Brooklands Auto Italia – April 2014

Of all the Italian car events which take place in the UK during a calendar year -and there are a lot – the one that is held at Brooklands at the start of May is, by some margin, the biggest, and in most people’s eyes, “the best”. 2014 marked the 28th time that the event has been held, and from tentative beginnings, it has grown such that by mid morning the entire and sizeable Brooklands is full of a splendid and diverse array of cars from all the well known Italian marques, and usually a few of the lesser encountered or even plain obscure ones. I’ve attended every year since 2008, and have been able to contribute to the displays with my own car since 2011. A couple of days before the 2014 event, a rather gloomy prognosis from the Met Office changed completely, and they predicted – completely accurately – a day of almost unbroken sunshine, Not only does that make the event more enjoyable, but it acts as the catalyst to encourage a few more people to get in their car and bring it along, and that is surely what happened this year, with record breaking crowds thronging the venue all day. Despite arriving at 8:15 in the morning, and not leaving until almost everyone else had gone, I know that I missed some things, and that was without adjourning to the adjoining Mercedes Test Track to see some of the cars in action at lunchtime (it gave me the chance to photograph what was left with less in the way of crowds), or watching the cars ascend the Test Hill, let alone set foot in the museum. Even so, there are 585 photos in this report, ranging from cars you see every day to ones you used to see every day but which are now rare, and some you may never have seen or even have heard of before. Enjoy!

ABARTH

I knew from my efforts at trying to co-ordinate the Abarthisti presence that there would be lots of Abarths at the event. Even so, I was surprised at quite how many turned up, with in excess of 60 cars, as opposed to the 42 who declared their intentions to attend. Guessing that this would be the case, many owners had decided to arrive spectacularly early to ensure that they got a parking space in the area allotted rather than having to go to the overflow area, so when I arrived at 8:15am, there were already 25 cars present. There were examples of all of the variants of both the 500 (except the limited edition Tributo models) including one of the Assetto Corse and the Punto including the Scorpione of which only 10 were made available to the UK market.

 photo P1430305_zpsb803f4ed.jpg  photo P1430300_zps5b653040.jpg  photo P1430118_zpsfc5a6184.jpg  photo P1430117_zps3227427c.jpg  photo P1430312_zpsd45c4cd4.jpg  photo P1430301_zps1c3886c8.jpg photo P1430414_zpse4611be2.jpg  photo P1430293_zps5220ba7a.jpg  photo P1430249_zps422c80cc.jpg  photo P1250083_zpsb7d49b6a.jpg  photo P1430272_zps6de9ebdc.jpg  photo P1430271_zpsc5368e89.jpg  photo P1430319_zps66f0a075.jpg  photo P1430316_zps12ecdc31.jpg photo P1430526_zps53714dd2.jpg  photo P1430310_zpsdf7e2a84.jpg  photo P1430604_zpsbd464964.jpg  photo P1250053_zps2072e3af.jpg  photo P1430452_zpsdd818f38.jpg  photo P1430315_zps745e7769.jpg  photo P1430237_zps978f8201.jpg  photo P1430314_zps3a18e12d.jpg  photo P1430320_zps33d260bb.jpg  photo P1430606_zps76be2521.jpg  photo P1430605_zps730b9f9a.jpg  photo P1430318_zps4b57db5e.jpg  photo P1430317_zps7638d258.jpg photo P1430420_zps816b7cca.jpg  photo P1430313_zpsddcda6fa.jpg  photo P1430309_zpsee6077af.jpg  photo P1430442_zpsd5fb846c.jpg  photo P1430443_zps22ea456f.jpg  photo P1430444_zps8ba7236d.jpg  photo P1430602_zps54fe85f3.jpg  photo P1430273_zpsc9c7dc2b.jpg  photo P1250085_zps2ce3f259.jpg  photo P1250084_zpse6d87a7e.jpg  photo P1250009_zps60c36ef3.jpg  photo P1430311_zpsa0ab881f.jpg  photo P1430261_zpsd7aea46f.jpg  photo P1430279_zps3bd51c2f.jpg  photo P1430601_zps6b23752b.jpg  photo P1430600_zpsa581bed1.jpg  photo P1430603_zps32b0f9d9.jpg  photo P1430446_zps3a97f2d4.jpg

Local dealer, Thames, had a display of cars, too, which included one of the very nice, but very pricey Tributo Maserati cars. I have still yet to see one of these on the road, though a new owner did sign up with Abarthisti just days after the event, so clearly someone has bought one.

 photo P1430137_zpsaf693507.jpg  photo P1250082_zps04469dc3.jpg  photo P1250022_zpsf35433ff.jpg  photo P1250020_zps88483f2d.jpg  photo P1250021_zps116b2e16.jpg

Daron Brown of TMC Motorsport was showing off the Oakley Design 595 model that was created earlier this year, and which made its debut at the AutoSport show in January. It is for sale for anyone have £40,000 burning a hole in their pocket, but it was really created to show the art of the possible, with the idea that customers may want some of the features of this car, ranging from the Alfa 8C paint (be warned that costs literally thousands!) to the carbon fibre trim or the mechanical changes.

 photo P1430356_zps608b9a53.jpg  photo P1430357_zpsd82a490f.jpg

There were plenty of classic Abarths present, too, including not just the 1000TC cars that are the first cars that people think of when you say “Abarth”, but also some of the pretty Coupe cars.

 photo P1430625_zpsb8412b54.jpg  photo P1250059_zpsf39c78b1.jpg  photo P1430626_zps78c3d9f7.jpg  photo P1430624_zpsb4572b4a.jpg  photo P1430623_zps620c7ab2.jpg  photo P1430321_zps1dcd7115.jpg  photo P1430322_zpsf72bc621.jpg photo P1430323_zps7e20add5.jpg

ALFA ROMEO

Evidence of the significance of this event was provided by the fact that as well as the dealer right hand drive 4C Competizione model (which I never got to photograph, as there were always crowds around it), a second car was made available for the event, by the Alfa factory. This was a left hand drive car, and it proved to be quite a crowd puller as well.

 photo P1430183_zpsb4d3e447.jpg  photo P1430182_zpsb59e46ac.jpg  photo P1430181_zps7ece26ae.jpg

Fittingly, its larger and older brother, the 8C Competizione arrived mid morning and was able to park alongside, to provide a contrast of the two models.

 photo P1430531_zps2ba21925.jpg

Sadly, there were no pre-war Alfa present this time, but with the exception of the rarely seen Arna, 6 and 90, there were examples of just about every model made by Alfa since the 1950s on show. The 1950s cars were included in the main display area in the centre of the event, and Robbie Savage’s lovely 1954 1900 SS Touring was joined by an example of the smaller Giulietta Coupe.

 photo P1430179_zpsab46ae9a.jpg  photo P1430124_zps08b0c5ac.jpg

This Giulietta SS Coupe was in the car park outside the event.

 photo P1430609_zpsd37fbeba.jpg

The 105 series cars are a staple of the Alfa scene, and there were plenty of these lovely machines: Berlina, Coupe and Spider in all four distinct generations.

