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Daimler SP250 Celebrates 50th Anniversary, Sidney Gets a Treat
in Classical Drives, on July 3, 2009
Walking down Sidney BC's main street recently on a fine sunny day, I spotted a Daimler SP250, known as a "Daimler Dart" until Chrysler threatened legal action. Although SP250s are scarce I remember them primarily because a fellow sports car club member raced one in the same Ontario ...
New Bertone BAT Will Fly High at Concorso Italiano
in Classical Drives, on July 1, 2009
If you thought there was something familiar about this car you'd be right. Remember the spectacular Bertone-designed "BAT" Alfas of the late 1950s? Like most Italian-designed cars of the period they were years ahead of their time. Not necessarily practical but sparkling with design ...
Classic Bentley Tour Arrives on My Doorstep
in Classical Drives, on June 29, 2009
Some classic car owners are content to leave their charges in museums or humidity-controlled garages. Others believe the cars should be driven and even exposed to the same hazards they faced when new. Among the latter are members of the Bentley Drivers Club , who organised a tour of thirty-fou...
Classic Car Auctions Going Cyberspace
in Classical Drives, on June 26, 2009
...pendick, Consignment Specialist, RM Classic Cars, Inc. "RM's 30 years of experience in the collector car hobby is being extended into the realm of e-commerce by offering our valued clients a ...
Wanted: Oldest Pontiac Plus Oldest Pontiac With Original Owner
in Classical Drives, on June 24, 2009
Pontiac, soon to become one of the Lost Marques of America. Just this day I read that GM would shortly discontinue the Solstice and the Vibe. Mind you, the former was a niche car whose image was diminished by sharing it with Saturn and a British Vauxhall , while the latter was a Toyota Matrix...
My Favorite Buick, a Roadmaster at RM's Meadowbrook Auction
in Classical Drives, on June 22, 2009
Of all the vintage Buicks that I admire, perhaps none are as close to my heart as the immediate pre-war Roadmasters. The long hood, sweeping fenders and chrome-bedecked grilles do it for me, especially knowing there's a mellow inline-eight at my command. I drove one only once, during an Onta...
Porsche's Affordable 912s to Gather in California
in Classical Drives, on June 19, 2009
Sometimes great cars get overlooked because they are forced to compete with a more powerful sibling. That was certainly true of the Porsche 912. Essentially a 4-cylinder version of the 911 it never had a chance up against the latter's 6-cylinder engine, which was part of the excitement when t...
The Ultimate Fathers Day Gift for a Classic Car Guy
in Classical Drives, on June 17, 2009
If I could give myself a Fathers Day gift it would be an all-expenses paid trip to Detroit to see the annual Eyes on Design concours d'elegance. I'd do so because this event is attended by many of America's car designers and automotive decision makers and is therefore aimed at attra...
Ultimate Bentley Display Promised for 2009 Pebble Beach
in Classical Drives, on June 15, 2009
The cars at Pebble Beach are always spectacular but the 59th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will present something truly special. On August 16th it promises to "showcase the most impressive collection of Bentley team cars ever assembled." The early 3-litre car that ushered in th...
MGB-GT, Yours for Just $20 in Museum Charity Raffle
in Classical Drives, on June 12, 2009
It isn't often that I participate in so-called "lucky draws," especially those where the first prize is a brand-new million dollar+ home. What would I, a bachelor of considerable years, do in an 8-room house, anyway? I could barely afford the taxes let alone the services of a cleani...
Why the Vintage Racing League Should Matter to You
in Classical Drives, on June 10, 2009
If you love vintage cars and if, like many of us, you're also a motor racing fan, you have to appreciate The Vintage Racing League . It advertises itself as "the world's largest online community for people that love vintage cars" and I'm not about to argue with that claim. ...
It's Not Called a Sunroof for Nothing
in Classical Drives, on June 8, 2009
Summer, for those of us who live up north, is special. It raises hopes for the future, gets us outdoors, even encourages a change of wardrobe. It's also the beginning of the sunroof season. Thus I'm about to have a hole cut into my 2003 Focus ZX5 so that a pop-up sunroof can be fitted. Am...
