Issue 30

Holiday Buyer’s Guide

Major Miniature Collection

magazine

Fall 2015 Spring 2015

On stands until November 2015

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Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

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contents

features 20

34 4

www.GarageStyleMagazine.com

30

20

Overdrive

30

South African Home

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Working with the Portable Pit Stop

Automobilia & Petroliana Auction

Over 500 Lots

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015

Contact us today for more information on bidding and consigning.

Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

2000 N. Reading Road • Denver, PA 17517 | MorphyAuctions.com | 877-968-8880

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16

departments 8

Publisher’s Note

10

Lance’s Column

12

Phil’s Column

14

Garage News

16

Office Profile

26

Tales from the Garage

38

Artist Profile

46

Auction House Journal

48

Automobilia Outlook

51

Business Profile

Jail Doors

Car Condos are one example of the need for Man Spaces

Surrounded by the Minitures

Dennis Hoyt

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38

Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories

www.GarageStyleMagazine.com

54

Book Reviews

55

Automobile Review

57

Buyer’s Guide

63

Matt’s Column

65

Garage Meanings

66

Garage Bazaar

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392

A Bit about Barnfinds

Joseph DeMeo

viccimoto.com 707.559.8448

Carbon Fiber Wallets

Carbon Fiber License Plate Frames

Motorsport Jewelry

Motorsport Watches

for the motorsport aficionado

Key Chains

Racing Apparel

Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

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Publisher’s

note

N

Changes

ot sure how it is in your neck of the woods, but here in SoCal, it seems that redevelopment and change is all the rage. Nothing really stays consistent for very long at all, although having said that all that’s being changed has stayed the same for the better part of the last 50 years or more. Case in point, Pasadena and Hollywood.

Pasadena has long been a gem of a city in California, offering everything from a fabulous, and huge, shopping district to posh neighborhoods to the Rose Bowl to Jet Propulsion Laboratories to colleges to libraries to so much more. And age old buildings and architecture from Victorian and Gothic to Mid Century Modern, and their signage.

Fabulous city with great streets with canopy trees overhead, an absolute dream of a town.

And the powers that be in their short sighted wisdom are allowing ruin. Many of the aforementioned buildings have been thoughtlessly torn down, replaced with architecture of an allegedly more enlightened arc, Mixed Use Facilities. These are the buildings often seen in major cities like New York, Chicago, and downtown Los Angeles, multi-story towers of homes and offices, shops and restaurants all packed into one soulless hulk of concrete and steel, designed and built with as little imagination and effort as possible.

Historic, stand alone restaurants and pharmacies that long called Pasadena home are being disdainfully crushed to make way for these behemoths without regard to the way things have been, or the way things will be. Parking? Oh, who needs that. Free parking? Out of the question – if, and that’s a big if, we offer parking spaces, why not charge for them? Make it more expensive for people visiting.

In Hollywood, something similar is happening – parking is already costly and has been for the better part of forever, but also the old Petersen Publishing building is now gone, a skeleton of a new-age monstrosity erected in its place, the guts of a new property that will likely be just as anonymous and dumb as the idea of ripping down a building that saw the production of so many publications and historic L.A. dealings. And I just recently saw the Scandia restaurant building on Sunset Boulevard has been razed, along with its neighbors, again, making way for some new age holistic solution to a nonexistent problem. Oddly, both Scandia and the Petersen building were owned by Robert Petersen, but I don’t think there’s a connection to the tear downs. Just a coincidence. Slightly to the West of Hollywood, in Santa Monica, they’re going through their old beautiful buildings with verve, destroying properties like a James Cameron movie.

I admit it, I’m a preservative. I love old architecture and construction, I love the old days, even though I never lived in the heydays of these aforementioned buildings… but I get with crystal clarity that once it’s gone, it’s gone. In many cases, these buildings help define cities, and so often city leaders don’t get that, making them less than leaders in my opinion. It scares me how callously so many others don’t get it, and just don’t care. It’s not even a thought. I get it: we can’t save them all, and we don’t want to end up like Europe with a bunch of relics held together with bailing wire and duct tape in the hopes of feeble preservation holding back progress. But it’s sure a shame that once these buildings are lost, it’s forever, and in so many cases they’re being replaced with buildings of such less imagination. Don’t get me started on Las Vegas.

Bigger isn’t necessarily better.

But, in the wake of destruction and new construction is a field of lost pieces and parts that make for fun picking. An old neon sign standing alone in a parking lot where once was a great steak house; part of a brick wall with the faded sign of a locally famous pharmacy; the milk glass sign from the old soda shop that served so many smiles on many a hot SoCal day. Once it’s gone, it’s gone – so try to keep the pieces, I guess. Change has never been easy for me, even as a little boy. I’ve always been silly that way. When it came time to thin out Garage Style, it wasn’t an easy decision, and one I’ve been fighting for a while. But, push has come to shove, and I’ve elected to move smartly, not stubbornly.

It’s the palms that survive wind storms, not the oaks. This issue is shy 16 pages compared to previous GSMs, but our goal is to be back up to 84 pages next year. Unlike some changes, this one can be reversed easily, and I’m in hopes that you’ll still enjoy GSM as much as ever, even as GSM-Lite. There were a number of factors behind this weight loss plan, but rest assured, it’s not permanent.

Enjoy!

- Don Weberg

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Garage style

magazine

Editor-Publisher Don Weberg

PERSONALIZED SIGNS

Art Director Web Designer – Coordinator Kari McDaniel Business Development Manager Michele Weberg Columinists Lance Lambert Phil Berg Matt Stone Rodney Kemerer Arts Editor Jeremiah McDaniel Contributors Robin DePry Bob Estrada John Gunnell Dr. Rick Rader Bill Nakasone Ron Lampley Specialized Photographer Dale Quinio

Advertising – Public Relations Cindy Meitle 480.277.1864 | cindy@GarageStyleMagazine.com Advertising Doug Holland 910.398.8307 | douglas@hhpr.biz Carmen Price 714.276.5285 | carmen.price1@aol.com

Subscriptions – Address Changes Garage Style Magazine PO Box 92198 Long Beach, CA 90809 GSM@pfsmag.com 888.881.5861

Not responsible for undelivered issues due to late change of address.

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All rights reserved by Garage Style Magazine, Inc. Garage Style Magazine is Published Quarterly by Weberg Media Group, Inc. 271 W. Imperial Hwy. Suite B La Habra, CA 90631 www.garagestylemagazine.com

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Toll Free: 800.708.5051

Lance’s

column

M

Jail Doors

ost people will do anything to stay out of a jail cell. My brother and I, on the other hand, snuck into a police station and locked ourselves in a cell.

It happened in 1960, two years after Tacoma’s new County City Building was dedicated and opened to the public.

It was the location of the majority of the city’s governmental departments, including the Police Department and the new jail. The building that previously housed the police station and jail cells had been closed and boarded up for a few years, waiting for either demolition or remodeling into a multi-purpose office building. What a few years prior had been a busy municipal facility was now just an old spooky-looking vacant building. It was also a building that beckoned to two brothers looking for adventure.

I was 14 years old at the time and my big brother Jay was 18.

We were old enough to know that breaking into the old police station was both foolish and illegal. We were, however, young enough to think that it seemed like a great adventure. It didn’t bother either of us that our father, a career police officer with Tacoma’s Finest, might not approve of his sons’ jailhouse caper.

We climbed aboard the family’s trusty Lambretta 150 motor scooter and headed towards downtown Tacoma. Upon arrival we parked Now. the scooter as inconspicuously as possible and began looking for a way to get into the old jail. Much to our surprise we found the huge castle-like front door unlocked.

The old building, a large structure that appeared to have been designed by a committee rather than an architect, had been the location of the Police Department, the county jail, and various other governmental agencies. It was known as, appropriately, the “Public Safety Building.” We called it the “Lambert Brothers Funhouse.” It was late Saturday afternoon when we entered the now unsafe Public Safety Building. There was construction rubble everywhere and eerie lights and shadows cast on the walls from the uncovered windows. It was great!

We crept down the halls, peeked around corners and wondered where our father had spent most of his time when he was not out arresting bad guys. We worked our way to the jail portion of the building and there made a discovery -- the jail’s cell doors were still operational. There was electrical power in the building and the system of opening and closing the cell doors was still functional.

We located a huge metal handle and it was just like what is seen in the movies -- push the handle one direction and several cell

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doors opened at the same time. Pull the handle the opposite direction and the cell doors all closed in unison. We immediately decided to become the prison guard and the criminal. An appropriate cell was chosen and then one of us would get in while the other pushed the handle and incarcerated his brother.

We wondered excitedly how many bad guys had spent time in the cell and where they were now. We made a lot of noise, and looking back it seems Then. very strange that we were able to have the run of the building.

The choice of trespassing into the old jailhouse seemed like a good idea to us, and we were soon facing another choice that also seemed like a great idea. While roaming around the building we came across the door of an old police car. It was from a 1955 or 1956 Ford, painted cop car blue and, much to our excitement, still had the large police department badge painted on it. This was beyond cool and we both agreed that it needed to become our personal property.

We wanted that police car door but we faced one significant problem; we had arrived on a Lambretta motor scooter. The physics of both of us riding the scooter while hauling a police car door might be a bit challenging, we thought, but we agreed that we could figure out a method to successfully transport the car door to our home. What we were more concerned about was the visual impact on passersby as they noted two teenage boys traveling down the street on a motor scooter while lugging a car door that had previously been an essential part of a police car.

We also gave some thought to the likelihood that any curious law enforcement officer might take offense to our acquisition of police property.

Our combined I.Q. of nearly three digits caused us to abandon the idea. We also gave some thought to what our father’s reaction might be when he discovered the familiar looking police department property in one of his son’s bedrooms.

I must admit that I’ve always regretted not attempting to bring home that beautiful blue door with the silver police badge painted on the side. I must also admit that back then, residing in the new jail for breaking into the old jail might have been the outcome. That door, however, would sure look great hanging in my garage today.

-Lance Lambert

Restored Original Gas Pumps Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

route32restorations.com (765) 307-7119

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Dealers in signs, neons and everything gas & oil

Phil Berg’s Dispatches from the Ultimate Garage Tour

Car condos are one example of the need for Man Spaces

T

his summer was the ground-breaking for Pontiac, Michigan’s M1 Concourse, a cluster of 264 adjacent garages, a 1.5-mile racetrack, shops, restaurants and service centers. The first 80 $110,000-$250,000 four-to-eight-car condos have been sold; the rest of the project will take five years. Yet Pontiac’s mayor Deidre Waterman admits three years ago her response to the idea was: “Car condos? What are those?” Man Spaces. But ladies, this is ultimately a great thing for you, too.

