What Hat Are You Wearing Today 1?

[delectans]

Wheels Of Italy, 2011

A selection of photos from this year's Wheels Of Italy gathering, one of the annual events that we always look forward to, with a touch of sadness for it marks the end of our Summer here in Minnesota. Photo avalanche warning. Captions in progress.



'Wheel' of Italy. Borrani 'Knock-Off'. Ferrari 250 GT SWB.



1948 Legnano Cambio Corsa.



1950s Cinelli. Fabulous bike.



'50-'63 Moto Guzzi 'Falcone Sport '. 23 b.h.p. from an air-cooled single o.h.v. engine.


















Ducati Multistrada 1200 S ' Pikes Peak'

 

[delectans]

Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster.



Yet another Diablo VT Roadster.



2003 Lamborghini Murcielago.









1975 Lamborghini Urraco. One of 21 examples made for the U.S. market.



Pair of Ferrari Testarossa.



Ferrari 308 GTB.



Maserati Gran Turismo.



Maserati Quattroporte and Gran Turismo, foreground.

 

[delectans]

Looking down the long, sweeping hood of a Maserati Ghibli.



Ferrari 599 GTB 'Fiorano'.

 

[delectans]

1984 Alfa Romeo GTV 6



1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta.



This stunning Giulietta is in completely unrestored condition!









De Tomaso Pantera in a striking color.



U.S. spec Pantera L, easily identified by the over-sized black front bumpers.



Ford GT.

 

[delectans]

Ferrari California, in Tour de France Blue. Revival of the name first used on the '50s 250 GT.


















Ferrari 365 GTB/4 'Daytona', a late-'60s icon.

 

[delectans]

Ferrari 250 GT SWB.



The 250 GT SWB(Short Wheel Base) was one of the most successful and important GT racers of the 1950s.



Nardi wheel in the cockpit.



Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California SWB, one of 55 examples built.



The Spyder California's impressive Colombo designed, lightweight 3L V-12 put out upwards of 275 b.h.p.!












One of Pininfarina's most beautiful and enduring designs.

 

[delectans]

Ferrari 250 GT SWB and 330 GTC.



Ferrari 250 GTB 'Tour de France'.



With beautiful, hand-crafted bodies by Scaglietti, 100 of these purpose-built endurance sports racers were produced between '54-'59.





















Until next Summer...

 

[delectans]

Epilogue

















Gearhead loungers may be interested in similar pictorials I previously posted from the 2007 Wheels Of Italy, 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and 2005 Monterey Historic Automobile Races.

I just noticed that there are some missing pictures from these old threads, and Imageshack should be in the process of restoring them.

 

[T Rick]

A while back I called Lexol and got the list of chemicals in their product, then looked them up. A few are known carcinogens, so pressing one's forehead against leather treated with it seems a bit reckless. Shea butter. Now we're talkin'!

Thank you very much for that, an aspect I'd not even considered!

 

[Aureliano]

Wonderful shots, AL! thanks for sharing with us! (the hat isn't bad either )

 

[DJH]

There was a hat??

Great shots, Al, not often your super hats get upstaged by what's going on around. I only have my iPhone here right now which doesn't do the pictured justice. I'll be back for more tomorrow.

Funny, out of all the exotic cars, the one I'd most like to own is that red Alpha. Love that!

 

[scooter]

Steve, I don't know how you do it, but, dude, you got some incredible lids. That Borsalino is simply mahhhhhhvelous!!

 

[alanfgag]

There was a hat??

Funny, out of all the exotic cars, the one I'd most like to own is that red Alpha. Love that!

So funny David, those were my two thoughts also... after admiration for all the great fun and photos.

Amazing to see all this Italian exotica in Minnesota. Is there a Norwegian car festival too?

 

[Aureliano]

Funny, out of all the exotic cars, the one I'd most like to own is that red Alpha. Love that!

+1 MoMA has a classic convertible Alpha, similar to the one AL photographed, in the design collection, one of my favorite cars without a doubt.

 

[hatophile]

Steve, I don't know how you do it, but, dude, you got some incredible lids. That Borsalino is simply mahhhhhhvelous!!

For sure!

 

[delectans]

Ale, David, Alan: Many thanks for your kind words. I thought about leaving my hat and mug out of this set, but had to include a few as this IS a hat thread, after all! lol

As for being upstaged by the auto exotica, well...the sacrifices we make in the name of Art! Personally, while I love automobiles and vintage racing, I much prefer the inner satisfaction that I derive from wearing a fine hat as opposed to the extroverted excess associated with late model Italian machinery.

The Alfa is an unrestored, 1960 Giulietta which is just stunning. Not a very big crowd around her, but the kid doing the incredible drawing knew a timeless classic when he saw one.

And Alan, while there is no Norwegian Car Fest here, we do have a German Car Fest in St. Paul, and of course there is the Minnesota Lutefisk Festival! :hungry:

 

[mayserwegener]

Aureliano, Alan, RBH, Scooter, Hatophile, Thanks!

 

[hatophile]

I also vote for the red Alpha! Great pics, Al, the only thing missing is some food in this series. Maybe some Italian sauasages or something?

 

[Justin B]

Took me a while to be able to post. I am a major gear head, and a Ferrari lover. Such beautiful vintage cars. Of course my love for their beauty ends in the early 70's except for the new 458 Italia, but I like it for reasons other than it's asthetics. I find as the years pass my taste is ever changing and evolving. From the days of muscle cars built like bricks, to smooth shapely supercars, through the old schoool hotrod and custom phase, and is currently somewhere in the fat fender and coach work body era. Thank you for the pictures, such wonderful angles to show the lines of the autos. You have quite an eye.

 

[delectans]

Perry: lol Thanks, and I see that I will have to include at least ONE food photo in each set henceforth! :essen:


Justin: Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the photos, and am in complete agreement with your opinion of the evolution of Ferrari adopted designs over the past six decades. Even those emanating from the House of Pininfarina(my favorite by far) have not done much for me of late, and I rather think that the Pininfarina-penned Maserati Gran Turismo is a far better and more refined synthesis of modern design and marque racing heritage than any of the current or recent Ferraris.