Delahaye Book Beats Depression for the Quickest of Clicks
in Classical Drives, on June 5, 2009
Though I've seen few such cars in person I've always admired France's Delahaye for its beautiful bodies. Award-winning artist Michael Furman obviously feels the same. Delahaye Styling and Design , a book by Richard Adatto and Diane Meredith, features original photography by the a...
RM Offers Rarely Seen Chrysler Airflow Coupe at Meadow Brook
in Classical Drives, on June 3, 2009
It's not unusual to spot a Chrysler Airflow (or its DeSoto sibling) at an auction. Normally these would be 4-door sedans, much maligned for their unpopular "streamlined design." Often forgotten is that the Airflow was also available as a 2-door, which makes the appearance of this 19...
Buy Yourself a Piece of Racing History
in Classical Drives, on June 1, 2009
As Pebble Beach 2009 approaches, the great classic car show looks more and more like a competition between auctions and special events. Gooding & Company is on the pole with the Don Lyons Collection . Consisting of seven automobiles, it focuses on Indy racing and spans nearly 80 years of mot...
Mike Hawthorn, Britain's First F1 Champion, Remembered in Art
in Classical Drives, on May 29, 2009
On January 2nd, 1959, I was working the morning shift at CKFH in Toronto. The station's news policy was of the "rip and read" type, where we announcers ripped off items endlessly flowing from a Broadcast News paper roll. As a motor racing fan I couldn't help but notice a news fl...
Vancouver All British Show Highlight No. 5: 1934 Aston Martin Mk II
in Classical Drives, on May 27, 2009
The modern Aston Martins are so spectacular we sometimes forget that the legendary British marque has a long and noble history, dating back to 1914 when Old Etonian Lionel Martin built a car to drive in the Aston Clinton hillclimb. During the 1920s and 1930s, Aston Martin sports cars were renow...
Vancouver All British Show Highlight No. 4: Sunbeam Alpine Mk 1
in Classical Drives, on May 25, 2009
It may not appear on anyone's "most beautiful cars" list but for me the original Sunbeam Alpine deserves to be there, as would almost any car designed by Raymond Loewy. Perhaps the Alpine is overlooked because it lacks stunning performance, even though it has the lines of a sports...
Vancouver All British Show Highlight No. 3: Rolls-Royce Touring Limousine
in Classical Drives, on May 22, 2009
My field of dreams is filled with vintage automobiles, and so I was obviously in dreamland when surrounded by Rolls-Royce "motor cars" of all years and types at Vancouver's 2009 All British show. Just imagine being next to dozens of fine automobiles purchased originally by the rich ...
Vancouver All British Show Highlight No. 2: The Elegant AC Ace
in Classical Drives, on May 20, 2009
Yes, yes, I know. We're supposed to be totally enraptured by Carroll Shelby's Cobras, unquestionably one of the world's great sports cars. Like the rest of you, I'm in awe, nevertheless I prefer the original AC Ace , the car that gave its chassis, frame, and good looks to the Cob...
Vancouver All British Show Highlight No. 1: Morgan Three-Wheeler
in Classical Drives, on May 18, 2009
When H.F.S. Morgan began making cars in 1909 his first model was a three-wheeler : two wheels up front, the driving wheel at the rear. And that's the only kind of vehicle the factory manufactured until a four-wheeler was announced in 1935. Unlikely though it may seem, Morgan's three-wh...
Classic Motor Racing, Seen From the Driver's Seat
in Classical Drives, on May 14, 2009
I was reluctant to recommend this DVD video series to our visitors. Who but the most dedicated vintage racing fan would want to sit through seven hours of action, mostly shot from the driver's seat? But then I remembered a period, decades ago, when sports car sound effects LPs were popular am...
