers are hoping to change this by creating a documentary that tracks down the key players of the era. Some have already passed and with others now in their later years, this may be the last chance to pool their collective knowledge. Click on the image to see how you can contribute! Campaign ends August 30th so hurry!

Three volume classic, “The Grand Prix Car” by Laurence Pomeroy and LJK Setright. 1200+pp The history, theory, design , details and performance of all the important GP cars from the turn of the century through 1966. Hundreds of extraordinary technical drawings, charts, spec tables and racing results. Condition: excellent used, no marks beyond owner name Price $850 plus shipping(weight 12.5 lbs) Contact stevegurr@charter.net

*$25 Ads for anyone who has something to sell, to giveaway, or to holler about. Ad will be placed above the fold and run for one month. Contact vack@cox.net .

Engines of the Ring: Oldtimer Grand Prix

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Maserati 250F of 1954



Art by Alessandro Gerelli

Walking around in the pits, at this year’s Oldtimer Grand Prix, it was very interesting to watch the mechanics working on the cars and especially on the engines.

All the engines are beautiful, always clean and look like new, but the Italians are always more fascinating with the carburetors, air filters, and sparkplugs, but also exhaust tubes which look like sculptures.

What a difference with today’s electronics!

To win a free book, scroll down to the last photo (there are 23 images). We’re betting that you can’t figure out what kind of car was powered by that strange looking engine. The first correct email sent to the editor at vack@cox.net will win a copy of the VeloceTodaySelect publication, Cuban Grand Prix 1957 by David Seielstad. Shipping is free. [Read more…] about Engines of the Ring: Oldtimer Grand Prix

Gianni Lancia, 1924-2014

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Last of the Glory Days; testing the D50 with Ascari at Caselle Airport. Courtesy Nigel Trow.

By Nigel Trow

Sigmund Freud, Vincenzo Lancia’s older contemporary, would have had much to say about the life of Lancia’s son, Gianni, who died on June 30th 2014 at his home on Cap Ferrat, France. Born in Turin in November 1924, Gianni was the middle child of three and the only son of Vincenzo and Adele Lancia. The children were close in age; Anna Maria, the eldest, being born in 1922 and Eleonora, in 1926 (tragically murdered by her disturbed daughter in 1996). They were left fatherless in their early teens by Vincenzo’s sudden death in February 1937, and for Gianni, not yet 13 years old, the prospect of having to take his father’s place must have loomed large. [Read more…] about Gianni Lancia, 1924-2014

Finotto, Facetti and the Ferrari Carma

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Photographed around 1996, the Carma FF is in almost concours condition.



Story and photos by Graham Gauld

Has anyone seen the Carma FF lately?

Recently Martino Finotto died of cancer at the age of 80. He was a Milanese gentleman driver, his family fortune stemming from their pharmaceutical company. Finotto was the man behind various racing ventures with his business partner and racing driver Carlo Facetti. Together they ran Achille Motors in Milan where Facetti was in charge. [Read more…] about Finotto, Facetti and the Ferrari Carma

Cars of the Ring: Oldtimer Grand Prix, 2014

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This is how I did captions before today..

Maserati 250F #2533 of 1958.

Story and photos by Alessandro Gerelli

The traditional mid-August appointment at the Nurburgring was a great success, with a huge number of enthusiasts to see many important old cars. The old and very long Nordschleife track is used only for one race (the Marathon): all the other races are run on the normal track. [Read more…] about Cars of the Ring: Oldtimer Grand Prix, 2014

VeloceToday for August 12, 2014

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

Before you leave for Monterey, be sure to download this Digital Pocket Guide to Monterey, courtesy of Alan Taylor and Keith Martin’s Sports Car Market Magazine. This compact guide includes a map, event timeline and auction details in eight-page digital package — perfect for your tablet or phone.

This week, something a bit different. We present all three parts of Gijsbert-Paul Berk’s enlightening look at self-drive cars; Part 1 of ADA published last week revealed a long history of attempts to create a self-driving automobile. Part 2 discusses the political, social and legal issues confronting such vehicles. In Part 3, Gijsbert-Paul Berk wonders if the fun will go out with the steering wheel. Lastly don’t miss our article on the Lanciana publication, with Steve Snyder, Ed Godshalk, Howard Moon and more.

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1997 BMW M3 4 door auto. No rust, straight, Good alloys, new tires. Interior needs minor repair, car overheated VANOS needs replacement but runs. Boston Green with tan/brown. 179K, needs tlc. Asking $4600 or best offer. 703-534-5015 Washington D.C. area.

SOLD! 1959 Citroen 2 CV “Dans son Jus”! Imported from Avignon France and shipped to California in 1984. Running and has new convertible top, a new wiring harness and five new Michelin 135 X 400 tires. contact Clark Rodgers clark@f1weekly.com Click to see photos.

SOLD!! Lancia Brochures: Lancia Flamina Zagato Supersport from 1966 and another from 1959 which features all 4 Flaminia models. Excellent condition, never drooled on. Click on pic to see complete brochures. $100 for both. Contact:vack@cox.net

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.

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

*$25 Ads for anyone who has something to sell, to giveaway, or to holler about. Ad will be placed above the fold and run for one month. Contact vack@cox.net .

ADA Part 2: Legal and Social Issues

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Don’t try this at home! A suggestive photo published by Volvo to illustrate the advantages of semi self-driving cars. Experts think that even before 2020, the combination of adaptive cruise control and autonomous brake systems will allow drivers of cars in the premium segment to cruise along in convoy, without having to pay attention what is happening in front.

Part 1 of ADA revealed a long history of attempts to create a self-driving automobile, while Part 2 discussed the political, social and legal issues confronting such vehicles. In Part 3, Gijsbert-Paul Berk considers the needs and fears of the marketplace.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk

Li Shufu (Li), Chairman of the Chinese Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely and Volvo), has confided in an interview with Chengdu Business Daily (CBD) in February, that his company has as goal to produce fully autonomous automobiles by 2020. This may be a reasonable goal if China does not have to deal with the complex politics and legal systems in place in Europe and the U.S.

Carlos Ghosn: The industry is ready, but are the legislators?

Back in Europe, Carlos Ghosn, head of the Renault-Nissan alliance, declared at a recent meeting at the French Automobile Club in Paris, “Cars that drive themselves can be on the roads four years from now, provided red tape does not get in the way. The problem isn’t technology, it’s legislation, and the question of liability that goes with these cars moving around … especially who is responsible once there is no longer anyone inside.” [Read more…] about ADA Part 2: Legal and Social Issues

ADA Part 3: Goodbye Nardi?

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The Rinspeed XchangE concept car offers passengers virtually any seating or resting position and the interior they want and provides the relaxing business-class comfort found with major airlines. The seats allow more than twenty possible seating arrangements with a host of adjustment, tilting and swiveling options.

Part 1 of ADA revealed a long history of attempts to create a self-driving automobile, while Part 2 discussed the political, social and legal issues confronting such vehicles. In Part 3, Gijsbert-Paul Berk considers the needs and fears of the marketplace.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk

Aside from legal, political, and social issues, a growing market for ADAs also depends to a large extent on the price and consumer trust.

That there exists a market for such cars is beyond doubt. There are sufficient people who dislike driving in today’s dense traffic; some of the younger generation will certainly prefer sending SMS message with their smartphone or playing with their tablet over concentrating on the traffic around them. In Europe and the U.S. there are a great number of older drivers who are conscious that their reaction time is gradually slowing down or who have other minor handicaps. [Read more…] about ADA Part 3: Goodbye Nardi?

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