Browsing: Vintage Roadcar Articles
Did the 700 Save BMW?
The role the 700 placed in the history of BMW is complicated. Some say the 700 saved the company, but it isn’t that simple.Immediately after the end of the war, BMW produced bicycles, kitchen equipment and other mundane products; mostly made from melted down aluminum airplane parts. The first post-war motorcycle was introduced in 1948 and sold well through its peak sales year of 1952, dropping quickly after that. The 501 baroque angel was put into production in 1952, but it was too expensive for most German families at that time and the styling was from the 1930s. A bigger…
Lime Rock Announces “Sunday in the Park Concours” Classes
This year’s 38th Historic Festival weekend, the Sunday in the Park Concours (Sept. 6, 2020) is being redesigned around a refined set of classes that maintains a focus on interesting classic, sports and racing cars, but, in keeping with the spirit of the current times, adds some additional classes, including one for classic camping trailers – the ideal solution for social distancing. The concours will also feature “either side of the ponds” with classes for French cars and for the Datsun/Nissan Z-cars, honoring the 240Z’s 50th anniversary. As in previous year’s, the concours will again have a class for unrestored and…
Alfa Romeo Hosts 110th Birthday Party.
In celebration of Alfa Romeo’s 110th anniversary on June 24, 2020, fans of the brand, otherwise known as “Alfisti,” paraded modern and classic vehicles on the track at the Alfa Romeo Museum, taking the opportunity to capture a memorable photo of cars in an “AR 110” formation. The museum reopened its doors for this event, providing access to both media and public, and following all current health and safety guidelines. On this special occasion, the brand also invited fans from around the world to join the celebratory festivities online,to see new sections of the museum and enjoy exclusive video content.…
Successful Rally Across America Poised to go National
Jim Petty and his wife Wendy had been watching the news for two weeks straight and seeing what the pandemic was doing to some of the more challenged communities as the lock-down and quarantine unfolded. He knew there was a stimulus package, but it would dry up pretty quickly. It was going to get tougher before it got better. He wanted to help. Jim looked at his wife and said, “I want to help, we want to help, but the last thing places like Bridgeport, Bethel, Danbury, and South Norwalk need is another 61-year old guy shoveling mashed potatoes on…
The Brumos Collection
The numbers alone on the Brumos Collection are impressive, starting with a collection of cars numbering in the 60s, two-thirds of which are on display at any one time. These cars occupy over 35,000 square feet of display space and include Brumos’ legacy of racing and collecting Porsches stretching back to the ’50s and coming forward into the present day. All of this combined, somehow, still doesn’t prepare you for the reality of the collection. Guided by signs displaying the iconic red and blue stripes and Brumos logos, you turn onto the meticulously manicured grounds. Anticipation builds as you are…
The “Grey Lady”
Announced on October 20 ,1953, the Alvis TC21/100—or “Grey Lady” as it was marketed— featured a 3-liter Straight-6 engine capable of propelling the large sedan to a top speed of 100 mph. Mini designer, Alex Issigonis had input into the design of the Alvis TC 21/100.
1972 Citroën DS Rally Prototype
In 2015, the Citroën DS celebrated its 60th anniversary, in style, in Paris. Over 700 DS owners traveled from all over Europe, showing how the DS still enjoys a huge following. Unanimously acclaimed for its road handling qualities, the DS would also go on to become an agile competition car. After the crew of Coltelloni and Alexander Desrosiers took home a victory in the Rally Monte Carlo, in 1959 driving an ID19, Citroën became aware of the DS’s potential and so put René Cotton in charge of creating the brand’s competition department. In the late ’60s, the DS Series of…
Concours of Elegance to be Held in September
The Concours of Elegance will go ahead in the spectacular gardens of Hampton Court Palace this September, it has been announced. The rare car show will grace the palace gardens in late Summer, following their re-opening this week. The Concours of Elegance 2020 – September 4-6 – will be the first major international concours d’ elegance event since Amelia Island in March. Liz Young, Head of Events for Historic Royal Palaces said, “We are thrilled to be re-opening our gardens this week, and very excited that this means the Concours of Elegance can go ahead in September. It is always…
Cars & Culture—Today and Tomorrow
Car design has always been a passion of mine. The idea that you can begin with just a drawing, blend a series of mechanical components, and derive an object not only suitable for functional transport, but also something exciting to look at and experience, is an enormously compelling endeavor for an imaginative mind. But as much as I enjoy cars and their obvious beauty, power, and performance, there is another equally compelling aspect to the automobile that delivers a multi-layered view into our culture and serves as a guide into our potential future. The automobile is perhaps the single most…
Alfa Romeo Museum to Reopen on its 110th Birthday
The Alfa Romeo museum will reopen to the public on June 24 , the day on which the brand will celebrate its 110th anniversary. The festivities for the Biscione’s anniversary will take place in the museum at Arese and will continue across the weekend. The museum has a very special surprise in store for clubs and enthusiasts, as for the first time ever visitors will have the opportunity to see certain areas that have previously remained closed to the public and were not included in the museum itinerary. Visitors will be able to go “backstage of the museum” on the…
First International “Concours Virtual” to Benefit UNICEF
Thousands of classic and supercars, which this year would have been appearing at concours events around the globe but are instead languishing in garages, now have the chance of taking part in an online concours that could raise thousands of pounds for Unicef. Concours Virtual will be run across social media and the website www.concoursvirtual.com to give owners the chance of taking part in a global event and to allow enthusiasts around the world to see some of the best cars ever made. The cars will be judged by a group of motoring experts and celebrities. The online concours, which…