The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
The star of Retromobile this year was the Citroën DS, presented at the Paris Show in 1955. Nothing like this had ever been seen before.
Photos and Captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt
[Read more…] about French Cars at Retro by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Maserati 250 F s/n 2521 wears the colors of the Monaco principality. This car, driven by the local André Testut, failed to qualify at the 1958 Monaco GP.
Photos and captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt
[Read more…] about Italian Cars at Retro by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d’Este driven by Toine Hezemans, the famous Dutch Alfa race car driver of the 60’s and 70’s.
Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
October 5-7, 2012
For the third consecutive year, the city of Knokke in Belgium presented the Zoute Grand Prix, consisting of a two day rally for cars built between 1920 and 1965, plus a Concours d’Elégance and a Parade of modern GT and Supercars.
Knokke is a chic resort on the Belgian coast about ten miles away from Bruges. Often called the Venice of the North, it is one of the best-preserved medieval cities with over 600 years of history.
The Zoute Grand Prix is growing every year and in 2013, a vintage car auction held by Bonhams is to be added to the activities.
Despite the damp conditions, the rally drew 150 participants who traveled more than 160 miles per day on the picturesque roads of Flanders. On each day, the start and arrival point was located at the King Albert Place at Knokke-le-Zoute.
The sun was back for the Concours d’Elégance held on the Fairway 1 of the Royal Zoute Golf Club. Many classic automobiles from the major Belgian and Dutch collections were on display. More information can be found at Zoutegrandprix.be
Here are a few of the images from the weekend.
The Rally
Despite the damp conditions of the rally, this Delahaye 135 is having a good run.
1953 Pegaso Z-102 ‘Thrill’. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt and Jonathan Sharp
As was the case with Sunday’s Windsor Castle Concours, the previous Friday’s event at the Syon House was also attended by both Hugues Vanhoolandt and Jonathan Sharp. In this report we lead off with Vanhoolandts’s work. Saturday, Sharp emailed and sent his initial impression of the event:
[Read more…] about Salon Prive at Syon House in London, September 7, 2012
Elegance is not only for cars but also for entrants...
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
The more you scroll, the more delighted you’ll be. Pebble is first, followed by the Rolex Motorsports Reunion. Nobody does it better than Vanhoolandt, and we are proud and lucky to have his photography grace the pages of VeloceToday. Thank you, Hugues!–Pete Vack, Editor.
This unique 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport originally had a Zagato body and rebodied in 1938 with a design by Count Revelli de Beaumont.
Two Hispano-Suizas in front of the Lodge at Pebble Beach.
1936 Hispano-Suiza J12 Saoutchik Cabriolet at Bixby Bridge, near Big Sur, during the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance.
This 1947 Delahaye 135 MS is bodied by Langenthal, a small
1932 Delage D8 SS 100 Figoni Cabriolet from the Keller Collection.
Ferrari 410 Sport Scaglietti s/n 0598CM on spectacular US 1, South of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
The 5-liter V12 of the 410 Sport.
Also in the Ferrari Competition class, the 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Scaglietti s/n 0763 GT, delivered new to the Belgian Ferrari importer Jacques Swaters of Ecurie Francorchamps.
The magic is not Monterey; the magic is in the way that our photographer Hugues Vanhoolandt gets the cars without the bodies. We thought it was because of the huge VELOCETODAYPRESS badge he wears, but it is due more to just plain hard work, persistance and his dedication to being at the right spot at the right time, waiting for that Henri Cartier-Bresson decisive moment. Here is Part 1 of Monterey Week by Vanhoolandt.
Quail Rally
The Quail Rally marked the start of the Monterey Classic Car week on Tuesday 14th August with at least 30 classic cars of high quality.
...among them, a rare Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione s/n 07641.
Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue
on the same day, Carmel hosts its annual Concours on the Avenue where people can see vehicles ranging from a small cars like this 1959 Autobianchi Bianchina Trasformabile (or convertible).
