Best of France and Italy 2016 was indeed the Best

You'd expect a lot of great Alfas at a show featuring Italian hardware, and they were here...

You’d expect a lot of great Alfas at a show featuring Italian hardware, and they were here…

I’ve told you before that this is a great show every year, and this year, it was again. All of the usual Italian and French made or designed subjects, plus a cross section of the strange, rare, and often wonderful.

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As you may know, this event is owned and promoted by my friends Chuck and Tina who own and operate Autobooks – Aerobooks in Burbank, California. If you’ve never been you must go. It is one of the last remaining books stores and magazine stands still catering to things with engines, and various combinations of wheels and wings. I love these folks and I love this place.

A police, law enforcement or random emergency Fiat based little sedan with lettering in a language I don't speak, sorry...

A police, law enforcement or random emergency Fiat based little sedan with lettering in a language I don’t speak, sorry…

Its easier to simply show you a scrapbook of great Kirk Gerbracht photos than to print you pages of text telling you about the show. So here goes, please enjoy and keep scrolling till you reach the end.

A slate gray over red Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder is just NEVER wrong in my book.

A slate gray over red Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder is just NEVER wrong in my book.

...nor anything not to like about this Bertone bodied 2600 Sprint either. Not as light and lithe as some of the smaller Alfas, but a great long legged cruiser that can still dance, with a twin cam straight six that's got torque and makes a marvelous noise...

…nor anything not to like about this Bertone bodied 2600 Sprint either. Not as light and lithe as some of the smaller Alfas, but a great long legged cruiser that can still dance, with a twin cam straight six that’s got torque and makes a marvelous noise…

Proving that you can have fun with only 17 horsepower if you're cute enough.

Proving that you can have fun with only 17 horsepower if you’re cute enough.

Yummy nummy 750 Moretti that I never get tired of looking at...

Yummy nummy 750 Moretti that I never get tired of looking at…

I don't recall the deets on this fab custom bodied Alfa, but it was Gorgyussss.

I don’t recall the deets on this fab custom bodied Alfa, but it was Gorgyussss.

This sparkling silver Dino arrived on a trailer and looked fresh out of the body shop, will be pretty when done.

This sparkling silver Dino arrived on a trailer and looked fresh out of the body shop, will be pretty when done.

Dino V-6 well and truly blinged, but will certainly sound glorious when done and running.

Dino V-6 well and truly blinged, but will certainly sound glorious when done and running.

Dino cabin: Some Assembly Required.

Dino cabin: Some Assembly Required.

I just spent a week in one of the new Fiat 124 Spyders, and enjoyed it a bunch.

I just spent a week in one of the new Fiat 124 Spyders, and enjoyed it a bunch.

This formerly barn found Alfa GT Zagato has been mechnically freshened and is now a driver, while masking taped headlight bezel and old beat up paint remain. Read all about it in my book, Exotic Barn Finds if you haven't already.

This formerly barn found Alfa GT Zagato has been mechnically freshened and is now a driver, while masking taped headlight bezel and old beat up paint remain. Read all about it in my book, Exotic Barn Finds if you haven’t already.

Pardon the unabashed plug but you can buy it at the aforementioned Autobooks in Burbank, publisher direct from CarTechBooks.com or on Amazon.com.

Pardon the unabashed plug but you can buy it at the aforementioned Autobooks in Burbank, publisher direct from CarTechBooks.com or on Amazon.com.

I'm not sure if the lovely young woman at left was trying to snap this Alfa Romeo Montreal, but she should have been. Fabulous concept car design, with a race derivef 4-cam V-8 up front. Yum.

I’m not sure if the lovely young woman at left was trying to snap this Alfa Romeo Montreal, but she should have been. Fabulous concept car design, with a race derivef 4-cam V-8 up front. This car is a vroom with a view.

Doubly Bubbly. All say "Zagato."

Doubly Bubbly. All say “Zagato.”

There are so many interesting engine configurations out in the car world -- this Lancia V-4 is a dandy.

There are so many interesting engine configurations out in the car world — this Lancia V-4 is a dandy.

Lots of tech advances in this Lancia

Lots of tech advances in this Lancia

If there's a cleaner, more blinged out Citroen Mehari in the world, I've never seen it.

If there’s a cleaner, more blinged out Citroen Mehari in the world, I’ve never seen it.

I dunno.

I dunno.

Smoooooth Citroen SM with Euro headlights, no tack on rub strips, and rare optional alloys, plus soothing color combo. Nice...

Smoooooth Citroen SM with Euro headlights, no tack on rub strips, and rare optional alloys, plus soothing color combo. Nice…

There's never not room in my garage for a Maserati 3500 as nice as this one.

There’s never not room in my garage for a Maserati 3500 as nice as this one.

Maserati's superlative Bora is a star any where, any time.

Maserati’s superlative Bora is a star any where, any time.

Late in the model run DeTomaso Pantera GT5/S is a rare buggy. Something less than 20 were ever properly imported here. Take THAT, Countach!

Late in the model run DeTomaso Pantera GT5/S is a rare buggy. Something less than 20 were ever properly imported here. Take THAT, Countach!

Of course Jay Leno was there...

Of course Jay Leno was there…

...and of course he brought on of his Miuras.

…and of course he brought on of his Miuras.

Always lots of great Ferraris at this even, including these two Lussos and a365 "Queen Mum."

Always lots of great Ferraris at this even, including these two Lussos and a365 “Queen Mum.”

Talk about fine lines. 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet looks great in Monaco, or in Woodley Park.

Talk about fine lines. 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet looks great in Monaco, or in Woodley Park.

Still The One, for me anyway: Go Big D!

Still The One, for me anyway: Go Big D!

7-Litre Grifo on Borranis does everything right...

7-Litre Grifo on Borranis does everything right…