There were some great sports cars, that is true, but a big part of the appeal of The Best of France and Italy car show every year in Woodley Park, Van Nuys is all the little family cars that got Italian and French families around in the transition from post-war rebuilding to eventual prosperity. Over 350 great examples of the best of France and Italy showed up this year! Citroen XMThe Citroën XM was manufactured from 1989 to 2000, perfect for the 25-year rule. Sean Aron normally races BMWS - and wins! - and he has many cars that work and are engineered in a rational fashion. Just to throw a monkey wrench into that perfect life, he bought this, and he and friend Dave Coleman have been working and pounding on it since. It made it to the show, which was a miracle attributable only to the fact that the Citroen plant in Cerizay is only a few hours' drive from Lourdes. Sacre bleau!1961 Lancia AppiaThis one is very cute, but it's like a kitten that lets you pet it for a while then bites you. IYKYK. Best party trick: suicide doors that open to reveal no B-pillar!1966 Lancia Flaminia GTFlaminia GTs had bodies by Carrozzeria Touring. It had a triple-barrel carburetor on top of a 2.8-liter V6 mounted aft of the front axle. The transaxle was mounted forward of the rear axle. It was perfect!I got to drive one once - not this one - and loved it. This one is for sale. Asking price $83,650. Alfa Romeo Giulia QuadrifoglioThis model is powered by a Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6, making 505 horsepower. It is a blast to drive but cost almost $90,000 when it was for sale on the market.Alfa stopped making these for the U.S. in 2024. Pity that.Alfa Romeo MontrealSee the license plate? Gandini! The owner said he had a conversation with Marcello Gandini. "Do you speak Italian," I asked."I had a translator." Gandini signed the dash!Alfa Romeo AlfettaAlfa Romeo made the Alfetta from 1972 to 1987.Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint SpecialeThe Giulietta Sport Speciale traces its roots in the Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica (B.A.T.) concept cars penned by Franco Scaglione at Bertone in the 1950s.1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia SuperThe Giulia Super transferred the technology from the racing TI Super to a road car.1961 Fiat 1500 OSCA CabrioletThis was Gregg Newbury's first car in high school. He found it 31 years later in the Netherlands in boxes and here it is at Best of F&I!Fiat 1100Fiat 850 Familiare1959 Lamborghini 3-Cylinder TractorFor sale! Asking price: $29,500. The owner was driving it around the show. Chevy Pickup with a MotocicloVespaThis family of three later circulated through the show, mom and dad on the Vespa, Junior in the sidecar. Citroens DSPeugeot 4031964 Renault DauphineRenault 10Renault R5 Turbo 2Citroen LNA 4-CylinderCitroen H VanThis H Van was rebuilt by our friend Jean-Francois Martin of Marrs Automotive in Santa Clarita.Alfa Romeo Giulia TZRally CarsCitroen D CabrioletMaserati Biturbo SMaserati 3500 GTMaserati Bora1971 Maserati Ghibli SS 4.91969 Lamborghini EspadaMichael Trivich has owned this one for 40 years!Lamborghini TractorFerrari 308 GT 41964 Iso Rivolta GTLancia FlaviaLancia AppiaSuicide doors and no B-pillar!Alfa Romeo