By Alan Franklin / 16 May 2013

Among the most romantic events in all of historic motorsports is the old Mille Miglia. Comprised of a gnarled and twisting route through central and northern Italy’s verdant hills, arid plains, mountain switchbacks, seaside cliffs, and ancient, twisty cobblestone streets squeezed tight between the crumbling old homes and shops of myriad sleepy, sun-bleached villages, the Mille is chock full of breathtaking sites and fascinating history.

By Petrolicious Productions / 15 May 2013
3 Comments

For pedigree, rarity, style, fun, and bucketfuls of the old car quirks that we all love, there’s not much that can beat a Lancia Scorpion (née Montecarlo), bang-for-the-buck-wise. This 1976 model is claimed to be the recipient of a recent respray in factory white, and with a scant 61.5k miles from new, it’s pretty Pininfarina-penned lines saw only roughly 1,700 miles of road a year—a feat requiring quite a bit of restraint from its previous three owners from new.

By Alan Franklin / 14 May 2013
4 Comments

Inline fours, straight and V-shaped sixes, bent eights, tens, and twelves are the popular kids of engine design, their many strengths and accepted weaknesses allow them first-round draft status to the automotive-engineering-and-design dodgeball team nearly every time. Ferrari 512BB and Testarossa are quite well-versed in animal husbandry and think the world is flat, but are too well-bred and wealthy for anyone to dare not invite them to the party.

By Petrolicious Productions / 14 May 2013
14 Comments

Mid-engined Italian exotica is the ultimate ownership dream for many of us, but sadly, for the vast majority it will remain a dream. Provided, however, you’re willing to sacrifice 12 cylinders for eight, and aren’t embarrassed by the idea of being out-dragged by decade-old V6 family cars, it doesn’t have to. We explore a couple of bent-eight beauties from the undisputed kings of sports car drama, Ferrari and bitter cross-town rival, Lamborghini. Which seventies supercar would you choose?

By Petrolicious Productions / 13 May 2013
29 Comments

We are in beautiful Italy from now until June 15. Though we already have a number of shoots and projects lined up that we're sure you'll enjoy, we do have some time to take on even more, which brings us to our question for today: What should we cover in Italy? If you or someone you know here wants to be featured in a video or photo shoot, or you know of some interesting events, garages, or other venues, please let us know.

By Petrolicious Productions / 9 May 2013
12 Comments

Bespoke 1950s and '60s GT cars are some of our favorites. The hand-fashioned detail and high-style design typified by cars of this segment are simply beyond comparison with anything made since. Coachbuilt in France and among the most exclusive cars of its day is the Facel Vega FV. Our other offering is a Maserati 3500 GT, the gorgeous A6’s replacement and Maser’s first attempt at the gran turismo market it later fully embraced. If you had to make a choice, what would it be?

By Petrolicious Productions / 8 May 2013
8 Comments

Many of us inherited our enthusiasm for cars from our fathers, a lucky handful may have even been handed down one of dad’s prized old machines as a reward for reaching one of life’s milestones—chances are, though, it wasn’t a Ferrari. Petrolicious friend and frequent commenter Matthew Lange lives and works in southeast England, where he ekes out the occasional fair-weather drive in his beautiful 365 GTB/4, a car with an interesting family history, of which he graciously shared with us below.

By Alan Franklin / 8 May 2013
10 Comments

Lancia was once among the greatest of all Engineering-first automobile manufacturers. Though perhaps most famous for the legendary Dino-engined Stratos and WRC-dominating Delta Integrale, both of those cars are in fact products of a post-1969 Fiat-owned Lancia, and though undoubtedly deserving of their high status, they’re not representative of a pure and undiluted Lancia bloodline. For me, the greatest true Lancia is the lovely, advanced, and utterly unique Fulvia.

