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SUMMER 2012 V OL 1, ISSU E 02

Revs I nstitute fo r Automoti ve R esearch REView

Introducing Reilly P. Brennan

The Revs Program at Stanford works closely with the Revs Institute in Naples. The Revs Program at Stanford is well on its way to becoming a foremost center of interdisciplinary study of the automobile. A major step forward took place earlier this year with the hiring of REVS Institute for Reilly P. Brennan as the new Executive Director. Prior to joining Stanford Automotive Research University, Reilly was the Editorial Director Elevating the study of the automobile, not only as a at AOL’s automotive sites and properties. technological device, but as an agent for social and economic He has over a decade of experience in change, and worthy to be considered among the masterpieces media and communications associated with the world of cars. Reilly was notably part of of mankind’s creation. The Revs Review is a publication of the the team that brought victory to Corvette Revs Institute for Automotive Research, to keep you updated, at Le Mans. He has also written extensively informed and Revved Up! for several magazines and was the co- founder of an online automotive database. he Revs Institute for Automotive Research, Reilly is an enthusiastic “car guy” who Inc. is a not for profit 501(c)3 private operating has logged many hours in test vehicles foundation. It is a growing leader as an and brings both expertise and passion to developing the Revs Program. Among information destination and image resource for his first initiatives at Stanford will be to Tan international community of transportation establish a scholarship aimed at helping and automotive professionals, enthusiasts and authors with worthy publishing projects in students. We draw upon more than 300,000 the automotive field. original images, 400,000 primary documents, 20,000 books and 80,000 issues of periodicals. For information visit: We continue to add historical research material www.stanford.edu/group/revs to our collection. In this issue of the Revs Review we highlight recent acquisitions. This issue also includes a progress report on our research into one of the Collier Collection’s famed racecars, the 1948 166 Spyder Corsa. The report reveals how the information and images in the Revs Library are used for determining provenance and authenticity in a collectible automobile. Revs I nstitute fo r Automoti ve R esearch The places WEGO! he Revs Institute attended two scholarly conferences this spring: the Ninth Biennial Society of Automotive Historians Conference Tin Philadelphia and the Joint Meeting of the National Council on Public History and Organization of American Historians in Milwaukee. SAH, one of the principal organizations for automotive historical study, focused on the Globalization of the Auto Industry, examining the sweep of trends across the auto’s century long history. Judith Endelman of the Back to Le Mans for the Benson Ford Research Center First Time in 62 Years! revisited Ford’s early ventures This famous 1950 Cadillac Series 61, dubbed ‘Le Monstre’ with in China. Keynote speaker and economics professor Mira its custom alloy envelope body heavily influenced by aircraft Wilkins reviewed various phases of foreign investment in the technology, won “Best in Show” at this year’s ‘ U.S., and a rich selection of international presenters gave Heritage Club Concours’ at the Le Mans Classic July 6-8th. different perspectives on the subject. Three of the most well-received and thought-provoking papers showed how color and styling influence a driver’s taste in world markets. Edwin Benson spoke about the Our Managing Librarian, Mark Patrick, attended the joint specific advertising strategies that have been used over time annual meeting of the National Council on Public History and the to shape Cadillac into the icon of luxury that it has become. Organization of American Historians. The theme of this year’s Regina Blaszcyk has written The“ Color Revolution” sessions, attended (MIT Press, 2012) which studies the 150 year history by 2100 world-wide of the relationship of color to fashion, design and members, was Frontiers consumer culture. She spoke to the SAH about two of Capitalism and chapters in her book devoted to automobiles and Democracy. Social noted how color choices have been driven in part media and digital history by styling choices, outside influences and chemical projects were spotlighted composition characteristics. Retired GM designer and three sessions were William Porter gave a pleasantly illustrated talk about particularly compelling “biomorphs”, on how design trends have emulated and relevant to the various animals and even fictional creatures. work we do at The Revs The conference was co-hosted by the Simeone Institute: Work Station Foundation Automotive Museum and Dr. Fred Ti m Kling to Web Site: Introduction Simeone provided a tour of the museum’s fine collection Mark Patrick, Managing Librarian to Large Scale Digitization of vintage and historic sports- machines. Attendees Workshop; Museums and Makers: Intersections of Public History, and also visited the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Technology Buffs from Steam Trains to Steampunk. It is the popular Delaware, which is devoted to interpreting American “Lightning Sessions”, where curators and authors are allowed only enterprise and technology as it relates to culture and politics. 3 minutes to describe their projects, which captured the intensive The Revs Institute maintains a research binder with copies synergy among presenters and attendees. Speakers are quite adept of many of the papers from the SAH conference as well as at presenting their project in a short time span and it’s a great session notes and materials related to the presentations. for those wanting to pick up new ideas quickly! For more information visit: www.autohistory.org For more information visit: www.ncph.org and www.oah.org. Ferrari 166 The first SPYDER CORSA Ferrari to win a European endurance race and the first Ferrari to both race and win in America.