Fiat Grand Prix Transporter bodied by Bartoletti, used by Maserati, Scarab and Shelby racing teams. It also appears in the film Le Mans.
Alfa Duetto, a very well done restoration.
Maserati 8CM enjoying life.
By Hugues Vanhoolandt
This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed’s main theme was ‘Young Guns – Born to Win’, celebrating drivers, riders, designers and engineers of motor sport. Alain Prost was in particular honored by a display of the F1 cars he drove.
Other highlights were the celebration of Lotus 60th anniversary and a display of cars from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s collection (see our report next week).
But there was a lot happening for VeloceToday fans, so let’s see what was out there on the French and Italian sides.
For the 50th birthday of the famous Alpine, the Renault Collection brought to Goodwood this 1800 S version, driven by Jean Ragnotti, ex-works Renault Rally (and sportscar) driver.
Alpine A110-50, the successor? (see VT of 5th July)
Although busy with its F1 and Le Mans programs, Renault entered this little R5 in the 1978 Monte Carlo Rally where it took 2nd and 3rd overall with Ragnotti and Frequelin.
Photo story by Hugues Vanhoolandt
1950 Abarth 204 A, equipped with a Cisitalia engine and bodied by Motto, is regarded as the first automobile to bear the brand name Abarth. It recently took part in the Historic Mille Miglia.
This 1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 with a Ghia body is one of only four cars with this body of which two are still in existence.
In 1937, Delahaye developed a powerful V12 engine for racing. This elegant coupé by Chapron of Paris is one of two equipped with this engine.
1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica with Aerodynamic body was based on a styling study by Pininfarina called Superfast II, presented two years before.
The first owner of this Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara by Touring was Benito Mussolini. This car competed in the 1936 Mille Miglia where it finished third in its class.
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Staff comments are followed by the verbatim entry list information from the Mille Miglia Website. Photos are in order of year and or entry number.
Pre-War Cars
OM was the first winner of the Mille Miglia in 1927, so the OMs have the privilege to be the first cars on the starting ramp. OM 665 Superba (1927) – Sport Wetz (LU)- Fedi (IT)
The French make Rally specialized in the production of ‘voiturettes’ like this ABC model which finished 3rd at the Double Twelve of Brooklands in 1929. RALLY ABC (1929) - Sport Fiorentini (IT) - Fiorentini (IT)
1930 OM 665 Superba in need of a little help from its friends. Co-driving is not an easy task … OM 665 Superba (1930) - Sport Fuchs (DE) - Falk (AT)
In the early fifties, the Ruggeri brothers from northern Italy, embarked on the construction of a Grand Prix car, due to Professor Speluzzi. The car had a transverse rear mounted engine, similar to the Bugatti 251. Because of the lack of funds, the project remained unfinished.
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Has it been that long…We first met Hugues Vanhoolandt four years ago in April of 2012 as he offered to help us indentify some cars at the 2008 Essen show.
Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Graham Gauld brought you the commentary this year, and below, Hugues Vanhoolandt provides a look at the colors of red and blue at this year’s event. Here are the selections from the cars of France.
Cooperation between France and Italy resulted in this Ferrari-like 1950 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport with a barchetta body by Motto of Torino in 1952.
Back to the future with this Renault Dauphine with electric motor. Henney Motors and Bell Labs, both American companies, experimented with an electric powered car, fifty years ahead of their time …or perhaps fifty years after!
After Ralph Lauren last year, it was the turn of another US collector, Peter Mullin, to show his best pieces in Paris, among them the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic s/n 57374 …
Above: Ferrari 500 TRC s/n 0682 MD TR was entered by Ecurie Nationale Belge at Le Mans in 1957, and placed 7th overall with the team of Bianchi/Harris.
Photos and text by Hugues Vanhoolandt
When one thinks of Belgian race drivers, the name of Olivier Gendebien, Paul Frere and Jacky Ickx (whose daughter, Vanina, is also a race driver) naturally come to mind.