By Alan Franklin / 6 May 2013
5 Comments

On May 7^th this year, in the small commune of Sant’Agata Bolognese, Lamborghini celebrates its fiftieth year as an automobile manufacturer. Half a century of turmoil, success, failure, beautiful cars, bankruptcies, rebirths, scissor doors, V12s, V10s, and a handful of V8s later, the home of the charging bull is now stronger than ever. It’s been a long and tumultuous road to stability, though—one that, as hinted, has seen the company on the verge of death several times over the years.

By Alan Franklin / 3 May 2013
6 Comments

There’s no greater bargain the world of classic European roadsters than the Fiat 124 Spider. From its soulful and revvy Lampredi-designed twincam four, beautiful and timeless Pininfarina-penned bodywork, to its capable and entertaining chassis, there’s nothing else that touches it for historical significance, looks, and handling anywhere near the same price point. Though never all that reliable, even when new, they’re bone-simple in design and easy to wrench on, even for relative novices.

By Petrolicious Productions / 3 May 2013
6 Comments

The Lancia D50 was not only a visual feast, but as aptly demonstrated by these gorgeous hand-drawn cutaways, also one of engineering and construction. Designed by Vittorio Jano in 1954, the D50 was among the first ever racecars to utilize the engine as a stressed member of the chassis. After the death of their top driver, the great Alberto Ascari, and ensuing financial difficulties, Lancia was forced to sell off their scuderia to Maranello, who further developed the car for racing.

By Alan Franklin / 1 May 2013
5 Comments

Few would argue that 1960s Italian design wasn’t among the best the world has ever seen. This incredibly fertile age gave rise to countless beautiful consumer goods and near-perfect cars. Conceived at the height of this era in 1966, the Ghibli was among the best of the best during a time when beautiful lines were a given for new high-end Italian machinery. Maserati was facing imminent failure in the mid 1960s, and the Ghibli can largely be credited with avoiding that sad fate.

By Petrolicious Productions / 30 April 2013
3 Comments

In conjunction with our latest video featuring a yellow Fiat 500, and to share some more information about the happy little car's history, we've created a graphic that is full of all kinds of interesting tidbits about the car. As for some interesting things about the car that aren't mentioned in the graphic, did you know that starting the car was done by means of a pull-cable connected to a handle between the seats?

By Petrolicious Productions / 30 April 2013
12 Comments

The Fiat 500 has a long history spanning generations and spanning oceans. One particular Fiat, a Fiat 500D, has made its way over the last 49 years into the care of Annetta Calisi. After being attained in pieces, it was meticulously restored daily over a period of four months. Annetta and her Fiat, Luigi, could not be a better pair, and the lines between the past and the present fade as they both dress the part for every tiny journey they share.

By Petrolicious Productions / 24 April 2013
5 Comments

The Bill behind Mr. Bill’s Auto & Cycle in Prescott, Arizona, is something of an expert on rear-engined Fiats. Having owned many 500s, 600s, Autoianchis and Multiplas over the years, he’s been offering repair and restoration services for these wonderful old Italian oddities for many years now. As a side project, he’s recently finished a rotary-powered 600 he bought as a rough project. Click through to read our interview with Bill.

By Petrolicious Productions / 23 April 2013
2 Comments

This week’s Crave Vehicle is a one-off 1965 shooting-brake Iso Grifo A3C with a strong resemblance to the Ferrari 250 GT Drogo “bread van”. The seller makes no claims of originality, but we’re guessing it’s probably not a recent retrofit—Rivoltas, though not stratospherically priced, are still not common enough that radical re-bodies are in the realm of sane collecting strategy. Grifos combined Golden-Age Italian design with reliable Detroit-sourced power.

By Petrolicious Productions / 23 April 2013
7 Comments

In conjunction with our latest video featuring a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, and to share some more information about the beautiful car's history, we've created a graphic that is full of all kinds of interesting tidbits about the car. For instance, did you know that due to the bespoke nature of the Lusso, weight varied by as much as 700 pounds depending on specification? Click through to view the full graphic.