M1 Concourse founder Brad Oleshansky says the success of the AutoMotorPlex near Minneapolis and its thriving car-nut community convinced him that car condos would be a hit in Motor City. The numbers: All of AutoMotorPlex’s 120 car condos sold out in five years, while Oleshansky’s research shows the Twin Cities’ classic car population at just a few thousand. Southeast Michigan’s classic car population is somewhere more than 50,000, he says.

But I believe Oleshansky has struck a collective nerve for longoverdue places for men to gather and grow.

Car condo buyer Steve Wolf, a recently retired GM engineer near Detroit, explains, “I envision becoming friends with a lot of the other owners and helping them on their cars, too. I don’t golf. A lot of my friends are always trying to get me to golf, it’s just not my cup of tea. If a person doesn’t have grease under their fingernails, I probably can’t relate to them. I’m an engineer by trade, we tend to get stereotyped as being anti-social, of being the nerd.”

Wolf intends to work on his Corvettes late enough into the evenings that he could make use of a planned pull-out bed and spend a night or two. “My wife wasn’t totally on board with buying this because she pretty much thought she would be a widow once I got it,” Wolf says. “I think she’s resigned herself to the fact I’ll be spending a lot of time there, but we intend to use it as a place to have friends as well. She wanted to see me be able to fulfill a dream once I retired to work with my cars.”

Expert cultural observer James B. Twitchell noted in his book, “Where Men Hide that at the beginning of the 20th century,” about a quarter of the U.S. male population belonged to fraternal, menonly clubs such as the Kiwanis or Lions clubs. These men-only spaces have long been nearly extinct, but I see them replaced by garage communities, where women are included, but men have

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M1 Concourse founder Brad Oleshansky greets car condo buyers to groundbreaking ceremony in downtown Pontiac, Michigan]

space to bond and connect. That’s good for everyone.

Says Dr. Paul Elam, author of the book, “Say Goodbye to Crazy,” “We may not be able to control whether women are allowed entrance to a men’s country club, or into men’s locker rooms or any number of other places. Each man and each group of men can, however, take the space they need to connect to themselves and to each other. Men’s challenge is not to defend male space, but to create it. Male space, the kind that matters, is not on golf courses or locker rooms. It is within the sanctity of their own minds and hearts. It is in the ability to tend to their own needs rather than blindly surrender to reproductive instinct, laying waste to their dignity and leaving their brothers under the bus along the way. When men value themselves and brotherhood more than an approving smile from a pretty face, they will have all the space they need.”

Garages, both individual or collected into a group of car condos, are a welcome resurgence of male spaces worth celebrating.

-Phil Berg

Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

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Garage

news

Surf City Garage introduces oil Long in the business of collecting and restoring cars, Tim Miller, founder of Surf City Garage, has enjoyed building everything from numbers-matching concours cars to ¼-mile kings. In that time, he developed a line of car care products, and most recently, the company has released a line of vintage car motor oil specifically developed for cars built before 1985. According to their website, this oil was a response to a Pontiac GTO engine that was rebuilt, properly broken in, and used for 80 miles on modern oils. In that 80 mile span, the engine began developing knocks and noises, that upon teardown revealed a number of badly worn parts.

Working with lubrication specialists, Surf City Garage developed their own line of oils to keep this abnormal wear and tear from happening again.

Featuring 2,000 parts per million of zinc (as ZDDP) Surf City Garage Vintage Car Motor Oil is designed to protect the camshaft, lubricate engine seals, and guard older engines against wear that modern oil formulas can’t provide. Available in 10w-40, 20w50, and SAE 30, the oils are formulated with a unique blend of conventional base oils and performance additives to help prevent and even correct minor oil leaks; enhanced detergent and

dispersant level protects from rust and corrosion that can occur during prolonged storage, and reduce sludge buildup from years of using inferior oils. www.VintageCarMotorOil.com

Hudson Valley Car Week to debut in October Long in the planning stages, the Hudson Valley Car Week will commence October 10-11, 2015 in scenic Hudson Valley, New York. Featuring three events over Columbus Day Weekend, each will take place along the banks of the picturesque Hudson River.

“Our hope is that this event will grow over the years into a larger whole, offering spectators and participants the opportunity to drive the magnificent roads of the Hudson Valley, and interact with the local businesses,” said Rich Pepe, founder.

Crossing historic bridges, a driving tour will allow people to take pleasure in using their cars as well as showing them.

“The event will support a number of local and national charities,” said Pepe.

Pepe, a former New York City police department officer, has helped establish a number of car events over the past decade including the Carmel Mission Classic held in Carmel, California during Pebble Beach Car Week. www.HudsonValleyCarWeek.com

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Vectis Auction realizes higher than expected prices on toy cars Vectis Auctions in England handled the sale of the Ron Burgess Matchbox Superfast Collection in June featuring many desirable and hard to find variations. Some notable pieces included the 6a Ford Truck, 50a Kennel Truck with unpainted bases, the 34a Formula 1 Racer with silver painted base, and the 9c Green Ford Escort with extremely rare red interior. Some of the prices realized went well beyond the original estimated values indicating that toy prices are indeed on the rise.

Lot 1046 – Matchbox Superfast No 6a, Ford Pickup Truck with red body, white plastic shell over the bed, white grille, ivory interior, rare bare metal base, 5 spoke wide wheels, mint in near mint type G box, without ‘New’ end flaps. Est. £500£600; Sold for £1,200 Lot 1099 – Matchbox Superfaast No 9c, Ford Escort RS 2000 Twin pack Issue, metallic green body with “Seagull” labels, clear windows, very rare red interior, matte black base, Mint in Mint “New” type K box. Est. £1,200-£1,300; Sold for £1,440

Lot 1067 – Matchbox Superfast No 8b, Ford Mustang Wild Cat Dragster, factory error paint finish, predominantly ivory body with pale pink tint in places, type 1 side labels, green windows, yellow interior, gloss black base, excellent condition (some tiny chips to roof and base) in Good to Good Plus ‘New’ type G box with reference labels applied.

Est. £30- £40; Sold for £204

Another example from Dave’s Nostalgia Here is an original, circa 1950s, Western Auto neon sign recently restored for a customer

by Dave’s Nostalgia. This 2-sided porcelain neon sign is approximately 7 feet tall. It was completely disassembled and rebuilt with new heavy-duty electrical components and neon.

Dave’s Nostalgia has been in business nearly 20 years and specializes in vintage neon sign restoration, as well as new custom designs.

There are two shops located near Chicago and Indianapolis, but they have customers nationwide.

815.341.7597 | davesnostalgia1@yahoo.com.

See more great gift ideas in the Holiday Buyer’s Guide beginning on Page 57.

Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

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Office

profile

Surrounded by the Miniatures

Collector’s home is a tribute to small cars and war stars Text and Images by Don Weberg

C

onnie loved his models. He dedicated an entire room to his collection, with fabulous shelving to display the various models he’d acquired over his life. The former college professor was especially drawn to automobiles, but had a corner dedicated to military ships and aircrafts. His collection filled the room to capacity, and crept beyond into other areas of the house, tastefully adding his enthusiasm to these spaces. While model cars dominated, a discerning eye would discover that Connie had an interest in Hi-Fi equipment, mid-century modern furniture, wood working, music and cinema, and law enforcement among other pursuits. His bookshelves were replete with titles discussing cars, car design, car construction, car history – but he also had books on aircraft and boats, the future of flying, and space exploration.

Connie was a kid of the space age, and it showed well. At 81 years young, Connie was more like a kid showing his toys than an adult sharing a collection – his enthusiasm was infectious and engaging.

Entering the model car room was a little like entering a jewelry store or other high-end retail establishment. A cacophony of little shiny things clashed for your attention, and one visit couldn’t reveal everything there was to see. From floor to ceiling Connie displayed cars – surface area was at a premium, and it’s easy to

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understand why many cars had been displaced into other areas of the house. In fact, entering the home, automotive elements greeted with subtle style – radiator mascots, bronze models, wire basket models, art on the wall – mostly, somehow related to the automobile.

Having served in the United States Air Force, Connie developed a keen interest in aircrafts and ships. He could speak at length about the various types of planes and seacraft the military used, especially during the 1950’s and ’60s. Among his collection were various scales and models of planes and ships, some of which he’d worked with in his day, others he’d just admired for their capabilities and uses. But truly, his heart was in the automotive transportation arena, specifically sports cars and cars of unique design; overall, his collection was truly eclectic – small, delicate, wooden cars were adjacent large scale metal models; a line of Corvettes offset a row of Ferraris; early pre-historic car models gathered upon shelves here and there; a massive V-Rod HarleyDavidson motorcycle model set the stage for the two-wheeled variety of transportation, and a Barbie Ferrari doll provides the idea that Connie just loved to collect – especially if it had anything to do with Ferrari.

Connie assembled a wonderful shelving system around the entire room to display his cars. Using intricate lighting elements and angles, he could illuminate certain areas of the collection like an art gallery, or the entire room could glow fiercely. In the center of the room a coffee table held a number of cars, next to which a single

Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

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chair stood for Connie to relax, listen to music on his stereo, and enjoy the models and the room he’d built. Here and there would be remnants of petroliana or Automobilia, a hubcap or an old oil can, a set of ancient fuses, promotional coffee mugs for car-related companies, a set of tire ashtrays. All told, what Connie created was a personal museum celebrating the automobile and its related accoutrement. What more could an 81-year young kid need? GSM

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Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

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garage

features

Overdrive

Custom-built barn boasts nearly 2,000 neons Text by

Don Weberg Images by

John Hovas and the author

I

t’s common knowledge that things are done to a larger scale in Texas. It’s just the way it is, and John Hovas sees no reason to change anything about that. This is evidenced by his overwhelming collection of signs, both neons and not, that bedazzle his already stunning garage. Called the Hemi Hideout, the roughly 22,000 square foot, scratch-built structure, known as The Barn to family and friends, lends the feeling of a cathedral more than any garage. It’s long and tall, but not imposing. Elegant with a feeling of down home America might describe it well, but there’s so much more to the understated elegance than meets the

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eye. In its size there are thousands of subtle design elements that are seen more subconsciously than obviously, but when they’re discovered, it’s remarkable to notice the level of details built into every crevice.

