
This 1964 Ferrari 1512 brought a little variety in the F1 1500 cc grid, dominated by Lotus and Brabhams. Owned by Lawrence Auriana and driven by Joe Colasacco, it sadly had to retire after one lap.
Story and Photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Click on Pics to enlarge!
Back in 1997 the first Historic Grand Prix of Monaco was held to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Grimaldi Dynasty, featuring cars that had taken part in the Monaco Grand Prix since its inception in 1929.
Destined to be a unique event, the Automobile Club of Monaco finally decided to organize a second edition in 2000 and since then, every two years, the streets of Monaco are the backdrop for a lesson in history.
Despite the age and the value of the cars entered, or the age of their drivers, enthusiasts can see real racing between the rails of the narrow streets of the principality.
The event is held over three days with free practice on Friday, qualifying on Saturday, and racing on Sunday. The vintage race cars are organized into different series according to their category and age:
Series A – Pre-WW II Grand Prix and voiturette cars
Series B – Pre-1961 Grand Prix F.1 and F.2 cars
Series C – 1952-55 Sports cars
Series D – 1961-65 1.5 liter F.1 Grand Prix cars
Series E – 1966-72 F.1 Grand Prix cars
Series F – 1973-78 F.1 Grand Prix cars
Series G – 1974-78 F.3 2.0 liter cars
Individual series results for the event can be found on the Automobile Club de Monaco’s official website (link below). It’s all in French but easy to understand when you open the documents if you just keep in mind that ‘Essai’ means practice or time trial, ‘Grille de Depart’ is Starting Grid, and ‘Resultats’ is results ( just as it sounds!):
Grand Prix de Monaco Historique

There were many Bugattis in the Pre War voiturettes & Grand Prix Cars, like this born-Type 35, later equipped with a Type 51 engine. This car was entered by Australian Andrew Cannon.

A T35C, one of the 4 cars entered in the San Sebastian Grand Prix in 1927. Driven here by Martin Halusa.

A pair of Bugattis in the Avenue d’Ostende, just after the famous Sainte Devote corner, which saw so many car pile-ups over the years.

In the Pre-1961 Grand Prix race was the tiny Gordini Type 11/15 driven by Frenchman Jean-Jacques Bailly. This car was part of the works team in 1947, driven by Prince Bira of Siam.

Frank Stippler shows his generous driving style at the wheel of the 1958 Maserati 250 F called ‘Piccolo’ because it was shorter and weighed less than the 1957 cars. It is also the last 250 F built.

The 1959 Tec Mec driven to the limit by Tony Wood, to finish 3rd after a fierce battle with Stippler.

In 1952, the single-seaters were replaced by sports racing cars in the Monaco GP. The C grid commemorate this period. Here a Maserati 150S sold new to Briggs Cunningham and later equipped with a 200S engine.

Hard on the bumps for the Maserati 300S of Frenchman Nicolas Chambon, It was delivered in 1955 to Tony Parravano.

This helmet wears the colors of Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson who won the Monaco GP 40 years ago. But it was on a JPS Lotus, not on a March 711 as here.

Another driver who is well-remembered those days is James Hunt, the original driver of this 1975 Hesketh, appropriately wearing his colours.

Not a great success but a great-looking car is the 1972 Ferrari 312 B3 called ‘Spazzaneve’ in Italian that can be translated as ‘snow plow’.

The starting grid of the F1 cars from 1966 to 1972. The Matra MS120B, driven by Chris Amon in 1971 and 1972, finished 3rd behind a Lotus 72 and a Brabham BT33.

Driven here by Steve Tillack, a well-known US restorer, the 1970 De Tomaso F1 was designed by Dallara and originally entered by Frank Williams for Piers Courage.

Driven here by Manfredo Rossi, from the family who sponsored the Brabham team in period, this Brabham BT45 was powered by an Alfa Romeo flat 12 engine and driven in 1976 by Pace and Reutemann.
RM AUCTION

Despite its barn find condition, this 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider Veloce, one of the last series, achieved a respectable $63,115.

This 1956 Maserati 450S was born as a 350S and driven by Moss with Jenkinson at the 1956 Mille Miglia. Then the chassis being lengthened to accommodate the new 450S V8 engine, the car can be considered as the 450S prototype. It was not sold, the highest bid being $4,930,000.

After a long career in hill-climbing in Italy, this Dino 206 S went back to the factory to receive further improvements and a body in the style of the 312 P which makes this car very unique. It went for $2,920,000.

Another Italian classic, the Lanvia Fulvia 1.6 HF, called ‘Fanalone’ by Italian enthusiasts because of its big headlamps, sold for $118,400.

At the 1964 24 hours of Le Mans, this Alpine M64 finished 1st in class, 17th overall et first in the energy efficiency classification. Sold for $442,170.
Looks like googlemoney prevails. Just adding $000 on to the prices, not necessarily the values.
Thanks Hugues as always for great coverage of a great event that we all wish we could attend. My last takeaway from the article is serious regret over having sold, back in the 1970’s, my red 1965 Giulia Spider for only $2,000.
Memories…memories !!!
Thank you “Hug”
RIP Jack Brabham