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Check MinnPost.com for 3/11/08 for a writeup about the pharmacist who runs this place--he's a way-cool guy.
Their first dance together :)
Writeup: http://www.fradam.com/2007/06/13/dearly-beloved-we-are-gathered-here-today/
Photo by Jonathan
A writeup to accompany these pictures can be found here: blog.neonmonster.com/gallery/last-gasp-40th-anniversary-l...
Audi RS4 Correction detail: full writeup at www.devilledetailing.co.uk/1/post/2013/12/audi-rs4-detail...
Fun grab of Donald Osborne — opera singer (I videoed him singing the National Anthem at Concours on the Avenue in Carmel, 2021), Audrain Museum presenter and former CEO, and international business owner — from the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance official Facebook page posted July 28, 2019 (post link).
Q-2 3RD PLACE: FRUA
[2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance]
1946 FIAT 1100 C Frua Barchetta shown by Don Bernstein & Patt Taylor, Clark’s Summit, Pennsylvania
First, Second and Third in Class Winners are selected by Class Judges based on originality, authenticity, and excellent preservation or restoration.
Class Awards, representing the spirit of the Concours, are sculptures designed by Emmanuel Zurini.
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From Bonhams | Cars Scottsdate 2019
The listing's chassis number 279906 matches that in the Pebble Car Guide, confirming the listing writeup is for the same car.
1946 Fiat 1100C Spider
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Frua
US$577,000 inc. premium | Sold
Chassis no. 279906
Engine no. 306135
1089cc OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
Single Weber Downdraft Carburetor
52bhp at 5,200rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension – Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
*Pietro Frua's First original design for his own company, One-Off
*Debuted at 1947 Concorso di Como, (Coppa Villa d'Este) 2nd in Class
*Hailed as new direction in automotive design
*Mille Miglia Storica 2016 and Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2017 participant
*Finalist, Octane 'Restoration of the Year' 2017
*Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2018
THE FIAT FRUA SPIDER
There can only be one "first". This sleek, dramatic two-place sports spider is the calling card of one of the most talented and prolific automotive designers of the 20th Century, Pietro Frua. Frua would go on to have a brilliant career in design, which lasted until his passing in 1983. Frua was perhaps best known for his work on Maserati chassis from the '50s through the '70s but he also worked to create memorable styling for AC, Glas, BMW, Fiat, Monteverdi and Lancia among others.
Born in Turin, Italy in 1913, Frua was hired, when still a teenager, by the well-established Stablimenti Farina coachbuilding firm as a draftsman in 1930. His talent was such that he quickly rose to become Director of Styling by the time he was 22. He left Stabilmenti Farina to open his own studio in 1938, but had a very slow start during which he found work creating appliances and children's cars while doing minor repair and modification work on existing vehicles.
At the end of World War II, in 1944, Frua purchased a factory that had been heavily damaged by bombing and prepared to launch his business in the manner he had envisioned- with complete cars of his own design and built by his team of craftsmen.
Aiming to put his marker down as a force to be reckoned with in the promising post-war marketplace, Frua looked to have a show-stopping car ready for the first Italian concours events to be held in 1947. Both because of financial constraints and to appeal to the widest possible potential audience, Frua chose to clothe a Fiat chassis for his debut.
The Fiat 1100 was introduced in 1937 and built until 1953. Designed by noted engineer Dante Giacosa, it was a comfortable family car powered by an in inline 4-cylinder engine of 1089cc displacement, and for the period, its comfort, handling, and performance were prodigious. It featured rear wheel drive with a 4-speed gearbox and unusually for a modestly priced car of the time was built with independent front suspension with a leaf sprung live rear axle.
After World War II, the car was re-introduced with a new name, the 1100E. It also received a bit more power, with 35hp in standard tune. While most of the production was of 4-door sedans, almost all Italian coachbuilders, or "carrozzerie" created one-off and small series models on the chassis.
The chassis of this Fiat 1100C was sold by the factory to Carrozzeria Balbo in the middle of June 1946 and transferred to Pietro Frua shortly thereafter. The completed car was delivered new to Luigi Critterio on September 3, 1946 and sold to Gino Bubbolini on September 28th.
For some reason, a late entry prevented it from being considered for judging at the 1947 Concorso held in June at the Royal Gardens in Turin, Italy. Its first "official" outing would be in September 1947 at the Concorso di Como Coppa Villa d'Este. This was the first postwar concours event on Lake Como, taking up the mantle of the pre-war Concorso Villa d'Este.
