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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly Part 2

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Gulf Coast Region’s SCCA executive Bill Kimberly posing with his 2-liter Ferrari 500TR (chassis 0642) at Pensacola’s Corry Field Naval Air Station in April 1959. (Willem Oosthoek Collection)

By Willem Oosthoek

With his purchase of the Ferrari 500TR previously raced by Chick Butscher and Lucky Casner, Bill Kimberly finally had an opportunity to contest feature victories in SCCA Regionals. It would prove difficult, though, as competition in the Southeast was stiff for a more than two-year old, mid-sized bolide.

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A Visit to See the Bugatti Automotrice

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We are told that the Bugatti automobile is a Type 46. Wouldn’t it have been nice for the Cité du Train to have a Royale next to the Automotrice? We are sure someone can help here…

By John Waterhouse

Hot on the heels of last week’s review of the new Bugatti Automotrice book came an email from VeloceToday contributor and resident Renault expert John Waterhouse, who said he once visited the

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Driving Us Bananas: The Brescia Bugatti

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From our Archives, October, 2018

By Vince Johnson and Pete Vack
Photos by Vince Johnson

A Bit on the Brescia

Vince Johnson will detail the ‘Butterfly’ Bugatti below, but first a few interesting facts about Ettore’s most successful model in terms of sales. The Brescia Bugatti was an evolution of Bugatti’s first production car from 1910, the Type 10 and Type 13. During that period, Bugatti model nomenclature was based on the length of the wheelbase, in general, the T 13 being the shortest, and the T23 the longest. But in 1921, after the total domination of an event in Italy, Ettore Bugatti decided to name his most recent model after the race.

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Inspired by Uncle Jim: The Racing Career of Bill Kimberly

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Pensacola, Florida, April 1959. Bill Kimberly, Executive of the SCCA’s Gulf Region, in his 2-liter Ferrari 500TR, chassis 0642. (Willem Oosthoek Collection)


By Willem Oosthoek Part 1

It all started way back in 1872, when four men partnered up to establish a paper mill in Neenah, Wisconsin. By 1880 the fast-growing business was incorporated under the name Kimberly-Clark, with one of the partners, John Kimberly, serving as its CEO. One of John’s grandsons, James “Jim” Kimberly eventually ran the business until 1950, when he retired to concentrate on a new full-time hobby: sports car racing. Jim’s job as Chairman and CEO was taken over by his brother Jack Kimberly, who happened to have a young son, soon to be fascinated with Uncle Jimmy’s new hobby. That son was Bill Kimberly, and in spite of their age difference, Jim and Bill are often confused when it comes to motor racing history.

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A Salmson in Claviers

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The 1932 Salmson GS (Grande Sport) that arrived in the village. (Jane Wallis-Hosken)

By Graham Gauld

I live in a small village in the south of France in the hills behind the beaches of Cannes and Frejus where very little happens. However, I am constantly reminded of the major role France played in the birth and development of automobile racing. [Read more…] about A Salmson in Claviers

The Ferrari-Abarth S/N 0262M

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Story by Pete Vack

From the Archives, February, 2018

Despite a good working relationship with Enzo Ferrari, Carlo Abarth constructed just one Ferrari-based race car. Serial Number 0262M wore its Abarth bodywork for barely a season before shedding it for a Scaglietti suit. But exactly how the first body came to be is a moot point: Was it or was it not a Scaglione design?

As Abarth and Ferrari succeeded in their respective racing classes, the two men grew to respect each other’s accomplishments. In a 2003 interview with this author, Lorenzo “Renzo” Avidano, who was Carlo Abarth’s director of motor sports and right-hand man for the entire life of the company, says that Enzo Ferrari and Carlo Abarth “enjoyed a very good business relationship, and in fact did meet on several occasions.” In his very personal Una Vita Per L’Automobile, Ferrari describes Carlo Abarth as “a diligent and capable German.”

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Mangusta vs Corvette C8: The Drive

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The Mangusta has a wonderful Italian driving spirit and the C8 Corvette is built with the force of American enthusiasm for performance.

By Dick Ruzzin

Read Part 1

THE MID-ENGINE CONCEPT AS ADDRESSED BY DE TOMASO AND CHEVROLET

The Mangusta platform potential was never realized, it came out before it was fully developed and production was stopped after 401 cars were built. That was done so that De Tomaso and Ford could start building the Pantera, mid-engine also but a totally different car. The Mangusta’s P-70 racing chassis was created by Alessandro de Tomaso and Carroll Shelby, but the iconic design by Giorgetto Giugiaro is so visually powerful that their contributions to the creation of the car have been forgotten. [Read more…] about Mangusta vs Corvette C8: The Drive

Salon Privé: The Italians

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Ferrari 512 BBLM.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Salon Privé took place at Blenheim Palace in the heart of the Cotswolds, September 23-26, 2020.

Whilst I only attend Salon Privé for one day, the event has evolved into much more than just a posh day out eating lobster, drinking champagne and looking at gorgeous cars.

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Milano AutoClassica September 25-27, 2020

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SIGMA Grand Prix by Pininfarina, 1969

Alessandro Gerelli has been covering the Milano AutoClassica event for years. Last year we presented a short biography of Alessandro in conjuction with the 2019 AutoClassica show.
Read more about Alessandro here.

Photos by Alessandro Gerelli

This event provided the opportunity to forget for a while the Covid virus and to enjoy the view of a lot of cars of the past. It was also the opportunity to celebrate the 90 years of Pininfarina, with many wonderful cars and the presentation of the new official book “Pininfarina 90 years” by Giorgio Nada Editore.

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Salon Privé: Best of the Rest

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Citroen ID19 Le Paris by Henry Chapron


Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

We wrap up our coverage of Salon Privé with a great selection of other cars at this year’s superb show.

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De Tomaso Mangusta vs Corvette C8

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A half century separates the 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta and the 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette.

By Dick Ruzzin

What drives a company like De Tomaso or Chevrolet to demonstrate its soul by creating cars that will hopefully outperform those of its peers? To put its image on the line and be confident that it will win? To challenge what is considered the best in all the world and not be afraid?

This is really a story of two companies, one very small and one very big. Fifty years separate the two landmark mid-engine efforts, the Mangusta and the C8 Corvette. For Alessandro de Tomaso, it was very personal, as he wrote in the Mangusta Owners Manual. Fortunately, in the history and heritage of General Motors and Chevrolet, there remains a spark called Corvette, which still displays the very essence of what an automobile is about.

Herein, we examine both cars from an owner’s perspective. [Read more…] about De Tomaso Mangusta vs Corvette C8

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