By Alan Franklin / 23 April 2013
3 Comments

The history of Bugatti cars is well-documented elsewhere; the focus of this article is more about Ettore Bugatti the man and his many, hilarious, frequently genius, often self-defeating quirks and personality faults. "Bugatti was pure artist; his only scientific knowledge resulted from experience which increased with the years, and a natural mechanical ability aided by a gift of observation. He did not believe in calculations, formulae or principles..."

By Christer Lundem / 23 April 2013
5 Comments

Lancia owners may be looked upon as their cars: Passionate owners made of stern stuff. They drive their machines no matter what. When most enthusiasts would pamper their cars, these pain-loving creatures attack life head on. This is people who do not care about others' opinions, trends or plain common sense. The vehicles are used in all weathers and a noisy gearbox or lack of lights is firmly put on the charm account.

By Petrolicious Productions / 22 April 2013
8 Comments

Gerard Kassabian hails from a family of Mercedes Benz enthusiasts, but like any true Petrolista is able to appreciate a wide range of cars for the unique set of quirks and driving experiences on offer from each. A three-year Targa California veteran, Gerard first drove in this event in 2011 in his Datsun, then again last year in his 560 SL. This year he piloted a friend’s Alfa Berlina 2.0. Strictly non-competitive and informal, the Targa is among the coolest enthusiast events out there.

By Alan Franklin / 22 April 2013
14 Comments

What other word besides “stunning” could fittingly describe this car? “Audacious” seems the only word to explain a purebred racecar with license plates, whose short list of accommodations for street use were so impractical as to exclude the fitting of locking doors or even side-view mirrors. “Innovative”, “timeless”, and “mind-numbingly gorgeous” round off this list of grossly inadequate descriptives—like with all great pieces of art the emotions elicited are simply beyond the limitations of human language.

By Petrolicious Productions / 17 April 2013
36 Comments

Considered by many to be the most elegant Ferrari ever made, the Lusso has a specific set of rituals that one must complete in order to unleash the fury of the V12 under the hood. James Chen prefers to release that fury in the quiet stillness of the morning when traffic is light and the sun is slowly rising to its magic hour. With few distractions, the empty morning streets of Downtown Los Angeles amplify the two-hundred-and-forty prancing horses that lie in wait for the mash of the throttle.

By Petrolicious Productions / 17 April 2013
5 Comments

Holger Schubert is a man with superb taste, as evidenced not only by his amazing 512BBi, but also by the gorgeous workspace/garage/art gallery he's built to accommodate it. There are no corny framed photos of waterfalls with trite inspirational messages on Schubert's immaculate glass walls, and he doesn't need them—the Boxer provides limitless motivation. Schubert shares with us his thoughts on the space and the car.

By Petrolicious Productions / 3 April 2013
29 Comments

From the early 1960s, the growing dominance of mid-engined designs, in almost every category of international racing, saw public demand for similar road machines rising. By 1970 the demand had reached a boiling point. Porsche’s 914 was the first affordable, mass-market, mid-engined sports car. Fiat followed two years later with the X1/9. Both cars relied on pre-existing mechanicals in order to keep costs low, but still managed to deliver the goods.

By Alan Franklin / 2 April 2013
4 Comments

What could elevate an otherwise unassuming box of a car to a level of lust amongst gearheads normally reserved for ancient, red, V12-powered things from Italy? Box flares help, as do turbos, and hazy memories of perfectly-executed Scandinavian Flicks. Above all, the element is the attraction of unparalleled success and glory of the Lancia Delta Integrale during one of the most dramatic eras of rally racing.

By Alan Franklin / 1 April 2013
11 Comments

The 308 was introduced in 1975 to replace the aging Dino-badged 246, and was sold alongside the 308 GT4, which was also marketed under the Dino name until the sub-brand’s 1976 demise. Significant as Ferrari’s first non-twelve-cylinder road car, the V8-powered 308 opened the brand to an entirely new segment of individuals—they were certainly wealthy but perhaps not wealthy enough to have previously afforded one of Maranello’s finest.