The Frua Fiat was entered by Alvise DePasquale, a Fiat dealer, as entry #10. Pietro Frua achieved his goal in capturing the attention of both the public and the press with his ultra-modern spider. Favorable mention was made of the 1100C Spider in the leading Italian motoring magazines, Auto Italiana and MotorItalia. Writing in Issue #3 1947 of the latter, correspondent Stefano Bricarelli stated, "The sobriety of the original and most modern line, of this two-seater sport by the Carrozzeria Frua on the Fiat 1100C has been much admired by connoisseurs, both in Turin and in Como."
That despite the observation that almost all the cars present on Como had been seen in Torino- except that in the case of the Frua Fiat, "...although presented late in Turin and excluded from the rankings - that the two seater sports of Frua on the 1100C in our opinion tells a new story in terms of sobriety and modernity of line." Frua had achieved with this car what Christian Dior had done in fashion at the same time- created a truly "New Look".
Entry #10 took home a Second Prize of Merit in Group B at Como. In August 1948, the owner took out a loan against the car with Arturo Caron, which was redeemed the following year, and the Fiat was sold to Mr. Tagliabue of Milan. In 1950, Mr. Tagliabue sold the car to Mr. Monti of Pavia, at which time the registration was changed from MI 99124 to PV 31663, which the car retains to this day.
Mr. Monti sold the car in 1983 for Mr. Safranez also of Pavia and to Mr. Petrilli of Rome in 2010. He sold the car to Auto Classic, a dealer in Torino, in 2013. Daniele Turrisi, a dealer and restorer in Bergamo Italy then acquired the 1100C and with him and American classic car consultant and historian Donald Osborne it participated in the Gara Storica di Piacenza in the Spring of 2015. Osborne sourced the car for the current owner from Turrisi in the Fall of that year.
It was entered and ran in the Mille Miglia Storica of 2016, as number 144. Immediately following the event it began a restoration at Carrozzeria Gatti Luciano of Bergamo, Italy. Following much detailed historical research it was a great stroke of fortune to discover sections of the original light green metallic paint underneath the red it had worn for many decades.
With its original colors and specifications restored to those of the car's appearance at the Concorso di Como in 1947, it made its return to Lake Como at the 2017 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on the 70th anniversary of its world debut at the Concorso on the lake.
Subsequently, the Fiat 1100C Frua Spider was invited to be shown at the Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace in September 2017 at which time it was nominated as a candidate for "Restoration of the Year" by Octane Magazine. In March 2018 the car was invited to Japan for the 2018 Concorso d'Eleganza Kyoto, where it was awarded Best in Class, "Early Cars to 1951" and was Best of Show finalist. In August of 2018, it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it impressed in Class O-1 Postwar Touring.
With a fully known provenance from new and a world-class restoration, this very special automobile's new owner may choose to use it for further concours outings, or, riding on the restored period Fergat sport wheels with which it ran the Mille Miglia Storica return to vintage rally and touring events. Of course it can also be amply enjoyed on spirited drives through the countryside.
But perhaps the greatest thrill of ownership might come from simply possessing something no one else in the world has- a unique piece of automotive history, the first creation to wear the name of Pietro Frua.
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It's the big day we've been waiting for - the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance!
- - -
We saw so many great vehicles and sights during Monterey Car Week!
C-1 2ND PLACE: AMERICAN CLASSIC OPEN
1937 Cord 812 Phaeton shown by Donald & Paula Beck, Tulsa, Oklahoma
First, Second and Third in Class Winners are selected by Class Judges based on originality, authenticity, and excellent preservation or restoration.
Class Awards, representing the spirit of the Concours, are sculptures designed by Emmanuel Zurini.
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From RM Sotheby's Arizona 2017
The listing's chassis number 812 32013 H matches that in the Pebble Car Guide, confirming the listing writeup is for the same car.
1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton
$220,000 USD | Sold
o An exceptional, authentic example of an automotive design legend
o Factory-supercharged, with its original engine
o Formerly owned by Jack Humbert and John McMullen
o Award-winning restoration, beautifully maintained
170 bhp, 288 cu. in. supercharged L-head V-8 engine, four-speed pre-selector manual transmission, independent front suspension, rear semi-elliptical leaf-spring suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Wheelbase: 125 in.
