By D. Brian Smith
Photography: D. Brian Smith
Held on Saturday, August 17, 2024 towards the end of Monterey Car Week, Concorso Italiano celebrates all things Italian, especially pertaining to Italian automobiles and the Italian way of life. For 2024 as with in many other years of the Concorso, non-Italian marques were also invited to attend. There was a smattering of American, British, and German vehicles also on exhibit, as if to provide a contrast to the numerous artful Italian automobiles that comprised a commanding presence at this year's event. Indeed, the Concorso Italiano media team even invited Classic Industries to partake in covering this longstanding Italian-themed super car and vintage iconic Italian marques celebration.
De Tomaso Pantera - Italian Design - American Heart
Above and two below: Here's yet another standout De Tomaso Pantera in a field of superlative De Tomaso's. Normally, the humble scribe would shoot a photo of a sign that provides details of a vehicle on display (sign behind the Pantera). In this case, that was an oversight. However, other modification clues for this Pantera gave yours truly the information needed to pass along the mods to CI's honored readers.
Above: That's not a stock Ford 351 Cleveland V8 mill in this pristine De Tomaso Pantera. The Ford Voodoo engine is a 5.2-liter, naturally aspirated V8 mill used to power sports cars like the modern Ford Mustang Shelby GT350/350R. Featuring a dual overhead cam (DOHC) design, in a V configuration, the Ford Voodoo architecture has been part of the Ford modular engine family since 2015. This engine is hand-built and utilizes a flat plane crankshaft. This reduces the mill’s overall weight while allowing it to rev faster and higher. With this configuration, the engine has a distinguished exhaust note when compared with other American V8 engines.
Ford 5.2 Liter V8 Voodoo Engine Specifications
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Bore | 94 mm |
| Stroke | 93 mm |
| Compression ratio | 12:00:01 |
| Max power @ RPM | 526 hp @ 7,500 |
| Max torque @ RPM | 429 lb-ft @ 4,750 |
| Cylinder head | Cast aluminum |
| Cylinder block | Cast aluminum |
| Camshaft drive | Chain |
Kellison - Looks Italian - All American
Above and three below: There was an all American Kellison coupe on display that appeared as though an Italian designer had created the automobile. The curvaceous fiberglass bodied car appears to be both Italian and American. The engine beneath the sleek machine is likely to be a Chevy 327-cubic inch V8.
Above: The ever so stylish engine-turned stainless steel dashboard inside the Kellison interior, in addition to the diamond tufted tuck and roll interior makes this vehicle look more like an early 1960's European super car than a Kellison fiberglass kit car with Chevy small block V8 power.
As original as this 1960 Corvette convertible is she could take on any of the Italian sports cars from the late 1950s.
Above and below: No, you're not looking at one of the original six Type 65 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes that helped kick Ferrari's ass at endurance road courses the world over in the middle 1960's. Rather, this is a 1965 Type 65 Factory Five Racing Daytona Coupe replica. Most of these Factory Five Daytona Coupes have Ford engines and typically Tremec five- or six-speed manual transmissions. Gearheads can build them with independent rear suspensions like the genuine article or with a solid rear axle with three- or four-bar suspension attachment points.
Above: A slightly modified 1966 Corvette coupe was part of the non-Italian automobile exhibit at the 2024 Concorso. This baby wears moderate fender flares, dish mag wheels, and a 1967 Corvette Stinger big-block fiberglass hood.
Above and two below: A new Corvette C8 convertible that wears a tasty cocoa paint scheme graced the '24 Concorso show field. Of these two modern American super cars, which one would win on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca's track, the Corvette C8 convertible or the Shelby Mustang fastback below?
Above and two below: A righteously renewed Blue De Tomaso Pantera, possibly owned by the gentleman standing behind her in the white shirt, was a crowd favorite. That lapis blue paint job makes the Caribbean Ocean look pale in comparison. As for the engine bay, what can we say? That 351 Ford Cleveland V8 dressed with a lavish, lustrous polished chrome finish appears as if it's the most spectacular pearl in an otherworldly oyster found off the coast of the South of France.
Above: Monterey Touring Vehicles has a fleet of American muscle cars and boulevard brawlers for rent, including these two - a Pontiac Firebird and Cadillac ragtops.
Above and below: The 1980 M1 BMW 3.5-liter straight six, DOHC 24-valve engine will accelerate the 3000-pound BMW to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, to 100 mph in the next 8 seconds, and to 130 in a scant 26.3 seconds. Acceleration continues all the way to the redline in fifth gear, or 161 miles per hour.
Above and below: Many Ferrari aficionados regard the 1963-64 Ferrari 250 Berlinetta GT Lusso as one of the most beautiful Ferraris of all time. This sentiment is shared by the team of designers for the 2nd generation Camaro at Chevrolet, as detailed in the above article link.
Above: The Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course, in Seaside, CA is the perfect venue to host the Concorso Italiano. If your spouse isn't a huge automotive enthusiast, she/he can stroll the fairways with your trusty Labrador retriever or canine companion of your preference, outside of the show itself.
