Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 00:07:17 -0400
From: "John Hertzman" <johnhertzman@domain.elided>
Subject: Still more replicars, with some Alfa content
Ron Horowitz mentioned a possibly Boneschi-bodied first version of the 4R
Zagato. It sounds to me out of character for Boneschi and also for the premise
of the project, but odd things happen. There was, however, another 1750 Zagato
replicar called the Leontina, built by Carrozzeria Pettenelli in 1975 and '76;
the body appears to have been an absolutely faithful reproduction on a ladder
frame with solid axles, leaf springs, and period-correct friction dampers. The
wheels and tires give it away - much closer to original proportion than the
4R's, but still not full height skinnies - and fatal incongruity reared its
ugly head in fake brake drums enclosing the disk brakes. Along with a proper
Alfa four it used an Alfetta transaxle, probably aided by a high floor true to
the original's seating. Very few were built - the sources say three to five -
which decreases the odds on it being the car Ron's friend was selling.