Miguel Sánchez
Photographs: Unai Ona
While last August we stopped the sound of the keyboards at La Escudería, one of the unavoidable events for the classic motor was being held in the United States. What's more, we should say for the motor world in general or, at least, for its most exclusive segments. And it is that, during the Motor Week in Monterey we have been able to see again an intense high-end sports panoply. In fact, the media importance of these days takes on a special relevance in The Quail. An essential appointment among all the events scheduled in the Californian peninsula, reaching up to 19 press conferences called by brands such as Maserati, Bugatti or Porsche.
All of them with the aim of presenting new reference models in their respective market niches. Using a context full of respect for the history of the car to project itself into the future since, after all, The Quail 2022 was full of the best classics. What's more, we could spend hours and hours talking about the impeccable restorations seen here. Definitely representative of the most careful craftsmanship at the service of preservation, having as exceptional protagonists two small models based on simple mechanics.
FIAT AND CITROËN MECHANICS FOR THE MOST EXCLUSIVE CLASSICS
Right off the bat, one doesn't think of FIAT or Citroën engines in relation to the exclusive cars seen at The Quail. Far from it, the mind easily goes to the Ferrari, Maserati or Jaguar exhibited here. And well, it really wouldn't hurt since there was even a thematic show about the great GTs created in Maranello during the fifties and sixties. In fact, a fantastic Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodynamic Coupe. One of the best creations of the always great Aldo Brovarone. The man who here knew how to create one of the best GT V12 signed by Pininfarina.
However, since certain motorsport legends are well known, the interesting thing about an event like The Quail is to explore the rarities. Even more so when they have been recovered from forgotten warehouses. Places where corrosion and oblivion were about to make them disappear until the arrival of profuse restoration work. Exactly the history shared by the 1959 Citroën Squall and the 1100 Abarth 1953 SS. Two small derivatives from simple mechanical 2CV and FIAT respectively. Representatives of how a sports car does not necessarily have to be performance-oriented in order to be really exciting.
First of all, the Citroën Squall certainly deserves a specific mention. To begin with, because this 2022 has finally been valued thanks to a profuse restoration in which its creator Guy Mismaque has intervened. The already elderly French designer who devised this model clearly influenced by Franco Scaglione's Alfa Romeo BAT. A daring for the time, even more so if we take into account how the base of it was a simple Citroën 2CV. Thus, the contrast between an expensive craft bodywork and a poorly performing mechanical base meant that only three units saw the light.
One of them, in blue, is a common one in Gallic concentrations where, possibly, soon it will also begin to be seen the 2CV barquette auctioned by Aguttes a few months ago. However, the other two were considered lost for decades until one of them was discovered in a warehouse. Now, already in the hands of its new North American owner, it has been one of the great protagonists at The Quail 2022. Who would have thought of this handcrafted model where parts taken from the 2CV are mixed with others from the Renault Dauphine or the Simca Aronde! Anyway, we are already preparing an article about it to better illustrate its history.
Continuing with modest bases for tall pieces, at The Quail 2022 the Abarth 1100 SS stood out. A radiant design exercise carried out by Ghia in 1953, which was considered lost until it was found in the eighties inside an American barn. Tribute to the spatial and futuristic lines coming from the other side of the Atlantic, it is no coincidence that his design was executed by that workshop. And it is that, after all, the coachbuilder from Turin maintained an intense relationship with American manufacturers. All this, especially, thanks to the work commissioned by Virgil Exner and his design studio at Chrysler. Too bad it was eventually taken over by Ford in the XNUMXs. When the Dearborn giant was obsessed with acquiring prestigious brands in Italy.
Regarding its base, the Abarth 1100 SS is a unique piece made from a FIAT 1100. Yes, the popular Millecento that served so much and so well to unleash the expertise of coachbuilders and trainers in the transalpine country. Possibly one of the most used cars as a base in the creation of unique models. With dozens of barchettas and design exercises based on their standard units. That's the way it is, when this Abarth was delivered it still had the original block of the 1100 with four cylinders. However, and to be honest, this mechanics was soon replaced by a powerful V8. All this in perfect current condition after a restoration that lasted almost five years.
A CLASSIC MADE FOR FASCINATION AT THE QUAIL 2022
Designed by Carlo Chiti and Giotto Bizzarrini after their abrupt departure from Ferrari in 1961, the 2500 ATS 1963 GT is an absolutely fascinating sports car. Really. One of those models so little known as a reference for the most exacerbated mythomaniacs. And so, let's see. Conceived out of pure spite towards Enzo Ferrari and its iron fist, this model was one of the first street sports cars to mount a central engine. Curiously, a V8 with 240CV located in the middle of the V12 or V6 produced in Maranello for its GT and F1 respectively.
In addition, its body profiled by Franco Scaglione looks like a mix of a 250 LM with a 400 Superamerica. The visual verification of an unhealthy thirst for revenge. the one that poisoned the Automobili Turismo e Sport project by constantly measuring itself with Ferrari instead of searching for their own identity. What's more, they even built a single-seater to sweep the Scuderia out of F1. A car that not even driven by the great Phil Hill could even score once. As it was, ATS went bankrupt so quickly that only a dozen units of the 2500 GT could be produced.
All of them as little valued in their time as they are admired today by lovers of Italian rarities. And it is that, although in its time that model was loaded with errors, these make up today one of the most lyrical and unfortunate stories of motorsport peripheral to Maranello. Something that, if we are allowed the comparative exercise, looks like one of the tragic revenges written by Shakespeare taken to the world of mechanics. In addition, like these, it ends in a disastrous way for many of its protagonists. Undoubtedly one of the most interesting cars among all those gathered at The Quail 2022.
THE MOST CANONICAL AND THE STRANGE OF THE QUAIL 2022
Leaving personal affiliations to focus on the winner of The Quail 2022, the event's trophy went to a 1956 Jaguar D-Type. Without a doubt, an excellent finishing touch to the contest. Where one of the events to commemorate was the 71st anniversary of Jaguar's first victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At this point, although the first year in which the D-Type reached the top of that race was 1955, the truth is that he did it to sign a reign of three consecutive years. Thus, its aluminum monocoque with aerodynamic elements from aviation is one of the basic icons in the history of endurance racing.
One of the best pieces of British automotive engineering, which represents a true canon for motorsports. Without a doubt, the opposite of the two strange elements with which we are going to close this chronicle of The Quail 2022. To begin with, an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500. Which, said like this, really seems like a most canonical model. That is, until we mention that It is a unit transformed to Pick-Up. However, we ask that no one tear their clothes. For now. And it is that, after all, it is still a transformation carried out at the time of the vehicle.
In addition, the most seasoned in Alfa Romeo may remember it from having seen it in some chronicles of the Padua Fair. Event in which she has appeared several times with a state even more corrosive than the current one. Nevertheless, in some photographs we have been able to detect remains of a Bianchi advertising on one of its sides. Would it therefore be the car of a cycling team? Surely that would give it a little more charm. Who knows. Now, when it comes to taking tall sports cars to a state that is as flashy as it is questionable, there was a champion at The Quail 2022. None other than a Porsche 356 recently transformed into a snowmobile.
Appropriate in 2013 for long-distance classic races, the first big event for this 356 was the Panamericana. In addition, he has also disputed the Beijing-Paris and various other events throughout the entire planet. So much so that he only had one continent left to travel. The antartida. Place where he went last 2020 to cover a respectable distance. Obviously, thanks to the driving elements with which it was exhibited at The Quail 2022. One of the few events on the world calendar where you can see classics as highly specific as this one. really special.
