Tag Archives: Classic Driver Magazine

Automobiles, Classics, Historical, Interviews, Reviews

World’s Finest Cars: 1938 Delage D8-120 S Cabriolet

November 7, 2023 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

ClassicDriver Magazine (November 7, 2023) – The Pearl Collection recently stole the show and won Peninsula Classics’ Best of the Best award with their fabulous Delage D8-120 S De Villars. We sat down with Fritz Burkard to understand what separates the best from the rest in the Concours world.

“It has a breathtaking presence. It looks good from every angle, it’s spectacular in design, and it’s unique. It has features from the period, like those riveted fins, which incorporate a bit of the Bugatti Atlantic. It has a bit of Saoutchik, a bit of Figoni et Falaschi, there’s everything in there, but it stands out and becomes something unique, it’s not a mix match.”

There’s a book called ‘From Passion to Perfection’ by Richard Adatto – it’s the bible for pre-war swooping lines and aerodynamics, it covers all the teardrops. It reaches out towards the Atlantic, to other streamlined cars, and it also has a chapter about the Delage. It’s not only my bible, but it also seems to be my shopping catalogue. There’s also the Delahaye 165, Merle Mullin has one and I have the other, there are only two made. She just drove hers to Pebble Beach and finished in the top four. Anyway, the the Delage got offered to me, and it took me maybe 15 seconds to say yes!

Classic Concept Cars: The 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis

February 24, 2023 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

Classic Driver (February 23, 2023) – The Lincoln Indianapolis concept was created in 1955 by Carrozzeria Boano, using the chassis and running gear from the 1955 Lincoln. The only time it was shown to the public as a new concept study was at the 1955 Turin Motor Show.

Out-jetting the jet set at The Ice St Moritz with a one-off Lincoln Indianapolis

If you’re planning to hit The Ice St Moritz this weekend, prepare to be amazed at the sight of this unique Lincoln Indianapolis that’s likely to ‘out-jet’ anything that even the famous jet-set resort has to offer.

Automobiles, Classics, Profiles, Reviews, Views

World’s Best Classic Cars: 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A

December 6, 2022 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

ClassicDriver (December 6, 2022) – This stunning piece of automotive sculpture is a 1955 Porsche 356, and as the eagle-eyed among you will notice, this particular car is a very rare Pre-A model. As some of the earliest cars Porsche ever built, these Pre-A 356s were once disregarded by enthusiasts in favour of the faster and more modern 356 B and C models. However, what the Pre-A 356s lacked in outright pace, they made up for with their undeniable purity of design. We think you’ll agree, this particular example is quite the looker.

Auto Racing, Automobiles, Classics, Events, Sports, Views

Classic Car Race Festivals: 2022 Goodwood Revival

September 19, 2022 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

After a year of mind-blowing car events, it was fantastic to return to Goodwood Motor Circuit for the 2022 Goodwood Revival. As ever, the first thing that hits you upon entering the UK’s foremost classic car festival is the atmosphere.

With pristine vintage metal and immaculately prepared period outfits swirling around Goodwood’s picturesque grounds, the only giveaway that we weren’t in fact back in the 1960s was the flurry of smartphones held aloft to capture the weekend’s most unforgettable moments. Of course, we had to join in ourselves, and so we present to you our favourite memories from this year’s Revival.

This year, Ferrari celebrated its 75th anniversary, and what better place could there be to showcase Scuderia’s finest race cars than the Goodwood Revival? Lining up on the grid this weekend were some of the greatest racing machines of all time, including two Le Mans winners – the Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta that won the 24 Hours in 1949 and the Ferrari 275 P that claimed an overall win at the Circuit de la Sarthe in 1963 and 1964.

As part of the tribute, Graham Hill’s son and fellow F1 World Champion, Damon Hill, took to the track in ‘Old Faithful’, the 1962 title-winning BRM P578, among a cavalcade of cars from Graham Hill’s illustrious motorsport career. A fitting tribute to one of history’s greatest drivers, especially as Saturday was Damon’s birthday!

Automobiles, Design, Reviews, Transportation, Views

Italian Design: 90 Years Of ‘Pininfarina’ Celebrated

May 29, 2021 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

The world’s most famous automotive design house, Pininfarina celebrates 90 years of style and innovation with a new exhibition at the MAUTO in Turin, open from May to September.

Founded in 1930, Pininfarina has evolved from an artisan concern to a global brand employing over 600 people. In those 90 years Pininfarina has given us some of the world’s most beautiful automobiles, but also demonstrated exciting innovation. Divided up in to six areas the exhibition will showcase the unique breadth of the brand from the gorgeous Cisitalia 2020, to the 1969 Sigma Grand Prix and off into the future with the exciting new Battista, electric hypercar concept.