Outside, from a distance, The Barn looks pretty much like that – a massive barn. But, getting closer, weeping willow trees, bar-b-que pavilion with complete food prep and display areas, multi-level ponds connected by little streams and waterfalls, some winding bridges, and a couple of porticos indicate that it’s not the typical barn. Koi swim around lazily in the waters, through

Left, a selection of MoPars at the Barn; Above a complete BBQ and dining area; Below, a MoPar “M” takes up the soda fountain back drop.

exotic and native water plants, around the rocks that are found all over the property, and among frogs and other critters. Boulders of various sizes and weights have been placed in different areas, and some are used as signs. The bridges have a certain perfection to their design, the boards being spaced and sized exactly to one another so there is no deviation even in the bends. The fit and finish of the entire structure isn’t barnlike at all, and inside, you know this place has never seen hay or horse – only horsepower.

Lots of it.

“The Barn was designed by me and Bill Seitz, and the awesome

design team at Texas Timber Frame of San Antonio, Texas,” said John. “The landscape theme was designed by Don Looney out of Orange County, California and was implemented by Kevin Steed, of McDugald-Steele Landscapers of Houston, Texas and the landscape design continues to evolve.”

Using heavy timber frame construction, the scissor-arched ceilings and elements remind of bygone eras, and Amishstyle construction methods and design. An octagonal cupola is the crowning jewel of the project, rising up 54 feet, lending a remarkable finishing touch, and drawing the eye from the sloped

Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

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The Hemi Hideout has over 2,000 Neons.

side roofs upward to the point. The structure uses mortise and tenon joinery, and all the timber pieces are secured with oak dowels, eliminating the need for bolts, nails, screws, or glue. The majority of the wood is Douglas Fir, and all of it has been sourced from sustainable forests. Remarkably, it’s the largest structure of its kind in all of Texas.

Inside, the wood provides a rustic, warm feeling, but it really doesn’t have a lot of hope – there are simply too many distractions vying for attention. But, the woodwork is art unto itself; dramatic and graceful all at once, contrasting quietly with the neon blazing for immediate gratification. Eventually, though, the wood, the beams, the ceiling on a whole does gain the attention it deserves, and it’s slightly humbling.

“Bill Seitz, Shelly Gates, and Don Looney are tremendous friends, and were all instrumental in bringing together the overall artistic vision of The Barn,” said John. “To the smallest detail, they each contributed substantially to the project, and continue to do so. Diane, my wife of 43 years, has been with me all the way my whole life. I think she is as proud of The Barn as we all are, and I think she enjoys it just as much.”

That said, though, Diane does have a sign between the diner and the living rooms reading, “NO! This is not a museum! Everything is for sale – Contact Diane Hovas.”

Neons are obviously the items battling for attention, and John has enjoyed working with individuals, and running around swap meets and auctions buying various signs and figuring out how and where to hang them in The Barn. He’s purchased a number of Chrysler-related signs to match up with his fleet of nearly 30 MoPar muscle cars from the 1960’s and ’70s. Among the cars is a Moulin Rouge Hemi ‘Cuda convertible and a Panther Pink 440-6 Pack Dodge Challenger, rare cars made even more so thanks to the color. Original drag racing cars and massive Power Wagons bookend the collection, with a few Triumph motorcycles and antique tractors thrown in for good measure.

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Top Left, Aside from cars a selection of tractors; Above, a line of very rare cars with even more rare signs; Below, The diner is a fabulous touch.

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Left, the BBQ area has everything to host a perfect oarty; Above,

“Growing up, I was bit by the MoPar Muscle bug,” said John.

“My first was a 1970 Dodge Super Bee, it was my pride and joy!”

Along with the Chrysler signs though, he’s had a good time buying unique Road Art, as Mecum Auction Company calls them, vintage signs from oil companies, other car companies, farm implement manufacturers, and signs that seem out of place, but aren’t, just by virtue of being vintage or neon.

“We’ve had a ball going to Mecum auctions,” said John. “They are some of the best people to work with when buying signs and cars.”

One of the most interesting signs he’s acquired is a Dodge dealership neon from the 1930’s still in the original shipping crate.

They’ve carefully hung it from the wall and kept it in the crate, and it works beautifully. Interestingly, for the sheer number of signs, roughly 1,200 in all, the interior just borders overwhelming, but everything has been so carefully considered in its placement that there is a flow to the décor no matter from which point you look at it. But make no mistake – each time you enter, you’ll discover something new. At one point, roaming around, photographing the space, new rooms began appearing in areas of the garage completely unseen only two days prior. It’s not totally overwhelming, but it is surprising, and that makes it fun.

“Bill and Shelly really have an eye for detail,” John said. “They take a little time, look over something, and really put serious thought behind colors and design features.”

The Barn is laid out inside in what feels like a cross. In actuality, it’s not, its floor plan is a rectangle, but inside, the way spaces are arranged, it feels like a cross, the cupola smack in the intersection, the porticos off to either side. On one side, John keeps his office where he oversees his businesses and the collections with the help of Shelly Gates and Paula Brunkenhoefer. Directly opposite the office is a full-scale professional kitchen with granite, stainless, and every modern amenity a chef could want, which shares the wall with a 1950’s style diner complete with soda fountain, booths, stools at the counter, vintage soda machine, full scale back bar with shelves, and a center mirror space of quilted-pattern aluminum with a sheet titanium MoPar “M.” Adjacent to this is a luxurious, rustic living room – fireplace, big screen, locally-sourced rock and

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more lumber, and delicate, subtly placed copper detailing. The floors throughout range from wood, and polished and color-treated concrete, depending on where you’re standing, but in the center, under the cupola, is a fantastic Hemi Hideout logo in tile.

“Every time we host a group, it’s fantastic to see everyone’s reactions,” John said. “Our closest friends enjoy touring guests around; they take the time to answer questions, and talk with the people. They really are passionate about making people feel warm and welcome. This really is a lifelong dream come true, and it’s so much fun sharing it and enjoying it. I couldn’t do it without them.”

And share indeed John does. Several times a month, John’s group hosts visits from church groups, senior citizens, students, car clubs, galas, fund raisers, corporate, and private functions. No matter what the occasion, anyone who visits is usually left slack jawed.

“We love to see their expressions when they first come in,” said Bill Seitz, longtime friend of Johns who has helped with The Barn since the beginning. “Sometimes older people will come in and see a sign and remember it from years ago, telling us maybe they had one in their town. It’s a lot of fun.”

Here and there are massive murals depicting cartoon situations in which some of the high-powered MoPars are kicking up dust, or drag racing, or something. Bill was the creator behind each of them. His use of colors and scale is astonishing, and truly helps to bring the barn to life, lending a unique, almost period-correct advertising element to the already visually frenetic space. In spite of their size, they too compete for attention, and when they gain it, it’s more than impressive.

“On their own, they’re pretty big, but it’s funny how when you move something into a space like this, it seems to shrink,” laughed Bill.

If there’s one thing The Barn does well, it’s shrink almost everything. The size of The Barn is one thing, but the multitude of visual elements within just boggles the eye. In a way, it’s inspirational, and for the most part, everything all of us dream about in one space.

“There’s always room for more,” said John.

Indeed, there usually is. GSM

Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

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Estate for Sale

$3,599,000 Contact Eric Miller 818-606-4019

Situated behind three security gates in the prestigious, private gated community of Indian Springs Estates, this luxurious, grand classic manor is a perfect example of elegant English Tudor architecture. Built on a corner lot in 1993, the custom, 2-story home is nestled on over 2-acres with breathtaking mountain views and a grove of ancient oak trees in the picturesque foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains. Grand estate boasts 5 beds, 7 full baths plus 2 ½ baths, and 9019 sf of living space which includes a large 2101 sf basement - perfect for an in-home movie theatre.

Dramatic foyer with cherry wood floors and grand staircase. A massive master suite, city view sitting room, separate bathrooms with jetted tub, steam shower, and a hot sauna room are just some of the special touches of this manor. Additional features include two custom wet bars (perfect for entertaining), individual, oversized 12-car garage with a lift for the car connoisseur. Built-in outdoor BBQ adjacent to the pool/jacuzzi. Plenty of space to developed a tennis or basketball court. The train track layout stays! A rare opportunity to own a grand scale estate with luxurious amenities. It’s a must see!

Tales from the garage

The Last Ride Text and Images by

Rodney Kemerer

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T

ales From The Garage explores all aspects of cars and car stories. This tale is actually three stories for the price of one, a “three-fer…”, so buckle up.

Having recently attended a memorial service for a friend, I was struck during the eulogy that a very specific car came up in reference to the deceased. It got me thinking about our short lives, which a good memorial service will do, and the long list of cars that keep us company during the journey.

Tale number one is the story of another friend, still living in this case, who was an only child and had a troubled relationship with his father. His mother was long gone and he found himself being the sole care provider for his now bedridden father living in Texas. Once a month my friend would travel to Texas and sit very awkwardly at his father’s bedside. Since very little had passed between them when they were both younger, now they had even less to talk about. My friend was at a total loss to help his father during his final incapacitated years. The man had been a very vital, self-made-pulled-himself-up-by-his-bootstraps kind of guy, cowboy boots at that. Self-made and self-assured. His one luxury in life? Every year, without fail, he bought himself a fully loaded top-of-the-line brand new Oldsmobile. This became his automotive statement to himself and to his family and community. My friend, growing up, remembers vividly each of these cars as they were brought home and showed off to friends and family. Pride of ownership. This was the 1950’s and a new car was a very big deal, the bigger and flashier the better. Now many years later, this bootstrap man, confined to his bed, would never again drive an Oldsmobile or any other car. My friend came to dread these visits to his father as the silence in the room was excruciating. In re-telling the most recent visit, my friend said that he was sitting there looking at his father who was just staring off into space rather blankly. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he turned in his bed and said in a loud and clear voice, almost to the room itself, “I should have bought Cadillacs.”

Hearing this story, all I could say was, “Wow, what an incredible gift to give your son.” Here was a man who secretly longed for a new Cadillac every year, could have easily afforded it but somehow, held back and became the “Oldsmobile Guy”, but his heart said Cadillac. Now many years later with all of the unspent Cadillac money still in the bank, he realized too late his mistake. Unfortunately, my friend did not see this sudden epiphany as a gift but rather just another of his father’s cranky regrets. Such is the nature of family relationships. I only saw this as the best gift a father could give a son: “I should have bought Cadillacs.” Everyone, take note.