Ellana, Our First Choice at 2009 RM Ferrari Maranello Auction
in Classical Drives, on May 13, 2009
...tored over fifteen years after being possessed by several owners, including German Mercedes-Benz collector Helmar Broich of Mönchengladbach, who drove it in the 1993 Mille Miglia Storica. Manfred Hell...
Packard Stars Among Vintage Cars, Here in My Own Backyard
in Classical Drives, on May 11, 2009
They cruised into Sidney-by-the-Sea on Saturday, May 09. They were members of vintage car clubs located all over Vancouver Island, plus a few welcome visitors from the nearby State of Washington . With over 200 cars on show, they constituted the largest group to appear in our town and I sincer...
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2009
in Classical Drives, on May 10, 2009
There is no doubt, at least in my mind, that classic Driver magazine delivers the European concours and show scene better than any Web site or publication. Once again it has excelled itself with coverage of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2009 . If that sounds exotic, indeed it ...
The Capri, Europe's Ford Mustang and BMW Beater
in Classical Drives, on May 8, 2009
Ah, the Ford Capri! The handsome coupe was Europe's version of the Mustang, built from components of British Ford sedans, just as the former was constructed from Falcon part bins. This year marks the Capri's 40th anniversary, nearly two-million having been produced during its 18-year run....
Coming: The Best British Car Show This Side of Britain
in Classical Drives, on May 6, 2009
The UK's auto industry may be a mere shadow of its past but all over the world you'll find enthusiasts keen to own, restore, or just admire a British car. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Name notwithstanding, the attraction probably has some...
Peace and Love Jewelry
in The Jewelry Weblog, on May 4, 2009
...lt of the designer's personal journey. A lover of everything pink and a collector of hearts in all shapes and sizes, Davis began to design as an outlet for a harried life that includes raising thr...
Chevrolet Bel Air Honours LA Residential Enclave
in Classical Drives, on May 4, 2009
Bel Air! The name had a magic ring to it in those years, for Bel Air was a wealthy and gated residential community in the Westside hills of Los Angeles, and thus an appropriate model name for Chevrolet, then seeking to upgrade its image. In 1954 Chevrolet's lead over rival Ford had been a mer...
Lost American Marques: Hupmobile
in Classical Drives, on May 1, 2009
To modern ears Hupmobile , as the name of a car, might sound a little odd. Oldsmobile, yes, for Olds has a pleasant ring to it but Hupmobile? Still, that didn't prevent more than a million owners from buying and enjoying these mid-size, middle-class, and often distinctive motor cars until th...
Steve Vaubel Jewelry
in The Jewelry Weblog, on April 29, 2009
... or yellow gold . Each piece is handmade, signed, and numbered. The customer who buys a Vaubel is a collector at heart, enjoying the current designs as much as pieces acquired ten years ago.
Vau...
Fabulous Woodie Collection Goes on the Block in Monterey
in Classical Drives, on April 29, 2009
A little over a month ago I posted a blog about the Nick Alexander Woodie collection , probably the world's greatest assembly of Ford and Mercury station wagons with wood-body trim. Remarkably, those very cars are going up for auction during the 2009 Pebble Beach classic car week. Indeed, R...
GM Drops Pontiac, Journalists Miss the Point
in carzz.org, on April 29, 2009
By now the entire world, or least the world that actually cares, will be aware that General Motors will soon close the lid on its long-time Pontiac marque . Note that I said "marque" not "brand," the latter being a marketing maven's method of reducing a great product to j...
Austin Healey Shines at Victoria BC Car Show
in Classical Drives, on April 27, 2009
Much as I enjoy writing about car concours in Europe and America I'll be the first to admit there are thousands of local shows that can be just as much fun for entrants and spectators. We have dozens here on BC's Vancouver Island and though the cars may not be spectacular the easy-going ...
Classic Car Collector Buys a Spitfire
in Classical Drives, on April 24, 2009
...y two-seater Supermarine Mk IX Spitfire aircraft was recently sold for $2,527,784 during a Bonhams Collectors Motor Car sale . The buyer was Steven Brooks, a British financier and polar adventurer, w...
