Creative moments ...

We are into the New Year, which can be a time for spiritual renovations. In our house, it�s time for basement renovations.

We are repainting our basement, along with replacing old furniture and old carpets.

I�ve spent over a week painting, so I�ve not had time to do any of my racing history art. To keep my creativity flowing, I decided to do a quick painting with the 2-inch brush I was using on a wall we were repainting before the roller-paint was put down.

It shows Peter Collins driving a Ferrari-Lancia D50 in 1956.

The painting is gone now, but it was worth the creative moment!

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

Lancia Delta HF Integrale EVO Stretch Limousine

With the popularity of the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo, it'd be easy to dismiss the likes of the Lancia Delta HF Integrale as a relic of the past. But make no mistake about it: The roadgoing version of this Italian rally machine is as exotic and desirable as any supercar to come from the same country. All the more reason, then, to be appalled at this unfortunate conversion job.


It appears that some garage in Italy has taken an Integrale (possibly two, according to reports), chopped it up and stretched it into a limousine. If you're thinking that an all-wheel drive hot hatch is the worst possible candidate for limo-ification, we're with you. Whether the conversion job retains the all-wheel drive system remains a big question mark, however, with power coming from either the Integrale's eight-valve 2.0-liter turbo four or the Evo's 16-valve version.


If the two limos are based on original Delta HF Integrale cars or on standard Delta hatchbacks, and if they feature the Integrale's four-wheel drive system or not are questions that we don't have the answers to.


More Photos

Ypsilon ELLE show car, world premiere

The Lancia Ypsilon continues to cause a stir, confirming its place as a true icon of Italian design. This time, it is the turn of the new Ypsilon ELLE show car, an original version created from a collaboration between Lancia and the ELLE brand, a symbol of modern femininity that sets trends each season with a vast range of women's clothing and accessories. Much more than just a name, it represents a unique lifestyle and a dynamic, modern and positive existence. ELLE embodies the modern woman: active and feminine, spontaneous and decisive, with a global outlook. Present in more than 80 countries worldwide, ELLE products are sold at selected retailers and the major European department stores.


Lancia has identified fashion as a preferred area of marketing that represents a key element of brand positioning. The link between Lancia and fashion is clear from its cars (like the Ypsilon Moda Milano, Ypsilon Versus and Musa Poltrona Frau), its adverts starring icons of Italian fashion like Stefano Gabbana and Carla Bruni, and the many industry events it sponsors. What's more, Lancia and fashion are two showcases of Italian design with shared values including talent, creativity and innovation. In other words, the ingredients that have made Italian style famous the world over.

So it seemed quite natural to combine ELLE and Ypsilon, the Lancia model directed at the same fashion-conscious audience.

The Ypsilon ELLE show car has many truly eye-catching features. First, there is the bodywork in a unique metalluro-effect pink that will stand out on the catwalk next year. In addition, the car offers chrome-plated details such as the radiator grille, the rear bumper, handles and door mouldings.

Then, on the outside pillar, there is the main silk-screen print - inspired by ELLE magazine covers and forming the ELLE logo. Also, the 16" alloy wheels are painted in the same pink as the body, but with a matt coat.



The customisation of the car really shows on the inside. The special purple leather and Alcantara upholstery - another colour currently gracing the catwalks - features an art composition with the word ELLE appearing ton-sur-ton on the middle part of the seat. The upholstery is further enhanced by contrasting stitching with bright white leather piping. The interior carpentry was done using a technical material that is also bright white and feels like a fabric. The cool colour scheme continues on the easy-chrome interior displays and central console, which features the purple gear stick gaiter to match the seats and the gemstone.

Finally, the interior of the car is made even more exclusive by the bright white Alcantara upholstery on the upper part of the central pillars and the whole roof panel, as well as by the Velour floor mats with leather edges.

The Ypsilon ELLE show car provides a sneak preview of a special series of cars that will be manufactured in limited edition and sold in spring 2010 in the major European markets.
Source:Lancia via worldcarfans

Mille Miglia 1954 - Ascari's fans

Pencil on archival white paper, digitally colorized 12"x 9"
� Paul Chenard 2008

Son of a famous Italian racing hero Antonio Ascari, two-time World Champion Alberto Ascari moved to the Lancia Racing Team from Ferrari for 1954, but the Lancia's Formla 1 cars were under-developed, and not really in contention.

Ascari did find success in the well-developed D24 sports car, winning the grueling Mille Miglia (Thousand Mile) race.

In the following year, the Lancia D50 Formula 1 was again raced by Ascari, but retired in the 2 first races. In fact, he lost control and ended up in Monaco Harbour in that Grand Prix.

Four days later, he was killed testing a Ferrari Monza sports car; Italy lost another one of it's great racers. He died at the age of 36, like his father.

La Carrera Panamericana 1953 - Fangio

Prismacolor pencils on red stock � Paul Chenard 2008
Private Collection


Five-time F1 Driver's World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio was the pride of Argentina. Soft-spoken and humble, he could just as easily win in sports car, illustrated by his 1953 win of the Carrera Panamericana in a Lancia D24.

Limited edition of 50, numbered and signed premium archival Giclee prints $125 USD plus shipping/handling.