Author: Toby Ross

Toby Ross first contributed to SCM in September 2011. His company, Ross Classic, has specialized in the sale of French and Italian exotica for over 30 years. He spends his time between France and the island of Malta.

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 […]

1926 Bugatti Type 37

The fascinating history of this example is chronicled in a report on file by renowned Bugatti historian Pierre-Yves Laugier. On December 1, 1926, chassis 37227 was invoiced for the amount of 46,400 French francs to Mr. René Bacon in the city of Luxey in southwest France. The Bugatti was delivered […]

1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports

The ultimate evolution of the Bugatti Grand Prix car, the mythical Type 59 is both a technical marvel and a masterpiece of industrial art — a model considered by many to be the most elegant pre-war racing car. Debuted in late 1933, the Type 59 featured a supercharged straight-8 engine, […]

1925 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix Racer

  The car was converted to aluminum wheels to bring it to 35B specs, but it is more authentic as a road car Chassis number: BC31 (not original Bugatti number) Engine number: 70 If ever there was a name synonymous with the Bugatti Owners’ Club, it is that of aficionado […]

1938 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Teardrop Coupe

The Talbot-Lago T150C SS chassis is arguably one of Anthony Lago’s greatest achievements. The “C” stood for competition, a reference to the marque’s racing success, while “SS” signified “Super Sports,” the short, 8.7-foot wheelbase version of the competition chassis. Its race-bred 6-cylinder engine featured an overhead valve train, hemispherical combustion […]