How to Ship Your Classic Car Home
in Classical Drives, on April 22, 2009
So you've just found the classic car of your dreams, negotiated a fair price, and need to ship it home. Except that you live in Bellingham, WA and the car is in Sarasota, FL. How do you find the best price without spending hours on the phone haggling with folks you've never met? The "...
Own One of the Greatest Racing Prototypes at Ferrari Leggenda e Passione
in Classical Drives, on April 21, 2009
When the Ferrari Leggenda e Passione auction in Maranello, Italy opens on May 17 you can bet they won't be celebrating the F1 car's 2009 performance. As of this writing, not a single point earned. It's not that the team and its drivers aren't capable of winning but all-new technic...
Driving With the World's First Computer-based Rally Navigator
in Classical Drives, on April 20, 2009
I was with one of the original computer nerds, though I doubt he knew what that meant and I certainly didn't. It was the 1960s and we were competing in the Canadian International Winter Rally in a factory-backed Volkswagen Beetle; me as driver, my friend as navigator. In those years the Win...
Model-Making Klutz Admires 1-6th Scale Corvette Engine That Runs
in Classical Drives, on April 17, 2009
Way, way back when Elvis first made an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show I was a radio announcer in North Bay Ontario. No disc jockeys in those days, folks... we covered everything from funeral announcements to local hit parades. Already a sports car enthusiast, in my spare moments at the statio...
Classic Motorcycles to Appear at Pebble Beach
in Classical Drives, on April 15, 2009
This guy must have been nuts. Wearing only a bathing suit, Roland "Rollie" Free rode "Gunga Din," a Vincent HRD V-Twin, the ninth in the new Black Shadow series, to a smouldering 150.313 mph in 1947, smashing the previous American speed record and establishing a new world reco...
Super Mario Chess Collector's Edition
in Wangtam, on April 14, 2009
... Super Mario Chess Collector's Edition
ZuneHD.net
Mikeyy Twitter XSS Mutates & Continues to Attack
'Hyperlocal' Web Sites Deliver News Without Newspapers
Deconstructing Apple&#...
Early Japanese Car Models Arrive in New York
in Classical Drives, on April 13, 2009
One of the most unusual model car collections ever to be presented to the public will be on view July 10-August 16, 2009 at the Japan Society , 333 East 47th Street, New York. "Buriki: Japanese Tin Toys from the Golden Age of the American Automobile, The Yoku Tanaka Collection" spotlig...
So What is a Sports Car? Answer Below
in Classical Drives, on April 10, 2009
...no never hosted the Today show but he became the star of the Tonight show and is now a renowned car collector. Hmmm... there must be something in that hosting business.
...
Coming to Pebble Beach? Leave the Golf Clubs at Home
in Classical Drives, on April 8, 2009
...xpert team is extremely knowledgeable about selling exotic sports cars, classics and other high-end collector vehicles. In fact, Mecum was selling world-class Ferraris in the late '80s." Appr...
The Best F1 Racing, Maybe Even the Best Auto Racing, Period
in Classical Drives, on April 6, 2009
If you're not an F1 race fan please accept my apologies for this post. But as one who's been watching F1 for decades and sometimes commenting on said races for radio and TV, I can't resist suggesting that the new season is off to a terrific start. Controversies aside (there's been...
Detroit's Beauty on the Lawns of a Mansion built by Matilda Dodge Wilson. Yes, that Dodge
in Classical Drives, on April 3, 2009
Of all the North American 2009 concours, nothing could be more appropriate than one that takes place in Detroit and honours the best in American design, especially when the industry is threatened with collapse. But the 2009 Meadow Brook Concours is more than a saving grace, dating back 30 years...
Collecting Bad Debts Through MySpace? Not...
in The Social Networking Weblog, on April 2, 2009
...nteresting piece earlier this week on a woman in Michigan whose MySpace page got targeted by a debt collector. She's now suing the collection agency.
Paula Newland fell behind on her car payments...
