The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
A personal favorite, 1963 Osca 1600 SP (Sperimentale)
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
It was all very last minute as I had not intended to go, but as this year was the 40th running of the Auto e Moto d’Epoca classic car show, (October 26-29)and the first year for the event at its new location in Bologna, I decided grab a less-than-cheap flight out to Bologna, arriving on the afternoon of first day of the show. [Read more…] about Auto e Moto d’Epoca at Bologna 2023
Joe Duray, left and the author with Joe’s 3500GT Maserati.
Story and photos by Brandes Elitch
On October 28th, the Art Center in Pasadena hosted the ArtCenter Design Invitational for their alumni, famous designers, and guests, including a small display of show cars of the past, today, and the future. This has been an annual event, which began in 2002.
The Art Center itself is 75 years old. The Automotive Design Department was founded in 1948. The mission is to develop creative leaders and innovators in art and design. Their vision is to create a new model for art and design education in the 21st century, which they characterize as: “Learn to create and influence change.” I think it is fair to say that this is the most famous design college in the world. [Read more…] about ArtCenter Design Invitational 2023
Paul Wilson at the Larz Anderson Museum
For all of you who have followed the adventures of Paul Wilson as he designs and constructs his own coachwork on the Alfa 6C 2500 chassis, we’ve got some great news for you! On November 30, 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m., Wilson will formally present his coupe at the prestigious Larz Anderson Automobile Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts.
The Larz Automobile Museum in Brookline. Photo by Biruitorul – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4488803
As we all know and can readily see via the VeloceToday articles, Wilson is a master craftsman, who learned his art as he went along, thinking about each process while limiting his tools and materials to those available to coachbuilders of the 1930s. How he worked through the problems of doors, interiors, trunks, hood and fenders is a fascinating process and reveals his unique genius. Why he used steel instead of aluminum is also interesting as it altered the final form, as he was able to literally design the car as he created it. [Read more…] about Paul Wilson, Karl Ludvigsen, Dalton Watson
Part 2
By Harry Hurst
Photos courtesy John Mecom collection
Read Part 1
At one point you were the Lola distributor for North America. How did that come about and how did it end?
The beginning was when I bought what I thought was the first Lola GT – the one I saw at the London Racing Car. We became the distributor and went to the races with spare parts and support. We probably sold more than 20 T-70s. We spent a lot of money representing Lola. We were very sincere about it. And from time to time we made sure Eric could go on to the next day of production. But Carl came along with a better deal and Eric took it. I, unfortunately, did everything by handshake. Our friendship was over after that happened.
On the Targa Tasmania
Story by Mark Duder
My love of Renaults began years ago. I had participating in the West Australian Rally Championships in the 60s and early 70s in a modified Renault R8 with good results and even did the 1970 Repco round Australia in a Renault R16. Of course the ultimate was the A110 Alpine. When I restored one years later, I would find a new friend by the most unusual coincidence.
1937 Aero 750 Sport Coupe variant by artist Yuriy Shevchuk.
Prague artist Yuriy Shevchuk has won international acclaim on three fronts; painting architecture, jazz musicians and vintage cars. Born in Kiev in 1961, Shevchuk now works with his son Denis who manages his international and local Czech exhibitions and negotiations among the customers and the online e-commerce. Wallace Wyss recently interviewed Yuriy, while the Editor combed the vast number of paintings displayed on his website, focusing on the cars. [Read more…] about Yuriy Shevchuk, Artist
Story and photos by Richard Bartholomew
From the VeloceToday Archives, October 2018
Why should children have all the fun of dressing up and scaring people? Though we get no treats from these endeavors that won’t stop us from pulling a little trick this time of year – actually all year – but here we go…spooky chopped tops and scary suicide doors abound, extra headlights or none at all, be afraid be very afraid. A lot of people are.
The Mecom Racing Team logo was designed by fellow Texan Bill Neale. Neale was a well-known automotive artist, providing illustrations for Car and Driver and Road & Track. He also was good friends with Texans Jim Hall and Carroll Shelby, penning the Terlingua Racing Team logo.
