Issue 44

Lunch with Bruce

Visiting Thermal Club

magazine

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contents

features

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16

Shelby Garage

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An Oasis in the Desert

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Less is More ... More or Less

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Auto Shop

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Building Memories

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An International Meeting

40 On the Cover

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Elegant garage where work is done. Page 34

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departments 8

Publisher’s Note

10

Lance Lambert’s Column

12

Phil Berg’s Column

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Garage News

26

Tales from the Garage

32

Garages in History

38

Artist Feature

49

Q & A with Robin Grove

51

Notes from Hershey

Building the Great Garage

Avanti Arrival

World’s Largest Car-guy Garage

A Tale of No Tail

Sign of the Times

Reeves Callaway

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38

CARS USA

www.GarageStyleMagazine.com

52

Auction House Journal

62

Scottsdale Week

65

Book Reviews

67

Fireball’s Column

67

Down the Road

69

Garage Bazaar

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Notes from Spain

Expanding the Show Scene

Len Frank

A Difficult Answer

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Publisher’s

note

Building the Great Garage

R

ecently I had the great opportunity of being on the podcast, “Horsepower, Chrome, and Rust” with Brady Wright, Shane Osborn, and Steve Johann and had an absolute ball talking with them. A trio of good car guys, listening to HC&R is a great way for likeminded people to unplug from the world and know that out there are millions of other car guys who share the same interests as we do. Some people listen to sportscasts, we can listen to carcasts. If you get a chance, check out the podcast which is linked on the Garage Style Magazine Facebook and our very own Newsletter.

The podcast touched on the idea of creating a great garage and how to go about it, and it’s been my experience that the first thing that needs to be done is getting the floor squared away. In order to do that, everything has to come out of the garage and a blank canvas is left – with everything out, it allows you to go through all the odds and ends that have been in the garage for all these years. What to keep, what to throw away, and what to donate will all come out in the wash. But – before cleaning the garage out, it’s a good idea to set up a shed. A place to keep lawn and garden care equipment, pool supplies, bicycles, and so on to get them out of the garage and alleviate a lot of the clutter. A lot of times garages can’t be done in one or even two days, so divide the garage up into sections, maybe quarters, and tackle them one at a time over a series of days as your schedule allows. More than anything, building a great garage takes time. Allow for the time, and you’ll allow for success. Also – consider what you use the garage for. By identifying that you do little to no mechanical work, you’ll cut that idea out of what the garage needs – do you like having friends over to enjoy talk time? Set up a seating area. Think it through, don’t just copy the standard idea of workbenches and tool storage, especially if you don’t need them. Use your imagination and think about what’s truly important to you and your needs.

I hope you enjoy this issue – thanks for stopping by!

- Don Weberg

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Garage style

magazine

Editor-Publisher Don Weberg

Art Director Web Designer – Coordinator Kari McDaniel

Business Development Manager Michele Weberg

Columinists

Lance Lambert Phil Berg Matt Stone Rodney Kemerer Cindy Meitle Vicente Sevillano Guerreros Fireball

Contributors Robin DePry Jack Pinsker Eric Miller Bob Estrada John Gunnell Dr. Rick Rader Bill Nakasone Ron Lampley Rich Pepe Yves Souvenir Steve Natale

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Printed in the United States

Lance Lambert’s

column

Avanti Arrival

M

y childhood friend Dale and I had several things in common when we were very young -- enjoying car magazines, building model cars, sitting on the curb and identifying passing cars, and visiting dealership showrooms to look at the latest creations from Detroit, Dearborn and South Bend.

Our cherished car magazines had been tantalizing us with descriptions and photos of a new model of Studebaker called Avanti. It was an odd name but it seemed to imply fast and foreign. One day an Avanti arrived in our hometown of Tacoma, WA. It was all that the name implied. It had made its public debut in April of 1962 at the New York International Automobile Show and now, in the summer of 1962, it made its personal debut to two car crazy boys. The Avanti, designated a 1963 model, was being displayed nationwide in the hope of creating orders for the spectacular car, and help the ailing Studebaker Corporation.

The Tacoma News Tribune had reported that a military cargo plane had landed at the nearby McChord Air Force base and discharged an exotic automobile, called Avanti, from the aircraft’s cargo doors. That kind of delivery was proof that the Avanti was not just a car. It was so special that it had to be delivered by a huge military aircraft.

Dale and I decided that we had to see this mysterious and magnificent looking car with our own automobile-loving eyes, so we walked the two miles to Temple Motors, the Studebaker dealership located in downtown Tacoma.

The Avanti had just arrived there and it was being viewed by a large crowd of curious citizens. The car featured a gold exterior and a beige interior, and it had the characteristic stance of an Avanti; the front was two inches lower than the back. This stance was very popular with the hot rod crowd back then, and cars with this stance were referred to as being “raked out.” A lowered front end made a car look like a wild animal ready to pounce on its prey.

The dealership had the Avanti parked on the street, perhaps expecting the crowd to be larger than what their showroom could accommodate. They were correct. The public display of Studebaker’s mind-jarring design had resulted in the Avanti being surrounded by a large crowd. For me it was love at first sight!

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Parked in front of me was a car that deserved all of the accolades that it had received in the press. One magazine stated, “It looks equally at home in the parking lot of the country club, and on the surface of the moon.” Another publication described it as, “A prizefighter in a tuxedo.” It was worthy of both descriptions.

I quickly climbed into the Avanti and noticed two things; it was much more like a sports car than any other Studebaker I’d inspected, and it was literally falling apart. I had wanted to see if the back seat was spacious enough to accommodate my average sized teenage body. It was, but the upper portion of the passenger rear side panel was falling off the interior. The crowd may have seen this as poor quality, but it didn’t decrease my appreciation of the car. Admiring the Avanti that summer day added to my respect for the courageous executives at the Studebaker Corporation and the talented design team headed by Raymond Loewy.

A significant member of that team was Tom Kellogg. Tom was hired by Raymond Loewy to help in the design and to complete the sketches as the work progressed. Tom and the other members of the team (Robert F. Andrews and John Ebstein) created the iconic car in only five weeks.

In 1999, the Vintage Vehicle Show, a television show that I produced and hosted for 24 years, decided to produce an episode about Studebaker’s Avanti. I was able to make some connections that resulted in my wife and I having a house guest for three days. The guest was extremely fun to be with and an expert on the Studebaker Avanti. His name was Tom Kellogg.

