The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Ferraris of the 50s and 60s class, 1953 166 MM Spider by Vignale.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
I joke that late August, early September is the time when I visit some of the great stately homes of England. Well, three actually. The first stately home of the trio, is actually a Palace.
From the 120 Years of Rolls- Royce (Post war) 1965 Phantom V by Mulliner Park Ward, ex John Lennon.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Here are Jon’s favorites from his Non-Italian class this year at the Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace. And so goes the PR:
The 19th edition of Salon Privé, the UK’s leading luxury automotive and global Concours event, has been hailed a gargantuan success. On Saturday evening, the curtain fell on the most spectacular five days of new model debuts, stunning classic car rarities, a jaw-dropping Salon Privé Concours victor and the finest in world-class luxury lifestyle and entertainment.
Can’t argue with that!
Ferrari’s Jolly
Photos and intro by Jonathan Sharp, captions by Gary Axon
You never know what to expect when you enter the show field for the Cartier Style et Luxe Concours, held annually as part of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This year on the library lawn near to the stable block visitors were greeted by, amongst many a fine automobile, the sight of a 1977 Volkswagen Polo, probably the best condition 1977 Polo you are ever likely to see but a Polo never the less. Why? Well if you have a class to celebrate the work of Marcello Gandini, and you want to show Gandini designs other than those for Lamborghini (which were of course also on display) then why not a Polo! with a Citroen BX and a Fiat X1/9 to boot. Another sight that I am sure you are unlikely to see on the lawn at Pebble Beach is a Renault Tractor displayed across the way from a Bugatti Type 57!, or a Meyers Manx Beach Buggy near the Felber Ferrari Beach car displayed close to a 40/50 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. Only Goodwood would do that.
We’ll let you figure this one out…
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
If you look at social media you would think that the main talking point at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed was the height of the straw bales lining the track. Yes, over the years they have got higher and wider; back in 1993 crowd safety was just a single line of straw bales and a bit of rope, but should something go wrong, and somebody gets hurt, then maybe no more Festival of Speed. And that would be tragic loss.
Tom Kristensen channels his inner Bernd Rosemeyer
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Due to my inability to be at two places at once (I will work on that) I was not able to photograph every driver, but the following are a selection of those that I did manage to catch. And something we note, happily, every year, in most cases, the drivers are smiling, joking, relaxed and in a great mood. Such is the magic that is the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Arriving at the Villa Erba in style.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Note to self, if you attend the Villa d’Este/Villa Erba Concours again (which I probably will!) then take the ferry! It is 3.9 miles from the town of Como, where our hotel was located, to Cernobbia where the Villas are located. It should take about 16 minutes by car and about half an hour by bus. Sunday morning of Concours weekend has not a chance, took me 75 minutes on the bus.
[Read more…] about Villa Erba 2024 with Jonathan Sharp
From the ‘Faster: the arms race on the road’ class. Brian Ross’s 1957 Ferrari 335S, ex- Pierre Bardinon’s Mas du Clos collection.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
The classes for this year encompassed the years 1914 (Rolls Royce) to 2024 (Concepts and prototypes). In addition to the various classes, visitors to the public day at Villa Erba on the Sunday could enjoy a separate display of motorsport milestones and several BMW Art cars in the main convention centre, and a fine display of Gandini designed cars as a tribute to the late great Master on the green outside.
So what was my favorite car? probably the Fiat Dino Aerodynamica, or maybe the Serenissima Agena, or maybe the Alfa 8C. There wasn’t a duff car in the place, and if you do visit, and your really should, remember take the ferry!
For a list of the classes, click on the website at the end of this article.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
The Fuori Concorso founded 5 years ago by Guglielmo Miani and curated by Andrea Luzardi is not really a concorso along the lines of Hampton Court or Pebble Beach. There are no judges, no points are lost because your hose clips are wrong and your emergency window winder was upside down in the glove box, nobody wins and nobody loses. Rather the event is a celebration of car culture held in the green and pleasant surrounds of Villa Grumello and Villa Sucato on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy. [Read more…] about Fuori Concorso, 2024
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
We continue with the Fuori Concorso coverage. Above, the free ice cream courtesy of Porsche was especially welcome, and the mint flavor complete with real mint leaves was divine. Now back to the cars. As before, no guarantees on identifications, but let us know if we have gone astray for the record.
Fiat 2300 Ghia, behind which is BAC 1/11 G-ASYD. Throughout its 29-year flying career SYD was used as a test aircraft for various variants and for testing technical equipment including ‘Fly by Light Control Technology.’ Donated to the museum by British Aerospace Airbus Ltd and landing at Brooklands (her 5004th landing) on the 14th July 1994.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
“Just follow the F40!” Not something I have said before but when my pal asked me which junction we needed to exit the motorway, it sounded so much better than “this one.” The F40 had just passed us, by the way, and it was obvious that we were both heading to the same event. So where were we going on this bright spring morning (4th May)?
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
A service of Thanksgiving in Westminster Abbey is a very rare and special occasion, and not something you would expect to be conducted for a racing driver. Such is the respect held for Sir Stirling Moss, who was recently honored with a service at the Abbey, delayed after his death in 2020 by the pandemic. I found out about this unique happening from a friend, who in an email wrote, ‘Quick, there is going to be a service of Thanksgiving to Sir Stirling Moss at 11am on the 8th May, and it is going to be in Westminster Abbey! Go onto the web site now and see if you can book tickets.”
Shadow Prototype
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Earlier this year when the post card from Goodwood landed on the mat inviting me to attend the 81st Members Meeting, on the front was written “Can-Am.” I knew right then I was going to be attending. I have always had a soft spot for monster McLarens, Marchs and Lolas with bodywork big enough to land a helicopter, but this year it was the seven Shadow Can Am cars of the James Bartel collection that really grabbed my attention; mini sized front wheels, twin rear wheels, spoiler mounted radiators, and aerodynamic devices like the wing fences of an old MIG 15 fighter jet! Fantastic stuff, and all the Shadows took to the circuit instead of just static displays. In fact the daily Can Am demo included 19 various examples of V8 Thunder, plus two 12 cylinder Porsches for good measure. Truly made my day.