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The Online Magazine for Italian and French Classic Car Enthusiasts

simca

A French Charmer by Bertone

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By Greg Glassner

As a newly minted 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Transportation Corps stationed at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, in 1967, I shared an apartment in Newport News with two other lieutenants. I regularly drove by a local Chevy dealer on the way to the base. A new or used Corvette usually sat on an elevated pedestal in the center of the used car lineup. Being a car nut, I’d scan this arrangement of automotive temptations as I drove by. One day I did a double-take when I spied a pretty little coupe decked out in a pale metallic version of French racing blue.

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Fiats, Panhards, Pegaso, now Simca: The Stinkwheel Story

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By Pete Vack and David Beare

From the Archives: It is fitting that exactly five years ago we published this interesting bio about David Beare just as his latest book, The Simca Story, 51 years of cars 1933-1984, is now in print and available. This great little history of Simca will be reviewed shortly.-Ed.

First the name; we have to explain the name for those of us unfamiliar with British jargon. “The name Stinkwheel derives from 1930’s slang amongst motorcyclists for small-capacity, feeble two-stoke powered cyclemotors and autocycles which buzzed noisily but slowly around in a cloud of blue oily smoke- a stinkwheel,” writes Beare. His first two books were histories of such cyclemotors- “The Stinkwheel Sagas.” Thus came the name of the publishing company, which is at the very least, unforgettable. How Stinkwheel went from cyclemotors to Hispano Suiza is another good question. [Read more…] about Fiats, Panhards, Pegaso, now Simca: The Stinkwheel Story

Abarth Works Museum Hosts Simca and Gordini

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Guy Moerenhout’s Abarth Works Museum is a must for any Italian car enthusiast. Get there before January 7 while the Italian French Affair is still on display.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

In addition to the remarkable collection of Abarths at

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Abarth Guy Revisited

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Guy Moerenhout with the iconic original photo of the train of Berlina Corsa models on the Monza banking in 1966.

Story and photos by Alain Raymond

“A living museum, with no rope or cordon” This is how he describes his still-growing 340 car collection, housed in a 43,000 square foot ex-tool factory, located in the small town of Lier, in Belgium. “Some 80 percent of the cars here are operational. I believe in letting the cars live and be used for the way they were intended,” explains Guy Moerenhout, ex-factory rallyman for Abarth and present-day guru for all things Abarth. VeloceToday first visited Moerenhout’s museum in 2010 and I went back this past June to further explore this unique homage to Carlo Abarth and his many creations.

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Automedon in Paris, 2015

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Simca 8 Roux Speciale, 1939.

Simca 8 Roux Speciale, 1939.

Story and photos by Alessandro Gerelli

Automedon is a two day event held every year in the exhibition center of the Bourget Airport near Paris. This year to celebrate its 15th edition, the main theme of the event was Simca and the Club Simca France presented many Simcas of the 40s and 50s.

But as usual, in the parking lot outside, many production cars, including Italians, Germans and Americans, attracted the attention of the enthusiastic visitors, and for us, perhaps even more fun than the show itself!

Nice cars, nice weather, lot of people…thoroughly enjoyable!

Delahaye 135 winner of the Le Mans 24 hours of 1938

Delahaye 135, winner of the Le Mans 24 hours of 1938.

Ligier JS2, 1972-75

Ligier JS2, 1972-75

[Read more…] about Automedon in Paris, 2015

Best of France and Italy 2011

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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

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