Tale number two takes us back to the memorial service I recently attended. In college, this friend had a black 1956 Thunderbird with black and white interior. He loved the car but with limited college resources, had a hard time

“I should have bought Cadillacs.” keeping it on the road. He reluctantly sold the car but never stopped thinking about it. Like some long lost girlfriend who haunts you years later. For him, life moved on, re-location, marriage, career, three children, college funds, etc. Just life.

Retirement raised its grey head and the memories of the shiny black T-bird returned with full force. He began to plan the search and purchase of the youthful car. While looking for the right car, his health began to fade, rather suddenly, but he did find it. Later, he would ask his wife to drive him down to the classic car showroom just so he could sit in the car for a few minutes each week. It was now clear even if he bought the car, he could never drive it.

I was in the middle of arranging to have the owner of another black 1956 T-bird pickup my friend for an afternoon top down drive adventure up the coast. Too late. My friend would not be going for any more rides. At his memorial service, his son spoke of the 1956 black T-bird as a dream not realized.

The third story works out better, cheer up. Another friend, approaching retirement but not quite there yet, had a lifelong unrequited passion for Corvettes. Back in 2005, when the C-6 model was introduced, he was mad with car lust. Finances for him were an issue as was a wife who was not a fan of Corvettes or, for that matter, anything new. He asked me to come with him to the showroom. Clearly he needed moral support. A lot of worrying and self-doubt ensued. Should he, shouldn’t he, will his wife ever speak to him again, etc.

I found myself in the role of “Corvette Enabler.” On the spot I came up with the following advise/suggestion/enabling tip: What is the worst thing that can happen if you buy this car?

You buy it and you love it, and are extremely happy you bought it for the rest of your life (the favorite choice).

You buy it, and later regret buying it, so one of three things happens: You sell it for a profit; You sell it and break even; You sell it and lose money (the least favorite choice).

That’s it. That is all that can happen. I explained this completely to my friend and within minutes we were in the salesman’s office picking colors, options and placing an order. Ten years later he drives that car every day, washes and waxes it on the weekends, joined a local Corvette Club and completely enjoys the car. Dream realized and... still married.

The takeaway here is simple – buy the cars you love, enjoy them because as we now know, you cannot put the top down on a casket. GSM

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South African Home: the Garage Text and Images By

Dieter Losskarn

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n my slightly petrol-infused opinon a garage should be part of any house. Not just a separate place for your car and junk.

In my last house I had a glass partition in the study floor to look down into the garage. This time I had a window fitted to the staircase going up from the garage. The space underneath those would have been lost. So I had it opened up and added to the garage space. Thus creating an interesting display corner with a large bay window.

The polyurtheane floors are luxury car showroom quality.

The material is poured onto the concrete and then spread out.

As before this garage is also built around my New York Checker taxicab,which is not only my ride but a cool deco item as well.

On the walls you’ll find another one of my hobbies, largely destroyed by reality TV shows: vintage enamel advertising signs.

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Above, mod style polyurethane floors and fresh air make for a great space; Below, old cans and odds and ends make a great display.

Top, Checker and new Jag are right at home; Above, Everyone needs some grilles. Notice careful lighting choices for a gallery feel.

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Clean walls, gallery lights, polished floor, and careful placement make for a great space.

“American Pickers” completely destroyed the prices. Even here in South Africa everybody now believes to own rusty gold that will make big bucks. Nice affordable pieces are hard to come by.

I have got a selection of old locally produced South African enamel signs. In my garage like-minded friends meet to talk cars and bikes and have a single malt, while doing it. It is a man cave, that flows seamlessly into the rest of the house. It is an additional room. In my house this room is actually not called garage at all, it is the car bed room.

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If I build another house I will go even further. I am thinking of either building the garage around a vintage Airstream trailer or old double decker bus, thus creating a 1:1 diorama. And then use either the trailer or busone as an en suite bathroom. Taxi parked ‘outside,’ but still being inside the house. GSM

Think of us as a road trip with 30,000 friends.

If you love, lease or own a Mercedes-Benz, you belong here.

Call, click or log-on today to begin your membership adventure.

Learn more: mbca.org | 800.637.2360 FREE mobile app at Apple Store or Google Play

More Than a Car Club. We’re a Community.sm

Working with the Portable Pit Stop

Race Ramps latest makes under-car service easier Text and Images by

Don Weberg

R

Race Ramps portable pit stop makes it possible to work under your vehicle almost anywhere.

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ace Ramps has long been in the business of producing products that make life a little easier for car guys, and recently their Portable Pit Stop has been the latest rage.

Having seen a few of these at collections featured in GSM, we had to find out for ourselves what all the rage was about.

Available in PPS and PPS-R, the R features cut outs allowing the use of vehicle scale systems, but both are available in 6,000 or 10,000-pound capacities. We acquired a PPS-R with the larger capacity rating. It was delivered as a nearly 7-foot tall, 250-pound, plastic-wrapped unit affixed to a palette, which meant moving it took some planning and tools. Or, just cut it open and take it apart piece by piece. No component weighs over 40-pounds, and each moves with exceptional ease.

Once loaded in the trusty GSM Ford Flex (we needed two trips, the Flex just wasn’t big enough to hold everything in one shot) we paid a visit to our friend who owns a 1966 Batmobile. The Batmobile weighs in around 5,500-pounds, only half the capacity of our PPS-R, but few cars command the presence of a Batmobile.

Aside from playing with the Batmobile for the day, we wanted to see how easy the PPS was to work with, how stable and sturdy it was, and to find out in general if it’s worth the $2,000 price tag.

Bottom line first – yes. We were impressed.

Using only our hands and a tape measure to ensure the width was consistent between both ramps and the Batmobile’s tire

width, the set up was easy. Word of caution – never, ever lose the set up instructions. The PPS goes together like a great big 3D puzzle set, and if you don’t have the instructions illustrating how the components link together it can be more than a challenge, and might even prove dangerous. Within about 10 minutes we had the ramps set up and measured out and rolled the Batmobile up the PPS-R. They never slipped or shifted, and didn’t mar the painted floor, but they did make some unique, Hollywood-style pressure noises. Interesting point with the PPS system, once the vehicle is in place, you can remove the ramps and the center bridges and the vehicle sits only on the pedestals. Thus, it becomes a security device as well, making the car nearly impossible to get back on the ground. As luck would have it though, the Batmobile’s wheelbase was just long enough that removing the ramps couldn’t

The PPS cane store upright like a wall. In pieces, it assembles quickly.

They never slipped or shifted, and didn’t mar the painted floor... happen. No matter, we’ll use a Ferrari 328 to demonstrate – the 328 also demonstrated that low slung vehicles with a longer nose overhang have nothing to worry about. The Ferrari rolled up the ramps onto the bridges without scraping the airdam. Weighing considerably less than the Batmobile, the PPS still exhibited those Hollywood pressure noises, but again, never slipped, shifted, moved, or marred and never gave reason to worry about anything.

With the car up in the air, accessing the undercarriage was more than easy, and detailing the lowest parts of the car was a breeze.

It’s a fantastic way to make a great impression at a show or event, an easy way to lift a car at a race for some quick servicing, or a fabulous tool to have at home for detail day. Garages that can’t accommodate a permanent lift would benefit from the PPS as well, providing a portable, mobile lift to help owners with various projects. Nicely too, when the work is done, the PPS stacks into place like a 5-foot tall by 7-foot wide wall. GSM

Once measured to accomodate the width of the car, the PPS is set.

Once the car is in place, remove the ramps to provide security.

The 5,500 pound Batmobile climbed confidently up the ramps.

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Find Automotive Books for your favorite car enthusiast! by author, photographer, broadcaster

Matt Stone McQueen’s Machines, the Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Icon from Motorbooks Publishing or at Amazon.com

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The Racing Life of Paul Newman also with Preston Lerner, with Foreword by Mario Andretti from Motorbooks Publishing or at Amazon.com

James Garner's Motoring Life, from Baja to Daytona, the movie Grand Prix and The Rockford Files.

CarTechBooks.com or Amazon.com

Histories Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and rumors coauthored with Preston Lerner Now available from Motorbooks Publishing

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The Ferrari Phenomenon co-authored with Luca dal Monte BullPublishing.com or Amazon.com

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artist

profile

The Reimagining of Reality Dennis Hoyt Text By

Jeremiah McDaniel Images Courtesy of

Dennis Hoyt

T

here comes a time in every mans life where he has an epiphany, something that strikes him so hard that it alters his molecular makeup and completely changes his course in life. I’ve seen the manliest of men turn to complete mush upon witnessing the birth of a child, I’ve seen many vow revolutionary change when spared by some cosmic chance, and I’ve seen complete breakthroughs after a drunken slumber. These epiphanies can cause great outward change, or subtle inward changes, but they are almost always something that the host cannot ignore. For Denis Hoyt his upcoming 68th birthday is a pivotal one, one that is signaling the start of an epic journey.

To understand where this great awakening is going to take him, and in the greater sense us, his audience, we have to start with where he has been and work our way forward. An

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artist most of his life, Hoyt began his sculpting career in 1984.

Sculptures are by nature static, posed, sentinels whose only movement is built in by perception. To say a sculpture is fast would get you laughed at in certain classy art circles, but that is the first word that comes to mind when you see one of Dennis’ pieces. If you stare long enough one may jump right out of its place and speed away. This perception is the result of years of effort and an artistic prowess rarely seen by someone specializing in the realm of static.

Take for instance his work “312 Ferrari.” Just stand near this piece and you can hear the ear splitting scream of all 12 pistons, you can smell the pungent odor of the burning rubber, and feel the adrenaline start to coarse through your veins. But blink and the car hasn’t actually moved. His works are a feat that any artist would be proud of, and undoubtedly he is proud

of everything he has produced, but he is the victim of a recent epiphany and there is no going back.

“In the last 6 months I’ve decided, I’m going totally away from what I’ve done in the past,” said Hoyt.

Now before you scream in outrage and protest the loss of this highly decorated and accomplished artist you should know that that direction still involves automobiles, but also involves completely changing the way he feels audiences consume automotive art. Starting with the name.

“It has to be Art, not automotive art.”

Hoyt dreams of taking his new version of art to places where automotive artists never dared step foot.

“Guggenheim in New York, I want to see my works in major metropolitan museums in London, Spain, Italy, Japan and China. I just want to show the world that the automobile can be more than a literal interpretation.

Hoty has lofty ideas to bridge the gap between the art world and the automotive art world. He wants viewers to become part of his exhibits.

“I want viewers to not only be able to touch, but I want them to become part of the sculptures, I want it to consume them. I want to see the audience walk into a Dennis Hoyt exhibit and actually become part of the piece.”