  photo P1250037_zps430cb6cc.jpg  photo P1430216_zpsac7346c0.jpg  photo P1430215_zps585e87bb.jpg  photo P1430459_zps509293c7.jpg  photo P1430599_zps17733fa6.jpg  photo P1430596_zps6a23f6c0.jpg  photo P1430572_zpsa703ea1d.jpg
 photo P1430595_zps0dddbf86.jpg  photo P1250036_zps2be65c49.jpg  photo P1430458_zps9662b933.jpg  photo P1430217_zpsb8831c21.jpg  photo P1430386_zpsc6a79df2.jpg  photo P1430218_zps02c3ff68.jpg  photo P1430530_zps36f2f617.jpg  photo P1430389_zpsc373f81c.jpg  photo P1430379_zps71ce81ce.jpg  photo P1430406_zps1509b5ec.jpg  photo P1430411_zps065ad905.jpg  photo P1430573_zps53665de0.jpg  photo P1430428_zps38f1417d.jpg  photo P1430488_zpsc6fb1c26.jpg  photo P1430435_zps52b3a7ea.jpg

The Montreal was originally produced as a concept car for Expo 67 in the city of Montreal, but following massive enthusiasm for the design, it was productionised and made in small quantities in the early 1970s. Many still fear the complexities and costs of keeping one of these cars running, but fortunately, there are plenty of people who ignore such warnings, so we all get to see lovely cars like this.

 photo P1430407_zps361b558b.jpg  photo P1430536_zps298cc927.jpg  photo P1430535_zps3a23c1aa.jpg

There were no Alfetta Berlina models present this time, but a few of the Coupe derivative were on show, including one of the rare South African AutoDelta 3.5 models.

 photo P1430173_zps43fc89b9.jpg  photo P1430543_zps5a4ba1a2.jpg  photo P1430637_zps049d8fc2.jpg

While wandering around the event early in the day, I thought I saw quite a few AlfaSud models arrived, but this was either wishful thinking, or if it was indeed true then most of them must have made an early exit before I got to them with the camera, as I only came across a couple of Berlina models and a couple of lovely pre-facelift Sprint models as well as one of the last Sprints made.

 photo P1430426_zpsb95c28e0.jpg  photo P1430427_zpsb32395d2.jpg  photo P1430120_zps54ffde25.jpg  photo P1430586_zps7d76aa68.jpg  photo P1430423_zps90e4efbe.jpg  photo P1430585_zpsf6cfef69.jpg  photo P1430584_zps1bb8791a.jpg

The 33 was barely represented at all, with just this one well known car, as it stages frequent appearances at events like this, joined by another Cloverleaf, from the middle of the model’s 12 year production run.

 photo P1250081_zps8aa6f50f.jpg  photo P1250080_zps5b342eb0.jpg

It is surprising how many 75s you see at events these days. Never a big seller when new, and not particularly well regarded at the time, either, this car has aged well, and is popular, perhaps as the last (for now) rear wheel drive Alfa. There were a fair few, all nicely presented, at this event.

 photo P1430121_zps899f337a.jpg  photo P1430172_zps5b98ba09.jpg  photo P1430413_zpsf037ad76.jpg  photo P1430412_zps087b1bb4.jpg  photo P1430588_zpsdfc980c2.jpg  photo P1430632_zpsc4a707dd.jpg photo P1430464_zps71763296.jpg  photo P1430463_zpscc7e8bd7.jpg  photo P1430390_zpsa8e82d87.jpg  photo P1430391_zpsb2904ec3.jpg

The same comments apply to its successor, the 155. The only difference is that the later models with the wider track and quick ratio steering were actually pretty good, and the testers said so at the time. Trouble was, the reputational damage had been done with the earlier versions and at the time Alfa’s reputation was still one of rust and electrical maladies. A decent number have survived, though.

 photo P1430634_zps709afcf8.jpg  photo P1430629_zps1cb3acec.jpg  photo P1430424_zps9b2d8e3f.jpg  photo P1430421_zpsc266618f.jpg  photo P1430630_zps3b7b3f4c.jpg

The striking SZ was here, of course, though there were only a couple of them, and none of the rarer RZ open topped models.

 photo P1430598_zps3a959fbf.jpg  photo P1430597_zpsa8b0f575.jpg  photo P1430465_zps37488fba.jpg

I was really delighted to see quite a number of 164s at this event, especially as in contrast to a lot of previous occasions when the cars on show have been a bit scabby, all the ones here were really nicely presented. Daryl Staddon was here with the lovely Q4 Cloverleaf that he bought early in the year and which he had shown at the BIAMF event in Bristol a couple of weeks previously. He told me that he had been out of the country during the week, and the car had been parked up at Heathrow, and he was simply making his way home! There were a number of other versions to enjoy, too.

 photo P1250035_zps23e674af.jpg  photo P1250034_zps0adb6a0a.jpg  photo P1250038_zps8d07b452.jpg  photo P1430380_zps328b9b8c.jpg  photo P1430615_zps9dbe10db.jpg  photo P1430614_zps68a6ce75.jpg  photo P1430385_zps26160f84.jpg  photo P1430384_zps15632aa2.jpg  photo P1430403_zps6ecbb7d8.jpg  photo P1430367_zps04b04fa6.jpg  photo P1430593_zpsf6ff70cb.jpg  photo P1430592_zpsd475e900.jpg photo P1430591_zps41a6c682.jpg  photo P1430590_zps1a6411aa.jpg  photo P1430544_zps45da84d0.jpg

There were quite a few 145 and 146 cars present. Many were not entirely convinced by the styling of these when they were new (I was not among the disbelievers), though anyone who drove a 145 Cloverleaf or 146 Ti probably needed no convincing on the fact that they were fun to drive. They were not always that reliable, especially as they aged (as one Chris Harris found out!), but now the survivors have been sorted, they make an interesting modern classic.

 photo P1430430_zpsc1c0fffb.jpg  photo P1430419_zps71f872ed.jpg  photo P1430631_zps35853533.jpg  photo P1430433_zps357ec924.jpg  photo P1430460_zps8013dbad.jpg  photo P1430431_zps1fbfbd86.jpg  photo P1430583_zps97dbeb77.jpg  photo P1430580_zpsc4e533df.jpg  photo P1430461_zps953647ae.jpg  photo P1430437_zps51963b65.jpg

Reliability was not an issue with the 916 series GTV and Spider, as these cars were well built. I note that the 1996 GTV which I had for a while has disappeared off the roads according to the DVLA, but only in the last few months, but there are still plenty of these cars around. An article in the April 2014 Classic and Sports Car will surely have encouraged at least a few people to go and buy one of these whilst they are still very cheap, as prices are bound to head upwards.

 photo P1430491_zpse55ae3e2.jpg  photo P1430492_zps0302d929.jpg  photo P1430468_zps049dccb5.jpg  photo P1430432_zps215dda36.jpg  photo P1430404_zpsb5170eb8.jpg  photo P1430467_zps6658a2b5.jpg  photo P1430429_zps5451dc31.jpg  photo P1250033_zpsb6337f6c.jpg  photo P1250032_zpsf7abfc4f.jpg  photo P1430633_zpsa72f6be4.jpg  photo P1430589_zps64562cb6.jpg  photo P1430594_zps0f0bee13.jpg  photo P1430425_zps5409fa31.jpg photo P1430422_zpsc592ca33.jpg

