VeloceToday.com – Page 202 – The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Bucciali Part 3: The Greatest Automobile Inspiration Ever?

June 10, 2014 By pete

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…]

Prescott 2014: Almost Thoroughly French

June 10, 2014 By pete

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

June 10, 2014 By pete

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 followed by a 1949 HWM Jaguar and a Jaguar XK120.

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

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.

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

June 10, 2014 By pete

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

June 3, 2014 By pete

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 .

Mille Miglia 2014 by Vanhoolandt

June 3, 2014 By pete

Rare wildlife seen at the Mille Miglia. A 1952 Ermini 1100 Sport with Motto body.

Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
CLICK to Enlarge Photos!

This week we bring you Hugues Vanhoolandt’s photography of the Mille Miglia. As I went through the photos it almost seemed like a dream, a particularly beautiful dream. And in fact this does present an idyllic portrait of the Mille Miglia. Coming up, we’ll bring you the often tough reality, brought to you by one of it’s experienced entrants. [Ed.]

Called ‘la Corsa piu bella del mondo’ by Enzo Ferrari himself, the Mille Miglia remains a must see year after year for any classic car enthusiast. This year there was a record 430 entrants and many changes on the route from Brescia to Roma and back, with passages through Bassano del Grappa, Ancona and Pisa, towns not visited in the recent years.

Due to the longer route, a fourth day of rally was added, with a last stage between Bologna and Brescia. Although many cars are entered year after year, there are always some novelties to discover and it remains a pleasure to travel along the Italian roads, trying to capture the spirit of the most beautiful race in the world.

Held again on Piazza Vittoria, in the Brescia city center, the sealing ceremony is the occasion for the public to see the participating cars. Cisitalias and Oscas are of course favorites of the Italian crowd.

[Read more…]

Bodacious Bucciali Part 2: Tishman’s Passion

June 3, 2014 By pete

One man's huge passion: the Bucciali Tribute Car. Photo by Al Axelrod.

Last week, we published a short history of the Bucciali, that most misunderstood and often maligned magnificent example of French artistry on wheels. This week, Wallace Wyss tells us about the first guy who fell in love with a photograph of the Saoutchik Bucciali. He was not the last to do so, and in a remarkable coincidence, a Dutch artist fell in love with the same car in another old photograph. That story next week [Ed].

A Bucciali Tribute Car

Yes, I know, I know, it’s a copy, a clone, what some now call a “tribute car” and I don’t normally write about clones but this one’s special.

Why? Because it is nothing short of a love affair between a man and a photograph of a car. The photograph was of a French car marque called Bucciali (Yes, I know, it sounds Italian. But it is Corsican French and pronounced b-yew-see-ah-le.) The man was American construction giant William A. Tishman, who found a faded photo of the Bucciali and simply had to have one, even if it meant recreating what could have been a rival to the Bugatti Royale. [Read more…] about Bodacious Bucciali Part 2: Tishman’s Passion

Villa d’Este 2014 Alfa and Others

June 3, 2014 By pete

Alfa Romeo 6C 3000 CM Superflow coupè by Pinin Farina.

Story and Photos by Alessandro Gerelli
Click on photos to enlarge!

Just one week after the Mille Miglia is the traditional Concourse of Elegance for Historic Cars and Concept Cars and Prototypes held in Cernobbio on the Como Lake.
The last day of the event is open to the public and the cars are shown in the wonderful garden of Villa Erba, an exhibition center just nearby. It is better known as the Villa d’Este.

As usual the number of cars is very limited, but the quality is extremely high. [Read more…] about Villa d’Este 2014 Alfa and Others

Villa d’Este 2014: Ferrari and Maserati

June 3, 2014 By pete

GTO.

Story and Photos by Alessandro Gerelli

We continue to present cars of this year’s Villa d’este, concentrating on Ferrari and Maserati.

Click images to enlarge!

Ferrari 250 GTO 64 berlinetta Scaglietti.

[Read more…]

VeloceToday for May 28, 2014

May 28, 2014 By pete

NOS Alfa 101 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

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. SS instruction book sold for $400; looking for best offer over $500 by April 11. Click photo to see larger image. 1600 Giulia TI instruction book also available, good condition. Contact:vack@cox.net

*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 .

Tony Pompeo, Cisitalia, and the Colli Roselli Fiat

May 28, 2014 By pete

Dino Brunori is the author of “Nardi, a Fast Life“, and has often contributed articles to VeloceToday. He is one of the leading experts in Italian sports cars and owns one of the two remaining Roselli Colli Sport road versions. After he read last week’s article on the Roselli Colli, he added his considerable knowledge of how the car came to be, and why so many think it is a Cisitalia. Here is his report. [Ed.]

By Dino Brunori

Hi Pete, the article is very good. The funny thing is that both of you and the readers were right for opposite reasons. Plus, the real story is even more tantalizing.

The car is a Fiat Roselli with body built by Carrozzeria Colli.

Let me do a short recap of the story of Colli and the other actors named in the article for your readers because there are some mistakes. [Read more…] about Tony Pompeo, Cisitalia, and the Colli Roselli Fiat

Bodacious Bucciali Part 1: A Brief Moment in History

May 28, 2014 By pete

This is the first in a series of three articles on the Bucciali, which will include this brief history by Wallace Wyss and the VeloceToday staff. Next week Wyss writes of the American effort to create a Bucciali cover car, and the third part, by the Editor, will address the Dutch Bucciali ‘inspiration’ as envisioned by an amazing artist by the name of Bart de Vries, who generously gave us an exclusive interview. [Ed.]

By Wallace Wyss

In the Beginning there was Bucciali

The main impetus behind the Bucciali marque was Albert ‘Buc’ Bucciali, born in the city of Arras on the France in 1889, and was the second son to the musician and organ builder, Joseph Bucciali, who, most remarkably, was blind from childhood. Both Albert and his brother Angelo learned their father’s craft, and became talented craftsman as well as musicians. In an interview with Griff Borgeson, Albert Bucciali noted that organ building is “a remarkable school for learning the principles of physics and mechanics.” [Read more…] about Bodacious Bucciali Part 1: A Brief Moment in History