VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

MUG 412 and the story of an Alfa Romeo RLSS

By

The fascinating history of the Alfa Romeo RLSS MUG 412. Upper left, letter from Tom Goodman; upper right, the Hull and Slater book; original registration from 1927; MUG 412 plate and the RLSS at the Simeone.

By Pete Vack

Fred Simeone became the owner of this rare Alfa Romeo RLSS, chassis number 69013, because he rarely forgets a mug. “I was at Goodwood in 2002 and noticed the Bonhams’ catalog had an RLSS for sale with a British license plate which read ‘MUG 412‘. It struck me as being very familiar, and I then remembered I had read about this car in the Alfa history by Peter Hull and Roy Slater some forty years earlier.” And sure enough on page 63 of the first edition, was a description of this particular Alfa and how it was built for a relative of actor Michael Rennie. Simeone didn’t need to know too much more to bid successfully on the RLSS. (Read Driving the RLSS) It wasn’t the first time the unusual tag was the object of attention.
[Read more…] about MUG 412 and the story of an Alfa Romeo RLSS

Giuseppe Merosi and the Alfa Romeo RL series Part II

By

Merosi's Masterpiece, the RLSS. Photo by Harry Hurst.

By Nicholas Lancaster with thanks to the AROC of Great Britain

Part I covered the Merosi cars designed from the beginning of ALFA in 1910 to the introduction of the RL in 1921, which would be the mainstay of the company until production of the Jano-designed 6C 1500 was underway in 1927. Part II features the details of the RLS, RLSS and the RLTF cars.

For 1926 several improvements were made as the RLN became the RLT (for Touring) and the RLS became the RLSS (Super Sports) The latter had dry sump lubrication, while the RLT now also had an engine capacity of 2994cc (and in the UK became known as the 22/70); power improved to 61bhp at 3200rpm, while the RLSS now revved to 3600 and produced 83bhp providing a maximum speed of just over 80mph. [Read more…] about Giuseppe Merosi and the Alfa Romeo RL series Part II

Iso Rivolta 90 Reborn Again

By

After almost 20 years, the Iso Rivolta Grifo 90 is back again. Photographed in front of Villa Erba in Cernobbio during the Villa d’Este Concours, Mako Shark (an Italian Company dealing with high-tech manufacturing) presented the latest version of the Iso Grifo 90.


By Alessandro Gerelli
Color photos by Alessandro Gerelli

The Iso Rivolta company was born in 1939 in Bresso, a small town just bordering Milan in the north of Italy, and was characterized by an amazing variety of production during its life. They made refrigerators, water heaters, motorbikes, small city cars, sport cars, and other sundries, most of which were manufactured after the end of WWII. The founder, Renzo Rivolta, was as interesting as the product line. He even built the factory in the park of his villa!
[Read more…] about Iso Rivolta 90 Reborn Again

VeloceToday Drives the Alfa Romeo RLSS

By

By Pete Vack
Color photos by Harry Hurst

Thanks to the kind offices of the Simeone Foundation, VeloceToday was recently given the opportunity to drive two rare pre-war Alfa Romeos. While driving the “Legendary” 2.3 Castagna was a dream come true, it was perhaps even more fortunate to have been able to sample an even rarer Alfa–a 1925 RLSS, “Merosi’s Masterpiece” as some have called the breed. Rare, did we say? How about 392 ever produced, of which perhaps a dozen are left, scattered across the globe. To see one is an event; to drive one is to experience motoring’s Shangri-La. Here is our report:

Being able to drive both the 8C 2300 and the RLSS meant that we were given the even rarer opportunity to drive the work of both Giuseppe Merosi and Vittorio Jano. We’ll tell you which was more fun an bit down. [Read more…] about VeloceToday Drives the Alfa Romeo RLSS

Giuseppe Merosi and the Alfa Romeo RL Series Part I

By

RLSS radiator featured two badges. Photo by Harry Hurst

By Nicholas Lancaster
With thanks to the AROC of Great Britain

Most enthusiasts will be familiar with the famous Alfa Romeo designs of Vittorio Jano including the P2 Grand Prix car, the eight cylinder 8c 2300 sports cars, and the glorious Tipo B Grand Prix single-seater — but perhaps fewer know that the legendary Alfa Romeo competition story began several years before Jano joined the Milan based company. The man responsible is now largely forgotten, but his place in the Alfa Romeo story, and his greatest creation deserve to be remembered.
[Read more…] about Giuseppe Merosi and the Alfa Romeo RL Series Part I

Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

By

A portion of an outstanding Bugatti turnout includes David Duthu's T-35A (14) that was driven by Jim Strandberg; Matt Cobb's T-37A (37); Peter Mullin's Delage-Era, driven by David Duthu and Peter Mullin's T-35C. Credit: Michael T. Lynch

A Weekend of Wine, Food and Cars

By Michael T. Lynch

Steve Earle, through his company General Racing, has been the most influential organizer of American vintage races over the past 30-odd years. This year he expanded and renamed his long-running Wine Country Classic. The first edition of the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival was held June 5th & 6th at Sonoma’s Infineon Raceway.
[Read more…] about Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

