Simca Aronde Plein Ciel with coachwork by Facel.
Photos by Jonathan Sharp
We continue with the offerings from French Car Day at Brooklands, Renault and Citroen up….
Renault
The Idiosyncratic Renault R16
Renault R16 Down Under
The Brighton Run, 2015
Brown Brother of London offered Tricycles and a light steam car. However as they did not have any manufactures premises, they offered the American Whitney as the Brown Whitney and also some cars made by Star. This Quadricycle, entered by Mr. David Oakley, hails from 1899 and is powered by a 2.25 cylinder engine.
Story and Photos by Jonathan Sharp
November 1st, 2015
The sun came out and it was lovely and warm in Brighton today. Not the usual weather for the London to Brighton Run. It is November but this year there was a blazing sun and I needed a sun blocker. My first memory of the event is watching the cars pass from the side windows of my father’s Austin 1300 whilst parked on the A23 just outside of Brighton; it was usually raining. Sunday the 1st November, 2015 will go down in the weather history books as being the hottest November day in Great Britain for 70 years. [Read more…] about The Brighton Run, 2015
The Renault Alpine A220
Le Mans 1969, from left:#31 Alpine A220-1731(1968)for Jean-Pierre Nicolas- Jean-Luc Thérier, #29 Alpine A220-1736(1969) for Patrick Depailler-Jean-Pierre Jabouille, #30 Alpine A220-1734 (1969) for Henri Grandsire- Jean-Claude Andruet
Story by Roberto Motta
Historic images courtesy Renault Communications
Scroll to read in the Italian language
In the 1960s, thanks to the financial support of Renault, Alpine created several cars with which it managed to win the class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Alpine M63, M64, M65 and A210 were particularly competitive and reliable enough to obtain class victories numerous times as well as do well in the energy performance and index performance awards. [Read more…] about The Renault Alpine A220
The Ultimate Alpine Recreation
For passion and fun…Entent Cordiale
By Roy Smith
Photos © Roy Smith /John Wheeler/SAMCMOORE
At first glance you might think, “That’s a nicely restored A110 berlinette – Group 5 perhaps– certainly looks interesting.” Then you hear the figures from its owner; max power DIN HP 359.8, max torque DIN 325(441 Nms), weight 698Kg, and you’re forgiven for thinking, “WOW!” Then “Impossible! No berlinette A110 ever saw those figures!”
You would be right. It’s not an A110 berlinette, but unless you are a died-in-the-wool purist, unsettled by those who dare to look into the future of what might have been had Renault extended the life of the A110 model, you will find this fabulous recreation not only a true work of art and engineering perfection but, like its ancestors, one of the most beautiful shapes ever created for a motor car, and a worthy contender to extend the name of Alpine in the current world of the super-car aficionados.
The Marquis of Mystery Part 3: Shattered Dreams
By Roy Smith
In Part 1, Barn Find, and Part 2 Glass Dreams Smith described the Rédélé barn find, the relationship to Jean Rédélé, Zark W. Reed, Renault Rosier and the search for the elusive Fiberglas car called “Marquis”. Part 3 explains how everything went badly for Reed and how Porsche-Meister Bob Holbert played a part in this incredible story.
[Read more…] about The Marquis of Mystery Part 3: Shattered Dreams
Marquis of Mystery Part 2: Dreams of Glass
In Part 1, Barn Find, Smith described the search for the elusive “Marquis” which resulted in the amazing barn find of the Rédélé Special Number 2 in Pennsylvania. Part 2 deals with an eager American businessman, Zark W. Reed, who had a plan for Jean Rédélé and his car. Above, the Rogue; was this design by French racing driver Louis Rosier really the “Marquis”? And what is the connection to Rédélé? Read on.
By Roy Smith
Dreams of Glass
1953 witnessed the first Chevrolet Corvette to roll off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan. The concept of an all-glass-fiber production sports car had just become a reality. Glass fiber had arrived on the scene many years before. In the 1880s a glass maker from Massachusetts by the name of Edward Drummond Libbey had first discovered that glass in fiber “staple” silk-like format could be woven as a fabric – he even had a dress made that was exhibited at the Chicago World Fair in 1893.
[Read more…] about Marquis of Mystery Part 2: Dreams of Glass
Smith at Silverstone
Right before I left for Silverstone, your kindly Editor asked me to keep an eye out for any French oddities which might appear. At the auction, I found these two, both of which definitely fit the bill. Color photos by Roy Smith.
Claude in the Ferry during the 1950 Le Mans.
Hugues Vanhoolandt at Retromobile
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 …
Best of France and Italy 2011
One of our favorite shows is the “Best of France and Italy”, held every year on the grounds of Woodley Park in the L.A. area. It is low key, a true enthusiasts gathering, and brings out a great variety of unusual French, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian and Czechoslovakian cars. Don Hodgdon was there for us.[Ed.]
