Author: Toby Ross

Toby was born in England where his enthusiasm for fine automobiles started at a young age, preparing his father’s Aston DB 2/4 for concours events, and later using it in hill climbs. He moved to France 25 years ago, and after a couple of years working for the Aston Martin importer, became a classic car broker, mainly for Ferrari. Living in France awakened an interest in the great French marques, and a long learning curve began. Over the years, Toby has discovered some great cars sleeping in France ranging from a Ferrari Daytona Competition to a Talbot Teardrop. Toby now lives on the small island of Malta, where he helps organize races and shows for the thriving classic car community.

1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Mille Miglia Berlinetta

This magnificent 6C 2300B Mille Miglia left the Portello Works in April 1938. Its early ownership is unknown, but it is first recorded as being owned by Herr Hoffer of Geneva in 1946. In 1953, Herr Hoffer sold the car to Jean-Louis Fatio for the princely sum of 500 Swiss […]

1927 Bugatti Type 35B

The magnificent car we are privileged to offer here is an early Bugatti Type 35B. The 2.3-liter Type 35T engine, number 127, was modified at the factory on April 15, 1927, as a Type 35B unit with a supercharger added. Its proud owner since 1975, Baron d’Huart, a true Bugatti […]

1964 Facel Vega Facel II Coupe

In its relatively short life, the French firm of Facel produced approximately 2,900 cars, all of which were stylish, luxurious and fast. Hand built, they were necessarily expensive — the Facel II was priced in Rolls-Royce territory — and bought by the rich and famous seeking something exclusive and distinctive. […]

1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Teardrop Coupe

The Talbot-Lago T150C SS presented here, chassis 90107, is widely regarded as the most beautiful and unique of the Figoni-bodied Teardrops. Of the precious few Figoni et Falaschi Teardrops built, 90107 is the only original-bodied example of the definitive Modéle New York design with fully enveloping front fenders. A prizewinner […]

1959 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider

Introduced in 1958, the 102 Series 2000 succeeded the celebrated 1900 in Alfa Romeo’s model line. The 2000 was available in three body styles, including the short-wheelbase Spider, and it was powered by the manufacturer’s highly developed 2-liter inline 4-cylinder engine. The Spider coachwork, built by Touring of Milan, was […]

1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Coupe

When the Bugatti Type 57 first hit the pavement back in 1934, there was simply nothing that could compare to it. Designed by founder Ettore Bugatti’s son, Jean, the Type 57 captured the swanky allure of Art Deco styling with vast curving lines that concluded in sharp, striking angles. Like […]

1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet

Factory archives note this to be a T26 with the potent Grand Sport 4.5-liter power unit, and specifically the more-desirable aluminum-head version, of which a mere three dozen were equipped. Talbot-Lago’s designation for these was T26 Record Sport. Figoni’s production record states that they received the Record Sport chassis from […]

1951 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Villa d’Este

Bridging the gap between the pre- and post-war eras, Alfa Romeo’s 6C 2500 debuted in 1939 as the third series of Vittorio Jano’s legendary 6-cylinder Alfa Romeos. Capable of 160 km/h, these cars benefited from four-wheel independent suspension and could be had in a handful of levels of tuning. This […]

1949 Georges Irat Labourdette Prototype

Georges Irat launched the first car bearing his own name in 1921. Manufactured by Automobiles Georges Irat SA at Chatou, Seine-et-Oise, France, this was a fast tourer powered by a 2.0-liter, overhead-valve, 4-cylinder engine designed by Maurice Gaultier, formerly with Delage. Unusually, Irat manufactured the entire car — bodies excepted […]

Twins Peak

We were recently witness to an amazing confluence of events, where two Corsica-bodied Bugatti Type 57S cars were auctioned within a month of each other. That both of these cars should come up for auction — and sell — is a strange twist of fate indeed. The first example offered […]