Michael Lynch explores this RACING CAR’s victorious and tragic past

n Christmas Eve 1949, two familiar racing This means that the car qualifies for both associates met in Modena Italy– legends racing and Formula 2 races. It Enzo Ferrari and . Ferrari’s came equipped for the road with lights accomplishments are well known but and fenders and could thus be raced as a Chinetti’s may be less so. While Ferrari was sports car, or they could be easily removed Oworking on racing projects at , so that it became a Formula 2 entry. Vermont, July 1950: races his Chinetti became a sports hero in by In Belgium, Chinetti entered 016-I at Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa up the Mount Equinox Hill Climb– 2nd Overall. thrice winning the Le Mans 24 Hours race. the in June. With their When war broke out in Europe, Chinetti Ferrari leading the pack after four hours, an oil line broke. Still, the point was duly noted found himself stranded in America along a blown head gasket forced the Ferrari to and 016-I was considered in an elite class of with other European racing luminaries such withdraw. In September, Chinetti drove brisk cars in the U. S. as the French driver, Rene Dreyfus. Chinetti solo at the Montlhery 12 Hours, outside After Bridgehampton, Cunningham’s established relationships within the New Paris. Chinetti made one unplanned stop mechanic, Alfred Momo, rebuilt the car York import car community and worked because he got his fingernail caught in the before its next appearance at Watkins Glen for Alfred Momo, a multi-talented savant horn switch. Yet, such was his pace that he in September, 1949. Cunningham found it so in the specialty car arena, at the J. P. Inskip still won handily. It was the first of many comfortable that he decided to race it himself Rolls-Royce Agency. After the war, Chinetti Ferrari endurance racing victories. instead of Rand. He held second position until returned to Europe, which is how he and Coincidently, was the end of the preliminary race, beaten only by Ferrari got back together on that Christmas enjoying a revival in the U. S., mostly George Weaver’s . Eve. With America riding high, Chinetti told organized on public road circuits in and In the Main event, Briggs started out poorly Ferrari he could sell the exotic specialty race around small East Coast towns. Since but fought back until a shock absorber broke, cars to a fraternity of wealthy amateur road American sportsman Briggs Cunningham’s requiring a pit stop for repairs. Cunningham racers in the States. So Chinetti became new Jaguar XK120 would not be delivered was able to make up the time and was leading Ferrari’s first importer in the U.S. in time for the Bridgehampton Road with three laps to go over George Roberts in Chinetti also found clients in Europe, Race in 1949, he bought Lord Selsdon’s another Cunningham owned car, the BuMerc, including the Englishman, Lord Selsdon, Ferrari from Chinetti for $5,750 to and C. Miles Collier, racing a Riley with a Ford who was born Peter Mitchell-Thomson. enter it. Instead the car arrived at the V-8, nicknamed “The Ardent Alligator”. On Chinetti sold Lord Selsdon the Ferrari 166 dock only four days before the race. At the last lap, Collier passed both Roberts and Spyder Corsa, chassis 016-I, now in the Bridgehampton, Cunningham’s driver, Cunningham to take the checkered flag. Next Collier Collection. The “I” suffix in the George Rand, set the fastest practice lap season, Cunningham won both the preliminary serial number signifies an “Inter” model. with the Ferrari and he led the race until and the main event at the May 1950 Suffolk MEDIA REVIEW The world of automotive media grows each day. We endeavor to review significant new publications that can be found both in traditional formats and also look at what’s available in the virtual world of automobiles. Book Review: Mit Autos und Glocken Durchs 20. Jahrhundert by Martin Pfundner, Böhlau Verlag, Vienna, Austria, 2011. Order from, www.boehlau-verlag.com €29.90 plus p&p [text in German]

