VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

The Lancia Flavia Zagato

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This immaculate Flavia Zagato was on Flickr, for sale in 2008. Credit Chill in Zonda.

A Close Encounter of the Third Kind

By Pete Vack

The brothers Zagato didn’t have a great deal of luck with Lancias.

The Appia Zagato was always too long and too little. Although somewhat successful in the Italian 1100cc events, the street version was underpowered and overwheelbased, and the 1100cc engine strained at anything like racing speeds. From the front it was attractive, but the side view and rear view failed to delight. From the same era, the Abarth, Alfa and the Bandini Zagatos (only one built), were far more pleasing to the eye.
[Read more…] about The Lancia Flavia Zagato

Ferrari Grand Am Flies at Daytona: In English and Italian

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By Roberto Motta Photos courtesy and copyright GRAND-AM/Brian Cleary

As we reported last week, the new Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am would be tested at Daytona. The results were a positive debut for Italy 458 Grand Am, concluded after two days of testing at Daytona International Speedway’s track in Florida.
[Read more…] about Ferrari Grand Am Flies at Daytona: In English and Italian

This Week, of Interest: Win a Signed Schumacher Print

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Contest: Win a Ferrari F1 print signed by Michael Schumacher
Morry Barmak at Collector’s Studio in Toronto, Canada, has donated this 8.5×11.5 print of the Ferrari F2005 as driven by Michael Schumacher and signed by the seven time world champion. (See the new arrivals at Collector’s Studio.)

To Win: Answer these questions in an email address to pete@velocetoday.com by 12 noon EDT Friday August 5th 2011. Entrants with complete answers will be then drawn from a hat.

The famous womanizer Marquis de Portago was last kissed by who, when, where, and in what Tarzan movie did his last lover appear?

Last week’s winner of the Pena Rin poster was Richard Diver from Canada.

We also want to remind our readers of Automobilia Monterey 2011

The 9th Annual presentation of the serious collector’s “Candy Store”, with the only opportunity during Concours/Vintage Race Week to see these 40+ selected international dealers in a single venue!
Show hours as follows:
Tuesday, August 16, 2011: opens at 10am and closes at 6pm
Wednesday, August 17, 2011: opens at 10am and closes at 7pm

Located, as always, at:
The Embassy Suites, Seaside, CA
US 1 & Route 218, just north of 68 [Salinas-Monterey Highway]

Admission & Silent Auction, benefiting The Monterey Rape Crisis Center: Single day $15 ~ Two-day $20

For Questions: tony@automobiliamonterey.com

New Spada Codatronca Monza In English and Italiano

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Spada Codatronca Monza was recently introduced at the Monza circuit.

By Roberto Motta, photos by Aznom
Scroll down for Italian text and more images

On July 11 2011 at the legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza, the new Spada Codatronca Monza was presented to the press.

Paolo and Ercole Spada (of Zagato fame) as well as Domiziano Boschi are responsible for the design of the Codatronca (truncated tail—remember the Alfa Romeo SZs?) requested by Aznom, a company that specializes in the world of luxury and is also a corporate partner in Spadavetturesport.
[Read more…] about New Spada Codatronca Monza In English and Italiano

Ferrari FF Design Critique

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By Wallace Wyss
Rear photo courtesy Ferrari Media

OK they don’t call it a “shooting brake” but…

At the Geneva Motor Show, Pininfarina introduced the new FF, which they call “the fastest and most versatile four-seater in Ferrari’s history,” and also proclaim it as the brand’s first four-wheel drive model.

Designed by Pininfarina in cooperation with the Ferrari Style Centre, they claim that “the car’s forms and volumes achieve perfect harmony between the car’s sporty spirit and its extraordinary versatility.”

[Read more…] about Ferrari FF Design Critique

Rally Finland 2011 In English and Italian

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Loeb and Citroen

By Roberto Motta

Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, Ford Motor Company, and Media Citroen WRC Neste Oil Rally Finland.

