Editorial

I had some fun researching the Alfa SZ feature, working with an excellent book, written in Italian and English, by Marcello Minerbi in 1985. You can read all the facts in the piece, but suffice it to say it's a great story of coincidences and what might not have beens. In what is a very busy auction month it will be interesting to see how much the H&H SZ goes for.

Alexander Davidis has very kindly offered us a portfolio of photos from the recent Barcelona Show. A Bond theme may hardly be original nowadays but the organisers had certainly set the ex-film machinery (which includes boats and 'bikes) in innovative settings. One comment from Alexander I wish to pick up on is how impressed he was with a 'sit' in the new Bentley Continental GT, and how it could accommodate his tall frame. This reminds me of seeing a Hummer at a dealer recently and being amazed, considering the overall size of the thing, how small it was inside, and in particular the narrowness of the seats. You could probably fit the new Bentley sideways on its bonnet.

Does any anyone out there have a classic (or modern) car that is just 'right' from a packaging point of view? One that can be used for a variety of purposes? That does not irritate after a few hours 'in the saddle' as it were? Bentley have taken these areas very seriously indeed with their new car, and comments such as these, coming from Alexander - an Aston V8 Vantage man, through and through - will no doubt give them reassurance that they have got it totally right.


Steve Wakefield
Managing Editor

This week in Classic Driver

EVENTS

James Bond Exhibition at Barcelona "Salon D'Automobile" 2003

In general the "Barcelona Salon D'Automobile" 2003, despite its unbelievable square footage size (at the Fira De Barcelona; the Exhibition Center), was a rather boring event. For me, most exciting was the 'James Bond Feature Display' of 25 vehicles used in the films of the last 40 years. Here you see my artistic im- or ex-pressions of 18 of them...

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Ferrari 550 wins again at Magny Cours

The Biagi-Bobbi crew, driving a Ferrari 550 Maranello (BMS Scuderia Italia,) has won the second race of the FIA GT championship at the Magny-Cours circuit in France, confirming its qualifying showing when it took pole...

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Wet Spa for the annual 'Ferrari Days' Weekend 2003

The 2003 Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge got off to a wet start at the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The first race in group A was won by the German Thomas Bscher, at the wheel of a Maserati 250 F, who did a good job of fending off fellow countryman Burkhard Von Schenk, driving a similar car...

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Success for Team Maranello Concessionaires at Magny Cours 2003

After a weekend fraught with emotion, Brackley-based Team Maranello Concessionaires secured first and second places in N/GT with cars number 89 (Kelvin Burt/Darren Turner) and number 88 (Jamie Davies and Tim Mullen) respectively during the second round of the closely-contested FIA GT Championship...

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Ferrari and Maserati Festival at Donington Park UK 24-25 May 2003

One of the world’s largest gatherings of exotic Ferrari and Maserati cars will take place over the weekend of 24-25 May, when the 2003 ‘Ferrari and Maserati Festival’ is staged at the historic Donington Park race circuit near Nottingham and Derby...

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AUCTIONS

28th April 2003 - Auction Review - Bonhams at Hendon, RAF Museum

The spring Sale of Collectors' Motor Cars, Cycles, Automobilia, Toys & Models, held by Bonhams at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, attracted a large number of new bidders, with many international clients on the telephones. The sale realised more than £700,000 with 75 per cent of lots finding new owners...

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10th May 2003 - Auction Preview - Bonhams Aston Martin Sale at Newport Pagnell

The annual Bonhams sale at ‘Works Service’ in Newport Pagnell has now become a firm part of the Aston ‘Season’. This year the Montpelier St team, ably assisted by Aston specialist Nicholas Mee, have gathered a solid selection of cars, headed (depending on your persuasion) by either the ex-Bond Vanquish, or the rare LHD DB4GT – in full racing ‘warpaint’...

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Features

Born by accident – the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ

‘Gentleman driver’, ‘Mille Miglia’ and ‘accident’ are three phrases that often go together and indeed it was the results of a serious mishap that befell one Dore Leto di Priolo in the 1956 event, while driving his Giulietta Sprint Veloce, that led to the delightful series of small engined lightweight cars to come from the collaboration of two Milanese companies, Alfa Romeo and Zagato, in the early sixties...

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Mercedes C111 Diesel World Record Holder - 25 years on

Punctually at midnight of April 30, 1978, the five pistons in the diesel engine of the Mercedes-Benz C 111-III began to work, supported by an intercooled exhaust gas turbocharger which, at 130,000 revolutions per minute, pressed enough air into the combustion chambers to boost the output to 230 hp. That was more than enough power for accelerating the Mercedes-Benz in record-hunting trim to a top speed of around 325 kilometers per hour...

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Advertisement
PREMIUM OFFERS

Porsche GT1 Road car - one owner

For Sale by Auction at Monaco 26 May 2003

drive LHD
type Coupe
mileage 3.000 km / 1.864 m
year 1998
Chassis No. WPOZZZ992W5396005
Price estimate €500’000 – 600’000
country Monaco

Dealership:



Bonhams Sale 26 May 'Les Grandes Marques à Monaco'

Phone: +41 (0)22 300 3160

see all details

Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ Zagato

For Sale by Auction at 7th May 2003

Lot Number 81

The exclusive batch of Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZs were bodied in aluminium by top Italian coachbuilders Zagato between 1959 and 1961, the first series being the round-tail model which featured a smooth flowing body that ended in a short, though sensually curved tail. It was fitted with a double overhead camshaft, 4-cylinder engine of 1290cc capacity - on twin Webers, producing 166bhp, a 4-speed manual box, independent front suspension, live rear axle, finned drum brakes, Campagnolo alloys, racing seats and a roll-bar.

The car on offer was first delivered to Luigi Marsaglia in Milan in 1961. By 1988, it was owned by Massimo Colombo before being acquired by a Portugese collector in 1994, moving to Holland in 1998, since when it has been Dutch registered.

It has recently undergone a bare metal repaint in Alfa Racing Red with all brightwork in mirror-finish, full roll cage, two racing seats, full harnesses and rally timing equipment. Magnificent condition is claimed for body, chassis, interior and engine bay. The radials have been freshly renewed.

When first seen by the press, the Giulietta SZ was described by Sports Car World as being "Zagato's Little Jewel" and, when tested by Road and Track, the mag praised the "free-revving engine, the unmistakably sure-footed chassis and a really low level of wind noise". With only 200 built, they quickly became the favoured wheels of the discerning competition driver - this one is race, rally or 'interesting' road ready!

colour Red
interior colour Black
drive LHD
type Coupe
year 1961
Chassis No. AR10128*00135
Engine No. AR00120*01836
Price estimate: 38.000 - 45.000 GBP
country United Kingdom

Dealership:



H&H Classic Auctions Sale at London Olympia 7th May 2003

Phone: +44 (0) 1925 730630

see all details

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