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Archives for November 2015
Book Review: Alfa Romeo: View from the Mouth of the Dragon
Alfa Romeo: View from the Mouth of the Dragon by S. Scott Callan
A Velocity Group publication
Hardback, leather bound, 369 pages
34 engineering illustrations 30 illustrations of Alfa Romeos,
56 color photographs, and film frames of the races between the wars.
Order via http://www.gearshift.com/library/TheNewBook.html
Price, $395 USD plus shipping
Review by Pete Vack
Take two luxurious leather covers, add a masterful binding and between those physical constraints, one can let the imagination soar. For a book can be many things, free from formal rules, modified to create a theme or idea or concept, a technical dissertation or a work of art or both at the same time. When reviewing a book such as this, one needs to allow the author to capture that promise of imagination. [Read more…] about Book Review: Alfa Romeo: View from the Mouth of the Dragon
As Found Classic Number Eighteen
The response to the Alfa in search of a chassis was so helpful that our French collector sent another mystery Alfa for our readers to solve. Surely someone in Europe or the U.S. might remember this chop job…who would forget this attempt make a sow’s ear out of a silk purse. Here is all we know:
Simon Moore and The Magnificent Monopostos
By Pete Vack
Simon Moore has recently completed his third…and perhaps last…volumes on the pre-war Alfa Romeos.
The Magnificent Monopostos, Alfa Romeo Grand Prix Cars, 1923 to 1951 is now available now from him directly at gpalfabook@gmail.com. ISBN number is 978-0-9820774-2-9 (for two volume set in slip case)
As most everyone knows, his venture into Alfa history began with the incredible book, The Immortal 2.9 which was followed by the The Legendary 2.3. Both were exceptional works, detailing the subject cars and tracing each one, serial number by serial number. Simon’s first book won the coveted Cugnot Award from the Society of Automotive Historians in 1986. The Legendary 2.3 covering the 8C2300 and Monza was awarded the Prix Bellecour in France in 2000. The 2.9 book has since been completely rewritten and a Revised Edition was published in 2008. Both books are still available from Parkside Publications. [Read more…] about Simon Moore and The Magnificent Monopostos
VeloceToday for November 17, 2015
Past and Present Alfa Part 3: Final Details
Photos by David Gooley
Final Details
With the mechanicals completed and the chassis painted, the body sections were installed and final prep began. The location of head lights and taillights were determined, and the modifications made to front and rear fenders. To keep the front-end design as clean as possible, turn signal fixtures were installed in the head light buckets. With the headlight buckets welded in place, weeks of aligning, filling, and sanding followed until a coat of primer could be applied. In this state, devoid of any distracting trim pieces, the virgin bodylines could be evaluated for balance, proportion, and overall conformation.
Pfister and the Yellow Crayola Ferrari
“The Yellow Crayola Ferrari Enzo” was the last and one of the best articles submitted to VeloceToday by Werner Pfister, who died in March, 2013 after a battle with cancer. His story about a Crayon Ferrari crafted by a renowned artist for a Children’s hospital reminded us of Werner’s keen eye for an interesting story as well as his generosity and kindness.
Farina’s Jupiter Symphony
By Pete Vack, Pat Lockyer and Edmund Nankivell
Recently a rare Stablimenti Farina-bodied Jowett Jupiter came to our attention. It is particularly charming, and based on a very advanced British chassis, at a time when British chassis were not particularly advanced.
Book Review: Dino, The V6 Ferrari
Dino The V6 Ferrari
By Brian Long
$69.95 USD plus S&H
176 pages, 250 Photos Hardback 10 inches by 10 inches
ISBN 978-1-904788-39-3
Published by Veloce Publishing, UK, October 2010
Order from: www.veloce.co.uk
Tel Number 01305 260068
Also available next month from U.S.Distributor
Review by Pete Vack
2015 is the 50th anniversary of the Dino 246, apparently due to the introduction of the Dino Berlinetta concept car at Paris in October of 1965. Of course one might claim that is a bit premature, and several other dates since then could well be claimed as potential birthdates; much room to hype and celebrate down the road. [Read more…] about Book Review: Dino, The V6 Ferrari
As Found Classic Number Seventeen
A mystery in Italy, France and anywhere there might be an Alfa SZ without its original body. A VeloceToday reader and collector from TrustClassics in Bar le Duc, France, sent these photos of a front and back section of an Alfa SZ.
Keno Brothers offers Werner Pfister Collection and More
Beginning tomorrow, November 18th, The Rolling Sculpture 2015 will take place in NYC. The first event is a symposium, then auctions including the collection of Werner Pfister and finally an automobile auction. Read below for details and click to go the auction’s websites. [Read more…] about Keno Brothers offers Werner Pfister Collection and More