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Auto Moto d’Epoca Padova exhibition: passion never stops (Auto Motor und Sport - China, 04-2020)

Over 130,000 visitors came to Padua, bucking the trend of the biggest industry events: since almost 40 years  this international exhibition continues to grow with collectors, enthusiasts and journalists from all over the world in attendance.

Four days dedicated to the world of classic cars, organised by Intermeeting in the Padua Fair pavilions: it is the most important in Italy, the country where “everything in this field was born” and one of the most biggest in Europe. The slogan for the 2019 edition of the event was "Cars ignite passion", and once again this year the visitors' response was resoundingly positive from the opening day.

“This is a difficult time for international industry events; despite the general trend, Padua continues to grow" –saysMario Carlo Baccaglini– "We are going against the current because we put the spotlight on the visitors' passion, and it's only here that they can find over 5,000 high quality vintage cars. The data we are collecting today proves that Auto e Moto d'Epoca is a key event for enthusiasts all over the world. Another interesting phenomenon has been the "Youngtimer": models from the 80s which are appealing to young people, allowing them to access the world of vintage cars in the right way, that is through passion, which is what fuels our event".

National and international traders registered very positive results as they met buyers and collectors from all four corners of the globe, that is people hailing from Europe, Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Brazil.

And in terms of cars of excellence, some of the Righini Collection cars (do you remember? The collector from Modena who saved many special cars…I’ve wrote about him some months ago) were also at the event, including one of the most important no.46s in the world, which features the first Ferrari ever built. Righini also took park in the Le Rosse in abito da corsaexhibition.

Speaking about his participation in the event, the Director of the National Car Museum in Turin, Mariella Mengozzi said: “We are delighted to have showcased MAUTO (Museo AUto TOrino) in Padua for the very first time. We wanted to put into practice the common goal we share with Auto e Moto d'Epoca - that is getting people to learn about and preserve the history of cars. In this beautiful and vibrant city, we have met many industry professionals, with whom we plan to carry out initiatives in the future; what's more AME has made it possible for us to share our museum with the wider audience of vintage car enthusiasts.".

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The Panda 4x4 fever goes up…to the mountains (Auto Motor und Sport - China, 02-2020)

No doubt, the Panda 4x4 first series has become officially a “must have” among the european (and not only) petrolheads. In 2016 I bought my first one, a 1985 4x4 among the latest pre-restyling version, because I was convinced that it would have become something cool. It was designed by Giugiaro, the 4x4 was the first 4 wheel drive citycar to move easily on the mud, on the snow or on the gravel: so tiny but very agile! The proof of its success is the number of examples sold in 20 years of production.

Two years later, in 2018, I bought a second 4x4 the so called “Edizione Limitata” (limited edition) produced before the restyling of 1986 in 5000 pieces. Thanks to this car, during a year long “nut and bolt” restoration I’ve met many other collectors that shared my same passion and the same thought: we see this little square box not only as a daily citycar but as an icon of the ‘80s and 90’s. It’s hard to find good samples, especially of the 4x4 because these cars were used mainly to work, especially in the mountains, so the condition of the few cars still alive is generally bad.

But the Panda love was definitely in the air, the fresh air of the mountains: last December with other collectors we organized the first “Panda meeting” in the glamorous St. Moritz in Switzerland; thanks to the partnership between Classic Driver, Laurusmiani and the municipality of St. Moritz, we had been the first to pay homage to Mr. Gianni Agnelli, President and owner of Fiat at the time, in the place where he used to spend time during the winter driving his many Pandas!

People arrived from Paris, Milan, southern France, drove their 4x4 for hundreds of kms to be there: I had the chance to show mine for the last time in Europe, before shipping it in the USA where new collectors will drive the first 4x4 1st series imported in the States! Beside mine, there were other limited editions, as the “Val d’Isere”, the “Country Club”, the “Sisley”, one that drove from UK to Mongolia during the Mongol Rally and the two cars by the major of St. Moritz! Each owner had its own special relationship with its Panda, its own way to drive and collect but we are all believe in the potential of this democratic masterpiece, appreciated both by billionaires and housewives.

