The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
By Pete Vack
All photos courtesy Erik Verhaest
After a few days of enjoyable email discussion about his postcard collection and helping to identify some cars in the gorgeous locations, Erik Verhaest, aka “M.carpedi”, reflected a bit on the fun we had guessing the cars. “What a wonderful hobby!” he said. We couldn’t have agreed more. Now we hope our readers will share the experience with us.
[Read more…] about The PostCARd Always Rings Twice
That's 103 miles done in ONE Hour at Brooklands. Ian Polson poses with the recreation of Percy Lanbert's Talbot.
Story and Color Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Saturday February 15, 1913 had dawned misty, not ideal conditions to attempt to set a record to drive a car for 100 miles in an hour. Not 100 miles per hour; that had already been done. But this record was to drive a car 100 miles in distance in one hour.
The scene of this attempt was the Brooklands motor racing circuit in Weybridge Surrey England. The creation of Mr. Hugh Locke King, a wealthy land owner, this huge banked speedway was opened in 1907 and was the ideal location for such record attempts. By 1908 the record already stood at 85 miles in the hour. In 1912 the record had been pushed to 97.59 miles in the hour. This was achieved by the French driver Victor Hemery driving his 15 liter Lorraine Dietrich.
[Read more…] about STD Celebrates One Hour at 100 MPH, 100 Years Ago
Carnevale, Adelaide South Australia, 9 – 10 February 2013
Story and Photos by Vince Johnson
February in South Australia is high summer and the weather was perfect for this year’s ‘Carnevale’. Held at the Adelaide Showgrounds, south of the parkland which circles the state capital, the indoor pavilions and outside plazas were transformed into ‘Little Italy’ piazzas for the weekend. Traditional Italian culture, food, music, fashion parades and exhibitions set the scene for the Motor Show.
[Read more…] about Carnevale, Adelaide South Australia, February, 9 2013
Talbot Lago T150C (1936) estimate was 1200-1800k €: sold for € 1462000.
Photos and Captions by Alessandro Gerelli
The success of Retromobile 2013, with a record presence of more than 80000 visitors in five days meant a good day for Artcurial Auctions, with more than 90% of the lots sold and a total of sales of more than 14,5 million euros. The top price was bid for the Talbot Lago T150C of 1936 which sold for about 1.5 million euros including premium and taxes. Here are the cars of interest to VeloceToday readers.
[Read more…] about Artcurial Auction at Retro by Alessandro Gerelli
This week we are very happy to present the first of our series of postcards from the mcarpedi Collection. The man behind the collection is Erik Verhaest from France. We asked him to tell us about the above postcard, which is one of his favorites. Verhaest delights in the details. The location is Tougues par Chens (Haute Savoie), Hôtel Ecaille d’Argent. “Every postcard tells a story, some more than others. I liked the Alfa and the Citroën in the same photo, but looking closer, you discover that the Citroën DS (1956/57) has a ‘CC’ license plate, ‘Corps Consulaire’? Could it be the Italian consul with his body guards in the Alfa? The people on the terrace are ladies with nice hats and men with military caps. I can smell their food 60 years later. The hotel still exists. One day I will go there with the postcard and ask for a plate of spaghetti!” Click card to go to mcarpedi.com.
The star of Retromobile this year was the Citroën DS, presented at the Paris Show in 1955. Nothing like this had ever been seen before.
Photos and Captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt
[Read more…] about French Cars at Retro by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Europe is finally beginning to see an influx of the Abarth Allemanos.
Story and photos by Graham Gauld
It’s the first week of February, and to many that means Retromobile in Paris. This large motoring extravaganza is the meeting place of those who are in the know and looking for customers for their cars, as well as those who are there to drink in a truly diverse collection of cars, memorabilia and artifacts that never fail to produce some surprising items.
I tend to overlook the big historic car dealer stands with the major items that are generally covered in depth by most of the historic rags. I tend to look in the corners and on some of the smaller stands where you can find some really interesting stuff.
The Bertone-bodied Stanguellini berlinetta.
I have known the Stanguellini family for over fifty years, but this was the first occasion I have seen one of the 1100cc Fiat-engined berlinettas produced in the early 1950s. They were built as a short run of cars aimed at racing, with beautifully styled coachwork by Nuccio Bertone. As you can see from the photo it was very stylish for 1951 and at the Coppa Inter Europa that year, four of them took part, Manzini’s car finishing 8th in the 1100cc class. The one on show was on the Belgian Marreyt Classics stand with a price tag a shade over $180,000.
You had a choice of Cisitalia 202SC cabriolets on offer at Retromobile. This one was the Marryet car finished in blue/grey...
Maserati 250 F s/n 2521 wears the colors of the Monaco principality. This car, driven by the local André Testut, failed to qualify at the 1958 Monaco GP.
Photos and captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt
[Read more…] about Italian Cars at Retro by Hugues Vanhoolandt
This 1954 Traction Avant was found in Australia by the late Gary Byrd.
By Wallace Wyss
Picture the scene: it’s pitch dark, you’re down by the Seine on a foggy night. A guy in a trenchcoat lights a cigarette, and in the flare of the flame you see a woman in a full length black coat and red beret aiming a pistol at him…
[Read more…] about A Citroën Right Hook
Your Editor and his wife Mary celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary last weekend and found this fading photo hidden in the pages of an old book. The photo dates from 1969, shortly before we were married. The Alfa was but one of many; Mary was the one and only.
