The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Having sent the Editor the photographs for this piece, he asked me to tell our audience why a Brit who drives an Alfa appreciates Bentleys. An interesting question, and one to which I had never given much thought. The stock answer might be that I am English, and that we are hard-wired to appreciate Bentleys as much as we appreciate the Spitfires and Hurricanes of the Battle of Britain; it is in our DNA.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
A visit to the Lukas Hüni AG stand at Retromobile is one of the top highlights in a show full of many highlights. In 2017 the stand featured treasures from the Bentley and Bugatti. In 2018 it was the Ferrari 250 series, Last year it was Lancia, with an amazing multi colored line up of Stratos. As 2020 is the 110th birthday of Alfa Romeo it was not surprising that they were the chosen marque, and boy what a line up it was, as you can see from the following shots. [Read more…] about Jonathan Sharp: Alfas at Retromobile
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
How best to sum up Retromobile (February 5-9) in a few words; variety, rarity and quality! This year it was perhaps a little bit crowded at times and halls two and three could do with a renovation. But according to the press release from the organizers, 620 exhibitors exhibited, 1100 vehicles were on display over an area of 75,000 square meters, and 122,000 people attended over the five days of the show. Imagine what it would be like if it were to be held in summer! [Read more…] about Sharp at Retromobile, February 5-9, 2020
Lancias are featured in the new FCA Heritage Hub.
This week we are happy to present to our readers a sneak preview of Fiat’s fantastic new museum, thanks to the assistance of Fiat Public Relations agent Umberto Hardouin. For this special feature, VeloceToday has installed a slide show feature, so you can enjoy the 36 images at your own speed. If you wish to speed up the slide show viewing, simply click on the right arrow.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
As we related last week, we visited the Fiat Centro Storico and then had lunch at the New Holland staff canteen. Our journey to the afternoon destination was a walk of just a few meters, as it was located in Workshop 81, situated next door. It is called the FCA Heritage Hub and it is not yet open to the public. [Read more…] about Jonathan Sharp’s Visit to the FCA Heritage Hub
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
We spent the morning at the Centro Storico Museum, as we related in last week’s Part 1 and below in Part 2. But it now was time to eat in Italy.
So where does an Italian working for Fiat go to take lunch? A nice little trattoria hidden down a small side street in Turin? No. Signor Hardouin has graciously arranged for us to eat at the Mirafiori factory where most of the workers eat. [Read more…] about Jonathan Sharp at Centro Storico Part 2 Postwar
We bet you don’t know what this is. To find out, read on.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
After our first day or so in Turin (see Scaglietti in Turin) and the visit to the Scaglietti exhibition, the next day went well, in fact I would say very well. As previously planned, Signor Hardouin from the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Press office arrived bang on time to pick us up from the Hotel Lingotto, paying our respects to the fascinating Siata Amica as we went out the door. [Read more…] about Jonathan Sharp at Fiat’s Centro Storico
Catching the Scaglietti exhibition in Turin.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Well, it was all rather last minute, but my wife and I flew to Turin to do a bit of late Christmas food shopping. It’s a bit far to go to just buy a panettone, but this being Turin, old Italian cars will no doubt be part of the trip.
As we reported in our
The new exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum covers a wide range of topics with great thought and imagination.
Photos by Jonathan Sharp
Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone to the newly named Victoria and Albert Museum in May 1899, and proclaimed “I trust it will remain for ages a monument of discerning liberty and a source of refinement and progress.” Whilst it is said that she did not say “we are not amused” I think the latest exhibition ‘Cars Accelerating the Modern World’ would have amused her.
This Fiat, an 1899 2 cyl 3.5 hp Vis a vis, is owned by FCA but displayed at the National Motor Museum Beaulieu and driven by Doug Hill and Ian Staplefield. This is believed to be one of the first Fiats produced and is one of only three known to survive.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
What a difference a day makes. The weather on Saturday had been terrible, with gale force winds and torrential rain for most of the day. It did not bode well for the London to Brighton Veteran car run taking place the next day.
Julian Majzub
Photos by Jonathan Sharp
A bit of the drivers, a focus on the Moss celebration, we can’t forget the Minis and the Beatles and Carnaby street now can we, and a goodbye kiss for D-Day.
Drivers
Katarina Kyvalova
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
June 21-23, 2019 Heveningham Hall, UK —“What is your business here?” thus spoke the larger of the two assault-rifle-toting-military personal as we arrived at the main gate of the location. I wondered if he’d be ok with VeloceToday credentials. [Read more…] about Heveningham Hall Concours 2019
