Seeing Red � The Italian Racing Colour

In these days of race cars covered with sponsors logos and colours, it�s easily to forget that race teams used to race for their country, not their sponsors.

To differentiate the country for which to team raced, a colour-coding was developed. The first usage of this came during Gordon Bennett Cup races in 1900-1905 which was a race between Nations and their automotive products. 

Germany was assigned white, Belgium yellow, USA red, United Kingdom green, and France blue.

As more and more countries got into racing, the colour palette grew, and some colours changed, most notably Germany to silver, Italy to red, and the USA to white with blue.

The cars that shared various shades of Italian red are Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Fiat, Lancia, Bandini, Cisitalia and of course, Ferrari.

They were much simpler times, when racers drove for their nation, and not necessarily the highest bidder.

This all changed in 1968, when Colin Chapman carried non-automotive, Players cigarette graphics on his Lotus 49�s.

The advertising floodgates were opened for good � and gone, with very few exceptions, were the international colours. True to tradition, Scuderia Ferrari team cars are always red.

All images copyright � Paul Chenard - Car Evolution

French Racing Blue

In these days of race cars covered with sponsors logos and colours, it�s easily to forget that race teams used to race for their country, not their sponsors.

To differentiate the country for which to team raced, a colour-coding was developed. The first usage of this came during Gordon Bennett Cup races in 1900-1905 which was a race between Nations and their automotive products. Germany was assigned white, Belgium yellow, USA red, United Kingdom green, and France blue.

As more and more countries got into racing, the colour palette grew, and some colours changed, most notably Germany to silver, Italy to red, and the USA to white with blue, but France maintained it�s traditional blue.

The cars that shared those various shades of French blue are Peugeot, Ballot, Amilcar, Salmson, Voisin, Delage, Delahaye, Talbot-Lago, Gordini, Alpine, Matra and of course, Bugatti.

1947 Simca Gordini T15
Photo courtesy & � John Mackenzie

1971 Matra-Simca MS120B
Photo courtesy & � John Mackenzie

They were much simpler times, when racers drove for their nation, and not necessarily the highest bidder.

This all changed in 1968, when Colin Chapman carried non-automotive, Players Gold Leaf cigarette graphics on his Lotus 49�s.

The advertising floodgates were opened for good � and gone, with very few exceptions, were the international colours.

All images � Paul Chenard

Distinct Gift Idea � 1950�s Grand Prix Engines

Maserati 250F - Italy
� Paul Chenard 2008

Mercedes W196 - Germany
� Paul Chenard 2008

Talbot-Lago T26C - France
� Paul Chenard 2008

Vanwall 2.5L - England
� Paul Chenard 2008

Pencil and Prismacolor pencil on coloured paper 12"x9"

Grand Prix race cars of the 1950�s were interesting pieces of rolling engineering.

The French used the best bits of straightforward, tried and true racing technology for their racers, somewhat short of funding. The Germans developed highly engineered and tested machines; the British experimented with new technology and approaches, but were not always fully sorted. And the Italians pushed old technology to the full extent of its development, and always with flair.

National pride drove them all to push for the utmost in their machines, and they all carried their Nation�s colours into the melee; the Italian red, the British green, the French blue and the German silver.

Car Evolution offers a series of illustrations of 50�s Grand Prix Racing engines in International Racing Colours. There is the 1957 Maserati 250F in red, the 1956 Mercedes W196 in gray/silver, the 1950 Talbot-Lago T26C in blue and the 1957 Vanwall in green.

The series is available as limited edition premium archival Giclee prints, 14.5'x 11' (image size 12'x 9'), signed and numbered to a limit of 100 of each. The suggested retail price is $125 USD each plus shipping/handling, or all 4 for $445 USD plus shipping/handling.

Grand Prix Engines from the 1950's

Talbot-Lago T26C - France
� Paul Chenard 2008






Mercedes W196 - Germany
� Paul Chenard 2008






Vanwall 2.5L - England
� Paul Chenard 2008












Maserati 250F - Italy
� Paul Chenard 2008

Pencil and Prismacolor pencil on coloured paper 12"x9"

I decided to do significant 1950's Grand Prix race car engines on paper in International Racing Colours.

The series is available as limited edition premium archival Giclee prints, 14.5'x 11' (image size 12'x 9'), signed and numbered to a limit of 100 of each. The suggested retail price is $125 USD each plus shipping/handling, or all 4 for $445 USD plus shipping/handling.