Apr 24, 2023
When the fourth gen Hyundai Elantra came online in 2006, it played as a strong competitor to the Ford Focus, and several other compact coupes and sedans; in terms of value, standard equipment, and content levels, I felt it bettered the popular Ford in several key...
Mar 13, 2023
[CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO SEE IT FULL SCREEN IN HI RES] There’s a famous Latin expression, used primarily by the legal community, that goes Res Ipsa Loquitur, which pretty much means “The Thing Speaks for Itself” somewhat filling the need for the...
Jan 10, 2023
(Click on any photo to see it full screen in high res) I have for years been berating carmakers for inflating the compact pickup market into extinction. As most American brand pickup trucks got “longer, lower, wider” heavier, less fuel efficient, more...
Dec 23, 2022
The Fourth Time’s A Charm Photos courtesy Kirk Gerbracht; click on any photo to see it full screen in high res Now in its fourth year, Gathering at the Oaks is becoming a meaningful force in the Southern Oregon classic and collector car scene. It’s a very egalitarian...
Nov 24, 2022
I’m pleased to say that my latest book project, after interminable delays due to Covid, inflation, deflation, supply chain issues, a rail strike, locust, rickets, acne, heartburn, and goodness knows what else, is alive and well, in print and available in time...
Oct 28, 2022
Double click on any image to see it high res and full screen Hyundai’s Tucson and Sante Fe SUVs have now been around so long, we don’t often think of them as standardbearers in the marketplace. This was my chance to drive the recently remodeled,...
Oct 12, 2022
DRIVEN: Volvo XC40 Recharge EV [Please click on any image to see it full screen in high res] As you might imagine, I get many questions about EVs these days. “How do they drive?” “How far do they go on a charge?” “Are they slow?” Or “Are they fast enough.” ...
Sep 25, 2022
Among the many things I love about driving through rural communities is the surprising number of old cars I run across; yard art parked here and there, wrecking yards, small used car dealerships, barns, and other such random depositories of old tin. And of course it...
Aug 29, 2022
My newest baby is out of the incubator and available for order. Porsche Special Editions covers a variety of special run Porsches, produced by the factory, by outside coachbuilders, top level aftermarket companies, and others. Plus a smattering of concept cars....
Aug 18, 2022
Click on any photo to see it full screen in hi res No matter if it’s the next county, state, country, or around the world, when I travel I make it a goal to visit local automotive events. Of course lots of Googling helps locate and sort out these visits, and if that...
Jul 31, 2022
Visiting Two Iconic German Car Museums: Porsche and Mercedes-Benz Transportation museums around the world vary—from purpose built, factory backed, artistic (and often architectural) wonders to old warehouses thinly repurposed into museum or personal (or foundation)...
Jul 11, 2022
No, I’ve not forgotten you or this blog. I’ve just been on the road and on the run gathering new material to share with you. Next up will be two of Germany’s greatest factory car museums both from around the Stuttgart area. Worth my trip, and...
May 31, 2022
Special Edition cars. We’ve all heard of them; Anniversary models, Limited editions, Indy 500 Pace Car editions, some models even named SE or Special Edition, and so on…and on. After finishing up and publishing my THE IROC PORSCHES book, I still felt like I had...
May 2, 2022
2,600-MILE WEST COAST ROAD TRIP IN A BRONCO SPORT ALL ‘THUMBS-UP’ The birth and product launch of Ford’s new Bronco and Bronco Sport have earned nearly as much excitement and following as have any Ford GT or Shelby models of recent history. By developing the model...
Apr 19, 2022
Magnus Lucian Titus Bennett Walker is an amazing individual on so many fronts. Meet him without knowing him or speaking with him, you may (wrongly) guess him to be some part rocker, another part homeless guy, and some bit of hippy. Internationally known car builder...
Mar 14, 2022
After 30 some years as a full time professional automotive writer, photographer, and book author, I’m often asked what was my first magazine editor’s job, which was in fact as the Quarterly Magazine Editor for POCA, the Pantera Owners Club of America. This...
Feb 24, 2022
CHINO HILLS, CA — The Steve McQueen Car and bike show previously enjoyed a run of 13 successful events, up to and including 2019. You can guess of course what happened in 2020. Vowing to return, the event kept its eye on guidelines and protocols for large...
Feb 1, 2022
Provenance n: where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence. – courtesy dictionary.com Ask any knowledgeable automobile collector, restorer, auctioneer, or historian about what makes a car significant–and valuable–and they’ll...
Jan 16, 2022
Myth: A Famous (or Infamous) Chrysler Concept car sunk to the bottom of the ocean aboard the Andrea Doria cruiseliner. Today most people refer to them as “concept cars.” By “them” we mean those one-off dream machines, mockups, design studies and turntable toys...
Jan 5, 2022
2022 FRIENDS OF STEVE MCQUEEN CAR AND MOTORCYCLE SHOW REGISTRATION NOW OPEN The 2022 Steve McQueen Car and Motorcycle Show reverts back to its original June dates, and registration is now open for all three events: Welcome Party – Friday June 03, 2022...
Dec 28, 2021
Remember the old Jeep Grand Wagoneer with the fake wood on the sides? Don’t laugh, its become a cult classic and good ones cost the money. It had a cushy leather interior, plenty of fake wood inside too, and was very good off road — it was...
Dec 21, 2021
Gang, So sorry to have been such a sloth and not updated this page at my usual twice a week pace. But I’ve been eyeballs deep in finishing up a new book, in fact my second about Porsche. It’s called Porsche Special Editions, and will be out sometime in...
Dec 1, 2021
Hi Gang. This at first may not seem to be much of an automotive issue, but if you read down a bit you’ll see there’s a very worthwhile car connection — not to mention that this charity and this event is spearheaded by a friend I’ve known and...
Nov 23, 2021
Nissan’s just now out with an all new Frontier, and for reals, it’s all new. Which is a good thing, as the most recent gen mid-sized pickup from Nissan has been around since the 2005 model year, just into George W. Bush’s second term as president. ...