By Harry Hurst
Photos courtesy John Mecom Collection
John Mecom is one of the few people who can say that Roger Penske worked for him. Penske drove for Mecom Racing in 1962-63, arguably, the preeminent racing team in the United States at the time. Operating out of Houston, the team ran multiple cars in events in North America and Europe, with the world’s top drivers and mechanics. But racing was secondary to the main business of the John W. Mecom Company: oil wells, hotels, plastics, natural gas pipelines, chemicals, and more. Although he was only in his twenties, John Jr. played a major role in the company his father founded while he ran the racing team. After winning the Indy 500 in 1966 with Graham Hill, Mecom’s attention turned to another interest, professional football. He brought the Saints to New Orleans and was the majority shareholder in the team until 1984. Harry Hurst recently connected with Mecom to ask him about his racing years.
Before you started Mecom Racing there were other wealthy people involved in racing, like Briggs Cunningham and Lance Reventlow. With your background, did you treat racing more like a business?
A remarkable experience that lasts to this day.
Story and photos by Mark Duder
In 1972 my new wife Margaret and I decided to have a year in Europe for our honeymoon. In those days a line voyage (A line voyage was a simple liner going from Australia to the UK as quick as it could, (21 days), as against a cruise.) from Perth in Western Australia around the bottom of Africa was the way to go.
As was normal in those days for Australians we bought a second hand van in London that had obviously been around Europe a few times and set off.
As a member of the Renault car club of West Australia, I had participated in the West Australian Rally Championships in the 60s and early 70s in a modified Renault R8. Hence, due to my interest in all things Renault and Alpine, I managed to get an invite to the Renault factory in Paris and the Alpine factory in Dieppe. However, upon arrival in Paris, we went to the Renault factory in Billancourt for a tour but when we got there, there were workers protesting at the gate, and we were told by police not to go further. [Read more…] about Alpine Factory Tour, circa 1972 Part 1
P-Hershey Squirts? B-We call this the “Hershey Highway.” Where else would you find something like this?
Wise-ass comments on this year’s Hershey from our favorite car guys, Quick and Quack (with apologies to the Magliozzi brothers). P comments first, then B. You guess who they are, we are too embarrassed to say. Be nice or we’ll call in Kuhn.
All photos by Brandes Elitch
P-Moveable Quonset hut. B-These cars are very rust prone (ask me how I know) but this one is very clean.
The Delahaye was on cover of the February 1949 edition of Road & Track. The photograph was taken in front of the famous Ciros Nightclub. This is the same car which was photographed later that year by Strother MacMinn.
Strother MacMinn photos from the collection of Robert Ames
Courtesy VintageMotorphoto
Text by Jim Sitz
From the VeloceToday archives
Read Behold the Narwal
Strother MacMinn was one of my closest and dearest friends. I met him in 1951. He was a real gay blade and man about town, the Cary Grant of automotive circles.
The Cisitalia number 042 at the MOMA exhibition in 1951. It had just come out of the body shop where “…most dents were removed before the body was sprayed a light metallic blue…”. We might submit that they missed a few here and there!
Could this really be the MOMA Cisitalia?
Story by Pete Vack
Photos by Jerry Lehrer
From the VeloceToday archives, July 2017
Over the years there has been a great deal of press concerning the “8 Automobiles” show at the Museum Of Modern Art held from August 29th to November 11, 1951 in New York. It was, after all, the “first exhibit anywhere of dealing with the aesthetics of automobile design.” The star of the show was the Cisitalia 202, and we have heard much about that as well.
But, does anyone remember seeing what the fabled and famous Cisitalia looked like as it appeared at the automotive exhibition of the century? Fortunately, photographer Jerry Lehrer was there, and took these amazing and previously unpublished photos of the Cisitalia as it was being set up in the Museum of Modern Art. [Read more…] about Photos of the MOMA Cisitalia, 1951