Identifying an original supercharged Cord is possible through its serial number, usually a five-digit number beginning with three, as well as the tables published in historian Josh B. Malks’ well-known tomes, Cord 810/812: The Timeless Classic and Cord Complete, and by Ron Irwin in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Newsletter in 1984. The phaeton offered here, 812 32013 H, is identified in all sources as an original supercharged example, and the engine still fitted today, number FC 2773, is the original supercharged engine, installed in this car in 1937.
The car’s ownership history is known back to 1966, when it was owned by an ACD Club member in the Detroit area. It was subsequently acquired the following year by Jack Humbert, longtime chief designer for Pontiac, and an avid admirer of the Cord’s design.
As recounted in the September/October 1988 issue of Torque magazine, the car underwent a painstaking 20-year restoration effort, begun by Mr. Humbert and continued in the ownership of his wife, Smitty, following her husband’s untimely passing. The work was performed by Markley’s Garage and by Bill Bizer, both well-known craftsmen, to an exceptionally high standard of authenticity, fit, and finish. In its time, this was widely regarded as being the country’s best-restored Cord phaeton, as evidenced by its two 100-point scores in Classic Car Club of America Grand National judging.
Subsequently, in 1996, the award-winning Cord became part of John McMullen’s renowned collection in Lapeer, Michigan, where it was much beloved, well maintained, and often shown for over a decade. In 2000, it was judged Best in Class at the renowned Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance, followed by a special award at the EyesOn Design show in 2006.
In 2007, the Cord joined the collection of the current owner, a longtime Cord enthusiast, and has remained in his care since. The owner prides himself on the maintenance of his cars, something important to consider in any Cord, and that this one has been “kept up” to an extremely high standard, both inside and out. Its finishes are described as still being in beautiful order, and it remains as attractive to display at any event, in keeping with how Jack Humbert and John McMullen maintained it.
An authentic, correct, and beautiful supercharged Cord that ticks all of the proverbial boxes, this treasured automobile deserves its next home in one of this country’s great collections.
- - -
It's the big day we've been waiting for - the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance!
- - -
We saw so many great vehicles and sights during Monterey Car Week!
So my writeup for this day got demolished when my flickr uploader app crashed, but I shall re-create it as best I can.
Today was a very relaxed and uneventful day. I woke up around 2 or 3, ate some cereal, edited, sorted, posted pictures, walked around to see what friends were up to, hung out with said friends for awhile, ate at Scafe for dinner, then watched lost with the dorm fam. After that talked with mom on the phone a bit and ordered some photography necessities from amazon so as to be as prepared as possible for the upcoming wedding shoot. Here's to not stressing out too much and doing a good job friday, saturday.
Enough of this, I'm off to bed! Have a wonderful tonight and tomorrow!
All from a short writeup of the new SR520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge in Seattle, Washington:
crimeandtheforcesofevil.com/blog/2016/04/03/all-over-that...
M-1 2ND PLACE: FERRARI EARLY
1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Ghia Coupe Speciale shown by Dennis & Susan Garrity, De Pere, Wisconsin
First, Second and Third in Class Winners are selected by Class Judges based on originality, authenticity, and excellent preservation or restoration.
Class Awards, representing the spirit of the Concours, are sculptures designed by Emmanuel Zurini.
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From RM Sotheby's Arizona 2018
The listing's chassis number 0233 EU matches that in the Pebble Car Guide, confirming the listing writeup is for the same car.
1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe by Ghia
$1,187,500 USD | Sold
o Ferrari Classiche certified
o The Ferrari factory show car at the 1952 Paris Salon
o Bespoke one-off coachwork by Ghia
o Originally delivered to Juan Perón, President of Argentina
o Award-winner at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Cavallino Classic
o Featured in numerous magazine articles
o Includes tools and original 212 owner’s manual
o Incredible history, styling, and provenance
THE JUAN PERÓN 212 INTER
This unique 212 Inter’s resume includes an impressive show-car debut by Ferrari, after which it was acquired by one of the most famous leaders of the 20th century—Juan Perón. More recently restored and recognized at prestigious concours events, chassis 0191 EL is in the first rank of unique, coachbuilt Ferraris.
