When travelling through the French Ardèche, it’s always a joy to find a nice, quiet hotel. Plenty of room, plenty of fresh air and plenty space to park your trusty 1926 Citroën C3. But because of the high altitude it can be cold too at night. Better make sure there’s a blanket on the hood and hope your engine will start easily in the morning. (postcard collection Olivier Chabanne) 

One of the world's XXL car collector's with a line up valued at over US$ 100 million, died 29 October in a.... car accident. Read about his collection. (special thanks to Jim Kruse)  

We received a friendly e-mail from pre-war afficionado Howard Musolf, past president of the Horseless Carriage Club of America. Howard was one of the happy few to claim one of our 50 special Hershey T-shirts: "Went there got the shirt. It was the best looking shirt of the show and I have had many compliments while wearing it. Nice to meet you and keep up the incredible work." Howard is showing of his original 'barnfound' 1908 REO 2 cylinder. He didn't want to give us too many details on the car and how he found it. Our educated guess, all you want to know about that car and more will be in the next glossy issue of the Horseless Carriage Club of America  

Today is All Saint’s Day, in many Catholic countries a holy day. A good reason to show this picture that, although a bit unclear, is nevertheless quite interesting. The photo comes from the collection of Vlad Capotescu who tells us that it is a Fiat 525 from 1929. But it’s not an ordinary Fiat, because this one was especially made for Pope Pius XI (click main pic for enlargement). It was an armoured car, but for the pope’s comfort it had special leather and silk chairs, gold plated wood inside and all the metal parts of the interior were also made of... gold. We wonder if this Fiat still exists. Can you tell us?
UPDATE by Rick A. Jorgensen: "My understanding is that the first motor vehicle made for a Pope was a Graham-Paige. I have heard that the car still exists in the Vatican. Photo at: check the Vatican's museum page. Please also see Catholic News : >>> "When the 1929 Lateran Pacts finally allowed popes to go freely outside Vatican City walls, Pope Pius XI became the first pope to put the rubber to the road in a U.S. Graham-Paige. He amassed a small fleet of donated papal cars and became something of an auto aficionado."  

It's a late thirties family car made by one of the larger, maybe The largest, car manufacturer in the world. The car was found a very very remote area. A young journalist whom we tell you more about later, contacted PreWarCar about the find and through our cooperation this treasure could come to western Europe and is now awaiting decisions about its future. When you know about the history of this model and understand its importance, you will agree with us that even the slightest attempt to restoration would be a fools deed. To your our knowledge only two of these prewar production cars survive up to this day. There may be more, but not known to any museum, and certainly not known to the producer. One more hint: forget all what you thought at a first glance at the photo and start thinking all over again. To confuse you even more, we like to invite to check the dashboard lay out (click). Before sending your answer be sure to read The Rules under Read More.   Read more

Another race, another win. The lady behind the wheel receives her bouquet of flowers and beams at the well-wishers. Although the photograph is badly damaged (click main pic for larger version), the car with number 76 can still be recognized as a circa 1928 BNC. And thanks to an earlier publication on the excellent website Memoire des Stands (about French automobiles and racing, but only in French), we do know that the circuit is Montlhéry in France. But now we are very curious to know who this smiling lady can be? Do you know? Drop us a mail!

Update II by Glen Robb: “It looks to me like that speedy lady, Hellé Nice.”
Update I by Richard Armstrong who suggests this could be Mlle. Maison Rogée, who -according to Bill Boddy- won the Grand Prix Féminin at Montlhéry in May 1930 in a BNC. 

A picture found in India, but it was taken outside a ‘weinstube’ (wine bar), probably somewhere in Germany or Austria. A large group of people surrounding a car that looks like an Opel, although we’re not sure. It is probably involved in a race or a rally or maybe it’s just a promotion ride for the wine bar. Again we’re not sure. Something is written in the left front wheel, which after enlargement of the picture appears to be a name: Adolph Woermann. Too bad the rest is indecipherable. Who can tell us more about the make of the car and perhaps of the seemingly happy occasion? (photo courtesy Harit Trivedi)

Update III by editor RB: “many more updates came in all pointing to the amazing story of adventurers Aloha and Walter Wanderwell and their trip around the world. Read this and enjoy!)
Update II comes from David Green: “Adolph Woermann owned a shipping company, Woermann-Linie AG which, in conjunction with Deutsche-Ost-Afrika-Linien ran ships to and from German East Africa, as well as up and down the coast. The wheel is not entirely indecipherable and the words Deutsche Ost Afrika are discernable, as well as AG in the previous line. The centre of attraction is the woman in jodhpurs who has just driven from somewhere with patronage from the Woermanns. Hence the advertising on the wheels.”
Updates came in from Grant Taylor, Layden Butler, Larry Sigworth, Manuel Voyages, Robert Rampton and Ced Pearce all claiming it’s a Model T Ford either a Speedster or a ‘cutdown’ as it was then known.
Robert Rampton: “it’s Wanderwell II, owned by an adventurer named Captain Walter Wanderwell. I believe it was taken in Germany sometime in 1922.”
Ced Pearce: “Aloha Wanderwell, standing next to the car, was an adventurous Canadian girl who toured the world with her lover, later husband, 'Captain' Walter Wanderwell.”

Editor RB: “Are there any more photo’s from Aloha around? If so, we might do a sequel about her advetures.”  

You would expect Rob Myers to be in London for today's sale.
Yet we spotted this Delage D8 DHC by Van Vooren in Amsterdam..! See the French licence plate(click!).  

How about the idea to see your car starring high above the over 500 entries? Send us an e-mail that you want to see a report of your cars performance Sunday next. And that you have a spare seat to accomodate reporter-photographer Rutger Booy for this purpose. The seat may be sporty, the seat may be classy, the seat may be modest, But if you can offer a mobile office with chauffeur we won't object either. Rutger is flexible, thin and pleasant company. No matter what you can offer, the reward will be an exclusive XL feature story in this place. Don't let slip a chance like that! Send us a quick e-mail with your contact details and LtB entry number.
Fabrizio Taiano of Milano most probably will have the scoop of the Brighton feature. He just offered a choice out of two competing cars. Nr. # 611 or car # 628  

Sometimes even two gallon can collector Bas de Voogd runs into a mystery can. His latest acquisition is one made by S.E.P. and has Arabian script on both front and side. The other side shows a half moon with the writing SF15. Is there someone amongst our readers who can translate the Arabian script and maybe even tell us what the letters S.E.P. stand for? Contact us!

Update III by Frans Hoekemeijer: "The letters S.E.P. stand for Société Egyptienne de Pétrole."
Update II again by Toby's assistant as well: "The Short Arab word is 'Benzine' and the long words down the side say 'The Egyptian Gas Company'.
Update I by Toby Ballard: "Hi Guys. You are in luck. One of my Physiotherapists that works for me is an Arab. She just translated that and it says "Benzine" (Oil) "