The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.
This week And How gives us a glimpse of Ol’ Yeller II at Goodwood on parade while E.T. Nagamatsu, ever the ambassador, meets the women who did such a wonderful job singing the classic tunes of the war years. Then Hugues Vanhoolandt captures some of the ambiance that surrounds the Goodwood Revival, and Jonathan Sharp focuses on a special OSCA shown at the Hampton Concours.
Artist Brian Hatton followed a colour photo of the 1928 9 CV for its hue.
By Karl Ludvigsen
The potential of the Claveau 7 CV Sport design was recognized by the magazine Omnia: ‘Sponsored by a big industry, this could well be a people’s car,’ it opined. Although lacking big-industry backing, Automobiles Claveau now at 22 Place de la Madeleine offered an attractive range of mid-engined cars in its handsome catalogue for the 1928 season. This was forecast by its showing at the 1927 Paris Salon, where a strikingly advanced closed version was displayed.
Entered by the Musee des 24 Heures du Mans, 1925 Lorraine-Dietrich B3/6 Sport Torpedo.
Photos by Jonathan Sharp
We continue with a selection of French and others that appeared this year at Hampton Court on September 1-3. Hampton Court is another British movable feast, and the proper name is the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. As Graham Gauld pointed out back in 2014, note the British use of the word ‘of’ rather than the French ‘de.’ Of course the event is not always held at Hampton Court, located on the side of the river Thames just under 12 miles southwest of the center of London. According to the official website, “The Concours of Elegance began at Windsor Castle in 2012, before moving to St James’s Palace in 2013, Hampton Court Palace in 2014, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh (Her Majesty The Queen’s official residence in Scotland) in 2015 before returning to Windsor Castle in 2016 and Hampton Court Palace in 2017.”
Side by side in the pits straight the 1938 Alfa Romeo 158 ‘Alfetta’ of Peter Greenfield and the 1948 Talbot-Lago Type 26C of Luc Brandts, respectively 8th and 17th in this race won by the 1937 Alta of Ian Baxter.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Although the Goodwood Revival celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, it still attracts many spectators and the show still lives up to expectations. The summer weather on the first two days added to the pleasure of taking part in this celebration of motorsport from the 1920s to the 1960s. The rain on Sunday afternoon made the RAC TT Celebration Race even more epic than usual, also unfortunately with some damaged cars. The slightest deviation in trajectory does not forgive at Goodwood, a circuit that remains in the old style, with few clearances or fences, and that is what makes the charm of this event. Alongside the races, the numerous parades and activities of all kinds satisfied visitors, even those who had little interest in motorsport. We will focus on a few major races, all still hotly contested at Goodwood.
Best of Show Award
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
September seems to have become Stately Home month, Blenheim Palace for Salon Prive, Hampton Court Palace for the Concours of Elegance,* and then the Goodwood for the Revival, though you could argue that the Revival is held on the estate rather than at the house.
The first Émile Claveau prototype, the 7 CV Sport, contrasts dramatically with its neighbors in the 1926 Paris Salon.
By Karl Ludvigsen
From 1924 Claveau began thinking through the design of an auto from first principles, guided as he was by the Discours of Descartes. On 5 September 1925 he lodged a patent on a suspension system that he pictured as applying to two vehicles, both open models and both teardrop-shaped in plan view. At that time French makers Cottin & Desgouttes and Sizaire-Naudin were leaders in deploying transverse leaf springs as a means of giving independent suspension.
The prettiest Maserati, the 1936 4CM as driven by Goffredo Zehender in period.
Story and photos by Graham Gauld
As is my wont I embarked on a five-hour drive from my new home in isolated Cornwall to Silverstone for the Classic. Last year I could leave the house in the south of France, drive an hour to Nice airport, wait an hour, fly to Luton airport, rent a car and drive to Silverstone in less time than my drive from Cornwall!
As usual my idea was to prowl the paddock, chat to people and come up with one or two interesting snippets for VeloceToday.
1959 Maserati 3500 GT Bertone coupe, owned by Jim Utaski, Skillman, NJ. I have never seen this before, even in a picture, another one-of-a kind example, quite striking.
Intro by Grant Black, Brisbane Australia
Walking along a narrow road by Carmel Bay, leading to the famous Pebble Beach golf course, two shadowy figures exchanged ‘Good Mornings’ in the misty pre-dawn light. This was my serendipitous meeting with your VeloceToday reporter, Brandes Elitch. [Read more…] about Elitch and Friends on the Green
My favorite entry.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Salon Prive events in the UK can be a bit confusing. The Bagley brothers, Andrew and David, now organize two events annually, both under the name of Salon Prive. The most recent of the two is the
With the launch of his 7 CV Sport in late 1926, Émile Claveau showed that the future could be fun if you were driving the right car.
One of the French Republic’s most talented engineers produced wave after wave of advanced automobiles. Yet both hands would probably suffice to count all the cars he built. Émile Claveau deserves recognition for his undaunted creativity.
By Karl Ludvigsen
French pioneers, among them Panhard et Levassor, de Dion and Renault, made France the early leader in the production of motors and the promotion of motoring. Soon the French were building bigger and faster cars to compete in road races from city to city. They established the first club for motorists, led the founding of the first international association of motoring clubs and organised the first Grand Prix race in 1906.
Delahaye 135 competition coupe is featured in Richard Adatto’s excellent new book, Figoni on Delahaye. This is the first Figoni aerodynamic coupe, from 1936. It appeared at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours. Brandes Elitch has much more below.
Story and photos by Brandes Elitch
This was the 72nd year of the Pebble Beach Concours. Yes, this is the ultimate Concours in the world. This is due to the enormous amount of time, energy and planning, that goes into making it happen, and the I would say incomparable pool of knowledge and talent of the organizers, entrants, judges, volunteers, sponsors, and employees of the Pebble Beach Company. The planning starts at least a year or two before the actual show, and it takes that much time to assemble the cast. Yes, there are other shows in the US and Europe with these characteristics, but none to this level or degree. That is the difference. [Read more…] about Pegaso and Figoni at Pebble Beach, 2023
By Pete Vack
Hollywood strikes again. Your friends will ask, was it really like this? You will be amused. Or you will not be amused. But it is coming. Deal with it.
Remember when Ford vs Ferrari came out? In those pre-pandemic days, seems like all of your friends and relatives went to see it in the theaters. Then they called or sent you a message or even visited you and asked you, you being the expert on all things foreign and Ferrari, a bunch of questions. Did you know Shelby, what was he like, or was he like Matt Damon, did Miles and Shelby really have a fight, was it really a close finish at Le Mans, why did Ferrari lose etcetera, etcetera.
Hollywood got it close to right and it was a great film. But Ferrari, the movie which will be in theaters around Christmas, is darker, with more conjecture, and like the book on which it is based, may be less accurate than one might wish. And more truthful and less comfortable. And will it hurt Ferrari’s image? [Read more…] about Here comes “Ferrari.” Are you ready?