Auto Italia 2014 a hit despite the rain
By David Ellery
Sunday’s (March 30, 2014) wet and wintery conditions in Canberra did not deter hundreds of Italian exotic and other car owners from putting their polished darlings on show.
While the flotillas of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, Lancias and lesser Italian marques may have been secretly yearning for the Costa del sol or the Cote d’Azur their owners were quite content to converge on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin just down from Old Parliament House.
Tony Hanrahan, the president of Canberra’s Italian Cars Association (he has been a member since 1997), was quite frankly amazed.
``Exotic car owners are usually quite wary about bringing their cars out if there is a chance of rain,’’ he said. ``This is a very impressive turnout.’’
An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 spectators visited on the day to get a closer look at automobiles usually own seen in movies or in the pages of magazines. In other years the attendance can top 20,000 making this one of Canberra's most popular motoring events.
While enthusiasts can argue forever over which nation builds the best cars, few would disagree with the claim Italian cars are the most beautifully styled.
Sodden conditions underfoot, the result of almost a week of non-stop rain, had brought this year's event to the brink of cancellation. Special permission had to be sought from the National Capital Authority for the cars to be parked on the paved areas of the terraces, not the grass. This, in turn, restricted the space available for display.
``The official count (of cars) is 250 for the day,’’ Mr Hanrahan said.
``I am very impressed by this when you consider that on a perfect day we might have between 300 and 325 cars. I am particularly impressed by the number of exotic car owners who have made the effort.’’
These included John and Judy Gove of Melbourne whose bright yellow 1965 Maserati Mistral Spyder literally stole the show.
``We have our highest turnout of Maseratis ever,’’ Mr Hanrahan said. ``They are our featured marque. It is Maserati’s 100th anniversary in December.’’
While Mrs Gove confesses to a fondness for Mercedes sedans, Maseratis are where it as at as far as sportscars are concerned.
In addition to the MIstral Spyder (a convertible) they also own a coupe version of the same car, have the Maserati Ghibli bought by Bob Jane at the London Motorshow in 1968 and have another Mistral Spyder that is kept for use in England.
Mr Gove, who at 66 is currently in the process of trying to retire from his market consultancy business, apparently did fairly well at it. ``John wants to spend more time getting involved with vintage Maseratis,’’ Mrs Gove said.
The family garage also houses a Fiat-badged Dino 206 and a 2002 model Maserati 3200.
The Mistrals will always be their favourites however. ``The latest issue of Octane magazine wrote that the Mistral coupe was the most elegant of all the 1960s sportscar and that the Spyder was the same, but even more so,’’ Mr Gove said.
``What do we love about Maseratis? They are more elegant than the other Italian supercars of the era - the Ferrari Daytona and the Lambourghini Miura.’’
That doesn’t mean the Mistral, which was the most expensive of the three when new, was more style than substance.
Its jewel-like twin overhead camshaft, twin spark plug, 3.5 litre in-line six cylinder is the direct descendant of the engine that allowed drivers such as Fangio to dominate Grand Prix racing in the 1950s.
``This was the era of the fabulous six,’’ Mr Gove said. ``Maseratis raced against Mercedes 300SLs and Jaguar D types, both of which also used in-line six cylinder engines.’’
It’s not just about the performance however; classic cars, whether they be a Fiat 600 sedan or a $500,000 plus exotic, are a lifestyle and a chance to mix with like minded people who share the passion.
``I enjoy the fact we drive them (our cars),’’ Mrs Gove said. ``Other people also get the chance to enjoy them. This is something we always do together. We have our holidays in these cars.’’
(This article first appeared in The Canberra Times)
Sunday’s (March 30, 2014) wet and wintery conditions in Canberra did not deter hundreds of Italian exotic and other car owners from putting their polished darlings on show.
While the flotillas of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, Lancias and lesser Italian marques may have been secretly yearning for the Costa del sol or the Cote d’Azur their owners were quite content to converge on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin just down from Old Parliament House.
Tony Hanrahan, the president of Canberra’s Italian Cars Association (he has been a member since 1997), was quite frankly amazed.
``Exotic car owners are usually quite wary about bringing their cars out if there is a chance of rain,’’ he said. ``This is a very impressive turnout.’’
An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 spectators visited on the day to get a closer look at automobiles usually own seen in movies or in the pages of magazines. In other years the attendance can top 20,000 making this one of Canberra's most popular motoring events.
While enthusiasts can argue forever over which nation builds the best cars, few would disagree with the claim Italian cars are the most beautifully styled.
Sodden conditions underfoot, the result of almost a week of non-stop rain, had brought this year's event to the brink of cancellation. Special permission had to be sought from the National Capital Authority for the cars to be parked on the paved areas of the terraces, not the grass. This, in turn, restricted the space available for display.
``The official count (of cars) is 250 for the day,’’ Mr Hanrahan said.
``I am very impressed by this when you consider that on a perfect day we might have between 300 and 325 cars. I am particularly impressed by the number of exotic car owners who have made the effort.’’
