The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
It was in the Maserati T61 (2455) that Gaston Andrey is most recognized and remembered, running in 16 races from 1959-1961 and finishing in the top four 13 times and not finishing only once. Road America Archives
By Jeff Allison
Andrey began 1961 with an excellent result in a GT car at the Sebring 12 Hours, combining with Allen Newman and Bob Publicker, finishing 12th overall and 2nd in class in a Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California (2015 GT).
By Paul Wilson
To complete my Alfa’s body I still had to construct the center body, with the cowl and doors. But first I had to solve several aesthetic dilemmas. I was unhappy with the rear view, and I wanted to take care of it–at least improve things–before going on. The rear deck looked too wide and bland, and somehow I needed to incorporate a license plate and taillights into it. Making a suitably racy windshield would not be very hard. But a curved, downward-sloping hood line, to harmonize with the car’s aerodynamic look, was surprisingly difficult. [Read more…] about Paul Wilson’s 6C 2500 Roadster Part 6
By Dale LaFollette
From the VeloceToday Archives, June, 2018
On my way to the 1979 U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen and I had been invited to stay for a couple of days with the 86-year-old artist Peter Helck and his wife Priscilla. Peter and I had been “pen pals” for several years but this was the first time we had actually met. I had traded one of my sculptures with Peter for one of his paintings and our mail discussions hinged on Art and turn of the century auto racing. Helck is seen in the lead photo above, walking toward Old Number 16. [Read more…] about Remembering Peter Helck
Photo by Irv Dolin
What was it like to drive a Birdcage in 1961? Below, Karl Ludvigsen graphically describes the feel, the noise, and the technique of driving the Magnificent Front Engined Birdcage. This article, originally published in the April 1961 issue of “Car and Driver”, has been republished here with his express permission. Originally published in VeloceToday November 2014.
By Karl Ludvigsen
When you click home the ignition key on the sketchy dash of a Birdcage, a strong red light burns deep within the broad, thumb-sized starter button. To me that light became a symbol of the vast power lurking with this apparently ramshackle piece of machinery, like glowing coals in the crater of a slumbering volcano.
[Read more…] about Ludvigsen Drives the Andrey Birdcage
The cars raced by Gaston Andrey were painted in the white and red national colors of his native Switzerland, which included his personal logo—a white cross on a red background. He’s pictured here in the Ferrari 500 Mondial (0430 MD) he raced in 1957.www.gastonandreymotorsports.com
By Jeff Allison
Few drivers are more representative of sports car racing in the U.S. than Gaston “Gus” Andrey, who won five SCCA national class championships and one SCCA Trans-American Series title.
Left is Jacky Ickx, here with Uwe Meissner, head of Modena Motorsport.
Interview and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
From the VeloceToday Archives, July, 2009
Jacques-Bernard Ickx was born into motor racing. His father was a famous Belgian motoring journalist and his brother was a successful motorcycle racer. Fathers, take heart; despite, or because of, being surrounded by cars and racing, young Ickx found it boring. [Read more…] about An Interview with Jackie Ickx
Story by Eric Davison
Photos courtesy Tampa Bay Automobile Museum
Website Opens June 1st, 2021
From the VeloceToday Archives, June 2017
Usually I am a sucker for any car museum therefore I can’t imagine how I missed the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum. But, I did. Inexcusable on my part.
But, a few months ago my friend Dale Powers asked if I wanted to go to Pinellas Park, about 35 miles north of my home in Anna Maria, Florida. He was looking for a home for his DB Le Mans and there was a French car museum in Pinellas Park that we might both enjoy
Off we went and, indeed there is The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum located in Pinellas Park and, yes, it is primarily French cars. And, yes, the pretty little DB eventually found a new home and is now on display amid some pretty wonderful and beautifully restored cars. [Read more…] about Got Shots? Visit the Tampa Bay Museum
Saturday morning’s lovely display in a Yass Park.
Story and photos by John Waterhouse, National Coordinator, Renault 4CV Register of Australia
First Post-Covid (we hope) Australian 4CV Muster, Easter 2021
Every two years, the Renault 4CV Register of Australia meets over Easter in a country town in New South Wales at our “Muster”. They are delightful social events with no competitions! The Register welcomes all rear-engined Renault models that are derived from the post-war 4CV model and early R4s that used the same engine and transaxle. Naturally we are pleased to see other classic Renaults at our Musters and members often bring later front-drive cars from the 1970s and 1980s, and even younger cars.
Upon reading of the Ardea adventures of Luc van Dobben, Australian John Pagan was prompted to tell us his own tales of purchasing an Ardea from Italy. He wrote, “The car is from 1951, I bought and imported it in 2017. The first outing was in 2018; the serious recommissioning and Castlemaine Rally were in 2019. Since then of course there’s been very little car club activity because of COVID, even here … I’m set to do Castlemaine again this coming October though!” Below is his Ardea story.
By John Pagan
One of the first things people ask me is, “Why an Ardea?” This is my fourth Lancia; like me, they’re getting older and slower. For those who don’t know, at 903cc the Ardea has the smallest-ever engine in a Lancia, developing only 30bhp or 22kW, and is flat out doing 110km/h under the most favorable conditions.
My previous Lancia, an Aurelia B10, was a very satisfactory touring car of endearing character. We did about 40,000 miles over ten years together, including trips to all the other States including Tasmania and Western Australia. Despite a deal of mechanical work done over that period to make it useable and keep it that way, however, it remained a well-used example, lacking that crispness of response that I’d loved in the Fulvias I owned before the Aurelia.
Citroën Quartet of Prototypes presented at Birmingham. C10, circa 1956.
Story and Photos by Simon Wright
From the VeloceToday Archives, April, 2010
To celebrate Citroën’s 90 years of car production, Citroën UK arranged for several rare prototypes to be shown at the Classic Motor show held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England from the 13th to the 15th of November 2009.
Coming straight from the Citroën Conservatoire in Paris specifically for the show, three of the vehicles had never before been seen in the United Kingdom (UK), and needless to say, anywhere in the United States.
Story and photos by Graham Gauld
From the VeloceToday Archives, December, 2017
Over the years I have attended scores of motor shows and seen many prototypes and oddities on display, some of which went on to have interesting histories and consequences.
Take, for example, the Mercer Cobra that halted me in my tracks at the 1966 Paris Automobile Salon because it looked different; very different indeed. However, it started ringing bells in the memory. [Read more…] about Mercer Cobra
A hint of what was to come.*
Story and photos by Luc van Dobben
Read The Search for the Perfect Ardea
The search is complete.
After two disastrous trips to Italy to find a correct Ardea, I came to the conclusion that an old Lancia for nice trips in the country should at least have some more legroom and sufficient power to move around. An Appia it had to be, but at least one with the lovely old type grille so I went for a second series. [Read more…] about Goodbye Ardea, Hello Appia