Showing posts with label Ferrari. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ferrari. Show all posts
Friday, April 17, 2015
Monday, April 13, 2015
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Monday, June 23, 2014
EVOLUTION OF THE CLASSIC CAR MOVEMENT
As the 20th Century drew to a close, we seemed to look back as much as forward, pining for what were, as we see it, better times. We can't revisit our Golden Age, but at least we can own and experience the material objects that evoke it : clothes, music, films, furniture and cars - classic cars. Glamorous, kitsch, humble or high bred, these mobile time warps powerfully conjure up a particular period.
NEW VINTAGE
The hobby of preserving and collecting cars built after the Second World War began to take shape in the early 1970's. Veteran (pre-1905), Edwardian (pre-1919) and Vintage (pre-1931) cars - as defined by Britain's Vintage Sports Car Club - have always been easy enough to categorise, but, by the end of the 1960's, post-war motor cars of the better kind were coming of age. To call them simply "old cars" no longer seemed appropriate : whether beautiful, fast or technically re-eminent, the post-1945 car had at its best all the gravitas of the pre-war machinery. Slowly, quietly, the "new Vintage" had arrived, filling the gap between Vintage and modern for a new generation of enthusiasts.
ABOVE : Classics so evocative as these - the AC Ace, Ferrari 166 and C-Type Jaguar - have always been in strong demand and are priced at a premium.
One-marque clubs for well-bred sporting marques such as Aston and Bentley had been around for years, but as enthusiasts for the less exalted makes felt the need to huddle together around a common banner, many new guilds and registers sprouted.
Traditionalists had long complained that modern cars all looked the same:, but in the 70's there was a gut feeling that the motor car had seen its best years as safety and pollution regulations made inroads into designers' freedom. Styling, particularly in Britain, seemed to be losing its way.
No wonder older cars began to look increasingly attractive. They were plentiful, cheap, easy to work on and still very usable on increasingly busy roads. Drive an old car and you made a statement about your individualism: you weren't prepared to become just another faceless, sterile tin can on the bypass to oblivion or obsessed with keeping up with the Joneses in the yearly new-model scrum. It all came together in 1973, when a UK magazine, Classic Cars, was launched.
The name "classic" stuck, a useful catch-all term for a sprawling, ill-defined genre that, in just 20 years or so, has blossomed from an eccentric past-time into a multi-million-pound industry. Not much happened for about ten years, until about 1982-83, when the nature of the hobby began to change dramatically. Slowly, under the noses of true enthusiasts, market forces took hold as it dawned on investors that really prime machinery could prove a fine hedge against inflation or an appreciating asset. Suddenly, the market hardened as Americans came to Europe seeking prime collectables.
At first, gilt-edged pre-war hardware - Bentley, Bugatti, etc. - set the pace in auction rooms, but by mid-decade, super cars of the 50's, 60's and 70's were hyped on their coat tails. Once-affordable Ferraris, Astons and Jaguar XK's and E-types became "investor" cars, commodities too expense and precious to be driven (which was rather missing the point).
As the auction houses pulled even bigger numbers, hype went into over-drive. Banks and finance companies offered loans to buy classics. The increasing ranks of classic car magazines bulged with advertising. Enthusiasts' gentle hobby was turned into an ugly, cut-throat brawl driven by greed. Many found themselves with cars that were worth more than their houses, machinery they were now too nervous to use. The boom couldn't last, fortunately. the recession hit in 1989 and demand quickly fell.
A HOBBY AGAIN
Today the market is stable again and most cars are where they could be - with enthusiasts and enthusiastic investors. Rare and high-calibre thoroughbred cars - especially those with a racing pedigree or an interesting history - will always be in strong demand.
Fashion still has its part to play in the lower echelons of the market, but those who bought Citroëns and Jaguars have learnt about the dedication required to run an old car - some went back to their moderns, others caught a life-long bug!
- Extracted from 'The World Encyclopedia of Cars' by Martin Buckley and Chris Rees
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Saturday, February 22, 2014
Cars and Coffee is Awesome... For Not Being Sued
I'll admit, it was only 2013 when I discovered Cars and Coffee, but I'm already a giant fan. What could be better than:
Staggering out of bed an hour later than weekdays,
Not shaving or brushing your teeth,
Wearing your ugly grease stained car themed t-shirt you love,
Putting your chores off for at least 2 hours,
Stumbling to the car to drive to a car show at 9 a.m,
Which is conveniently in front of a coffee shop where you can grab a black coffee and a pastry,
Watching the sun come up over the hill on a convertible Stingray,
and talkin' cars with other nuts just like you?!
Some fine cars show up too. For example, I don't think I'd ever seen a vintage Bentley in the flesh before. Wow, they really are a special car. There's a presence of grandeur when you see them in person. It's as if the castle should be tagging behind shortly. Makes you want to refer to funny things like the "bonnet" and consider drinking tea instead (but only very briefly).
There's also some odd cars. For example, the Lotus Europa is so ugly that I can't help but love it. It looks like a great looking sports car and a little toyota pickup had a baby together.
You'll also find the American car show classics as well. Yes, you've seen 5,000 versions of the same car, starting with the three your dad owned when you were a kid, but there are Chevelles, Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs, etc. etc. etc.. And yes, I'd still own number 5001 in a heartbeat if I could afford one. Thanks dad, for destruction derbying your big block Challenger because "it was ugly". Ok, I understand that; the later Challengers were ugly, even if people are paying too much for them 20 years later.
