VeloceToday.com

The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Alfa Romeo

California Mille Kickoff

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This car is the make and model that started it all. In 1982 Martin Swig and Road & Track photographer John Lamm took a similar Alfa 1900 SSZ, without a Zagato signature double bubble roof, to the first Mille Miglia retrospettiva. They were the only Americans entered. That experience led to the creation of the California Mille. This example was brought by Bruce and Cathy Milner.

A Bittersweet Gathering

Story and photos by Michael T. Lynch

The sky was clear on Nob Hill in San Francisco and the temperature was in the mid sixties. An exceptional group of collector cars from all over the world were backing into their spaces on the street between the Pacific Union Club and the Fairmont Hotel. It was the traditional kick-off luncheon for the California Mille. For many of us it was an emotional time because it was the first edition of the event run without its founder Martin Swig, who left us in 2012. Many joked about the weather, saying that where Martin was now gave him a more direct line to control that.
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Alfa Finds a New Life, Part 3

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By Pete Vack

The Editor wraps up the story of the Alfa Find with the help of Brighton Motors, Dr. Peter Fodor, Matt at Re-Originals, and current owner Frank Allocca.

As we have seen, the Alfa found in a horse barn in 1977 passed quickly from the editor to the home of Alfas Unlimited in Norfolk CT., where Keith Goring and Sue Dixon decided to make a vintage race car out of the engineless Alfa. The Sprint Veloce would stay with them until in 2007 when they finally gave up the old workhorse race car and sold it.

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A Practical Guide to Monterey: Plan Ahead

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moretti

An original 1955 Moretti 1200 Gran Sport, owned by Mark Brinker. It is seeing rare cars like these that make going to Monterey worthwhile.

Photos by Brandes Elitch and Petya Elitch
Story by Brandes Elitch

“I am completely over the whole self-congratulatory Pebble Beach-Monterey Historics business.”
-Jack Baruth, 8/20/2012, writing in The Truth About Cars.com

Jack is one of my favorite writers, and after another Monterey weekend, you can understand what he means. However, you can avoid a lot of the hassle that accompanies these events with a little prior planning. Here are some suggestions, and no, it is not too soon to begin planning for next year.
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Michael T. Lynch on the Alfa S11 Project

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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

A Tribute To Martin Swig

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Martin Swig

Martin Swig in 2003.

Story and photos by Shivu Rao
We sadly note the passing of 78 year old Martin Swig, who passed away on July 3, 2012. Swig was a San Francisco Bay Area-based car collector, vintage racer, founder and chief organizer of the California Mille, La Carrera Nevada, and other notable U.S. vintage car rallies and events. Nine years ago, we sent budding reporter Shivu Rao out to interview the iconic Alfa collector. Shivu had the pleasure of sitting down with Mr. Swig to talk about a wide-ranging set of subjects; from the foundations of the Italian car business in America in the 1950s, to the development of the car industry in general, to vintage rallies, to vintage cars, and last but not least, Swig himself. We re-publish this interesting and informative article today as a fitting tribute to Martin Swig.[Ed.]

Having spent some time with the man, we at VeloceToday can state without compunction that he is a true blue (or Rosso) Italian car enthusiast and holds much knowledge about our collective passion. His enthusiasm is real, palpable and infectious. The two Maxims of Swig we took away from this encounter were – “the cars choose the people, not the other way around” and “it’s all about having fun”. The second phrase was in evidence as we had a good time creating the content for this piece.

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The Alfasud Story, U.K. Style

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alfasud

Early 1.3 model, note the small rear lights. Nearly all 1.3's have gone from British roads now.

Story and Photos by Hugh Doran

The Alfasud, virtually unknown in the U.S., was very popular in Great Britain and today is considered an up and coming classic. Our thanks to Hugh Doran who originally sent this story to us in 2006.

We here in Great Britain heard a lot about the north-south divide back in the late 1970s and early 80s, only no one ever seemed to state exactly where the border between the two was. You could be forgiven for thinking that the south had all the yuppies and the north of Britain was unemployed. Thus most people in the south considered it to be “grim up north”. Things are different these days.

Italy too, had a north-south divide. The only difference was that it was the north that was industrialized and rich and “Il relativo giù del sud torvo” – it was grim down south. The Italian government wanted to readdress the balance some what and came up with a scheme whereby companies would be given grants to set up in the south. Now, at the time Alfa Romeo, was still partly a state owned company so they were more or less obliged to do something in the south.

It just so happened that the company owned some land at Pomigliano d’Arco on the outskirts of Naples, where they manufactured aero engines. But what the company really wanted to do in Naples was manufacture cars. The matter in question was should they move one of the existing assembly lines south, and if so which one, or should they build a completely new product. The decision was taken to start from scratch with a new car. A car that would be known as the Alfasud – Alfa south.
[Read more…] about The Alfasud Story, U.K. Style

Spa Classic 2011

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Small turnout at the first Spa Classic didn't deter our man Vanhoolandt from bringing back great shots. The Raidillon corner, pictured here, is the landmark of the circuit, a right turn uphill that F1 cars take flat out.

Photos and Captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Belgian Vincent Gaye always spectacular in his Ferrari 250 GT SWB s/n 2069GT, winner of the race for pre-66 Italians Sports and GTs.

The first Spa Classic was held at the end of May on a circuit called by some ‘the most beautiful circuit in the world’, Francorchamps in the Ardennes region in southern Belgium.
It is certainly one of the most challenging racetracks with fast corners, climbs and descents.
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This Week, of Interest

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Captured in Ann Arbor, a new Alfa Giulietta. Photo by Larry Crane.

The rear is chunky but distinctive. Photo by Larry Crane.

Larry Crane was in his old stomping grounds of Ann Arbor, Michigan recently, and what should he see but a brand new spanking Alfa Romeo Giulietta four door sedan, sitting in a local bank’s parking lot. Being the sharp kinda guy he is, he grabbed his digital camera and got off these shots.

So, is Alfa really coming to the U.S.? Well maybe. The presence of a test car seems to bode well for the possibility. Maybe we are something like half way there. Nice looking car though and distinctive. The Giulietta has been awarded the prestigious Euro NCAP five-star rating and an overall score of 87/100: an extraordinary result that makes it the safest compact ever. In Europe, the Giulietta is offered with three turbo gas engines, 1.4 liter with 120 hp, 1.4 with Multi Air and 170 hp, and a 1750 cc with 235 hp.

Giuseppe Merosi and the Alfa Romeo RL series Part II

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Merosi's Masterpiece, the RLSS. Photo by Harry Hurst.

By Nicholas Lancaster with thanks to the AROC of Great Britain

Part I covered the Merosi cars designed from the beginning of ALFA in 1910 to the introduction of the RL in 1921, which would be the mainstay of the company until production of the Jano-designed 6C 1500 was underway in 1927. Part II features the details of the RLS, RLSS and the RLTF cars.

For 1926 several improvements were made as the RLN became the RLT (for Touring) and the RLS became the RLSS (Super Sports) The latter had dry sump lubrication, while the RLT now also had an engine capacity of 2994cc (and in the UK became known as the 22/70); power improved to 61bhp at 3200rpm, while the RLSS now revved to 3600 and produced 83bhp providing a maximum speed of just over 80mph. [Read more…] about Giuseppe Merosi and the Alfa Romeo RL series Part II

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