The sensational Inter began life as the 49th of 73 examples built, completing assembly in late summer of 1952 as chassis no. 0233 EU (in one of the earliest uses of the EU suffix, presaging the forthcoming Europa model). Intended as a show car, the chassis was sent to Ghia in Turin and clothed with one-off coachwork, featuring many of the design cues common to the firm’s Virgil Exner collaborations of the era. The elegant fender and front-fascia treatments echo similar cues found on show cars like the Ghia GS1 and Chrysler D’Elegance. Like those luxury models, the Ferrari was trimmed with a particularly sumptuous interior that abounded in thoughtful ergonomic details, like folding window winders to ease exit and entry and driving comfort, as well as a thickly padded console armrest.
The Inter debuted at the Paris Motor Show in October 1952, perched on the Ferrari stand alongside 0235 EU, a Pinin Farina-bodied cabriolet. It was there that the car was reportedly first spotted by its future owner, Juan Domingo Perón, President of Argentina. A remarkably diverse and divisive leader who was both adored and vilified by his own people, Perón rose to power in the Cold War climate of 1946 behind a populist agenda, and the ideology named for him, Peronism, actually lives on to this day in elements of current Argentine politics.
A true motoring enthusiast, Perón was famed for amassing an immense collection of luxurious automobiles, ranging from Ferraris to Packards. He loved racing, and was a key financier of the careers of two of the country’s rising stars, Juan Manual Fangio and Froilan Gonzalez, supporting their 1950 entry at Le Mans in a Gordini, and putting significant weight behind Fangio’s Formula 1 efforts. Perón financed the construction of a Formula 1 track in Buenos Aires called the Juan Perón October 17 Circuit (in honor of the date of his rise to power), and created a state-funded car company called Justicialista that offered a Porsche-powered two-seat fiberglass sports car.
After seeing the one-off Ghia coupe at Paris in October 1952, Perón made inquiries and a purchase was arranged through an intermediary in Rome. It is likely that the President wished to minimize any publicity surrounding his purchase and its tax consequences, as he faced increasing scrutiny at home. Argentine import taxes for new luxury cars are notoriously steep, and for this reason, the car presumably returned to Maranello so that it could assume the identity of a used car, which happened to be Milan registration number MI 197153. This registration had been in use by another Ghia-bodied Ferrari, chassis 0191 EL, and due to the registration switch, the factory conducted a commensurate chassis renumbering to seal the car’s new identity. It is important to note that this numbering swap involved no exchange of bodies, chassis, or motors; both cars were originally built with the chassis and bodies they wear today, and merely exchanged numbers for the sake of a powerful client’s aversion to taxes and any unfavorable publicity associated with his extravagant tastes.
In 1955, Juan Perón was ousted from power by a military coup, and after he fled the country, the Ghia coupe remained in Argentina, eventually passing to a dealer by the early 1970s. The car was purchased in August 1973 by Conrado Tennina, an Italian living in Buenos Aires, and he retained possession for 14 years before selling it into European ownership in 1987. At that point, the Ferrari was treated to a comprehensive restoration, including a complete mechanical refurbishment, while the exterior was returned to its original and stunning 1952 Paris Salon livery, a two-tone combination of yellow over black with correct whitewall tires.
In December 1999, the car was acquired by the consignor, a highly respected collector of one-off Ferrari show cars, who presented the Ghia coupe at the 2001 Cavallino Classic. In mid-2002 he entrusted the car to the Ferrari specialists at Motion Products in Neenah, Wisconsin, and some minor cosmetic corrections were undertaken in the engine bay to return the finishes and hardware to factory-correct specifications.
The 212 was then displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2002, where it earned a 2nd-in-class award, in a strong endorsement of the European restoration and its more recent freshening. Chassis no. 0191 EL was exhibited at Cavallino again in January 2003, this time garnering a Platinum Award and winning the Excellence Cup, and a month later the historically important Ferrari was the subject of a cover feature in Forza magazine.
Now available for the first time in nearly 20 years, 0191 EL claims rare history and remarkable ownership provenance. It was personally viewed at the 1952 Paris Salon and then acquired by Juan Perón, one of the most significant figures in Latin American politics, and a diehard motorsports enthusiast whose automotive legacy includes the triumphs of Fangio.
Furthermore clothed with one-off Ghia coachwork that ranks among the carrozzeria’s finest efforts, and benefiting from a Pebble Beach and Cavallino award-winning restoration, this exquisite 212 Inter is currently undergoing certification by Ferrari Classiche. It all but guarantees entry to prestigious international events such as Pebble Beach (where it is once again eligible) and the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza.
