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Articles by J. Michael Hemsley
Not Your Father’s Elan
In the press release for the 1991 Lotus Elan SE M100, Ronald L. Foster, President and CEO of Lotus Cars USA, Inc., said, about their new model, “We knew that we didn’t want a replica of a ‘60s car. Rather, we wanted a ‘90s Elan that would set innovative new standards as were established by its predecessor.â€Â What they produced was certainly not a replica of the Lotus Elan of the 1960s; it was the best-handling front-wheel-drive sports car ever built. No Subscription?
Spiders: The 1997 Alfa Romeo 916 Spider
When someone excitedly says “SPIDER!,” what do you do? Look for something to swat it with? Or do you turn and hope to see a nice Italian open sports car? I do the latter. So, how did sweet looking convertibles become known as Spiders? I looked it up in a dictionary of automotive terms and found that a Spider is “A type of sport vehicle. In the early 1900s, it meant a light two-seater car.
Just Gorgeous!-1955 Studebaker President Speedster
The Studebaker Corporation built some significant and beautiful vehicles during its more than a century in business. Their horse drawn vehicles, from Conestogas to hearses, were known for their quality and durability. The automobiles built with the Studebaker name on them ranged from buggy-like electrics to some of the prettiest American cars ever built. There were several high points in Studebaker design in the 1930s and the 1950s.
Lotus Lust-A Tale of Two Plus 2s
In May 1968, my former wife and I traveled by train, ferry and again by train from Pirmasens, Germany, to Norwich, England. Our purpose was to pick up our new 1968 Lotus Europa at the factory in Wymondham, near Norwich. We had a few adventures along the way, thanks to a train crash in Germany before we got on, that turned an 18-hour trip into a 36-hour one. We were quite happy to finally find a bed and breakfast in Norwich.
"What on Earth?"—1965 Lancia Flavia Sport Zagato
Joe Ballengee was driving his ’65 Lancia Flavia Sport Zagato through the Santa Fe Arts District, during the Santa Fe Concorso’s Mountain Tour, when a woman at the curb, shouted, “WHAT ON EARTH?” A more knowledgeable car person, upon seeing a photo of the Lancia, commented that it was “rare as rocking horse poo.” Many cars that were touched by the Italian coachbuilder Zagato produce exclamations and pronouncements such as these, but the Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato was just that bit more unusual...
Bella Figura—1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L
“Bella figura” is Italian for “beautiful figure.” Winston Goodfellow uses the phrase in the title of the section of his book, “Ferrari – Road and Racing,” on the 250 GT/L, aka Berlinetta Lusso. Preston Lerner, in his book “Speed Read – Ferrari,” says about the 250 GT/L, “The reason it’s remembered so fondly is because it is one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever built. No, check that. It is one of the most beautiful cars ever built.” “One” of the most beautiful?
The Shape of Things to Come: Triumph TR8
The Triumph Motor Company made a name for itself after World War II by producing interesting sports cars that performed well against their competition, despite having to design them on very limited budgets. After becoming a part of British Leyland, Triumph took a chance with a dramatic new design, advertised as “The Shape of Things to Come.” The wedge-shaped TR7 and TR8 got mixed reviews.
First MiniVan? - 1936 Stout Scarab
After he had finished the restoration of his 1936 Stout Scarab, Ron Schneider took it to a prestigious car show in Michigan. Two suited Chrysler executives looked over the car. As they turned to go, one said to the other, “So, who’s going to tell Lee he didn’t invent the minivan?” There have been instances when the Scarab was likened to a minivan, but despite resemblances, it is far more innovative than a minivan.
The Only One - 1967 Shelby GT 500 Convertible
When you have the only one ever built, you might have trouble convincing people that it is real. It’s a particular problem when what it looks like really isn’t what it is. That’s what Brian and Samantha Styles face every time they take their 1967 GT 500 convertible to a show. From 10 feet away it looks like your average 1968 Shelby GT convertible. Lift the hood or look at the interior, and it’s all 1968.
C is for Cabriolet: 1965 Alfa Romeo GTC
Full disclosure: I am a serious fan of Alfa Romeo automobiles. I’ve owned Alfas built from 1961 to 2017. My favorite Alfas, though, are the ones with the 105 chassis numbers – the Giulias. I’ve owned a 1966 Giulia Sprint GT Veloce, two Giulia Supers (1966 and 1973), a 1967 Duetto, and a 1971 Berlina. I also owned a 1963 Giulia Sprint, but that was a 101 chassis with the 1600 cc engine that would be used in the early 105 series cars.
The American Aristocrat: 1967 Lincoln Continental Convertible
Leslie R. Henry wrote an article in Automobile Quarterly (Volume VII # 3, Fall 1968) simply titled “The Lincoln.”His opening paragraph says a lot about Lincoln cars up to that time: “Some enthusiasts speak of them with passion. Others find them interesting. But no one seriously interested in fine automobiles can be indifferent to the Lincoln. There is the consummate artistry that makes the first Lincoln powerplant a thing of physical beauty as well as of mechanical excellence.
Gallery: Five Incredible Porsches at the 2023 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival
Organizers of the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival invited the Luftgekühlt’s celebration of Brian Redman, which resulted in a number of Porsches raced by Redman in attendance. Porsches, of course, were in abundance at the Festival, including five race cars and more than 20 street cars. Incredible Porsches in attendance included: Porsche 904 The Porsche 904 is a 6-cylinder from the mid-1960s, one of the prettiest Porsche racecars to ever come to life.
