Tag Archives: Italian Cars

Presenting, the Lamborghini 350GTV

January 21, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

The Lamborghini 350GT is known by many as the first car to be sold bearing the Lamborghini name back in the Sixties. However, it wasn’t the first car the company built. That honor goes to the sleek green shape seen here. This is the Lamborghini 350GTV, a prototype that eventually became the basis for the 350GT. This car is the origin and the first use of the vaunted Lamborghini V12 engine that would later go on to power most of the lineup until today. The bodywork also contributed to the 350GT. It was featured at Pebble Beach this year in honor of Lamborghini’s 50th anniversary. I can honestly say that it doesn’t look too similar to any other Lambo I’ve seen, save for maybe the 350GT. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Presenting, the Lamborghini 350GTV →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, Al’s Take (Grade: A)

January 16, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

I don’t like the phrase “lame-duck.” It implies a constantly negative connotation. I don’t like negative connotations when it comes to anything that’s orange, Italian, and far too loud. Despite that, the Gallardo, one of Lamborghini’s most successful models, is indeed on its way out. This particular orange Italian screamer was the third car of four that I drove in Las Vegas last summer and, thanks to the scorching temperatures, the one I was the most fearful of not being able to drive. Luckily, this Lamborghini stayed cool in the heat, while I roasted in the sunlight before taking the wheel. It didn’t disappoint.

Continue reading Test Driven: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, Al’s Take (Grade: A) →

Car Shows

Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina at The Quail

January 13, 2014 ndubs77 7 Comments

We saw James Glickenhaus’ Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina when we attended The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering this summer, during Monterey Car Week. I will be honest, I’ve been eagerly waiting to see this car in person for quite some time now. Al and I go to many of the same shows Mr. Glickenhaus attends, and we’ve had the pleasure of talking with him a few times (he’s a real nice guy). That said, until The Quail, we had to make due with seeing the other incredible cars he brought to each show (woe is us…right?)

The Ferrari P4/5 is a one-off vehicle commissioned by Mr. Glickenhaus from Pininfarina. Underneath its bespoke body work it is a Ferrari Enzo, but the design has been overhauled to be more reminiscent of the classic Ferrari P3/P4 racing cars of the late 1960s….. Mr. G owns one of those too by the way.

The P4/5 has gathered a lot of fame over the years, and it was beyond thrilling to finally get see it with my own eyes. It is a stunningly beautiful machine, and it seems Ferrari’s designers may have even taken a little inspiration from it when they penned the LaFerrari. The Ferrari P4/5 is literally an Italian Supercar like no other. Even amongst the impressive automotive elite at The Quail event, the P4/5 still managed to attract quite the crowd. Subtle it is not.

Enjoy the photos, and let us know what you think in the comments!

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Car Shows

1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider Zagato at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

January 8, 2014 ndubs77 3 Comments

Among the droves of classic Alfa Romeo 8Cs present for the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, this 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider Zagato stood out in particular. The Alfa Romeo 8C was the definitive Italian sports and racing car of the pre-war era, and the 8C 2300 featured here has had a beautiful body draped over it by legendary Italian design house, Zagato. That is why it caught my eye at this most prestigious of automotive events.

From what I understand, this unique 8C 3200 was originally commissioned by a famous Italian boat racer named Ambrogio Castiglioni. Its creme white color and swooping, art deco lines make it stand out tremendously among other Alfa Romeos of the era, which were often styled pretty sparsely in order to save weight for racing.

At Pebble Beach, the 8C 2300 Spider Zagato was beyond elegant. The grand finale of Monterey Car Week, their Concours d’Elegance is probably the most prestigious such event in the world, so for a car to be eye catching there, it must be pretty special. Enjoy the photos of this magnificent machine.

Continue reading 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider Zagato at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance →

Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Lamborghini Diablo, Carmel, CA

January 7, 2014 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

After Nick and I finished shooting the Aston Martin One-77 off of Ocean Avenue in Carmel the first full day were in California last summer, we thought we were done for the day in Carmel. We were a bit wrong about that. Once we got back to the rental car, a black Lamborghini Diablo was staring both of us square in the face, sharing its portion of the pavement rather reluctantly with a Ferrari F430 Scuderia. Of course we took pictures of it–why wouldn’t we? This is one of the slickest-looking Diablos I’ve seen, especially with the black Murcielago rims which give this example a most sinister look. Continue reading Spotted! Lamborghini Diablo, Carmel, CA →

Cars We've Seen

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spotted in Carmel, CA

December 27, 2013 ndubs77 3 Comments

While out car spotting in Carmel, California during Monterey Car Week we caught this striking Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione lurking amongst traffic. As an object unto itself, the 8C Competizione is a design masterpiece, but getting to see this very special Alfa in the context of the real world, surrounded by mundane normal cars, made it all the more special. I was able to get a few shots of it as it passed by, and I think I captured the 8C’s contrast well. Enjoy the photos.

