Fiat began its earnest pursuit of aerodynamic designs in the 1930s. Using mechanical platforms developed for more pedestrian cars, the company either styled its creations in-house, or outsourced work to coachbuilders. Occasionally, the impetus reversed, and coachbuilders purchased Fiat… more»
Italian Classic Cars
Bertone Masterpiece: 1959 Fiat-OSCA 1500 Aerodynamica Berlinetta
BF Auction: 1968 Fiat 850 Spider
“Frugal fun wrapped in beautiful Italian styling” is how the Lane Museum describes the Fiat 850 Spider and that description seems to fit pretty well. Entering the market in 1965, a year after the introduction of the 850 models,… more»
Gorgeous in Green: 1982 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
The color Green is definitely having a moment. After years of being overused, on everything from sports cars to family sedans, it seemingly went very much out of style to the point that we didn’t even see it used on even… more»
“Personality Issues”: 1979 Fiat X1/9
Bertone designed dozens of more illustrious cars than the X1/9 – including the Lamborghini Countach, Alfa’s Giulietta Sprint, and the Lancia Stratos – but none more ubiquitous in the US than this little wedge-shaped Fiat. About 60% of production… more»
Upgraded Engine: 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale
Alfa’s Sprint Speciale punched above its weight on several metrics. While the 1900 series gave Alfa a toehold in the mass market – where success was a must if the company was to recover from the war – the… more»
A Hupmobile Aerodynamic and a Car ID Test
It is almost a given that when archaeologists stumble upon the remains of a literate society, they have a limited number of written words to decipher. To be fair to our ancestors, carving symbols into stone or making your… more»
Italian Survivor Sedan: 1973 Fiat 124 Special
Despite sitting out in the snow in the Boulder, Colorado area, this 1973 Fiat 124 Special Sedan appears to be a very solid and nice-looking car, cosmetically. I believe this color is called Fiat Yellow, but hopefully, a Fiat… more»
California Driver: 1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 2000
Vintage Alfa Romeos have a loyal following among car enthusiasts. Many of the 1960s and 70s-era models represented the generations that brought the bulk of their acolytes into the fold, but I would wager the model most recognized as… more»
Nicest One Left? 1987 Maserati Biturbo Spyder
The story goes that this 1987 Maserati Biturbo Spyder was sold new in New York and maintained by a shop in Greenwich, Connecticut until 1995, when the current owner bought it and brought it to Florida where it is… more»
14k Original Miles: 1974 De Tomaso Pantera
Many people view early versions of the De Tomaso Pantera as the purest and most attractive. Vehicles like this 1974 example lack the myriad scoops and spoilers that appeared on later models, providing a surprisingly elegant appearance. This classic… more»
Classic Car and Motorcycle Collection: Taking Offers!
It is not uncommon for enthusiasts to downsize their collections, disposing of one or two classics. However, the owner of this collection has around nine vehicles ready to go immediately, with more becoming available later. It appears there is… more»
Paris Show Car! 1954 Hudson Italia #007
Looking to one-up Chevrolet’s Corvette, Hudson teamed up with Italian design house Carrozzeria Touring to produce 26 Hudson Italia coupes. This bare-metal 1954 Hudson Italia in Monterey, California came stateside from Sweden 25 years ago, according to the seller…. more»
Rare Italian Classic: 1970 De Tomaso Mangusta
Rivalries are nothing new in the automotive world, and it was one such situation that motivated De Tomaso to attach the Mangusta badge to the car that replaced its Vallelunga. Only 401 of these vehicles rolled off the line… more»