Sebastien Loeb won the Rally of Finland, increasing his lead in the championship rally. The Citroen driver dominated the rally, remaining in command right from Shakedown, but also managed to resist the final challenge of the Ford WRC of Jari-Matti Latvala. With this victory, and with only five more events to be run, we can safely say that the World Rally Championship is being tinted in the red, white and blue of the French flag. [Read more…] about Rally Finland 2011 In English and Italian

Hungarian Grand Prix 2011

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Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso

By Pete Vack

Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

Pirelli Wins

Like most of the F1 events this year, Hungary was a race of tires, or choices thereof. Give a team enough choices and fifty percent of the time they will screw it up. For McLaren, it was German GP winner Hamilton whose handlers opted for the wrong options. Also for McLaren, it was Jenson Button’s team who got the combination right and went on to win. Simple as that. Hamilton had to settle for fourth after a drive-through penalty.
[Read more…] about Hungarian Grand Prix 2011

This Week, of Interest: Win Rendezvous Art

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Contest: Win a Rendezvous Poster
Artist Chad Glass, along with filmmaker Stephen Mitchell, got together to envision what a modern version of the famous “Rendezvous” video would entail. Instead of a Mercedes, it would be more fun to do the dash across Paris in a Ferrari 458 Italia. (Read story) Chad is offering an 18 x 24 inch print of this image to our contest winner.

To Win: Easy! VeloceToday would like your opinion. Answer these questions in an email address to pete@velocetoday.com by 12 noon EDT Friday July 29th 2011. Entrants with complete answers will be then drawn from a hat.
1. What do you like best about VeloceToday?
2. What do you like least about VeloceToday?
3. What can we do to improve VeloceToday?

Last week’s winner was Richard Diver from Canada. Thanks to all who entered.

Next week, August 3rd, enter our contest to win a Ferrari F1 photo signed by Michael Schumacher. This week, scroll down for five new articles.

(Vignale) Ferrari Beaters

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A personal account by Eric Davison
With thanks to Marcel Massini and Richard F. Merritt

The recent story by Wallace Wyss about Ferrari ‘beaters’ (The Joy of Beater Ferraris) brought back a memory about a time when there were even Vignale Ferraris that were beaters, although that pejorative had not yet been used in conjunction with automobiles.

Unlike today when the name Ferrari evokes dollar signs and the older the Ferrari the more dollar signs, in the late 50s and early 60s an old Ferrari sports racing car was just a tired old piece of outdated aluminum that had outlived its competitive life having been surpassed by the latest model.

0332MM in the early 1990s after a complete restoration. Car in lead image above is not 0332MM. Photo courtesy Marcel Massini

But, there were people who had an inkling of what was to come. One such man was a gentleman named Herb Armstrong. Herb was employed by Chrysler International and was headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. [Read more…] about (Vignale) Ferrari Beaters

24 Karat Ferrari GTO Art to be Unveiled at Pebble Beach

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Dante Rubli is an internationally known artist who has been creating unique works of art for twenty five years. Based in Bern, Switzerland, Dante uses such diverse materials as wood, steel, gold, and platinum for his custom furniture, and now, automobiles. [Read more…] about 24 Karat Ferrari GTO Art to be Unveiled at Pebble Beach

Ferrari 458 Grand Am Italia in English and Italian

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By Roberto Motta
Photos: Ferrari Media

After the GT2, GT3 and Challenge versions of the 458, on 18 July, at the Fiorano circuit, debuted the Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am, a model name one is more likely to remember, if in fact it becomes official nomenclature.

Based on the GT3 version of the Italia and destined for the U.S. Grand Am North American series, it was built in collaboration with Michelotto Cars of Padua, Italy,
[Read more…] about Ferrari 458 Grand Am Italia in English and Italian

German Grand Prix; VeloceToday Rates the Drivers

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Fernando Alonso

By Pete Vack

Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

Ferrari loses in pit lane—not once but twice.
Almost eliminating all the recent gains made with the Italia, Ferrari managed to make a mess out of the German Grand Prix by twice losing the pit race. [Read more…] about German Grand Prix; VeloceToday Rates the Drivers

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