Build It! - Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale Tribute
What is it about a Stradale? Ask most Alfisti what Alfa they’d most like to have in their garage, and a significant percentage will say a Tipo 33 Stradale. I’ll admit, I’m odd, since my choice would be a Giulia TI Super, but the Stradale is a close second even for me. So, what do you do if you REALLY want a Stradale? There are very few of them, they sell for astronomical prices when they sell, and no one who owns one wants to sell theirs.
Creamsicle — 1974 Porsche 914 Can-Am – Sports Car Digest
In September 2022, I travelled to Townsend, Tennessee, in the Great Smokey Mountains for Okteenerfest. The annual gathering of Porsche 914s was a fun, albeit secondary, reason for going. The primary reason was to profile a rare 914 model, a Can-Am in a color combination that causes it to be known as a Creamsicle. The owner, Rick Sumoski, told me about the gathering and suggested that it would be a great place to do the photography for the profile, and it certainly was.
Thermal Efficiency—1962 Sunbeam Harrington – Sports Car Digest
When someone says “Sunbeam,” most car people immediately think of the “Tiger.” Sunbeam was much more than just that one model, and the subject of this profile is much rarer than the V8-stuffed Tiger. Origins of Sunbeam John Marston created the Sunbeamland Cycle Company in England, in 1887. In 1899, Marston’s assistant, Thomas Cureton, designed and built a single-cylinder car. Marston was impressed enough to fund the second car, this one with a horizontal engine.
1928 Alvis Model F.D. 12/75 - Quality, Hot-Stuff
The search for rare or interesting automobiles to profile for Vintage Road & Racecar has a few obvious starting points. Concours, especially ones like Amelia Island and Hilton Head, can yield a great variety of cars that are appropriate for this magazine, especially knowing that most, if not all of the cars, are driven onto the field. That means, with the owner’s permission, driving impressions and car-to-car photography, important pieces of a profile, are possible.
Boca Raton Concours Photo Gallery
Subscriber-only Photo Gallery form the Feb. 23-25, 2019, Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance. Lovely – 1962 Maserati 3500. Robert Jepson’s Bugatti was an award winner, but I like his 1920 Stutz Bearcat the best. Oh So Deco! Mark Hyman’s 1939 Delahaye 135MS Cabriolet won Best Foreign Classic. Winner – Most Elegant Pre-War Open car. 1933 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A certainly is. the most elegant. The Chief Judge liked this unique 1953 Cadillac Series 62 enough to give it his award.
Abandoned Potential
The Mirage profiled here is no optical illusion, although it is certainly as beautiful as some optical illusions can be. Only three Mirage M2s were ever built. They showed potential in the World Sports Car series, but their development was cut short when Porsche came knocking at John Wyer’s door. One of the three cars, M2/300/03, has been restored to its condition when it scored the best finish of any of the three cars.
Who will win the SCCA Runoffs? Part 2: Prod and GT
When it was announced that Indianapolis Motor Speedway would host the 2017 SCCA National Championship Runoffs on Sept. 25-Oct. 1, it was obvious things were about to get real. All race season the buzz has been palpable, and the moment event registration opened in July, records began to break. This will truly be a Runoffs like no other. So who will take the gold? With so many people set to descend on the Brickyard, the task of guessing a winner is difficult.
1938 Tatra T97: The Car Hitler Killed
The People The two people critical to the development of Tatra’s most significant automobiles, including the subject of this profile, were Hans Ledwinka and Paul Jaray. Ludwinka, born in Austria near Vienna, started his career as a mechanic, studied in Vienna, and was hired by Nesselsdorfer Waganbau-Fabriks-Gesellschaft to work on railroad cars, before becoming involved with the company’s first automobiles.
The Liaison’s Liaison
1960 Alfa Romeo 2000 Vignale Coupé Ask any Alfista what ALFA stands for, and he or she will tell you, “Always Looking for Another.” O.
Fatal Determination
Pierce-Arrow’s Refusal to Sacrifice Quality to Save the Company There is something about the archer on the hood of a Pierce-Arrow that makes the car hard to pass by at a show. That archer means that the car it adorns represents the highest level of quality. Respected and renowned during its more than 30 years as an American automaker, Pierce-Arrow is still one of America’s most admired marques. Pierce-Arrow cars were known to be refined and smooth, but the company was also known for innovation.
Shelby GT350H - Hertz Rent-a-Racer
1966 Shelby GT350H When Ford introduced its new Mustang in 1964, it was an immediate sensation. By itself, it created an entire new class of automobiles. It wasn’t a muscle car, and it wasn’t a sports car; it became known as a “Pony Car.” Still, some called it a “secretary’s car” and criticized its lack of power. That was partially corrected with the high performance 271-hp, 289-cid V8, but there was still a segment of the car buying public that shunned the car.
1972 Citroën 2CV6
In convoy with a Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, no one seemed to notice the intensely red Ferrari. Instead, fingers pointed and all heads followed the little blue Citroën 2CV, or “Duex Chevaux” as it is popularly known. This “Tout Petite Voiture,” TPV or “very small car,” came to be because of the post-WWII financial difficulties at Voisin.
PROPELLER CARS - Odd Approach to Earth-Bound Propulsion
Propellers proved to be an important development in the history of transportation. On ships, once steam power was mastered, propellers replaced oars and sails. A propeller attached to an internal combustion engine allowed the Wright brothers to make what is generally accepted as the first heavier-than-air flight on December 17, 1902.
The Elegance at Hershey
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Art Deco and the Automobile Axis Deco
The decade of the ’30s was a time of incredible creativity among automobile designers and coachbuilders, especially in Europe. But it was also a decade of growing fear, ultimately ending with the second great war of the Twentieth Century. The war ended what was probably the most prolific period of innovation and design up until that time.
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