By Petrolicious Productions / 26 March 2013
9 Comments

Joe Frazar is a true car enthusiast who enjoys driving a little bit of everything the car world has to offer. Joe has lived out his dreams by owning and experiencing over a hundred different examples. His collection constantly revolves as he hunts for new opportunities. Frazer Spowart had the chance to visit with Joe to see what's in his garage, including a beautiful Ferrari 328 GTS and the one staple that will never be sold, his hot rod Porsche 914-6.

By Petrolicious Productions / 14 March 2013
18 Comments

If you were a boy growing up in the mid-eighties, there's a 99% chance you had a poster of one of these cars on your bedroom wall. An entire generation spent sleepless hours staring at 27" x 41" prints of these earthbound spaceships—all wide-hipped, vented, and wedge-shaped. Like me, you may even have had both on your wall, but you definitely had a preference. Which one you dreamt about as a 4th grader likely determines your adulthood allegiances as well.

By Petrolicious Productions / 12 March 2013
8 Comments

Meet Joseph. A man of impeccable taste and few words, Joseph doesn’t like very much attention. We’re unsure of his motives for maintaining such a clandestine profile, but we've done some speculating. Is he trying to get away from his past? Is he on the lookout for someone? Is he dangerous? All we know is that we’re lucky to have caught up with him and his Alfa Romeo Giulia Super for a brief rendezvous in Downtown Los Angeles after midnight.

By Alan Franklin / 7 March 2013
2 Comments

Throughout Alfa's glory years of the '20s and '30s, there was little else for the company to focus on but building the fastest cars they could. These were the glory days of the carrozzeria, who penned beautiful, exotic and bespoke coachbuilt bodies for 6Cs and 8Cs of all variations, body configurations varying from stripped-back GP and Mille Miglia racers to luxurious, fully-enclosed coupes and sedans. But Alfa of the 1950s was a different company than pre-war Alfa.

By Petrolicious Productions / 6 March 2013
2 Comments

Richard Papy is a lifelong car enthusiast and collector from Savannah, Georgia. He spends his free time searching for cars and the next big find. Recently serving as the President of Savannah's Oglethorpe Driving Club, Richard is always happy to share his passion and his cars with others. We were able to photograph not one but two of his colorful cars, a Pantera and a 911. Click through for the interview.

By Petrolicious Productions / 5 March 2013
20 Comments

Manuel Leon Minassian often buys cars that have been neglected or are unwanted by the average buyer, and he is extremely picky as to how he'll bring them back to life. Although he prefers not to mention the exact number of cars he owns, there's one that he holds very close, a 1972 Alfa Romeo Berlina. Customized to his personal satisfaction, the work in this Berlina hints of his childhood as a rambunctious Alfa driver of only 13 years old.

By Petrolicious Productions / 4 March 2013
3 Comments

Last week you watched our video, Italian Muscle, which features a 1971 Iso Grifo, now you can enjoy this rare beauty as a free Petrolicious wallpaper download. Select the sizes best suited for you and your devices.

Click through to download.

By Petrolicious Productions / 1 March 2013
3 Comments

An empty Goodwood track is the stuff of dreams.  An empty Goodwood track combined with one of the most iconic Ferrari's in the world provides a rare visual treat.  DK Engineering has been housing Sir Stirling Moss's #7 for over thirty years and couldn't resist taking it back to its spiritual home.

Enjoy the video and have a great weekend!

By Afshin Behnia / 28 February 2013
3 Comments

I don’t know how Nuccio Bertone or Franco Scaglione would have reacted if someone had told them their creation would grace the streets of Downtown Los Angeles some 50 years later. I do know that Downtown LA is a perfect setting to explore the sensuous curves of the BAT-inspired Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale. On a Sunday evening, Downtown's rundown, industrial landscape, and desolate streets create a beautiful yet stark contrast to the soft sinuous sculptural masterpiece of Bertone.