This isn’t a Jabba the Hutt instance where he turns people to carbonite, he wants to build large scale cars that viewers can sit in, walk through, and be the piece. He’s already begun work on his first venture, a 20-foot-long “life-size compilation” of all of Michael Schumacher’s cars, and when complete people will be able to sit in it.

While he hopes to affect how audiences interact with his sculptures, he also wants to deconstruct the way his work is actually interpreted.

“I have a very strong opinion of what auto art can be and I detest the idea of the literal interpretation of the subject matter,” said Hoyt. “I see no value in the literal interpretation of the automobile. I believe the value is in the way the artist perceives the automobile. I call it expressionism with an abstract bent.”

This puts Hoyt in a bit of a quandary; the work that has made him famous and that has bankrolled all of his ventures is the same that he detests. It’s kind of like biting the hand that feeds him, but as with all life altering ideas it’s a path he feels he has to travel.

“It‘ll either work and be profitable or If I’ll be a laughing

“I want viewers to not only be able to touch, but I want them to become part of the sculptures, I want it to consume them.

I want to see the audience walk into a Dennis Hoyt exhibit and actually become part of the piece.”

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stock. I just know I have to go for it,” said Hoyt.

This new direction that Hoyt is taking seems to have ignited a new vigor.

“I just think the things that we see can be presented differently and can still be understood,” Hoyt said, breaking down his approach. “One of my passions is to show the automobile in a disjointed way, the essence of speed and motion. And take that essence beyond what people expect to see. Create an image that is intense, and immediate, and viral, its ‘wham’ right there in your face. To show the chaos,

and the drama, and the effort, and energy of what it’s like to drive a car at 200 mph, only from a different perspective.“ In a way, this new direction can be seen as a renaissance in his career. This renaissance may take a few years to become fully actualized or it may happen immediately. Hoyt says that he has big things coming in the very near future that are going to completely shake things up. Reguardless of how long it takes one thing is certain, there is a fire burning inside him that will find an exit one way or another. GSM www.dennishoyt.com

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personality

profile

The History Channel’s American Restoration Rick Dale talks about life’s path Text by

Ron Lampley Images by

Dale Quinio

W

hile photographing collections in Las Vegas, I mentioned to the editor about a restoration shop that would make a neat inclusion. Known as Rick Dale’s Restoration it’s off a main road in a neighborhood not far from The Strip, and Rick is well known for restoring all kinds of artifacts. His shop is amazing. He also has a show on the History Channel, “American Restoration,” shown in 187 other countries as “Kings Restorations.”

Anyone who has watched the trio of programs on The History Channel, which includes “American Restoration,” “Pawn Stars,” and “Counting Cars,” knows his weekly program.

Contacting Kelly Dale, Rick’s wife, about an interview put all the wheels in motion. Kelly Dale met us upon our arrival, ushered us back to a small, indiscreet room where Rick was working at

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his desk. He got up and introduced himself, then took his famous blue jean shirt with the cutoff sleeves off a hanger and sat down.

Our editor asked Rick how much time we had for the interview, to which Rick responded, “Whatever Kelly told you. It’s usually a half hour to an hour.” In the end, Rick gave us about two hours. He was an absolute gem to speak with, a down-to-earth, regular guy.

Maybe I shouldn’t call it an interview because once we started, it was just like sitting in your friends office and shooting the breeze.

You could tell Rick hadn’t been taken up with all this TV notoriety.

Like so many collectors, Rick’s office was full of memorabilia.

All around the room are car photos, photos of Rick and his wife, and photos of him with his truck. Rick even has a vintage refrigerator restored in black. The desk that Rick sits at is a vintage

un-restored wooden desk. There is metal tow truck which appears to be handmade sitting on his desk. On a section of wall space, Rick has many different patches from police and fire departments.

Rick even has his own action figure wearing his famous blue shirt with the cutoff sleeves. On another section of wall space Rick has one of the pencil storyboard scenes of the show. There’s even a vintage paint gun decorated multicolor as you would find on some motorcycles.

“In 1983, I was forced out of the construction business due to the poor economy,” he said. “I had an old Coke machine, and a friend told me that people in California were buying these things, so I restored it, and took it to the Rose Bowl Stadium Swap Meet in Pasadena, California.”

His first buyer was a Japanese gentleman, and while at the Rose Bowl, he met another gentleman who stated he had numerous Coke machines in need of restoration. Rick bought them all, restored them, and sold them to buyers in Germany, Holland, Austria, and Japan. That’s how Rick’s Restoration began.

“I was having a lot more fun restoring these machines and meeting the people I was meeting than I ever did in construction,” he laughs.

After having some success, and going through a divorce and losing his home in the process, he decided it would make more sense to purchase a house with space to expand and work from there. He gave up his shop in town, and found a home on an acre and a half of land.

Tyler, Rick’s son, was selling a gas pump on Craigslist.com because they had 100’s of pumps by the time the economy slowed down in 2008. Since a gas pump only lights up and stands around,

“I was having a lot more fun restoring these machines and meeting the people I was meeting than I ever did in construction.”

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interest in them was low. Out of the blue, power of the Internet, the production company for “Pawn Stars” telephoned and asked Rick if he would like to sell his unrestored gas pump on the show.

“It was a great opportunity, but I turned them down, because I didn’t want to be known for selling unrestored items,” Rick said.

“My business was restoration.”

Interestingly, the production company asked Rick if he’d be interested in being their expert, to which he responded, “...yes, if you show the public what we do and how we restore stuff.”

Rick served in 13 episodes of “Pawn Stars” as an expert, and the production company discovered that when he was on the show, the number of viewers increased. They felt that his talents would make a great show along with “Pawn Stars.”

By the time Hollywood came knocking, Rick had been restoring Coke machines and other artifacts for over 25 years. During those years he would run around the country buying products to bring back to the shop for restoration. In turn, he would run back around the country trying to sell the products that he had restored.

While selling, he would find more machines and artifacts he could restore, and eventually Rick found himself selling to a lot of people who had car or motorcycle collections, and they really thought the products Rick had restored would look great in their collections.

“It was fun, but a lot of work, but you know, there was no Internet back then, so literally I was going door-to-door, chasing down leads of people who might want to buy this or sell that,” he said.

Often, Rick found that whatever the asking price was, the customer always wanted to cut the price by up to 35 percent.

“Back then, a lot of people felt they could do the restoration cheaper if they did it themselves,” he said. “They didn’t understand the level of workmanship, and the attention to detail I put into these pieces to get them looking like they did. Paint prep and application alone is an amazing amount of work. So for the show to be able to demonstrate our dedication was fabulous. People could really see what went into each piece, and start to understand what they were buying.”

In the first five episodes, Rick was showing a lot of detail on how to restore products, and the length of work that went to each restoration. He had some concerns that maybe doing this may take away from his business because he was teaching people how to do their own restorations in the process, but instead it enhanced his business. Soon, he began getting artifacts that he wasn’t familiar with, thus had no idea how to restore them.

“It’s easy to take something apart, but to put it back together so that it looks correct and works was a huge challenge,” said Rick.

“Ultimately, it forced the guys to become a team, and work closer together to figure out how to make this look as it did when it was new, which was great.”

Some of the artifacts people brought in for restoration had many memories attached to them, and the emotions were deep for these people. Watching these people break down and cry gave Rick a new enthusiasm for restoring products.

“We bring these items back to new for people, and because of the emotional attachment, the item is now an heirloom,” he said.

“To be a part of that process is huge. I’m addicted to seeing those emotions.”

He really likes teaching people about restorations, and explains there isn’t enough time in the shows to do this. Maybe someday we will see DVDs by Rick Dale’s Restorations on how to restore your Coke machines, gas pumps, and candy machines.

Like Rick’s show, there isn’t enough space to tell it all here.

There is much more to come in the next issue. GSM

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outlook AUCTION HOUSE JOURNAL

automobilia

Online Bidder Realizes €1.5-million at Bonhams’ Spa Sale Highest ever successful online bid

Bonhams May 24, 2015 The Spa Classic Sale Francorchamps, Le Circuit de Spa Lot 131 1990-1993 Porsche Type 962C Endurance Racing Competition Coupe Chassis Number 962-155 €1,495,000

Bonhams’ annual Spa Classic Sale realized a record total of €5,497,918 in sales, nearly double the 2014 results. While a 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona coupe sold for a whopping €667,000, and a 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Vetrorsina achieved €253,000, the most surprising sale was the €1,495,000 the Porsche 962C Endurance Racing Competition Coupe realized with an online bidder.

“The Internet continues to grow as a trusted method with which clients can bid,” said Philip Kantor, Bonhams European Head of Motoring. “This was an excellent year at Spa, attracting bidders from all across the globe, and far exceeding all previous years’ totals.”

The 962 was first introduced in 1984, and virtually unmatched in competition, even 10 years later. To its credit were three Le Mans 24-Hour wins, two FIA World Sports Car Championship wins, three years of wins at the North American IMSA GTP Championship between 1985 and 1988, five years of wins at the European InterSerie Championship between 1987 and 1992, and four years of wins at the All-Japan Sports Car Championship between 1985 and 1989. The car’s greater moment of glory was, however, surely on the weekend of June 19-20, 1993, when it was driven by the German/Swiss trio of Jürgen Oppermann/Otto

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Altenbach/Loris Kessel (a former F1 driver) in the Le Mans 24Hour race – and finished seventh overall.

Having qualified ninth fastest during pre-race practice ‘962155’ almost didn’t start the race at all. Having no sponsor for the event, its private owner decided that to have the car finishprepared bearing the distinctive logo and color scheme of ‘Les 24H du Mans’ the official organisers’ livery – which created an immediate furor with the official Automobile Club de l’Ouest in authority who refused to let the car start in that livery, despite its crew’s excellent qualifying time and position on the starting grid. The owner steadfastly refused to change the cars fresh livery, and the matter became a confrontational stand-off between him and the ACO. Quite incredibly, considering the French Club’s implacably authoritarian attitude established over so many decades of their great races long history, it was they who finally gave in and allowed the car to start....and right they were to do so, as the German/Swiss machine ran brilliantly well to achieve that 7th-place finish overall, headed only by the three victorious factory-entered Peugeots, three works Toyotas. Thus, the Obermaier Racing-entered ‘962-155’ was the first Porsche to finish at Le Mans in that 1993 24-Hour classic.