Thanks to Classic Driver and Andrea Klainguti for the images

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#sandro munari

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Storiche scaramucce, Autosprint 10/12/2019

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The thriller sisters are back (Auto Motor und Sport China, 12-2019)

5th October 2019. Morning. Countryside near Modena, Campogalliano. The noise of sportscars is quite usual in this area, but that evening there were many more special cars. Cars that people didn’t see there since many years, 25 at least.

More and more cars and people drove toward one direction, the “blue factory” that you can see alongside the A22 motorway: it is the place where the modern Bugatti – the EB110 – was concieved and produced since 1989 till 1995. Why all these people was here? Because Mr. Romano Artioli, former CEO of Bugatti Automobili (and Lotus Cars up do the mid 90’s) finally decided to tell the truth about the unlucky bankruptcy of his dream to bring to life the glorious french brand, founded by the Italian Ettore Bugatti in 1909.

15 of the 139 EB110 produced “came home” for this special event, together with many Lotus Elise Mk1, the key model of the resurrection of Lotus in mid-90s when Mr. Artioli purchased the british company and designed this new model with the help of his cousin, Giampaolo Benedini - architect, who also draw the final shape of the EB110; together with the Artioli’s family and many workers involved in this adventure, there was Elisa, the little nephew who inspired Mr Artioli on the name of the new Lotus in 1996.

400 people were expected but in the end we were almost 1000. The opportunity to hear the truth of this thrilling story, full of shadows and backgrounds, by the main character was unique: Mr. Artioli, now aged 86 but with the energy and the power of a 20 years old guy, is the clear example of a great and successful businessman with a dream; everything would have been perfect, from the explosive new Bugatti, to the cute, light and fast Elise and even to the elegant sedan EB112 - the second model that would have followed the sporty EB110 -, but he did a big mistake. Placing the new Bugatti factory in Campogalliano, near Lamborghini, Maserati and Ferrari, he declared war to his competitors. One of them didn’t appreciate this move and saw in the EB110, a car so advanced and futuristic and perfect that would have destroyed all the supercars of the period. Who won? Unfortunately the bigger and the stronger. Even if, saturday 5th october, we were still here to celebrate this great adventure!

If you want to know more about this story, Mr. Artioli’s book named “Bugatti&Lotus thriller” is also available in english language.

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Ciccio, the drivers shoemaker (Auto Motor und Sport China, 11-2019)

Francesco Liberto was born in Cefalù, province of Palermo (Italy), on February 19th 1936. Coming from a large, humble family, the tough context of the Sicily at that time, forced him to start working very early: his uncle, working as a cobbler, introduced Ciccio to the workshop while he was just 6-years old; since then he learnt the craftman secrets, really useful for his future.

Francesco reached his success in mid-60s when his fame was parallel to the one of the Targa Florio race, one of the world’s most legendary motorsport events, part of the World Makes Championship, more popular - at the time - than Formula 1. Every spring from 1906 to 1977, with mixed fortunes, motorsport moved to Sicily, around the Madonie mountains: the Targa Florio was a hard race that needed a precise setup of  the cars and a perfect knowledge of every corner around the 72kms of the track; teams had to settle in Sicily weeks before the race to prepare it. Cefalù, with good hotels and handy roads linking to the rest of the island, was the ideal headquarter for all the entrants.

Like most guys at his age, “Ciccio” spent some time to walk around cars, mechanics and meeting drivers at the hotels, cafés, restaurants and garages; he used to talk with them, thanks to his good temper and sympathy. Among many drivers, Ciccio became good friend with the Alfa Romeo drivers from the Autodelta team: Ignazio Giunti, Nanni Galli and Geki Russo. During a dinner, Giunti asked Ciccio - almost as a bet with Galli and Russo- a pair of special boots for racing purpose. Without any technical knowledge (because, till then, nobody ever produced racing boots) Francesco got advices from the drivers: light, soft and comfortable were three key features they had to feel in their feet for an enhanced sensitivity. In 1965, Ciccio manufactured his first racing shoes that became the kick off for a new step in his career. Ever since, worlds top drivers chose the boots from the “Cefalù shoe maker” because they were made to measure, light, comfortable and - above all - unique. Even after the Targa Florio hera, in the ‘70s Ciccio’s sewed the shoes for world champion Niki Lauda, then became official Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 supplier. From Sicily to every place of the world, many champions wore his creations, as Elford, Andretti, Reutemann, Fittipaldi, Regazzoni, Siffert, Ickx, Arnoux, Larrousse, Merzario and Munari.