By Petrolicious Productions / 26 February 2013
6 Comments

The griffin, a mythological creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, is the namesake of the Iso Grifo, an automobile with the hood, grill and engine of an American, but the lines of an Italian sports car.  This Italian-American hybrid defines Italian muscle.

Click through to watch our latest video.

By Afshin Behnia / 25 February 2013
21 Comments

I'm very lucky. Although my wife, Kika, does not drive (yes, you read that correctly!) and never thought twice about cars before she met me, she has taken an enormous liking to vintage cars and in some ways has become even more afflicted than I am.

What does your significant other think about your automotive passion? Does he or she understand it?

By Adam Kaslikowski / 25 February 2013
7 Comments

Not many sports car makers would name their prized product after a mongoose, but then Alejandro de Tomaso did a lot of things other car makers wouldn’t. For instance, having a steel backbone chassis for instance, or dialing in a 32/68 rearward-biased weight distribution. That’s not to say that all these risks paid off—oh, heavens no. But de Tomaso went for it, and I have to respect that.

By Petrolicious Productions / 21 February 2013
3 Comments

Alfisti around the world have the same modern day hero. Most have corresponded with this person at some point or another during their Alfa Romeo ownership or prior to the acquisition of one. He is the gatekeeper of all that is true about Alfa Romeo history. As the head of Alfa Romeo's Centro Documentazione, Marco Fazio is the custodian of Alfa Romeo's archives and is the go-to person for the Alfa Romeo Museum.

By Petrolicious Productions / 20 February 2013
1 Comment

In addition to being one of the most comprehensive books dedicated to a single car model, two qualities truly make this book stand out. First, the rich set of color photographs, both archival and recent, that fill the pages render this book beautiful enough to be displayed proudly on a coffee table. Second, Dr. Taylor’s clear writing style combined with the practical diagrams and photos make the technical instructions of the book very easy to follow.

By Petrolicious Productions / 20 February 2013
6 Comments

Jonathan Root is an award-winning portrait photographer based in London. With a keen sense for design and playful composition in his photography, it only makes sense that he should be driving a bright apple-green 1970 De Tomaso Mangusta on the streets of London.  We met up with Jonathan to get the story behind his rare prized possession. Continue to the article to see more photographs of Jonathan's beautifully conspicuous car and read his interview. 

By Petrolicious Productions / 19 February 2013
4 Comments

Can you recognize the signs of addiction? Do you know how to help a loved one who is Always Looking For Another?  For 50 years, the AROSC has been providing support for those suffering from Alfaholism.

Watch how Track Therapy, a key part of their successful 12-step program, has helped members cope with this serious condition.

By Petrolicious Productions / 14 February 2013
21 Comments

If you're like us, cars in movies are often bigger than the actors or even the plot. You love to watch old movies and catch glimpses of your favorite vintage cars. We'd like to find out what is your favorite movie scene featuring a vintage car and why. Afshin Behnia, Petrolicious founder/CEO and incurable Alfista, answers the question, "What's your favorite vintage car movie scene?" Click through for his answer and to let us know yours. 

By Barmak Behdadnia / 14 February 2013
2 Comments

All the way through grade school, I daydreamed of Farrah Fawcett and the Lamborghini Countach. As I grew older, my tastes became only barely more realistic, I decided that my dream car was the Porsche Turbo Carrera 930. The sexy lines of the Turbo satisfied me until I realized I’d probably do just as well steering it as I would my own racing hormones. I realized I needed to fall in love, and fall I did, quickly and forever. Her name was Giulia.

By Petrolicious Productions / 12 February 2013
9 Comments

For a supercar, the Testarossa deserves much more respect than it garners. Its beauty has been overlooked by some in favor of the Countach. Now discounted to a fraction of its original price, it waits humbly for a return to grace. Vintage car collector Joe Ventura waits along with it. In the meantime, he's lucky enough to live daily with this beautiful redhead.

