Each year the Cortile selects a marque or model to highlight for the annual event based upon factors such as historical significance, unique local interest, brand resurgence, etc.

History

The Proiettore Macchina concept was introduced in 2010, second year of the Cortile. Proiettore, in Italian, is the word for headlight. "Headlight" encapsulates our goal for Proiettore Macchina. We want to "enlighten" Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix attendees to unique and not often seen marques that have a rich and vibrant design or racing history.  

Proiettore Macchina 2013: Ferrari

Early in the 1960s, Ferrari was a little-known name in the United States. There was a small community of racers who had imported Ferraris, frequently used ones. These soon became non-competitive, and some, late in their lives, even acquired American engines. In 1961 or 1962, John Lundin, Gerry Sutterfield and Ken Hutchison were at the Elkhart Lake races with friends, and saw a Ferrari Barchetta in tatty condition. Later in the day, the hood was opened, revealing that the Barchetta had a Chevrolet engine! The group agreed that something had to be done to encourage preservation and restoration of such Ferraris. Ken, John and Gerry were motivated by this experience, and soon joined with others of like mind to develop a Ferrari enthusiasts’ club. On October 24, 1963 the Ferrari Club of America was founded and this year we celebrate their 50th Anniversary.

Proiettore Macchina 2012: Tribute to Sergio's

On November 20, 2011, Carrozzeria Sergio Scaglietti passed away. His vision of car design is what many say made Italian Cars "sexy" and he did it without blueprints or sketches, only a hammer. We think if you read our "Tribute to Sergio Scaglietti" you'll understand whey we honor him in 2012 as our Proiettore Macchina. Frankly, there's just not enough room here to even scratch the surface of our choice. Click the link.

On July 3, 2012 Carrozzeria Sergio Pininfarina passed away. His design firm created the rakish and elegant auto bodies of some of the most popular, and fastest, cars ever made by Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Fiat. 

In 2012 we honor both of the Sergio's for their most famous artworks and iconic contribution to automotive design.

Proiettore Macchina 2011: Lamborghini

After careful consideration the Proiettore Macchina for 2011 was selected to be Lamborghini.

The impetus for this dated back to conversations in 2008 with member James Tauberg at the PVGP Walnut Street Car Show about his '73 Espada III pictured here.

The Espada was "Lamborghini's intent was to create superlative grand touring cars for the world's richest and most powerful men"

Here are some of the factors that we considered in choosing Lamborghini for 2011:

• Awareness: The Cortile has had a number or visitors in the past with Lamborghini's. These cars have shown up a different times during the PVGP event and many did not know about the Cortile. Using the same logic that started the Cortile, the PVGP decided to bring all the Lambo's together for an event.
• Design changes: Lamborghini recently launched the all new Aventador on the heels of it's release of the Sesto Elemento concept that is rumored to be replacing the Gallardo by 2013.  Major shifts in design normally translate to value increases in a previous model's marque.  Before all of the existing Lamborghini's get snatched up by collectors and hidden away in garages we wanted everyone to have the opportunity to see the more recent "classics"
• Classic Design: Due to limited production of models such as the Espada's, 400 Islero, Jarama, Urraco, 1840 Countach, Jalpa's and many others, and their very unique design elements we wanted to flush out these very unique macchina and invite them to the Cortile.

Be sure to check out these links on the Cortile Website:

• Lamborghini over the Years - contains a history of model production numbers
• The 1973 Lamborghini Espada III - The Photo's are from member James Tauberg's Espada. 
• Lamborghini Aventador LP-400 4: 2012
• History of Automobili Lamborghini SpA

Proiettore Macchina 2010: Alfa Romeo

In 2010 our choice was simple. It just had to be Alfa Romeo!

• Alfa Century: Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automaker founded on June 24, 1910 in Milan. It was the 100th Anniversary of the Marque
• 2009 Inaugural Cortile: At our very first event, member Mark Gessler brought his 1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 to the Cortile while he raced his Alfa in the PVGP. "Vestiges of this seminal design can be seen more than 20 years later in the Corvette split-window coupe, Jaguar E-type coupe and many fastback coupés that followed." It was a very unique and very very rare macchina and attendees to the Cortile where amazed at the design.
• Racers: In 2009 the PVGP hosted the following cars on the track: 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport S.A., 1930 Alfa Romeo 1750, 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500S, 1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500, 1947 ALFA ROMEO 6C2500 SS, 1947 Alfa Romeo 2500 S 6C, 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS SWB 2 Seat Pininfarina Cabriolet, 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Barchetta. 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato, 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato II "Coda Tronca", 1968 Alfa Romeo Barchetta, 1974 Alfa Romeo Montreal, & a 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Coupe... the Alfa's where here!

Proiettore Macchina 2009: Lancia (unofficial)

For our first year of the Cortile, although we didn't promote while trying to get everything together to create a car show from scratch, our "un-official" Proiettore Macchina was Lancia. Member Walt Spak was instrumental in making the very first Cortile a massive success. It seemed that the 'stars where alinged' in 2009 for Lancia.

• Traveling Macchina: The PVGP was scheduled smack dab in the middle of some car shows between the east coast and west coast of North America. It seems that there where going to be some very very unique and rare Lancia's right in Pittsburgh for the show.

This included:

• 1955 Lancia Aerelia - This Pininfarina designed beauty is one of 239 built, seven of which found a watery grave on the Andrea Doria. Of just 239 Spyder Americas built, 181 were left hand drive B24S models (‘S’ for ‘sinistra’) and the remaining 59 were right-hand drive B24 models. A number of brand new Spyders destined for the USA were lost on the ill-fated ocean liner Andrea Doria, which contributes to the model’s low survival rate: perhaps 150 cars are believed to survive worldwide today.

• 1963 Lancia Flaminia GTL - If you did not see the complete restoration pictures of this car, the hand bent steering wheel, the complete body rebuild, from local Pittsburgh member David Adams, you have missed a big opportunity to see a piece of history. The Flaminia was Lancia's flagship model at that time, replacing the Aurelia. It was available throughout its lifetime as saloon,coupé and cabriolet. The Flaminia coupé and cabriolet were coachbuiltcars with bodies from several prestigious Italian coachbuilders. Four "presidential" stretched limousine Flaminias were produced by Pininfarina for use on state occasions.There were only 12,633 Flaminias sold over 13 years. Unusually in the automotive world, coupés outsold the four door saloon, despite the higher prices of their coachbuilt bodies.

Proiettore Macchina 2008: Ferrari (super un-official)

As we launched the "Italian Cars" as Marque of the Year" in 2008, there was nothing that says Italian macchina like Ferrari.  

We went after Ferrari's and we had a tremendous turnout. A wonderful group for the FCA- Mid-Atlantic and FCA-Penn Jersey Ferrari chapters joined us. THAT turnout is what inspired the entire Proiettore Macchina idea.

Be sure and check out the photo albums from the 2008 show.  The picture here is from 2010.  Ferrari has such a great turnout they have their own green!