VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Sidebar: The XNR and a Barn Hunter’s Dream Dashed

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The XNR in its full glory. The author long lusted after this car, figuring only he remembered it was pictured in ‘National Geographic’ magazine in Kuwait. Well, someone else obviously found it and restored it. Pebble Beach show program says the owner hails from Beirut. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.

By Wallace Wyss
Color Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Car hunters find their barn finds in various and sundry ways.

One of my ways is to commit to memory cars I see in magazines and file away mentally the last known location.
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Brandes Elitch on the Abarth 750 and Scorpion

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Abarth750 (inset), Pat Olsen with the 'Herbie' Scorpion Abarth. Large photo by Petya Elitch.

By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Petya Elitch

For the automotive enthusiast, there cannot be too many experiences like the Monterey Historics. The two Goodwood events might come close, but I draw a blank after that. I started attending in 1979, and I have never missed a year. For me, it’s just a three hour drive south, so as I see it, it would be negligent of me not to attend, right? Yet, even after all those years, the first few hours there are still a shock.

The most amazing cars are everywhere, on every street and in every driveway (the good citizens of Carmel-by-the-Cash-Register are happy to rent rooms in their homes for the visiting hordes). As my photographer/wife and I drove the detour through Seaside on our way to the Concorso, a small green car pulled up next to us at the light. She asked me what it was, and I turned to look at it. I started stammering, and she said, “What’s wrong?” I said, “Well, it looks like it looks like the Frazer Nash coupe that raced at LeMans in the 1950’s, but I’ve only seen it in photographs.” Here is a car that you could spend an hour looking at; the problem is that there is stuff like this everywhere! Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of activity, it is easy to see just the most outrageous and miss many other jewels that are not so obvious. In this column, I want to talk about two cars that you might have missed, but it would have been a shame if you did. They are Abarths.

Robert Strand's restored Abarth 750 Zagato. With all the right bits and pieces aside from a full leather interior. Photo by Pety Elitch.

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Monterey in Photos with Hugues Vanhoolandt

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Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

An Alfa Giulia TZ at the start of the Quail, a private event that marks the beginning of the festivities...


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This Week, of Interest

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VeloceToday is a bit late this week due to Hurricane Irene, which left us without a/c, power, Internet, telephone and water for several days, reminding us of what the 17th century Williamsburg was really like. Our thanks to the members of Dominion Power of Virginia, who have done wonders to restore service in record time.

Our many correspondents have also been working overtime to bring you the following stories this week:

Eric Davison wrote the Belgian Grand Prix report. Eric is a contributor to VeloceToday, the author of the recent book “Snake Bit: Carroll Shelby’s Controversial Series 1 Sports Car”, and as we’ll see later on, attended Watkins Glen in 1948 and recorded those early events with a color camera. That’s over 63 years of watching and reporting on races! Quite a guy.
Hugues Vanhoolandt attended the Belgian Grand Prix for VeloceToday and returned with stunning exclusive photos to accompany Eric’s text.

Brandes Elitch begins our coverage of Monterey week with a view of a Lancia Flaminia at Concorso Italiano. Two more to come from Brandes and next week, as well as much more from our other correspondents who covered Holy Week for us.

Roberto Motta brings us the latest Rally results from Germany with many great action shots, plus the news of the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider.

Alessandro Gerelli brings us his views of the Italians at the Oldtimers Grand Prix at the Nurburgring held in August.

Now, who could ask for anything more?

Ferrari Introduces the 458 Spider: In English and Italian

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Detail of the new Ferrari 458 Italia Spider....

