VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Michael T. Lynch at Pebble Beach 2013

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One of the things that make the Pebble Beach Concours unique is its special displays. The organizers are able to present exhibitions of exotica no other event can manage. One of them was a group of cars bodied by Carrosserie Vanvooren. Founded by Achille Vanvooren in suburban Paris in 1910, the firm was taken over in 1919 by Marius Daste, who guided it through its golden era of the 20s and 30s when it became known for its high quality work on luxury marques, especially Bugatti, Delage, Rolls/Bentley and Hispano Suiza. The French arm of the last company was not far from the Vanvrooen atelier. The magnificent H-S seen here is a J12 Vanvooren Cabriolet entered by Robert M. Lee. Note the sophisticated shape that belies the size of the car and the contrasting coachlines that stand in relief from the remainder of the body. Five of the eight entries in the class were Hispano-Suizas. Credit MTL

By Michael T. Lynch [Read more…] about Michael T. Lynch at Pebble Beach 2013

CMC Shannons Sydney Classics, August 18th

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Monterey antidote; Shannons Sydney Classic presented a little of everything. Virtually unknown in the U.S. is the Renault Fregate.

By Chris Martin

Sunday August 18th 2013

The Council of Motor Clubs (NSW) is an organization that represents 160 affiliated clubs in dealing with government legislation and the registration authority, and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. I guess they didn’t have a show the first year as this was the 49th annual CMC Classic. Held at Sydney MotorSport Park – formerly known as Eastern Creek Raceway and supported by Shannons Insurance, this annual event has grown to where it now has close to 2,000 vehicles on display, from all classes of the hobby; so it is normal to find a Mustang or Messerschmitt, a Lambretta, a Lamborghini or a London double-decker bus, veterans and moderns all mixed in around the park. [Read more…] about CMC Shannons Sydney Classics, August 18th

Hugues Vanhoolandt at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca

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Start of the open seater race with Maseratis 4CL and 250 F leading the field.

Photos and Captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Hugues Vanhoolandt captures the cars at Rolex Reunion at the Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway. [Read more…] about Hugues Vanhoolandt at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca

One Man’s Monterey, 2013

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Fiat Otto Vu s/n 000051 was one of two similar Vignale bodied V-8 Fiats and was seen at the Quail. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.

By Wallace Wyss
Photos by Author unless otherwise noted

Dear Editor,

Automobilia was the first event I rolled into, which starts Tuesday morning of “car week” and is held in the Embassy Suites hotel in Seaside. This event has at least 30 vendors and they all bring their specialties. Some bring out of print books (I was shocked when the vendor next to my booth told me he sold three books for over $1400 each!). Some bring older posters both pre-war and post-war; there was a vendor from England with original photographs that he was proud to say “weren’t digital.” A few sell car bits, like the fellow next to me selling Rolls Royce radiator ornaments.

And then some were selling clothes that were either copying old pre-war racing clothing or in the spirit of sports car clothing. I had my own booth vending the brand spanking new Incredible Barn Finds and was pleased when, on the second day of the event, I met people who’d bought one the first day and were enthusiastic to finish it.

Go ahead, make my day. Wyss gets the nod from Leno.

[Read more…] about One Man’s Monterey, 2013

Briggs Cunningham Book at Lime Rock on Labor Day

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One hundred copies of latest 800 page, two-volume book from Dalton Watson, Briggs Cunningham, The Passion, The Cars, The Legacy, by Richard Harman will be available for sale at Lime Rock, during the Cunningham event on September 1, 2013. Take home a treasure!

Our Features This Week, August 29, 2013

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LAST CHANCE to enter the drawing for the Maserati A6G-2000 Zagato book! Next month, our drawing will be for The Maserati 300S by Walter Bäumer.

Attention PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS!
Win Maserati A6G 2000 Zagato
by Walter Bäumer, a $155 USD value!

If you are NOT a Premium Subscriber, click
here to subscribe and become eligible to win.

To enter, simply send an email to me at vack@cox.net with your name and address.
Drawing will be held on August 31st.
Book is provided by Dalton Watson Fine Books.

Hugues Vanhoolandt at Pebble Beach

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This Lincoln Indianapolis Boano coupe was ordered by Lincoln for the 1955 Turin Motor Show before being used by Henry Ford II himself.

Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

For the 63rd year running, the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was a reunion of the crème de la crème of the classic automobile world.
This year’s edition celebrated among others the 50th anniversary of both Lamborghini and the Porsche 911, the Lincoln and Simplex brands, and the French coachbuilder Vanvooren.
[Read more…] about Hugues Vanhoolandt at Pebble Beach

Maurice Gatsonides: Rally Driver, Race Driver, Manufacturer, Boss Part 2

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Gatsonides behind the steering wheel of the Gatso Aero Coupé with his wife Siska.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk
Photos courtesy Gatsonides family and Gatsometer BV

Read Part 1

Financial problems forced Gatso to sell his garage in Heemstede and abandon his ambitions as a car manufacturer. But, after I quit working for him, we met again on a great number of occasions.

This large convertible does not resemble any of the other Gatso cars. Officially called the Gatso 4000 Luxe, this unique model was built in 1950 on special order for a Dutch doctor in The Hague. It was based on a long-wheelbase Mercury chassis and equipped with a 4 liter Mercury engine, developing 110 bhp. But it was very luxuriously finished and even had an electrically operated folding roof.

[Read more…] about Maurice Gatsonides: Rally Driver, Race Driver, Manufacturer, Boss Part 2

Brandes Elitch at Concorso Italiano

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When you said that your Lamborghini could pull like a tractor, I had no idea....

Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Petya Elitch

If you have never attended the Monterey Car Week then you need to know that there are two basic rules: you can’t see everything, so don’t try, and – as we used to say in the Army – “Move with a purpose.”

There are years when I have skipped the races at Laguna Seca, and I stopped going to Pebble Beach after twenty plus years of regular attendance. But one event I don’t miss is the Concorso Italiano – the largest Italian car show in the world.

Let me point out why this is not happening in Italy. [Read more…] about Brandes Elitch at Concorso Italiano

Our Features This Week, August 15 2013

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Note: There will be NO VeloceToday on August 22nd. We will return to our normal schedule on August 29th.

Premium Subscribers, please send us your name and address if you would like to be included in the drawing on August 30 for the Maserati Zagato book.

Processing for VeloceToday Select Orders for “Barn Find Alfa” and “Cuban Grand Prix, 1957” may be delayed a few days.

Maurice Gatsonides: Rally driver, Race driver, Manufacturer, Boss Part 1

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Maurice Gatsonides; race driver (1953 Nurburgring), rally driver (outright winner, 1953 Monte Carlo Rally), sports car manufacturer (Gatso, Gatford), and successful inventor, (electronic speed traps) was a tour d’force, yet little is known about this fascinating man. In a stroke of luck, in conversations with our correspondent Gijsbert-Paul Berk, it was revealed to the Editor that Berk once called Gatsonides his boss. Do tell more, we asked. Thusly, here is Berk’s personal memoires of the multi-talented Dutch carmaker and a photo history of the man and the cars.

By Gijsbert-Paul Berk
Photos courtesy Gatsonides family and Gatsometer BV

At the Dutch Institute for Automobile Management where I studied in 1948, it was a tradition that each autumn a group of students had to organize a TSD rally for students, parents and special guests. One of these guests was Mr. Maurice Gatsonides, a well-known Dutch rally driver and the builder of the Gatso sports car.
[Read more…] about Maurice Gatsonides: Rally driver, Race driver, Manufacturer, Boss Part 1

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