These included John and Judy Gove of Melbourne whose bright yellow 1965 Maserati Mistral Spyder literally stole the show.
``We have our highest turnout of Maseratis ever,’’ Mr Hanrahan said. ``They are our featured marque. It is Maserati’s 100th anniversary in December.’’
While Mrs Gove confesses to a fondness for Mercedes sedans, Maseratis are where it as at as far as sportscars are concerned.
In addition to the MIstral Spyder (a convertible) they also own a coupe version of the same car, have the Maserati Ghibli bought by Bob Jane at the London Motorshow in 1968 and have another Mistral Spyder that is kept for use in England.
Mr Gove, who at 66 is currently in the process of trying to retire from his market consultancy business, apparently did fairly well at it. ``John wants to spend more time getting involved with vintage Maseratis,’’ Mrs Gove said.
The family garage also houses a Fiat-badged Dino 206 and a 2002 model Maserati 3200.
The Mistrals will always be their favourites however. ``The latest issue of Octane magazine wrote that the Mistral coupe was the most elegant of all the 1960s sportscar and that the Spyder was the same, but even more so,’’ Mr Gove said.
``What do we love about Maseratis? They are more elegant than the other Italian supercars of the era - the Ferrari Daytona and the Lambourghini Miura.’’
That doesn’t mean the Mistral, which was the most expensive of the three when new, was more style than substance.
Its jewel-like twin overhead camshaft, twin spark plug, 3.5 litre in-line six cylinder is the direct descendant of the engine that allowed drivers such as Fangio to dominate Grand Prix racing in the 1950s.
``This was the era of the fabulous six,’’ Mr Gove said. ``Maseratis raced against Mercedes 300SLs and Jaguar D types, both of which also used in-line six cylinder engines.’’
It’s not just about the performance however; classic cars, whether they be a Fiat 600 sedan or a $500,000 plus exotic, are a lifestyle and a chance to mix with like minded people who share the passion.
``I enjoy the fact we drive them (our cars),’’ Mrs Gove said. ``Other people also get the chance to enjoy them. This is something we always do together. We have our holidays in these cars.’’
(This article first appeared in The Canberra Times)
Maserati Mistral:
Here are some ``facts'' on the Mistral taken from my 1968 ``Golden Guide To Sports Cars'', a reference past experience has taught me not to regard as an absolute authority.
Engine: 3,692cc; 245bhp DIN (162kw) at 5,500rpm; Bore 86mm, stroke 106mm;
compression 8.6 to 1; DOHC driven by a triple chain; fuel injected; dual
ignition (hence twin spark).
Transmission: Five speed plus reverse, hydraulic clutch, dry single plate
with elastic clutch hub.
Chassis: Tubular (space frame?)
Brakes: 4 wheel discs, power assistance, dual circuit system.
Speeds in gears: 1 - 70.4km/h; 2 - 113.6km/h; 3 - 163.2km/h; 4 - 212.8km/h; 5
- 253km/h.
General:
When I was a lad much was made of the fact that in a Falcon GT HO you changed
into top gear at 100mph (160km/h). The difference between the local hero and the
Maserati is that the Italian car still had another gear to go after that!
It is ironic that the flying taxi now commands equivalent money!
The Mistral, for all its beauty, was not the hero car of the Maserati range.
That role was reserved for the Maserati 5000 GTI which came with a 4950cc V8
that developed an awesome 224 (DIN!) KW and maxxed out at a whisper under
270km/h. The 5000 was bigger and heavier than the Mistral and lacked the six
cylinder car's innate elegance (in my view). That said, it could outrun any
Ferrari of the day and was among the two or three fastest cars on the
planet.
Here are some ``facts'' on the Mistral taken from my 1968 ``Golden Guide To Sports Cars'', a reference past experience has taught me not to regard as an absolute authority.
Engine: 3,692cc; 245bhp DIN (162kw) at 5,500rpm; Bore 86mm, stroke 106mm;
compression 8.6 to 1; DOHC driven by a triple chain; fuel injected; dual
ignition (hence twin spark).
Transmission: Five speed plus reverse, hydraulic clutch, dry single plate
with elastic clutch hub.
Chassis: Tubular (space frame?)
Brakes: 4 wheel discs, power assistance, dual circuit system.
Speeds in gears: 1 - 70.4km/h; 2 - 113.6km/h; 3 - 163.2km/h; 4 - 212.8km/h; 5
- 253km/h.
General:
When I was a lad much was made of the fact that in a Falcon GT HO you changed
into top gear at 100mph (160km/h). The difference between the local hero and the
Maserati is that the Italian car still had another gear to go after that!
It is ironic that the flying taxi now commands equivalent money!
The Mistral, for all its beauty, was not the hero car of the Maserati range.
