The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Marazzato display AGIP
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Following last year’s sort of dry run visit to the Auto e Moto d’Epoca show at its new location in Bologna I think I have pretty much got it down pat now. [Read more…] about Auto e Moto d’Epoca Part 1
1952 Fiat 1100E with coachwork by Monviso.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
You may not know or have forgotten that 2024 is the 125th anniversary of Fiat, so the following selection is just the Fiats on display at the show, from the main display in the atrium featuring some highlights from the forthcoming anniversary exhibition at the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile Museum Turin, to the examples on display at the various club/event stands, to the many many examples for sale from the dealers and private individuals.
By Jackie Jouret
Photo courtesy The BMW Archive
Among the most fascinating races of the pre-war era is one that never took place: the Berlin-Rome race. Announced in June 1937 for the following year, the race had been conceived by Adolf Hühnlein, an early follower of Adolf Hitler, who in 1931 became head of Germany’s National Socialist Driver Corps (or NSKK, to use its German acronym). The NSKK was in charge of all motoring and motorsport activities for the Nazi government, and Hühnlein ensured that German racing was well-supported in service of its propaganda value. A high-speed race on the newly-built freeways connecting the two Axis capitals would be ideally suited to that purpose, and it would allow German and Italian automakers to highlight their technical superiority where aerodynamics were concerned.
This is a perfect fit for an “And How.” Coming on the heels of my story on Dan Gurney, which was read by Dan’s widow Evi, you will see by her attached email that his story touched her very deeply, and the photos stirred many memories of Dan for her. I am so happy that she graciously allowed her feelings to be shared with us. Evi also included many new activities going on at All American Racers that will be of interest to all your readers. Thank you, Peter and Evi for letting me share her feelings with your readers.–Allen R. Kuhn
Dear Allen,
So good to hear from you and to know that you are well and active .
Just when I thought I had no more tears left your Dan tribute and your splendid photographs show up on my screen and well …. Here he is , my beloved Dan, young, handsome, talented and determined, so long ago when life was still ahead.
Story and photos by Allen R. Kuhn
This photographer thinks Daniel Sexton Gurney to be one of the greatest of all drivers and constructors who ever turned a steering wheel or flew with the Eagles. There are so many fine books and articles about Dan I will leave his full background for others to chronicle. I will stick to my personal interaction with him and include photos of his career between 1956 and 1965.
Here is a reconstruction of the record-breaking Voisin which, in 1927, ran for 28 hours at an average speed of 113 mph.
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Inaugurated exactly one hundred years ago, in October 1924, the Linas-Montlhéry autodrome was recently the scene of the Centenary Festival. Built in just six months, it was immediately the scene of numerous attempts at speed and endurance records of all kinds.
A Citroën DS 23 prepared for the rally in a chicane at Montlhéry where its hydropneumatic suspension works wonders!
Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
We continue with post war racing at Montlhéry.
After the war, competitions gradually resumed with the main races being the 1000 Kilometers of Paris and the Coupes du Salon, organized in parallel with the Paris Motor Show and the entrants in the Centennial Festival reflected those events. In addition, there were concours shows which attracted more entrants and spectators.
1960 Imperial
Story and photos by Brandes Elitch
In this brief column, I would like to introduce you to two organizations that are worth getting to know: the Antique Automobile Club of America, and the Society of Automotive Historians.
The AACA is the largest car club in the world, and the Eastern Fall Meet in Hershey is the largest car event in the world. The club was founded in 1935. In 1955 a new group petitioned the club to become a region. This became the Hershey Region, and the first Fall Meet was held then. Things started slowly, but by 1965 there were 1100 cars registered for the show and 35,000 visitors. They were just getting started, and by 1979 over 5000 spaces in the swap meet were filled.
Story and illustrations by Frederic Levaux
“Hello, I’m Frederic Levaux, and I am a car enthusiast with a registry addiction.” This is probably how my introduction should go if I ever attend an AA meeting. Like many of you I have bought and restored a few cars, but my problem, when I buy a car, is that I can’t help but trying to learn as much as possible about the car, the model, the brand… and if I do not find what I am looking I tend to build it myself. [Read more…] about Etceterini Registries
By Jackie Jouret
Photos courtesy The BMW Archive
When eleven spectators were killed watching the 1938 Mille Miglia, Italy’s Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini ordered the race canceled for 1939. The Axis powers remained eager to demonstrate their superiority through motorsport, however, and the race was back on again for 1940. This time, the Mille Miglia would trade its traditional mountain route from Brescia to Rome and back for a shorter course that triangulated Brescia with Cremona and Mantua. Although it had a few curvy sections, it was primarily held along flat, straight roads that would favor cars with a high top speed over those with agile handling.
If a car could combine those two traits, of course, it would have an additional advantage. As we saw in the first installment of this series, BMW’s 328 roadster had exceptional handling and a fine engine, especially in full-race form, and indeed a 328 with aerodynamic coupe bodywork from Touring of Milan had already won its class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1939 when it lined up for the start of the 1940 Mille Miglia, aka the Gran Premio Brescia delle Mille Miglia.
In Italy, the Touring-bodied 328 coupe defeated a fleet of Touring-bodied Alfa-Romeos, as well as the other cars entered by the BMW factory team. These included another aerodynamic coupe built in-house at BMW, and a trio of custom-bodied BMW roadsters, two of which we’ll examine here.
Monteverdi with the 750 Ferrari Monza.
By Giles Chapman, from his book, “Three Million Miles in a Volvo and Other Curious Car Stories“
When we received Giles Chapman’s latest book we thoroughly enjoyed the short bios and interesting stories that comprised “Three Million Miles in a Volvo and other Curious Car Stories”. These are just perfect for the VeloceToday format, and here is the second in a series.
Peter Monteverdi remains the most prolific Swiss car manufacturer of all time. However, the older he got the more bitter he became that he received little recognition in his home country.
Born in Binningen, a suburb of Basel on the Franco-Swiss border, on 17 June 1934, he was the only son of Rosolino Monteverdi, who ran a garage specialising in truck repairs at 14 Oberwilerstrasse. Peter was obsessed with vehicles and as a teenager earned pocket money at a local tractor factory. After school he worked a four-year apprenticeship at the Saurer truck works in Arbon. But rather than design some utilitarian farm implement, Peter built his own car, aged just 17.
What is it? Can you help?
By Dale LaFollette
Photos courtesy Dale LaFollette and Tom Black
My good friend Tom Black is at it again. (See Tom’s previous project, below) He just purchased the car pictured here in the last couple of months.
I think the motivation was he couldn’t figure out what it was or who did it. Here are a few specifics; perhaps our readers can shed some light on Tom’s find. [Read more…] about And How! You know anything about this?