Even nowadays Ciccio’s talent is appreciated among cars petrolheads, not only because of the quality of his racing shoes, but also because of his human touch, with a mythical character. His creations are exhibited in museums, from Ferrari’s in Maranello to Porsche’s in Stuttgart. Me too, I wanted to have a pair of Ciccio shoes and this years, finally I got them, made to measure with my favourite colours, from Gulf-Porsche team!

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Biscione di passione (Autosprint, 10/2019)

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Autobianchi Bianchina, the classy popular actress (Auto Motor und Sport China, 10/2019)

The company Bianchi from Milan was founded at the end of ‘800 and it mainly produced bicycles, still on the market nowadays. Quickly they extended the production to motorcycles and cars, in Milan by the first years of ‘900. Their customers mainly appreciated a great comfort and luxurious finishings of these vehicles: the USA in particular was a huge market for the italian firm so the 1929 economical crisis hit deeply the production of these high level cars. After this, in august 1943 the whole plant of Bianchi was destroyed by the bombings of World War II.

By the end of the War, in the ‘50s Bianchi tried for the second time to produce cars: together with Fiat and Pirelli they founded the Autobianchi, a brand new company that would have produced at first only one model the “Bianchina”, with the same aim of the 1924 Bianchi S4 “Bianchina”: it was an entry-level car of reliable and refined range of models.

In this way Fiat could test different technical and design solutions, from the Fiat models and Bianchi would have had quickly and easily Fiat engines with transmissions. The 16th September 1957 the brand new Autobianchi Bianchina was launched, just two months after the Fiat 500, donor of the powetrain: its style was completely different from the 500 that had a difficult debut because it looked to poor, austere. Even if italians came from the tremendous period of the war, the country was living an economical and society booming: people used to dream 4 lane american highways with shining chromes big cars. It the Fiat 600 had been the first car for many italians, the 500 would have been the second family car but it wasn’t about time yet.

In contrast with the 500, the Bianchina had the noble Bianchi DNA with the convertible body , bi-colour paint, white striped Pirelli tyres and chromed decorations here and there. This funny object immediately received the attention of snob ladies that needed a citycar or even an agile automobile for the seaside; it gave the chance to people without many financial means to distinguish.

It remotely reminded the top class Lancias, the Alfa Romeos and the one-off cars even if it was more or less a rebodied 500! It anticipated the birth of the “families” of models: think about how many versions of Mini you can choose nowaday? In fact, after the Bianchina Trasformabile it arrived the Cabriolet, the wagon and the sedan for a total of 300.000 cars produced up to 1969. All these models were all popular cars with sophisticated shape, bought by families, craftsmen and employees.  

After the Bianchina, Autobianchi launched the A112, another best seller citycar evolved in the Y10, the coolest 80’s small car, became the Lancia Ypsilon, the last model of the glorious company (embedded by Fiat Chrisler Group, as it appened in the 60s with Autobianchi): it is a good heritage for that “actress” from the ’50s.

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An adventure called Peking to Paris. (Auto Motor und Sport China, 09/2019)

The 2019 edition of the Peking to Paris Rally ended the 7th of July after 13860kms, 36 days and many countries passed by: Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Germany and Belgium.

It was the 7th edition after the first one in 1907 with five participants, the modern edition takes place every three years. In the first edition, Italian Prince Scipione Borghese won the rally. It was and it is still the most challenging classic car rally in the world and tested the endurance of both car and drivers.

