The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Story by Pete Vack and Howard Banaszak
Read Part 1
Our lead appears whimsical but in fact, Banaszak’s Stanguellini (CS04080), called a “Mercollini” by the wags at Kiekhaefer, did set the Class H land speed record at Daytona Beach on February 28, 1956, at 102.1 mph, driven by Herm Behm. The combination of the Mercury 55 outboard and the tiny, lightweight but sturdy Stanguellini was a winner out of the box.
At Thompson Raceway on September 5 1954 with the PBX in first and the Stanguellini CS04080 driven by John Gordon Benett in second. Here, Benett still has the lead.
By Howard Banaszak
One year ago, we presented the story of Candy Poole’s amazing PBX, which seemed to have no rivals in the east coast’s H Modified class. This month we tell the story of one of the few cars to give the PBX a run for its money, the Stanguellini 750 SN CS04080. Ironically, it found its greatest success after the installation of the all American Mercury outboard motor. It is a remarkable story in many ways.
After owning several Porsches, I decided to focus on the Italian sports racers and of course met Tim Ritter; Tim contacted me around 1985-86. He had found an interesting project car. It had a Devin body, but was mounted on an Italian chassis. Neither of us knew what it was, however, it sounded interesting. I purchased the car and it was shipped back to Florida. I removed the Devin body and gave it to Judge Parker for a project he was working on. [Read more…] about The Banaszak Stanguellini Sport P1
Standing by the Stanguellini Ala d’Oro is the photographer’s wife, Leah Adams.
A note. We are working on a multi-part story on the restoration of Howard Banaszak’s Stanguellini 750 Bialbero (read Part 1) which will continue in January with some amazing news. In the meantime, we remembered this article about the Stanguellini Museum from 2003, and asked Howard if he had any updated photos that we could use to illustrate it. He referred us to his nephew, Rob Adams, a British car enthusiast who visited the factory recently. Photos thus ensued and will keep the fires burning on the Stanguellini front.
Story by Lorenzo Marchesini
Photos by Rob Adams
Situated in Northern Italy at the foot of the Apennine mountains, Modena is located about 15 miles west of Bologna. Modena is famous for the Italian Military Academy, a centuries old University, numerous churches and piazzas and of course as the epicenter of “Motor Valley”. As in most of Italy, the Modenese are fond of their wines, in particular Lambrusco, and their cuisine. It was here that the famous “tortellini” was invented.
Stanguellini's Ala d'Oro bodied Fiat 1100. Photo by Graham Gauld.
From the VeloceToday Archives, March 2012. Some time ago, reader Bill Spear emailed a photo taken from Life magazine back in the 1950s. We don’t know when or where the photo was taken but he had no idea what the car is or who built it. So of course he sent it to us. But after that was published, we hear more about this post war classic Stanguellini.
By Howard Banaszak
I did not suspect that when the latest issue of Road & Track appeared on my doorstep in August of 1980 that it would be a turning point in my automotive life. There was an article about Kas Kastner and his Crosley-engined Siata 300 BC Spider, chassis ST 412 BC. The photos of the Siata showed a car that hit every note for me. The lines, the size, the proportions talked to me.
At the time I owned several 356 Porches, but by 1984 had sold all but one. I was going to focus on what John De Boer called “Etceterinis.” [Read more…] about The Remarkable Restoration of a Rare Stanguellini Part 1