Story and photos by Don Hodgdon
Rain was falling when I woke up Sunday morning, but it passed through quickly and I left Santa Barbara under sunny skies. I had thought twice about heading down to Woodley Park, having my doubts that anyone would show up. While the numbers were down from past years, considering the rain there was a good group of cars. Alfas and Fiats, along with a healthy group of Citroens made up the bulk of the show, and I think there were almost as many Tatras (3) as there were Ferraris.
[Read more…] about Best of France and Italy 2011
French and Italian Cars at Goodwood Festival
Renault has come a long way since the post-war days of the Shooting Star and the Dauphine. The 1977 Renault RS01 was Renault’s first attempt in Formula 1, using turbo technology. Nicknamed ‘the yellow teapot’, Renault became a winner only two years after their difficult debut in F1.
Hugues Vanhoolandt brings us the best of France and Italy, Goodwood Style.
Every year since 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Southern England attracts the best of the cars and drivers from past and present and even provides a look at the future of the automobile.
One of the themes of this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed was “Giant steps in motor racing history”, and to illustrate the theme, some French cars in attendance were really appropriate. To mention a few, a 1930 Bugatti Type 53 four-wheel drive, the 1964 CD-Panhard with its aerodynamic shape to suit the straights of Le Mans, the four-wheel steering Peugeot 405 T 16 ‘Pikes Peak’, the 1977 Renault Turbo that revolutionized F1 and the 2010 electric powered Citroën Survolt. French cars have been on the leading edge of technological changes since the invention of the automobile.
Only the Festival of Speed can bring together so many different cars to give an instant view of more than a century of automotive history and this year Ferrari and Fiat were in showing cars that covered the span of that century. Chris Evans’ collection alone was worth the trip!
Peugeot won three times Indy 500, in 1913, 1916 (this car) and 1919.
Bugatti was a pioneer of four-wheel drive and tried it in the Bugatti T53.
Bugatti T54 of 1931 won on the Avus circuit, near Berlin, with Achille Varzi at the wheel.
The CD-Panhard (1964), propelled by a little .85 litre 2 cylinder engine, was build to win the Index of Performance at Le Mans. With its drag coefficient of 0.12, it topped out at 140 mph in the Hunaudières.
With the V12 MS670 of 1972, Matra became the first French marque to win at Le Mans since 1950. Here is the MS670B model of 1973.
The Peugeot 905, with carbon fibre monocoque and F1-style engine, succeeded Matra on the Le Mans winner’s list in 1992 and 1993.
Peugeot not only won Indy on American soil, but also Pikes Peak with the four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering 405 Turbo 16 in 1988 with Ari Vatanen driving.
After retiring from F1 in 1985, Renault became engine supplier for Williams with whom they won nine F1 world championships between 1989 and 1997. Renault recently announced that they will again provide engines to the Williams team next year.
Is the future electric ? Citroën seems to think so but electric is not necessarily dull and boring as demonstrate the Survolt.
Italians
A hundred years ago, engines with huge capacity were common on the racing scene as this Fiat S74 Grand Prix of 1911 using a 14.2 Litre 4-cylinder engine.
Originally a Grand Prix racer, this Fiat was rebuilt as a record-breaker in 1923 by Ernest Eldridge, using a 21.7 Litre aero engine. Called the ‘Mefistofele’, it reached 146 mph top speed in 1924.
Ferrari 340 America Touring coupé s/n 0122 A of David Cottingham of DK Engineering took Best of Show in the Cartier Style and Luxe Concours d’Elégance.
This Ferrari 375 MM spyder Pinin Farina s/n 0382 AM has been raced extensively in the US by Bill Spear and Duncan Black between 1954 an 1958.
250 GTL, 275 GTB, 365 GTC, 288 GTO, F40, all part of the collection of BBC Radio & TV presenter Chris Evans ...
as is this 250 GTO s/n 4675 GT that Evans acquired last year from the Matsuda Collection.
Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason brought his 365 GTB/4 Daytona Group 4 with 1972 Le Mans Ecurie Francorchamps livery.
In 1952, Ferrari sent some 375 Grand Prix cars to Indianapolis in order to conquer the brickyard, but without success. This car is now part of the Louwman Collection, in the Netherlands.
Lancia D50 had fuel tanks placed in the pontoons for a better weight distribution. This example is an exact replica of the 1954 model.
The Ferrari 312 B3, due to Mauro Forghieri, brought three wins to the Cavallino Rampante in 1974.
Every year, most of the F1 teams are present at Goodwood and Ferrari is no exception, with the F10 model of last year, driven by test driver Marc Gene.