Gauld looks at the DKW
The Frazer-Nash DKW sports car prototype driven by Ken Rudd at the 1955 RAC Tourist Trophy Race. ( Photo Grand Prix Library/Gauld)
Story and photos by Graham Gauld
One of the first cars to impress me as being something of a “sleeper” was the DKW Sonderklasse. The car and the marque are probably totally unknown today as at least two generations have passed since first I saw one in action. It was pale blue and was driven by a young Scottish farmer called Ian Scott Watson.
Ian was the archetypal enthusiast who sold his MG for a typical British kit-car of the 1950s; a Buckler that he built up with the ubiquitous Ford 1250cc engine. It was not a success but he was fascinated by a rather odd looking car sold by AFN Ltd, a company with Frazer-Nash origins, that was to become the main importers of Porsches.
Salon Prive, 2026
“Shipshape and Bristol Fashion”
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
I suppose it had to happen. After something like 50 days without rain in the area, and frankly, rather unpleasantly hot temperatures, Wednesday September 2nd dawned wet and cool in Brighton. But the weatherman said it would clear later, so off I went to the Prive Concours. Three hours later I pulled into the car park at Blenheim Palace just as it started to rain; the weather had decided to follow me north and stayed with me for most of the day. [Read more…] about Salon Prive, 2026
De Gallo at the Museo Nazionale Dell’Automobile
Museo Nazionale Dell’Automobile
Story and photos by Daniel De Gallo
During my vacation in Piemonte this past month, it was worth revisiting the Museo Nazionale Dell’Automobile, located in the south end of beautiful Torino (Turin) Metropolitan city. Torino is home of F.I.A.T. and many other famous Italian car design firms. Torino was nominated sister city with Detroit, MI in 1998; that makes sense… and yes, Ford Gran Torino series were named after that city.
Anyway, the museum sits in a modern dedicated facility built between 1958 and 1960, with a retro futuristic style, still very elegant to this day. It is located minutes from the old F.I.A.T. Lingotto factory and roof-top proving track, now turned shopping mall and mixed-use office-residential space. [Read more…] about De Gallo at the Museo Nazionale Dell’Automobile
The Zagato Experience
Richard Stafferton’s TZ1 S/N 084 and John Winter’s Coda Tronca s/n 00195 and Oliver Collin’s round tail, s/n 00147, taken in Richard’s driveway in Toronto, 1978. See how many Alfas you can identify in Richard’s yard. Photo Oliver Collins collection.
By Pete Vack *
From the Archives, June 2015
As early as the late 1960s, the Alfa enthusiast instinctively knew that of all the post war Alfas semi production cars, the Zagatos were the most desirable. Alfa Zagatos exemplified the era of the relatively inexpensive, coachbuilt GT car, as did the special bodied Ferraris, Maseratis, and Lancias.
They were also, for most part, aluminum, which beat the ever present rust problem associated with steel bodied cars of the era. Unlike the competition, Alfas were more numerous, less expensive and in general more reliable. They had mechanicals that could be understood, repaired and there were ample parts available. Another part of the lure of Alfas was that the 1300/1600 cars were a joy to drive; some, yes, underpowered, but all were fun and easy to drive. They were small, light, responsive and eager. Many were raced successfully at Le Mans, Sebring, and the Targa Florio. [Read more…] about The Zagato Experience
Ferrari Behind the Fence, 1962
Jeff Allison continues the series looking at Ferraris he’s photographed – this time in 1962.
Twelve Hours of Sebring at the Sebring, Florida Airport on March 23-24, 1962
Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 61 (Chassis 0792TR), Sebring 12 Hours, March 23-24, 1962-jeff-allison
The Scuderia Serenissima, also known as the Scuderia SSS Republica di Venezia, of Italian Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata entered this 2953cc V12 Ferrari 250 TR61 driven by Swede Jo Bonnier and Italian-born, Belgian-resident Lucien Bianchi (in car).
Enemies of The Drake
Earlier this year, Jonathan Sharp had a chance to visit the Museo Nazionale Dell’Automobile in Turin and photographed this remarkable exhibition devoted to British Formula One teams that made life miserable for Ferrari in the 1960s through the 1980s. Per the Museo, “Enzo Ferrari used to call them, somewhat dismissively, ‘garagistes,’ the British teams that challenged Ferrari’s dominance.”
Titled “The Drake’s Enemies: Enzo Ferrari and the British Teams,” the exhibit opened on April 2 and will run until October 11, 2026.
Brooklands GP100, Moderns
This brings back some memories. 1976 Surtees TS19, complete with its controversial livery courtesy of the London Rubber Company, so controversial that the BBC and ITV considered it unacceptable for daytime viewing. If I recall correctly, the advertising strapline at the time was ‘The small family car’.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
The August 7th Brooklands GP100 attracted a field of racing cars from the 1920s to a 1991 McClaren MP4/6. While far from complete, the selection did allow the sold-out crowd to experience the sights and sounds of the cars at Brooklands…something one can’t do at a museum or concours.
Larry Crane, R.I.P
We were recently informed of the death of Larry Crane, who passed away in August. Our condolences to his wife and family. Larry helped establish VeloceToday’s reputation in 2009, writing 22 fantastic columns entitled “A Car Life” for us. He was a pleasure to work with, a true enthusiast, and a great writer. Below is his last column, (though he would continue to write more feature articles for us over the years). Too read more of his work, use the ‘search this site’ function on the homepage and type in ‘Larry Crane.’
A Zagato in the closet
by Larry Crane
Bill Henry called me at Automech. We met a couple of weeks earlier during a Riverside SCCA weekend. He had stopped by the shop and admired my bright turquoise Mini, with the ivory stripe to match its wheels. Now he was proposing a trade. An even trade for pinks. [Read more…] about Larry Crane, R.I.P
Concorso Italiano 2026
Best of Show, 1959 Maserati 3500 GT Bertone owned by Jim Utaski.
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by Daniel De Gallo
It gives me great pleasure to tell you that the Concorso Italiano is back and better than ever.
I attended the very first one, which I think was 40 years ago if that is possible, kind of a trial balloon, launched by Francis Mandarano at the Carmel Mission Inn, in a shopping center complex right next to Route One and just down the street from the Mission.
The Paddock, 2026
Story by Brandes Elitch
Photos by and copyright of Daniel De Gallo
A while back, someone asked me if there were any events missing from Car Week. This seemed like a strange question at the time because there are at least thirty well publicized events all over Monterey Peninsula. And then last year Tanya Kosta started a new event, called The Paddock. I think Tanya hit her stride with this a few weeks ago, but here I want to give you some background that you will not likely have read elsewhere about why this works.
Three From Pebble
1938 Phantom Corsair Experimental Bohman & Schwartz Six-Passenger Coupe, National Automobile Museum in Reno, NV.
Story and photos by Daniel De Gallo
Newbie Daniel De Gallo gives us a perspective of Pebble Beach from the Little Car show, the Tour d’Elegance, and the Concours in this overview. [Read more…] about Three From Pebble