Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
How best to sum up Retromobile (February 5-9) in a few words; variety, rarity and quality! This year it was perhaps a little bit crowded at times and halls two and three could do with a renovation. But according to the press release from the organizers, 620 exhibitors exhibited, 1100 vehicles were on display over an area of 75,000 square meters, and 122,000 people attended over the five days of the show. Imagine what it would be like if it were to be held in summer!
This week we present the Italian cars which could be found in both quantity and quality. Note that we have not yet shown the Lukas Huni stand either, and that was so impressive we’ll show it separately. We’ll feature the amazing Tatra display next week.
Then there were the tractors. There were 30 plus tractors on display, and herein are only a few. We have placed the images of the tractors in with the sports and GT cars so that our readers will stumble upon them and perhaps take a better look, for they are always very interesting.
Each year Retromobile never fails to surprise and amaze even the most jaded among us and this year was no exception. I will leave it to the following pictures to do the talking.
Displayed by Fiat Heritage and normally on display at the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese, this Alfa Romeo 1500 Super Sport (one of just 31 built) dates from 1928 and has won the Millie Miglia retrospective event twice.
A rather nice 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS Passo Corto Super Sprint with coachwork by Touring
1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Touring Villa d’este Spider, chassis 915828
This Alfa Romeo 2500 6C 2500 Sport Cabriolet carries coachwork by Touring. Built in 1939 (the first year of the model’s construction). and delivered new to Italy,only two known owners.
Here is something I had never seen before, a 1938 Alfa Romeo Balilla tractor. I understand the Balilla was built in Italy by Motomeccanica but for the French market they were badged as Alfa Romeos. Power comes from a 10 hp 4 cylinder 1438cc petrol engine.
One of several very interesting cars displayed on the Aguttes Auction stand was this 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Coda Tronca. When its sporting career was over it entered the collection of the Japanese enthusiast Yoshi Hayashi at the beginning of the 1980s, before crossing the Pacific some twenty years later to join Bruce Bradburn’s collection and then moving on to Peter Hageman. In 2017, it was acquired by the late Jean Brandenburg, a well-known and much respected amateur racer in historic motorsport. The centerpiece of Jean Brandenburg’s collection, the car will be sold at auction in Paris on 15 March.
An ex Autodelta team car, this 1969 Alfa Romeo T33/3, chassis 105-80-023, was raced by Toine Hezemans and Masten Gregory in the 1970 Targa Florio. A month later, in the hands of Nanni Galli and Rolf Stommelen, the T33 rang as high as second overall in the Le Mans 24 hours. At the end of its works career in 1973 the car was purchased from Carlo Chiti by the Italian importer of Koni shock absorbers, who owned the car for the next 30 years. Recent research has revealed that the T33 had appeared in the iconic Le Mans film.
To celebrate the 110th anniversary of Alfa Romeo, the public will get the chance to admire the extremely rare 1910 ALFA 24 HP – the first vehicle manufactured by the Milanese brand.
Displayed center stage on the Kidston stand, Aston Martin DB4 Zagato, described by Kidston as an old Etonian in a Brioni suit.
This ASA was displayed on the Route da Sogno company stand.
Displayed on the Ascott Collection stand, this 1967 Bizzarini 5300GT Berlinette Strada Aluminum was supplied in France by Regis Fraissinet. Three owners from new and once owned by Jean Claude Bajol for 25 years.
Displayed as the last racing Bugattis, a rather fetching pair of Bugatti EB110S models.
Not seen since the 1970’s this Ferrari 166MM chassis 0048M with matching engine number and a race career spanning 16 races including 3 Millie Miglias.
1951 Ferrari 212 Export Vignale Coupe chassis 0128E was supplied to its first owner Robert C. Wilke of Leader Cards Inc. via William Vaccari. It was fitted with a tuned engine sporting three weber 36DCF carbs rather than the normal 3 32 DCF carbs of the 155 bhp standard engine. In 1956 Robert sold 0128E to Dean Bangert from Illinois who entered her in the 1957 Road America 500 carrying race number 16 as shown today. It finished 26th overall.
1962 Ferrari 250GTE, as supplied and used by the Roma polizia. Being stopped for speeding in Italy was far more stylish in the 1960s!
One of four Ferrari 126 C3s raced during the 1983 season, chassis 068, in the hands of Rene Arnoux, finished second at that years Austrian Grand Prix and then at the Dutch Grand Prix went one better by taking victory.
Gregor Fisken can always be relied upon to pull together a variety of very interesting cars including this ex Ecurie Francorchamps 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Competizione chassis 09027. It was driven in the 1966 24 hours of Le Mans by Pierre Noblet and Claude Dubois to 2nd in class and 10th overall, and it was a class winner at the 1966 Mont Ventoux hillclimb. It also was raced at the 1967 1000kms of Montlhery by Paddy McNally and Ed Nelson.
Another VERY interesting car on the Fisken stand was this ex-Jackie Ickx Ferrari 312B2.
On the Historic Cars France stand, this rather lovely 1969 Ferrari 312P.
Just pipping the 312P in the beauty stakes was this 1967 Ferrari 330P4 chassis 0858, the second of three built.
It was the winner, in the hands of Lorenzo Bandini and Chris Amon, of the 1000km of Monza, it was 3rd overall in the 24 hours of Le Mans, driven by Willy Mairesse and Beurlys, and 2nd overall in the BOAC 500 miles at Brands Hatch driven by Jackie Stewart and Chris Amon. “The best car I ever drove,” so said Jackie Stewart.
On the Girardo & Co stand, the ex-Jean Alesi, John Barnard/Gustav Brunner designed 1995 Ferrari 412T2. As the plinth states “The first Scuderia Ferrari F1 car driven by Michael Schumacher” who joined the Scuderia for the 1996 season, testing this chassis at Fiorano on the 16th November 1995.