The importance of Austria in automotive history should not be overlooked. It is not only the home of two world driving champions, but was also the birthplace of Ferdinand as well as other automotive pioneers. Martin Pfundner may not WEBSITE Review: be a household name outside of the German speaking lands www.RacingSportsCars.com but he bore witness and played a part in much of the country’s automotive history. Martin is equal parts , Henry Manney, and Bernard Cahier. Now enjoying his RacingSportsCars is the foremost website for detailed eighth decade, “Mit Autos” is his autobiography and is the latest data about current and past sports car racing information. It in a series of extensive works by this very prolific author. was developed by Martin Krejci of Ostrava, Czech Republic, At first glance the translation of the title may seem odd, and has had hundreds of people contributing information “With Cars and Bells Through the 20th Century.” The ‘bells’ and photos over the years. It is organized by racing series refers to the fact that Martin was the last of a long line of and then chronologically. Wherever possible, information is Pfundners recognized for the design and casting of the included about each car’s technical details and race results, cathedral bells that chime throughout Vienna. He was expected and there are many photos linked to the data as well. There to follow suit in the family business and indeed studied is also a comprehensive cross-referencing system available chemistry both at home and at Cambridge. However, his father so that one can look up the archived results of individual cars was also a privateer participant and would take Martin or drivers. RacingSportsCars is very much a work in progress as co-driver, forever corrupting the young man toward the with contributions continually helping to fill in the gaps in the automotive world. In the booming 1950’s, Martin developed historical record. Revs Institute consultant János Wimpffen a three-pronged career, equally adept at journalism, race has been one of Martin’s key collaborators over the years but organization, and corporate management and communications. RacingSportsCars is very He was a key player in developing the Swiss publication much Martin’s own labor of “Automobil Revue” into one of the foremost German language love. It is a widely regarded publications. As head of the ÖAMTC, the Austrian Automobile and highly authoritative site & Touring Club, he helped bring a Grand Prix to Austria. Along that was recently written the way he became friends with many of the drivers of the up in “Hemmings”. It is an era, especially . Pfundner later became general astonishing accomplishment manager of GM’s operations in Austria and Switzerland. given that Martin has a day “Mit Autos” is a witty and whimsical saunter through an job in the IT field and is also intriguing place and time in automotive and busy with two young children. history. Mr. Pfundner offers up a variety of opinions as well about the tumultuous politics underlying the sport’s shift to becoming a major business, but he does so without ever losing that unique Austrian quality of gemütlichkeit. Fear not, for those less familiar with the language—the book is well- illustrated with original photos.

Airport races on Long Island. This marked Road Racing. Cunningham was so devastated 12 hours of the Vero Beach Airport races in the first race a Ferrari won in the U.S. by Sam’s loss, that he initially told his crew he 1952 finishing fifth—a remarkable feat of skill Sam Collier, Miles’ brother, drove the didn’t want to see the car again. and driving endurance. He twice entered Ferrari at Bridgehampton in June, winning The next year the Ferrari was rebuilt and the Bridgehampton Road Races and finally, a preliminary round. Tragically, Sam Collier entered in the 1951 Buenos Aires Grand in 1953, he raced it at the Thompson was back in the Ferrari for the Watkins Glen Prix, where George Rand finished second. Raceway to a fifth place finish. Grand Prix in September. After starting near Then, back in the U.S. in June, Cunningham Cunningham retired this great Italian the rear of the grid, Collier was in third after drove the car in the 1951 Bridgehampton racing machine but it remains a champion. the first lap. Going up the hill leading out of Road Race, finishing fifth. The car returned Its laurels: the first Ferrari to win a European the town he took the lead. Once into the to the Watkins Glen Grand Prix that endurance race and the first Ferrari to countryside, he ran over some stones on the September and finished tenth, with Jim both race and win in America. Briggs course, spun and went off the road. Collier Kimberly as the pilot. Cunningham owned the car and displayed it was fatally injured in the ensuing crash. It was Cunningham entered the 016-I in only four in his museum until he sold his extraordinary the end of innocence for amateurs in U.S. more races the next two years. He drove all collection to Miles C. Collier in 1986. NEto RevsW Institute The Karl Ludvigsen Collection The Rodolfo Mailander Collection The acquisition of the acclaimed Ludvigsen Library Rodolfo Mailander was active during a relatively short span into the Revs Institute has nearly doubled the size of our of time from 1950 through 1955. However, his motorsports collection. There is now an ongoing program to catalog photography is widely considered to be the best from that and eventually digitize all of its disparate elements. In a era. Working with 35mm, as well as medium format Leica and nutshell, the Ludvigsen Library is composed of dozens large format Rollei cameras, his imagery evokes not only the of self-contained photographic archives and in the cars and people but also stunning views of the ambience and coming months the Revs Review will introduce many of scenery. Mailander shot at all of the major Continental events, these. It also includes a large number of monographs particularly in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. In addition, he and periodicals that strengthen the overall Revs Institute covered the significant hillclimbs and rallies which traversed portfolio. In particular, there are many German-language the Alps. These are contests that really have no parallel titles now at Revs that were not available prior to the in modern racing. His collection also includes an excellent arrival of the Ludvigsen Library. Karl Ludvigsen’s long, set of photos chronicling the various European auto shows storied and continuing career included automotive and includes shots of the concept cars on display as well as journalism, photography and work as a corporate photographs of the surrounding social scene. Mailander’s work executive. He approached it all with the eye of an engineer was carried in the major magazines during the period and was and a designer as he had professional training in both the subject of several books. The Revs Institute is now pleased fields. Among the unique elements of the Ludvigsen to be the steward of this valuable body of work. Collection are Karl’s own notes, which he took while he was writing his many articles and books. These notes include his interviews with industry and motor sports personalities and his first hand impressions of events.

