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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

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French Survivor: Delage 105S

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By Pete Vack with comments and research by Daniel Cabart
(This great Delage has changed hands since this article was originally published in 2011)

The last time our readers heard much of Alex Vazeos was in an article about last year’s Ville d’Este, where he was the first entrant to brave the judges with an Etceterini, in this case the ex-Rafi Minasian Giaur. Seemingly bent on buying small Italian cars, Vazeos found others, including the purchase the editor’s old Abarth 750 Zagato to sit next to his Record Monza. Alex also owns the ex-Jack Reuter Bandini, an Abarth Simca 1300 Corsa and a very rare Moretti 1200 Grand Sport.

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Celebrating Fifty Years of the Renault R4

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1963, going to the Opera

by Roberto Motta

Photos: Renault communication- RENAULT INTERNAL/PRESS

You may think this sad, funny, or just a sign of the times. If you Google “Renault R4”, there will be more results than if you Googled “Brigit Bardot”. [ PS: Brigitte, you have been redeemed. Reader Matthew Boyer says, “That’s only because you spelled Brigitte Bardot wrong. 1.5M hits for Renault R4 vs. 2.3M for BB.” Our faith in lechery has been restored–Ed.]

But the old R4 and its familiar French silhouette still turn heads like Bardot did in the early sixties. Not the most curvaceous of bodies, a half-century since its introduction in 1961, its fans still love the R4, like a favorite pair of blue jeans. And the R4 is the object of obsession for many collectors. Rare in the U.S.—it was never imported here—it was at least famous for its performance in the movie “Romancing the Stone” with Michael Douglas and Danny Devito.

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Facel Vega Excellence Sedan

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The Doctor's fine four door carriage. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt.


Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt and Steve Snyder

“I like cars that nobody can maintain!”
Dr. Rick Zeiger, on the restoration of Excellence sedan EX12A

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is still the most famous in the world, and likes to feature recently restored cars that have never been shown since their restoration. This year, Dr. Rick Zeiger entered his 1958 FACEL Excellence sedan, a car that he has owned for 12 years and only recently finished. [Read more…] about Facel Vega Excellence Sedan

French at Le Mans by Vanhoolandt

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Still looking for the Pink Panther.

Last week Hugues Vanhoolandt displayed the Italian effort at this year’s Le Mans Classic, which everyone is saying gets better and better every year. For the 5th time, Le Mans Classic celebrated the greatest long distance race in the world. With more than 420 cars on the track, ranging from 1923 to 1979, it was close action from Saturday at 4 pm to Sunday same hour.With 96,000 spectators, Le Mans Classic proved to be one of the world’s greatest historic racing car event.

Photos and captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt.
[Read more…] about French at Le Mans by Vanhoolandt

French Dressing

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french design
Photo by Brandy Elitch.

When Terry Cook was the Editor of HOT ROD in the early 1970s, he had always been more passionate about how cars look than how fast they can accelerate, brake or go around corners. To Cook, styling was everything. He became interested in the French and German coachbuilders who, during the 1930s and 1940s pushed the envelope with bold, fresh, risky styling. [Read more…] about French Dressing

A Look at the Facel Vega

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By Brandy Elitch

facel vega
The first Facel Vega, built in 1954, seen at Monterey last year.

Facel Vega: Le Dernier Astre Francais.

At the end of the second world war, France was destitute and virtually bankrupt. Much of its industrial base was destroyed, as well as the basic infrastructure, such as railway lines, bridges, roads, etc. A socialist government took power, and their tax policies taxes on luxury cars were punitive. [Read more…] about A Look at the Facel Vega

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