Classic Car Roadtrip: 1968 Renault 8 Gordini – Lisbon To Algarve In Portugal

January 22, 2021 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

In the late 1960s, Portuguese racing driver Heitor de Moraes took his Renault 8 Gordini from Corsica to Poland, rallying all across Europe. Now, the ocean blue car has found a new owner and a new sportive duty – carrying surfboards in style from Lisbon to the Algarve.

The year was 1968: six years before the so-called ‘Carnation Revolution’. Life in Portugal at that time could be tough. Not for Heitor de Moraes, though: this was the year he became the first owner of a pretty special blue car. Fast-forward to 2020, and another chapter of the car’s history was written, with its third owner also driving it along the curving roads of southern Portugal. Only this time, with surfboards on the roof.

The car was purchased from Timeless Garage in Lisbon (which had carried out a full restoration) and that’s why the story you see in the pictures starts there. A few days later, after some small mechanical corrections and a surfboard roof rack installation, the real mission began: the blue car hit the curves of the Algarve once again. It quickly became clear that even after more than 50 years, Amédée Gordini’s great engineering talent still shines through.

Read full article in Classic Driver

Art, Auto Racing, Profiles

Art & Auto Racing: French Artist Yan Denes’ “Blur & Movement Of The 1960’s”

January 19, 2021 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

“My primary era is clearly the ’60s,” he says. “For these scenes, I use period photos with the agreement of their photographer and allow myself some freedom on the framing, for example. I like racing cars, and if they have flaws or imperfections, I represent them faithfully, of course.”

“My master is Leonardo da Vinci, who is the ultimate reference in drawing because of his mastery of blur and movement,” he says. “There’s an indeterminate aspect to these drawings that’s essential. It reminds me of Picasso’s famous phrase ‘finishing a drawing, what a horror’ – that’s exactly it, I always leave an area of blur and a part of emptiness. The viewer fills that space with their experience, their story. In this way, a drawing is simply an exchange – an encounter between two people.”

Few artists, like Yan Denes, understand how to make the thrill of speed tangible for the observer with pen and paper. Not only did he design Scuderia Ferrari’s anniversary helmets in Formula 1, but he is also inspired by historic motorsport.

While the vast majority of Denes’ commissions come from owners of modern Ferrari race cars such as the 360 Challenge, 430 GT2, 488 GT3 and FXX, Yan is actually better known for his passion for historic racing scenes.

It has to be said that Denes is a virtuoso when it comes to transcribing speed and movement.

Classic Cars: Restoring The ‘Finest Jaguars’ At CKL Developments In Engand

January 8, 2021 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

“It’s a privilege to work with these fantastic cars,” enthuses James “and we benefit from incredible craftsmen and Chris’ vast experience. These are important cars, looked after sympathetically. When we restore cars, we’re careful and fastidious in retaining the soul, but we also understand that cars evolve”.

In keeping with the colour British Racing Green, CKL Developments prides itself on being understated, not flashy. Inside a pristine brace of high-roofed, modern industrial units near Hastings, in Britain’s East Sussex countryside, you’ll find cars that are maintained to be enjoyed, driven and raced.

CKL is not, the team is at pains to point out, a museum. It’s the absolute authority on Jaguar-engined sports cars of the ’50s and ’60s and looks after some of the most historic and important British cars of that era, sympathetically restored, preserved of soul and performing at their zenith. The team can service, restore, repair, prepare, race, build, sell, store and transport your pride and joy as required.

Classics: The Golden Age Of 1950’s Italian Tiny Cars

October 9, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

You can’t measure style with a tape measure, and that applies to people and collector cars alike. A true automotive style icon will be celebrated at the next Aste Bolaffi auction on 16 October. Firstly, the catalogue contains numerous rare variations of small Italian cars.

There is a Fiat 600 Zagato Tipo L from 1956 finished in metallic red and cream two-tone paintwork, a contemporary luxury version of the otherwise modest city runabout. The Fiat Abarth 595 and the two Jolly versions of the Fiat 500 built by Carrozzeria Ghia are also desirable.

It wasn’t only Fiat producing extremely charming microcars in the post-War period, however. The 49 lots in the auction also include a Bianchina Trasformabile, a Heinkel cabin scooter, a Gogomobil, a Mivalino, an Amica tricycle and a Ferves 50 Ranger, which can be considered the ancestor to the Fiat Panda 4×4 we so adore. You can find our favourites from the sale listed below or, alternatively, browse the entire catalogue in the Classic Driver Market.

Auto Racing, Automobiles, Classics, History, Videos

Greatest Cars Of All Time: “1961 Jaguar E-Type” (Video)

Video May 29, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

‘Project ZP’ proved the Jaguar E-type was as fast as it looked.

Although the response to the E-type was frenzied, Jaguar knew that more than a pretty face was required to secure the model’s future. Under the veil of ‘Project ZP’, seven of the earliest E-types were transformed into racers. And this particular car stands today as the best of the bunch…