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THE CORTILE INVITES SOME FRENCH FLAVORS IN 2021

4/29/2021

BY Bernard Martin

Matthew Ferrari's Pur Sang Bugatti to anchor new French Marque show area at the Cortile.

A few years ago we invited some Maserati powered Citroën to be on display at the Cortile. It was a very nice compliment to the far end of our field and showcased some really wonderful design. After much discussion we've decided to make the invitation more permanent by welcoming all French Cars to a unique show area within the Cortile.

All French manufacturers cars including Alpine, Bugatti, Citroën, Peugeot and Renault are invited, to not only showcase their cars on the Cortile Showfield, but also to join us in lunch and all of the other private festivities at the Cortile.

If you now a French Marque, click the button below to register!

Pur Sang Bugatti to Anchor the Showfield

The centerpiece of this new feature is going to be a Pur Sang Bugatti. Matt Ferrari has been at the Cortile in the past with his 1981 Ferrari 308 GTSi that his dad bought in 1985. He reached out to us this year asking if we would be interested hosting the Pur Sang. We jumped at the chance and that led to more discussion about finding an appropriate spot for it and open the door to inviting all the French Marques.

Ettore Buggati was born in Italy but was unable to produce cars there so he moved to France and soon became famous for his Type 35 cars. Built in Molsheim, Alsace, Ettore Bugatti’s diminutive masterpiece racked up nearly 2000 victories in the late 1920s, making it arguably the most successful racing car of all time. Type 35s won the Targa Florio road race in Sicily five times in a row, and the Monaco Grand Prix twice. Excepting the success of Bentleys at Le Mans in the same period, Bugattis dominated racing until arrival of the Vittoria Jano-engineered Alfa Romeos.

Like Ettore’s original, it still has a handmade single overhead cam, 2.3-liter, supercharged straight-eight with an updraft carburetor feeding a bi-block engine configuration with the head cast into the block. It has alloy wheels that included the brake drums as part of the wheel, a hollow front axle to reduce unsprung weight and the lower part of the engine was a stressed member of the chassis. And, just like the original, all the body panels are hand-rolled on an English wheel, and every square-headed bolt is made by hand just as they were in the 1920s.

Today, Pur Sang, based in Argentina, builds their cars to the precise specifications that Ettore Bugatti himself detailed 90 years ago in France.

The Car that inspired the french show: Citroën SM

Dan Heit's Citroën SM that inspired the idea to have French Marqes in the Cortile.

Several years ago I invited Dan Heit with bring his Citroën SM to the Cortile to show off the amazing suspension and Maserati motor. Why did Citroën have Maserati Power? Citroën purchased Maserati in 1968 with the intention of harnessing Maserati's high-performance engine technology to produce a true Gran Turismo car, combining the sophisticated Citroën suspension with a Maserati V6. The result was the Citroën SM, first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1970. Dan's car is one of the finest examples of this incredible piece of engineering.

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How to inspect and buy the classic car that's best for your purposes.

4/15/2021

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Please welcome new 2021 Sponsor Amy Burns from State Farm Insurance!
This article is courtesy of State Farm

IN THE MARKET FOR A CLASSIC CAR? HERE'S THE BUYER'S GUIDE YOU NEED!

Buying a classic car might be one of the most exciting auto purchases you'll ever make. So it pays to do to your homework. Antique and vintage cars can be costly to purchase, restore, and maintain. Classic car insurance works differently as well, as the cars generally appreciate rather than depreciate in value.
Whether you're looking for a project car to work on yourself or a fully restored show car, you'll want to make a smart, informed decision.

How to Buy a Classic Car

There are numerous options when buying a classic car. But before getting out the checkbook, it's good to think about what's right for you.

Be careful about the investment. Making money on classic cars can be very difficult. Buying something simply because you think it's a good investment can be risky. The collectible car market is very volatile. Experienced dealers will tell you that a collectible car is only worth as much as someone will pay for it. "Book value" isn't a guarantee. If this car will be for fun, focus in on cars that you would be proud to own and drive for years to come.
Decide how it will be used. Think carefully about what you want to do with the car. Will it be driven daily or just on weekends? Would you like to show it? Will it sit in your garage under a tarp and rarely get used? How you answer these questions will determine what you should buy.
Establish an affordable budget. Carefully figure out what you want to spend and stick to it. Keep in mind that restoration projects can be extremely expensive. If you buy a fixer-upper, you may quickly exceed your budget on parts and labor. A bargain car may end up costing you more than a pricier, but cleaner version.
Do your research. Be sure to check the average retail value to get a baseline price. Read any information you can find. Check auto auctions and price guides to help determine what the fair market value is for your car. Be extra cautious when buying a car on the web.
Check mileage. As with most used cars, the fewer miles on the speedometer, the more the car is probably worth. Don't be afraid to purchase a high-mileage car. Just be sure the high mileage is reflected in the price.

Classic Car Inspection Checklist

Careful inspection is important when buying a classic car. You may want to use an inspection service. Or if you want to do it yourself, here are a few things to consider:

Clear title: Check if the car is registered to the seller, or not registered at all. Fees and penalties can add up if you need to research previous ownership and apply for a new title.
VIN: Make sure the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the title matches the official VIN tag on the car. If they don’t match, it's possible the vehicle may have been in a serious accident, the title is counterfeit or the vehicle was stolen. VIN numbers were first standardized for U.S. automobiles manufactured in 1981. The length and character types used for the VIN on older vehicles will vary depending on the manufacturer.
Interior: Original is best. Check if the seats, upholstery, badges, radio, dashboard, and emblems are damaged, or not factory original. Finding and replacing these things can really add up.
Exterior: Try to examine the car in natural daylight. Look for the condition of the paint, obvious dents, and panels that are misaligned or mismatched. Further inspection may reveal signs of major welding which could point to significant structural repairs.
Rust damage: A little can be expected but, if complete sections of floorboards or body panels are rusted or show signs of repair or replacement, be cautious. If a professional did not do the repairs correctly, there's a good chance the rust could return.
Test drive: If the car is running and safe and legal to drive, take it out for a spin. It's a good opportunity to check for any serious problems. Listen for anything out of the ordinary, such as noises, squeaks, and clunks. If it feels loose going around corners or over bumps, there may be costly suspension problems.

Insurance for Classic Cars

Some employees at the State Farm® Vehicle Research Facility love classic cars, too. So much so that they built a half-and-half 'Jekyll and Hyde' 1968 Chevrolet Camaro RS convertible to demonstrate the importance of assigning proper values to collector cars. The driver's side is restored to factory-stock specs while the passenger side is customized with lots of flashy aftermarket parts and custom bodywork.

Whatever vehicle you decide is right for you, you'll want help protecting it. Be sure to check eligibility for classic car insurance. Be sure to check eligibility for classic car insurance. Then, review our Antique/Classic Program to learn more about the types of coverage available.

Learn more