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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Talbot Lago Awarded Top Honors at Het Loo 2012

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Talbot Lago T150-C-SS “Teardrop” s/n 90109

Best of Show went to the Talbot Lago T150-C-SS “Teardrop” s/n 90109.

By Hugues Vanhoolandt

Every two years, the lawns of Paleis Het Loo in the Netherlands host a Concours d’élégance.
Despite the awful weather on Sunday, with heavy rain throughout the day, the event saw a strong showing of classics from the native country but also from the neighbouring countries such as Belgium, Germany and even from Italy.

Best of Show was awarded to the Talbot Lago T150-C-SS “Teardrop” owned by Evert Louwman, who runs the Louwman Museum, in Den Haag, near Amsterdam, which is the world’s oldest private collection of motor cars.

Bugatti Type 13.

100 years old and still running, a Bugatti Type 13.

288 GTO Evoluzione and the 575 GTC.

GT competition by Ferrari : In the truck one of the three 308GT/Ms by Michelotto and the 575 GTC.

The master on which the panels of aluminum were modelled for the 250GT.

Every respectable concours now has its Preservation class, which welcomes this Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 by Touring.

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The Constant Search Part II

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By Brandes Elitch

In the first half of this article, I discussed the early days of automotive literature. Back in the fifties and sixties, there was a dearth of books on automotive subjects. There were some iconic books that most people had on their bookshelves: Ken Purdy’s “Kings of the Road” would have to top that list. But the best automotive writers typically wrote magazine articles, not books. This changed, fortunately, and now it is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of newly published books. In this column, I will try to give you something to think about on this subject.

I was going to try to start with a “top ten” list of automotive books that everyone should have in their collection. Then, I read this wonderful quote from Ken Shubert, published in the Wild About Cars website (www.wildaboutcars.com). “We are not in this for the same reason. Sure, we all have “old cars” in common, but what we’re in it for starts to take different direction right from the start. We come from different walks of life. We have varying amounts of time, money, and energy. We have different ideas of what we want to do. We have different priorities. We have different skill levels. We like different eras, different makes, colors, options. Diversity is a good thing. What if we all wanted the same car, year, model, etc.?”

Diverse subjects but excellent topics and top notch authors...

So, there is no magic Top Ten list. You could focus on individual marques (hopefully, ones that are in your garage), racing, engineering, repair and restoration, racecar driver biographies and circuit/race histories, industry analysis, domestic v. foreign, not to mention the triumvirate that seem to dominate bookstores these days: of NASCAR, Harleys, and hot rods (no comment). If you asked a Brit, he would come up with names like Anthony Blight, William Boddy, Doug Nye, William Court Chris Nixon, and Jeremy Walton. A Frenchman or Italian would have different names. It’s a big world, car collecting.

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European Grand Prix 2012: Proper Attire

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Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

Alonso and team manages tires to win Grand Prix of Europe

Valencia, Spain, June 24 2012
What Pirelli taketh away, Pirelli giveth. Last Sunday in Spain, on lap 35 Fernando Alonso took the lead from a confident Sebastian Vettel, whose Red Bull mysteriously stopped on the course. [Read more…] about European Grand Prix 2012: Proper Attire

Rally New Zealand in English and Italian

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By Roberto Motta

Photos courtesy of Citroën and Ford World Rally Team Communication.

Sebastien Loeb won the Brother Rally New Zealand and concluded the first half of the season with a distinct advantage over team-mate Hirvonen. With the win in New Zealand, Loeb took his third consecutive victory and was thus awarded even more valuable points in the standings. He can now begin to think more seriously about winning the Championship.
[Read more…] about Rally New Zealand in English and Italian

Our Features This Week, June 20th 2012

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Alfasud Extravaganza!

Six articles on the Alfasud; TI Trofeo in English and Italian by Roberto Motta, two original brochures, a full history of the models and eight things the Editor forgot about the Sud. Plus Brandes Elitch on car magazines and Philippe Defechereux on Red Bull and Vettel in New Jersey. Enjoy and Subscribe!

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The Constant Search, Part 1

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By Brandes Elitch

Collecting Automotive Books and Literature

In 1982, a British book dealer named Charles Mortimer published a book called The Constant Search, Collecting Motoring and Motorcycling Books. Mortimer started his business during WWII, and spent half a century doing research for this book. At the time, he believed he had chronicled, in 40 different categories, everything published to that date on this subject. In addition to this bibliography, he included chapters on how to start a collection, whether to specialize or not, and how to store and display printed material. Mortimer started at the dawn of the automotive age, so this was an ambitious project. Today, I wonder if it would even be possible to chronicle all the published material on this subject in just the last 30 years. There weren’t a lot of new books about what we call “automobilia” in the sixties and seventies, but starting perhaps 20 years ago there has been a veritable explosion in published material. In this brief article, I would like to touch on some interesting aspects of automotive journalism and book collecting for the car enthusiast. My sense is that almost every car collector has also built up a book, periodical, manual, and literature collection, at least that has been my experience. [Read more…] about The Constant Search, Part 1

Manhattan Skyline unites all in favor of New Jersey “Grand Prix of America” Formula 1 Race in 2013

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Strategic placement: You feel you’re in New Jersey and New York all at once!

