To test a bit our knowledge of the golden years of Ferrari, what do these pictures have in common? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Sure! Well done! Sagan was a higly appreiated guest of Enzo's, and visited more than once. But the other gentleman? I am sure some of us must know....
I can't help but here's another pic from the same day, in winter 1958... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Apropos Sagan, this clip is one of my all time favorites. Most of the dialogue is in English and there are some spectacular images embedded into the video. I don't know if its just me but I laugh with tears in my eyes every time I see it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QfUXQaCcUA
Definitely La grande Sagan! We still don't know who the mysterious man is in the pics... Those of us who visit Maranello since many years and know the real whereabouts of the "Maranellesi" must have met him. A clue: Fondazione Manní, next to the tabaccheria on the 5 road junction, right in the centre.. Ages ago, during decades, a hotel with a renowned local restaurant, with a quite notorious lady as tenant, called Roberta. Those who have known that place will know that today it's kind of a trendy bar, where some locals still come to meet and talk about the great years....
If you are kucky enough, may be the name of this guy is listed here : Io, meccanico della Ferrari dal 1945 - Sport - Gazzetta di Modena
Magnifico! Ma non si parla del signore misterioso.... Aspettiamo le risposte dei storici. Let's wait and see.......
Thanks, yes, great stuff! But no pics of her California Spider. What was the car in the photo right after the XK120?
The link doesn't work. It says "The uploader has not made this video available in your country." john
Thanks, neverheard... :? But surely French and exclusive. I also could not help smiling when she talked about the Aston (DB2/4) she had a terrible accident with, that it was because of some sand on the road, and that it was a wonderful car, but a bit heavy to steer, for a lady! Slightly OT, but I have no idea about the man in question and if the casting is related to the artwork (or unidentified object) but so it should be from 1958, I guess also before she got her California Spider that I have seen a photo of somewhere. Edit: ok, it's a crusifix.
1966 picture Francoise Sagan Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider 3021GT. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ahhh, but it's hard to remember something you don't know, you know? I think it's like "does not compute..." I do remember a whole bunch of Ferraris, Lancias, Bugattis, Pegasos, Bizzarrinis, Lamborghinis and Jaguars though. And thanks Steven, that's a great shot of her SWB Cf. Spider, also love the 2CV behind her, I am sure she preferred the 250 GT Spider with her driving style!
As much as I love the 250 GT SWB California, as much as I like the works of Mme Sagan, we still don't have the name of the gentleman in the first pictures.... Little clue: Fondazione Manni = Bar Ristorante Drake ! Bar Ristorante Drake - Ristoranti Maranello
Amazing that nobody seems to know, or remember, such an important man in the history of Ferrari, especially in this vintage thread.
Well, of all the original engines, mounted in cars spoken of in this Vintage thread, many passed through the hands of this fascinating man, since he was 'Capo della fonderia' during decades.
Hello, Sorry I do not know who he is, but I hope to learn many more things about the early cars and the makers. I could see that it was the same man in photo nr. 1 and photo nr. 2 and that in the nr. 2 old photo he was preparing a sand casting in front of Enzo and Francoise, so he must have been an artisan, a master caster. That is why I think the cast crucifix was also a clue, but I have not seen it before. I am not a technical person but I enjoy a lot seeing films and photos about the engines and cars being made, parts casted and machined and put together. Cheers, Pekka T. Fin.
OK, I know he was at one time the head of the Ferrari factory foundry. That explains the picture with Enzo and the lady, the casting mold and the sand casting method. And it explains the bronze crucifix. I googled but could not find a name. Pray tell, what is it? Perry
Thanks Cyril! Now I can see why this was not so easy. Even Google does not seem to know much about him, I could find his phone number in Maranello, but not much else. So clearly one of the great talents who remained behind the curtains. There must have been many other master craftsmen and designers who also have remained more or less anonymous. Cheers! Pekka T. Fin.
Exactly! The one and only Gemino Battilani, Head of the Ferrari Foundry department, for many decades. He worked, from a very early age together with the Commendatore, until he went on retirement. I had the great honor, and pleasure, to meet this fantastic man in the heart of Maranello, in the bar/restaurant Drake, in May 2013. He is a typical Maranello local, as they are so proud about "their cars". He is so proud about "his"more than 1000 engine blocks he made. We chatted for hours and hours, and invited me in his home. As I drove him to his house in my Challenge Stradale, he grumbled between his teeth, with a big smile on his warm but rinkled face: "Dio, che macchina!" As we live in this fast changing era, with relatively little time and intrest for the past, I thought it would be nice to stand still and pay respect to the people who, far away from the taste of champagne on the racetracks, have made Ferrari to what it is today. At the recent auctions of Scottsdale, Paris and Amelia Island, astronomical amounts of money are paid for fabulous, historic, rare and sometimes unique Ferraris. But let's never forget the magnificent men and women who, in the shadow of Enzo and his sale successes, and for rather low salaries, have litteraly manufactured those magnificent cars. Battilani is one of those, one of the really greatest. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
