FOOSE DESIGN: A Shop tour you must do

FOOSE DESIGN: A Shop tour you must do

If you’re visiting this site, you likely know who Chip Foose is. His build a car in a week television show, Overhaulin, is a staple on automotive TV, at the moment with a healthy reruns schedule on the Velocity network. He also has a serious hot rod and custom...
DRIVEN: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Limited

DRIVEN: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Limited

  You may recall that Chrysler “invented” or at least defined the modern minivan with its original K-Car platform front-drive derived Dodge, Chrysler, and Plymouth minivans that came to market in 1984. These vans were well packaged, affordable, people...
Montrose Invitational Car Show

Montrose Invitational Car Show

You may or may not have ever heard of Montrose, California.  It’s our version of “Mayberry, RFD” and embodies a crazy-charming old school shopping village.  The Montrose Village is about three blocks long, meanders slightly, and is packed full of...
Super Deep Discount on “Exotic Barn Finds” Book

Super Deep Discount on “Exotic Barn Finds” Book

  Greetings Visitors and Friends, I hope you had a great July 4 weekend and holiday. I’ve just made a super deep discounted publisher-direct quantity buy on my Exotic Barn Finds book, and I can sell them to you for peanuts. Here’s the deal: these are...
I miss those great Auto Accessory Boutiques

I miss those great Auto Accessory Boutiques

Click to enlarge I will never forget those trips to Vilem B. Haan  auto boutique (founded by and named after that actual guy) in Beverly Hills with my dad.  It was a real adventure, about 40 miles from our home in Upland.  We’d make an entire day of it, usually...
Highway Earth 2017 Another Big Success

Highway Earth 2017 Another Big Success

This is the greatest car show you’ve likely never heard of or been to. My friend, master photographer Evan Klein, wanted to create a low stress, no hassle car show to celebrate all cars, and the car community of great people, at a wonderfully historic place high...
Mothers Speed Detail Products

Mothers Speed Detail Products

If you know me at all, you know that I like my cars immaculate at all times, which makes me a bit of a car detail products geek. I like to try the latest stuff, in search of that wax, spray, protectant, brush or tool that makes car detailing that much better or...
Remembering Vic Edelbrock, Jr.

Remembering Vic Edelbrock, Jr.

I’m deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Vic Edelbrock, Jr., June 9, 2017.  He’d been battling all sorts of pulmonary issues, perhaps some combination of bronchitis and pneumonia.  He’d been in the hospital a bit lately, then out, but still...
Calendar Alert: Highway Earth Car Show June 14

Calendar Alert: Highway Earth Car Show June 14

Car show season is for sure upon us, at least here in SoCal. Please put this great event on your calendar either to attend or to enter. It’s a wonderful no stress, no hassle, no judging, no trophies, run what you brung day in a super historic and cool park (with...
Father’s Day Gift Guide

Father’s Day Gift Guide

OK is this an obvious plug for some of the books I’ve published? Heck yes it is, and I hope there’s something in my library that your car guy dad (or any car enthusiast) would enjoy. Far as I know, everything is available on Amazon, at Autobooks in...
Carroll Shelby Tribute 2017

Carroll Shelby Tribute 2017

photos Kirk Gerbracht Carroll Shelby passed away May 10, 2012 – and it’s hard to believe it’s been five years already. Shelby International, the Shelby Foundation, and Shelby American never forgets its original SnakeCharmer, and celebratea the occasion with a great...
Pelican Parts’ spin on Cars N Coffee

Pelican Parts’ spin on Cars N Coffee

If you own a Porsche, Mini, Mercedes-Benz or BMW, you likely know Pelican Parts. Its an impressive online parts business that carries lots of great stuff, and nearly always has the right parts in stock. They carry new Porsche original, high quality aftermarket, and...
Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show just a few weeks away

Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show just a few weeks away

This year’s FOSMQ show is shaping up to be a dandy. E ntries are strong, but the huge field still has room for more cars and bikes. And it’s all for a very good cause. So come out, enter, and run what ya brung, or just bring your posse out for the day to...
Ford Performance Road Show

Ford Performance Road Show

My longtime friend John Clor, he of FordRacing.com and Ford Performance Marketing, is currently driving around the country (in a Ford Transit Ecoboost van) meeting Ford fans and primarily Mustang clubbies at a variety of dealerships around the country, giving a...
The Tucker Automobile Company Factory, Chicago

The Tucker Automobile Company Factory, Chicago

Only the largest, grandest and most historic factory property would do for Preston Tucker’s Car of Tomorrow Photos courtesy of The Petersen Automotive Museum and Fiat/Chrysler Archive Everyone has (at least one) opinion about Preston Tucker and his near mythical...
Malibu and Petersen Automotive Museum Cars and Coffees