By Petrolicious Productions / 8 February 2013
3 Comments

From the time the Ducati firm offered its very first motorcycle in 1950, a 48 cc bike weighing 98 pounds with a top speed of 40 mph, Ducati is now known for its high-performance motorcycles with their four-stroke L-twin engines.

Do we have any Ducati fans out there?

By Afshin Behnia / 8 February 2013
13 Comments

This is a garage, which displays no traces of any car enthusiast’s character and serves only as a space to showcase a handful of automobiles, but what a stunning showcase it is! The space demands a certain caliber of machine to be worthy of being sheltered in this shrine. On the day I visited the garage, four very special Alfa Romeos proudly occupied the space: a Giulietta SZ, a Giulia TZ, a Duetto, and the extremely rare, lust-worthy Tipo 33 Stradale.

By Petrolicious Productions / 7 February 2013

Valentine's Day is here again, and we have an idea that's sure to win you some points: Plan a Valentine's Daytrip. Perhaps you have a favorite daytrip destination, or maybe you want to go somewhere new, but either way, we've chosen some ingredients to make your Valentine's Day a great one. Grab your driving gloves, the keys to your classic car (or rent your favorite classic car), and pack a picnic and an overnight bag. Most importantly, pick up your Valentine!

By Petrolicious Productions / 6 February 2013
9 Comments

I suffer from a burning desire for small European RWD cars. Porsche 912s, BMW 2002s, and Alfa Romeo Giulias are some of the most painfully beautiful automobiles ever assembled. I would really like to get involved with such magnificent vehicles, but I fear that my stature is a limiting factor. Classic car enthusiasts of the six-foot-four-inch variety have slim options. Which of the vehicles listed above would be in my best interest to pursue?

By Afshin Behnia / 31 January 2013
7 Comments

Whenever I’m away from Milan too long, there are three places that I start to miss: the Madonnina, for the best Milanese home cooking, all the bars on the Navigli canal, and my favorite automobile bookstore ever, the Libreria dell’Automobile.  A car-lover’s paradise, Libreria dell’Automobile is run by a family of authentic gearheads. Though they ship internationally, and you can order everything online, I highly suggest you experience it in person.

By Petrolicious Productions / 25 January 2013
1 Comment

On Christmas Day, we shared with you Venisio Pagani's touching story of finding his father's Peugeot 70 years after having had to part with it due to the war.  In today's Garage Profile, you can get a better glimpse of Pagani's garage in Cortona, Italy, that is so perfectly cluttered it almost looks like a movie set.  Amongst the orderly chaos we found two rare machines from the WWII: a Zündapp motorcycle with sidecar and an Alfa Romeo Matta 4X4.

By Petrolicious Productions / 23 January 2013
3 Comments

Last week we asked you if you drive your vintage car in the snow.  This Friday, 160 drivers and their co-pilots answer this question in the most affirmative we can imagine with the start of the 25th Winter Marathon rally.  This is a TSD rally that starts in the stylish ski resort town of Madonna di Campiglio and covers 447 km (277 miles) of mountainous, snow- and ice-covered roads. The Winter Marathon is open to cars manufactured until 1968.

By Afshin Behnia / 21 January 2013
10 Comments

When I first met my friend Manuel about four years ago and saw that in his Alfa Romeo collection he had more GTVs than I have toes, I thought to myself, “Why on earth would you want so many examples of the same exact model”? How foolish I was.

I recently became the proud owner of my second 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV. Both are the same year and model, yet they're completely different animals. Let’s just say that each one scratches a different itch.

