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Posts tagged “Grapevine Texas

2012/276: Italian Car Fest (6)

1952 Triumph Limousine
Don’t think this was actually part of the Italian Car Fest, as it was parked outside, in the “Italian Car Parking”. Didn’t stop me from taking pictures, though 😉

For anyone who’d like you know what’s written on the sign in the first photo, here are the car facts:
Engine: 4cyl 2088cc
Transmission: 3 speed
Wheel base: 111 inches
Horsepower: 68 BHP
Top speed: 77.5 mph
Max torque: 1300 in-lbs.
0 to 60 in 25 seconds
Cost: £1440 ($4032)
190 cars manufactured, 17th car built
Build date: 20 January 1952, Registered in Coventry
Restored in 2006, Imported in 2012


2012/275: Italian Car Fest (5)

The Italian Connection:  1964 Triumph TR4  (design by Michelotti)


2012/273: Italian Car Fest (4)

1959 Taraschi Formula Junior

The owner asked Sara if she wanted to sit in the car, but she said no…couldn’t even bribe her with ice-cream!!
Was a shame that it was up on the trailer…certainly would have made for a better picture if it wasn’t.

Mother/daughter self portraits 😉


2012/272: Italian Car Fest (3)

Today’s feature: Maserati

This one was still dealer owned, with the sticker in the window.
Miles per gallon : city 13, highway 21 (comes with a Gas Guzzler Tax of $1,700!!)
Aerodynamic (and really cool looking…as you can see below) carbon fiber pack: $2,750
Total suggested retail price: $150,265!! Yeah….I think I’d rather buy a house for that price!

I think I prefer the red 😉


2012/268: Italian Car Fest (2)

Today: Alfa Romeo

My favorite this year:


2012/267: Italian Car Fest (1)

Last year, the Italian Car Fest in Grapevine, Texas was so much fun, that I decided to drag everyone there again this year, when it was held on September 8th 😉
Thankfully the weather was a bit cooler than last year, and unlike last year, I wasn’t the only one of the family who brought the camera. Both girls brought theirs!
I waited until a couple of days before, to tell the girls that we were going, thinking that after watching several seasons of Top Gear on Netflix (and LIKING it!!), they’d appreciate it more than they did last year. Sara wasn’t too thrilled about going, but remembered the gelato (that they were supposed to have, but didn’t have last year) and asked “can we get gelato??” Um, we’ll see! (No gelato this year either!)
When I asked Melissa if she was excited about going, she answered with a very non-excited “sure…probably gonna bring my camera, too”.
It was actually a nice day, without any whining from the kids!!

Don’t expect to see too many “whole car” shots…with all these rude people there, who couldn’t be bothered to wait three seconds for me to get my shot, I had to get a little creative 😉

Today’s installment: Ferraris!


2011/267: Italian Car Fest, Part 5 – Best In Show

1966 Ferrari Dino 206sp
Wouldn’t mind taking that one for a spin 😉 While I was there, I overheard someone say that this is a $2 million car!


2011/265: Italian Car Fest, Part 4 – Fiat 500

Does this not have CUTE written all over it??!!! This was my favorite car at this car show ♥

1961 Fiat 500
Introduced in 1957 as a successor to the Fiat 500 Topolino that had been in production for twenty years, the Fiat 500 Nuova provided basic inexpensive transportation for the Italian masses and also many more parts of the world. Over 3.5 million were produced by 1975, when this body style was discontinued. These rugged, dependable little cars are held in high regard on their homeland of Italy, and are seen frequently on the streets.

Displacement: 500 cc (30 cu.in.)
Wheelbase: 71 in.
Transmission: 4 speed non-sync.
Top speed: approx. 60 mph
Horsepower: approx. 17 h.p.
Weight: 992 lbs
Wheels: 12″
Fuel consumption: 50-60 mpg


2011/264: Italian Car Fest, Part 3 – Mini Cooper

Original 1974 Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300 Export
Finished in Blue Scuro and Bianco with period Mille Miglia wheels
2nd owner of car – imported from Switzerland in 2001

The well known iconic British Mini was manufactured from 1959 through 2001. During the years of manufacture, the Mini was built and marketed under different names, including Austin, Morris, British Leyland, and Rover. During a ten year span from 1965 and 1975, the Italian company Innocenti was given rights to the Mini name and designed and manufactured the Mini under the Innocenti name.
The total number of Inno Minis produced is uncertain, but it is estimated that 30,000 of the 1300 models were made. The main production plant was in Milan, and the 1300 Cooper, made from 1973-75, was more stylish and better equipped than previous models. It used a MKIV body shell, with a 1275 cc engine, front wheel drive, and a 4-speed rod change transmission which gave it 71 hp from the factory with top speed around 105 mph. It also had an upgraded interior with reclining seats, and opening quarter light windows. The 1300 model also has the multi gauge dash, as compared to previous and British models with center placed 3 gauge dash pods. All Innocenti Minis were built left hand drive for European markets, with a square number plate recess to fit Italian and most European plates, instead of the long rectangular British type.


2011/260: Italian Car Fest, Part 2

Ready for more pictures from the Italian Car Fest 2011 in Grapevine, Texas? (Thought so 😉 )

1971 Alfa Romeo Montreal

1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider Veloce

More to come…


2011/259: Italian Car Fest, Part 1

I happened to watch the news at Noon one day and heard about the Italian Car Fest in Grapevine TX on September 10, 2011. It didn’t take much to talk Greg into it, and we didn’t have any other plans yet, so why not, right? We didn’t tell the girls that we were going to a car show, because we didn’t want to listen to the whining all the way there, so I just told them we were going to an “Italian Fest”. They did have some food there (Italian Sausages and meatballs, and they were supposed to have gelato, too, but I think it was just too hot out, because we didn’t see any sign of it).
It would have been nice to have Cameron with us. Not Nick, because every non-American made car is a foreign pos to him. And my dad! He would have loved it! One of my favorite memories of my dad is going to the “100 Years Automobile” Show in Stuttgart, Germany, back in 1986. Just him and me. Must have gotten the car bug (along with the photography bug) from him 😉 He used to work for Daimler Benz in Untertürkheim as an engineer (he designed the rear axle) from 1970 until he passed away in 1992.
Anyway…. the pictures…..

2010 Ferrari 458 Italia

1996 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster

Don’t you wish you could drive one of these home?
(Can you believe I was a little more organized this time and actually know what cars they are?!)