Concorso Italiano 2010

[LongRanger]

I'm not up on my California Spyders --- looks like a Short Wheel Base, but I'm not sure. Not many made either way, and covered headlights are supposed to be more desirable. Short- or Long- . . . these are 7-figure cars.

Love the little details on these cars: the button-cum-lever door handle and all those little pieces of trim . . . around the lights, the hood scoop, even the window wells in the doors. Imagine making this stuff.

Then I see that the plate reads 'F-E-R-R-A-R' . . . with the 'I' painted on the license frame! Nice. Wonder if his tags are current. (This thing's DMV fees would buy a car!)

[LongRanger]

Always wanted one --- a nice little Giulietta or GTV. Love the looks, the details of Alfas, and always hearing how fun they are to drive.

Only driven one --- an old Spyder, years ago when I was in college, a girl's Dad's car . . . learned to double-clutch in that car. Changing down --- and up! Had to.

Synchromesh was MIA.

[LongRanger]

Now this is what I love about Concorso!

Just some little car, that some one has fallen in love with, then taken up, re-paired and re-painted and driven out here in the sunshine, parked, rolled down the windows, opened-up the hood . . . and left for us to look at.

And just look at it. The paint, the upholstery, the dash top, all the dials and knobs and levers and bits --- like a little jewel. Wonderful.

[LongRanger]

GTV convertible and Sprint Speciale . . . both failures, technically.

The GTV, because, without a top, it was just plain flimsy. (Or flimsier.) Now, add a little water to mid-60s Italian corrosion protection (and electrics) and? . . . . take the bus. The Sprint Speciale was supposed to boost performance by putting a slipperier body on the Giulietta chassis and power train but . . . too heavy, too slow. And too expensive.

But both are lookers . . . doesn't matter.

I love the way the seats are put together in the GTV. And the SS's curves remind me of the old 60K10 car.

[LongRanger]

German cars at an Italian Car Show . . . go figure.

What some people will do to save themselves a little walk out to the parking lot.

[LongRanger]

. . . 5300 Strada. Two of them. For the $400-500k these things go for . . . I'd take the ZR2 over at Mecum's!

Still pretty spectacular, though. Love to pull up at an Auto Zone (or a Chevy Dealer!) . . . then buy an alternator or fuel pump. Maybe a pine-scented air-freshener.

[LongRanger]

A Manta, some Opel GTs . . . even an old Monza.

[LongRanger]

Beats parking in the lot . . .

[LongRanger]

. . . . then again --- maybe not.

[GTS]

well now we have some nice driving/walking shoes for us Porsche fans, the Italians will be jealous....