Any Italian participants on the forum?

[Rob]

I’m looking for an Italian contact to do a bit of research concerning a Model T in Italy, in the 1912 timeframe.
Thanks,
Rob

[perry kete]

Rob,

Awhile back in a magazine I saw an article about a museum in Italy called the Blue Oval (Ford) I believe the founder was Paolo Gratton and I heard of a site they call Automotoclub Storico Italiano Site. These deal with antique autos so maybe someone there could provide a lead for you. Several years ago on this forum there was a thread about the different countries that participate and everyone was trying to count how many different folks were signing in from their country so maybe you may find a name in that thread. I'm no good at finding past threads or I would try to locate it.

[Rob]

Perry,
Thanks, good ideas. I’m trying to learn more about a Ford that competed in the 1912 Targa Floria. That year it was a 656 mile trek around Sicily, and a Ford finished 6th out of 26 entries, with 15 finishers. Fords would enter in later years, but not finish. For some reason this Ford, with a first time Targa driver (7th Targa Floria) would push some of the best cars in Europe to the finish:

The winner. A 287 cubic inch S.C.A.T.:

A group photo of several 1912 Targa Florio racers. Possibly the Ford is in the photo to the back? Cars with discernable numbers are:

#25 - Alfa, did not finish.

#26 - Fiat, did not finish, broken axle.

#15 - Primavesi, (driver Sergio Primavesi finished 6th in St. Petersburg to Moscow race). Finished 15th in Targa, 13 hours behind the Ford.

#10 - Fiat, finished 5th, 16 minutes ahead of Ford.

#14 - (I believe the number is 14), Fiat, finished 3rd, less than one hour ahead of 6th place Ford.

I believe the Fiat’s had 4 cylinder 9 liter (549 cu.in.) motors.

E12AC2A0-487D-4623-B849-862B071F654F.jpeg (128.45 KiB) Viewed 2179 times

Results:

To put this in context, one article wrote the following about the Targa Florio as of 1907:

1907 - “the three most important races in the world; the Targa Florio, the Kaiserpreis in Germany and the second French Grand Prix.”

[TRDxB2]

Some links that have contact possibilities
https://forums.autosport.com/topic/1207 ... orio-1912/
Contact at bottom of link (for English) info@targa-florio.it
http://www.targa-florio.it/en/archivio/ ... ga-florio/
Photo gallery
http://www.targapedia.com/album_targa_f ... 20(1).html

[Rob]

Thank you Frank,
I’ve seen two of the links, and one (forum from 2000) doesn’t accept my email. I sent an email off to the link you posted.

The racers were all classified as non stock in one description, so I wonder what T was used, and if it was modified.

Thank you again for the suggestions and help,
Rob