By Afshin Behnia / 14 January 2013
8 Comments

If you read my Alfa Summer Affair Series series, you’re very familiar with the ochre yellow 1968 Alfa Romeo GT 1750 that I bought to fulfill my fantasies. In the end, we left Ludie at Mario's trusted restoration shop to undergo a complete and thorough no-expenses-spared restoration.  I recently visited Mario and Ludie to see how the restoration is going, and here I share with you the top 10 terrible problems that Ludie had, plus one very positive note on which to end. 

By Afshin Behnia / 11 January 2013
4 Comments

There are a just over a handful of capable shops left in Southern California that know vintage Italian mechanicals well, and Santo’s Italian Car Service is one of the best.  You go to Santo for his unmatched expertise but stay for the company.  In fact, the first time I visited Santo, the experience reminded me of a classic barber shop scene, where gentlemen use a shave or a haircut as an excuse to get together and pass an entire afternoon shooting the breeze.

By Petrolicious Productions / 8 January 2013
12 Comments

Andy Greene's Sports and Vintage Race Cars is a special kind of a place. It's a haven for vintage cars to be maintained and in some cases brought back to life. Andy has a passion for all types of classic cars, but in particular the Ferrari marque that he has specialized in for over three decades. As one of the leading Ferrari mechanics in the country, Andy has worked on some of the cars most of us only dream about seeing one day.

By Petrolicious Productions / 28 December 2012
2 Comments

In this garage profile we bring you to one of Mr. Roberto Vesco's private garages in an undisclosed location outside of Brescia, Italy. Anyone who participates in the Mille Miglia every year with a pre-war classic (and has won it on occasion to boot) is an interesting person in our book. Inside Mr. Vesco's private garage, there were plenty of automotive treasures to kick-start any enthusiast's Attention Deficit Disorder.

By Petrolicious Productions / 25 December 2012
10 Comments

Some of the most precious gifts in life are the ones for which we didn't think to wish. They are the gifts that find us by surprise and connect us with family and loved ones who are no longer with us and those who are. This is a story of a man's passion for old cars that led him to such a gift.

May all your unwished wishes come true.

By Petrolicious Productions / 14 December 2012
4 Comments

In the heart of Milan, the city known for iconic cultural brands like Alfa Romeo, Campari, Prada, and many others that scream "Italian", there is a little garage that specializes in everything English.  Borghi Automobili is both a showroom selling new Morgans as well as a mechanic's garage specializing in vintage British cars.  Of course, we were pleased to also find a handful of rare Italian beauties, such as a one-off Maserati race car from the 50's and a super rare Bandini.

By Petrolicious Productions / 11 December 2012
2 Comments

You may have heard Kavinsky's music on the Drive soundtrack with the song Nightcall. Kavinsky is back with a video for his song Protovision, and it features a car we have a fondness for: the Ferrari Testarossa. Nothing is better than seeing and hearing the Testarossa flex its muscles to this '80's-sounding tune while blasting around the streets of downtown LA. 

By Petrolicious Productions / 29 November 2012
6 Comments

The Carabinieri are Italy's national military police force and have played an instrumental part in Italy's history, including helping bring down Mussolini during World War II.  What makes them even more badass is that not only do they get to wear chic uniforms and drive Alfa Romeos, but in the '60s and '70s they were the protagonists in many real-life car chases...

By Afshin Behnia / 22 November 2012
7 Comments

Some believe that a honeymoon is a concept borrowed from the elite of the Indian Subcontinent, or that it is a sardonic reference to the inevitable waning of love, like the phases of the moon. I didn’t know much about honeymoons, but I had a premonition that my honeymoon with Ludie would soon be over. While at the same time, I was sure that my honeymoon with Kika would have no end.

By Afshin Behnia / 19 November 2012
2 Comments

Perhaps our wedding somehow made everything look more vibrant (glimmering Tuscan yellows and warm terracottas), sound more melodious (a constant excitement buzzing in the air), or maybe it’s just that certain dreams are chronic. I couldn’t get my dream of driving through Tuscany with Ludie out of my mind. A honeymoon wouldn’t be complete without her.

