Autoclásica Show 2014, Part 1

Words: Amazosan
Photos: FJSigma

A gem of show that I had no knowledge of before now, but thanks to the efforts of the mysterious FJSigma of the Argentochrysler website, we get a glimpse of the Argentinian classic scene.
Argentina has quite the car industry, with the likes of Ford, GM PSA, Fiat, Renault, Volkswagen, Honda and Mercedes-Benz having factories in Argentina. They also have a rich motrosport pedigree all their own; Juan Manuel Fangio, Carlos Reutemann and a certain Alejandro de Tomaso come to mind. Judging by these pictures, they love their classics as much as we British do to. To do justice to this fantastic cache of photos, I've split this post into two parts; part two will be on Friday.

- Amazosan

* * *

Special bodied Fiat Zero, known also as the Fiat 12/15 hp:

I wish I could tell you exactly what this is, but myself and Team Amazo are still scanning the web for info:

Rambler Classic. The model had three designations, going from the lowest 550 (essentially fleet cars), 660, to highest 770 trims. Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) produced Rambler Classics in Córdoba, Argentina from 1962 to 1971:

Peugeot 403, also locally produced:

Jag V12 in a Model T. Nice:

Another racing beauty, another one still to research:

But I'm pretty sure we all know what this is:

A brace of Vauxhall 30/98s:

Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Zagato:

Lincoln L-Series Phaeton, bodied by the Brunn Company of Buffalo, New York:

1927 Bentley 4&1/2 litre with Tourer bodywork:

1937 Bentley  4&1/4 litre, Sedanca Coupe body by Gurney Nutting:

1937 Morgan Sports 2 Seater Barrelback with V-Twin Matchless engine:

While this Super Sports has the JAP V-Twin:

135 Bugatti Type 57 Tourer with Cabriolet Coachwork by British coachbuilder Bertelli:

Cord 810 on the right, supercharged 812 on the left:

Early Fiat 500, distinguishable by the sidelights and the vents under the headlights. To my knowledge, these were never produced in Argentina, as Fiat decided to produce the 600 there instead:

Speaking of which, the 600 lived a long life in Argentina; it was built as the Fiat 600R by Sevel in Argentina from 1960 to 1982:

1935 Ford; 1938 Studebaker Commander:

Two Cadillac Series 62s; a 1949 Convertible...

...and and a 1941 version:

Jaguar MKVIII:

There must be an interesting history as to how this pre-war Leyland ended up in Argentina; does anyone shed any light on it?

Post-war Jaguar 3½ Litre Drophead Coupé; BMW 327:

Bugatti Type 57 cabriolet; one of Figoni's more demure efforts:

Rolls-Royce 20/25, 1932 Lincoln:

Lotus XI:

A trio of Maseratis: A6GCM, ex-Fangio:

... 250F:

...and A6GCS/53:

Porsche 356 fans? Heres the red, white & blue:

The Maserati love-in continues with this gorgeous 3500:

...and this 3500GT:

...and this one:

Er, another:

While a Sebring and a Khamsim gatecrash the party:

The Bora. Not to be confused with the similar looking Merak which it predates, the Bora has the legendary V8 instead of the Merak's V6, along with a different rear end treatment. A BMW M1 lurks in the background:

The Horvat-Martinez Ford Falcon racer:

The IKA (Industrias Kaiser Argentina) Torino, later Renault Torino, made under agreement with AMC from 1966 to 1982. It's essentially a hybrid of AMC's 1964-65 Rambler American and Classic with bespoke front and rear bodywork and interior. It came in both four-door saloon and two-door hardtop variants, including this rare Torino Comahue version. I want one:

Early Land Rover S1. I wonder if the weird headlight placement means anything?

Jeep Grand Wagoneer:

End of part one.