Simanaitis Says

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Category Archives: Classic Bits

THE ELEMENTAL SPORTS CAR

LET’S CELEBRATE A TWO-SEAT SPORTS CAR, its twin-cam front engine linked efficiently with rear-wheel drive by a central spine of boxed steel. It has a soft top, tidy styling, pop-up … Continue reading

November 20, 2022 · 1 Comment

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE—MOTOR RACING ENTHUSIAST 

IN APRIL 1963 R&T (and not part of any April Fooling), J.H. Greene offered “Shakespeare on Sports Cars,” a thoughtful literary analysis confirming that the Bard of Avon was a … Continue reading

November 15, 2022 · 8 Comments

LOTUS 23—DRIVING IMPRESSIONS REPORTED BY HENRI L’AFITT

YESTERDAY, WE CELEBRATED the Lotus 23’s sports racing artistry, bred as horsey types might say “by Colin Anthony Chapman out of Lotus Formula Junior.” Today we share driving impressions of … Continue reading

November 11, 2022 · 2 Comments

LOTUS 23—FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION (ANOTHER ADAGE COMES TO MIND TOO)

“RACING IMPROVES THE BREED” has equestrian origins, and horsepower of another variety confirms this adage as well. As does architect Louis Sullivan’s axiom “Form follows function.” The Lotus 23 sports … Continue reading

November 10, 2022 · 1 Comment

WERE I TO WIN THE LOTTERY….

THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD IS most appropriate in this title, because I don’t ever enter lotteries. The thought of having gobs of unexpected wealth did come to mind, however, in perusing … Continue reading

October 30, 2022 · 1 Comment

FROM ’AMMERSMITH TO ’ACKNEY IS A TANNER

TONY HOGG WROTE AN R&T road test of the London Bus, most appropriately in April of 1963. Curiously enough, the test took part not in London, but in San Francisco, … Continue reading

October 27, 2022 · 3 Comments

MGB 1800—FULL-PRESS MARKETING IN 1962

HAMBRO AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION was the U.S. importer for MG, and in November 1962 it performed a full-press marketing of the MGB, the first revamping since this classic sports car eschewed … Continue reading

October 24, 2022 · 1 Comment

FERRARI 2+2—A GRAND IDEA SIXTY YEARS AGO

I WINCE ONLY A LITTLE WHEN Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna calls the Purosangue a “sports car.” This latest Ferrari has four doors, one for each seat, a rear hatch, all-wheel … Continue reading

October 19, 2022 · 1 Comment

THE TYPE 44 BUGATTI—“A GENTLEMAN’S CARRIAGE”

IN HIS BUGATTI MAGNUM, HUGH CONWAY wrote “… the new 3 litre car, Type 44, which came out in October 1927 in time for the Motor Salons was clearly destined … Continue reading

October 12, 2022 · 2 Comments

MANNEY ON MATTERS GUSTATORY PART 1

TO R&T READERS of a certain age, Henry N. Manney III was Yr. Fthful Srvt covering Formula One back before the sport sought money in odd places like Azerbaijan, Bahrain, … Continue reading

October 7, 2022 · 2 Comments