It won’t be long before the 156 reaches it 20th birthday. I still remember the excitement of seeing my first one, all taped up, in Frankfurt a matter of days before it was officially revealed, and then the joys of owning a V6 model, the keys for which had more or less to be forcibly removed from me. This car still looks great, especially, in my opinion, in the way it first appeared before either of the two facelifts were applied, and even without the GTA bodykit.

 photo P1430238_zps4546790d.jpg  photo P1430486_zpsc2f7c039.jpg  photo P1430487_zpsaa1cb621.jpg  photo P1430489_zps997ed4e8.jpg  photo P1430636_zps7cd95259.jpg

Another car which looked better before its facelift was the 147. This was a really pretty car which looked good, and then someone ruined the nose with the slanty headlights. Sadly, the GTA model had a short production life. These still look stunning now, and will surely increase in value when more people realise just what an impressive machine it really was.

 photo P1430494_zpsc0ead10c.jpg  photo P1430495_zpsa988763a.jpg  photo P1430523_zps11526545.jpg

In contrast, I always thought that the new nose of the facelifted 166 was an improvement. There were only this pair of pre-facelifts car at the event that I recall seeing, though.

 photo P1430587_zps056febce.jpg

The GT has been out of production for a few years now, and is one of those cars which has almost immediately achieved “modern classic” status, and who can be surprised with a car that looks this good.

 photo P1430119_zpsea7c0b89.jpg  photo P1430214_zps0da47c5d.jpg  photo P1430493_zps1308f2a0.jpg  photo P1430405_zps5b1fa5c8.jpg  photo P1430408_zps16fa29e2.jpg  photo P1430454_zps80ce8583.jpg  photo P1430434_zps138670f2.jpg

I was never quite such a fan of the Brera and Spider, and the ones I drove were a mild disappointment, largely stemming from the fact that they were extremely heavy and the engines had lost most of their Alfa-ness. Of course the V6 ones really had, as they used the powerplant jointly developed with GM.

 photo P1430213_zps775cec5b.jpg  photo P1430212_zpsad836af6.jpg  photo P1430276_zps8eb180dd.jpg  photo P1430635_zps2304960a.jpg  photo P1430219_zps0e63bcb6.jpg  photo P1250040_zps680cb1cd.jpg  photo P1430445_zps7f4df163.jpg  photo P1430469_zps4ad7c737.jpg  photo P1430395_zpsb3e0f329.jpg  photo P1430394_zps54e8b028.jpg  photo P1430418_zps7a91fdd5.jpg  photo P1430417_zps9f87bf5c.jpg

The 159 suffered in some of the same ways. I drove a couple when they were new, and though they were nice, they never felt quite Alfa-enough. There is no doubting the fact that it was one of the best looking cars in its class at the time, and it still looks good now.

 photo P1430220_zps2f40027d.jpg  photo P1430415_zps5670fd29.jpg  photo P1430416_zps0b2674c6.jpg  photo P1430462_zps6f556619.jpg  photo P1430438_zpsab455e31.jpg

There were plenty of examples of the two volume models in the current range, the MiTo and Giulietta, proving that although current sales of the marque are from the ambitious volumes that were touted around a few years ago, there are still plenty of people who want a modern Alfa and want to get involved in the Italian Car community.

 photo P1250039_zpscb1364b3.jpg  photo P1250041_zps2126fbc5.jpg  photo P1430396_zpsd72456c9.jpg  photo P1430393_zps3fc9120d.jpg  photo P1430470_zpsf83c046f.jpg  photo P1250025_zps9a0e3001.jpg

AUTOBIANCHI

I really like the diminutive A112 model, a small hatchback which was used by the Fiat Group to test some of the ideas that would later appear in the commercially far more significant Fiat 127. Never officially sold in the UK, these cars are rare even in their native Italy, so it was great when this one, carefully restored over a period of time by its owner, who also has a modern Abarth, made its public debut at the Stanford Hall event last year.

 photo P1430308_zpsae2326cc.jpg

There was a second A112 on show as well.

 photo P1250079_zpsdab186b6.jpg

BIZZARRINI

This striking 5300GT is a regular at events like this. It always attracts plenty of attention.

 photo P1430332_zpsa57c1e88.jpg  photo P1430334_zps811dc709.jpg  photo P1430333_zps4975efa2.jpg

CISITLIA

This is one of those marques which many will never even have heard of. I saw this car drive in, and guessed its identity. The name “Cisitalia” derives from “Compagnia Industriale Sportiva Italia”, a business conglomerate founded in Turin in 1946 and controlled by the wealthy industrialist and sportsman Piero Dusio. The best known version is the stunningly pretty Cisitalia 202 GT of 1946, an example of which hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York, as it is widely considered to be a “rolling sculpture. Over the next few years, Cisitalia produced very small quantities of quite an array of different models. This car, a 202 SMM Nuvolari Spider, is one of about 20 that were made. It was designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi, who had designed most of the 202, and initially featured a coupe body, intended to be Cisitalia’s competition car for the 1947 season. The design was executed by Stabilimenti Farina upon both chassis #101 and #102. After two coupes had been finished, a spider version, called the SMM for Spider Mille Miglia, was completed which would adorn all subsequent competition cars bearing the MM designation. At the 1947 Mille Miglia, the Cistitalia spider really proved itself by leading most of the race in the hands of Tazio Nuvolari. Despite facing competitors with engines three times larger, Nuvolari held back the competition until troubles ensued in the rain. In the end, the Cistitalia took second overall and first in class. For this epic effort, subsequent competition spiders were known as 202 SMM Nuvolaris. This one bore several stickers suggesting that it has previously competed in the revived Mille Miglia events.

 photo P1430129_zps377e6445.jpg  photo P1430133_zpse7a65590.jpg  photo P1430132_zpsd9f1e9e2.jpg  photo P1430351_zpsa40d8e29.jpg  photo P1430130_zpsfa17a8ee.jpg  photo P1430131_zps2109e13b.jpg photo P1430350_zps54bebb2d.jpg

DE TOMASO

Think De Tomaso, and probably it will be the Pantera that comes to mind. There were several of this, the biggest selling De Tomaso, on show.

 photo P1430352_zps7eaef798.jpg  photo P1430353_zpse19dc9a3.jpg  photo P1430192_zps495dfbca.jpg  photo P1430191_zps623702d2.jpg  photo P1430128_zps4a4c345f.jpg  photo P1430193_zps21a452b4.jpg  photo P1430529_zpsb6af8463.jpg

Much rarer was the 4 door Deauville. Launched in 1972, the model had a long “production” life, and this is a late model with black plastic bumpers which do not enhance what is otherwise a cleanly styled machine.