Hanging on the wall above me as this is being written is a photo of Tom and me standing next to the 1970 Avanti II that I owned at that time. It is now 2018 and parked in my garage is a 1963 Avanti. It appears that the Avanti on display at Temple Motors in 1962 made an impression on me.

-Lance Lambert

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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Phil Berg’s Dispatches from the Ultimate Garage Tour

World’s Largest Car-guy Garage Woodard is an avid vintage racer, and his race shop includes a 1975 Chevron B31 Le Mans-class sports prototype. It occupies a shop stall inside the factory, among 60 artists studios and about 120 “alternate space” offices and light manufacturing facilities.

There’s even a restaurant, Bearcats Bar and Grill, named after the most famous runabout of the Stutz company.

Woodard preserves the Stutz legacy by displaying a 1914 Bearcat, a 1920 firetruck, a 1926 Speedster Straight Eight, a 1927 sedan and a special Blackhawk Landspeed racecar built in 1928. A 1929 Dual Cowl Phaeton, a 1933 Hollywood sedan and a ‘33 Package car round out a few of the collector cars Woodard has on display.

To date, we’ve never seen a bigger car guy’s garage.

-Phil Berg

I

ndianapolis businessman Turner Woodard shows up large: His concept of a garage for his collection of special cars, for his favorite restored drivers, and for his race cars and his race shop dwarfs most of the enthusiast garages we’ve ever seen.

How big? Try one million square feet. His garage is the complex of the former Stutz auto factory in downtown Indianapolis, built in 1914 to produce popular Stutz cars which caught the public eye by their competitiveness at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which began life as a motorcycle race course with an oiled dirt surface, and progressed as a new car test site to the famed “Brickyard” auto race, starting in 1911 and the oldest race in the country.

Factories like the Stutz’ complex were built in Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis in the early 20th century, and were made of massive masonry structures of multiple stories, with columns several feet thick, and as a result are nearly impossible to tear down. A few buildings in all three cities have been converted into unique offices, shops, and artists’ studios with wide corridors and enormous elevators meant to facilitate the building of cars, but none have housed as many classic cars in such a classic, industrial space as Woodard’s Stutz factory redo.

Harry Stutz built the factory in 1914, after one of his cars finished 11th in the first Indy 500 in 1911, and orders for the car boomed, pushing Stutz and partner Henry Campbell to expand the plant to cover an entire city block, making up five fourstory structures. After the Great Depression, the Stutz company folded, with the last car built in 1934. The building sat mostly empty until 1987, and Woodard bought it in 1992. Eight huge freight elevators and wide hallways make it easy for Woodard to move all of his cars around inside the giant building.

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AUTOMOBILIA & PETROLIANA

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garage

features

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Superformance’s New Shelby Snake Pit Text and Images by Matt Stone

I

f you follow Shelby American and the greater Shelby Cobra scene, you’ve heard of SuperFormance; the South Africa based factory that produces Shelby’s current line of authorized, licensed and otherwise blessed continuation Cobras.

SuperFormance is a fully formed automotive production company employing around 275 people, and besides producing Shelby’s authorized line of Cobras, also builds Peter Brock’s redesigned and streetified Cobra Daytona Coupes, plus a series of highly authentic Ford GT40 models.

Most of these cars are produced as finished rollers, including the chassis, suspension, painted and finished bodies, and complete interiors and electrical systems, only sans powertrains, which reduces the challenges of getting them legally imported and ultimately finished, licensed and registered.

The North American arm of SuperFormance is owned by South African born (and now American citizen) Lance Stander; Stander began importing the SuperFormance cars many years ago, initially running afoul of Carroll Shelby’s efforts to protect his designs and trademarks – the two ultimately made up and joined forces, once Carroll recognized the quality of the cars that SuperFormance produced, and realized this was his best

path toward producing and selling authorized new Shelby Cobras. The result is that if you today go to Shelby American and a Shelby American authorized dealer to buy a new “CSX” model Cobra, it is built by SuperFormance in South Africa, and imported by what is now called Shelby Legendary Cars, all under the auspicus of Shelby American.

Among the benefits of the cars coming to North America as rollers is that the customer has ultimate freedom of choice in terms of the powertrain – if you want an old school, cast iron, solid lifter, carbureted 289 with a 4-speed manual transmission, you can have that. Or a new Ford Performance crate motor, with a more up to date 5- or 6-speed manual trans, you can have that too. And engine from the Shelby Engine Company? Of course.

Or an FE big-block with fuel injection and an automatic trans, that’s OK. Powertrain choices are nearly limitless. Most models offer a choice between aluminum bodywork or fiberglass.

Shelby Legendary Cars is an importer and distributor, meaning it only sells to dealers. Although if you wish to see a warehouse/showroom/Garajmahal full of Cobra eye candy, you’re welcome to make an appointment to visit and shop Lance’s new 25,000 square foot facility in Irvine, California.

For many the ultimate expression of the Shelby Cobra as a street sports car might be the narrow bodied, Small-Block roadster with wire wheels. This one is among the 50 50th Anniversary editions produced by Shelby American and SuperFormance. All long sold out, they are now highly sought after and sell for several times their original cost. All were black over red leather, such as this.

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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An Oasis in the Desert Text and Images by John Straub

L

et’s say you were a member of the Historic Motor Sports Association and you were invited to race your car at a nice track, a really nice track, no, a really, really nice track.

Where would you go? How about the Thermal Club in Palm Desert? That’s what happened last November.

HMSA had the opportunity to run three days, five classes in the ultimate setting. The Thermal Club is a private motorsports village catering to bring the very best experience to the automotive enthusiast. The club incudes a plush clubhouse

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with meeting rooms, a full bar and dining room. There’s a car wash as well as a fuel station at the facility, along with a large garage were race and primary cars are maintained for club members. Private million-dollar villas dot the outskirts of the track, with decks to relax on and watch the track action while you enjoy your favorite refreshments. These villas can be built to store up to 20 cars in their garage spaces and can be used as permanent homes or vacation getaways.

The club offers three separate circuits that can be combined

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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Rodney kemerer’s Tales from the Garage

A Tale of No Tail Text by Rodney Kemerer | Illustration by Craig Bernard

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Less Is More….More Or Less Text and Images By Ralph Pears

W

e’ve all heard the old adages: “great things come in little packages”, “the more space you have, the more you fill it up”, and “less is more”. In the culture of garage aficionados, all three are likely to be true, especially if you happen to be part of the the vintage go kart world. While go karts may be smaller in size, they require the same sort of workspace, display space, and relaxation space that our sports cars, antique automobiles, race cars or luxury marques demand from those of us who love our vehicles and the spaces in which we keep them. Today there are hundreds of enthusiasts who are filling their garage spaces with go karts, and sometimes even sharing those spaces with larger automotive projects and passions.

