The Lamborghini and Monteverdi marques were both born out of a disagreement with the notoriously difficult Enzo Ferrari. Like Ferruccio Lamborghini, Peter Monteverdi had humble beginnings, getting his hands dirty with tractors but eventually rising to take on the most prestigious sports car manufacturer of the time. 

Peter Monteverdi was born in Binningen, Switzerland in 1934 and started his automotive career as an apprentice mechanic with tractor manufacturer Vevey. He then went on to finish his training at the Swiss commercial vehicle manufacturer Saurer in Arbon. 

Monteverdi 375L

• Looking back on 40 years of Audi Sport GmbH with Audi’s head of design.
• Performance, aesthetics and functionality to shape the RS models of the
future.
• Radically changed interiors to be featured also by upcoming highperformance cars.

Marc Lichte: "Sporty cars are adrenaline that has assumed a shape"

The 1997 Subaru ‘McRae’ Impreza S3 you see in these stunning photos is a legendary rally car, and rightly so. It is the perfect combination of Subaru’s evolution of their rally versions paired with one of the greatest rally drivers of all time giving Subaru victories in five rounds of the 1997 World Rally Championship. This was the greatest year for Colin McRae and Subaru, and although McCrae and co-driver Nicky Grist finished 2nd outright in the championship, there was only one point separating them from Tommi Makinen after 14 rounds. Also, of significance for Subaru and their Prodrive 555 racing team was the dominant win of the manufacturers championship for this same year, in what was essentially a brand new package.


Subaru ‘McRae’ Impreza S3 WRC - 1997

Citroen is very well-known for its innovative vehicles. From the Light 15 starting production in the mid-1930s, iconic 2CV starting in the late 40s and to the popular ‘DS’ model from the mid-1950s. The DS in particular had a production span of over 20 years and just shy of 1.5 million units built. It was acknowledged as one of the best cars in the world and named the most beautiful car of all time, by a leading classic car magazine. However, this story is about the lesser known, but closely related, ‘SM’ model. With a production run of only 13,000, it was marketed as the high-performance version of the DS and sold alongside the DS from 1970 to 1975.

Citroen SM

As far as ideas go, it is not often that crashing an Alfa Romeo into a river turns out to create something truly great. Yet that is exactly what happened in 1956: Two brothers submerged their Mille Miglia steed, sparking a chain of events which led to Zagato building some of the most-successful beautiful Alfas ever – at Bertone’s expense. 

The legendary Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ1 – simply TZ at its 1962 Turin show debut as a prototype – is a masterclass in advanced design and engineering. Dubbed “The Baby GTO” because its Italian genetics produced an achingly-beautiful coupe which was dominant on-track. Only 112 were made between 1962 and 1965, before the TZ2 arrived, whereby the original TZ became known as the TZ1. 



1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ

Words Damion Smy
 
It was to be America’s first supercar. Ford had been designing vehicles based on its ‘Aero’ language since the 1980s, when the original Taurus saved the company from the increasingly confident – and better built – competition. By the mid-90s, Aero was standard operating procedure at the Ford design department – if it ain’t broke…

The design team were readying the proposals for senior management at Dearborn. James Hope, a young designer who’d started at the Detroit car maker less than two years earlier, didn’t expect his model would make the cut. See, Hope had missed the Aero memo. Or more so, ignored it. 
The young designer was instead inspired by sharper designs such as the F-117 stealth fighter, a radar-defying US military secret until 1988, which saw acute angles and hard edges prioritised to fly undetected into enemy skies. 


1995 Ford GT90 - White Noise

It’s hard to imagine the automotive industry without BMW; but there was a time when the BMW brand wasn’t what we know today. What is now the standard for attainable class, luxury and performance was once a flailing automotive manufacturer that struggled to find its way in a post war era. There wasn’t one particular car credited with changing BMW’s fortunes. A generation of cars referred to as the Neue Klasse (“New Class”) throughout the 1960s would solidify BMW’s reputation into the future.
In the late 50s, BMW was on the precipice of collapse with the majority of the board ready to either sell off the poor performing company to Daimler-Benz or declare bankruptcy. In 1959 shareholders came close to voting in favour of the Daimler-Benz buyout before a few disgruntled voices managed to adjourn the meeting without a formal vote. One of those dissenting voices was Herbert Quandt who had inherited a 30% stake in BWM with his brother Harald when their father passed in 1954.


BMW 1600-2 & 2002	

It’s been Renault since day dot for Jeff Bee. “A Renault 16 was my first car – back in those days, Renault still had a presence in Australia. Bob Watson won a couple of Australian Rally championships in a Renault 8 Gordini. There was a group of us that used to rally Renault 10’s. So, if you were a Renault person you were a bit of a rally person by default.” 

Alpine was the brainchild of Jean Rédélé, originally a Dieppe garage owner and also the youngest Renault dealer in France. He began his career in motorsport racing and modifying Renault 4CV’s.