 photo P1430184_zpscb6dafc2.jpg  photo P1430328_zps8f505fec.jpg

FERRARI

Needless to say, there were lots of Ferrari present, with a whole display area occupied by members of the Surrey Ferrari Owners Club, as well as plenty of cars brought along by individuals, and a quartet of cars that dealer DK Engineering had assembled. Among so many cars it is hard to pick a favourite, but high on that list was the Daytona that DK Engineering had. I’ve always loved these, and not just because it was a winning card in Top Trumps when I was a kid!

 photo P1430156_zps9d54c78d.jpg  photo P1430162_zps5b34f30b.jpg  photo P1430157_zps23a73247.jpg  photo P1430155_zpscf124624.jpg  photo P1430161_zpscbf28ff3.jpg

DK Engineering also had this, a 275 GTB/C. Very possibly this was the most valuable car present, though it was not the largest crowd puller, which was parked next to it (and was not a Ferrari).

 photo P1430154_zps25cc8cbc.jpg  photo P1430153_zps4a65406b.jpg  photo P1430160_zps24e7378d.jpg  photo P1430152_zps8f9a8df2.jpg  photo P1430570_zpsed8e2511.jpg  photo P1430159_zps3792ad48.jpg  photo P1430158_zps2c392c96.jpg  photo P1430569_zpsba869240.jpg  photo P1430628_zps4d3a6fe9.jpg  photo P1430627_zps9e1eadb9.jpg

They also had a 16M on show.

 photo P1430145_zps2c4e4d2a.jpg  photo P1430149_zps2ddf846a.jpg  photo P1430148_zpsaacee268.jpg  photo P1430147_zps4f5ab8b6.jpg

I think the days have passed when people were cutting up cars like this, a 250 GT Lusso, so they could build replica GTOs and the like on the chassis, but that certainly was happening, making cars like this even rare than they should be. It would indeed be a crime to destroy cars that are as elegant as these.

 photo P1430359_zps9aabe722.jpg  photo P1430360_zps68282679.jpg  photo P1430577_zps3d4f44aa.jpg  photo P1430576_zps9b2c8fb6.jpg

Another car that suffered in the same way was this, the 330 GT.

 photo P1250077_zps495e534a.jpg

The 246 GT Dino is still, to my mind (and I am not alone in thinking this) one of the prettiest Ferrari ever made.

 photo P1430608_zpscdfc9afe.jpg  photo P1430123_zpsa379d755.jpg  photo P1430388_zps7faeba7d.jpg  photo P1430387_zps9701a0da.jpg

The 308/328 GTB and GTS cars just look small these days, yet when they were new, no-one really thought of them that way.

 photo P1430550_zps832e34c6.jpg  photo P1430563_zps4c23b54b.jpg  photo P1430306_zpsae4befa6.jpg  photo P1430564_zps3bc5b628.jpg  photo P1430551_zps388b2b22.jpg  photo P1430558_zpsa7eac66b.jpg photo P1430545_zps64a723a6.jpg

Another really pretty model, slightly older than the Dino, is this, the 275 GTS. I heard the owner saying how he was about to take it to an event in Luxembourg, and then down to Brescia to follow the Mille Miglia. He was then goading one of his friends to use his car and “get some stone chips on it”!> Lovely though cars like these are to look at, the real joy has to be in driving them as well.

 photo P1430176_zps01f4965a.jpg  photo P1430174_zps4bf31715.jpg  photo P1430175_zps85ecfe8c.jpg

Looking at the 348 and F355 cars, the former, a car that was almost condemned when new, for failing to achieve the levels of visual and on the road desirability of its antecedent, seems to have come into its own. Whilst I would of course prefer the F355, an achingly pretty design, with a glorious sound track from its 5 valves per cylinder V8 engine, both generations of this car, several of which were on show, are very nice.

 photo P1430165_zps10ce019f.jpg  photo P1430307_zps6283e49a.jpg  photo P1430167_zpsbebfdd46.jpg  photo P1430555_zps9f6928dd.jpg  photo P1430146_zps46c083fd.jpg  photo P1430144_zps598ebed2.jpg  photo P1430166_zps30028cda.jpg  photo P1430575_zps0c90543e.jpg photo P1430574_zps437de299.jpg  photo P1430561_zpsf3abe24a.jpg  photo P1430565_zps2905324b.jpg  photo P1430548_zpsf705b347.jpg

It was with the 360 Modena and F430 generation that Ferrari sales really took off, and not surprisingly, there were plenty of these cars at the event.

 photo P1430562_zpse97f037d.jpg  photo P1430163_zpsf01b05c2.jpg  photo P1430361_zpsfb600199.jpg  photo P1430560_zps05df6016.jpg  photo P1430554_zpsf6f62ffe.jpg  photo P1430553_zps166c41bf.jpg  photo P1430549_zps051585ff.jpg photo P1430528_zpsf807c917.jpg  photo P1430527_zps4de54423.jpg  photo P1430362_zps2f820483.jpg

The 458 Italia is still not as common sight on our roads, probably because the price is far higher than those attached to its predecessor. Sales have swung in favour of the Spider version, as expected. There examples of the Coupe as well.

 photo P1430366_zps04ef95e4.jpg  photo P1430617_zps87f9206b.jpg

The Testarossa generation was represented by these cars.

 photo P1430559_zps699b5581.jpg  photo P1430532_zpsf8508074.jpg

There were surprisingly few of the 599 models present, as these are usually more in evidence.

 photo P1430557_zpsab982913.jpg  photo P1430556_zpsd6df5841.jpg

There were not many of its predecessor, the 550/575 either.

 photo P1430619_zpse119536e.jpg  photo P1430618_zpsae25d9d8.jpg

Four seater Ferrari never seem quite to attract the same level of interest and enthusiasm, as the two seaters, and yet, to mind, the different models that Ferrari have produced have been just as lovely to look at, and to listen to. There were examples of each of the recent ones on show: 400i and 412i, 456 GT and the 612 Scaglietti.

 photo P1430552_zps36865928.jpg  photo P1430164_zps7a04bdf6.jpg

The F40 remains a magnet for attention, and there were a few of these cars on show.

 photo P1430365_zpsec1e3ef5.jpg  photo P1430180_zps151ab501.jpg  photo P1430364_zps849dcde2.jpg  photo P1430188_zps8434448c.jpg  photo P1430363_zpsfc2808c6.jpg

Unlike the (undepicted F50 which seemed to stay for literally just a few minutes) once this Enzo arrived in the late morning, it did then stay put for the rest of the day.

 photo P1430324_zps688b4076.jpg

There was only one example of the latest F12 Berlinetta, one of the trade stands.

 photo P1430141_zps368809e1.jpg  photo P1250062_zpsce7eaec3.jpg

FIAT

Oldest Fiat on show was this gorgeous 1934 Balila Sport. Based on the humble 508, mainstay of the Fiat range at the time, the Balila was successful in motorsport events when new, and now, it is a viable entry for things like the Mille Miglia.

 photo P1430621_zpsc314a1d0.jpg  photo P1430622_zps7b001c8c.jpg  photo P1430620_zps9f15f01d.jpg  photo P1250014_zps6c3d9b9f.jpg

