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Bugatti Type 57 G Le Mans “Tank”

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Above, a picture of the Bugatti T57 G Tank, just before the start of the 1937 24 hours of Le Mans with J.P. Wimille. The use of Elektron alloy in the body would not be discovered for another 76 years. Photo courtesy Bugatti Trust

By Alan Yankolonis

From the VeloceToday archives, June 2020

In addition to winning two French Sports Car Grand Prix and setting land speed records in 1936 which stood for 29 years, the Simeone Foundation’s Bugatti T57 G Tank was the first Bugatti to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Initially the car was built for the 1936 French Sports Car Grand Prix that was established and later to set speed records in 1936. Of three, perhaps four built, this is the only Bugatti Tank known to survive.*

In 2013, Audi was introducing the new limited-edition Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, and Audi USA approached Dr. Fredrick Simeone to obtain color samples from the 1936 Bugatti T57G, and to discuss the possibility of displaying that car at the Quail Lodge during the 2013 Pebble Beach Concourse in Monterey, California. The idea was to paint the show car in the same color scheme as the 1937 Le Mans winner. Their request to Dr. Simeone was to conduct color matching tests on the Le Mans winner and explore the opportunity to have the museum car displayed side by side with the new Vitesse at the Quail Lodge. After much discussion an agreement was made to copy the color of the Le Mans winner, and make arrangements to have the museum car transported to California for display alongside the Vitesse.

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Fred Simeone, a Tribute

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Fred Simeone in the Ferrari and Kevin Kelly in the Aston Martin enjoy an afternoon at the Simeone Foundation. Photo by Alan Yankolonis.

From the Simeone Foundation Website:

June 12, 2022 Late last evening, as the first rays of light began to appear on the Mulsanne Straight, we lost our hero and champion, Dr. Frederick Simeone. Mere words cannot convey our overwhelming grief and sadness, nor can they express what this great man meant to so many people. Dr. Simeone had celebrated his 86th birthday on June 8.

Below, we republish this article written for Automobile Quarterly as a tribute to the late Fred Simeone.

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy Simeone Foundation and Alan Yankolonis

In the 1970s, when such things were in vogue, a neurosurgeon from Philadelphia made up magnetized labels with names of classic cars. “Mercedes Benz SSK”, one read; “BMW 328” read another. He placed them all on his refrigerator door. [Read more…] about Fred Simeone, a Tribute

Driving the Alfa Romeo RLSS

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From the VeloceToday archives, June, 2010

By Pete Vack
Photos by Harry Hurst

Thanks to the kind offices of the Simeone Foundation, VeloceToday was recently given the opportunity to drive two rare pre-war Alfa Romeos. While driving the “Legendary” 2.3 Castagna was a dream come true, it was perhaps even more fortunate to have been able to sample an even rarer Alfa–a 1925 RLSS, “Merosi’s Masterpiece” as some have called the breed. Rare, did we say? How about 392 ever produced, of which perhaps a dozen are left, scattered across the globe. To see one is an event; to drive one is to experience motoring’s Shangri-La.

Being able to drive both the 8C 2300 and the RLSS meant that we were given the even rarer opportunity to drive the work of both Giuseppe Merosi and Vittorio Jano. We’ll tell you which was more fun an bit down.

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Three Alfa Romeo 2.9s in America

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Win a Premium Subscription to VeloceToday if you can who can tell us exactly when and where this photo was taken, and prove it. Photo by Jerry Lehrer.

By Pete Vack

Alfa Romeo 2.9 S/N 412014 Halley’s Comet

Frank Cantanzariti, he of the above placard, was reportedly in the electronics business and lived on Partridge Rd, Cornwall-On-Hudson, Newburgh, New York, about 40 miles north of New York City. Very little is known about him today, and though his business and life may have been exemplary, his main claim to fame via the internet may be that for one shining year circa 1952, Mr. Cantanazariti owned this fabulous Alfa 2.9. Furthermore, he had it on display at the 1952 or 1953 New York Auto show, where it was photographed by Jerry Lehrer. Mr. Cantanzariti put about a 1000 miles on the car, making a grand total of 16000 miles before selling it to Mike Garber via Zumbachs’ in New York.

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Fred Simeone: The Founder

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Jay Leno, left, discusses the virtues of the Squire with Fred Simeone.

By Pete Vack
All photos courtesy Simeone Foundation

In the 1970s, when such things were in vogue, a neurosurgeon from Philadelphia made up magnetized labels with names of classic cars. “Mercedes Benz SSK”, one read; “BMW 328” read another. He placed them all on his refrigerator door. [Read more…] about Fred Simeone: The Founder

Bugatti Type 57 G Tank: What Lies Beneath

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Above, a picture of the Bugatti T57 G Tank, just before the start of the 1937 24 hr. of Le Mans with J.P. Wimille. The use of Elektron alloy in the body would not be discovered for another 76 years. Photo courtesy Bugatti Trust

By Alan Yankolonis

In addition to winning two French Sports Car Grand Prix and setting land speed records in 1936 which stood for 29 years, the Simeone Foundation’s Bugatti T57 G Tank was the first Bugatti to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Initially the car was built for the 1936 French Sports Car Grand Prix that was established and later to set speed records in 1936. Of three, perhaps four built, this is the only Bugatti Tank known to survive.*

In 2013, Audi was introducing the new limited-edition Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, and Audi USA approached Dr. Fredrick Simeone to obtain color samples from the 1936 Bugatti T57G, and to discuss the possibility of displaying that car at the Quail Lodge during the 2013 Pebble Beach Concourse in Monterey, California. The idea was to paint the show car in the same color scheme as the 1937 Le Mans winner. Their request to Dr. Simeone was to conduct color matching tests on the Le Mans winner and explore the opportunity to have the museum car displayed side by side with the new Vitesse at the Quail Lodge. After much discussion an agreement was made to copy the color of the Le Mans winner, and make arrangements to have the museum car transported to California for display alongside the Vitesse.