1979 Ferrari 512BBLM chassis 26885, ex-Charles Pozzi.
On the Ruote Da Sogno S.r.l. stand was this 1952 Fiat Otto vu. Originally reserved for Emanuele Filiberto Nasi, a grandson of Giovanni Agnelli, the car participated in the 1957 Milli Miglia in the hands of the Olympic athlete Antonio Siddi.
On the Aguttes Auction house stand, was this 1950 Fiat 1100ES, chassis 500435, by Pinin Farina. Imported into Morocco in 1951 and owned by an Italian, who entered the car into the 6th Morocco Rally finishing in 14th place. Sold to her second owner, it was never used again for competition but remained in Morocco. Its current owner acquired the car in the 1980s.
This is a 1951 Fiat Topolino Spiaggina (beach) car by Carrozzeria Daddario. Fully restored with a Rattan interior and convertible hood frame in bamboo. Described as being unique
Resulting from a collaboration between Yacht designer Phillip Shell and Giovanni Michelotti, the Fiat Shellette beach car is based on a Fiat 850 and therefore more than capable of taking you to the beach at up to 60 rather drafty miles an hour. This example, one of no more than 80 built, was constructed in 1968.
This Fiat Shellette was offered to the current owner in 1983 and was registered in Corsica on September 2nd of the same year. The copy of the registration card informs us that the previous owner was Monegasque and had owned it since 1971.
Two takes on the Fiat Panda, 40 years old this year. I think I prefer the original, much less fussy version.
This Fiat Panda Jolly car was constructed in 2006, Based on the second-generation model, styled by the Fiat Style Centre and entrusted to the Stola design house just outside Turin with the interior styled by the interior designer Paola Lenti.
Classic vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, so in Hall number Three I found a fantastic display of tractors. This Fiat Someca 1300DT dates from 1979. Power comes from a 7.4 liter cylinder diesel engine.
This is a very big tractor. 4 metres wide, 4 metres high, 7 metres long and weighing 13 tonnes. I give you the Fiat Versatile. A champion in the heavyweight class, with a powerful 6 cylinder engine, twin wheels, 2 metres high, ideal for the large French fields of the 1980s.
On the Monvendi stand, this series one ISO Grifo 7 Liter from 1969. Alas it is now sold.
A very different display on the Polo Storico Lamborgini stand, a Miura deconstructed, demonstrating the many new parts now available for your restoration.
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He is one restored earlier, a Miura in Jota form.
You cannot have a tractor display without a Lamborghini, this example being the later, more angular R340 from 1968. The tractor display also included examples by Citroen, Renault, David Brown, and Porsche.
Maybe the most elegant car on the Kidston stand, this 1955 Lancia B24 Spider America chassis B24 1034 was originally sold in Sardinia. The car remained in Italy until being purchased by her current owner in 2002, who then commissioned a total restoration which was completed in 2005. As the Kidston web site says “perhaps no automotive design best sums up La Dolce Vita.”
William I’Anson Ltd showed this 1973 Lancia Stratos chassis 829 ARO 00103, an ex-Phillip Morris press car.
This 1955 Maserati 250F chassis 2515 took Stirling Moss to victory in the 1955 Oulton Park Gold cup.
Another goody on the Fisken stand, a Tour de France class winning 1954 Maserati A6GCS/53.
2007 Maserati MC12 Versine Corsa, Number 8 of 12. With 745 bhp, it was the most powerful Maserati ever built.
Touring’s Maserati based Sciadipersia (Shah of Persia). I think I prefer the classic 5000GT.
Racing driver Ernesto Prinoth established Prinoth AG in 1951 to manufacture snow and beach grooming vehicles. This example, powered by a 500cc twin cylinder engine, was constructed in 1976. Fully restored, the Prinoth comes complete with its Automoto Storico Italiano certificate.
Stabilimenti Farina constructed only two Siata Daina Sports in aluminum. This example dates from 1952 and comes with an early competition history, having raced in the 3rd Coppa Inter- Europa, the 1st Rocca Papa, and the Coppa della Toscana. Click on photo to read more about the Siata Daina.
You can always rely on Lukas Huni putting on a great display, This year his theme was in celebration of 110 years of Alfa Romeo. Here is a taster, more next week.
Terrific report with a wide selection of cars on display; Thanks!
What caught my eye was the “1951 Fiat Topolino Spiaggina (beach) car “. The rear looks a lot like Fiat 600, but if it’s indeed a 1951 car, than it predates the Fiat 600 by a few years and even the prototypes by one or two years. Or was it built at a later date on a 1951 base? Certainly unique!
Really great photos and descriptions, thanks.
Reading the beautiful report on the Siata Daina and the comments that derive from it.
I was surprised to know that someone still owns these extraordinary cars, which have perhaps been snubbed at home and appreciated abroad.
Now that they have become historic, they are being rediscovered and sought after by Italian collectors and beyond.
As for the name Daina, I read and think that there is no precise reason, perhaps it was combined with the agility and shooting of this cute animal.
Ferrari 250 GTE from 1962 … the black panther of the famous brigadier, then marshal Spatafora.
it became a myth and terror of the Roman thugs.
PS. in reality the 250 GTE were two, but one was destroyed before it even entered service.
The 1951 Fiat Topolino Spiaggina (beach) car would almost certainly be unique, in that it has a Fiat 500C Topolino front and a Fiat 600 rear. Not sure why someone would do that or that it should be called a restoration, but certainly interesting. The 600 rear end looks like it came from a 1960+ Fiat 600D because of the lights and bumpers. The 500 Topolino had a front engine and the 600 had a rear engine, so where is it placed in this car?
Boas fotos tudo simples e esclarecedor. Thanks!