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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Jonathan Sharp

Fiats at Auto e Moto d’Epoca

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Script on the grille of this Fiat seems to read “Weber”. Any ideas?

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

Just back from Bologna after visiting Auto e Moto d’Epoca (October 23-26). A great show as usual with much to see. For me it is not the exotic stuff that makes the show, though the F1 display (see Vanhoolandt’s report) in the atrium was impressive, it’s the obscure stuff dotted around the various halls, sometimes on the club stands but more often buried in amongst the hundreds of cars for sale from both the dealers and private owners.

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Goodwood Revival, Paddock and Aircraft

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Alfa Sportiva and 158

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

‘Turn on, tune in, drop out.’ The entry gate into this year’s Goodwood Revival took us back to the late 60s and to the intersection of Haight and Ashbury in San Francisco and the birth of the hippie movement and the 60s counter-culture.

We waded past the hippie tents and the psychedelic school bus to reach the paddocks, where all the really interesting stuff lay. I have never seen so many VW Type 2 split screen vans in one location, as each morning before the racing commenced, the Type 2s paraded around the circuit to celebrate the model’s 75th anniversary. According to the programme at least 130 were expected and, due to the muddy infield where they had planned to display them, they were parked literally everywhere and whilst I am not a big fan they did make a very impressive sight. [Read more…] about Goodwood Revival, Paddock and Aircraft

Drivers at the Goodwood Revival, 2025

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Tony Kanaaan, Dario Franchitti, Marino Franchitti and Scott Dixon.

Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Goodwood Revival, September 12-14 2025

As Jonathan Sharp’s photos began to arrive here, we noticed something different; the smiles that were so dominant at previous Goodwood Festivals and the Revival were not as abundant. There were many, to be sure, like the group shot above, exuding good cheer, but many not.

We asked Sharp why this might be, or was it just coincidence? Probably the weather, he said. “On Saturday and Sunday and I was in the pits for the driver’s shots during the pouring rain during the RAC TT Celebration on Sunday afternoon, after all, wouldn’t you feel just a bit stressed if you had to driver a 400 bhp Cobra flat out in a monsoon? Because at the Revival, boy do they race!” [Read more…] about Drivers at the Goodwood Revival, 2025

Royal Automobile Club’s Magnificent Displays

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In a class of its own: Displayed in front of the clubhouse, 1955 Osca FS372. Introduced in 1955, the FS372 debuted with the upgraded 1491cc twin-spark engine. Only five were constructed. This example was purchased by Sir Stirling Moss in 2008 and raced by him at various historic motor sports events.

Photos by Jonathan Sharp

Last week we covered the RAC concours classes held on July 9th, so this week let’s take a look at the curated displays, the titles of which, in most cases, are self-explanatory except perhaps for the ‘1000 mile trial 125th Anniversary’ display.

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Heveningham Concours 2025

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1967 Maserati Mistral Coupe, chassis 1146, after spending many decades languishing in a California garage is now with a UK based enthusiast, and it is a 4.0 Litre example to boot, great looking and 265 bhp.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

After what can only be described as a Friday afternoon nightmare journey via the M25 to my hotel near Ipswich, it was so nice to take to the nearly deserted roads of Suffolk for a very pleasant 40 minute run to once again attend the Heveningham Hall Concours on June 28-29. With the cars displayed on the grass terraces I have to say that, along with Hampton Court, it is one of the best locations for displaying automotive works of art. [Read more…] about Heveningham Concours 2025

London Concours June 3-5, 2025

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1978 Ferrari 308 GTB. This example was purchased from Cooper’s of Leicester via Tony Willis, to the sales director of BMW Concessionaires TKM.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

After several long trips to Italy to follow my passion for old cars, a trip from Brighton to the London Concours was a pleasant diversion. It is but a short train ride up to the capital; catch a Thameslink train up to London bridge station, then a pleasant stroll across London Bridge, pass the monument to the Great Fire of London, then pass the Bank of England, and a few minutes later you arrive at the green oasis that is home to the Honourable Artillery Company.

But as the train pulls into London Bridge Station it starts to rain.

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Villa Erba 2025: Italians

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Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

It’s easier to understand Villa Erba, Villa d’Este and the Fuori Concorso if we list the schedule:

Saturday, Sunday, May 24-25 Fuori Concorso
Saturday May 24 Exhibition and Inspection of the cars by the Jury, Villa d’Este
Sunday May 25 Transfer of all Historic Cars and Concept Cars to Villa Erba
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Public Day – Il Festival, Villa Erba

After the Fuori show (see last week) is the Villa d’Este concours, which then shifts over to the nearby Villa Erba, still on the lake shore, for the public day, which is what we cover here.

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Villa Erba 2025, Non-Italian

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Christian Troelsfeldt’s 1950 Bugatti Type 101 C by Antem. Of the one prototype and six series Bugatti 101s constructed only one, chassis,101504, carried two-seater coachwork by Antem. Commissioned by Rene Bollore, the second husband of Ettore Bugatti’s widow, chassis 101504 was originally painted dark green with chrome spoke wheels and white wall tires.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

This we covered in two parts last week. This week we continue the event coverage with the non-Italian cars featured at this year’s show at Villa Erba. Villa d’Este Class winners are listed below the gallery.

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Fuori the Bountiful

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Alfa 159

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

This was the fourth edition of the Fuori Concorso, held on the glittering shores of Lake Como on May 24. The theme chosen by the event creator Guglielmo Miani and his chief curator Andrea Luzardi was ‘Velocissimo’ a celebration of Italian motor racing. Spread across the gardens of Villa Grumello and Villa Sucato the event was certainly a sight for sore eyes. Beautiful cars, a gorgeous backdrop and beautiful weather… what more could an Italian car fan wish for. Part 1 below informs the readers via captions, Part 2, Fuori the Beautiful, is a non captioned gallery of our favorites.

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Goodwood Members Meeting Part 1

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Freddies, as in Freddie March, located just in front of the Members Market at the event, the Members market being a food hall selling street food, all very Goodwood!

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

We begin with shots from the ever-interesting Paddock, then move on to what we call the ‘Centenarian’ events. The only other time you see 100-year-old plus cars racing is at VSCC (Vintage Sports Car Club) events and Hill Climbs so racing these is probably a British thing. In fact, while some events in Europe and the U.S. have pre-WWII cars on their grids, it is much more common in the U.K. and pre-WWI cars are almost impossible to see elsewhere.

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Goodwood Members Meeting Part 2

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Star of the weekend, Frank Stippler and the Ferrari 206 Dino.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

There was lovely weather on Saturday at the Goodwood circuit for the 82nd Members Meeting, (April 12-13). Sunday was not as nice but no rain so one cannot complain. Nor can one complain about the superb races held at the Goodwood venue, and I would urge everyone to try to attend at least one Goodwood event.

This year, I witnessed what was perhaps the best race I have ever seen at Goodwood. It was the Gurney Cup (a 45 minute two-driver race for Sports Prototypes of a type that raced between 1963 and 1966) which started early on the Saturday evening.

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