"for many many years despite the heat and fumes"

[JHertzman@domain.elided]

In AD7-1310 Charlie writes, of "the one that looked like a blimp", "Cool it 
wasn't: the radiator and ENGINE were both inside the passenger cabin! But, 
they told us in Arese, the Count and his family used that car regularly for 
many many years despite the heat and fumes this must have subjected them to.  
Quite a brilliant idea, although a primitive execution.  Also, pretty 
forgiving family!"

"They" at Arese may have lost something in translation. Fusi shows two photos 
of the car- one, as it was built in 1914 by Castagna for the Conte Ricotti, 
and a second, as it was in 1915 after they cut the roof off - - "La stessa 
vettura trasformata in Torpedo nel 1915". 

The car in the museum is not the car in the photos- it is a "recreation" 
built from the photos by Fusi and his staff after the museum was established. 
There are better photos of the original in Fusi's book on Merosi's cars, and 
it is obvious that the craftsmanship and finish on the replica is vastly 
superior to that of the original, as is often the case with "restorations". 
The old saw that "They don't build them like they used to" is truer than it 
is intended to be.

John H.
Raleigh, N.C.

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