Alpine A310

Anyone with even a hint of octane flowing through their veins can’t help but be captivated by the era of the Killer B’s. 
During the mid-1980s flying Group B rally cars hurtled down forest tracks as camera flash bulbs stuttered amongst the spraying mud. Spectators with no sense of self-preservation dove off the track and into the undergrowth at the last minute high on danger and adrenaline.


Peugeot 205 GTI

“I always knew Rod and I would build a car together. We thought it was going to be a Torana, Kingswood or Brougham - something like that. Never thought it would be a bloody Volvo.”

Volvo 242 GT

According to some people, the car I’m strapped into doesn’t exist. And if I don’t find the right balance between clutch and accelerator crossing this blind crest – they may very well be right. 

Many have told Alan Henry that he couldn’t possibly own a factory right-hand-drive Lancia Fulvia works car. They just didn’t make them. ‘Had the car for 49 years now.’


Lancia Fulvia Works 1.3 HF



Strap in tight, my fellow gearheads, today, we’re going to delve into a classic, a legend that’s been prowling the roads for six glorious decades—a car that’s as iconic as it is enigmatic: the Aston Martin DB5.

But don’t let the age fool you; this is a car that has aged like a fine bottle of scotch – it’s only gotten better with time, albeit with a few quirks to keep things interesting.
Let’s begin with the aesthetics, shall we? The DB5 is like the embodiment of James Bond himself – suave, sophisticated, and quintessentially British. With its timeless lines and that unmistakable grille, it’s the kind of car that exudes charisma from every inch. But let’s not kid ourselves; it’s not the sort of machine that sneaks past unnoticed. It’s more like an aging Hollywood star – still turning heads, but the years have left their mark.

Aston Martin DB5

In the 1980s, a carefree decade characterised by freedom, bright colours and brand-new shapes, it still took a special kind of chutzpah to establish the lines, colour, geometry and complete absence of curves that came to define the cars of that era. Depancel pays tribute to them with the new Série-R 80s, an animation of its iconic case as fun as this era.

Fashion is all about cycles, with a perennial return to the standards of previous generations. But amid this never-ending revolution, some icons are immutable, never falling out of favour. They continue to meet with unanimous approval, standing out as items that never go out of fashion.

Depancel Série-R 80s

- First mid-engined racing car in history 100 years ago
- Important pioneer of modern automotive aerodynamics
- Premiere of the independent rear suspension with double-jointed swing axle in racing
- Motorsport debut on 9 September 1923 in Monza at the European Grand Prix


Benz RH 2-litre “teardrop” racing car: Mid-engine racing premiere in futuristic form

- 85 per cent scale recreation of 1929 41⁄2-litre Supercharged Bentley created by The Little Car Company
- ‘BlowerJnr’willbefullyroad-legalintheUK,EUandUSA
- 15 kW electric motor as part of 48V electrical system
- Expected range of 65 miles, top speed of 45 mph
- Tandem seating for two adults, with dedicated luggage space
- Crafted entirely by hand, from authentic materials to match the original
- Charging Port Concealed Within Supercharger Housing
- InspiredbyTeamCarNo.2,the most famous,valuableandiconic Bentley in the world
- 99FirstEditioncarscolour-matchedtoTeamCarNo.2,complete with Union flags and unique details
- More details at www.bentleyblowerjnr.com


Iconic Bentley Blower Reborn as the Ultimate Urban Vehicle by the Little Car Compan

Alfa Romeo is delighted to announce the rebirth of the custom-built 33 Stradale, a veritable “manifesto” of the Italian brand’s capabilities – now and in the future – in terms of style and driving experience. Made in only 33 exclusive units, according to a unique artisan process, the new “two-seater” coupé combines the brand’s heritage and future as the symbol of noble Italian sportsmanship.

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale: daring to dream

Nestled against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Como, Bugatti once again demonstrated its ability to seamlessly blend the classic with the contemporary, and the past with the future. The renowned Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy provided the perfect stage for Bugatti to showcase its unrivaled heritage in crafting the most exquisite open-top hyper sports cars.
Taking center stage at Villa d’Este were two iconic exemplars of Bugatti craftsmanship: the W16 Mistral, a modern-day ultimate roadster, and the Type 57S Roadster coachbuilt by Corsica, an emblematic masterpiece from 1936.

Timeless Bugatti Roadsters Radiate Elegance within Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, renowned for its celebration of automotive design and heritage, provided a splendid showcase for the iconic Alfa Romeo 33. Held at the enchanting Villa Erba, the event honored the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans while paying homage to the timeless elegance of Alfa Romeo.
Established in 1929, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este has a rich history of bringing together automotive enthusiasts and aficionados from around the world. This year’s edition expanded beyond its traditional headquarters in Cernobbio to include Villa Erba, a fitting venue for the momentous occasion. Alfa Romeo took advantage of this esteemed platform to exhibit two extraordinary vehicles that once conquered the French tracks—the 33/2-litre “Daytona” (1968) and the 33 TT 12 (1975).

Alfa Romeo 33 Shines at the Prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

At the collectors’ request, Depancel imagined its first chronograph equipped with a hand-wound movement – ​​an essential requirement for purists of fine watchmaking! Available in panda or reverse panda dial, this Legend 60s combines tachymeter and pulsometer scales in a vintage 39 mm case topped with a ‘glass box’ sapphire crystal.
The first 240 pieces of each dial variation will be specially numbered from 001 to 240, and delivered in a collector’s edition packaging including a poster signed by the founder of the brand… Ready?


Legend 60’s – Now open for Pre-order!



The new Legend 60s marks a major first for Depancel: it reopens a historic chapter in 1960s Formula One timekeeping with two creations, the ‘Panda’ and the ‘Reverse Panda’, fitted for the first time with a hand-wound chronograph in the finest racing tradition of that era. The first 240 pieces of each dial will be specially numbered from 001 to 240, and delivered in a collector’s edition accompanied by a poster signed by the founder of the brand.

Certain sounds and names resonate in the world of watchmaking more than others. Such sounds include the throaty roar of V6 and V8 engines on 1960s Formula One racetracks and the frenetic ‘tick-tick-tick’ timing their performance on every lap through, until the final wave of the chequered flag. And today, the five letters of the word ‘Venus’ embody the high standing of the chronograph in its original, racing incarnation.
Venus supplied the most prestigious and most accurate movements of its day, also held to be the most beautiful. The watchmaker’s movements featured an iconic column wheel – very much the caliber’s gearbox, managing the different functions of the chronograph. In the absence of an oscillating weight, the outstanding movement was fully visible; until 1969, the chronograph was exclusively hand-wound. As a result, it became a highly sought-after pioneer among collectors, and remained so until Venus closed down, its last remaining movements and plans taken over by Sea-Gull (now Seagull). The new owners changed some aspects of the piece, notably by increasing its frequency to 3Hz (21,600 vph).

The new Legend 60s

- Historic specification based on Bentley’s own R-Type Continental – JAS 949 – on its 70th birthday
- Recreated through the use of Mulliner’s Personal Commissioning Guide – the doorway for unlimited personalisation
- Heritage paint, luxurious rich interior and finished with unique crafted cross banding and bespoke inlays
- 70 years of craftsmanship, design and innovation span the two coupés
- Continental GT Azure offers wellness and comfort to provide a modern magic carpet
- New model joins Bentley’s UK press fleet
- Iconic Grand Tourer photographed at an iconic location




70th Birthday of Famous Heritage Car

The W16 Mistral glides over beautiful twisting roads in the foothills above the Côte d’Azur, with the evocative soundtrack of its W16 powertrain reverberating off the scenery. From all around – below and above, head on and sideways – is a unique southern France airstream, matching the W16 Mistral’s characteristics in perfect harmony.
This is where the W16 Mistral channels the full force from nature. This is the moment when the hyper sports car becomes at one with the elements, encountering the wind that lent this car its name: the mistral.

Bugatti W16 Mistral Meets The Wind that Gave it its Name

Its case inspired by a radiator grille and its sharp lines make Serie-R Cruiser the perfect character watch to highlight your personality. The design immerses you in a nonconformist world while reflecting your rebellious nature and your free spirit.

SERIE-R Cruiser
Movement: Miyota 9132, Automatic winding
Dimensions : 43 x 36mm
Water resistance: 50m / 5ATM
Assembled by our French watchmakers, 5 years warranty
Launch price: 615$
Dial: Petrol Blue, Dark Green, Shadow Black
Strap: Driving Black, Driving Brown


Serie-R Cruiser: Reinvent your style and make your own rules

Its case inspired by a radiator grille and its sharp lines make Serie-R Cruiser the perfect character watch to highlight your personality. The design immerses you in a nonconformist world while reflecting your rebellious nature and your free spirit.


SERIE-R Cruiser

Movement: Miyota 9132, Automatic winding
Dimensions : 43 x 36mm
Water resistance: 50m / 5ATM
Assembled by our French watchmakers, 5 years warranty

Launch price: 615$

Dial: Petrol Blue, Dark Green, Shadow Black
Strap: Driving Black, Driving Brown


Serie-R Cruiser: Depancel’s new square watch

Andrei Shinkarenko likes things that are rare, different and unique. He’s refreshingly left of centre and unashamedly so. I had that impression even before we meet, as I park my car next to ‘Rex’, the dinosaur in his front yard. “Might be Rexona.” He quips as we greet. “We’re not that friendly yet.”
Andrei, or Andy, is an engineer. “We’re a different breed,” he explains. “We think differently – genetically, we are created, were not just taught to be engineers. Russians have a long history of engineering. We don’t invent new stuff, we perfect old stuff.”

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