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Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, Pebble Beach, CA

December 16, 2013 ndubs77 6 Comments

This was the second Ferrari F12 Berlinetta I ever saw on the street. The first was earlier that morning at The Inn at Spanish Bay, also within the Pebble Beach premises. Monterey Car Week is always a great place to see the newest exotic cars running around, and we saw a few more F12 Berlinettas running around over the course of the weekend.

I think this Ferrari F12 looked especially righteous in bright yellow because it gave the car a crisp appearance that contrasted starkly with everything else around it. As Ferrari’s newest grand touring car, the F12 is the latest in the lineage of my favorite type of Ferrari. It is an incredible sight in person with its scientifically sculpted shape, and with 730hp coming out of its 6.3L V12 engine, I’m sure it is a total beast to drive as well.

Enjoy the photos.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Fiat Dino Spider by Petrolicious

December 12, 2013 ndubs77 3 Comments

I swear that the folks at Petrolicious could inspire a deep sense of passion about the most boring, inconsequential car imaginable. The Fiat Dino Spider, of course, is about as far from boring or inconsequential as can be, so naturally I found myself with a warm fuzzy feeling after watching this video about the car.

Basically this is one of just a handful of Fiat Spiders made with Dino Ferrari’s epic Formula 2 V6 in them. In the video the owner says that there are twenty Ferrari Dinos for every Fiat Dino that was built, so a very special car this is indeed.

Enjoy, and prepare to want a Fiat Dino Spider of your own more than you want to take your next breath.

-Nick

Car Shows, Motorsport

Alfa Romeos from the paddock at Laguna Seca

December 11, 2013 ndubs77 2 Comments

There were a number of truly righteous Alfa Romeos occupying the paddock at Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this year. When it comes to vintage cars, Alfas are definitely among my personal favorite. They are some of the sexiest machines around, and back in the day, Alfa Romeo was a serious racing contender… before all of this Fiat Group hierarchy, everyone bow down to Ferrari, nonsense.

The Alfas in the pit lane were among the creme-de-la-creme of Alfa Romeos. We saw a Tipo 33/2 Race Car (pictured above), a TZ, a TZ2, and a very race-prepped Giulia Spider. For context, Alfa Romeo made just 112 TZs, and a scant 12 TZ2s. I’m not sure on the number of Tipo 33/2s that Alfa produced, but I’d bet it’s within the range of the TZ models.

Italian cars are able to make any setting look good. Enjoy the photos.

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Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Ferrari 246 GTS, Carmel, CA

December 3, 2013 Albert S. Davis 3 Comments

Carmel is a very busy little village during Concours Weekend, but it’s probably at its absolute busiest on the Thursday before the show itself. That day is the Tour d’Elegance, when a selection of the cars participating in the Concours take a drive around the local area and finish their run on Ocean Avenue, Carmel’s main drag. Nick and I drove into town so that we could witness the event, and were quickly outmatched in finding any resemblance of “street parking.” Luckily for this Ferrari 246 GTS owner, there was a spot available at just the right moment, and he got himself a spot. Luckily for me, I happened to get a good picture of this pretty little blue 246 GTS. I don’t see them often, and in a color like this shade of blue, it’s a dark-horse favorite of mine when it comes to old school Ferraris. I was lucky to have grabbed this shot when I did, as I don’t think I saw this car again except in passing.

-Albert S. Davis

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, Cars We've Driven, SHOWCASE

Fun from Mach 5 Cars’ Exotic Rally Tour

Video November 27, 2013 ndubs77 1 Comment

I recently visited Mach 5 Cars to take part in one of their Exotic Rally Tours. Two of my friends work for Mach 5, an exotic car rental company in the Tri-State Area, and this is something I had been meaning to do for a while now. I took a few pictures, and shot some video of the fun we had on the tour. I was partnered up with my friend, Pete, who works for Mach 5, so when he was driving things got a little crazier.

So check out the video and the photos. Enjoy the sights and sounds of what was surely one of the more exciting days I have had in a while. We look forward to more collaborations with Mach 5 Cars in the future. Check out their website, and give them a call if you want to get yourself behind the wheel… their Exotic Rally Tours are one of the best values in the business. Enjoy.

Continue reading Fun from Mach 5 Cars’ Exotic Rally Tour →