The 2019 edition took participants in cars produced from 1907 - a Contal Mototri Tricycle -

up to the 1976 Mercedes Benz 280 SLC, divided into two categories: Vintage and Classic (up and from 1950).

Among the 120 cars there were 4 italian crews; the 1975 Ferrari 208 GT4 by Giorgio Schon and Enrico Guggiari, the 1966 Fiat 2300S coupè by Luigi Fontana and Giulio Bertolli, the 1975 Alfa Romeo Spider 2000 by Matteo and Roberto Crippa and the 1971 Fiat 124 Spider by Enrico Paggi and Federica Mascetti.

All these cars ended the rally after endured harsh, rugged landscapes, hailstorms, torrential downpours and other extreme punishments. At times, a tent in the middle of the desert provided the only form of rest. Sometimes, their car was their accommodation for the evening.

After 36 days and 12 countries, the chequered flag was raised in the Place Vendôme in Paris by Paolo Costantino Borghese, a descendant of Prince Scipione Borghese, the winner of the first Peking to Paris. The Australian legend Gerry Crown, aged 87, and his co-pilot Matt Bryson had scored a historic hat-trick – winning the rally for the third time in a Leyland P76. Another incredible feat came from Mitch Goss and Christopher Rolph who reached the finish line after driving the 14,000km in a 1910 steam car.

For the italian team with the Ferrari it has been an incredible achievement given that no other car from Maranello had ever completed the endurance race before; it was worthy of a top-three finish, they won lots of special stages but unfortunately some unforeseeable problems slowed down the Ferrari 208 GT4. Even the adventure of the Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider by Roberto and Matteo Crippa – father and son – has been quite difficult: during day 10, in the middle of a ford, the Alfa decided to go for a bath beacuse the water was much deeper than how it seemed..! Luckily the assistance lifted up the car, dried everything and “Rudolph” (as it was nicknamed the Alfa) started again its way to Paris.

It is such a great event…how knows if I would be so lucky to attend the 2022 edition?

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The italian answer to Goodwood Festival of Speed (Auto Motor und Sport China, 08-2019)

Italy had a long time tradition about classic cars racing and events, now overtaken by british enthusiasts which organizes tens of mervellous parades, races, rallies and so on. By the way there is something that cannot be moved over the English Channel: our people that invades our landscapes and roads into small villages. One of them is Castell’Arquato.

This small place near Piacenza has been the start of a well known hill-climb race that took place from 1957 till 1972, arriving in Vernasca, another little village 10 kms far. Along this road many important racers “squeezed” their cars, powerful or not it didn’t matter, to get the lowest time. Abarth, Porsche, Ferrari, Lancia…every kind.

Since more than 20 years a group of great enthusiasts decided to bring back those cars to Castell’Arquato, for the Vernasca Silver Flag parade, defined as a Dynamic Conservation and Restoration Concours for racing cars, built up to the 70s.

The 24th edition held the first weekend of July celebrated “Racing Fiat”, in particular the 120 years of Fiat and the 70 of Abarth, two of our most important national brands. We saw many gorgeous models of these two makes, together with many other cars, for a total of more than 200 cars!

Starting from the sedan 1100 TV that entered the original 1000 Miglia, passing through the Fiat 131 Abarth, the 124 Spider, single and two seaters and some samples of one of the most iconics FIATs, the 8V: a coupè produced in few samples in the first 50s with a roaring 8 cylinder engine. One of them was brought by Fiat Heritage: this model is even more important, here in Castell’arquato, because in 1954 it was first overall in the original race, driven by Giovanni Auricchio.  A second car displayed by Fiat-Abarth was the 2400 Coupè, the personal car by Karl Abarth, founder of the brand. Then cars from the first years of the Century, Lola T70, Porsche 906, winner in 1968 and everything you can wish to see, when we talk about classic cars. Me too, I had the chance to watch closely many prototypes by Abarth that I just saw on the books. It is not a race, but who cares? It is a pleasure for the eyes of the spectators, an honour for the collectors who show their jewels.

Credit photo: Vernasca Silver Flag, Max Maserati , Danilo Orsi

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