By Philippe Defechereux
Photos courtesy Maria Jannace of Maxim Sports Management, Inc. unless othewise noted

It was a glorious June Monday ceilinged by a cloudless blue sky; perfect for a first ride from Manhattan’s West 39th Street US Waterway Ferry Terminal to its counterpart across the river at Port Imperial. The pleasant eight-minute trip took us to the official press presentation of the developing Grand Prix of America site, starring the promoters, local elected official and, most important, Sebastian Vettel – due to drive several preview laps on the actual street course, then share his impressions.
[Read more…] about Manhattan Skyline unites all in favor of New Jersey “Grand Prix of America” Formula 1 Race in 2013

Alfasud TI Trofeo in English

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Photos by: Roberto Motta, “Alfa Romeo Automobilismo Storico, Centro Documentazione (Arese, Milano)” and Carrozzeria Cristallo di Castelnovo Vicentino

The Alfasud still divides fans into two categories: the admirers and detractors. The first recall the unique engine, advanced suspension, driving pleasure and exuberant performance. For all of its faults, the new Alfasud was a brilliant design and always fun to drive. But many others objected to the dramatic changes that were reflected by the coming of the Alfasud: a new factory in Naples, (in the Mezzogiorno!) a new chief engineer (Viennese Rudolfo Hruska) and a completely different engineering and marketing philosophy (an inexpensive front wheel drive sedan).

And yet it was with the humble Alfasud that Alfa Romeo would establish a new “Trofeo” (Trophy) series which would bring it attention while serving as training class for new drivers. In 1976, the world of sports cars and sedans was going through a period of great change due to the emergence of new categories and the introduction of new technical regulations. Not only new classes, but complete series of challenge events based on low cost sedans including the Renault Elf Cup, which hosted the Renault R5, and Ford Escort Mexico Challenge. Alfa Romeo’s Alfasud would be a perfect subject for such a series of races. The Alfasud had been introduced in 1973 with a 73 hp 1186 cc SOHC flat four, and a year later the Alfasud TI (for Touring International) was on the market with 79 hp (SAE) and a five speed transmission. The TI would provide the basis for the Alfasud TI Trofeo.
[Read more…] about Alfasud TI Trofeo in English

Alfasud TI Trofeo In Italian

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IL BISCIONE METTE I MUSCOLI
Testo di Roberto Motta
Foto di: Roberto Motta, “Alfa Romeo Automobilismo Storico, Centro Documentazione (Arese, Milano)” e Archivio Carrozzeria Cristallo

L’Alfasud ti Trofeo divide ancora gli appassionati in due categorie: gli ammiratori e i denigratori. I primi ne ricordano la grinta, la piacevolezza di guida e le prestazioni esuberanti. Gli altri non possono perdonarle di essere il frutto del ‘tradimento’ compiuto dalla Casa milanese nei confronti delle tradizioni e dei canoni tecnici Alfa Romeo.

Nel ‘76, lo sport automobilistico italiano vive un periodo di grandi cambiamenti dovuti alla nascita di nuove categorie e all’introduzione di nuovi regolamenti tecnici. E’ un periodo in cui il panorama motoristico ‘minore’ vive un momento eccezionale grazie alla nascita di numerosi trofei monomarca fra i quali ricordiamo la Coppa Renault Elf, disputata dalle R5, ed il Challange Ford Escort Mexico. Campionati decisamente spettacolari che vivono all’insegna del massimo agonismo e della relativa economicità di gestione.

Sull’onda del successo ottenuto nei vari trofei monomarca e nel primo campionato austriaco riservato esclusivamente a vetture Alfa Romeo Alfasud (ideato dall’ex pilota Ortner), i responsabili dell’Alfa Romeo decidono di rafforzare l’immagine sportiva della Casa e della vettura prodotta a Pomigliano d’Arco, varando il primo ‘Trofeo Alfasud’, trofeo che verrà disputato in Italia e nella vicina Austria.
[Read more…] about Alfasud TI Trofeo In Italian

The Alfasud Story, U.K. Style

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alfasud

Early 1.3 model, note the small rear lights. Nearly all 1.3's have gone from British roads now.

Story and Photos by Hugh Doran

The Alfasud, virtually unknown in the U.S., was very popular in Great Britain and today is considered an up and coming classic. Our thanks to Hugh Doran who originally sent this story to us in 2006.

We here in Great Britain heard a lot about the north-south divide back in the late 1970s and early 80s, only no one ever seemed to state exactly where the border between the two was. You could be forgiven for thinking that the south had all the yuppies and the north of Britain was unemployed. Thus most people in the south considered it to be “grim up north”. Things are different these days.

Italy too, had a north-south divide. The only difference was that it was the north that was industrialized and rich and “Il relativo giù del sud torvo” – it was grim down south. The Italian government wanted to readdress the balance some what and came up with a scheme whereby companies would be given grants to set up in the south. Now, at the time Alfa Romeo, was still partly a state owned company so they were more or less obliged to do something in the south.

It just so happened that the company owned some land at Pomigliano d’Arco on the outskirts of Naples, where they manufactured aero engines. But what the company really wanted to do in Naples was manufacture cars. The matter in question was should they move one of the existing assembly lines south, and if so which one, or should they build a completely new product. The decision was taken to start from scratch with a new car. A car that would be known as the Alfasud – Alfa south.
[Read more…] about The Alfasud Story, U.K. Style

Eight Things About the Alfasud I Didn’t Know (or Forgot)

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Once upon a time for a brief and shining moment, the editor owned the only Alfasud in the U.S., as they were illegal aliens here. But while he remembers the car very well, there are a few things he had long forgotten or simply never knew about the Alfa from Naples…

By Pete Vack

1. How to adjust the valves. Since the 1930s, Alfa Romeo has had only a few different ways to adjust the valve lash. The first was Jano’s unique but complex notch type method. The Giulietta featured removable inserts under the cup which came in a variety of thicknesses.
But the Alfasud had a handy way of adjusting the valve clearances. The camshaft had two lobes per valve, and one could insert a special tool between the cam lobes to reach an adjustable cups located on the top of the valve. Not having to remove the cams to adjust the valves was a nice feature.

Valve Adjustment on the Alfasud.


[Read more…] about Eight Things About the Alfasud I Didn’t Know (or Forgot)

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