By Afshin Behnia / 15 November 2012
1 Comment

I was having my doubts, second guessing myself. Maybe we were going too fast. Maybe it was time to re-evaluate our relationship. I mean, was I really capable of committing myself to Ludie–warts and all? Was this Alfa Romeo GTV right for me? Call me shallow, callous, unforgiving, or even mad.

By Petrolicious Productions / 14 November 2012

John's garage has been home to some of the the finest pedigrees. We look back at one of his favorite specimens the 1961 Ferrari 250 SWB.

Enjoy our Petrolicious photography of this iconic car.

By Amir Kakhsaz / 12 November 2012

Whoever was making Countach posters in the early ‘80s must have made millions of dollars. Every time someone brings up the Countach they start by waxing poetically about a poster on a wall. I must be the only car enthusiast in the world who never had such a poster, but then again, I was born in 1984, and by the time my last diaper met the trash, the Countach was relegated to history.

By Afshin Behnia / 12 November 2012
1 Comment

We all have our baggage—bits and pieces of stuff we carry around with us, and Kika and I both had our fair share. We folded, rolled, and packed every bit of us into bags that lined the narrow Milanese curb outside the lock box belonging to Ludie, my newly-acquired 1968 Alfa romeo GTV, wondering how to convince her to carry the load.

By Petrolicious Productions / 8 November 2012

This past Sunday we attended Best of France and Italy, an annual car show held in Van Nuys, California, on the first Sunday of every November. We look forward to this show every year, and we love that it's a casual event and attracts all kinds of driver cars. The cars being shown aren't only the super pristine, expensive cars, but there's a nice range of affordable cars as well.

By Afshin Behnia / 8 November 2012

Three months had passed since my night with Ludovica Fiorini.  It was time for Kika, my soon-to-be wife, to meet her—to meet that punchy, yellow-ochre 1968 Alfa Romeo GTV I so lusted after. It was time for Kika to know about my private obsession. I had to introduce her to my impulse buy.

By Alvise-Marco Seno / 5 November 2012
3 Comments

Passion can strike in the unlikeliest of places, the unlikeliest people, in the smallest of towns.  But when it strikes full force, it can make the unthinkable happen. Not long ago, amid the press molds, water jet mills, and lab testing equipment, Federico Bonomelli was consumed by a passion, and that passion had a marque—it was the Iso Rivolta.

By Afshin Behnia / 5 November 2012

When I first saw Ludovica Fiorini, I knew I had to have her.  I can’t blame it on her classic silhouette, her impeccable style, or even her spiritedness—I knew she had her fair share of flaws.  Those flaws simply didn’t matter.  Not at that time.  Not in February, in Italy, when the weather was unusually beautiful but on the verge of turning sour.

By Petrolicious Productions / 1 November 2012
1 Comment

Next Monday, we'll begin a six-piece article series filled with tales of romance and intrigue. Follow the adventures of our Petrolicious protagonists as they navigate blind romance, love triangles, and Italian roads in a 1968 Alfa Romeo GTV.

By Petrolicious Productions / 1 November 2012

During Italy’s most devastating years of the second World War, there were strategists beyond Mussolini’s commanders and generals.  There were revolutionaries other than resistance fighters.  Plans were being made, in secret, to motorize an entire nation.

By Petrolicious Productions / 31 October 2012

Whether he's beating last year's IRR at his hedge fund by day or waxing poetic over some single malt on the evening's theatrical performance, Aaron always has one thing on his mind: jumping into his Duetto to get out of Manhattan and reuniting with his surfboard in Montauk.

By Petrolicious Productions / 16 October 2012
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With a screaming, 1300cc twin-overhead cam engine, a lightweight aluminum body sculpted by Zagato, and a production run limited to 170, this is the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ. Watch our good friend, Alfa Romeo expert, and race car driver Anthony Rimicci wax poetically about this rare beauty.