Above: Compare the red Maserati Ghibli fastback coupe several photos below to these two of the black Ghibli Spyder. Are you more a fastback or drop top enthusiast?
Above: Though my wife didn't attend the Concorso Italiano this year, she did agree to pose beside a Ferrari that was parked on a fairway adjacent to the Concorso. Our Labrador daughter Shelby is also in this photo, though just a portion of the top of her head is seen. Shelby's looking up at her human mom, which is adorable (in the humble scribe's humble opinion).
Above: This blue Alfa coupe restomod looked pretty cool.
Above: A 1930s vintage Alfa convertible coupe was immaculate.
Above: An early 1960s Alfa Romeo coupe looked sharp parked in front of one of the Black Horse Golf Course's buildings.
Above: A smattering of vintage Italian super bikes, motorcycles, and motor scooters were also on display.
Above: This looks to be a 1947 Cisitalia 202 Coupe by Pininfarina. Bellisima (translates to beautiful in English)!
Above and two below: We're not sure whether this bare metal De Tomaso Pantera that used to be lime green, based upon the door, hood, and trunk jamb's paint, is going to stay bare metal, or it will be painted. The bare metal looks to be in fine shape. She looks pretty cool in virgin steel. If she were mine, she'd stay in her birthday suit with a clear coat on top to prevent corrosion.
Above: The 351-cubic inch Ford Cleveland V8 engine looks to also be all renewed and ready to rock.
Above: Compare the Maserati Ghibli fastback coupe to the black Ghibli Spyder right next to it. Which do you prefer?
Above and below: The Dino Ferrari was named to honor Enzo Ferrari's son, Alfredino, who designed a dual overhead-camshaft V6 engine for both the road and track. Regrettably, Alfredino succumbed to muscular dystrophy at the age of 24. The Dino Ferrari is powered by a 192-horsepower DOHC 2,419cc 65-degree V6 engine backed by a five-speed manual transmission. The Dino could sprint from 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds and had a top speed of 146 mph, which isn't too bad for the early 1970's.
Above and below: Maserati Meraks, with their flying buttresses in the rear, are neat looking mid-engine sports cars from 1972-1983. They're powered by 3.0 Liter V6 engines.
Above and three below: What we have here in all its racy red rowdiness is a Cobrari. The front end appears to be similar to a Ferrari Testa Rossa. While the interior has a Ferrari dashboard layout with Cobra tan suede leather seats. Apart from the Ferrari Testa Rossa fairing behind the driver's head, the caboose is all Cobra. Those side pipes could have either emanated from a Ferrari or a Cobra. The tailpipes are definitely a Ferrari concoction. Don't those four, two barrel Webers look beautiful under glass?
Video of Ferrari F50 with Ferrari V12 Serenade
Above: What a juxtaposition - a Ducati Super Sport is flanked by a Vespa scooter.
Above: A Lancia is decked out for doing some rally racing.
Above and below: This Lancia is decked out for some serious road racing. With all the ground effects fairings and her in the weeds low stance, there's no way that the Lancia would last a minute in an off-road rally.
Above and below: A current Alfa Romeo Formula One race car looks as though it could fly in the air as well as on the land, what with all those wings. Simply point 'em to get lift and up, up you go!
Above and below: Which hue do you prefer, a 1997 F355 Ferrari convertible in burgundy, or a 1997 F355 GTS Ferrari in Fly Yellow?
Above: 1960's vintage Ferraris are wicked cool! The green hued Ferrari above is a 330 GTC. The crystal blue Ferrari alongside is a 1963-1964 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Lusso. Chevrolet Camaro designers styled the 2nd generation Camaro after the 1963-1964 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Lusso.
Above: There are 1960's vintage Alfa boattail spyders in the foreground and modern Alfa sedans along the left of the photo in the background.
Above and below: The 1984 288 Ferrari GTO is one sweet supercar.
Above and below: An Alfa Romeo Duetto spyder looks parked for a picnic lunch at the Blackhorse Golf Course, in Seaside, California, the site of the Concorso Italiano for many years.
Above: Plenty of perfectly preserved and a few modified De Tomaso Panteras were a pleasing part of the Concorso Italiano. The Pantera is a real American and Italian super car!
Above: A silver 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC is flanked by one in a green hue.
Best in Show Concorso 2024 - Maserati Sebring II 1968
Above: Photo of Best in Show Award winning 1968 Maserati Sebring II courtesy of Concorso Italiano Media.
As per usual, there were so many Italian automobiles on hand at Concorso, that the humble scribe thought he was back in Italy searching for a good old fashioned American/Italian pepperoni pizza for consumption along the canals of Venice. The coveted Best in Show Award, designed by renowned automotive designer Walter De Silva, was presented to Don Clen for his incandescent Maserati Sebring II 1968. Several other awards were also presented, and every participating vehicle on exhibit was worthy of the top prize in the scribe's humble opinion.
Above: That's Don Clen and family receiving the Best in Show Award from the designer of the award trophy, famous automotive designer Walter De Silva. Photo courtesy of Concorso Italiano Media Team.