That role was reserved for the Maserati 5000 GTI which came with a 4950cc V8
that developed an awesome 224 (DIN!) KW and maxxed out at a whisper under
270km/h. The 5000 was bigger and heavier than the Mistral and lacked the six
cylinder car's innate elegance (in my view). That said, it could outrun any
Ferrari of the day and was among the two or three fastest cars on the
planet.
It is pleasing to see that this Lancia Aurelia 2.5 litre, one of the most advanced saloons of its day, has been preserved rather than restored. The original build quality was obviously high, the paint is thick and the colour authentic. The 2451cc V6 (the first production car to have this configuration) could take this to well over 170km/h. The sports cars based on this model, the Lancia Aurelia GT and the earlier Lancia Gran Turismo, could reach almost 190km/h.
The
All you have to do to see the last Alfetta when you are looking at one of
these is to squint slightly. This is the car that set the blueprint for close on
three decades of beloved sports sedans that allowed staid family men to keep on
living the sportscar dream.
More than 40cm shorter than an equivalent Holden but offering almost as much interior
space, this pert sedan's sophisticated engine put the red six to shame.
Almost 65kw DIN (98bhp) out of 1570cc makes 83kw SAE (126bhp) out of double
that displacement (for the TI) look pretty crook. (The Alfa's outputs, in SAE,
are 106bhp or 70kw respectively)
Giulia Super Specifications (Observer's 1968 edition)
Engine: 1570cc; 106 bhp DIN (70kw) at 5,500 rpm (redline 6,500!); Bore 78mm,
stroke 82mm; compression 9 to 1; alloy block, alloy head, DOHC; Solex double
bodied downdraft carburettor.
Transmission: Five forward speeds, one back. All synchro box. RWD
(obviously).
Brakes: Hydraulically assisted 4 wheel discs.
Speeds in gears: 1 - 49.6km/h; 2 - 80km/h; 3 - 113.6km/h; 4 - 153km/h; 5 -
173km/h.
Standing 400m: 17.8 seconds.
these is to squint slightly. This is the car that set the blueprint for close on
three decades of beloved sports sedans that allowed staid family men to keep on
living the sportscar dream.
More than 40cm shorter than an equivalent Holden but offering almost as much interior
space, this pert sedan's sophisticated engine put the red six to shame.
Almost 65kw DIN (98bhp) out of 1570cc makes 83kw SAE (126bhp) out of double
that displacement (for the TI) look pretty crook. (The Alfa's outputs, in SAE,
are 106bhp or 70kw respectively)
Giulia Super Specifications (Observer's 1968 edition)
Engine: 1570cc; 106 bhp DIN (70kw) at 5,500 rpm (redline 6,500!); Bore 78mm,
stroke 82mm; compression 9 to 1; alloy block, alloy head, DOHC; Solex double
bodied downdraft carburettor.
Transmission: Five forward speeds, one back. All synchro box. RWD
(obviously).
Brakes: Hydraulically assisted 4 wheel discs.
Speeds in gears: 1 - 49.6km/h; 2 - 80km/h; 3 - 113.6km/h; 4 - 153km/h; 5 -
173km/h.
Standing 400m: 17.8 seconds.
Lancia Fulvia Coupe (Mk II)
By the time this Mk II version of this delightful compact sportster was
released in the late 1960s Lancia had cleaned up the slightly fussier detailing
of the original iteration and cemented this as a classic.
The side indicators are smaller and lower than on the Mk I and the chrome
bonnet strip is missing here.
The lack of bumpers indicate this is either a Rallye HF version or a
carefully crafted replica of one (see rear badge).
Compared to the rather boxy sedan from which it was derived this is a very
elegant small coupe that delivered remarkable performance for the day. Even in
its lowest state of a tune a Fulvia Coupe could crack the tonne. Not bad for 1210cc and 53kw.
Lancia Fulvia Coupe Rallye HF specifications (Mk 1, Observers Book of Automobiles, 1968)
Engine: V4; DOHC; 1298cc; compression ratio 10.5 to one; 101 bhp (DIN) or 67kw.
Top speed: 172.8 km/h (the British equivalent, an MG Midget, ran out of puff just over 140km/h).
By the time this Mk II version of this delightful compact sportster was
released in the late 1960s Lancia had cleaned up the slightly fussier detailing
of the original iteration and cemented this as a classic.
The side indicators are smaller and lower than on the Mk I and the chrome
bonnet strip is missing here.
The lack of bumpers indicate this is either a Rallye HF version or a
carefully crafted replica of one (see rear badge).
Compared to the rather boxy sedan from which it was derived this is a very
elegant small coupe that delivered remarkable performance for the day. Even in
its lowest state of a tune a Fulvia Coupe could crack the tonne. Not bad for 1210cc and 53kw.
Lancia Fulvia Coupe Rallye HF specifications (Mk 1, Observers Book of Automobiles, 1968)
Engine: V4; DOHC; 1298cc; compression ratio 10.5 to one; 101 bhp (DIN) or 67kw.
Top speed: 172.8 km/h (the British equivalent, an MG Midget, ran out of puff just over 140km/h).