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Senna, Manso and a Dog

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By Brandes Elitch

Senna, the movie, won the World Cinema Audience Award in the documentary category at the Sundance Festival this year.


Recently, I saw the movie “Senna.” It must be in limited release, because only one theatre in my town of 150,000 souls is showing it, and even then for just a few showings. There is a great story here somewhere, but you wouldn’t know it from this film. The most basic elements of character development were missing. I didn’t know much more about Senna at the end of the film than at the beginning, not to mention what the distinguishing characteristics were in the cars and tracks he raced. [Read more…] about Senna, Manso and a Dog

Brandes Elitch on the Alfa 1900 SS Ghia

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Eltich found this rare one off Ghia Alfa at Concorso. But does it have a twin? Photo by Petya Elitch.

By Brandes Elitch
Color photos by Petya Elitch

“The early fifties were a magical time for all Italian coachbuilding, one of those magical moments when, for no particular reason…a series of favorable conjunctures determine the success…of an entire category. These were the years in which the Italian bodywork line was born…Mario Boano participated in Italian coachbuilding’s moment of grace with the Lancia Aurelia B20 and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint. A third model worth remembering is the 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 C coupe. This is a model which is understandably influenced by Ghia’s contemporary work with the Chrysler stylists.”
From “Ghia, Catalog Raisonne, by Valerio Moretti, Automobilia, 1991, Milan

While not as famous as Pininfarina or Giugiaro, Ghia has an illustrious history, employing designers such as Michelotti, Frua, Savonuzzi, Boano, Exner, Tjaarda, Giugiaro, Sapino, and others. Most American collectors would be surprised to learn that the contract for the Lancia B20 was personally given to Ghia by Gianni Lancia, although it is one of the best known of Pinin Farina’s products. Likewise, they would be surprised to learn that Alfa Romeo gave Ghia stylists Boano and Scaglione the brief for the Giulietta, which was then produced by Bertone. There are a lot of surprises in the Ghia Catalog Raisonne. On page 148 is a picture of a 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 C, a straight side view. In this view, there are a few seemingly contradictory design elements, but there is no question that it is a compelling design. And then it was my turn to be surprised, when I saw this same car, now a show quality restoration, likely better than new, on the field at the Concorso Italiano during the Monterey Historics.

Elitch ponders the Ghia's influence on the 1964 Mustang and wonders what would Bob Cumberford think? Photo by Petya Elitch.

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Brandes Elitch on the Abarth 750 and Scorpion

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Abarth750 (inset), Pat Olsen with the 'Herbie' Scorpion Abarth. Large photo by Petya Elitch.

By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Petya Elitch

For the automotive enthusiast, there cannot be too many experiences like the Monterey Historics. The two Goodwood events might come close, but I draw a blank after that. I started attending in 1979, and I have never missed a year. For me, it’s just a three hour drive south, so as I see it, it would be negligent of me not to attend, right? Yet, even after all those years, the first few hours there are still a shock.

The most amazing cars are everywhere, on every street and in every driveway (the good citizens of Carmel-by-the-Cash-Register are happy to rent rooms in their homes for the visiting hordes). As my photographer/wife and I drove the detour through Seaside on our way to the Concorso, a small green car pulled up next to us at the light. She asked me what it was, and I turned to look at it. I started stammering, and she said, “What’s wrong?” I said, “Well, it looks like it looks like the Frazer Nash coupe that raced at LeMans in the 1950’s, but I’ve only seen it in photographs.” Here is a car that you could spend an hour looking at; the problem is that there is stuff like this everywhere! Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of activity, it is easy to see just the most outrageous and miss many other jewels that are not so obvious. In this column, I want to talk about two cars that you might have missed, but it would have been a shame if you did. They are Abarths.

Robert Strand's restored Abarth 750 Zagato. With all the right bits and pieces aside from a full leather interior. Photo by Pety Elitch.

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Brandes Elitch on Lancias at Concorso Italiano 2011

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The first of three featured cars selected from Concorso Italiano is this Lancia Flaminia Berlina. It was one of Batista Pininfarina's favorite designs; simple, elegant, refined and very attractive. Photo by Petya Elitch.

By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Petya Elitch

Last year I wrote a historical retrospective of the Concorso, which you can find at (click here). This is a large show – about 850 cars were displayed this year. Even in Italy, you wouldn’t get close to a thousand collector cars in one venue. If you are an Italian car collector (and if not, why are you reading this?) the Concorso should be on your list of things to do before you are permanently flagged off the course, so to speak. I would like to feature three cars which I found compelling, a purely arbitrary selection, and give you an overview of the event.
[Read more…] about Brandes Elitch on Lancias at Concorso Italiano 2011

Matra’s V12: Upholding the Honor of the French

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The Matra MS12 V12, 1970. Photo by Brandes Elitch. To listen to the Matra V12, click on the photo.

By Brandes Elitch with photos and music by John Sexton

Matra has a wonderful history of building successful racing cars, but it is a name unknown to most Americans. The French love acronyms: Matra stands for Engins Mechanique Aviation-Traction, SA. It is an old company, founded in 1941 by Marcel Chassagny. It was and is an aerospace company and arms manufacturer for the French government.

In 1964, with absolutely no automotive racing experience, Chassagny tapped one of his engineers, Jean-Luc Lagardere, also without any automotive background, to create a new enterprise to build race cars: Matra Sports. He assembled a team, one of which, Andre Legan, summoned his friend Bernard Boyer by saying, “Bernard, on est chez les fous; il faut venir!” This could be translated as, “Everyone here is crazy; you must get over here!” Lagardere announced at the outset that within a few years, they would win both LeMans and a Formula One Championship – no wonder they thought him mad! But when it was all over, Matra had won at F-1 (1969, including the Constructors and Driver’s F1 World Championship) and captured the Manufacturer’s World Championship (1973 and 1974), and won LeMans in 1972, 1973, and 1974.

Rene Bonnet began producing the Djet with a 1108cc Renault engine in the rear, fiberglas body and four wheel disc brakes, but Matra took ownership in 1964 and continued to produce the Djet.

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Car Night in L.A. Goes Dark

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Searching in vain for Car Night. Photo by Ean McDowell

By Brandes Elitch

One rotten apple…

Many large metropolitan areas have some kind of weekly or monthly version of “Car Night,” where car guys get together, show off their cars, and (typically) eat and drink for a few hours. [Read more…] about Car Night in L.A. Goes Dark

Concorso Italiano–Opening Shots

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Rare stars often appear at Concorso Italiano. This Bizzarrini Manta, for example--

By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Petya Elitch

Twenty five years ago, Francis “Frank” Mandarano began what has become known as the “Concorso Italiano.” Mandarano had previously started a club for Maserati owners, and a company to sell Maserati parts, and even a restoration shop, located outside of Seattle. [Read more…] about Concorso Italiano–Opening Shots

The Evolution of a Tradition

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tracta.jpg
1930 Tracta E Henri Lemoine coupe, Alain Cerf, Tampa Bay
Automobile Museum. Traditionally, Pebble Beach brings out the best these rare and fantastic cars. Wheel discs are from Lmarr Disk LTD.

by Brandes Elitch
Photos of the 2008 events by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The week of cars at Monterey, a huge and still growing conglomeration of automobile events, has been around now for fifty eight years. [Read more…] about The Evolution of a Tradition

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