Simanaitis Says

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Category Archives: Classic Bits

TRIPOLI TANGLES, 1933

GOOD STORIES often get better—or at least more convoluted—in retelling. Such is the case with the 1933 Gran Primio di Tripoli. The original plan was bizarre enough: I Lotteria di … Continue reading →

April 11, 2014 · Leave a comment

AUTOMOBILES AND ROOFTOPS

A FORD publicity stunt planned 50 years ago and its imminent recreation remind me of Fiat’s Lingotto facility in Turin, Italy, and the action flick, The Italian Job (the original … Continue reading →

April 5, 2014 · Leave a comment

THE DURAY MILLER—AND ETTORE’S DOHC

FORTUNES INTERTWINED for an Italian-born Alsatian, a Wisconsin-born Californian and a Cleveland kid who changed his name in tribute to a famous race driver. The personages, respectively, are Ettore Bugatti, … Continue reading →

April 1, 2014 · 7 Comments

BUGATTI ART AT THE MULLIN

ARTISTIC GENIUS surfaced often in the Bugatti family. Ettore Bugatti built cars—with an artistic flair. His brother Rembrandt was a sculptor. Their father Carlo designed and fabricated Art Nouveau furniture. … Continue reading →

March 23, 2014 · Leave a comment

JUDY AND THE SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CAR

FROM TIME to time, I have an image of a lovely Judy Garland hanging off a San Francisco cable car as she sings “The Trolley Song.” Ah, but the mind … Continue reading →

March 13, 2014 · 5 Comments

MILLE MIGLIA STORICA, 1989

THE ORIGINAL Mille Miglia, 1927 – 1957, was one of the world’s most grand—and outrageous—motoring events. See “Jenk’s Box of Magic,” http://wp.me/p2ETap-184. The Mille Miglia Storica is its modern counterpart, … Continue reading →

March 8, 2014 · Leave a comment

HUDSON HORNET—NASCAR CHAMP, MOVIE STAR, GOODING AUCTION OFFERING

HERE’S A car that ruled early NASCAR the way Ferrari dominated F1 during the Schumacher era. A car decades ahead of its time, to the extent that sales were hampered. … Continue reading →

February 28, 2014 · 2 Comments

F-SERIES: FIRST TO ALUMINUM

LET’S CELEBRATE one of the most successful vehicles in the world, the Ford F-Series pickup. The timing seems right: At the recent North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the … Continue reading →

February 25, 2014 · 3 Comments

PANHARD DYNA X, DEUTSCH-BONNET AND MONOPOLE

FRENCH CARS have always been quirky fun, and Panhards are among the quirkiest. The Panhard Dyna X, introduced in post-World-War II, bristled with innovative features. It spawned a passel of … Continue reading →

February 15, 2014 · 2 Comments

EARL MADMAN MUNTZ

January 31, 2014 · 1 Comment