Canadian Grand Prix

By

Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso

by Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

In spite of my last article, McLaren tried to prove that it wasn’t just Red Bull’s ability to take their own cars out of contention that would lead to a desired result for the Woking based team, but that they could do it all on their own.  It was Hamilton’s race to lose, and between driving a clean race and having the team’s flawless pit stops, he made it look easy.  [Read more…] about Canadian Grand Prix

This Week, of Interest

By

ACTIVITIES AT THE SIMEONE
NICE BUGATTI ART ON EBAY
BANDINI DOHC FOR SALE
ABARTH DOUBLE BUBBLE SELLS FOR $91,260
LANCIA MYSTERY CAR STILL THAT
ALFA SPRINT NORMALE GOES FOR $39,780

At the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum Saturday, June 19th - Sunday, June 27th A special exhibit: Cent Anni, Alfa Romeo, Honoring this famous marque on its 100th anniversary.


[Read more…] about This Week, of Interest

Italian Historic Cup at Monza

By

Abarth Osella PA1 owned and driven by Grant Tromans of Monte Carlo.

Story and photos by Roberto Motta

“58th Coppa Intereuropa Autostoriche”

On June 4-6th the “58th Coppa Intereuropa Autostoriche” was held at the historic circuit of Monza. The “Intereurope Cup” is the main Italian event for historic cars and this year had competition events for over 350 racing cars: From Tourism classes to Formula 1 and sports prototype, the Autostoriche featured the cars of the classes that participated in the classic “1000 km of Monza”. In addition, the weekend had parades, rallies, shows and a marketplace, all strictly reserved for cars that wrote the racing history.
[Read more…] about Italian Historic Cup at Monza

Holy BatConcours!

By

Story and photos by Wallace A. Wyss

[We were holding this article on the Greystone Concours held at the Doheny Mansion and run it along with an article about Bill Doheny and his cars. But information is not easy to obtain and we are still doing research. (yes, we need help!) In the meantime, we can’t let this neat story by Wally Wyss simply slip away. Late, but still good, we present it now with our apologies. Ed.]

If there really was a Bruce Wayne (aka “Batman”) and he had a mansion in Beverly Hills, then Greystone Mansion would be it. In fact it’s been used as a set for many films, including “Batman and Robin” with George Clooney. It is a genuine fieldstone mansion, with a slate roof, cobblestone courtyards, manicured gardens, all located high in the hills above Sunset strip, and was built by E.L. Doheny who reportedly was the first to strike oil in L.A. He built the mansion in 1928 for his son Ned, whose son William would eventuall become very active in the Southern Cal sports car movement. It is now a recognized historical landmark. Doheny’s place made a near perfect site for a concours d’elegance on April 11, 2010, and yours truly was privileged to be one of the few reporters invited to the $100 apiece spectator price event.

A 1937 6CM 1500 Maserati, chassis 1540. Once owned by UK vintage racer R. Fielding, and it was sold at a Goodings Auction in 2006 for $726,000. No name tag on the car but plenty of interest.


[Read more…] about Holy BatConcours!

Charles Addams: The Bugatti Years, 1960-1988

By

Legendary mechanic Jim McGee works on the Bugatti while Charles Addams looks on. Watermill, NY., 1978. Photo by H.R.Krause. Used with permission from the Tee and Charles Addams Foundation.

By Pete Vack

Read Part I, Charles Addams and His Cars, 1948-1960

In 1960, Charles Addams was about to embark upon the most lucrative years of his career as a cartoonist, even having enough spare cash to renew car insurance.” By 1964 his income had almost tripled and the “Addams Family” was just making its debut on nation-wide TV. Like never before, Addams, an otherwise “normal boy” from New Jersey, would be able to enjoy both his cars and his freedom.

After two years of racing the Alfa 8C2300 (see Driving the 8C2300) around eastern Long Island, Addams began looking for a Bugatti. Already well known by Vintage Sports Car Club of America (VSCCA) members, Addams was an active member in the nascent club, and even though he rarely sallied forth to events at Lime Rock or Thompson, Connecticut, he seldom missed a vintage meet at

Addams, left with Ken Purdy (glasses and white hair) at the annual meeting of the American Bugatti Club at Le Chanteclair, circa 1960. Photo from the collection of Ralph Gross and first published in My Two Lives.

Bridgehampton, Long Island. But he was at the right bar at the right time when “Kings of the Road” author Ken Purdy decided to part with his well-known T35C. Ed Bond got involved with a complex brokered deal between Derry Mallalieu, Addams and Purdy. “When the four way transaction was complete the results were as follows: Addams owned Ken’s T35C, (s/n 4813) Ken was Bugless, Mallalieu had the Alfa, and I purchased the Alfa from Mallalieu.” The Alfa was purchased by Fred Simeone a few years later and can be seen today at the Simeone Foundation.
[Read more…] about Charles Addams: The Bugatti Years, 1960-1988

Charles Addams and his CAR Toons

By

©Charles Addams With permission of the Tee and Charles Addams Foundation

By Pete Vack
From the VeloceToday Archives, June, 2010

A deep interest in classic cars was bound to reveal itself in the art of Charles Addams. When the Tee and Charles Foundation began to collect and identify the Addams cartoons, they found over 70 related to the automobile. [Read more…] about Charles Addams and his CAR Toons

MENU