Radio Announcer Misses Historic Moment With Automotive Aristocracy
in Classical Drives, on April 1, 2009
CKFH was a Toronto radio station owned by Foster Hewitt, hockey's original and greatest play-by-play announcer. For a little over a year I was one of the station's staff announcers, working daytime and early evening shows. Already a sports car and racing enthusiast, I took every opportuni...
Remembering Chrysler: One You Can Hang on Your Wall
in Classical Drives, on March 30, 2009
Every so often I like to feature a beautiful piece of automotive fine art from the Car Art Inc. site. Because of the possible dissolution of Chrysler, this painting by Ken Eberts of a 1957 Chrysler 300C seems especially appropriate. The artist describes it this way: " That kid gazing in am...
Westwood Memories Celebrate With Historic Racing
in Classical Drives, on March 27, 2009
Tucked high on a mountain in Coquitlam BC, a Vancouver suburb, was a modest yet challenging race circuit named Westwood. Built in 1959 with financing by members of the Sports Car Club of British Columbia , it was Canada's first purpose-built road course. Featuring an entertaining variety of...
How to Rent an Affordable Classic on Your Next Riviera Vacation
in Classical Drives, on March 25, 2009
Of all the places where I'd dreamt of someday driving, the one that fascinated me most was the Riviera. It had everything that appealed to my imagination: Winding mountain roads, spectacular scenery, the Mediterranean sea, Monaco and its Grand Prix, beaches, boats, French cuisine, great wines...
At Grand Central Station the Next Train Leaves as the First Car Arrives
in Classical Drives, on March 23, 2009
...s plus some lesser-known but upcoming talent. Even without the art these cars would be valuable to collectors but now they're priceless. The New York Times online edition has a slide show featur...
Concorso Italiano Has a Beautiful New Home for 2009
in Classical Drives, on March 20, 2009
My last visit to the Pebble Beach classics week was in 2006. I haven't returned because the cost of comfortable accommodation during that period is outrageous. It's a seller's market, as the saying goes, but if anyone can tell me how to find an affordable room in Monterey (not the out...
Now You Can Drive A Different Supercar Every Day
in Classical Drives, on March 18, 2009
Let's say you can easily afford to buy or lease a high-performance luxury car. Let's also say that you don't want the hassle of maintenance, insurance, and theft. And finally, let's admit that you tire of driving the same car all the time and crave a change. Here's the answer ...
Fastest-Ever Mercedes Honours Moss and the Mille Miglia
in carzz.org, on March 18, 2009
Sir Stirling Moss was once honoured as "the greatest driver never to become World's Champion." That may very well be true, for Moss could beat every F1 driver of his era, including the great Fangio. But bad luck let him down. I had the privilege of interviewing Moss for Canadian rad...
Where Do All the Woodies Go? To One Man's Woody Heaven
in Classical Drives, on March 16, 2009
Everybody loves a "Woodie," especially California auto dealer Nick Alexander . Nick has collected more than 35 examples of the iconic wood-panelled wagons , along with their coupe/convertible cousins. Once a year, he holds an open house, offers space for swapping parts and auto disp...
Revealed: the Mercedes We Never Knew
in Classical Drives, on March 13, 2009
It certainly wasn't the prettiest car to appear at the 2009 Palm Springs Desert Classic but it may have been the most unusual, especially if you think (as I did) that Mercedes-Benz never built a rear-engine sedan. But there it was, a 1935 Mercedes 130 Cabriolet-Limousine (sedan with a foldi...
Two Cadillacs, 32 Cylinders, One Great Moment
in Classical Drives, on March 12, 2009
Sometimes it takes a concours d'elegance to remind us of Cadillac's former greatness. Especially when two V-16s appear at the same show, as happened at the 2009 Desert Classic in Palm Springs. In 1933 Cadillac announced that it would build 400 cars with V-16 engines. No less than 70 bod...
Give a Tucker Enough Space and it Will Overwhelm You
in Classical Drives, on March 11, 2009
Sometimes you really have to view a car in the metal to appreciate its true style and personality. I've seen Tuckers before but only in museums or on crowded auction floors. At the Palm Springs Desert Classic , a Tucker was displayed on the lawns of a golf course, with enough space that on...
