UpShift • Spring/Summer 2023

QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE LARZ ANDERSON AUTO MUSEUM

Spring 2023 Issue

NEW EXHIBIT

COMING SOON: STREET RALLY RACE

GREAT AMERICAN MOUNTAIN RALLY REVIVAL A HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND CHALLENGE FOR THE MODERN DAY MOTORER

STARVING FOR CONTENT A SPRING DRIVE TO HISTORICAL CONCORD

DESIGNED WITH PASSION

FEATURING A LOCAL BESPOKE AUTO WORKSHOP

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

SHELDON STEELE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

GEORGE KENNEDY EDITOR

ABBY MCBRIDE

ART DIRECTOR

JENN CORRIVEAU

CONTRIBUTORS

ABBY MCBRIDE

GEORGE KENNEDY

NATALIE HARRINGTON

ANDREW NEWTON

CLIFFORD ATIYEH

CRAIG FITZGERALD

PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS

COVER PHOTO BY JOSH SWEENEY

GEORGE KENNEDY

JENN CORRIVEAU

JOSH SWEENEY

NATE KING

ROMINA KIRCHMAIER

SIGMUND FERM

JOSUE MICHEL

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR

WINTER IN NEW ENGLAND, THE TIME OF HIBERNATION FOR COLLECTOR CARS IS FINALLY OVER. THE DAYS AND MONTHS THIS SEASON HAVE FELT LONG AND ALAS, SPRING IS FINALLY HERE.

It is at long last time to get out and drive and shakedown your slumbering beasts and sleeping beauties. When you do, be sure to check out our Museum calendar for the many perennial favorite spring and summer car and motorcycle events at Larz Anderson Auto Museum. In addition to our Lawn Events and Cars and Coffee gatherings we are planning a variety of off-campus Driving Tours on great roads with captivating gathering destinations at roads end. From Spring to Fall we have something great planned with you in mind. Even “Laps with Larz” at Palmer Motorsports Park, now in its 4th year, is back!

As you travel and vacation across the great American landscape this summer, be sure to check out the other car and transportation Museums. These Museums, like Larz Anderson Auto Museum, are member organizations of the National Association of Automobile Museums https://naammuseums.org/museum-list/. From coast to coast, and anywhere between, NAAM member museums have many great collections in unique facilities, with one great mission, that of preserving automotive history.

As a member of the Board of Directors of NAAM (not LAAM), I can truly say that the thriving association of auto museums that comprise our membership have many stunning collections, and vibrant, evocative exhibits worthy of your attention as you venture out of our area, this season.

The very spirit of UpShift and the information found on every page, from quarter to quarter, is the distillation of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, our community, along with news from the car world beyond. This issue is no exception. Enjoy!

So, now’s the time to get out and drive!

Happy motoring,

PHOTO: NATE KING

ABOUT THE MUSEUM LAAM

PAGES 6-7

04

ONE OF A KIND

GEORGE KENNEDY

PAGES 12-15 05

GAMR REVIVAL NATALIE HARRINGTON

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03

WINTER WARMER

NATALIE HARRINGTON

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STARVING FOR CONTENT

ABBY MCBRIDE

PAGES 16-18 06

TRIAL BY ICE

CRAIG FITZGERALD

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07 A NEW ERA

GEORGE KENNEDY

PAGES 24-27 08 MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS LAAM

PAGES 28-29 09

STREET RALLY RACE

CLIFF ATIYEH

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10

FUTURE CLASSICS ANDREW NEWTON

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11 KIDS CORNER ABBY MCBRIDE

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12

VEHICLE REVIEW

GEORGE KENNEDY

PAGES 36-37

About the Museum

HOME TO AMERICA’S OLDEST CAR COLLECTION

he Larz Anderson Auto Museum is located in the lavish and original 1888 carriage house located on the grounds of the former Weld Estate, now Larz Anderson Park, in Brookline, Massachusetts. The building was inspired by the Chateau de Chaumont-Sur-Loire in France and designed by Edmund M. Wheelwright, the city architect of Boston. First constructed as a working stable, it later served to house and maintain the Andersons’ growing collection of motorcars.

Larz and Isabel Anderson began their love affair with the automobile before the turn of the century. In 1899, soon after they married, they purchased a new Winton Runabout, a true horseless carriage. From 1899 to

PHOTOS: JENN CORRIVEAU

1948 the Andersons purchased at least 32 new motorcars in addition to numerous carriages, thus creating “America’s Oldest Car Collection.”

As each car became obsolete it would be retired to the Carriage House. By 1927, the Andersons began opening the building to the public for tours of their “ancient” vehicles. When Isabel Anderson passed away in 1948, it was her wish that the motorcar collection be known as the “Larz Anderson Collection,” and that a separate non-profit organization be created to promote the mission of preserving the collection and automotive history.

The grounds of Larz Anderson Park include a romantic pond, a picturesque view of the Boston skyline just four miles away, acres of lush open space with walking paths throughout and an ice skating rink that is open to the public during the winter months. Today, the Carriage House is on the National Register of Historic Places. A landmark within the community and both a cultural and educational hub in the automotive world, it continues to house and preserve the fourteen motorcars that remain in the Larz Anderson Collection.

