Cars

Twenty students from the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) in Turin participated in the project, which was overseen by the Alfa Romeo design team. Theoretically aimed at the Asian and American markets, the brief for the ‘Gloria’ concept was to create a “completely independent interpretation of a new Alfa Romeo saloon”, while looking back to the design cues which originally helped Alfa break into the American market in the late 1960s.

Part 2 was all about finishing the body and its component parts. Now, it’s time to create the interior panelling and carefully paint the new car.

Yes, it looks almost like the finished car, but the unpainted ‘body in white’ still needs further checking for alignment. Plus, the panel gaps need to be carefully regulated for both distance and consistency. This is a hand-made car, after all, by one of the world’s great coachbuilders.

Miami might officially belong to the US, but it’s arguably the northernmost city in South America. Two-thirds of its residents speak Spanish, and the exuberant lifestyle is reminiscent of the cities of Brazil or Colombia. In the 1980s, the big arms and drug deals were forged under Miami’s palm trees – films and TV shows such as Scarface and Miami Vice have burned these dark themes from the past into our collective consciousness.

The Londoner is probably best known for what many consider to be the world’s first ever stressed monocoque racing car, the Lotus 25. The simplicity of the classic, cigar-shaped racing car is staggering and the principle (now in carbonfibre, rather than aluminium) is still used today.

Chapman’s mid-engined single-seaters (after fellow British garagiste John Cooper had led the way) transformed Grand Prix racing at the turn of the decade from the 50s to the 60s. Teams such as Rob Walker Racing and UDT Laystall could now buy ready-made racing cars and engines ‘off the shelf’.

 In Part 1, we saw how an Alfa Romeo 8C is prepared for its new bodywork. Now, it’s time for the hand-beaten panels to be fitted to the carefully prepared chassis.

 In 2012, the prototype stunned the crowds. This year, a handful of collectors will be able to order the gorgeous coupé.

Over the next few weeks, we will show you how craftsmen at the famous Milanese coachbuilder take an Alfa Romeo 8C coupé and clothe it in voluptuous bodywork penned by designer Louis de Fabribeckers. The new Disco Volante (‘Flying Saucer’) embraces the spirit of the famous Touring-designed, 1950s Alfa Romeo original.

Bienvenue au Col de la Croix

It’s probably the least famous of the Lotus Bond cars, but the ‘Copper Fire’ Esprit Turbo not only survived filming without being blown up or driven into the sea; it also kept a smile on Roger Moore’s face between takes.

Every year, this rally season-opener attracts participants with promises of wild rides on snowy mountain roads and icy mountain passes but, when the rain comes, the conditions degenerate into a hydroplaning ballet. My mount is the BMW 2002ti rally car and it has far more relevant rallying experience than I do.