Motoring Con Brio

Cinematic cars: Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider in "The Day of the Jackal" (1973)

•September 12, 2010 • 2 Comments

Now here’s another Alfa Romeo Spider to make an appearance on the big screen, though perhaps not as inextricably as the famous Duetto piloted by Dustin Hoffman’s character in “The Graduate” was to that movie. The Jackal, a professional assassin, rents a Giulietta Spider to cross into France from Italy in a plot to assassinate CdG in 1973’s “The Day of the Jackal.”

In one amusing scene, the Jackal gives the white Alfa the rattle can treatment to thwart French authorities (who have gotten wind of his vehicle’s description), turning the car a credible shade of royal blue. Only in the movies.

Posted in Film, Moving images
Tags: 1973, alfa romeo, day of the jackal, giulietta, jackal, spider

Guest contributor: Andrea Cairone of Axis of Oversteer

•September 10, 2010 • 1 Comment

Profile of a consummate track rat

Andrea Cairone is editor of the popular motorsports blog Axis of Oversteer and a seasoned track day veteran. We have always held Axis in higher esteem than like-minded blogs because they are not armchair enthusiasts, but active practitioners of the craft of high performance driving. We recently had a chance to talk with AC about some of his experiences on and off the track.

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Posted in Guest contributor, Still images
Tags: axis of oversteer, bmw, e36/8, hpde, m coupe, track, z3 m, z3m

Watching the GTV6 and Alfa 75 dance

•September 9, 2010 • Comments Off

Making it a day of these cars, apparently. A commenter passed these on in guest contributor Bradley’s GTV6 feature— fantastic stuff. We could have done with less cheesy ’80s music and more ‘pure engine sounds’, but still enjoyable to watch these two cars dance.

Another good one, featuring a pair of beautiful yellow GTV6 race cars:

Posted in Moving images
Tags: 75, alfa romeo, alfetta, gtv-6, gtv6, milano

Mean-as-hell GTV6

•September 9, 2010 • 4 Comments

We just continue to be bowled over by these cars. Here’s yet another primo-looking example (from what we can see, anyway).

If you like this, then you will also likely enjoy this and this.

Posted in Still images
Tags: alfa romeo, alfetta, gtv-6, gtv6

Hooning the big, bad 6.3 in a dirt field? Oh hell yes.

•September 8, 2010 • 2 Comments

Take this:

Then do this:

The result? Instant win. We wholeheartedly approve.

More 6.3 hoonage (with video) here.

Images: garaget.org

Posted in Hoon, Still images
Tags: 300 sel, 300sel, 6.3, mercedes-benz, w109

This is one seriously beautiful car

•September 8, 2010 • 3 Comments

The voluptuous Jaguar XK120 Fixed-Head Coupé SE, as photographed by Pieter Ameye. The “Special Equipment” includes wire wheels, increased power, stiffer suspension and dual exhaust system.

Posted in Still images
Tags: fhc, fixed-head coupé, jaguar, se, special equipment, xk 120, XK120

The Lotus Carlton

•September 7, 2010 • 1 Comment

“An outrageous invitation to speed”

– Association of Chief Police Officers, describing the Lotus Carlton

A fascinating saloon, as mentioned on these pages previously (fifth from bottom). Not exactly lovely, certainly not subtle— more like a brutish-looking thing. We would have loved to see it pitted against the best from BMW and Alfa Romeo from the same period, but we’ll just have to settle for Tiff getting it nice and sideways, tires smoking.

(h/t: drivr.be)

Posted in Moving images
Tags: carlton, lotus, old top gear, omega, opel, tiff needell, top gear, vauxhall

What we'd rather be doing

•September 7, 2010 • Comments Off

Focus RS. Savoie, Rhône-Alpes, France. Seems fitting for a day after a bank holiday (like the one we just had here in the States).

Image by Roberto Vandelli

Posted in Still images
Tags: alps, focus, focus rs, ford, france, french alps, rhône-alpes, rs, savoie

Assorted grab bag of stuff we like

•September 6, 2010 • 1 Comment

Have a good one.

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Posted in Grab bag, Still images
Tags: alfa romeo, ariel, aston martin, audi, auto union, bentley, bmw, caterham, datsun, ferrari, ford, lamborghini, lotus, mazda, nissan, porsche, renault, volkswagen, vw

What we're listening to now

•September 5, 2010 • 1 Comment

Haven’t done one of these in awhile. Turn up and enjoy, especially if you like post-punk.

[Psychocandy] is considered to be a landmark recording, frequently appearing in “best-ever” album lists, such as Q magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever, where it placed at number 88 in 2000. In 2006, Q magazine placed the album at #23 in its list of “40 Best Albums of the ’80s”. In 2003, the album was ranked number 268 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 greatest albums of all time”. Allmusic described the album as one that “created a movement without meaning to” (source).

Posted in Moving images, Music to drive by
Tags: 1985, jesus and mary chain, jmc, just like honey, psychocandy