Brought by restorer extraordinaire Bruce Amster to Redline Restoration, this visual echo of mid 20^th century sports car design called to mind other striking Pininfarina creations. However, despite common design cues, no other car looked exactly like this one and for good reason, none existed.

In 1948 Italy, with the war in the past and the future in question, Pininfarina in collaboration with Lancia had created a strikingly forward thinking sports car design called the Lancia Aprilia Spider 2 Posti Pininfarina Special. Completed, it would honor a renowned Italian cyclist Gino Bartali whose war-time heroism and post-war patriotism made him a most deserving owner.

Who was Gino Bartali?

Pininfarina’s One of One Tribute to an Unsung WWII Hero

Lancia Aprilia Spider 2 Posti Pininfarina Special and Gino Bartali

Squirreled away in a decrepit garage deep in one of Detroit’s lesser neighborhoods it would seem to be the last place to find a mid 20^th century Pininfarina designed one-of-one Italian sports car. This once sleek pewter metallic Postwar Italian stunner had traveled a long distance over many years to find itself ingloriously stashed in a forgotten corner of a tired inner cityscape. Then, after its decades long journey into oblivion it had been unearthed by seasoned classic car collector Bruce Amster. Now, like the Phoenix, it would one day rise to the heady heights of the awards ramp at Pebble Beach. However, an even more interesting story would be that of the man for whom Pininfarina had created this classic car, famed Italian cyclist and WWII hero Gino Bartali.

For the Italian nation in the 1930s cycling reached its peak of popularity. It served as Italy’s most popular spectator sport until the 1950s. It was a mass cultural phenomenon that unified the country, shaped the national identity of its citizens, and up to WWII became a central tool for fascist propaganda under Benito Mussolini. Cycling stood above all other sports as did baseball in America. For Italians cyclist Gino Bartali towered as their Babe Ruth maybe with a little Charles Lindbergh mixed in.

A devout Roman Catholic and ardent anti-fascist, Bartali, born into poverty achieved legendary status with his cycling exploits. Described as tough, feisty, outgoing with a gravelly voice, broken nose and reputation as an aggressive cyclist, Bartali though only 5 ft 7 inches tall carried the nickname […]

My 2008 BMW X3 “Refresh or Replace” “Drivin’ News” post garnered significant feedback sympathetic to and supportive of my decision to refresh. An appreciable number of people shared that they too had lately mulled the same question. Some had already made the commitment to refresh. Maybe not surprisingly, I found those seriously considering undertaking this fairly costly preservation effort bore many similarities and shared concerns. For me, reader comments drew attention to an evolution in the character of car enthusiasm that I found quite telling.

Let’s see if you agree.

My 2008 BMW X3 Refresh, Going all in on another 50,000 miles

Valentines Day present. Just got my X3 Refresh back

Defining a Refresh demands focusing on functional excellence as compared to aesthetic perfection when applied to a long time daily driver. It is not a restoration. When successfully executed it does not target attracting huzzahs from admiring Concours judges. It does reward an owner’s investment in a long held daily driver by providing additional years delivering the driving experience that earned the owner’s loyalty in the first place. My experience has identified three requisites necessary for a vehicle to merit consideration for a Refresh: Good bones, an owner with a comprehensive knowledge of the car and a marque astute shop to entrust with the work.

The quality of the car being considered for a Refresh ranks first and foremost. Good bones, proper treatment, regular maintenance and a proven track record over its driving history all determine if a vehicle merits the investment. Good bones displayed in a car bear similarities to the desirable qualities bred in a horse. Over time, the quality of materials, construction integrity and design of a specific make and model imparts a reputation; sometimes good, sometimes not so good.

Step one demands knowing if the car deserves the love and money a Refresh will demand of its owner. Other than the general attributes that history has shown the car to possess, the specific vehicle’s track record means everything. Thus, long time ownership by the present owner ranks very high. Only he or she will know how the car has been treated; how it has been maintained and all or at least a considerable portion of its driving history. In my opinion, a serious accident in a car’s past disqualifies it for […]