By Roberto Motta
Photo media-Ferrari

On August 23, Ferrari officially released images of the new 458 Spider. The new car from Maranello, which will be presented at the next Frankfurt Motor Show (15-25 September), will enhance the range of Ferrari 8-cylinder rear-engined cars. Like the 458 Italia, the Spider is powered by a 4499 cc V8 engine that, thanks to direct injection power, is capable of delivering 570 hp. It was with this engine Ferrari won the International Engine of the Year Award of 2011, largely thanks to its drivability, performance and technical design choices.
[Read more…] about Ferrari Introduces the 458 Spider: In English and Italian

Brandes Elitch on Lancias at Concorso Italiano 2011

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The first of three featured cars selected from Concorso Italiano is this Lancia Flaminia Berlina. It was one of Batista Pininfarina's favorite designs; simple, elegant, refined and very attractive. Photo by Petya Elitch.

By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Petya Elitch

Last year I wrote a historical retrospective of the Concorso, which you can find at (click here). This is a large show – about 850 cars were displayed this year. Even in Italy, you wouldn’t get close to a thousand collector cars in one venue. If you are an Italian car collector (and if not, why are you reading this?) the Concorso should be on your list of things to do before you are permanently flagged off the course, so to speak. I would like to feature three cars which I found compelling, a purely arbitrary selection, and give you an overview of the event.
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Belgian Grand Prix 2011

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Back on track: Sebastian Vettel does it again for Red Bull. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.

By Eric Davison
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt for VeloceToday

The event at Spa held no major surprises in that the Red Bull duo of Vettel and Webber made short shrift of the competition. Although Webber made what has become a normal start for him and faltered, losing about five positions while Nico Rosberg surprised everyone by rocketing past Vettel into a lead that didn’t last.
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Rally Germany 2011 In English and Italian

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Ogier on the way to winning the German WRC.

Ogier wins, Loeb re-ups and the Mini gets a Podium

Complete results and Italian version below

Additional photo story.

By Roberto Motta
Photos courtesy of Citroën Communication, Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, Ford Motor Company, BMW Press, ADAC Rallye Deutschland-Media

The Rally of Germany began with the news that Citroën fans were waiting for: the signing of the agreement between the Citroën and Sebastien Loeb for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The news was announced as Loeb is once again leading the standings with a chance to win his eighth consecutive title. But the Rally of Germany ended with a victory won not by Loeb but his teammate Sebastien Ogier.
[Read more…] about Rally Germany 2011 In English and Italian

VeloceToday Contest Winners, Prizes, and Answers

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6/22 Barry Morgan:“McQueen’s Machines.” IMRRC Raffle Tickets
6/29 Virgil Taylor: Wyss Artwork. 1964 Series II Ferrari GTO
7/6 Paul Jewell: Wilson “Giulietta Book.” Mascherina is the grille.
7/13 Gérard Gaud:“Nardi, a fast life.” Car in photo was a 1936 Morettini.
7/20 Richard Diver: Pena Rhin art. Four French Ferrari drivers retired in the race.
7/27 Rick Stephenson:“Rendezvous 458 Italia” poster. Ideas to improve VT.
8/3 Robert Rose: Schumacher print. Linda Christian last kissed Portago and was in “Tarzan and the mermaid”.
8/10 Kevin O’Malley: “The Art of the Poster”. Hank Ketcham was a resident, designed posters and a judge.
8/17 Ted Sechowicz: “Ferrari 250 GTO” GTOs have four Dzus on the nose and one for the oil filler flap located in the passenger side c-pillar.”
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Below, a summer re-run. We hope to be back with much much more next week, weather and hurricane Irene permitting.

Ferrari GTO S/N 3987

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Stephen Mitchell recalls his youth in California during the 60s and his GTO.

Filmmaker Stephen Mitchell recently wrote “Rendezvous Redux” for VeloceToday. Below, for the first time, is the full story behind Stephen Mitchell, the amazing YouTube videos and GTO 3987. And whether you view the two film clips before or after reading the article make sure you do and watch them all the way through. You will be amazed. Trust me.

GTOs at Willow Springs

The Great Putdown

In early 1964, Car and Driver’s Editor David E. Davis thought it would be a great idea to compare the new Pontiac GTO with a real Ferrari GTO, and bet the March cover on it. Came the big day and a Ferrari GTO couldn’t be found. Uh-oh.
[Read more…] about Ferrari GTO S/N 3987

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