The 500 “Topolino” first appeared in 1936. It was revived after the war and then facelifted to produce this, the 500C, a still very cute little car indeed.

 photo P1430338_zpsf13f47d8.jpg  photo P1430339_zps4be1e035.jpg

A trio of convertibles were tucked away right at the end of the banking. They comprised a 1200 Spider and a couple of 1500s.

 photo P1430284_zps8a6b3e0c.jpg  photo P1430285_zps3b9329a8.jpg  photo P1430292_zpsf5320448.jpg  photo P1430447_zpsa821715d.jpg  photo P1430286_zps279d3155.jpg  photo P1430291_zps59d9ff77.jpg  photo P1430448_zps32fe943b.jpg

There were lots of the Nuova 500 model on show, including the Giardiniera estate models. These cars always attract lots of interest.

 photo P1430472_zps8254b3c3.jpg  photo P1430474_zps672ef144.jpg  photo P1430483_zps3839b91e.jpg  photo P1430475_zpsccb2719b.jpg  photo P1430482_zps5ae051b4.jpg  photo P1430477_zps1f2858ff.jpg  photo P1430480_zps0f35ad30.jpg  photo P1430484_zps344a1f9b.jpg photo P1430473_zps86c1e3b4.jpg  photo P1430485_zps4555c798.jpg  photo P1430481_zps5627b095.jpg  photo P1430478_zps926ff191.jpg  photo P1430479_zps416fd756.jpg

The 850 was a popular car when new, with many being bought as a second car. The Coupe was particularly popular, as it was stylish and yet affordable. Rust has claimed almost all of them, but a few remain, and it was nice to see the rare Saloon as well as duo of Coupes here, and the Spider.

 photo P1430579_zpsbc024d15.jpg  photo P1430243_zps5fdec5da.jpg  photo P1430256_zpsdecda400.jpg  photo P1430476_zpsb9c60f52.jpg  photo P1430302_zps089934cd.jpg  photo P1430471_zpsa192e154.jpg  photo P1430255_zps8dab90dc.jpg  photo P1250056_zps5d978152.jpg

The 124 was Fiat’s family car from 1966 until the mid 1970s, but these days you hardly ever see the saloon or estate models. That was the case here, too, with none at the event. But there were some lovely Coupe models, showing how the design evolved from the simple and elegant cars of 1967 to the twin headlight third generation cars with far more potent 1.8 twin cam engines.

 photo P1250045_zps14a45288.jpg  photo P1250044_zpsd359983a.jpg  photo P1250043_zps05b76537.jpg  photo P1430275_zpsdeb86552.jpg  photo P1430274_zps3a540e29.jpg  photo P1430244_zps7a8bd949.jpg  photo P1430582_zps5b5c6b8a.jpg  photo P1430581_zpsd891d2fc.jpg

The 124 Spider underwent a similar evolution, but thanks to strong demand from America stayed in production far longer, lasting until the early 1990s.

 photo P1430245_zpsdad6356e.jpg  photo P1430246_zpscb52f603.jpg  photo P1430326_zpseb688215.jpg  photo P1430325_zps50802425.jpg  photo P1430382_zps5c5601bd.jpg

This duo of Dino models were among my favourites of the day. I did see a black Coupe come on site, but never saw it again, sadly. The market has woken up to the delights of the Dino Spider and prices have risen a lot in recent years. The Coupe, which many think is even nicer, is bound to follow.

 photo P1430127_zps6dab432f.jpg  photo P1430125_zpsb04b0cbc.jpg  photo P1430540_zps4fc64704.jpg  photo P1430542_zpsf0ad48f9.jpg  photo P1430541_zpsa776ea95.jpg  photo P1430539_zpsfae3721a.jpg photo P1430126_zps1b1a49ba.jpg  photo P1430538_zpsb74c10ad.jpg

The 130 Coupe remains a very elegant, and very undervalued car. This was a very nice example.

 photo P1430282_zps5221ad08.jpg  photo P1430283_zps87171bc6.jpg  photo P1430547_zps73b75c4a.jpg  photo P1430546_zps575a5983.jpg

One of the rarest cars of the day has to be this, a humble 128 Estate. There are not that many 128s of any type left, thanks to the dreaded tin worm, but the Estate is the rarest of the lot. A left hand drive car, this one has clearly survived thanks to spending most of its life somewhere where rust was not an issue. It looked to be in splendid condition. I did hear lots of people reminisce on how they had once owned one, as 128s were indeed popular cars in their day.

 photo P1430401_zps585d6264.jpg  photo P1430397_zps3c4ce2d1.jpg  photo P1430230_zps14868ab5.jpg  photo P1430232_zps5cee82f6.jpg  photo P1430233_zps68eef2e7.jpg  photo P1430235_zps9c078a39.jpg  photo P1430234_zpsc2ea3ebe.jpg  photo P1430236_zps32b9a48c.jpg  photo P1430231_zps80aeac9d.jpg

Also from the 128 family were these 3P models. A hatchback design that replaced the short lived Coupe model, a very small number of these cars remain. These two were both presented in a limited edition guise.

 photo P1430241_zps96ea9e92.jpg  photo P1430239_zps971a59b0.jpg  photo P1430240_zps7c9879af.jpg

Almost as rare as that 128 Estate was this, a first generation 131 Mirafiori. Fiat’s answer to the Cortina, this boxy saloon and estate were sold in some very bright colours when launched in 1975, of which this orange was one of the nicest.

 photo P1430375_zps6e342941.jpg  photo P1430374_zpsec51b8c8.jpg

There were other examples of the 131, from later in the model’s life, showing how the purity of the design was lost with increasing amounts of plastic on the front and back. That said, the Abarth Rally version remained unaffected by these changes.

 photo P1430373_zps8acc7c60.jpg  photo P1430376_zps34cd69c2.jpg  photo P1250031_zps28d2564d.jpg

The 127 is not a car you see very often, either. This is an example of the limited edition Palio model that was produced in 1979.

 photo P1430377_zps1d9c92bf.jpg

I counted at least a dozen different examples of the X1/9. What was nice was that these encompassed everything from the launch edition cars with the distinctive black hatching down the sides, through to the regular 1300 and 1500 cars, the limited edition Lido, and the late model VS and Gran Finale cars.

 photo P1250030_zpsb153ae21.jpg  photo P1250029_zpsd0034a50.jpg  photo P1430368_zpsc706d126.jpg  photo P1430369_zps60607b72.jpg  photo P1430370_zps0f9df386.jpg  photo P1430371_zpsdcad5fad.jpg  photo P1430372_zps519b3c0f.jpg

Most of the Strada models that you see these days are the sporty ones, and there were indeed some nice 105TC and 130TC Abarth models here, but there was also a second series 70CL, which the owner told me had been generating a lot of interest.

 photo P1430265_zps6130b4f6.jpg  photo P1430264_zpsb5236170.jpg  photo P1430266_zpse556e179.jpg  photo P1250027_zps71327f8b.jpg  photo P1250026_zps715985b9.jpg  photo P1250054_zps679c2c13.jpg photo P1430381_zpsc08989b3.jpg  photo P1430410_zpsb5741c7b.jpg  photo P1430440_zps227b2b58.jpg