Few early Ferrari road cars offer such extraordinary cachet, and the Ghia coupe’s current availability should merit the attention of the world’s most serious collectors and Maranello connoisseurs.
- - -
It's the big day we've been waiting for - the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance!
First, Second and Third in Class Winners are selected by Class Judges based on originality, authenticity, and excellent preservation or restoration.
Class Awards, representing the spirit of the Concours, are sculptures designed by Emmanuel Zurini.
- - -
We saw so many great vehicles and sights during Monterey Car Week!
A writeup to accompany these pictures can be found here: blog.neonmonster.com/gallery/last-gasp-40th-anniversary-l...
Rock/Creek StumpJump 50k writeup in "Marathon und mehr" magazine. Is there anyone who can translate for me?
A writeup to accompany these pictures can be found here: blog.neonmonster.com/gallery/last-gasp-40th-anniversary-l...
Txirimiri was one of the tapas places I saw good writeups for while googling around before the trip. Our concierge explained that none of the non-tapas restaurants on my list would have availability, so tapas was our only option. It was about 8 -- too early for the kitchen to be open -- so we had to content ourselves with pre-made dishes.
Those olives I think are the best green olives I've ever eaten. Take that, Italy.
The main dish: looks like carpaccio; tastes like ham. Delicious.
Went to the Soopa Show. I loved it... check out sakiwrotewhat.com for a writeup...
Mario is the awesomeness!
A writeup to accompany these pictures can be found here: blog.neonmonster.com/gallery/last-gasp-40th-anniversary-l...
Q-2 3RD PLACE: FRUA
1946 FIAT 1100 C Frua Barchetta shown by Don Bernstein & Patt Taylor, Clark’s Summit, Pennsylvania
First, Second and Third in Class Winners are selected by Class Judges based on originality, authenticity, and excellent preservation or restoration.
Class Awards, representing the spirit of the Concours, are sculptures designed by Emmanuel Zurini.
- - -
From Bonhams | Cars Scottsdate 2019
The listing's chassis number 279906 matches that in the Pebble Car Guide, confirming the listing writeup is for the same car.
1946 Fiat 1100C Spider
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Frua
US$577,000 inc. premium | Sold
Chassis no. 279906
Engine no. 306135
1089cc OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
Single Weber Downdraft Carburetor
52bhp at 5,200rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension – Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
*Pietro Frua's First original design for his own company, One-Off
*Debuted at 1947 Concorso di Como, (Coppa Villa d'Este) 2nd in Class
*Hailed as new direction in automotive design
*Mille Miglia Storica 2016 and Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2017 participant
*Finalist, Octane 'Restoration of the Year' 2017
*Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2018
THE FIAT FRUA SPIDER
There can only be one "first". This sleek, dramatic two-place sports spider is the calling card of one of the most talented and prolific automotive designers of the 20th Century, Pietro Frua. Frua would go on to have a brilliant career in design, which lasted until his passing in 1983. Frua was perhaps best known for his work on Maserati chassis from the '50s through the '70s but he also worked to create memorable styling for AC, Glas, BMW, Fiat, Monteverdi and Lancia among others.
Born in Turin, Italy in 1913, Frua was hired, when still a teenager, by the well-established Stablimenti Farina coachbuilding firm as a draftsman in 1930. His talent was such that he quickly rose to become Director of Styling by the time he was 22. He left Stabilmenti Farina to open his own studio in 1938, but had a very slow start during which he found work creating appliances and children's cars while doing minor repair and modification work on existing vehicles.
At the end of World War II, in 1944, Frua purchased a factory that had been heavily damaged by bombing and prepared to launch his business in the manner he had envisioned- with complete cars of his own design and built by his team of craftsmen.
Aiming to put his marker down as a force to be reckoned with in the promising post-war marketplace, Frua looked to have a show-stopping car ready for the first Italian concours events to be held in 1947. Both because of financial constraints and to appeal to the widest possible potential audience, Frua chose to clothe a Fiat chassis for his debut.