Go kart racing began in California the late 1950s, blossomed in the 1960s and 70s, and developed into a world wide

motorsport with followers and participants on almost every continent. Along the way, many who cut their teeth on go kart racing advanced to become some of the leading automobile racers in the world, such as Danica Patrick, or Dan Gurney from an earlier era. As the sport developed, so did technology, and the original go karts that utilized chainsaw, lawn mower, and other small motors gave way to more modern engine designs and more highly engineered chassis. Many of us who enjoyed the sport in its infancy dropped out of the sport for all sorts of reasons, but the passion for driving the low slung, open wheeled and powerful little machines always remained.

Nothing could compare to the visceral experience of feeling your kart frame flex beneath you as it entered a sharp turn at high speed, watching the inside front wheel lift off the ground as the other three dug into a controlled drift, and feeling the Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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Garages in history

Sign of the Times Text and Images By Rick Rader

W

hile GSM has their share of readers who go to great lengths to house and hide their car collections in non-descript, anonymous low profile buildings (a la The Bat Cave), most GSM followers want you to know it’s a “garage,” and it’s “theirs.”

Nelson James summarizes the history of signs, “After the Dark Ages ended and commerce expanded, the need for signs grew dramatically. In 1389, King Richard III of England passed a law that any establishment that sold ale must place a sign out in front of its building.” As they say, the rest is history.

Signs were designed and created to announce the type of business that the firm was engaged in. In the garage world we first saw signs in front of blacksmith’s shops. They typically

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had an image of a hammer and anvil, the tools of the trade.

Most repair shops (starting with carriages) not only identified the nature of their business but who the owner was. Signs were primitive and simple but as competition increased the signs became more elaborate.

GSM’ers love their garages, and the growth of GSM attest to that growing love affair. With any love affair (unless you are in politics) there is a natural tendency to promote it, announce it and claim it.

Garage afficinados have a long history of putting up signs for display. They acquire original and reproduction signs reflecting the vast array of car marques, parts, tools, lubricants, clubs, races, concours and every conceiveable contraption that was ever conceived for cars.

Left, multiple lights, a white ceiling and, reflective surfaces ensure ample light. Above, a library and seating area welcome guests.

Auto Shop Text by Don Weberg | Images by Bob Paulding

H

aving spent a career training technicians and managers of automotive repair shops around the country how to more effectively and lucratively run their businesses, Chris and his family decided it was time to build their dream house. Of course, part of that included a 12-car garage capable of comfortably parking his collection while providing space to work on the cars and enjoy time with friends and family.

“We hired an architect and designer to do the heavy lifting,” said Chris. “It was a series of back and forths, but in the end it was well worth having their expertise guiding us through the process. I knew the basics of what I wanted, but it was important also to ensure that my wife was happy. Having the professionals in that regard was well worth the expenses at the end of the day.”

The garage was attached to the house and built onto the kitchen, and therefore it was imperative that it reflect as elegant a nature as the home. The architect and designer put a lot of questions out to Chris before doing anything and found out that

really, all he seemed to want was a lot of white walls and bright lighting.

“I didn’t want it to be a dark, dreary cave,” he laughed. “But they came up with all these ideas that at first I thought were a little crazy but worked very well.”

One of the crazy ideas was to use a richer, darker color on the walls with a white ceiling overhead. At first, of course, Chris retorted, saying it would be too dark and difficult to see. However, the architect designed in several arch-topped windows by Pella to provide both natural light flow, which easily illuminated the garage, and a touch of elegance. Another seemingly crazy idea was to have Italian porcelain floors, quartz countertops, and marble floors in the bathrooms and shower.

“Who’s ever heard of using marble for a work counter? But I’ll tell you, the marble is impervious to oils and chemicals, nothing stains it, things just wipe right off, even if they’ve been sitting for a while,” he said.

The highly-polished surfaces also bounce light, adding to Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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Reeves Callaway

By Rick Rucker

T

here used to be a fantastic car show in Newport Beach, in Southern California. It took place in the parking lot of a high-end shopping center. It was called Crystal Cove and it was magical. Many of the vehicles displayed there were unlikely to be seen anywhere else. Showing your car there was a much sought after goal. The show cars weren’t allowed to enter until 7 am. Precisely at 7 there was a scene much like a LeMans start in reverse. Everyone made a mad dash to secure a parking spot.

I was admiring the cars on display one Saturday when a man called out for me to hold the spot where I stood. He drove in and parked in another spot and walked over to me. He said thanks for holding the spot. I asked why he didn’t park there. He said his wife was due in a minute or so, and he wanted to make sure she had a place to park. While we were talking I asked what make of car he was driving, I had never seen anything like it. His wife drove up just as he said it was a Callaway. I thought his voice was familiar and remembered a radio interview between Barry Meguiar and Reeves Callaway. When I asked if he was Reeves Callaway he said yes.

Reeves and Sue, his wife then, asked me to join them for breakfast to thank me for helping them. It was easy to say yes. Reeves asked what my interest was in coming to the show. I told him about my drawing cars and they looked slightly apprehensive. I had my portfolio with me and showed them some of my work. The reason for their skepticism was that it is easy to say you are an artist but harder to be one. I have since done portraits of Reeves and Sue his son Peter, and daughter Lili and Reeves’ chief designer.

Thanks to Reeves I have met so many wonderful people. One day, out of the blue, he asked if I wanted to go to lunch with Dan Gurney. Gurney was always one of my boyhood heroes. I jumped at the chance. Reeves introduced me to Dan and we talked all through lunch. Dan was delightful, and so were the other people there.

Dan said that I was invited to join them any Thursday that I cared to come along. I attended often but not enough in light of Dan’s passing.

Reeves has a great sense of humor so I know he won’t really hate the portrait that accompanies this article.

When I showed it to him, many years ago, his reaction was unexpected. He said something to the effect of “Oh no, if I had known you were going to do my portrait, I wouldn’t have worn that shirt!” When I do his portrait, Reeves always says “Think younger and thinner.” Because this was done years ago, it is both. GSM

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Building Memories Text by Don Weberg | Images by Butch Crawford

Above, exactly like the original, the reproduction station takes the owner down memory lane.