Fiat have struggled almost whenever they have tried to make large cars, even though the products have generally not been bad. The first cars to bear the Croma name were decent enough products, sharing much with the Alfa 164, Lancia Thema and Saab 9000, and yet the car did not sell well when new, and so are very rare now. This was a nice first generation pre-facelift car in top of the range Turbo ie format.

 photo P1430251_zpsc9c263b4.jpg

Uno is widely credited with being one of those cars that “saved Fiat”. A huge success right from the initial June 1983 launch, several million were made. Sadly, almost as many million have been scrapped, so even in its native Italy, you just don’t see them very often now. An array of different models were on show here, including some rare limited edition cars.

 photo P1430253_zps4297bb43.jpg  photo P1430455_zpsd2a66749.jpg  photo P1250052_zpsedce172d.jpg  photo P1250050_zpsff154666.jpg  photo P1250051_zpsf672f4fa.jpg  photo P1250049_zps8447895c.jpg photo P1430456_zpsc297fbea.jpg

The Coupe was only sold in the UK between 1995 and 1999, and since then it has enjoyed “instant classic” status, with an enthusiastic following for this striking Chris Bangle design. There were a good number of the cars on show, here, with most of the different colours that were offered in evidence.

 photo P1430513_zpsdcb78976.jpg  photo P1430512_zps3e0defd0.jpg  photo P1430511_zpsa1a4a7f3.jpg  photo P1250078_zps21ce6870.jpg  photo P1430514_zpsce9e1636.jpg  photo P1430518_zpsc019336b.jpg  photo P1430517_zpsdac33d72.jpg photo P1430516_zps5c9da673.jpg  photo P1430515_zps2219f6eb.jpg  photo P1430510_zps0a9555a9.jpg  photo P1430509_zps688b7188.jpg

The Cinquecento and later Seicento have a keen following as these cars are not just small, but mechanically quite simple, so easy to fix, cost peanuts to run and have a cheeky charm that recaptures much of what made the earlier 500s so popular.

 photo P1430242_zps034a73cf.jpg  photo P1430525_zpse5438821.jpg

It was nice to see a number of Barchetta at the event. To my mind this car looks even better than the MGF and Mazda MX5, its main rivals, and yet it remains largely unknown and forgotten. One day people will wake up to it, and prices will rise.

 photo P1430247_zpsfafdbc71.jpg  photo P1250047_zps30b2711f.jpg  photo P1250046_zps7c163cda.jpg  photo P1430436_zpsa3397d28.jpg  photo P1430409_zpsf10f17f7.jpg

There were loads of Panda cars, in all three generations. Having just spend a few days in Tuscany, I can confirm that the first generation model is very much alive and well, seen all over the place there, so it was good to see that there are still plenty being enjoyed here, too.

 photo P1430457_zps482ed814.jpg  photo P1430280_zpsa5364978.jpg  photo P1430441_zps144909a4.jpg  photo P1430281_zpsff9000eb.jpg  photo P1430267_zps13554d9e.jpg  photo P1250048_zps6c162809.jpg  photo P1250042_zps5f3ba567.jpg  photo P1430259_zps291054bb.jpg  photo P1430254_zps37fbb6ab.jpg  photo P1430466_zpsb9370c84.jpg

Punto has now been on sale for 20 years, with three generations offered in that time. There were lots of these models on show, including the rare Cabrio version of the first generation car.

 photo P1430295_zps0ecd634f.jpg  photo P1430451_zps13bf5b12.jpg  photo P1430296_zpsbe926d0b.jpg  photo P1430252_zpsf37c1a5f.jpg  photo P1430269_zps097fd5a1.jpg  photo P1430258_zps512a6c59.jpg  photo P1430270_zps1413962b.jpg photo P1430450_zpsc78237e6.jpg  photo P1430262_zps0fee4196.jpg  photo P1430257_zps6fbd6f63.jpg  photo P1430268_zpsd171ee9c.jpg  photo P1430278_zpse42365b0.jpg  photo P1430277_zps316db8fb.jpg  photo P1430263_zps618c4d4b.jpg

Scrappage took out an awful lot of the Bravo/Brava generation of cars, so it was good to see that there are still some survivors. When it was new, it was my favourite mid-sized rental car, massively nicer to drive than the egregious Ford Escort of the day. I was also a fan of the Marea. There were no saloons on show, though I did see one within minutes of leaving the event, but there were several of the very practical Weekend models on display.

 photo P1430288_zps19d0bc22.jpg  photo P1430290_zps65244b62.jpg  photo P1430289_zps5f38d708.jpg

The Stilo never really hit the mark. Fiat tried to inject some Golf like attributes into their C-segment offering, and in so doing, lost some of the brio that so characterised their previous products, whilst not achieving the same levels of quality as the Golf. The three door models are now the ones that you see, with a few of them on show here.

 photo P1430449_zps6cffa426.jpg  photo P1430294_zps342e3e70.jpg  photo P1430287_zps122d91fe.jpg  photo P1430383_zps7fc03eba.jpg  photo P1430439_zps69597e7e.jpg

The second generation Croma was another “miss”. Sharing much under the skin with Vauxhall/Opel’s Signum, this was actually a roomy car that was splendid as a long distance cruiser. It did look rather dull initially, though a revised front end did make it look better, but to no avail, it quietly disappeared from sale not long after.

 photo P1430392_zpsa02694d4.jpg

For some reason, the Bravo – allegedly still on sale, though no-one seems to know or care – just never captured anyone’s interest, and a good looking car which actually drives very nicely has languished at the bottom of the sales charts, struggling even more than the Stilo did.

 photo P1430490_zpse646876e.jpg  photo P1430248_zpse6a82fd1.jpg  photo P1430250_zps2dbdc865.jpg  photo P1430260_zps1144ae26.jpg

No such problem for the latest 500, which has been a huge success, and remains so 7 years after going on sale.

 photo P1250055_zps4c68e64f.jpg  photo P1430453_zps132f285f.jpg

Latest Fiat is the 500L, and whilst few would declare it as a beauty, it is certainly very practical, as I found out when I recently rented one.

 photo P1430358_zps29dc9e71.jpg  photo P1430537_zps67378207.jpg

INNOCENTI

Based on the second generation Austin-Healey Sprite, these pretty coupe and spider cars were made in small quantities in the early 1960s. One collector had an example of the C in each of the three colours of the Italian flag and a Spider, and then surprised everyone by announcing he was going to sell them all. They were on offer for a while, and he had hoped to sell the collection as a quartet, but I noticed that in fact someone bought one of the C models a while back. It was nice to see some of these cars at this event.

 photo P1430341_zpsea47cd4a.jpg  photo P1430299_zps3c14ccb4.jpg  photo P1430348_zpsf964c3d8.jpg  photo P1430349_zpsd49497e3.jpg

ISO

The Grifo is one of those cars which I knew in my childhood only because I had the Corgi model of it. It is only now at events like this that you actually get to see one. Or rather, two, as that is how many were present.

