Simanaitis Says

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Category Archives: Classic Bits

FERRARI 212 EXPORT BARCHETTA

THE 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Touring Barchetta wasn’t the first Ferrari that I ever drove nor the most recent one. But it was certainly one of the most memorable. The … Continue reading →

May 13, 2013 · 2 Comments

POETRY FROM INNES

INNES IRELAND was an extremely talented racecar driver—giving Team Lotus its first F1 victory in 1961—a wonderful raconteur and writer, and a dear friend. Stories galore come to mind. I … Continue reading →

May 7, 2013 · 3 Comments

MORGAN TRIKES

H.F.S. MORGAN, founder of the Morgan Motor Company in 1910, understood his fellow Britons’ aspirations for mobility—and also their Inland Revenue’s tax regulations. Motorcyclists wished to move up to proper … Continue reading →

May 4, 2013 · Leave a comment

LE BELLEZZE DELLA FIAT

THE BEAUTIES of Fiat, le bellezze della Fiat, have been part of this Italian automaker’s image since the very beginning. They did more than reflect the era; at times, they … Continue reading →

April 27, 2013 · 3 Comments

BURMA-SHAVE

ARE YOU old enough to remember Burma-Shave signs? I feared as much. However, these sequential roadside messages, typically in verse, tell a lot about advertising during the middle decades of … Continue reading →

April 25, 2013 · 4 Comments

VINTAGE MAGAZINE

MAYBE YOU’RE already reading Vintage Racecer/Vintage Roadcar. If not, and if, like me, you enjoy vintage automobiles, I highly recommend this monthly magazine (www.vintageracecar.com). Publisher/Editor Casey Annis has gathered a … Continue reading →

April 24, 2013 · 1 Comment

ASTON MARTIN’S 100TH

LET’S CELEBRATE the 100th anniversary of Aston Martin. Let’s also clarify some hype about its dual-fuel Rapide S Hydrogen Hybrid to be raced at next month’s Nürburgring 24-hour. It’ll be … Continue reading →

April 19, 2013 · 1 Comment

BUGATTI F1

THE ENGINE of Bugatti’s Type 251 Formula 1 car is mounted properly aft of the driver. This engine has double overhead camshafts and its eight cylinders are fashionably oversquare, the … Continue reading →

April 16, 2013 · 6 Comments

OPEL’S RAKS

WHEN WE last visited the German aviation industry (in 1922; see http://www.wp.me/p2ETap-W8), the Inter-Allied Commission had demanded—and got—destruction of the Zeppelin-Staaken E-4/20. This passenger liner was simply too advanced, potentially … Continue reading →

April 2, 2013 · 1 Comment

COPPERSTATE LORE

SEVERAL FRIENDS have reminded me of other happenings along the Copperstate 1000 old car rally (www.wp.me/p2ETap-Vq). Here are three of them. Those of you who have enjoyed this annual event are … Continue reading →

March 23, 2013 · Leave a comment