The Fiat 1100 was introduced in 1937 and built until 1953. Designed by noted engineer Dante Giacosa, it was a comfortable family car powered by an in inline 4-cylinder engine of 1089cc displacement, and for the period, its comfort, handling, and performance were prodigious. It featured rear wheel drive with a 4-speed gearbox and unusually for a modestly priced car of the time was built with independent front suspension with a leaf sprung live rear axle.
After World War II, the car was re-introduced with a new name, the 1100E. It also received a bit more power, with 35hp in standard tune. While most of the production was of 4-door sedans, almost all Italian coachbuilders, or "carrozzerie" created one-off and small series models on the chassis.
The chassis of this Fiat 1100C was sold by the factory to Carrozzeria Balbo in the middle of June 1946 and transferred to Pietro Frua shortly thereafter. The completed car was delivered new to Luigi Critterio on September 3, 1946 and sold to Gino Bubbolini on September 28th.
For some reason, a late entry prevented it from being considered for judging at the 1947 Concorso held in June at the Royal Gardens in Turin, Italy. Its first "official" outing would be in September 1947 at the Concorso di Como Coppa Villa d'Este. This was the first postwar concours event on Lake Como, taking up the mantle of the pre-war Concorso Villa d'Este.
The Frua Fiat was entered by Alvise DePasquale, a Fiat dealer, as entry #10. Pietro Frua achieved his goal in capturing the attention of both the public and the press with his ultra-modern spider. Favorable mention was made of the 1100C Spider in the leading Italian motoring magazines, Auto Italiana and MotorItalia. Writing in Issue #3 1947 of the latter, correspondent Stefano Bricarelli stated, "The sobriety of the original and most modern line, of this two-seater sport by the Carrozzeria Frua on the Fiat 1100C has been much admired by connoisseurs, both in Turin and in Como."
That despite the observation that almost all the cars present on Como had been seen in Torino- except that in the case of the Frua Fiat, "...although presented late in Turin and excluded from the rankings - that the two seater sports of Frua on the 1100C in our opinion tells a new story in terms of sobriety and modernity of line." Frua had achieved with this car what Christian Dior had done in fashion at the same time- created a truly "New Look".
Entry #10 took home a Second Prize of Merit in Group B at Como. In August 1948, the owner took out a loan against the car with Arturo Caron, which was redeemed the following year, and the Fiat was sold to Mr. Tagliabue of Milan. In 1950, Mr. Tagliabue sold the car to Mr. Monti of Pavia, at which time the registration was changed from MI 99124 to PV 31663, which the car retains to this day.
Mr. Monti sold the car in 1983 for Mr. Safranez also of Pavia and to Mr. Petrilli of Rome in 2010. He sold the car to Auto Classic, a dealer in Torino, in 2013. Daniele Turrisi, a dealer and restorer in Bergamo Italy then acquired the 1100C and with him and American classic car consultant and historian Donald Osborne it participated in the Gara Storica di Piacenza in the Spring of 2015. Osborne sourced the car for the current owner from Turrisi in the Fall of that year.
It was entered and ran in the Mille Miglia Storica of 2016, as number 144. Immediately following the event it began a restoration at Carrozzeria Gatti Luciano of Bergamo, Italy. Following much detailed historical research it was a great stroke of fortune to discover sections of the original light green metallic paint underneath the red it had worn for many decades.
With its original colors and specifications restored to those of the car's appearance at the Concorso di Como in 1947, it made its return to Lake Como at the 2017 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on the 70th anniversary of its world debut at the Concorso on the lake.
Subsequently, the Fiat 1100C Frua Spider was invited to be shown at the Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace in September 2017 at which time it was nominated as a candidate for "Restoration of the Year" by Octane Magazine. In March 2018 the car was invited to Japan for the 2018 Concorso d'Eleganza Kyoto, where it was awarded Best in Class, "Early Cars to 1951" and was Best of Show finalist. In August of 2018, it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it impressed in Class O-1 Postwar Touring.
With a fully known provenance from new and a world-class restoration, this very special automobile's new owner may choose to use it for further concours outings, or, riding on the restored period Fergat sport wheels with which it ran the Mille Miglia Storica return to vintage rally and touring events. Of course it can also be amply enjoyed on spirited drives through the countryside.
But perhaps the greatest thrill of ownership might come from simply possessing something no one else in the world has- a unique piece of automotive history, the first creation to wear the name of Pietro Frua.
- - -
It's the big day we've been waiting for - the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance!
- - -
We saw so many great vehicles and sights during Monterey Car Week!