Not Quite Your Everyday Rolls-Royce, Sheik's Ride Wins Award
in Classical Drives, on March 10, 2009
This is what you ride in when you're the head of an oil-rich country. The 1966 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulette, with body by Mulliner Park Ward, was owned by His Highness Sheik Issa Bin Sulima Al-Khalite, ruler of Bahrain. One of just five made exclusively for ceremonial purposes and ...
Our Favorite Volvo Takes to the Road in Palm Springs
in Classical Drives, on March 9, 2009
Classic cars in museums may be impressive but seeing them on the road, complete with vintage sound effects, is a real treat. That's one very good reason why the organisers of the 2009 Palm Springs Desert Classic decided to include a tour on the day preceding the Concours. And that's whe...
Alfa SZ Coda-Trunka Wins Best of Show at Palm Springs
in Classical Drives, on March 8, 2009
It isn't often that I overlook a great classic, especially when it's a sports car and even moreso when it's an Alfa-Romeo. Perhaps it was the 90-degree heat at the 2nd Annual Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance in Palm Springs that caused me to miss seeing the 1961 Alfa Romeo SZ...
Palm Springs Concours Begins With a Blast
in Classical Drives, on March 6, 2009
The lady next to me screamed and grabbed my arm. Men gasped, women fainted (well, almost). We were part of a crowd attending the Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance pre-show gala at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Beautiful people, beautifully dressed, being treated to specialty foods from reno...
David Hobbs, Lloyd Ruby, Amazing Phantom Corsair, Highlight Amelia Island Concours
in Classical Drives, on March 4, 2009
What makes the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance different is that the show features personalities as well as classic automobiles. Each year it invites famed racing drivers of the past to greet the spectators and participate in seminars. For the 2009 event on March 13-15, veteran racer Dav...
More Fun at Pismo Beach This Summer as 24th Annual Show Unfolds
in Classical Drives, on March 2, 2009
While the great concours of this world are a pleasure to attend they're rather formal and definitely hands-off. Local shows, on the other hand, can be more fun, with owners eager to chat and willing to let you get up close to their cars. The 2009 Classic at Pismo Beach is a local show but i...
Buick Folder Brings Back the Days When Station Wagons Were Admired and Loved
in Classical Drives, on February 27, 2009
These days few automakers are willing to use the term "station wagon" to describe their vehicles, at least not in the North American market. Instead they go by meaningless words like "crossover," many of which are actually tall wagons. It seems there's a stigma involved, a...
Classic Cars Fan Trades Cherry Blossoms for Palm Trees
in Classical Drives, on February 25, 2009
...st. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised for the area is home, part-and-full-time, to some wealthy collectors as well as being a mere two-hours drive east from Los Angeles. The weather in March is ne...
At Last, a Vintage Photo Site That Invites You to Share Your Pre-70s Memories
in Classical Drives, on February 23, 2009
If you enjoy looking at historical photos you have to love V like Vintage . It advertises itself as an "interactive photo community and search engine for historical photos taken before 1970" but it's really much more than that. The collection of vintage auto photos, for example (mo...
Citroen DS: The Most Beautiful Car Ever. Uh... Maybe
in Classical Drives, on February 20, 2009
When it comes to style, car designers know more than you and me. So when Ian Callum (famous for his Jaguar and Aston Martins), Leonardo Fioravanti (of Pininfarina/Ferrari fame), ItalDesign founder Giorgetto Giugiaro, former McLaren designer Gordon Murray, former Pininfarina chief Ken Okuyama,...
Pontiac, Great Indian and GM Chief, Soon to be Buried
in carzz.org, on February 18, 2009
Pontiac, it's sad to see you go. You were a renowned American marque with a history that includes many distinguished models since your 20s inception as a replacement for the Oakland. Unfortunately, General Motors, as part of its restructuring plan, sees fit to drop you and focus on its core b...
