250 F Discussion Part 2: Owner’s Manual
Hidden under the seat of every new Maserati 250F…Photo by Alessandro Gerelli
By Pete Vack
Today, for your edification and consideration, we offer you the following, a slightly irreverent look at a very real document. [Read more…] about 250 F Discussion Part 2: Owner’s Manual
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026
Al Unser Junior in the 1994 Penske Mercedes PC-23, ‘the pushrod car.’ Here he gives Sharp the thumbs up.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Jonathan Sharp has been reporting from Goodwood since 2012.
The final stop on my boiling hot July tour of the stately homes of England: Goodwood for the Festival of Speed. The theme for this year’s event, ‘Rivals-epic racing duels,’ produced a fantastic cross section of entries from steam cars to Hybrid F1 cars, with some excellent pairing of cars being demonstrated on the hill side by side: Ferrari 330 P3 / GT40, Alfa Romeo P3 / Bugatti Type 51, the Blitzen Benz and the Beast of Turin etc. [Read more…] about Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026
Royal Automobile Club Concours 2026
From a private collection, 1937 Lancia Aprilia
This is part 2 of the recent Royal Automobile Club Concours. But let me pause for a moment to reflect upon the achievements of our truly intrepid British correspondent, Jonathan Sharp. I need not use words: just think about the following events Sharp has covered for us just since January. All were multiple features; Retro itself had four parts. I have included links to the articles just in case you don’t believe what you are seeing. Our sincere thanks to Jonathan and his wife Josie for the remarkable turn of events! –Ed. [Read more…] about Royal Automobile Club Concours 2026
Concorso Italiano Updates
Concorso Italiano is only weeks away! This year featuring Ducati and Vespa, as well as the famous Italian Car Display. Below are links, costs, and how to register your vehicle. [Read more…] about Concorso Italiano Updates
1928 Amilcar: French Joy
From the Archives, August 2017
Story and photos by Pete Vack
They are charming, as only a French car can be. They are rare; only a few were ever made, a long, long time ago. They are almost totally useless, as many classics are. They are relatively slow and they are stiffly sprung, as a car made in the mid-twenties can often be. Most have no differential, so a locked rear end is a way of life. They have no weather protection, making them inadequate outside of California. Parts must be fabricated, not bought. No one knows what they are.
Ferrari Behind the Fence: Sebring 1961
2026 Royal Automobile Club Concours
Margaret Hocking’s 1964 Abarth Simca 2000 Corsa, extensively campaigned in period at various Italian Hill climbs, and also contested the 1967 Targa Florio in the hands of Alfonso Vella and Alfonso Merendino, retiring after six laps.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
July seems to be the month for Concours events staged at the stately homes of England. This time it was supposed to be but a short drive up to Surrey to the country estate of the Royal Automobile Club on July 8 for the second edition of their Concours. But due to an accident on the southbound carriageway of the M23, the journey took twice as long, and these delays seem to be a theme starting here.
The RAC country estate, Woodcote Park, is up on the Surrey Downs just over the road from the Epsom horse racing track and it was yet another blooming hot day. Fantastic setting though, with parking on the golf course and then a short walk downhill to the main house passing a line of Supercars along the way.
The Maserati 250 F: Discussion and Review
Appearing in 1954 with the new Formula 1 regulations increasing the engine capacity to 2.5 liters, the Maserati 250F has a tubular chassis. With its simplicity and elegant line, it symbolizes motorsport in the 50s. Its track record will culminate with the world champion title of Juan Manuel Fangio in 1957. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt
Text by the Editor
We shall not bemoan progress nor ignore change nor think that things were better in the past.
But wasn’t the Maserati 250F the greatest car of the greatest period in Grand Prix racing?
We think so. With 37 Grand Prix victories* credited to the 250 F (37 to Ferrari as well but with three different models), raced by every champion and would be champion, the 250 F was at once primitive, perilous, passionate, powerful, prolific, and praiseworthy, not to mention beautiful. [Read more…] about The Maserati 250 F: Discussion and Review
Heveningham Concours, 2026
Nick Mason is a strong supporter of this event as evidenced by his 1962 Ferrari GTO chassis 3757GT gracing the terraces.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
Just back from the Heveningham Hall Concours, (July 4-5) lovely show but boy was it hot. Decided to travel to the event the day before and stay in a hotel so I could be at the gates bright and early. What should have been a two hour journey ended up taking over 4 hours; Friday afternoon in the South of England and the roads cannot cope. Anyway, arrived at the hotel at about 7pm with the outside temperature gauge on the Giulietta showing 37.5 degrees Celsius (99.5 F) and I thought, no that cannot be right, then I opened the car door…phew it was right… it was like opening an oven door.
The Bora Gets a New Lease on Life
One of just two racing Maserati Bora racing models built. ( Photo Grand Prix Library/Gauld)
Story and photos by Graham Gauld
For Jean Guikas, the French race car collector and dealer, two victories in the European Shell Ferrari-Maserati Historic Challenge finals at Vallelunga in November 1999 brought a happy conclusion to his quest to prove that the 1973 Group 4 Maserati Bora was a winner.
Fifty three years ago the excitement and enthusiasm of producing two special competition Maserati Bora’s was dampened by new rules and regulations which meant they could not be homologated for international racing. That appeared to be the end of the story but it was only the beginning.
Hillsborough Concours de Elegance 2026
1963 Citroën Ami 6 ( won best in the W* class)
By Brandes Elitch and Daniel De Gallo
Photos by Daniel De Gallo
Recently, it seems like all sorts of new car events are springing up in the “Concours d’Elegance” category. For instance, we have the new Wilton House Concours (“Concours des Legendes”), the Heveningham Concours, the London City Concours, the Concours at Hampton Court, the Royal Bahrain Concours, the Fuori Concorso, Moda Miami, Tegernsee, and the Aurora Concours in Sweden. You can’t tell the players without a scorecard. I imagine that our sophisticated readers would find an explanation for how and why this is all happening now.