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Fred Simeone: Honors and Displays

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Our favorite diorama at the Simeone Foundation. Courtesy Simeone Foundation

By Pete Vack

On June 8th, Fred Simeone turned 84 years old, but his energy and enthusiasm for the Simeone Foundation has not abated. Perhaps that is another reason he topped The Classic Car Trust’s list of 100 car collectors. We explain the honor and also look at how Fred designed the fantastic dioramas that are so much a part of the magic of the museum.

The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum is the only organization to have been awarded “Museum of the Year” (2011), “Publication of the Year” (2012), and “Car of the Year” (2014) by the International Historic Motoring Group, and in 2017 the Foundation also won the Octane Award–Museum of the Year.

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Fred Simeone: Gifts of the Father

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A young Fred Simeone stands next to the 1937 Cord owned by his father Anthony, who inspired him to not only become a great neurosurgeon but an avid car collector. The car is still part of the Simeone collection.

By Pete Vack
Photos courtesy Fred Simeone

Twelve years ago your Editor wrote an article for Automobile Quarterly about the Simeone Foundation Museum, which had just opened. Soon, the Museum will open once again after closing for the Covid-19 pandemic, and we decided to update that article for use in VeloceToday. Below is the our story about Dr. Simeone and his father Anthony, as published in V48 N3 of AQ; the first of several about the Simeone Foundation.

Fred Simeone inherited his father’s acute intelligence and penchant for medicine but also a passion for cars.  “What Dad gave me was more important than money,“ said Simeone.

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The Alfa 8C2900 Experience

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By Alan Yankolonis

In preparation for the 100th birthday of Alfa Romeo, the staff at the Simeone Foundation brought out the famous 8C 2900. This car is the “crème de la crème” of Alfa Romeo race cars; the 1938 8C2900B MM serial #412031 which won the 1938 Mille Miglia. Of the five original Mille Miglia cars only two remain intact and restored to the 1938 configuration (Simeone Museum & Ralph Lauren’s). There are two others that have been extensively modified with different body styles and chassis changes and look nothing like the Mille Miglia cars; the last car was the Le Mans coupe that had been reconfigured from the 1938 Mille Miglia Spider and is now in the Alfa Romeo Museum. (see Mike Sparken)

What’s nice about this author’s job at the Foundation is working on the cars. What is really great is that the Foundation’s collection focuses on sport racing cars that have two seats. In this case, one for the author and another for curator Kevin… who did the driving “chores”.

The staff at the Simeone out in the Alfas. Alan is in the 8C2300 in this shot.

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Making the Mummies Dance

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Fred Simeone in the Alfa Monza s/n 221112 which placed second in the 1933 Mille Miglia, is followed by Curator Kevin Kelly in the 8C 2900B MM Spyder s/n 412031 which won the Mille Miglia in 1938.

A hands on approach brings ancient Alfas to life at the Simeone Foundation

By Pete Vack
Photos by Harry Hurst

Thomas Hoving assumed the directorship of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1967 and began a number of building projects and renovations. He brought new life to the aging Museum and was often said to be “making the mummies dance”, a phrase he used to title his best selling memoirs.
[Read more…] about Making the Mummies Dance

MUG 412 and the story of an Alfa Romeo RLSS

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The fascinating history of the Alfa Romeo RLSS MUG 412. Upper left, letter from Tom Goodman; upper right, the Hull and Slater book; original registration from 1927; MUG 412 plate and the RLSS at the Simeone.

By Pete Vack

Fred Simeone became the owner of this rare Alfa Romeo RLSS, chassis number 69013, because he rarely forgets a mug. “I was at Goodwood in 2002 and noticed the Bonhams’ catalog had an RLSS for sale with a British license plate which read ‘MUG 412‘. It struck me as being very familiar, and I then remembered I had read about this car in the Alfa history by Peter Hull and Roy Slater some forty years earlier.” And sure enough on page 63 of the first edition, was a description of this particular Alfa and how it was built for a relative of actor Michael Rennie. Simeone didn’t need to know too much more to bid successfully on the RLSS. (Read Driving the RLSS) It wasn’t the first time the unusual tag was the object of attention.
[Read more…] about MUG 412 and the story of an Alfa Romeo RLSS

VeloceToday Drives the Alfa Romeo RLSS

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By Pete Vack
Color photos by Harry Hurst

Thanks to the kind offices of the Simeone Foundation, VeloceToday was recently given the opportunity to drive two rare pre-war Alfa Romeos. While driving the “Legendary” 2.3 Castagna was a dream come true, it was perhaps even more fortunate to have been able to sample an even rarer Alfa–a 1925 RLSS, “Merosi’s Masterpiece” as some have called the breed. Rare, did we say? How about 392 ever produced, of which perhaps a dozen are left, scattered across the globe. To see one is an event; to drive one is to experience motoring’s Shangri-La. Here is our report:

Being able to drive both the 8C 2300 and the RLSS meant that we were given the even rarer opportunity to drive the work of both Giuseppe Merosi and Vittorio Jano. We’ll tell you which was more fun an bit down. [Read more…] about VeloceToday Drives the Alfa Romeo RLSS

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