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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

Maserati

Spa Classic 2011

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Small turnout at the first Spa Classic didn't deter our man Vanhoolandt from bringing back great shots. The Raidillon corner, pictured here, is the landmark of the circuit, a right turn uphill that F1 cars take flat out.

Photos and Captions by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Belgian Vincent Gaye always spectacular in his Ferrari 250 GT SWB s/n 2069GT, winner of the race for pre-66 Italians Sports and GTs.

The first Spa Classic was held at the end of May on a circuit called by some ‘the most beautiful circuit in the world’, Francorchamps in the Ardennes region in southern Belgium.
It is certainly one of the most challenging racetracks with fast corners, climbs and descents.
[Read more…] about Spa Classic 2011

Lynch at Lockbourne, 1953

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With the help of Doug Chadwick’s photo collection, Michael T. Lynch recalls the event and put captions to the photos below.

Not many single seaters were seen in early SCCA racing. This is Woodie Garber’s Alfa 308 at Lockbourne. Even then, it was well traveled, having participated in European Grands Prix, U.S. ARCA racing, the Indianapolis 500 and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb. It did not finish.

Lockbourne AFB, 1953. Here’s one of the great Italians of the 50s in U.S. racing. This is Fritz Koster’s Maserati A6GCS. It won its class in the main event that day and was later owned by historian/auto executive Karl Ludvigsen. It now is back in the Koster family and is still racing.

[Read more…] about Lynch at Lockbourne, 1953

From the Archives: The OSCA Berlinettas

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The fantastic OSCA Coupe Vignale, chassis number 1153.

October 17th, 2007

Story by Pete Vack

We’ve long been interested in the OSCA MT4 Berlinettas–a particularly virulent form of OSCA-it is, as there were so few built. Several years ago Christophe Pund contacted us and said he had found there remains of 1176. It is being restored but no photos of the original car exist. He hopes someone might be able to help. In addition to Mr. Pund’s story and photos, we’ve also provided the details of all the OSCA coupes in our article below.
[January 4, 2011: Since this was written chassis 1176 has changed hands, but their are still no photos or drawings of the original engine!]
[Read more…] about From the Archives: The OSCA Berlinettas

Cavallino Classic Historics

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Todd Morici, BB/LM 512. Juha Lievonen/photosbyjuha.com

Photos by Juha Lievonen/photosbyjuha.com

Todd Morici and Peter Giddings were the first two drivers to be named “Grand Masters” in the Ferrari Historic Challenge, reflecting their multiple wins and championships. At the 2010 Cavallino Classic the pair proved they’ve lost none of their skills, as each was an overall winner in the event’s Historic Races. [Read more…] about Cavallino Classic Historics

Bi-Turbo: The Car that Saved Maserati

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maserati biturbo

The Maserati BiTurbo just may have saved Maserati from extinction.

By Wallace Alfred Wyss

In the late 1970s, Alejandro de Tomaso came to America to find out what kind of car Americans want. He had been building the Pantera since 1971 (continuing even after 1974 when Ford ceased importing it to the U.S.) and bought Maserati yet he wasn’t sure what kind of car Americans really desired.

It was by happenstance he dropped by Dick Guldstrand’s shop and Guldstrand invited me over to talk to Alejandro about what I thought he needed to build. I mentioned the BMW 2002 to the Italian car builder and told him what a great car it was in its time. He left and not long after I heard about the Maserati Bi-turbo. [Read more…] about Bi-Turbo: The Car that Saved Maserati

Bountiful Berlinettas: Mille Miglia 2009 PI

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Did Ferrari coin the term “berlinetta”? If not, he certainly created many cars that defined the word. Here is perhaps the greatest berlinetta of all, 0026M, a 195 MM Ferrari driven to victory in the 1950 Mille Miglia.

All photos by Alessandro Gerelli
Story by staff.

This year, our photographer thought it might be interesting to concentrate his efforts on the Italian berlinettas which are so prevalent at this event. We thought so too, and decided write an etymology of the term “berlinetta” as applied to Italian two position coupes.

Part I will cover Alfa through Ferrari, Part II, Fiat through Siata.

In 1987, in an introduction to the book “Berlinettas: Classic coupes of yesterday and today”, Sergio Pininfarina wrote: “When Enzo Ferrari invented the word ‘Berlinetta’ to designate his Coupes, he meant to emphasize a particular set of qualities.” [sic]
[Read more…] about Bountiful Berlinettas: Mille Miglia 2009 PI

Bountiful Berlinettas: Mille Miglia 2009 PII

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Hot on the tail of Alfa, Ferrari and Lancia, Fiat did their berlinetta act on the 1100, culminating in the 1947 1100S Mille Miglia model. It in turn was preceded by the absolutely berlinetta 1935 Balilla 508S.

Photos by Alessandro Gerelli
Story by staff

In this part, Alessandro Gerelli brings us the Mille Miglia berlinettas from Fiat to Siata. As we have related in Part I, Enzo Ferrari was implicated in the birth of the term berlinetta. But was this so, and if so, how?
[Read more…] about Bountiful Berlinettas: Mille Miglia 2009 PII

Cavallino 2009

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cavallino Cavallino 2009, focusing on the Mondial 500 S/N 0556(0446)/MD.

Story and Photos by Werner Pfister

(Palm Beach January 23-26 2009)
In spite of Bernie Madoff, the economy and a mid-week cold spell, Palm Beach rallied to once again host the Cavallino Classic; number 18, in fact! While many predicted a weak turn out, I observed many happy Ferraristi at every event of the Classic throughout the week. John and Alicia Barnes did a great job in getting a very enthusiastic group of participants and spectators to turn out despite the odds.
[Read more…] about Cavallino 2009

Ferrari Shell Historics at Palm Beach, Two

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ferrari Peter Giddings took home the trophy for the Drum Brake Class.

All photos by Richard Prince

The first round of the Ferrari Shell Historics opened at what was once called Moroso, and now the Palm Beach International Raceway. In addition to the race report, (See Part 1) here are more scenes from the lens of Richard Prince.
[Read more…] about Ferrari Shell Historics at Palm Beach, Two

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