alfa romeo 8c2300

Addams and the 8C 2300 Alfa Romeo Castagna in front of his Westhampton Beach home in shortly before trading it for Ken Purdy’s Bugatti. Photo copyright and courtesy of the Tee and Charles Addams Foundation.

By Pete Vack

From the Archives, 2010

Classic Addams: From a high perch of their haunted Victorian mansion, a chilly Morticia looks on as Lurch and Gomez prepare to pour a cauldron of boiling oil onto an unsuspecting and cheery group of Christmas carolers three stories below.

Perhaps no cartoon better illustrated the wit, charm, style and macabre humor of Charles Addams than this New Yorker art from 1946 known as “Boiling Oil.” It is Addams at his best; the detail, the creepy mansion, the scary but lovable characters, the anticipation of a gruesome act which never actually transpires. His Addams Family™ cartoons inspired two TV series, two feature length movies and made him and the Addams Family™ household names. And the story lives on; Addams Family 2 opens this month in theaters near you. [Read more…] about The Cars of Charles Addams Part 1

This picture of the engine as found sent David Smith on the journey that resulted in the Alfa S 11 project.

By Michael T. Lynch
Color photos courtesy David Smith

This article was originally published in 2012.

When the world’s automotive elite gather at Monterey, they bring an amazing array of machinery with them. VeloceToday is previewing two cars that will be present, one Italian and the other French. Both will be the subject of much controversy. Some will see then as logical completions of concepts that were interrupted by World War II, done to the highest standards. Others will opine that they are sacrilegious creations putting false Gods before us. One thing is for sure. Much fine wine will be downed discussing their merits and shortcomings. Both have revered nameplates. One is an Alfa Romeo and the other, a Bugatti.

This week we will begin with the Italian vehicle, with the Bugatti following in the next issue. The nomenclature for the Alfa, chosen by the owner David Smith, is a 1938 Alfa Romeo S 11 Corto Spyder Speciale.

It all began when David was offered an unusual Alfa engine by an Italian broker. It was pictured strapped to a pallet, rough with no accessories. David realized it was one of the three S 11 V-8s made in 1938. Despite the fact that he was told the engine was frozen and there was water on the oil dipstick, the purchase was completed. [Read more…] about Michael T. Lynch on the Alfa S11 Project