F

irst impressions always seem to leave the biggest marks, and for George, a 1930s Gulf filling station in the small town he grew up in did exactly that. At an early age, George was interested in cars, trucks, and motorcycles and therefore gravitated to the filling station to discover all the treasures it had to offer. He always wanted to work at the A regular two-car garage can filling station pump gas and tend to customers, a dream quickly becometo overwhelmed. that he never got to fulfill. As life rolled on, George attended

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college, advanced his career, raised a family, built a network of friends and colleagues, and ultimately found himself wanting to build a garage of his own, something he could enjoy with friends and family while showcasing his cars and collection of signs and pumps and neon.

“It all started in 2010, I found Garage Style Magazine and immediately subscribed and bought all the back issues,” George said. “I was hooked, it was great seeing what so

A wonderful international meeting Text and photos: Vicente Sevillano Guerrero

F

rom 14th to 17th of November was held a new edition of the General Assembly of the International Federation of Antique Vehicles (FIVA). This edition was celebrated in Gibraltar, by the Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association, a FIVA member since 2014. This club, whose president is Howard Danino, was founded in 2001.

FIVA was founded in 1966 and has more 86 members in 66 countries around the world and whose president is Patrick Rollet. The place chosen to organize this great international event was the Sunborn Yacht Hotel located in Ocean Village.

At the entrance of the Hotel and during those four days, were exhibited different classic cars, while inside, a 1939 HarleyDavidson was displayed, models of which Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association has within the large number of members.

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The assembly began on Wednesday, 14th of November in the Atlas Room of the hotel with the officers meeting. On Thursday, 15th of November, the Motorcycles Commission, whose director is Palmino Poli, was held in the Ballroom Conference Center. During this commission, the FIVA World Motorcycle Rally 2019 program was presented, which will be held in Croatia, Slovenia and Italy respectively. Later, the Utilitarian Commission, whose director is Roberto Sarzani, discussed their opinions, ideas and projects of the respective members of this commission.

In the afternoon, the Technical Commission convened, whose president is Paul Loveridge, vice president of FIVA, as well as the conferences with their opinions, ideas, and projects of the respective members of this commission.

"2019 SANDHILLS MOTORING FESTIVAL" YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED! Memorial Day Weekend 2019, May 24th through May 27th, the Sandhills Motoring Festival has events lined up for every car enthusiast culminating in the "Concours in the Village" on Sunday May 26th in the streets of the historic Village of Pinehurst.

"Automobiles & BBQ" FRIDAY, May 24th: Cars, Live Music, and Carolina Buffet BBQ at Little River Resort, 5:00pm-9:00pm "SMF Road Rally" SATURDAY, May 25th: Road rally through the countryside of Moore County, 8:00am-12:00pm "Concours in the Village" Sunday, May 26th: Cars show in the Village of Pinehurst, 9:00am-3:00pm, with awards at 2:00pm

Please visit the Sandhills Motoring Festival Website for full details and schedule! www.sandhillsmotoringfestival.com

Q & A with Robin Grove CARS USA

Text and Images by Steven Kittrell

R

obin Grove grew up in a gorgeous little corner of South Bay California in Palos Verdes. After graduating high school, she went to college for music, playing an electric violin, and many other instruments while studying recording arts. At the age of 19, while going to school, she was employed as a messenger for a customs broker freight forwarder, to deliver paperwork to US Customs. Being one of the first women messengers in this field, Robin had the mindset even then that there was nothing she couldn’t do. This specific broker specialized in the US Customs Clearance and International Transportation of stone and tile as well as gray market vehicles which led to concours quality cars of all types.

Fast forward 25 years, during which Robin ran every department, obtained every license and helped build that company before being offered the Sr. VP of Commercial Operations by Masterpiece International in 2003. By 2011, she was ready to open her own customs brokerage and freight forwarding firm dubbed “LOA, Inc.” aka Law-of-Attraction. But what does this have to do with cars? Well, we’re getting to that.

In the late ’80s, a good friend and client, Mark Leonard, of Grand Prix Classics, in La Jolla, California, introduced her to CARS UK, whom they had worked with for more than 20 years.

The Law of Attraction brought them together, and in 2014 the opportunity to partner with CARS UK came about, as they were

looking to open in the USA. CARS USA was born with Robin again at the helm.

Robin had a lot to offer as she was already working with the factories of Pagani, Koenigsegg and Morgan along with many collectors, restoration shops and auction houses. To marry up with the CARS brand halo effect and service was a match made in heaven. The US Corporate office opened in Long Beach, California and in just over a year, CARS opened their New York office. In 2016 they bought a building in Gardena, California, which was renovated specifically for vehicles and storage.

I sat down with Ms. Grove to ask her a little bit more about her automotive background, passion for cars and current private collection – which is very impressive to say the least.

SK: Talk to me a little about the first car you remember – is there something that sticks out?

RG: As a young child, my parents would take us on Camping trips and drives all over the US in a camper on top of a ’66 Chevy pickup truck. At the age of 14, my 16-year-old sister started driving and was given my grandfather’s 1963 Chevy Impala. Her first boyfriend was into ’56 Ford Pickups with a local truck club, so we went to shows and runs all over town.

At the age of 16 my parents stopped camping, and gave me the Chevy pickup truck, to which I traded straight across for a 1964 ½ Black Mustang Coupe. Quickly joined a Mustang Club,

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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Notes from Hershey

Fall meet always brings smiles Text by Don Weberg Images by Rick Rader

E

very October, the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Eastern Division National Fall Meet, or the Hershey Swap Meet, more commonly referred to simply as Hershey, takes over the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania and thousands of car enthusiasts converge to buy, sell, and trade those needful automotive treasures. Debuting in 1955, the four-day Hershey Swap Meet has become a mainstay for car enthusiasts, particularly those enjoying the earlier years of motoring history, including the brass era. Our roving reporter, Rick Rader, and his crew descend on Hershey every Fall to partake in the board of faire and enjoy time with likeminded enthusiasts. This year, Rick sent a couple of pictures back from his time. Visiting Hershey for the first time is a little overwhelming, but a truly enjoyable experience. Packed with real car people, there is something for everyone, especially those of us looking for bits and pieces to spice up our garages.

Plan early, and it’s worth it to fly into Harrisburg. | GSM www.HersheyAACA.org

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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review AUCTION HOUSE JOURNAL

Product

Lot 77 – “Mother Penn Motor Oil Paddle Sign” Double-sided porcelain lubester paddle sign showing great gloss and color. Shows very minor surface scratches, exceptional color registration. A rare sign, especially in such presentable condition, it was estimated to bring $1,400 to $1,800.

Sold: $1,450

Lot 34 – “Standard RPM Motor Oil Mickey Mouse Sign Single-sided tin with very good gloss and color, showing some paint loss around the perimeter with discoloration in the field. One small hole has been added at the 12-o’clock mark. Marked, “Copr.

1939 Walt Disney Productions.” Rated as a condition 8.5, the estimate was ranged between $2,000 and $3,000.

Sold: $2,000

Lot 103 – “Rare PDQ License Plate Topper” Single-sided tin enamel, this rare plate topper shows minor rust and wear and is marked, “L.A. Stp & Sty. Co.” Featuring a great die cast shape with Petrol Pete the Pelican, PDQ pieces are exceedingly difficult to find, making this a fabulous treat. Estimated between $400 and $600, it was given an overall condition rating of 8.5.

Sold: $350

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RM Sothebys – Paris, France Feb 6, 2019 Lot 103 – “Ferrari 250 Tool Kit” Very original containing many difficult to find items including a M. Riganti jack, Pirelli fan belt, four wooden-handle screw drivers, grease gun and extender, two hammers, six Beta wrenches, and a complete set of bulbs and fuses within the leather bag.

Sold: €4,800

Lot 105 – “Nunc est Bibendum” Michelin Poster by O’Galop, 1910” An iconic piece of automotive advertising history, Mr. Bib raises a glass in a fabulous assortment of French roads. Produced in 1910.

Sold: €4,800

Lot 108 – “Ayrton Senna McLaren Rheos Helmet, 1990” Complete with a radio, this Rheos helmet was used in the 1990 Formula 1 World Championship by Ayrton Senna behind the wheel of a McLaren MP4-5b. Helmet shows signs of wear both inside and out and is accompanied by a certificate from Angelo Parrilla, Senna’s manager during his time in karting, to whom Ayrton gifted this helmet.

Sold: €162,000 Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

53

Lot H22 – “Brown Derby DS Corrugated Tin Neon” Measuring at 154x79x13 inches, this is the only known sign created for the infamous Brown Derby restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.

Created in 1927, the double-sided corrugated tin sign is lit with neon. The neon and transformers have been updated.

Sold: $88,500

Lot P115 – “Yates Ford SSPN” Measuring 110x94x10 inches, this animated Single-Sided Porcelain Neon sign hung over the used car lot at Yates Ford at 8007 South Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois for several decades. Featuring excellent original porcelain finish with restored neon, the animated flashing arrow mechanism has been restored and operates just as it did as a beacon encouraging people to find their next “new to them” car at Yates Ford.

Sold: $42,480

Lot J6 – “Maisto 1:18 Die-Cast Cars Lot of 11” Still in their boxes, this lot of 11 Maisto Die Cast cars was complete with a Corvette ZR-1, Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, Ferrari 348ts, Citroen 15CV 6-cyl, Lamborghini Diablo SE, Jaguar XJ220, BMW 502, McLaren F1, Bugatti EB110, Volkswagen Export, and a Porsche Boxter. Showing that die cast are still fun to collect, the Mecum Las Vegas sale featured a small host of die cast lots each offering buyers something unique.

Sold: $236

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Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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Drive Toward a Cure for Parkinson’s Disease Garage Sty l agazin e readers SAVE $500eusM e promo code

GSM500

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2019 California Adventure An all-new adventure to Yosemite National Park ~ May 16-19, 2019

The 2019 “California Adventure” is our next unforgettable event! Starting with a guided tour of Canepa Motorsports, the journey then moves to the astonishing Mozart Automobile Museum. Our first overnight at the Fairmont San Jose will set us up for an amazing journey and two additional nights at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite.

Our scenic route passes by the historic Lick Observatory on the way to our ultimate

destination, Yosemite National Park, driving over the Coastal Mountains, across the Central Valley, and into the Sierra-Nevada Mountains!

This all-inclusive premium lifestyle road rally is all about cars and camaraderie, with exotics and classics sharing some of the most amazing roads in America, and our special stage. Fantastic receptions, food and drink, top-rated hotels, and relaxation will yield lasting memories.

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Scottsdale Week Text and Images By John Farrall

T

his year I finally made it to Scottsdale, AZ for auction week, lured by the addition of the Classic Car Club of America annual meeting. The annual meeting was held at The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch. This was a very nice hotel with plenty of covered parking to protect the magnificent classics that came for the concours and classic tour.

Monday the club held the first “Grand Classic” of 2019.

This was a judged show outdoors on the hotel lawn, sponsored by Hyman Ltd. By club rules, all classics must

be on the approved list of vehicles produced between 1915 and 1948. Only certain models of a particular marque built during this time period are recognized as “Full Classic” cars.

24 of the member’s classics were registered for the show.

The oldest car registered was a 1921 Stutz Model K Bulldog.

The “newest” car registered was a runoff between 3 1947 Cadillacs; a Series 62 Coupe and Convertible and a series 75 five passenger sedan. Other marques on the field included Packard, Rolls Royce, Duesenberg, Auburn, Cord, Lincoln, Mercer and Jaguar.

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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Factory Concept-Style Illustrations by Craig Bernard

A factory concept-style illustration of your own vehicle would be over the top Craigbernard2.wixsite.com/bernardartanddesign| Craigbernard2@gmail.com

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Book

reviews

HURLEY From the Beginning

Porsche Works Team: Porsche at the top 24-Hour Races

Hurley Haywood & Sean Cridland

After three years of research, countless interviews, and looking through thousands of photos it’s finally here: Hurley Haywood’s life story.

From his upbringing in Chicago and Wheaton, Illinois, to his chance meeting with Peter Gregg, Hurley Haywood was destined to drive anything he could get his hands on.

Life-long relationships with Porsche and the Brumos dealership provided the kinds of opportunities of which most racing drivers only dream.

With three overall victories at Le Mans, five at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and two at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Haywood is the world’s most successful endurance sports-car racer. In addition, Haywood won several championships and dozens of other races during a career spanning more than 43 years.

Now, in this book of 420 pages with over 650 photos, Haywood tells it all. From the beginning.

24-hour races are the supreme discipline in motorsports. Every year, more than 200,000 fans meet in Le Mans for the race over the weekend.

This book goes behind the scenes to document every detail and emotion.

Endurance races are the supreme discipline in motorsports. Several times per year, the best race drivers worldwide are on the tracks for 24 hours. The 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and in Daytona are the toughest tests for man and material.

Le Mans as the third run is the icon among the legendary races. His photos show the stress, the top performance, the eternal night, and the success of perfection.

With photography by Keyser, detailing a world previously unseen by outsiders, and a passionate text by journalist Heike Hientzsch sketching the participants’ emotions, this book illustrates the true nature of endurance races – the tension, exhaustion, and the dedication.

HOW TO BULD A CAR Adrian Newey

The world’s foremost designer in Formula One, Adrian Newey OBE is arguably one of Britain’s greatest engineers and this is his fascinating, powerful memoir.

How to Build a Car explores the story of Adrian’s unrivalled 35-year career in Formula One through the prism of the cars he has designed, the drivers he has worked alongside and the races in which he’s been involved. A true engineering genius, even in adolescence Adrian’s thoughts naturally emerged in shape and form – he began sketching his own car designs at the age of 12 and took a welding course

in his school summer holidays. From his early career in IndyCar racing and on to his unparalleled success in Formula One, we learn in comprehensive, engaging and highly entertaining detail how a car actually works. Beautifully illustrated with never-before-seen drawings, How to Build a Car encapsulates, through Adrian’s remarkable life story, precisely what makes Formula One so thrilling – its potential for the total synchronicity of man and machine, the perfect combination of style, efficiency and speed.

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

Burbank, CA 91505

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

Makes a

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Automotive Books for your Favorite Car Enthusiast

By author, photographer, broadcaster, emcee • Matt Stone

McQueen’s Machines, the Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Icon The cars, and bikes that Steve McQueen owned, drove, rode, raced, or put into his films.

Available at Motorbooks. com, Amazon.com or autobooks-aerobooks.com

Winning! The Racing Life of Paul Newman History’s Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed Co-authored with Preston Lerner Some of these stories are even true! Great fun and mythbusting.

Co-authored with Preston Lerner With Foreword by Mario Andretti America’s other favorite blue-eyed racing actor; his cars and car films Motorbooks.com, Amazon.com or autobooks-aerobooks.com

The Ferrari Phenomenon Co-authored with Luca Dal Monte No boring serial numbers or camshaft specs; just all the stories you’ve never heard and photos you’ve maybe never seen.

BullPublishing.com, Amazon.com or autobooks-aerobooks.com

Motorbooks.com, Amazon.com or autobooks-aerobooks.com

Hot Rod Empire McQueen’s Motorcycles Racing and Riding with the King of Cool.

Steve McQueen was as much into bikes as he was into cars.

Learn about most of his great machines, racing efforts, and motorcycles in his films.

James Garner’s Motoring Life From Baja to Daytona, the movie Grand Prix, The Rockford Files and more.

CarTechbooks.com, Amazon.com or autobooks-aerobooks.com

Motorbooks.com, autobooksaerobooks.com, or Amazon.com

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Isky The life story of The Camfather himself, Ed Iskenderian, among the original pioneers of the speed equipment industry more than 70 years ago. CarTechBooks. com, autobooks-aerobooks. com, or Amazon.com

And Please Visit: www.MattStoneCars.com

Margie and Robert E. Petersen gave birth to the specialty publishing industry and HOT ROD magazine, all of which helped launch the hot rodding movement.

This book tells those stories and about their lives, businesses, cars, and car museums.

Motorbooks.com, Amazon.com or autobooks-aerobooks.com

fireball’s

column

Expanding the Show Scene

I

magine. 230 Vintage Classic Trailers from all over the country heading west and landing in SoCal. Sounds like what they did in the 1880s with Wagon Trains, right?

But alas, this is a thing.

An event that takes place every year in Buellton, just north of Malibu. And as Malibu has a very unique Trailer Park, many of them head up for this 4-day event. But the big answer is why? Why are people nowadays so into Vintage Trailers?

I grew up in the ‘60s with Big Lincolns, slab-sided Mercury Marquis Station Wagons and Chrysler Town & Countrys. These were the cars that you took across country, slept in the back and complained the whole way. But in the ‘50s, Travel Trailers were new, in-style, colorful and exciting. Families were purchasing Shastas, Airstreams, WeeWinds, TravelBoats, Holiday Houses and many others to make their travel dreams come true.

But over the next few decades and into the ‘80s and ‘90s, Travel Trailers weened, many falling into disrepair, junkyards and at unsavory homes.

Think “Breaking Bad.” But in the last decade or two, Travel Trailers have made a massive comeback to where it’s the Ultimate Glamping Experience.

And the Buellton Vintage Trailer Bash is one of the largest gatherings of these amazing, fully-restored and period correct trailers.

So, what’s my job? Well, I’m glad you asked. As I’m in cahoots with David Neel at The Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard, I’ve been tasked with several things. All geared towards creating the best show possible. And that involves this breakdown for the Saturday Open House. I’ll be Vlogging each day for our show, cruising a Scooter at 6pm with Fireball Scooter Shots (Fireball Whisky), giving out awards for the best trailer with my good friend Actor Tony

Dow and his wife, setting up a LIVE Performance for Popstar Singer CELLESTE and peppering the entire massive show with our new Vintage Trailer Coloring Book.

On Saturday as I stated, it will be the Open House for all to come see these fabulous trailers. Unfortunately, by the time this article comes out, it was last Saturday. Sorry about that, Chief. You missed the Gilligan’s Island Party, Fashion Show and multiple Sundowner Parties. Maybe next year.

The connection people have to their vehicles, whether it be cars or Vintage Trailers harkens back to memories old.

What seemed like a simpler time, but was in fact just at its essence, LOVE on wheels. Traveling has always meant joy for me. Discovery, wonder, clean air and new things. The Buellton Show is one of the best, most positive places to go on the planet. A little place called Flying Flags in a town that most people have never heard of, but as love knows no bounds, the beauty of sharing and experiencing this show with your friends really encompasses the meaning of life.

Do What You Love... and all good things come. Even if it’s in a Traveling Period Correct Tin Can. - Fireball

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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TV

& radio host, newspaper & magazine columnist, and award winning performer Lance Lambert’s books take readers on a ride through the landscape of simpler times. His antics have both delighted and shocked readers, resulting in many commenting, “That reminds me of…“, “How did he get away with that?” and “How is he still alive?”

“Lance’s stories are achingly truthful, often laugh-out-loud funny, and generous in spirit… a gift for tender storytelling and a welloiled funny bone…“

— M.J. McDermott Reporter & Author, KCPQ News, Seattle The Improv, Frankenstein Meets Santa

FENDERS,FINS& FRIENDS

RS, E D FENS& FINIENDS Car Guy FR ns of a

LANCELAMBERT

ce at on ld – utor wor of a to e ca icon ador to th ry, an ambass eads et ass isto ly arh able nd h iend d ge ce amic dge a d a fr rience t Lan is an owle g an expe tha nce kn min om see idi – He e “La ealth of ogram yone fr easy to .” cl roni a w e TV prfor ever . It is e Lance n Ch v iv usto mot dustry ectatorsople lo er, Ho port in sp the e Re the phyte nd car pe g in otiv in eo , a tom tt n Au si e, to cars are life.”

Horn Van you y’ loves like ‘car gu , Petersen “Lance’s writings feel ngremind ions us of the essizzle you amazithat we erat of Op his could were, leormakmaybe ind ctor ughor wanted Dire y rem t, ro st ot have been to Sc ing th tings at we ndy be; – Sa take’s wri le th ld ytell hisyou writings stor rives ancethe sizzybe coud to ous asushe d back to presum“L or m him ably simpler timesus ofofor ma wante e k h e, or it ta dreamy days, giving w n ngs bly were beeus peepholes back to hthe av is writi esuma h pr olden days. A great be; ck to of g us book from back inus baer tims,es givin e th the day.” simplmy dayack to eat a es b A gr dre W – Don epholdeberg ays.back in Editor &pePublisher, denagazine om g Garage StyleolM fr eber bookday.” – Don Wblisher, r &Pu azine “Read this and youthe Edito Mag will gain insight into ge Style a down-to-earth soul,Gara with a big heart, and nd youinto an entertaining wayd thofis a sight soul, seeing the world.”“Rea gain inearth l -to- rt, wilPoalucci n hea – Theresa a dowh a big rtainPublisher, Journal Newspapers wit an ente and way ofworld.” alucci g in g the eresa Poapers seein – Th l Newsp urna r, Jo ishe Publ

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“Lance appreciates those who touch his life and whose lives he touches.

His self-deprecating sense of humor entertains on every page. Once you pick up his book, it is hard to put down.”

— David Dickinson Author & Historian, The Old Car Nut Book

“Read this and you will gain insight “…the history of our automobile into a down-to-earth soul, with a traditions is safe in your hands.”

— Lee Iacocca, Automotive Industry Icon big heart, and an entertaining way of seeing the world.”

“Lance is an amicable asset to the — Theresa Poalucci, Publisher, Journal Newspapers world… a wealth of knowledge “… The open road to a good read.” and history…“ — Linda Hughes, The Seattle Times

“Mr. Lambert hit it out of the park with this wonderful book… “

— Jim Lindsay, Author, The Little Bastards

My Wheel Life Adventures

A Kid’s Kingdom Growing Up in the City of Destiny

” ers!

Lov oms

Car rity Kust All o, Celeb d t for gostin bridle r Mus hn D'A hen un for ca

A Jo times wll it tochokine.” ine k is er a a agaz mpl ere or m Rod M Boo to si ism w eme s, Hot ride tim , sch eritu “This a joy ged op ream itor Em

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— Heidi Van Horne, Columnist, Huston Chronicle

e of T

Author of Fenders, Fins & Friends: Confessions of a Car Guy Host of television’s Vintage Vehicle Show

Lance Lambert

“Lance’s books are a ‘must read’ for all car lovers.”

— John D’Agostino, Celebrity Kustoms

Lance Lambert’s books are available at Amazon.com and booksellers everywhere.

Down the road

matt stone

Len Frank;

Automotive Journalist, Radio Show Host July 04, 1996 PAUL DEAN | TIMES STAFF WRITER

L

en Frank, respected automotive journalist, magazine editor and veteran co-host of “The Car Show” on radio KPFK-FM, the nation’s first call-in car program, has died at the age of 60. Frank, who had suffered from colon cancer for 2 1/2 years, died Friday at his home in Long Beach.

“I doubt if there was anyone who had more information in their head about the history of cars, their design, automobile racing and the car industry,” said John Retsek, his broadcast partner since 1977. “As a person, there wasn’t a kinder, more generous person beneath his image of cynic and curmudgeon.

“In all the time we were together, we never had a disagreement. We had to invent arguments on the air to bring a little rivalry to the show.”

Frank, born in Youngstown, Ohio, was a two-career achiever.

In his early years, he sold imported cars in California and Ohio, raced cars, rebuilt cars, managed car dealerships, and for a year studied transportation design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. ………………………………………………………………

So began an obit for my late friend Len Frank in the Los Angeles Times, on the occasion of his passing in mid-1996.

Len was many things, besides those noted above, he was also a father, a college prof, and the best damned automotive writer I ever read, met or knew.

Any one of us that grew up reading car magazines (and still read them and/or writes them today) has their favorites, the ones we love, and the ones we sometimes loved to hate a little bit. Len was a Motor Trend staffer during some of its better years, as I later was, although we were never on staff at the same time. When I was a budding wannabe freelancer cub, Len was one of my mentors. We sat down over several long dinners and he made suggestion of how I could break into the business; I was working and thinking more as a photographer at that time so he asked if I’d be interested in shooting some of the cars and events he was writing about for magazines.

Which I did, and just by spending that time with him, working on cars and projects, he taught me a lot about the game, which helped me break in. You’ll notice I’ve renamed this

column Down The Road.

Whenever Len wrote a column in a newpaper or magazine, this is the title he used, and he told me I was welcome to it after he was no longer around, so I do so in his memory.

So many things contributed to Len’s greatness and talent.

To begin with, he really knew and loved cars. He had a critical eye, but not a jaundiced one; he could drill down into the essence of a vehicle, to determine its real value and goodness, or lack of either, irrespective of brand or origin. He taught me to understand why some cars and brands everyone thought were great, just weren’t always, and why some cars you’ve never heard of were fabulous and often undiscovered. His knowledge of automotive history, industry, design and all that was far deeper than Google’s.

He was deeply well read, on nearly any subject you could and couldn’t name. And he had a crafty, clever sense of humor. All of which combined to spawn a magically good and wonderful writing style.

I was in awe of him because he had the same dictionary of words that I did -- but why were his stories so much better than I could write? I still wonder this.

When Len passed away his son Stefan entrusted me with Len’s archive of copy, floppy discs, scribbled upon yellow legal pads, and photos. The Petersen Automotive Museum now has custody of these original materials, so I know where it all is and that it’s safe. I have much of that work in digitized form, and vow to you (and myself) now to someday publish it into a book, or post it all up as a website in his honor and memory.

Because everyone should read and enjoy Len Frank’s marvelous work, and talent like this should never be forgotten.

- Matt Stone

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

67

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Metrongarage, Page 5 800.511.7208 www.MetronGarage.com

Route 32 Auctions, Page 7 765.307.7119 www.Route32Auctions.com

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Morphy Auctions, Page 13 877.968.8880 www.MorphyAuctions.com

Phil Berg, Page 68 www.UltimateGarages.net Reedyville Goods, Page 9 916.652.5584 www.ReedyvilleGoods.com Matt Stone, Page 64 www.MattStoneCars.com GarageArt.com, Inside Back Cover 800.708.5051 www.GarageArt.com Vintage Vehicle Show, Page 66 www.VintageVehicleTV.com Autobooks-Aerobooks, Page 9 818.845.0707 www.Autobooks-Aerobooks.com Fireball, Page 66 www.FireballTim.com CARS Yeah, Page 68 www.CARSYeah.com

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Travel/Leisure/Dining Primestitch Clothing, Page 11 www.Primestitch.com Carmel Boutique Inns www.CarmelBoutiqueInns.com Flanagans Restaurant-Pub, Page 16 831.625.5500 www.FlanagansCarmel.com

Mecum Auctions, Back Cover 262.275.5050 www.Mecum.com Drive Toward a Cure, Page 57 www.DriveTowardACure.org

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Just Suk it Up, Page 56 416.727.5790 www.JustSukitUp.com

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notes from spain

vicente sevillano guerrero

A difficult answer

I

t might be a rhetorical question, but I would love to know: What is the best car in the history? I think it is very difficult to know what model car has been the best of all time, because the automotive world is constantly advancing, and over the decades, our opinions will likely change again. But there are cars that have stood out and marked eras that likely stand out as the best. Or, at least, they vie for the title.

I am going to talk you about cars that have marked an era in my country Spain, such as the legendary models of the Spanish brand SEAT. They have made wonderful automobiles, such as the 600, the 1400, the 1500, the 124, the 850, the 127, and, more recently, the Seat Ibiza that continues with a fantastic generation of cars.

I cannot forget other legendary brands in my country such as Pegaso, with models such as the Z-102 Cabriolet Saoutchik, Enasa Cupula Coupe, Spider Touring, Berlineta Touring, Berlineta Saoutchik, Spider Rabassada, Berlineta Pan American Touring, Spider Enasa Pedralbes, and Spider Serra; Hispano Suiza, with models such as the Alfonso XIII, the H6B, the J12, the K6, the T49; and the Dodge Barreiros with models like the Dart. What is your opinion? Which are wonderful?

If I do a list by continents, I would start with one of the most important automobile industries, such as the American. They have brought many motor classic jewels such as the Duesenberg SJ Speedster, Pierce Arrow 41 Lebaron Convertible Town Cabriolet, Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria, Standard Eight Sport Phaeton, Tucker Torpedo, Cord 812 S/C Phaeton, and Nash Healey; from contemporary manufacturers such as GM, Ford, and Chrysler, we can find the Chevrolet Corvette, Bel Air, Camaro, Impala; Ford Model T, Mustang, Thunderbird; Cadillac Eldorado, V-16 Roadster, Fleetwood, Series 62 Coupé Ghia; Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster; Chrysler CH LeBaron Speedster, Dodge Challenger; Lincoln Zephyr, Continental; Pontiac GTO – and a long list of mythical automobiles. What is your opinion?

Another important automotive market is the Italian one, which has legends like the Isotta Fraschini Type 8AF Ramseier & Cie Bra Warblaufen Cabriolet, Tipo 8A SS Roadster Cabriolet Castagna; Lancia Astura Pininfarina Cabriolet; Lamborghini Miura P400 SV; Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spyder, 33/2 Stradale Coupé Scaglione; Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta Scaglietti, 375MM Scaglietti Coupe, F40, Testarossa, 365 GTB/4, 750 Monza Spider Scaglietti; ISO Rivolta Grifo CAN AM Bertone; Maserati 3500 GT, 5000 GT Coupé Allemano; Fiat 8V Berlinetta Vignale – again, the list is extensive.

If we move to the German market, we find the BMW 507, 2002 Turbo, Isetta, 328 Mille Miglia Streamline Roadster, M1 Giugiaro; Volkswagen T1, Escarabajo; Mercedes Benz 540K, S Barker Tourer, 680S Saoutchik Torpedo, 190SL, 300SL; Porsche 911, 356 A Speedster, 959, Carrera GTS Coupe; Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet; Daimler Double-Six 50 Corsica Drophead Coupe…

If we travel to the British Isles, this market has models such as Aston Martin DB2, DB3S Open Two-Seater, DB4 GT Zagato, DB5 Saloon; Lagonda LG45 Rapide Open Two-Seater Fox & Nicholl;

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Austin Seven; Austin Healey 100; Land Rover Defender; Jaguar E-Type, XK150, XK120 SE Fixed Head Coupé Pininfarina; RollsRoyce Phantom Brougham de Ville Brewster & Co., Phantom II Sport Saloon Brewster & Co., Silver Ghost; Mini Cooper, Bentley 4 ½ Litre Cabriolet Erdmann & Rossi…

The French market has got excellent models too such as Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante, Royale; Voisin C-25 Aerodyne; Delage D8S De Villars Roadster; Delahaye 135M Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet; Talbot-Lago T150 C Figoni et Falaschi Coupe; Facel Vega Facel II Coupe…

What do you think of all these? Difficult to choose one? They are all wonderful. I continue ...

There are cars that have been pioneers in some sections within the automotive industry as for example, in 1886 when Karl Benz patented the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first motor car in history. Another step in the industry was in 1912 when the Cadillac Touring became the first car with electronic start.

Several decades later, specifically, 1934, the Chrysler Airflow appeared, the first car designed in the wind tunnel, and the Citroën Traction Avant, which represented the first production monocoque chassis and front-wheel drive. In 1955, the Citroën DS, popularly known as “Shark,” appeared; this became the first car manufactured in series with disc brakes. In 1959 the Volvo PV544 appeared, becoming the first car with a three-point safety belt. In 1973, Oldsmobile offered the first airbag available for sale to the general public, specifically in its Toronado model.

These are other legendary cars.

Finally, I could continue talking about innumerable cars from different manufacturers and from different eras which, for some reason, have marked a before and after because they are very important in different aspects. We have answered some questions, but ‘what is the best car in history’ I think will continue without finding an answer, because we believe that every motor enthusiast will have a different opinion based in different personal criteria.

- Vicente Sevillano Guerrero

Garage Style Magazine Spring 2019

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