Also, the funky cars make an appearance. Cars that when you talk to the owner they mention things like their inability to keep the rear axle together if they actually use the power plant they put in the car. Oops. Some people need a poster in their garage that reminds them, "you're only as strong as your weakest link". But I still admire these people. They are the brave... and generally poor. I guess I'd like to imagine I can relate, but perhaps I'm not brave. My 1957 MGA (budgetmga.blogspot.com) has a big 72 horesepower in top shape.
Note that these guys are proud of their motors. Yes, they did something disgusting... disgustingly awesome. And they're proud of it. Therefore the hood pops open. And guys like me love it! Don't forget, there are two parts of the car, form and function! This is one of my suggestions to make cars and coffee a little better. Even if you have no idea how that noisy thing under the hood works, open the hood up for those of us that do.
But lets get back to who attends, we can't forget the ridiculously expensive cars. And these people don't play around. Life is a competition. "What...", someone else brought a V12 supercar? Park right next to them so you can prove your superiority. Ferrari or McLaren? A question I'll never have the authority to answer. It's like that goofy kid that drives the Geo Metro but wears a Ferrari jacket - he has no real authority to tell the world that Ferrari is so worthy but he'll wear their name on his chest 300 days a year.
I think the McLaren looks better. Seriously Ferrari, hoop roll bars? What is this, a BMW Z3? McLaren's shaped buttresses harken back to the days of 50's sports car racing; dig it!
My first couple of Cars and Coffee I took very few photos and enjoyed the coffee, cars, and people. Then this blog started to get more popular. What does that have to do with the price of tea in china?
I started getting death threats from photographers whose posted internet pictures I was copying and pasting into my blog. Some creepy lawyer-esque guy sent me a two page blog response on legal precedence regarding using photos, even if they're posted on the internet for all the world to see.
I then realized that if I didn't want to have to deal with these types, I needed to have a stock of my own photos that covered all they types of cars I might have an itching to write about.
Today I took more photos to hold in my back pocket. Here's a few of the highlights. And I give anyone permission to use the photos in this blog anyway they want. I won't sue you even if I see my photos printed individually on each toilet paper square. Who knows, it might sell! People really could say, "I wipe my butt with (insert hated car marque here)".
A nice 60s V12 Ferrari was in attendance this morning.
But I hate to say it, I found myself thinking the unthinkable. Pininfarina's influence is so clear that I could see a little bit of MGB in the body lines!
And my photo shooting skills are lacking. I had to "antique" this photo because it was the only way the lack of focus made any sense. Fail at having a vintage Ferrari V12 photo in my stock. From the other side I got an excellent photo (sarcasm) focused on the battery post, while behind it you can barely make out a blurry Ferrari valve cover.
And I can't forget the random angle photos I shot trying to be artistic. Too bad there's a 240Z tattooed on the leather seat and my pants are displayed prominently in the mirror.
But I did get away with a Ferrari emblem. And it's MY PHOTO. Bwa ha ha ha. I can use it without anyone suing me. Old man Ferrari probably could/would but he's dead. Ain't it pretty?
And don't forget the bling; chrome!
I thought a Porsche logo might come in handy some day too. The owner told me this is a very rare factory 911 paint color on this 914. It's green. Slight sarcasm, but I will admit it was a great color for the car.
Speaking of Porsche, I don't normally like them but this one looked great. The color, the mirror, the bumpers, the brass cooler lines, the moderately flared fenders... I'd drive it. Even if my own family would make tons of yuppie jokes. Working in a city, owning a 911, and having country relatives is a recipe for ridicule.
A couple of stalls away I happened upon a vintage right hand drive Porsche that I wanted to know more about. I couldn't find the owner, but I give him props for leaving the windows open so I could check out the interior without glare. This is another thing I'd recommend for all attendees. Hoods up, windows down!
Here's another fail shot at being artistic. Quite the snout on that Porsche huh?
The unimog had a Michelin man mounted on its rear view mirror. You probably get him for free when you buy a set of tires for this truck! No, those aren't spaceships in the background, those are the black dots my camera introduces to photos.
If I've seen 5,000 of everything else American, I've probably seen 20,000 Mustangs. But I still love the fastback. Hence this shot of only the fastback. I'm tired of the rest of the car.
Now imagine a classic beautiful 1960's Lancia. Then imagine if they partnered with Zagato. Remember the magic of the Aston Zagato (picture below is also mine from the Portland museum car show; you can tell because the quality is poor and I didn't capture all of the car).
Here's what Lancia achieved with Zagato. I wonder if Lancia asked for their money back?
I was very impressed with a classic BMW's interior. Looked great! I can imagine he loves to drive it. The exterior of the car... kinda cool. The interior... if I owned it I might sleep in it; excellent!
Well, I hope you enjoyed some of the fruits of my attempt at avoiding litigation. Make sure you check out a Cars and Coffee. And when you're there, and you see the goofy guy taking photos of every little thing with a crappy $200 dollar camera, make sure you say "hi" to me. Don't worry, I'll tell you whether I think the Ferrari or McLaren is better even if you don't care about my opinion because you saw me show up in my Geo Metro (it's just my commuter!).
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