The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
The Start
By Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
Sebastian Vettel’s number one on the nose of his Red Bull led the way in the season opener as the German took the momentum of winning the championship and converted the first pole into the first win. The Red Bull is quick out of the box; the question will be how long can they hold their advantage over the rest of the field.
[Read more…] about Australian Grand Prix, 2011
Surprisingly SPEED’s Formula 1 anchor Bob Varsha was never a car enthusiast, race car driver, designer, engineer or mechanic: he graduated from law school and his first love was cross country running. Yet for over 20 years Varsha has reported on our favorite sport with great enthusiasm, in-depth knowledge and professionalism far above par. Unflappable, with a magnetic memory and smooth, even, assured delivery, he is an anchor’s anchor, rising above the noise and screams and conjecture whether at BJ Auctions or a Formula 1 race. It would be hard to imagine watching a Formula 1 event without Varsha at the helm.
[Read more…] about VeloceToday Interview: SPEED’s Bob Varsha, Part I
Not the greatest maiden race, but promising. Melo behind the helmet.
By Roberto Motta
Photos: Ferrari-Media
March 19-20, Sebring, Florida
The Sebring 12 Hours started the season of the American Le Mans Series and the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Making their international debut was the Houston’s Risi Competizione 458 Italia GT2 and the Tequila Patron 458 Italia GT2. The Risi 458 was closely observed by Ferrari managing director, Amedeo Felisa, in Florida to witness this special moment.
[Read more…] about Ferrari 458GT2’s Maiden Race
1961 R4 open for business.
1961:The R4 Takes its First Steps
Words by Roberto Motta
Photos by Renault Communications
The 4L was Renault’s first “voiture à vivre” or “livable car”. It was based on a brilliant idea: create a car that would break down the barriers assigning one function to each vehicle. [Read more…] about The Year, 1961: the Car, the R4
“Confronted with a tragedy like the one that has struck Japan today, Formula 1 and all its problems to do with tires, wings and engines is way down the list of priorities and today, my thoughts go first and foremost to the victims and their families.”–Fernando Alonso upon hearing of the disaster in Japan. His comment reflected our feelings as well.
What's in your driveway? Back in 1967 or 1968, Eric Davison of Troy, Michigan, looked out his window to see this Ferrari Mexico 340 Vignale Coupe, s/n 0224AT, sitting in his driveway. Unfolding out of the low-roofed Ferrari was his friend Cal Gleason, who had driven the Mexico over to show Eric his latest purchase. Cal was not a rich man, merely a man with good taste, recalled Davison, who took this photo. Today, Cal would have also been a very rich man, had he kept the Ferrari. It was sold last weekend at the RM Auction for $4,290,000.
Read Part I.
In Part II, the mystery of “The Type That Never Was” deepens. Our intrepid model builder also tells us about chassis numbers, specs, and how to buy a Baby Bugatti.
By Marshall Buck
The very first Baby Bugatti was built for Roland Bugatti, Ettore’s five year old son. Proof again that it’s good to be born with a “silver spoon” or in Roland’s case, more like a silver steering wheel. The Baby made its public debut at the 1927 Milan Automobile show, and was priced at 3,900 FF, which seems to be the price most were sold for, though some were delivered at higher prices. [Read more…] about Baby Bugatti Part II: A Free Premium Feature
Peter Read’s 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato coupe won the Motor Trend Classic Editor’s Choice Award. When asked how he made his choice, Editor Matt Stone said, 'It’s one of the original, real 1961 cars built, it has serious racing pedigree, it’s an Aston Martin, it wears Zagato aluminum tinwork so tightly stretched over its chassis that it fairly pings when you touch it. And oh by the way, it’s supermodel gorgeous, in case you didn’t notice.' Credit John Wylie.
Michael T. Lynch
The fourth edition of the Desert Classic took place at the La Quinta Resort & Club on 27 February. The event is nestled against the Santa Rosa Mountains in the greater Palm Springs area, about 125 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The entry continues to be among the most diverse of the great American concours.
[Read more…] about Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance Continues to Impress
Jari-Matti Latvala flies through the village of Guanajuato, but the Fiesta could only manage third overall.
RALLY GUANAJUATO MEXICO
By Roberto Motta
Photos by Citroën Communication Citroën Racing, Ford Motor Company and BMW-press
The opening two events of the WRC season provided extremes contrasts: after the snow and ice in Sweden, the FIA World Rally Championship traveled to hot and dusty Mexico for the Rally Guanajuato Mexico. It is the first of seven consecutive events on gravel. The first rally on asphalt will not take place until the end of August when the crews tackle Rally Germany.
[Read more…] about Citroën DS3 Defeats the Ford Fiesta RS in Mexico
Massa pulls out for some tire testing.
THE AUSTRALIAN COUNTDOWN BEGINS
By Roberto Motta
Photos: Ferrari-Media
Following the cancellation of the Sakhir test and the Bahrain race, the pre-season continued with the last testing days at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya from Tuesday to Saturday. For the drivers, these testing days are the last chance to wrap up their development programs, evaluate new upgrades and improve their cars before the Australian Grand Prix, March 25-27.
[Read more…] about Final Days of Testing in Spain
This week we are pleased to welcome Marshall Buck to VeloceToday. I first came upon Marshall when we were both contributing to Ford Heacock’s Vintage Motorsport magazine in the 1980s. Marshall is a lifelong car enthusiast who parlayed his interest in cars into a highly successful business of producing high end models for some of the most noteworthy collectors in the field. One day, Marshall emailed VeloceToday, one thing lead to another and we asked him to do an article on a subject dear to both of us, the Baby Bugatti. Oh, yes, the Baby, and as Marshall found out, don’t ever call it the Type 52…
Part I
By Marshall Buck
I can’t believe that the answer has been in front of me all these years. The answer to what you ask? The answer to the question I often ask myself: How am I ever going to afford a genuine vintage Bugatti? Simple answer…buy a ‘Baby’ Bugatti; a child’s car to be precise. I’m not talking about one of those cheapy Toys R Us plastic jobs. No sir, the one I have in mind is very special….one of the authentic half scale renditions of a Type 35. [Read more…] about Ettore’s Baby Bugatti Part I: A Free Premium Feature!
New Alfa 4C GTA is designed to recall the T33 Stradale of 1967. Will it come to the U.S.? Perhaps.
By Roberto Motta
Photos by Alfa Romeo
Will the new 4C herald the end of Alfa’s Big Sleep?
A new Alfa Romeo compact “supercar” which represents the true essence of the brand’s values, made its debut at the the 81st Geneva International Motor Show.
The new Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept is designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, and has very rough lines where the body is put together. But all this purposely creates the engaging personality that is linked to that of the legendary 1967 Type 33 Stradale. The T33 Stradale was derived from the T33 competition car, which defended the colors of the Milanese automaker in the World Championship series.
[Read more…] about Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept: The Snake is Back
VeloceToday Best of Show: IED Abarth: a very nice exercise of the Istituto Europeo of Design, based in Turin.
Photos by Alessandro Gerelli
A few bright spots at Geneva, but overall the cars are depressingly unnattractive, fat, frumpy. And what can we say of the Fiat Lancia Flavia Chrysler? We’ll let our readers voice their opinions; be sure to scroll down to see what Fiat/Chrysler has in store for us. [Ed.]
[Read more…] about Chrysler Lancia Flavia debuts at Geneva 2011