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Automobilia

outlook

Morphy Auctions May 2-3, 2015 Las Vegas, NV

Lot 1092; “Dime Capitol Auto Test Deluxe Driving Arcade Game”; 73x27x76; Circa 1960’s; Steering wheel navigates a green car through a projected screen; Uses real Ford parts from the era; Includes keys; Excellent overall condition; $6,300

Lot 7; “Palm Springs 10 Miles”; 12x42; Porcelain Road Sign; White, rectangle sign with black lettering, and round ‘California Department of Public Works Division of Highways’ logo; Minor wear and damage, but very good condition; $420

Lot 663; “Southland Engineering Speedway Arcade Game”; 69x27; Circa 1960’s; Racing game for one or two players; Winner is the first to complete 20 laps; Includes keys; Near mint condition; $10,800

Lot 1136; “Nickel Mills Black Cherry Halftop Slot Machine”; 16x16x24; Circa 1945; Original working condition; No key; Good overall condition; $900

Mecum Auctions June 26-27 Denver, CO

Lot K12; “1950’s Kidillac Pedal Car”; Pink and black toy pedal car; very good condition; $1,200

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Lot J26; “Goodrich Tires Neon Sign”; 18x78; Single sided; Porcelain; Working neon; very good overall condition; $1,500

Lot J27; “Goodyear Tires Neon Sign”; 48x48; Single sided; Tin; Working neon; very good overall condition; $2,300

Arte-Auto Offers Interesting Pieces Jacques Vaucher never misses a beat in running his auction and consignment business. Having spent a lifetime working in the motorsports and dealership arena, few people have the expertise he does when it comes to art and Automobilia. His auction house, l’art et l’automobile, is one of the most fun online auction and consignment houses in the world. www.ArteAuto.com Here are a few of his descriptions: Honda prototype wrist watch – 1990’s, designed by J. Urweider, face features image of period sedan with checkered flag overhead, marque’s name on outer case, Swiss made, quartz movement, stainless steel back, water resistant, red and white plastic strap, includes plastic case, working condition, 1.25” dia., 9” w/band, A- cond., (light handling wear, appears not to have been worn, needs battery) Offered for $125

Early 20th Century French Motoring scene – Brown-tones tapestry, illustrates period touring car passing horses on a fox hunt, period framed, overall size, 24.25” x 24.5”, Acond., (needs cleaning, minor discoloration).

Offered for $650

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Business

profile

Reestablishing the original Text by

Don Weberg

Images Courtesy of

BHMA

I

n the mid-1970’s, Andy Cohen launched what would become the envy of niche automotive enthusiast accessory companies with Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories. Custom floor mats and car covers were the backbone of the company, having sold thousands of them from the back of his 1940 Ford woody station wagon at the Pomona Swap Meet and other major gatherings, but the company would grow and carry an absolute symphony of products from key chains to rare waxes to gloves and shoes to seat covers to flooring and so much more. Eventually they launched into a catalogue operation, spreading their brand all over the world, and then opened up a brick and mortar shop in Beverly Hills, California on Robertson Avenue. It became the go-to source for all kinds of great things car guys love.

“We created a great company, but other opportunities presented themselves, and we sold the brand,” said Andy. “I went back into the specialty car sales industry, and that was that.”

In recent years, however, his youngest son, Kevin, kept bugging him to reestablish the brand, but this time, instead of investing in a posh retail shop and expensive printing and mailing, take it online. With a little prodding, planning, and purchasing, Andy and his son brought the BHMA name out of retirement, and have launched a truly interactive website allowing customers to see car covers and floor mats with exceptional versatility.

“We really invested a lot of time and money into the website, we had to, it’s going to represent us, it is our shop,” said Kevin. “It was very important that people have as close a look as possible at the products they’re interested in, and online that’s often difficult. We worked for hundreds of hours with our photographer to capture as much as we could, and we like to think we did a great job, and created not only an informative website, but a fun place to visit as well.”

Back in the day, the Robertson shop was a hoot to visit, and suffice it to say that Kevin is right – the website is a fun place to visit. You can cover cars, uncover cars, change the colors of the covers, play with different floor mat colors and patterns, and more. And interestingly, the new BHMA is focusing heavily on BHMA-branded products instead of selling items from other manufacturers.

“We have a line of watches, some apparel, and we’ll be introducing an entire car care line soon, including polish, wax, interior cleaner, and so on,” said Andy. “But, we also offer Recaro

AMG showroom Grand Opening in 1984.

In 1975, Beverly Hills Auto Parts was purchased by Andy Cohen to begin his dream of BHMA – two years later the shop would become Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories.

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Inset, Andy Cohen’s sons, Kevin (age 7) and Andy (age 9) in 2003 with Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories celebrated 1940’s Ford Woody; Above, Andy Cohen and son Kevin with the Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories 1940s Ford Woody.

Andy Cohen with Italian automobile designer, Sergio Pininfarina and former President and CEO of Ferrari North America, Gianluigi Longinotti-Buitoni in 1991 admiring Cohen’s SWB California Spyder purchased from American actor, James Coburn. Andy restored the car and took it to Pebble Beach the following year.

Andy Cohen with his SWB California Spyder.

office chairs, automotive-branded cellular accessories and eyewear, and we’re broadening our inventory all the time.”

In its original heyday, BHMA offered something for every car enthusiast – be it emergency equipment, personal accessories, car accessories, office décor, or garage products you were seeking, chances were good BHMA had it in stock. This next generation is

shaping up to be much of the same.

“Today’s consumer is largely interested in buying online,” said Kevin. “Schedules are very tight with personal and professional commitments; traffic is at an all-time high, fuel prices are always on the rise. All these factors contribute to the idea of online purchasing, and we’re there. Our site offers the ability to call,

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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories held a yearly charity car show on the front lawn of Beverly Hills High School.

BHMA showroom interior shot in 1982.

email, or text, so it’s very easy to get a hold of us and place an order, ask a question, or even return a product. Customer service has always been a priority with BHMA, and that will continue to be true.” GSM www.BeverlyHillsMotoring.com 310.409.9000

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Book

reviews

THE LAST DAYS OF HENRY FORD Henry Dominguez Award winning author and historian, Henry Dominguez, combed through dusty newspapers, viewed historic newsreels, and interviewed nearly four dozen eye witnesses, and weaved together in minute detail the last eighteen months of Henry Ford’s life. And the story turned out to be just as fantastical as the rest of the motor magnate’s life.

The Fords’ had had a busy 1946-attending numerous ceremonies commemorating Ford’s 50th anniversary of completing his first motorcar, and celebrating his 83rd birthday party with 80,000 residents of Dearborn, his hometown. At the beginning of 1947, he and his wife, Clara took their usual winter sojourn to their magnificent estate outside Savannah, Georgia. When they returned to Dearborn the end of March, rains began that would set the stage for the dramatic end to Henry Ford’s life.

Saddened by the early death of his son, Edsel, battling dementia and the effects of old age, Henry Ford faded away in mid-century, just as the automobile industry and the city of Detroit reached the heights of their fortunes. This painstakingly chronicled history will intrigue and haunt all who read it.

PORSCHE 918 SPYDER Delius Klasing This trilogy on the Porsche 918 Spyder is like the car itself - passionate, focused, spectacular. The total of three motors in this super sports car - which is still the only production vehicle to have driven the Nürburgring Nordschleife in less than seven minutes - represent a whole new dimension of driving. Similarly, the three corresponding books on this high-tech vehicle deliver a whole new reading experience. There is the ‘picture book’ filled with opulent images from all the development phases of the 918 Spyder; the ‘story book’ that tells the thrilling tale of this car, which marks one of the decisive turning points in Porsche history; and, finally, there is the ‘fact book’ with all the relevant facts and figures on the 918 Spyder.

Text in English and German

All these and many more are available at: Autobooks-Aerobooks 2900 W. Magnolia Blvd.

Burbank, CA 91505

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818-845-0707 www.autobooks-aerobooks.com

Automobile

review

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 They get stronger and smarter Text and Images by

Don Weberg

C

hrysler muscle cars have long been unique. Often seldom seen, cars like Chrysler 300, Dodge D500, and Plymouth Fury rounded out the 1950’s with a taste of things to come.

By the late 1960’s through mid 1970’s, the formula for Chrysler muscle had changed a lot. Where the Fury, D500, and 300 offered clients a bit of opulence with performance, new offerings like Charger, Road Runner, Challenger and Cuda introduced a more simplistic approach to the market, one keeping more true to racing ideals. After all, how many racing cars had leather seats, and miles of chrome flash on their flanks? By 1970, Ford and GM had well caught up to the MoPar muscle car mayhem, but MoPars were still much more rare than the GM and Ford counterparts.

It’s that mystic that has largely created the stratospheric prices MoPars are commanding today.

But today, things are different. Where once the Challenger was in a sales minority to cars like Camaro or Mustang, things are a

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little more equally matched. The Dodge Challenger has really had a successful run, earning gobs of money for the Chrysler Group and putting MoPar back on the map as one of the finest muscle car manufacturers on the planet. On a recent trip to Texas, we had use of the fabled 392 SRT8 Challenger and were left more than impressed. Featuring many popular options, its sticker price of nearly $50,000 seemed well justified – but put your foot on that right pedal and it’s very clear where most of the money was spent.

A few issues back we discussed a 2014 Dodge Charger SRT8 6.4-liter we enjoyed during our Monterey trek, and how impressed we were with that car. The options and features, again, were slightly mind boggling for the price, approaching $60,000. Things like personality shifting electronic controls providing a super squishy ride, perfect for impressing the mother in law, to a rock BLT’s headquarters in Leneya, solid ride with an uber responsive accelerator, brake pedal, and KS daylights is more than the eye. steering, perfect for scaring the living out meets of anything

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through a twisty canyon road. No four door should be that aggressive and fabulous, but the Charger was. It truly is nothing short of anything double the price. The caramel-colored leather interior was very attractive and well put together. Outside, the dark metallic blue paint had a subtle aggressiveness to it but was understated enough to lend elegance to an overtly muscular car.

All things considered, the SRT8 Charger is a remarkably smart alternative to many other high-end, exotic sport sedans, offering most everything they do for a lot less money. But, where the Charger was a really interesting package of technology, luxury, and performance, the SRT8 Challenger 392 was more down to earth, less exotic, and more denium blue jean. In reality, the Challenger, much like the Charger, easily shared bunk with Ferraris and Aston Martins in the valet line at fine restaurants, but unlike the Charger, it lacked a lot of techy sophistication, which, in a way was a delight unto itself. Challenger 392 drew people who asked questions about the car. Just like the Charger did in Monterey. Challenger 392 got thumbs up from other performance cars, while Charger got mostly looks and nods.