Karl Ludvigsen

Karl Ludvigsen’s personal notes yield Even though Mailander eventually spent much of wonderful nuggets about automotive his career with Daimler-Benz, he loved . His developments and key people. Shown photographs include this one from 1952 of Franco here are observations Karl jotted Cornacchia rounding a curve in the Dolomites about desmodromic valves used (above) and Alberto Ascari’s Ferrari 250S leading the on the 300SLR. Also, there is his Mercedes 300SL of Karl Kling at Le Mans, also 1952. transcription of an interview with Mercedes factory driver, Karl Kling. Introducing the REVS Institute Your favorite car requires many unseen parts to function well in order to keep AUTO TRIVIA! it on the road and it’s the same here at the Revs Institute. We offer no prizes, but we do grant There are many key players you bragging rights if you get them all behind the scenes who keep correct. The questions are somehow our operations revved up. In related to subjects noted in Revs Re- this issue we meet the Revs view. P.S., no fair consulting Google, Institute’s assistant photo other internet sites or books—use and documentary archivist, your automotive brain!

JAYME MOORE JAYME Paul Kierstein. olorado native Paul Kierstein’s interest in automobiles bloomed when he worked Florida has never exactly been a hotbed of at his older brother’s service station. He found the occasional visit by the region’s automotive manufacturing. It was barely populated during the industry’s halcyon days handful of English cars to be particularly interesting. A stint in the military and then 1and it has missed out on the recent boom in a career in the insurance industry interrupted his automotive interests. He was establishing plants in the southeastern states. posted in North Dakota and during a particularly brutal sub-zero winter during the However, Florida is home to at least one quite C1990s, Paul came for a visit to Southwest Florida and never bothered to return. successful specialty automotive constructor. Acquisition of a Mustang encouraged him to become active in the local car club Name it. Hint; it was founded in 1985. scene, and as with many such societies, they were frequent visitors to the Collier Museum. Paul applied to become a volunteer at the museum and after a graduate That great California educational institution level docent training program was invited to join the organization. Gradually, Paul was founded by one of the giants of the rail- created the niche that he now happily occupies. His principal task is to document road era in the west, Leland Stanford. What every aspect of each of the collection’s many cars. This includes researching 2future automotive giant began his career as their ownership histories, noting their usage over the years and collecting the a humble mechanic’s apprentice on a western photographs associated with the car. railroad?

On the Research Process Paul’s tenacity for seeing a project through is Porsche has been the most dominant marque well-respected at the Revs Institute. “A personal highlight for me in this job is to see in sports car racing history. They have won a car’s history documented thoroughly from start to finish.” The fruits of his labors the Sebring 12 Hours 18 times, including an can be seen in the meticulously crafted research binders associated with each car. 3unbroken streak from 1976 through 1988. Kierstein particularly relishes looking for material in unexpected places. “I spend Their dominance was so complete during a lot of time corresponding with local and regional historical societies. It is always the 1970’s that 60 of the 90 top ten finishers a pleasant surprise to uncover details about a car or its owner that way. Whether (there was no race in 1974) were . newspaper articles, or family letters, those sources add a kind of narrative to a However, American iron did slip into the car’s history that you wouldn’t otherwise find.” One of Paul’s proud, top ten now and then. Name four American car models that also finished in the top ten though not yet completed, inquiries involves tracing the history at Sebring between 1970 and 1979. Hint, by of the collection’s 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix. “models” we refer to quite different identities within the same manufacturer.

Please submit your answers to [email protected]. Answers to be 2500 South Horseshoe Drive published in the next Revs Review. Naples, Florida 34104 • 239-643-5783 www.revsinstitute.org

We want to hear from you! Answers, questions, comments or ideas? Contact us at: [email protected]

Miles C. Collier, Chairman & President | ScotT George, Vice President Mark Patrick, Managing Librarian | Bill Blume, Shop Foreman Jayme Moore, Executive Assistant | János Wimpffen, Editorial Consultant Maria Writesel, Consultant | Tim Kling, Art Director