 photo P1430342_zps7fea5e94.jpg  photo P1430534_zps1bd03eb6.jpg  photo P1430343_zps2212a2e0.jpg  photo P1250017_zpsf4d0aaab.jpg  photo P1430533_zps67468a3b.jpg  photo P1250015_zpscb5c08b8.jpg

Pre-dating the Grifo was the Rivolta, the first car that Iso made.

 photo P1430331_zps01c00c34.jpg  photo P1430330_zpscedfafd1.jpg

ISOTTA FRASCHINI

Making its first appearance on UK soil was this, “il drago ruggente”, or “the roaring dragon”. Powered by a staggering 27-litre Isotta Fraschini V12 engine from a Caproni – an Italian heavy bomber, this aero-engined leviathan, widely known as ‘il drago ruggente’ (the roaring dragon), is built on a 1924 Delage chassis and, thanks to owner Glenn Billqvist, made the journey from Sweden for the event. No matter where you were on site, you could tell when this monster was fired up, firstly because of the noise, and secondly as a huge cloud of smoke engulfed everything in the vicinity.

 photo P1250060_zps4f7ade95.jpg  photo P1250061_zps781ba69a.jpg  photo P1250012_zps53f08a76.jpg  photo P1250013_zpsa2e90500.jpg

LAMBORGHINI

By the time I got to the area where the Lamborghini were parked, quite a lot of them seemed to have departed, so although there were still some nice Raging Bull badged cars to see, I fear I missed out on some others. The Countach may now be around 40 years old, but it is still a massive crowd-puller, with its striking looks. No longer the wide machine we thought it was when new, it is also very low compared to modern super cars.

 photo P1430499_zpsff6cc255.jpg  photo P1430501_zps076951ce.jpg  photo P1430522_zpsb69538cf.jpg  photo P1430507_zps4aa5aff6.jpg  photo P1430500_zps99a4cd5f.jpg  photo P1430506_zps32f4454f.jpg

There were several of the Gallardo models, which is fitting given that Lamborghini have made more of these cars than anything else.

 photo P1430355_zpsd50d787f.jpg  photo P1430354_zps8bbc3e47.jpg  photo P1430508_zpscb9e22bf.jpg  photo P1430502_zpsf6ca37cf.jpg  photo P1250028_zps2dd1ea53.jpg  photo P1430521_zpscca601ff.jpg  photo P1430505_zpsefa07660.jpg photo P1430503_zps1c7a3610.jpg

Of the earlier “cheaper” cars, there were both a Silhouette and a Jalpa.

 photo P1430498_zps5de4c81b.jpg  photo P1430496_zpsf03f28e0.jpg  photo P1430497_zpsfa67ebd7.jpg  photo P1430520_zps0c35a3eb.jpg  photo P1430519_zpsdb6503dd.jpg

From the current range, there was also an Aventador.

 photo P1430504_zpsa3b5a13c.jpg

LANCIA

Oldest car at the show was this fabulous Lambda. Launched in 1922, the Lambda was a very advanced design, pioneering many new features which became common place on subsequent products from almost all manufacturers.

 photo P1430177_zpseed9f769.jpg  photo P1430178_zpsa659fddb.jpg  photo P1430340_zpseec39800.jpg

Equally advanced was this, the late 1930s Aprilia.

 photo P1430400_zps892b84c3.jpg  photo P1430399_zps3ea4116d.jpg  photo P1430400_zps7cb77f8b.jpg

The Aurelia was an exquisitely engineered 1950s design that came in Berlina, GT and open-topped versions. The Coupe models, badged GT, indeed the first cars to bear this iconic badging, are the ones you see most frequently.

 photo P1430208_zpsdf45501c.jpg  photo P1430524_zps5dcfce9a.jpg

Replacement for the Aurelia was the Flaminia. As was common at the time, a number of Italian coachbuilders produced their own designs on the Lancia chassis, and some very pretty cars resulted., This is a Touring bodied Coupe.

 photo P1430209_zps9f678c6b.jpg

Smallest Lancia of the 1950s was the Appia, and this is a Series 2 car, with the revised rear end, but before the full width grille was added.

 photo P1250057_zps08d6a348.jpg

The Fulvia was Lancia’s smaller car offering in the 1960s and early 1970s. It is the stunningly pretty Coupe version which is best remembered these days, and there were plenty of these to enjoy.

 photo P1430194_zpsedd7d6f8.jpg  photo P1430195_zps5dfe47c9.jpg  photo P1430210_zpsd481f906.jpg  photo P1430211_zpsa16c2234.jpg  photo P1430207_zps2c678e30.jpg  photo P1430200_zpsfc2b7fb9.jpg photo P1430378_zps7795f2ce.jpg

Pre-dating the Fulvia by three years was the Flavia, a mid-sized front wheel drive design that started out as a 1.5 litre saloon. It was not long before larger engines and different body styles were offered. This is a Farina designed Coupe.

 photo P1430228_zps846710c4.jpg  photo P1430229_zpsaab2fc86.jpg  photo P1250011_zps1c3d2ca6.jpg

The larger Flavia mutated into the 2000 range in the 1970s. These were costly cars when new and so they were never a common sight, and they are especially rare now, so I was delighted to see this lovely 2000 HF Coupe. It is yet another very elegant Pininfarina design.

 photo P1430204_zpsf033e93f.jpg  photo P1430203_zpsd293fa47.jpg  photo P1430205_zps1faa7ac1.jpg  photo P1430202_zps566d612d.jpg

The only Gamma at the event was the rarer Berlina model. I am pretty sure that this is one of many owned by Andy Collins, though I did not see him at the event. He certainly has several of these charismatic cars in his collection.

 photo P1430198_zpsc8e98f87.jpg  photo P1430199_zps2804a07b.jpg  photo P1430197_zps085ffefa.jpg

More surprising was the almost complete absence of the Beta model. There are usually several Coupe and HPE cars at events like this, but they were conspicuous by their absence, leaving just a body-kitted Spider and a Montecarlo to present this range.

 photo P1430402_zps54619064.jpg

A vast array of first generation Delta models were on show. Almost all of them were the 4WD cars, most of which were the Integrale cars. Survival rate of these models is quite decent, though they are far from cheap to buy or to keep running, but there are so many enthusiasts for this car that you can be sure that they are likely to remain evident at events like this for a long time to come.

 photo P1430223_zpsd69ef283.jpg  photo P1430224_zps75091b80.jpg  photo P1250058_zps57fab416.jpg  photo P1430225_zps61c451a4.jpg  photo P1430201_zpsd711c1d4.jpg  photo P1430226_zps6f88ae00.jpg  photo P1430196_zps4b6066b0.jpg photo P1430227_zps134b4a82.jpg

Although the Dedra was offered to UK buyers before Lancia exited the market, the Station Wagon never made it here, so it was good to see this one.

 photo P1430206_zpsf9a0bfe9.jpg

MASERATI

With Maserati celebrating its centenary this year, there are bound to be impressive displays of this Modenese marque’s cars at events throughout the year. That said, there are always plenty of Maseratis at Brooklands, regardless of whether it is centenary year or not, so there was nothing particularly special, but there were still plenty of nice cars to look at. My favourite of them all was probably the very graceful Khamsin, a very fast and elegant Sports GT made in small quantities in the mid to late 1970s.