People like these cars, but it’s obvious Challenger is the more fun of the two brothers. Or sisters. But, everyone from gear heads to moms pushing baby strollers is drawn to both, and that says a lot.

Where the Charger had an obvious luxury set going for it, the SRT392 brought it down a notch, creating a terrific balance of popular options and performance while minding the overall cost and keeping things relatively simple. Cloth seats, no moonroof, not as many technological wizards shape shifting the personality of the car all helped to keep costs lower than the Charger. But it wasn’t Spartan by any means, and the SRT392 Challenger did one thing exceedingly well – went in a straight line really, really quickly. So quickly, in fact, that it was initially a little intimidating, especially given the cooler, rainy weather we experienced throughout northern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

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While the weather wasn’t the best for a car like the Challenger, given the performance-designed tires it wore, it actually was a pretty tame ride in bad weather. Give the traction control a chance, try not to outthink the machine, be respectful of the right pedal (and left) and the machine helps considerably, and even knows what to do in most cases. The heated seats and steering wheel were a welcome element, as was the quick-warming heater.

Performance brakes often create uncertainty in cold weather, but the Challenger had no issues, stopping sure footedly every time. In just a few days we racked up over 2,000 miles on the Challenger, and never once did it leave us fatigued or wishing for something more comfortable.

While the Challenger 392 may never achieve the rarified cult status of the Hemi-powered Challengers from the 1970’s, it shouldn’t have to. There’s no comparison – this car is infinitely better built, more comfortable, easier to live with in every regard.

While the space race styling cues may have run their course, it seems obvious the less-is-more approach still has some interest 40+ years later. GSM

Buyer’s

guide

2015Holiday Guide CXC Simulators

Thanks to amazing technology, it’s possible now to have a racing or flight simulator in your home, and in the past few years, these have become increasingly popular.

CXC has been producing some of the best simulators in the world and offer them in three models – Standard, Racer and Pro, Pro being their top of the line featured here. With the CXC you can feel the jarring motion of the race car, you feel the rush of movement, and the exhilaration and frustration just like the real drivers. Made in the USA, the CXC Simulators are also beautiful in their constructed details – the metals, plastics, and other materials are top notch. www.CXCSimulations.com

Wadia

Long in the business of making music reproduce more clearly, Wadia recently introduced the Intuition 01. Sleekly designed in Italy and constructed of aluminum, the Intuition 01 is highly efficient, elegantly styled, and destined to complement any environment. Designed to drive virtually any speaker and work with a variety of sources, Intuition 01 will enhance any listening situation while looking good in the process. www.Wadia.com

Autobooks-Aerobooks

Checker Motor Company

Who doesn’t love a Checker? The company’s history is rich in the American transportation fabric, and the Marathon is likely the most well-known of the family.

Checker Motor Company is alive and well, and doing business in Massachusetts, buying, selling, and restoring these iconic classics, and they’ve enjoyed bringing the brand out of the shadows. To show that enthusiasm, they have also been selling a line of Checker products like this tin toy. How many people have a tin Checker Marathon in their die cast collection? www.CheckerMotorCars.com

In Burbank since 1951, Autobooks offers 1000’s of books, magazines and DVD’s covering every aspect of motoring and motorsports. Cars, Motorcycles, airplanes, history, competition, collecting, restoration.

– think literature nirvana for the transportation enthusiast. One of their latest arrivals is about the Mille Miglia and offers a fascinating depiction of the world’s most enthusiastic journey. www.Autobooks-Aerobooks.com | 818-845-0707

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Meguiar’s

The new MT300 Dual Action Polisher features a lightweight, ergonomically shaped body, multi-bearing design billet counterweight, and Mequiar’s Digital Torque Management speed controller to provide ease of use and years of dependability. The MT300 was designed and built from scratch as a new tool, and when used with the DA Microfiber Correction System or Soft Buff Dual Action Polisher Foam Discs, the results are consistently fantastic. www.Meguiars.com

McIntosh

Who doesn’t love the classic look of glowing tubes? The MC75 mono vacuum tube power amplifier brings that style back yet offers modern construction and materials to convey every nuance in sound. Like all McIntosh mono amplifiers, the MC75 will provide spectacular separation and imaging because the two stereo channels are completely separate. www.McIntoshLabs.com

Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories

The backbone of BHMA has long been the custom car cover, and their FlannelGuard Supreme carries on that tradition.

Similar to BHMA’s original BlueGuard cover, it offers the thickest and softest flannel lining and has extra padding to provide exceptional protection against minor scratches.

Made in the USA for indoor use, the cover is double-stitched, and offers snug, custom-fit protection, following the contours of the car. The elastic bottom provides a tight surround fit, and is completely breathable to keep the paint healthy. www.BeverlyHillsMotoring.com

Griot’s Garage

The new Best Of Show System, or BOSS, is the latest kit from the Griot family designed to help you enjoy paint polishing and protecting on a whole new level. The BOSS G15 is a 15mm orbital with the BOSS 5-inch pad system and is recommended for experienced enthusiasts or detailers. The BOSS 21 is a more aggressive 21mm orbital equipped with the BOSS 6-inch pad system and is recommended for professional detailers. Interestingly either system can employ the 5-inch or 6-inch system depending on user preference. Griot’s new BOSS creams are designed to promote faster pad rotation to remove defects and leave a remarkable finish. www.GriotsGarage.com/BOSS 58

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Ernst Benz

Long in the business of crafting outstanding watches, Ernst Benz time pieces blend the spirit of travel and the art of watch making. Designed and manufactured in the traditional Swiss manner, the quality standards surpass those of equipment designed for professional aviators. The limited edition ChronoRacer Series was inspired by automotive racing, and is part of the Ernst Benz Great Circle 2014 Land, Air, and Sea campaign. Using familiar motorsports colors, this watch is offered in two versions both with a Zenith Blue dial, one with luminous black Arabic numerals and a matching black matte DLC case, the other with luminous orange Arabic numerals and a brushed stainless steel case. The ChronoScope is a chronographic timepiece available only in 47mm, while the ChronoSport is a traditional watch, available in either 47mm or 44mm dial. www.ErnstBenz.com

Royal Purple

No one will contest the importance of a clean fuel system, and Royal Purple Max-Clean will help. Designed to clean injectors, carburetors, intake valves, and combustion chambers, Max-Clean works on both vintage and modern vehicles. During fleet tests on a variety of vehicles, it was discovered that using Max-Clean could improve fuel economy an average of 3.2 percent, restore horsepower an average of 2.6 percent, and stabilize fuel during storage. www.RoyalPurpleConsumer.com

Crosley

Vinyl is making a comeback, and Crosley is right on top of the curve. With a long line of vintage-styled turntables, there’s something for everyone. This is the Player, a 3-speed turntable of mid-century design and modern expectations featuring analog AM/FM radio, dynamic full-range speaker, and audio input jack for MP3 players or other portable external devices. If you’re short on vinyl, Crosley also sells a nice selection of old records. www.CrosleyRadio.com

M2 Machines

M2 developed a reputation of producing some of the slickest, most highly detailed die casts on the market. Available through many big box retailers, the sheer number of cars and trucks they produce is mind boggling, and encourages collecting. Their latest take on the original VW Bus brings to mind a before and after scenario, or maybe a then and now depiction, and it’s not the only one in their portfolio of collectibles they’ve done in this manner. www.M2Machines.com

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PitStop Furniture

Building on their popular line of desks, chairs, barstool sets, and accessories, PitStop recently launched the RRC Racing Recliner Chair. Available in three colors with carbon fiber-style leatherette and contrasting stitching, the RRC is more than a pretty piece of furniture – it’ll support 400-pounds, the full-recline feature is secured on a 26.5-inch chrome steel base, and they come with a lifetime warranty. www.Intro-TechAutomotive.com

NFS Sport International Tonka

Reliving the days of the toughest toys around is a little easier with the Tonka Die Cast collection. Comprised of six unique off-road trucks, each offers a slightly varied look from the other, and all come with soft rubber tires, working suspension, and signature Tonka yellow color. Perfect for the little car lover or the die cast collector, these Tonka trucks are sure to please.

The carbon fiber and leather look is hard to beat, and NFS has something for everyone. Their money clip wallet and bi-fold wallet are hugely popular, compact, and easily carried in a front pocket. The money clip is equipped with a powerful magnet to keep currency in place, but every piece from NFS is made with durability and style in mind. They also offer a tri-fold wallet.

NFSCarbon@aol.com | 530.575.5122

Porsche Design

PD introduced its very first watch in 1972. A classicallystyled chronograph, it still looks contemporary today.

In 1980, PD introduced the world’s first timepiece made entirely of titanium. In July, 2015 PD introduced the Chronograph Series 1, a modern take on the original watch series. Comprised of 11 watches, Chronograph Series 1 timepieces are available in a variety of colors, finishes, and materials – straps are available in leather, fabric, titanium, or rubber; the bezels are offered in black, titanium, or 18-carat rose gold; and the dials come in black, carbon, or deep blue. www.Porsche-Design.com

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Route 32 Restoration

With a long line of restoration accomplishments under its belt, Route 32 has established itself as a preeminent go-to source for almost anything garage. This is a Tokhiem 850 Garage Style gas pump, restored in Sinclair livery with a clock face. Fully disassembled, the Tokhiem was sand blasted, received body work, primer, and painted in base coat/clear coat. It has an original polished brass nozzle and a new white cloth hose, electrical, glass, and brass hardware bring it to a concours level. www.Route32Restorations.com

California Car Cover Company

Suciyan

Arman Suciyan grew up in Istanbul, Turkey and took his first job at 15 in the covered bazaar as a gold smith apprentice. A car enthusiast from an early age, much of his jewelry reflects that interest today. His men’s line boasts elements of vintage automobiles such as C1 Corvettes, Buicks, Packards, and more, while a good deal of his women’s line has a flowing, moving sensation to the design. Either way, it’s all about movement. This ring depicts the nose of a Cord – made of textured and oxidized sterling silver with polished details, it’s very subtle but familiar to all automotive enthusiasts. www.Suciyan.com

Cooler weather will be here soon, and there’s nothing like a little warmth in the coolest room of the house. Made of solid stainless steel, the Yellow Jacket Portable Mini Heater uses a built-in 50-170 degree (F) thermostat with a temperature control so it won’t overheat. It operates off standard household 120V/1500W current with a 6-foot cord that allows placement virtually anywhere, and has a one-year warranty. www.CalCarCover.com

Battery Saver

A one-stop charging shop, the Micro-Jump can charge your smart phone, laptop, and more and even jump start your car without another car. Compact, it easily stores in your vehicle, holds a charge for about 6 months, and it is easy to use. The Micro-Jump kit contains the connections for various devices, a durable case, and the unit itself. www.BatterySaver.com Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

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Deakin & Francis

Cufflinks, tie tacks, tie bars, signet rings, and so much more can be had from Deakin & Francis.