GREAT AMERICAN MOUNTAIN RALLY REVIVAL

A HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND CHALLENGE FOR THE MODERN DAY MOTORER

The Great American Mountain Rallye (sic) first ran on Thanksgiving Day, 1953. The three-day competition followed an arduous 1,200-mile route through New England and was specifically designed by the Motor Sports Club of America (MSCA) to put drivers, navigators, and the cars themselves to the test.

Indeed, a 1956 article in Auto Age described the GAMR as “America’s longest, toughest, and coldest rallye.” Despite—or perhaps rising to the challenge of—these characteristics, the event attracted exalted participation, including from automotive greats Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio as well as from automakers like Saab. It was also the first U.S. rally to be sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

FIA distinction is an honor for any motorsport event, but for the fledgling GAMR, it would have been especially vindicating: The MSCA which hosted it had been formed because its founders, Bob Grier and Larry Kulok, were refused membership in the alreadyestablished Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). The reason? They were Jewish.

This happened in 1945—just after World War II. The Allies had won, finally dispatching Hitler and his vile ideology to history. Yet anti-Semitism

NATALIE HARRINGTON | PHOTOS: JENN CORRIVEAU

persisted, even in America’s most advanced and most cosmopolitan cities. Fortunately for the future of automotive culture, Grier and Kulok responded to this ugly, hateful ostracism not by capitulating or by retaliating, but by rising above. Their New York-based club soon grew larger than the nationwide SCCA and became the only U.S. car club to offer racing events.

The MSCA set the stage for enthusiast culture as we know it, and its signature event has recently reemerged in the form of The Great American Mountain Rally Revival.

The Revival was conceived by rally driver and historian Steve McKelvie, who partnered with Gary Hamilton to create a modern-day version. It’s still a threeday event, but it now covers roughly 500 miles. Each year’s route incorporates portions from the original GAMR and includes some timed regularity stages. Both vintage and modern cars are welcome.

Ed Owen, owner of European Auto Solutions in Waltham, MA and an important supporter of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, heard of the Revival through an article in Hemmings Motor News—the magazine’s Bennington, VT headquarters served as the end point for the first Revival, in 2018. “It’s a cool New England thing, and it has real history. I thought I’d like to be a part of reviving it,” he says. He also thought it sounded like a fun thing to do with his dad, Tom, and he had just the car for the job: He’d recently acquired a 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 16V and was eager to spend more time behind the wheel.

Though not as long as the original, the new route still proved treacherous, sometimes going off-road and along logging routes. Ed recalls a particular section that left him duct-taping his car’s bumper back on. Nevertheless, he and Tom enjoyed themselves enough to return the following year. For 2019, they drove a 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC and recruited museum friends Bob and Cindy Laughrea and David Geisinger and Aimee Cardwell to join as well.

“It’s a full day,” says Ed, who has participated in every Revival to date, “and it really pushes you and challenges you, but the people you spend this time with are really great.” That, he says, is what keeps him coming back each year.

Grier and Kulok established the MSCA out of necessity, creating a home for themselves as enthusiasts when others would not have them. Nearly 80 years later, their club’s legacy continues to foster a joyful community.

WINTER WARMER .

THE ANNUAL MEMBERS’ PARTY JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER

The temperature in Brookline may have been frigid on February 4th, but the atmosphere at 15 Newton Street was warm.

Larz Anderson Lawn Events are well known for serving as a hub of enthusiast activity in the New England automotive sphere. On any given Sunday from May to October, you can expect to find the Great Lawn full of cars and, more importantly, the people who love them. But what happens when the time comes to break out our car covers and trickle chargers?

One might imagine that the Museum lies dormant until spring and car show season return. That would be quite wrong. Activities continue through the winter months, with Family Days, Cultural Concerts, and the Community Speaker series, not to mention HowTo Tuesdays and, of course, the annual exhibit.

That said, there’s nothing like a party. And, more specifically, there’s nothing like the Museum’s Member’s Party! This annual event represents an important opportunity for the Larz Anderson Auto Museum to celebrate the community that constitutes its lifeblood. And that blood was pumping on the freezing Saturday night that saw 150 of the museum’s warmest supporters gathered together.

Food was plentiful and delicious, with passed apps from Forklift Catering and numerous stations offering flatbread (Johnny Burke Catering), mac and cheese (Ambrosia), chicken and waffles (Max Ultimate Food), short ribs (Calla), and dessert (Tastings). Guests filling their plates enjoyed the music, courtesy of DJ Matt Wininger, and magician Peter O’Malley ensured that no one got bored between bites. Roulette tables and hosts from Casino Productions added interest to the evening’s activities, and a cozy fireplace set up in the rear gallery for the occasion was a hit. Gordon’s supplied bar service and Espresso Dave, a regular at Cars and Coffee, provided a variety of coffee- and espresso-based treats.

Once again, the Museum’s members proved that we have far more than just cars to share with one another, and that it’ll take more than a cold snap to dampen our spirits.

NATALIE HARRINGTON | PIHOTO: SIGMUND FERM

ONE OF A KIND TREATMENT IN A BESPOKE AUTO WORKSHOP

If you have attended Tutto Italiano or any Cars & Coffee event, you may have seen more than a few cars with a futuristic-looking “AVI” sticker on them. AVI is a bespoke workshop in Newton that provides custom work for discerning car owners, but it’s so much more than that. Though it started with work such as stereo installations, the outfit has evolved to ambitious custom jobs, including entirely reimagined interiors.

AVI recently moved into its cutting-edge facility, complete with multiple 3D printers, laser CNC, fully enclosed detailing suites, and much more. I first covered AVI for the Boston Globe over a decade ago, and it’s incredible to see the evolution and growth of the operation, which is the brainchild of Safi Barqawi. The new facility was designed by his wife, Tiffany Barqawi of Barqawi Design. The old place was 2,400 square feet. “We were busting at the seams,” said Safi. In regards to the old location, Tiffany commented, “We used to joke that it had speakeasy vibes. The space wasn’t really reflective of the quality. When we got the

new building we wanted a place that had the ‘wow factor,’ but also reflective of the quality of the work”

Back a decade ago at the original Newton facility, I walked into the garage as Safi was installing a stereo system in a Factory 5 Shelby Cobra. It was a modern head-unit, but behind the facade of a more period-correct radio. In the next bay over, he was working on a (literally) one-of-a-kind Bertone Mantide, upgrading some of the electronics. This was indicative of the incredible work he was doing back then…all in intimate confines. It was all part of AVI’s OEM-Plus philosophy— make modifications and upgrades in a

GEORGE KENNEDY | PHOTOS: ROMINA KIRCHMAIER

tasteful and seamless manner that one might even think or assume was a factory upgrade.

Safi went to Boston University for Biomedical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Medical Imaging, but rather than follow in this career training, he wanted to follow his passion and opened AVI between degrees. After more than a decade at their original facility, AVI has moved into a modern space on the other side of Newton. Tiffany was instrumental in the visual presentation that heralded a new era for AVI. This took the form of fluted wood, a neutral color palette, and the marble paint job on the floor. “Funny thing is Safi was very vague about the design,” Tiffany laughed, “But I knew he wanted a timeless look, along with some trends worked in.” Tiffany and Safi are investors in EVA, a new restaurant on Newbury Street. She also led the design there. “Safi and I were brought on as investors, and I was brought in for styling. [The former tenant] ‘Cafeteria’ had a very special place in our hearts because we had our rehearsal dinner there.”

Good design is good design, no matter if it’s in the business of food or cars, but there are some details that only an automotive shop could pull off. The lobby is decorated with a full exhaust system and an engine block table. One whole wall is dedicated to wheel concepts and an interactive video screen that allows Safi and his team to walk potential clients through a virtual tour. The fact that the new facility occupies the space of a former Tweeter location brings the property full circle.

And with the new facility, comes new ambition. AVI has invested in the equipment and the skilled staff to take on bigger and more creative projects. “We’re building a Land Rover Defender for a client from the ground up and it’s probably our most exciting project.” Safi explains, “We are able to do everything that we want to do from the ground up.” They are personalizing the instrument cluster using a customizable digital panel where the analog gauges used to be, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It will receive a modern touchscreen infotainment system, a 360-degree parking camera array, and more. This Defender will also receive a full reimagined dash,

thanks to 3D printing. It will also have a custom-built gun safe that only unlocks using the RFID bracelet or fingerprint reader.

The entire Land Rover project (which is still underway at the time of this writing) afforded Safi and his team the ability to add capabilities. Safi explains, “We all wanted to keep growing, learning, and pushing boundaries, as well as get new technology into the old facility. But we didn’t have the space.” Today, AVI has the space, equipment, and staff to tackle a growing number of jobs, including ceramic coating, paint correction, window tinting, compressed air/dry ice component cleaning, and a number of other vehicle upgrades. They also have a brand-new flatbed tow truck with a retractable cover so that vehicles are protected from the elements during transit.

“The biggest thing is for someone to feel proud and excited to bring their cars here,” Tiffany explained. “What I want people to see when they come in here is ‘passion.’” continued Safi. “ What I want them to see is that, ‘Oh, these people care. Oh, these people are excited.’ We’re lucky to have such a large, passionate car community here in Boston. And it’s a big family.” And if there’s one thing that’s evident from a walk through AVI’s facilities, it’s that passion and excitement radiate from every corner.

Starving for Content

A SPRING DRIVE TO CONCORD; WHERE ONE CAN FIND HISTORY, FOOD AND SHOPPING AT ITS BEST.

ABBY MCBRIDE | PHOTOS: JENN CORRIVEAU

Living in New England we may sometimes take for granted the amount of beauty and history we have at our fingertips. One such place imbued with historical presence and charm is Concord, Massachusetts. Only 18 miles west-northwest of Boston, the town of Concord was the site of organized armed resistance to British Rule. It served as inspiration and the home for some of our greatest American writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Not surprisingly in the mid-1800’s it was a hub for antislavery activity and one of the stops on the underground railroad.

On a warm day in late February in anticipation of spring the Museum team took a drive along MA-2A to Concord. One can imagine this drive in the warmer months to be picturesque, surrounded by budding green trees.

Our first stop was the rustic and pretty Saltbox Kitchen located in West Concord. Saltbox Kitchen’s food is sourced locally from Chef Ben Elliott’s family farm. They feature a seasonal menu and are home to Concord’s only craft brewery. As we were there for breakfast, we sampled yummy smoked salmon on toast, warm maple and cinnamon oat porridge and an exceptionally delicious, retro pop tart. A fun and friendly option for dining at Saltbox is their dinner series. This spring they are hosting two themed dinners. Early in March they offer a dinner pairing of oysters and unique craft beer. Later in the season of rebirth, you can join them for a 4-course Italian meal and wine pairing. To reserve tickets, please visit their website. If you happen to live close-by they also have a community share agriculture box you partake in.

After we filled our bellies, we headed

Left: Street view of The Saltbox Kitchen.

Right: Our delicious food choices! The retro Pop Tart was a fan fav of ours.

next door to the local antiques store to check out the discarded treasures they had on offer. We then took a short drive to Main Street in Concord town center. Here you can check out Orchard House where Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women, walk the Minuteman National Historical Park, visit Concord Museum or pop into the Concord Bookshop which happens to be one of the best bookstores for children’s literature in the Boston area.

If you have a chance this spring to take a Sunday drive in your vintage ride or new convertible, the Museum team highly recommends a visit to Concord. With all the history, culture, food, and shopping there is much to enjoy on a warm, verdant afternoon.

TRIAL BY ICE

NOBODY KNOWS WINTER DRIVING LIKE NEW ENGLAND JOURNALISTS

When you’re about to load your Trager smoker with a rack of ribs, you don’t consult a recipe from Connecticut. So when you’re about to buy a vehicle and want to learn about what it’s like to drive it through a New England winter, why read about what somebody in Phoenix thinks?

For over 30 years, winter performance has been the New England Motor Press Association’s calling card. The sun shines here occasionally, too, and the organization runs a summer event for convertibles called the Ragtop Ramble and Crustacean Crawl. But it is the brutal winters and half-maintained roads where writers, video personalities, and radio hosts truly have an advantage.

“I think the Official Winter Vehicle of New England competition is unique because we’re the only press association that actually works in the winter and really knows how these vehicles perform,” says Cliff Atiyeh, the New England Motor Press Association’s new President. Atiyeh has been a part of the organization for more than 20 years, since his time at

WRITER + PHOTOS: CRAIG FITZGERALD

the Boston Globe and Boston.com, and through his work as a contributor to Car and Driver and CarGurus. “Whether it’s EVs, or SUVs and cars, we actually have to deal with this for four months out of the year.”

It’s the difference between being flown to a location where there might be some snow on the ground, to managing to survive a winter, day in, day out, sometimes from late October into April. “Other journalists from other parts of the country might visit it for a little while,” says Atiyeh. “We’re living with this stuff, we see what works, and nobody else in the country really looks at winter the way that we do.”

Another advantage of the New England Motor Press Association is how closely its members share notes. The judging for the Official Winter Vehicle of New England lasts all winter long, giving members the opportunity to get in as many

vehicles as possible to evaluate their merits. About midway through the judging process in February, the members convene and get a chance to sample vehicles that they didn’t evaluate during the rest of the winter.

What makes New England roads and weather so unique is their variability. Over two weeks in February of 2023 – in what had been up to that point a fairly mild winter – temperatures went from the 30s, plunging down to -17 degrees Fahrenheit in the Portland, Maine, region, before snapping back into the 50s two days later, all before dumping multiple doses of six to eight-inch snowfall, sheet ice, and rain on the region a week later.

It not only makes for slick driving conditions, but when temperatures rise and fall and mix with water, holes open in the roadway wreaking havoc on vehicles designed for more temperate climates. An SUV with 22-inch wheels and summer-rated performance tires becomes rapidly undrivable in these conditions, regardless of whether it has all-wheel drive.

“You can see awards competitions all over the place,” says Atiyeh, “but for cold-weather testing, who else is really doing it?”

Over the last 30 years, manufacturers have seen the potential and the power of the Official Winter Vehicle laurels awarded to a vehicle. “It is always a great honor to be recognized by the New England Motor Press Association because New England is so important to our brand,” says Thomas J. Doll, President, and CEO of Subaru of America, Inc. “Much of the early growth for Subaru started in New England precisely because of the excellent performance of our vehicles under harsh winter conditions. This reaffirms the capability that allwheel drive Subaru’s are known for. Whether you’re just driving to work or maybe heading to your next adventure, Subaru vehicles are built to get you there safely during the winter months. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to setting the highest safety standards for any weather – rain, shine, snow, or sleet.”

Jeep is another brand that has wagered heavily on winter performance. It has managed to score an Official Winter Vehicle award four times. “The Jeep team knows that New Englanders face most of the harshest winter

weather in the country, and they depend on their Jeep SUVs to get them through the winter stressfree,” said Jim Morrison, Senior Vice President and Head of Jeep Brand North America. “The journalists in the New England Motor Press Association know the elements their readers need to conquer each winter, so when they determine that a Jeep 4x4 is the most capable at tackling harsh conditions, it’s validation that the entire Jeep team that designs, engineers, builds and sells these capable Jeep 4x4s is serving our customers where they live with a Jeep vehicle they can count on.”

Evaluations in these harsh conditions are especially essential as the vehicle landscape changes. Within the last 12 years, the marketplace has gone from exactly one major manufacturer with an EV – Nissan, with the original Leaf – to nearly every major manufacturer with an EV in the product mix.

Nearly all of those vehicles boarded transporters to New England to be a part of the winter-long competition. “It’s more important than ever to have an authority on winter testing, especially with EVs,” Atiyeh says.

That original Leaf from 2012 provided a maximum of 100 miles of range and turning the heat on easily dropped the range by 25 percent. Today, a vehicle like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a maximum range of over 250 miles, and testing in extreme cold temperatures reveals a relatively negligible drop in range, thanks to innovations in heat pumps and battery pre-heaters.

“But some we’ve found are a lot better than others, and some are truly winter-equipped. We see in other EVs that the range depletes extremely quickly. “Through our testing we can see the companies that are really committed to putting EVs out for everyone, not just consumers in warm weather states,” says Atiyeh.

The New England Motor Press Association announces its Official Winter Vehicle of New England award winners after the close of judging in March.

PHOTO: STELLANTIS

A New Era

THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY FOR PROTOTYPE RACING

For the average non-enthusiast, when you say “Daytona,” they most likely think of NASCAR and the Daytona 500. Perhaps some may even know that the Daytona 500 kicks off the season, like having the Super Bowl Week 1. But those who follow sports car racing know Daytona not for the 3.5 hours that they go in an oval, but rather for the 24hour road race held within its confines every year.

The Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona is one of the most important races that most folks have never heard of. Like NASCAR, it kicks off the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Calendar. It’s also part of the unofficial Endurance Racing Triple Crown. That triumvirate also includes the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Daytona is a unique spectacle in that it features European-style endurance road racing but in the confines of one of the most famous banked-oval race tracks in the world. The cars round most of the tri-oval, darting into a series of sweeping curves, and then back out onto the track, taking to the banks at high speeds. As part of that high-speed run, there’s a quick dart into an infield chicane and then back out to the other massive banked turn. The cars come onto the front

WRITER + PHOTOS: GEORGE KENNEDY

straight and the uniquely banked stop-start line, before darting back down into the infield roadcourse portion of the track again. And they do this for 24 hours.

This year is a special one for IMSA and WeatherTech, as it marks the start of a new era for its highest level of racing. The new Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) brings in new technologies and bridges the gap with Europe’s World Endurance Championship. Oh yeah, did we mention there are multiple endurance series, and in each series, there are multiple classes? The GTP consists of the fastest cars in IMSA, and are advanced prototypes. They are followed by the LMP2 and LMP3 (Le Mans Prototype) classes, as well as multiple GT classes, which are heavily modified road cars. The GT cars include race versions of the Chevrolet Corvette, Porsche 911, McLaren 720S, MercedesAMG GT, and BMW M4, as well as entrants from Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lexus, and more. It’s a crowded field, where

drivers must negotiate faster and/or slower traffic, as well as try to compete in their own race.

The new GTP class is designed to lower budgets as well as make it easier for teams to enter races in other series. All teams use a jointly developed kinetic energy recovery (KERS) hybrid system, mated to an engine of their choice. Automakers all work with chassis makers such as Dallara, Oreca, Ligier, and others. This doesn’t mean that it’s a spec series at all. For example, the allnew Cadillac V-LMDh (for Le Mans Daytona hybrid) incorporates a GM-designed 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine. That routes power to the rear wheels, but also uses the common hybrid system. When the Cadillac and other GTP cars pull out of the pits, it’s on electric power, and then the gas engine roars to life about halfway down the pits. The V-LMDh also features unique Cadillac styling, including the telltale headlight and taillights.

Other entrants in the new GTP class include Porsche, BMW, and Honda/Acura. The Porsche 963 features a chassis from Multimatic and uses a twin-turbocharged V8. The Acura ARX-06 also features a twinturbo V8, as does the BMW M Hybrid V8. Every vehicle was impressive, but the sound of the naturally aspirated Cadillac V8 stole the show. As mentioned, each automaker could work in its brand’s design language, and Porsche and BMW delivered. The former features the brand’s signature curvaceous styling, and the latter boasted a massive twin-kidney grille with an LED outline that was instantly recognizable at night.

There’s a lot to take in with regards to new regulations, new powertrains, and new teams. If you’ve been watching endurance racing for years as I have, what doesn’t change is the spectacle. Daytona is unique in that you can watch the entire race from high up in the grandstands. In most road courses, you have your short part of the track you can watch from, and will have to change spots to watch elsewhere. The spectacle of watching dozens of race cars drive all-out (there really isn’t “nursing the car” in endurance racing anymore) through a sunset, a 10 pm fireworks show (while the race is going on), and one of the most incredible sights—the sunrise while cars are still underway.

Spectators tend to focus on the start and finish, but in the middle, let the incredible

show of multi-class racing wash over them. In the 2023 edition of the Rolex 24 Hours of Le Mans, there was a heated battle between Acura and Cadillac, with Acura finally edging out victory in the final moments of the race. As much as I was glued to the finish, I was equally following the suit of other spectators—taking in the fact that I was watching some of the most advanced cars in the world race. The races within races. Picture, competitors from North America, Europe, and Asia, then envision V8s competing against V12s and six-cylinder engines. All of this takes place under the lights, in the dusk and at dawn. What a spectacle. If you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend it.

The Contributors

THE TEAM THAT MAKES UPSHIFT POSSIBLE

GEORGE KENNEDY • EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

From open-wheel racecars to specialty off-road vehicles, George Kennedy has driven it all. A career automotive journalist, George has been a contributor, editor, and/or producer at some of the most respected publications and outlets, including Consumer Reports, Boston Magazine, Autoblog.com, and Hemmings Classic Wheels. He helped start Cartender, an automotive marketing technology company, and is currently a contributor to the Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report. He is also the YouTube host for CarGurus.com. Kennedy brings this breadth of knowledge and experience in compelling automotive content to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum.

JENN CORRIVEAU • ART DIRECTOR

Every weekend as a young girl Jenn would accompany her “Car Guy” dad to Car Events around New England. So, it is only natural that her path would eventually lead to the Larz Anderson Museum where her primary work would become the Lawn Events Manager. While in college, Jenn studied Graphic Design. She found that she had a real passion for it in all of its forms. From photography, logos, branding to designing brochures or even crafting her own Wedding Invitations – Jenn loves to organize, curate ideas and make things pop! Her unique skill set and position at the Museum allows her to play an integral and important role in shaping the Museum’s image and message.

NATALIE HARRINGTON • EDITOR + CONTRIBUTOR

Natalie Harrington is a Boston-based motorcyclist, writer, and auto enthusiast. Raised in Syracuse, NY, and Bucks County, PA, Natalie relocated to Massachusetts in 2009 following her graduation from Wellesley College. She has been a LAAM member and volunteer ever since. More than any one marque or vintage, Natalie appreciates the joy and passion she sees in the car community. She believes there is no one right way to be a car person and loves that LAAM embodies that sentiment with its diverse community, varied collection, and long history of sharing its treasures with the world around it. Natalie recently earned a certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University and hopes to apply that to her role as a member of the Museum’s board. She loves attending car shows and races and visiting auto museums around the world, but thinks that LAAM’s unique community and collection top them all. She looks forward to spreading the word.

ABBY MCBRIDE • EDITOR + CONTRIBUTOR

Abby, the new Education Manager at LAAM finds the beauty and sculptural aspects of car design fascinating. She holds a master’s degree in art education from Lesley University and a master’s degree in curriculum development from Caldwell University. Abby served for many years as Manager of Family Programs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where she curated curriculum, programs, and interpretation for visitors. Abby believes in looking at museum objects through multiple lenses in hopes of engaging as many visitors as possible.

CLIFFORD ATIYEH • SEASONAL CONTRIBUTOR

Clifford Atiyeh is an independent writer, photographer, and creative consultant. He has reported for dozens of websites, magazines, and newspapers over a 20-year journalism career. A former Boston Globe staff writer, Clifford is a contributing editor at Car and Driver, a video co-producer for CarGurus, and a product editor at Forbes. He tests more than 50 new vehicles each year and is vice president of the New England Motor Press Association.

ANDREW NEWTON • SEASONAL CONTRIBUTOR

Andrew came of age around old cars and vintage racing, and first came to the museum through an internship while attending Clark University. He then served as the Education Manager at Larz Anderson while writing about cars both old and new for Sports Car Digest, James Edition and CarGurus. In 2014, Andrew joined Hagerty as Auction and Valuation Editor to cover the collector car market worldwide and contribute to the Hagerty Price Guide. Andrew has written hundreds of articles on classic car values, market trends and history for Hagerty as well as hosted webinars and attended dozens of auctions each year. He currently lives in Houston, Texas, but gets back to Larz Anderson as often as he can.

CRAIG FITZGERALD • SEASONAL CONTRIBUTOR

Craig is a New England-based automotive journalist. He is the former editor Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car, and through the years, has contributed to Hagerty, Forbes, the Boston Globe, and many more. He is the automotive editor for Subaru Drive magazine and has been known to play a mean guitar at various haunts throughout Central Massachusetts.

STREET RALLY RACE

CELEBRATING ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS AND EXCITING FORMS OF MOTORSPORT

Early automakers recognized the power of good press. At the turn of the 20th century, the first automobiles were a radical and untested novelty even for wealthy Americans like the Andersons. The broader public needed proof these machines worked and were worth their sizable premium over a horse-drawn carriage. Competitions and stunts were old hat. Cars racing each other and setting records where none existed—that was a new spectacle the papers and radio stations could feast upon all year. Motorsport was born, entirely out of marketing.

The museum’s latest exhibit, “Street Rally Race,” recognizes the cars that made their respective marques fame and money. The adage “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday,” was just as true for Henry Ford in 1901 as it is for Mercedes-AMG in 2023. When a car company appears sorted and successful, people naturally want their cars.

Ford raced Alexander Winton for 10 laps in October 1901. His first venture, the Detroit Automobile Company, failed in 1900. Ford’s quickest shot at rebuilding his name was staging a race against Winton, one of the top drivers, in his Detroit hometown. He beat Winton and his 40-horsepower Bullet—the first true race car to be sold to the public—which resides in the Anderson collection and survives as the last of only four made.

“People were lined up because Ford beat a superior driver in a superior car that didn’t fare well that day,” said Director Sheldon Steele. “Ford was bankrupt, and that win turned him around.”

Another early model in the exhibit, a 1907 Fiat advertised with the slogan “No Hill Can Stop Me,” proves the point that car enthusiasts know the world over—If you’re not racing, you’re not serious.

“We’re curating a collection of road cars with race-car

DNA,” said Steele. “These are cars with lots of livery and provenance in national rallies, primarily from the 1960s to now.”

Rally racing is arguably the most grueling and death-defying form of motorsport. Without any wheel-to-wheel combat, a driver and co-driver must beat the clock by executing a perfect run across multiple stages—on closed public roads that often aren’t maintained, without any safety barriers, sometimes in the worst weather. Rally drivers rely on their co-drivers for precise directions and can’t memorize the course like a driver would on a track. Get it wrong, and the whole rally—or their lives—are over.

Up to a dozen prestigious rally cars and motorcycles will be on display including a 1949 Cadillac 62-series owned by Chestnut Hill resident Lloyd Dahman who raced it in the 2010 recreation of the famous Peking to Paris rally. The 1972 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF competed in a dozen rallies, while a particularly rare Ferrari—a 1975 Dino 308 GT4 dressed in Alitalia colors—has only recently come to the U.S. after racing all over Europe. A former Belgian prime minister once owned and raced the 1972 Alpine A110 on display, which looks absolutely striking in orange and white. On the German side are a Mercedes-Benz 450SLC and a replica of the 1978 East Africa Safari Rally 911 that sits in the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart.

FUTURE CLASSICS

2002-06 ACURA RSX

IS ACURA’S MILLENNIAL SPORT COMPACT THE NEXT COLLECTIBLE HOT HONDA?

From Miatas and MR-2s to Skylines and Supras, almost every modern enthusiast car with a “made in Japan” sticker is a heck of a lot more expensive than it was just a few short years ago. Aside from values shooting up pretty much everywhere in the collector car market, there are a few reasons for this.

For car folks who grew up in the 1990s, most of the more exciting new cars on the road were coming out of Japan. Not all were perfect and only a handful were very fast, but they were well-built, technically sophisticated, reasonably affordable, and entertaining to drive. Take

those positive qualities, and combine it with some nostalgia and a finite supply, and you have a recipe for rising car values. This has been the case for just about every sporty car from Japan’s Automotive Golden Age, which spans from the early 1990s to early 2000s. One vehicle that hasn’t gone stratospheric in value quite yet is the 2002-06 Acura RSX, particularly the Type-S. It has so

ANDREW NEWTON | PHOTOS: ACURA

much of what makes other modern Japanese cars “collectible.” It may be just a matter of time before the RSX appreciates as well.

Introduced for 2002 as a successor to the 1997-01 Integra (it was still sold as the Honda Integra from 2002-06 in Japan), the RSX Type-S has a rev-happy twincam, four-cylinder engine generating 210 horsepower, mated to a slick 6-speed manual. It boasts lively handling and looks that have aged better than most cars from 2000s. (Remember, this is the decade that brought us the Pontiac Aztek and Chevy SSR) It also stands out for its decently handsome interior with leather seats and white-face gauges. The RSX has more usable torque than earlier sporty Honda fourcylinder engines, and the sixth gear makes for quieter highway driving than the earlier 5-speed Civics and Integras.

And yet those earlier Civics and Integras, down on performance and usability, aren’t currently down on price. On the contrary, while clean examples of the RSX Type-S sell in the teens or low-20s, similarly clean examples of the earlier Civic Si and Integra GS-R that came before them tend to bring similar or even higher prices.

I think the RSX just hasn’t had its time yet. Aside from all the good qualities it shares with other modern collector cars, there’s something else to help make its case – this car came out right as sport compacts were starting to disappear in a SUV-saturated world. Millennial and Gen Z enthusiasts crave sports compacts. Acura’s parent company Honda also started to move away from its peppy, fun-to-drive performance image not long after. Being the “last” of something tends to lead to collectability down the line, so keep an eye out.

OTHERS: GEORGE KENNEDY

Vehicle Review

ELEGANCE MEETS ELECTRIFICATION IN THE ALL-NEW MERCEDES-BENZ EQS SUV

Electric vehicles are here to stay. There’s no way around it. But unlike the assumption that these vehicles are devoid of personality, these new EVs are surprising us with a myriad of forms and themes. For modern luxury vehicles, this can manifest in a number of ways. For performance vehicles like the BMW i4, it means brisk acceleration and a low center of gravity for sharp cornering. It can also mean extremely smooth, and confident power delivery. The latter is the ideal setup for a luxury vehicle like a Mercedes Benz. The German automaker has begun to develop sedans and SUVs around the “EQ” branding, including the all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. It is considered the EV equivalent to the full-size GLS-Class SUV. But does it live up to that billing? Will a GLS driver be satisfied with the EQS SUV?

WRITER + PHOTOS: FEATURE PICTURE, MBUSA |

Let’s get right into the numbers, because that’s really what matters here. The EQS 450+ has a single motor at the rear wheels that develops 329 horsepower and 419 pound-feet of torque. This version of the EQS has an electric range of 305 miles. The dual-motor all-wheel drive version is the EQS 450 4Matic. It has the same horsepower, but torque output increases to 590 poundfeet. The EQS 450 4Matic has a range of 285 miles.

We drove the next model up; the Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4Matic. Its dual motors make a combined 536 horsepower and 633 pound-feet of torque. This range-topping model also has a range of 285 miles.

With a level-2 home charger, the EQS can be fully recharged in about 11 hours. This would be a convenient solution for overnight charging at home. The EQS SUV also features DC fast charging, which can add about 186 miles in just 15 minutes. In about 31 minutes, it can charge the EQS SUV all the way up from 10% to 80% battery capacity.

Now that we’ve got the math out of the way, how is it as a luxury vehicle? The acceleration is tremendous, but extremely smooth. In this sense, the EQS SUV is similar to that of an S-Class. The handling is never ponderous, but it’s also never terribly athletic. Given its long wheelbase, it has a rather large turning radius.

The EQS SUV provide two rows of spacious seating and a cramped optional third row. That third row also cuts in on the already-limited cargo space. In the two-row model, the EQS provides 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats and up to 74.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. That might seem generous at first until you realize that’s on par with most compact luxury SUVs, and less than the 84.7 cubic feet provided in the conventionally powered GLS SUV. The aerodynamic styling cuts into that usable rear cargo space.

All is forgiven when sitting in the front seat. The EQS features the new Mercedes-Benz digital dash, which, when combined with the ambient lighting, turns the cabin into a nightclub. The various colors are visually pleasing and surprisingly, never distracting. This can also be said of the massive center touchscreen. While we are disappointed to see so many physical controls moved into the digital screen, Mercedes does a decent job of making sense of it all. The MBUX infotainment system

also comes with a powerful voice-control system that responds to prompts such as saying “Hey, Mercedes…” You can tell it to change the channel or turn on the climate control using natural sentences, rather than stiff voice prompts. The only issue with this infotainment system (and it’s a big one) is the lack of a traditional volume dial. There is a touch-capacitive slider on the steering wheel and on the main screen. But it is not always accurate and is very touchy. A simple volume knob would have solved for all of this.

With heated/ventilated/massaging front seats, a Burmester premium stereo, and even a separate passenger-side touchscreen, the EQS SUV is bathed in all of the same luxury essence as its conventionally powered counterparts. And for its asking price, it better have these comforts.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ SUV has a base MSRP of $104,400. The EQS 450 4Matic starts at $107,400, and the EQS 580 SUV starts at $125,950. Every version of the EQS also comes with plenty of modern driver assistance tech, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. It also comes with a helpful self-parking feature and an extremely detailed surround-view parking camera system.

So what to make of the EQS? It’s a 6,000-pound SUV that has less utility than its gas-burning counterpart. But it’s also incredibly smooth and insanely comfortable. If you’re looking for athleticism, look elsewhere. But if you appreciate the more traditional definition of luxury, including a plush, immersive interior, the EQS SUV has masterfully carved out that niche.

KIDS’ CAR CORNER The

ABBY MCBRIDE | PHOTO ABOVE: JOSUE MICHEL

The Larz Anderson Auto Museum is located in the carriage house of Larz and Isabel Anderson. This is where the Andersons kept their horses and carriages, but did you know they also had a large villa on the hill above the carriage house surrounded by beautiful gardens? A “villa” is a special word for a “fancy house.”

Larz and Isabel Anderson had a flower, vegetable, and woodland garden. They also had an Italian and Japanese garden right here in the park. In their woodland garden they kept their unique collection of ceramic garden gnomes.

In the greenhouse they grew colorful flowers all year long. They would use these flowers to make beautiful bouquets for the villa.

A greenhouse is often used to start growing seeds in the late winter. The tiny seeds sprout and turn into baby plants called seedlings.

You can start your own seedlings this Spring and by late spring they will be ready to plant outside.

1. Find an empty egg carton

2. Fill it with a little potting soil or dirt from outside

3. Use your finger to create a hole in the center of each cup in the dirt.

4. Place one seed in each hole

5. Cover the seed with soil

6. Put a little water on each newly planted seed

7. Keep on a radiator

8. Be sure to water once a day