Automotoretro 2003

[Ewenx19]

My X1/9 friends and I made another trip to Lingotto a couple of weeks ago to view the many exotic and colourful exhibits at the Automotretro Classic Car Show. With our close link to Bertone we were very happy to see the Strato's Zero sitting in the middle of the Lancia stand, very shiny in its new coat of bronze/rust paint. I first saw this car in 94 during the Bertone X1/9 Day and have over the years been able to photograph and sit in it on numerous occasions. The car is even more beautiful now than it has ever been. Long live Bertone! Ewen - X1/9 Owners Club - Scotland

[Ewenx19]

I will be posting a write up of my trip on my own website which is a Scottish regional site of the X1/9 Owners Club. You can see last years trip write up under the International Events link. I hope to include many more of my photographs this year to my site so keep an eye on future updates.

www.icsunonove-scotland.co.uk

All the best and good luck with the coming season. If you're in Scotland get in touch and I'll get some X1/9s together for a wee drive. That would be something else, Ewen

[Matt No VAT]

Now thats what I call a good looking motor!!

Thanks Ewen,

[Ewenx19]

The Strato's Zero is so photogenic. Throughout the day I kept on returning to the car taking some very intersting photographs. It was unfortunate the lady helping to run the Lancia stand was not very forth coming with information or indeed, a smile. I think I pissed them off slightly because of my loitering. I cannot apologise though, these cars have become part of my life and everything I do revolves around this passion for Italian cars. Anyway, loads more photographs so I'll try and post some more including the rally car versions. Ewen

[Ewenx19]

Here's the rally version in Alitalia colours. Does anyone recognise the car? This was one of maybe 5 or 6 Strato's rally cars at the Automotoretro show. Absolutely stunning!

[Ewenx19]

Maybe RED is your colour!

[Ewenx19]

Sorry folks, I have to return to the ZERO for one moment. I think I left my heart behind in Torino. I've never seen anything quite as beautiful as this car. A photographers dream to photograph especially when the light was changing throughout the day. Superb!

[Ewenx19]

If red, white, green or bronze doesn't get you going, maybe BLACK would. Sorry about the focus, a pain but then if every image came out perfect I'd be doing this as a full time job.

[Ewenx19]

One for the art lovers amongst you all.

[Ewenx19]

And now for something very nice indeed. A calander which was being sold at the show in conjunction with an Italian car magazine and Bertone. Special interest for me as it has some illustrations of X1/9s alongside the other famous Bertone masterpieces such as the Strato's etc. I did acquire 7 of these nice works of art although the chap selling them wasn't too happy with me when asking for ten. The chap that drew the pictures was on the Bertone stand and some lucky peole even got the calanders signed :-)

[Ewenx19]

How do you finish a set of photos such as these. Well, the one thing to do is piss Lancia people off by surrounding their wonderful car with a mob of Italian car enthusiasts. I used a tripod for this and unfortunately the flash which I think made light conditions worse than they look. Anyway, the light can be fixed but I haven't bothered with this one. I'm on the left, the chap 3 from left with the sand coloured coat is the author of a new Fiat X1/9 publication in Italian. The rest are all X1/9 Owners Club committee members and sad Italian car fanatics. The show was at Lingotto, famous for the test track on the roof which I've been lucky enough to drive around twice over the last ten years. The cars were stunning, from the Fiat 500's to the Strato's I love them all. It is though a Bertone thing that makes the Strato's, X1/9 and many of the other classics so appealing. Arguably the greatest design house of them all, at least during the 70's when the most incredible cars were to drive on the tight and twisty roads of Italy. Bertone for ever, ciao, Ewen - Scotland.

[Ewenx19]

Had to leave you with something different. The Runabout, the very first glimpse of what the X1/9 was to be. This was taken in 1994 at the Bertone X1/9 at Stile Bertone Design centre. That's me at the back with the camera. I loved the cars then and love them even more now. Just can't get enough!

If anyone is still in contact with Bob Sharpe, say heloo for me. Thought his car was amazing and couldn't believe he took a big saw to the arches. The finished product was the best I've ever seen though, a gorgeous car which should have returned to Italy. They would've loved it.

If there is anyone out there who has video footage of trips to Italy I'd gladly swap some photos or my own video footage for it. I remember Phil Bishop telling me stories about on trip a few years ago. Would be great to see some of that footage.

Anyway, that's it for now, if you're in Scotland and want a meet with the X1/9 club drop me a line. It would be a blast. Ciao, Ewen.

[Ewenx19]

I apologise once more. I have too many images of the past and leaving out particular ones is difficult. This is the man himself, 1994 was the best Italian trip of them all and never to be repeated. Thanks Nuccio!

[Bernard]

Some great photos Ewan....thanks for posting them...I think the red stratos with gold wheels,the alitalia and pirelli cars are all from the Lancia Collection which I visited in 2000 but they have polished them up since I last saw them

Thanks again
Bernard
PS anymore photos and fancy selling a copy of the calender ?