 photo P1430135_zps8b607c8d.jpg

Contemporary with the Khamsin was the “entry level” Maserati of the era, the Merak, and there were a couple of these to see.

 photo P1430336_zpsf7f60e83.jpg  photo P1430335_zpsf8d157db.jpg  photo P1430337_zpsa83a2158.jpg  photo P1250016_zps225022a7.jpg  photo P1430398_zps67aebd40.jpg

During the 1980s and 1990s, Maserati concentrated on the BiTurbo range of cars. A bewildering array of different models were produced, and whilst some of them were really not up to par, some of them, especially the later models were really rather special. My favourite of the lot was the Shamal, a high end Coupe. There was a lovely aubergine coloured version on show here.

 photo P1250024_zpsd83efa2e.jpg  photo P1430190_zpsc35399dd.jpg  photo P1430189_zpsbd9edc29.jpg  photo P1430298_zps51757736.jpg

Replacement for these cars were the 3200GT and later 4200 models. Stunningly pretty to look at, these cars boasted much improved build quality and more robust mechanical and electrical components, meaning that these are not the worry to run that the BiTurbo cars are. Several of these in Coupe and Spider guise were on show.

 photo P1250019_zpscd6b7289.jpg  photo P1430297_zps09450d24.jpg  photo P1250023_zps49cafb81.jpg  photo P1250010_zps79995380.jpg  photo P1430578_zps2d571e64.jpg

With the launch in recent months of a new Quattroporte, there have now been six distinct generations of four door Maserati. All are splendid, of course. Not every generation was represented here, as there were none of the rare second type (only 13 were ever made), or the third, fourth or sixth.

 photo P1430221_zps5d26d790.jpg  photo P1430222_zps2ea8e45a.jpg  photo P1430134_zps910aca1e.jpg

I know at least person who completely disagrees with me on this one, as he is not a fan, but I do like the GranTurismo and GranCabrio. Shock news came a few days after this event, when Marchionne revealed his master plan for the entire Fiat Group, that these cars will cease production later this year, with a replacement four years away.

 photo P1430136_zpsd5db01de.jpg

One reason for that is so Maserati can concentrate on the saloons, of which the new Ghibli will be the volume (it’s a relative term!) seller. There was one of these cars present this year. By next year, I have no doubt that there will be far more.

 photo P1430140_zps6fb090d2.jpg  photo P1430139_zps3bca0487.jpg  photo P1430185_zps8ee26abf.jpg  photo P1430329_zps9df7b15e.jpg  photo P1430138_zps313dcabb.jpg  photo P1250018_zpseffacace.jpg

MORETTI

Another marque that many will not have heard of, Moretti was an Italian coachbuilder who offered a bewildering array of models, mostly based on Fiat cars from the 1950s through to the 1970s. There were two cars at this event, the smaller of which was once owned by event organiser Phil Ward. It is based on the Fiat 850 Coupe, and so is rear engined, which might explain why there is quite a large rump to it. It does make occasional appearances at events these days.

 photo P1430187_zpsc8baa15a.jpg  photo P1430186_zps60e3d580.jpg

The second one has recently reached the UK having been found in Malta. A 900, this one will undergo a restoration/finishing exercise, if only the new owner can find the rare parts he needs like bumpers.

 photo P1430346_zps6e991562.jpg  photo P1430344_zps8f3e3882.jpg  photo P1430347_zps27298e9a.jpg  photo P1430345_zps56248fe5.jpg

PAGANI

There were two Zonda present. Sadly, I only saw one of them, which was the one that DK Engineering brought along, as the other one, a silver car, clearly did not stay for very long. This one attracted steady crowds around it for most of the day, which is hardly a surprise, as you really don’t see Pagani very often.

  photo P1430568_zps9b57c30f.jpg  photo P1430567_zpsc496bf59.jpg  photo P1430566_zps4e7e9d7e.jpg  photo P1430170_zps35252397.jpg  photo P1430168_zps19a1f6fc.jpg  photo P1430171_zps980f18b0.jpg  photo P1430169_zpsd2701b91.jpg  photo P1430151_zps704fc4c5.jpg  photo P1430304_zps7fab1b6e.jpg  photo P1430150_zps6ed47b91.jpg  photo P1430303_zps30950ef2.jpg  photo P1430571_zps67a4c6dd.jpg

BROOKE

Parked up among the Ferraris was this Brooke 260 Double R. The Brooke first appeared in the mid-’90s, not long after the Light Car Company’s Rocket, and was clearly influenced by the Gordon Murray/Chris Craft design. However, the Brooke sat its passengers side-by-side rather than in tandem, and was powered by a longitudinally mounted Ford Cosworth engine rather than a transverse motorbike engine. It showed potential, being small, light and low-slung, but it was clearly under-developed and soon faded from sight. Just half a dozen were sold. The project then went quiet until rights to the project were bought by a new team in 2002. New owner, James Booker and technical development engineer James Rose (ex-MG Rover) then spent  two years labouring away at their base in Honiton, Devon, getting the Brooke to a state where they felt it could be sold again. This proved to be far bigger a job than they anticipated, with not a single component ending up interchangeable with the original. All that was carried over was the layout and the styling – the features that attracted the new owners to the car in the first place.

 photo P1430142_zps002f3458.jpg  photo P1430143_zps09e8bb21.jpg

OTHER

This splendid old Dennis bus from 1914 was out on display. It always attracts lots of interest, even though I doubt anyone present at the event (or alive, even) will remember these being in service now.

 photo P1430122_zps31b07b04.jpg

IN THE CAR PARK

We did not have the time to do a complete inspection of the car parks where all the non-Italian cars were to be found, but in wandering back to Piers Roache’s car, we did spot quite a few interesting cars worthy of inclusion here.

To see one VW-Porsche 914 in the UK is rare, but to see 4 in one day is almost unprecedented. Two of those present had Belgian plates on them, so although they were not parked together I suspect they may have come as a joint effort.

 photo P1430612_zpseef35211.jpg  photo P1430611_zpsb2002a40.jpg  photo P1430610_zps2e4fd902.jpg  photo P1430607_zps44ea98ea.jpg

Other nice cars there included a Porsche 911 GT3 and a “Pagoda” Mercedes 280 SL.

 photo P1430613_zps10956269.jpg  photo P1430616_zps002b08f0.jpg

This Aston-Martin DB4 was in the car park at Mercedes-Benz World.

 photo P1250147_zpsdf200caf.jpg

Needless to say, this was a hugely enjoyable day. The fabulous weather certainly helped, but even without that benefit, the vast array of interesting cars, the friendliness of so many owners, and of course the cameraderie of both my Abarthisti friends (many of whom I did not get much change to talk to, for which I apologise now!) and the long-suffering Messrs Grazier, Roache and Barnes who kept losing me as I was distracted by yet another rare car and photo opportunity made this what is likely to be one of the highlights of the 2014 Season.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *