15 events not to be missed in 2015

Grab a pen and that calendar you received for Christmas – these are the must-attend classic car events of 2015…

London Classic Car Show, 8-11 January

The classic car year opens in January at the London Classic Car Show. The headline feature is the ‘classic car catwalk’, which sees exhibits paraded up and down the Grand Avenue.

Rétromobile, 4-8 February

Early February will see attention turn to Paris and, more specifically, the results achieved by Artcurial for the 60 lost classics. Elsewhere at Rétromobile, there will be themed exhibitions dedicated to Pegaso and Tatra, as well as the unique collection of Corrado Lopresto.

Amelia Island Concours, 12-15 March

The Amelia Island Concours not only gives you an excuse to escape the European winter, but also to experience a field of world-class cars. The 2015 event will include a tribute to British legend Sir Stirling Moss.

Goodwood Members’ Meeting, 21-22 March

The 73rd Members’ Meeting will kick off the historic racing season proper, and will be supported by Group C machines carrying out high-speed demonstrations, plus a new Bonhams auction.

Essen Techno Classica, 15-19 April

The Essen Techno Classica is the world’s largest classic car trade fair – and is a good gauge for new trends and prices. Numerous Classic Driver dealers from across Europe and beyond will be in attendance with some of their stock.

Tour Auto, 20-25 April

The Tour Auto Optic 2000 is considered to be one of the most demanding rallies in the classic calendar. This year, the route travels from Paris Grand Palais to Biarritz, via Vichy, Clermont-Ferrand, Toulouse and Pau.

Mille Miglia, 14-17 May

Although now more of a marketing and VIP-massaging event, you should take part in the ‘Mille’ at least once in your lifetime.

Spa Classic, 22-24 May

The only thing that beats watching the Spa Classic is riding the Ardennes rollercoaster yourself – but if that’s not an option, at least it’s far less crowded than certain other historic racing events.

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, 22-24 May

Once you’ve been, you’ll go back whenever circumstances allow. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como is by far the most glamorous automotive event of the year.

Goodwood Festival of Speed, 26-28 June

This year’s Festival carries the motto ‘fast and fearless: racing on the edge’. The 90th anniversary of the first Grand Prix World Championship titles will be celebrated, as will the 60th anniversary of Sir Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson’s famous victory on the Mille Miglia.

Monterey Classic Car Week, 11-16 August

Monterey Classic Car Week is a marathon of great events, races, concours and auctions. We’re excited to see if more record-breaking sums can be achieved at the sale, but more so to discover whether a post-War car can clinch the Pebble Beach Concours of Elegance crown for the second year running.

Salon Privé, 2-4 September

Salon Privé is one of the few events where you can admire the greatest classics of the past alongside the supercars of today (and sometimes tomorrow), all while eating lobster and sipping champagne. Also, prepare for a big announcement from the organisers over the coming months…

Concours of Elegance, 5-7 September

After hopping between royal venues in England for the past few years, the Concours of Elegancenow takes a trip to Scotland – more specifically, Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh.

Chantilly Arts & Elegance, 5-6 September

Another must-attend event run by Peter Auto to add to the calendar is the Chantilly Arts & Elegance, one of our unexpected highlights of 2014. After the success of last year’s event, 2015 promises to be even better.

Goodwood Revival 2015, 11-13 September

The Goodwood Revival needs little introduction. Planning for it needs some thought, though – sort out a ticket, an outfit and an hotel as soon as possible. Oh, and a suitable means of transport, of course.

Further details on the 60 classics lost in long-term parking

Now that the initial awe surrounding the 60 lost classics found in a French chateau has been processed, it’s time to delve a little deeper into the details…

The 60 lost classics set to go under the hammer the day before Artcurial’s traditional Retromobile auction – to be held on 6 February 2015 – carry such prestigious names as Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza,Talbot-Lago, Panhard et Levassor, Delahaye and Delage. But it’s not only weathered French machinery on offer; both Ferrari and Maserati also appear on the roster of recently discovered treasures, and make up some of the better-preserved relics of the astounding barn find.

The long-lost California Spider

One of the two significant Italians is a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider (chassis 2935) formerly owned by actor Alain Delon and, pictured buried beneath a stack of magazines, is the subject of one of the most memorable images this year. The Delon Ferrari outwardly displays an attractive patina, with Artcurial attaching an estimate of €9.5m to €12m as a result. 

One of three

Fighting the ‘other’ red corner is an ultra-rare Maserati A6G 2000 Gran Sport with a body by Pietro Frua, one of only three such cars ever made. It shared its fateful long-term accommodation with the Ferrari – interestingly though, since it wasn’t put to work as a bookshelf, the paintwork has not been preserved quite as well. Hence the estimate has been set at €800,000 – €1.2m. 

Rare coachwork in abundance

Elsewhere, a Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Saoutchik Coupé fared less well in fending off the elements, meaning interested parties are perhaps more likely to be art collectors, rather than traditional car enthusiasts. During the discovery, Artcurial specialists Matthieu Lamoure and Pierre Novikoff also found several more pre-War cars with rare (if not unique) bodies: a Talbot-Lago T26 Saoutchik Cabriolet formerly owned by Egyptian King Farouk, a Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet bodied by Million Guiet, and a Talbot-Lago T26 record Coupé, also with Saoutchik body.

Between now and February, each car will be recovered, scrutinised and given an estimate by Artcurial’s experts. We look forward to a unique auction catalogue packed with extraordinary stories behind each individual car – will there be a ‘barn-find’ of this magnitude ever again?

Photos: Artcurial

BRAD’S CM400

As 2015 finally stretches, farts and rolls out of bed, it means different things to each of us. Some, perhaps, had an incredible 2014 and are willing a Groundhog year to happen. Others are quite relieved to watch the calendar tick over and embrace the new dawn. Life can happily give you a swift kick to the plums when you least expect it; for some it comes back for a second punt when you’re fetal on the floor. Brad, owner of Cafe Creations & Customs based in Largo, Florida, is certainly looking to this new year as a chance to focus on the future and capitalise on the solid foundations he’s worked tirelessly to lay down.

Having built bikes under the “Cafe Creations & Customs” banner for a while now, the New Year brings with it a new name: “Brad Bilt Vintage Motorcycles”. The natural next step, having made a name for himself in Florida; it’s not uncommon to see a dozen of his bikes at a local meet. So 2015 brings plans afoot for global domination, Brad refining his builds, and challenging himself on each aspect of every bike.

Thankfully he can count Michael Mundy of Steelbent Customs and the Dime City Cycles crew as good friends: owner Jason Paul Michaels (and Jason’s ‘boss’ Leticia Cline) crashed at Brad’s for a while. I imagine there were a few interesting late night talks round the kitchen table in that household!

When a customer walked in wanting his 1980 Honda CM400T given some cafe treatment, Brad knew he had a challenge on his hands. Although a clean example, the swoopy subframe of the CM takes work to apply attitude. Undeterred, Brad spent time planning how to tackle it and then out came the tools.

About halfway through the build, on a regular visit to the workshop, the owner spotted Brad’s freshly finished  Honda CB750 SOHC sitting in the corner. Sporting a full aluminum fairing, the customer decided it must be his, so a deal was done. Brad found himself with a half finished CM400, a pocketful of money and a bunch of ideas.

Deciding to not lop off the pressed steel rear frame, the decision was made to make the bike flow with it’s original metalwork retained. After a trimming of the rear end and a general clean up of inapposite tabs, the frame was sent to Profab Customs for powdercoat.

The engine was peachy keen, having covered just 12,000 miles, so Brad knew better than to disturb the reliable mill. Instead, a thorough clean, finished in contrasting black cases with polished covers. A drilled sprocket cover adds some old school charm. The carbs were completely rebuilt and rejetted to suit the Unifilters and less restrictive exhaust. For reliability the bike runs stock electronic ignition; put that feeler gauge away.

The entire chassis has been revised and tweaked: original 18/16 inch Comstar wheels were immediately binned. The bike now sits on a 19 inch front from a Honda CB550 and an 18 inch unit from a Honda CB350 out back. This alone transforms the stance. Both rims are wrapped in Avon Road Rider tires, not too wide so as to slow steering and perfect for the twisties.

Front suspension has been lowered 2 inches and the yokes are carried in All Balls tapered bearings. A Tarozzi fork brace stiffens things up to improve feel while the modified front fender just about squeezes underneath. Rear shocks add two extra inches out back, working with the bigger wheels to level the whole shebang. Front brakes now use an adjustable radial master cylinder and Brad’s handiwork with a pillar drill has transformed the front disc.

The tank originally featured the delightful fuel filler hatch Honda inflicted upon all bikes in the ’80s. To rectify this, Brad seamlessly welded in the top strip of a Sportster tank: it’s profile a surprisingly close match. Calling on Roc City for one of their solo cafe seats, Brad trimmed it to better follow the line of the stamped steel subframe. Cut into the back, a recess allows the rear light and licence plate to be secreted away.

Moe Colors were then charged with laying down the deep green paint, overlayed with the black paneling and white pinstripe. It’s a classic yet modern looking scheme, perfectly suiting the timeless build.

Foot controls were moved rearwards and upwards with new hangers. A shortened, modified brake lever and gear shifter keep actions crisp and precise. Coupled with a set of Clubman bars, the riding position is classic cafe. Tucked in tight, this little twin will give you a hard-charging buzz just sitting on it.

The loom is predominately standard. Simple and neat enough to not warrant a rebuild, you’d be pressed to spot an obtrusive wire on the whole bike. A full size Gel battery now resides under the seat hump along with all of the relocated electronics.

A quick call to Jason and parcels soon started arriving from Dime City. A European style 7″ headlight here, reverse cone mufflers there, a cats-eye rear light thrown in for good measure. All the missing components that tie a bike together. Those upswept end cans clamp the standard header pipes, a surprisingly flamboyant sweep, they arc back along the bike, dressed up in their black wrap.

It all works to transform the bike from cruiser to cafe. Turning a forgotten ’80s Honda with a cracking engine into something that make full use of that sweet little twin. Completed, it was time for a bonding session, so Brad packed and headed up to Barber.

The CM handled the 1200 mile round trip without a stutter. Pulling hard through the rev range all the way, Brad says she’s a sweet little handler now. As with most builders, he’d love to keep hold of her, but that’s not a great business model. Hop over to the classifieds for your chance to bag it. 

Thanks go to Eric Runyan for the studio shots, showing the bike to it’s fullest.

via The Bike Shed

vitesse..........