In business since 1786, Deakin & Francis has long hand crafted their products from various types of metal, and hand painted them for a truly unique piece of wearable art. From elegantly understated to overtly humorous, their cufflinks and such depict animals, tractors, cars, trucks, parts of cars and trucks, hats, skulls – literally thousands of designs, and each is exquisitely crafted, heirloom quality. www.DeakinAndFrancis.co.uk

Moduline

Every garage needs them – cabinets, workbenches, storage – in a word, organization.

Moduline has expertly produced aluminum garage organization systems for decades, having their start in the specialty and racing trailer industry. With a lengthy color chart and seemingly endless design and construction applications, there is something for everyone. www.ModulineCabinets.com

Eagle One

The days of the clay bar may well be numbered, thanks to Eagle One’s Surface Prep Mitt. Put it over your hand, spray it with spray wax, and use it to remove contaminants, paint overspray, water spots, fresh tree sap, rail dust, road grime, wax, and grease, and restore paint luster. Drop it on the ground – no problem, rinse it off well, and carry on; the rubberized construction simply repels debris, no need to discard. Good for about 20 cars, it’ll finish up an averagesized car in about 10 minutes and is good on glass, chrome, and plastic as well. www.EagleOne.com

Aero International

International AERO Products award-winning Traveler Series makes it possible to have a spotless vehicle anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Both the 6-Pack Traveler and Mini 6-Pack Traveler include six of AERO’s top-selling products and luxury microfiber towels. AERO’s premium products are housed in an embroidered bag making it the perfect accessory for anyone who appreciates a clean car without the use of water. www.DriveAero.com 62

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Matt’s

column

A Bit about Barnfinds

I

’ve spent many hours daydreaming about why car people are so jazzed up over finding a dusty old car abandoned in a barn or garage.

Is it an update or automotive incarnation of the buried treasure fantasy?

Or a spin on the notion of nostalgia? Or maybe some people automatically think they can prize that “unwanted old junker” away from a less than knowledgeable owner and sell it and make a ton of money on the deal. Or one’s inner “This Old House” gene that makes us want to adopt a neglected old thing (car, dog, house, spouse, whatever) and nurse it back to health and beauty. Now back to the buried treasure mentality; to find something valuable that nobody else knew about, dig it up, and cash in? I asked my friend Corky Coker, who owns a variety of businesses that serve the collector and classic car marketplace, and hosts a television show about barnfinding cars (charmingly named “Backroad Gold,”) what he felt drove the phenom.

He replied that it’s a “giant mix of all those factors with a heap of human nature thrown in.”

I agree.

This notion is nothing new; the hope of finding that Bugatti in a barn or the forlorn Ferrari in a field has been the fantasy of car enthusiasts for decades, but it certainly has become exponentially more popular in the last dozen or so years. Perhaps it’s the growing popularity of buying and selling cars at collector and classic car auctions (often on live television), where the buyer and seller groups are larger and more diverse. The internet certainly keeps the barnfind jungle drums humming. Another reason is likely the growing appreciation for unrestored cars, originality and the “patina” of use and enjoyment – although as you’ll see, too many barnfinds have been abused and neglected far beyond the notion of patina; many have degraded to “parts car” status, or are

in genuine need of a comprehensive physical and cosmetic restoration.

No matter, it’s the thrill of the hunt for many. And perhaps it’s all analogous to the notion of so many of us rooting around in Antique shops and at garage sales.

I’ve come to think of “barnfind” as metaphor for a car lost and found, as not every great hidden find comes directly and literally out of a barn, and I hope you’ll go along with me on this. But if the piece wasn’t somehow lost, salted away, vanished and then reborn into the world, it’s not a barnfind. Many cars have been lost; the idea here to me means cars that have been lost (or hidden) and found.

In as much as I’ve invested so many brain hours into this entire notion, I’ve now written a book about it.

Exotic Barn Finds will be available this fall, to be published by CarTech Books. In order to set my piece apart from the already many great barn find books out there, I’ve elected to stick with primarily “exotic” marques and models. My other goal being to avoid stories of just “another nice old car” in other words, not that I have anything against them, but you won’t find any ’47 Plymouths in this volume.

I apologize that this all sounds like an unabashed plug for my next book, as it kind of is. However, I’m guessing that since you read this magazine, you like fabulous old cars, and the stories that surround them being lost and found, plus hundreds of great photos of same, so I hope you’ll allow me license to use this space to clue you in to this upcoming project about topics we both love. Exotic Barn Finds will be available publisher-direct at www.cartechbooks.com or on www.Amazon.com. I hope you check it out and I further hope you enjoy it. Thanks for listening.

- Matt Stone

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Garage

meanings

In the Garage with Cindy Meitle

Cristina Arolla, Automotive hobbyist Cristina Arolla moved into her per parents’ remodeled home after graduating from Santa Clara University. The remodel included tearing down a detached garage and rebuilding it bigger than ever with vaulted ceilings and an extra wide/tall garage door. Her family has collected posters from every automotive event they’ve attended, framing each and mounting on the garage walls. Cristina grew up loving cars as her parents were members of the Porsche Club and most weekends were spent at the racetrack. When she grew older, she attended track days and a few driving schools, and has attended most every car-related event one could find in the San Francisco Bay Area. She worked at Canepa Design through college, and built Bruce Canepa’s automotive library. She now works as a Project Manager for a non-profit and continues on her quest for car events and automotive art.

Cindy: What is your favorite item in the garage and why?

Christina: Do my cars count? Definitely everything that’s up on the walls. That represents most of the events my family and I have attended as far back as I can remember. If we’re attending an event, whether it’s a Concours d’Elegance, auto race, or historic auto festival, we’ll pick up a poster, frame it and it goes on the wall. Thankfully there’s a lot of wall space with a vaulted ceiling to accommodate the car lift!

Cindy: What’s one item you’d like to have in your garage?

Cristina: Space for one more car, because you always need space for one more car! Before I moved into my house, we tore down and rebuilt the garage, and it’s as big as is allowed in my city. My dad did a great job of making sure everything was perfect with cabinet space, flooring, and a single-post car lift for storage before I moved in. His ’13 Mini Cooper JCW GP is currently stored there. The lift makes it a 3-car garage but you can never have enough space for more cars.

Cindy: What is the strangest item in your garage?

Cristina: I still have my first car! It’s a little electric-powered Porsche that my parents bought me when I was 5. It doesn’t run anymore, but I still keep it because it’s so adorable. I’ll figure out how to mount it on the wall one day.

Cindy: What are you doing most of the time when you’re in the garage?

Cristina: When I’m in my garage for long periods of time, I’m usually getting gear ready for a camping or road trip. I have a full wall of cabinets for easy storage of seasonal decorations, car care equipment and parts, and adventure gear. I use my garage to get everything sorted and packed before a trip, and after to get everything cleaned and repacked for the next adventure.

California is amazing, so on any given weekend you can find my garage empty and my boyfriend and I in the Sierras, our closest state or national park, or by the beach.

Cindy: Did you grow up around the garage?

Yes. My parents used to race in the Porsche Club, so I grew up around dad prepping cars in the garage, then spending weekends at any given racetrack in California. We frequented Butonwillow, Thunderhill, and Laguna Seca most of the year. I definitely learned how to look both ways in the paddock of a racetrack!

Cindy: How does your garage make you feel?

Cristina: Happy, of course! I mean, I’ve got a dream garage, walls covered with memories, and I love the cars that are in it. My garage is the best of everything to me!

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Garage

bazaar

Apparel VicciMoto www.viccimoto.com 707.559.8448

Art/Automobilia/ Collectibles/Media Reedyville Goods, Page 64 916.652.5584 www.reedyvillegoods.com Route 32 Restorations, Page 11 765.307.7119 www.Route32Restorations.com Matt Stone, Page 36 www.MattStoneCars.com GarageArt.com, Page 9 800.708.5051 www.garageart.com Vintage Vehicle Show, Page 49 www.vintagevehicletv.com Autobooks-Aerobooks, Page 33 818.845.0707 www.autobooks-aerobooks.com

Auctions/Events Hudson Valley Car Week hudsonvalleycarweek.com 917.509.7704 Carmel Mission Classic www.carmelmissionclassic.org San Marino Motor Classic www.sanmarinomotorclassic.com

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Furniture/Electronics

Tires

PitStop Furniture, Page 25 866.319.8500 www.intro-techautomotive.com

Continental Tire www.continentaltire.com

Mecum Auctions, Back Cover 262.275.5050 www.mecum.com

Custom Auto Sound, Page 9 1.800.88.TUNES www.custom-autosound.com

Tools/Equipment

Morphy Auctions, Page 5 1.717.335.3435 www.morphyauctions.com

Museums

Run to the Sun Car Show, Page 69 831.421.3900 www.cvkclub.org Festivals of Speed, Page 47 www.festivalsofspeed.com

Clubs Packards International www.PackardsInternational.com Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Page 33 www.MBCA.org

Automobile Restoration/ Maintanence/Sales Wheelsmith, Page 41 800.854.8937 951.898.4563 www.thewheelsmith.net 401k Restorations, Page 37 714.993.401k www.the401kclub.com Checker Motor Cars, Page 33 978.423.3770 www.checkmotorcars.com

Flooring BLT, Page 2 and 3 913.894.0403 ext. 21 www.bltllc.com

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The Stutz, Page 53 317.488.7373 www.thestutz.com Petersen Automotive Museum, Page 15 323.930.CARS www.petersen.org

Security Secure It 562.677.3777 secureit@ngcia.com

Travel/Leisure/Dining Talbott Vineyards www.talbottvineyards.com Carmel Boutique Inns www.carmelboutiqueinns.com Flanagans Restaurant-Pub, Page 36 831.625.5500 www.flanaganscarmel.com

Save-A-Battery, Page 13 888.819.2190 510.471.6442 www.saveabattery.com Port-A-Cool, Page 64 800.695.2942 www.port-a-cool.com Moduline, Page 37 888.343.4463 www.modulinecabinets.com

Garage Style Magazine Fall 2015

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