Preserved classic cars honoured with awards
A 1952 Ferrari is the latest classic car to be honoured with a worldwide preservation award.
The award means the Ferrari 195 Inter can join seven other cars presented with a FIVA (Federation Internationale Vehicules Anciens) trophy in Paris in November for a celebration of World Motoring Heritage Year.
The awards - made over the past 12 months - recognise vehicles that retain much of their original components, materials and finishes and as such are important cultural artefacts. Each of the FIVA awards were announced at a major classic car event such as the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, the Le Mans Classic Heritage Concours, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Chantilly Arts & Elegance and Autoclasica in Argentina. The eighth and final award was made at Autoclasica on October 10
The Ferrari Inter features a Vignale body and is powered by the 2341cc Colombo-designed V12 engine with a 5-speed gearbox. Its first owner was Italian actress Anna Magnani, who enjoyed the car for some six years. After a further short period in Europe, the car was shipped to the USA in 1959 to become part of the William F Harrah Collection in Reno, Nevada.
It was 36 years later that the car was purchased by its current owner, Daniel Sielecki, who ran it in the 1996 Mille Miglia and subsequently preserved the car’s original condition in Argentina, where he shares it with local enthusiasts at such key events as Autoclasica.
Other FIVA preservation award recipients are:
A 1939 Bugatti 57C Van Vooren Atalante.
This vehicle has had just three owners over the years.
It is in totally original condition and has covered fewer than 15,000 kilometres. A 1930 Cord L-29.
This vehicle according to FIVA is arguably the first "practical production car to feature frontwheel drive". The exterior, interior, engine and other mechanical components are original to the vehicle. A 1961 Alfa Romeo Giuletta SZ.
This car has undergone unique "half-and-half" work with half being cleaned but not restored, while the other is in as-found condition.
In the uncleaned half, owner Corrado Lopresto preserved everything (including the dust) under a thin layer of transparent matt lacquer. A 1966 CD Peugeot.
This car raced at the 1966 Le Mans 24 hour classic.
Although it lasted just six hours of the event, it is seen as a remarkable testbed for aerodynamics and came with various designs, including a long tail and huge spoilers. A 1902 Thomas, model No. 17.
It is believed to be the oldest complete Thomas motor car known to exist.
Its condition is such that leather straps in the rear seats are still intact and the wood body retains its original green/gray paint with gold leaf pin-striping.
A 1928 Bugatti Type 35B.
This car won the first Monaco Grand Prix in the hands of William Charles Frederick Grover-Williams in 1929.
It still retains its first paint buried under the layers of colours it displayed during its active years of racing. Almost all the engine and mechanical components are those originally fitted to the vehicle. A 1968 Porsche 911 SWB.
This car was built by Karmann in 1968 as one of 742 vehicles for the US market.