Malibu and Petersen Automotive Museum Cars and Coffees

My longtime friend, and oft time photographer, Kirk Gerbracht (who also supplied the great photos contained herein)  lives by the saying that “the measure of a successful weekend is how many car events you could cram into the two days” and it’s a...
DRIVEN: Classic Car Auction Yearbook 2015 2016

DRIVEN: Classic Car Auction Yearbook 2015 2016

Many collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts watch classic and collector car auction results like the proverbial hawk, believing that they truly represent real time pricing in the marketplace; noting every high and low, and tracking the trends and curves in an effort to...
Piloti shoes: drivers putting their best foot forward

Piloti shoes: drivers putting their best foot forward

I freely admit that I really love all the “stuff” that goes along with the enjoyment of cars and driving.  Watches, sunglasses, driving gloves, gadgets and goodies, ephemera, and really comfy, stylish driving shoes that support good driving and pedal...
DRIVEN: 2016 Nissan Murano Platinum AWD

DRIVEN: 2016 Nissan Murano Platinum AWD

  Here’s another one I drove several months back but never got around to talking about.  The 2017 is virtually identical so your shopping considerations shouldn’t be impacted in any meaningful detail. The first generation of Nissan’s style...
A Decidedly Touchy Subject

A Decidedly Touchy Subject

To me touching up nicks and scrapes on one of my cars is akin to going in for a root canal; it’s really got to be done, but it’s painful and the result is seldom perfect. Which is why I’ve discovered Automotive TouchUp products. Trust me this...
Great Book Signing at Autobooks with Isky

Great Book Signing at Autobooks with Isky

I’m not trying to replug my new book again — really I’m not — but thought you might enjoy these snaps from our day with Isky at Autobooks in Burbank. He was in great form, holding court and having fun. Everyone really enjoyed him a lot —...
ISKY Book Signing at AutoBooks Saturday March 18

ISKY Book Signing at AutoBooks Saturday March 18

ISKY Ed Iskenderian and the History of Hot Rodding *Saturday, March 18 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM ========== Meet The CamFather himself and author Matt Stone (that’s me!) To tell the life story of Ed “Isky” Iskenderian is to tell the history of hot rodding in...
DRIVEN: 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 1.8T Dune

DRIVEN: 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 1.8T Dune

DieselGate is over; VW is ready to have some fun. The current VW Beetle, which was first reborn as the New Beetle in 1999, is about the only remaining “retro” car from that era.  The retrofuturist Ford Thunderbird has come and gone.  The Chrysler PT...

On The Road Again!

Dear readers and visitors, I’ll be on the road for a couple weeks gathering new material, driving new cars, seeing new things, and wearing out a camera or two. Connectivity will be limited, so don’t expect any new material here until  nearer end of month...
Calendar Alert: Benedict Castle Concours March 26, 2017

Calendar Alert: Benedict Castle Concours March 26, 2017

You know I’m a sucker for a great car show, especially when it raises money for a worthy charity or cause. One such event upcoming is the 4th Annual Bendict Castle Concours on Sunday March 26, 2017 in Riverside California, to benefit Teen Challenge. I remember...
Volo Car Museum, Collection and Sales, Volo, Illinois

Volo Car Museum, Collection and Sales, Volo, Illinois

First of all, that’s Volo, not Volvo. While there, I spoke to one of the Grams family members who built, own and operate this charming place. I’m forgetting her first name, for which I apologize, but I asked her “what the place was all about.”...
Early Rodders morning Cruise-in, LaCanada, CA

Early Rodders morning Cruise-in, LaCanada, CA

As you’ve likely noticed from these pages, I make it my point to attend “breakfast cruises” or “Cars N Coffee” events all over the world whenever I can find one. I love these deals, as they are the “perfectly formed” casual...
American Car Dreamer in Cuba

American Car Dreamer in Cuba

You may (or may not) know much about Cuba, that mystical little island that sits about 90 miles off the south coast of Miami. You probably do know about the world’s appetite for the finest Cuban cigars and rum, the latter being the primary ingredient of the perfect...
Motor4Toys 2016 does the good deed

Motor4Toys 2016 does the good deed

It’s only appropriate that I get off my lazy behind and post this while it’s still the holiday season, and in the same year in which this event took place, dontcha think? Motor4Toys is a monstrous, several thousand car morning cruise in that stems from the...
Toyota USA Automobile Museum

Toyota USA Automobile Museum

I bet you didn’t know that Toyota has now been selling cars in America for more than 50 years. And those decades of new models, sales records, trucks and motorsport, the company has an interesting history here. Toyota Motor Sales America was for the longest time...
An American Car Dreamer in Cuba

An American Car Dreamer in Cuba

Some of you know that I recently spent a week in Cuba, checking out the warm weather, beautiful women, tasty Mojitos, and crazy car scene down there. I was planning to put up a huge gallery of photos for your review and hopefully your enjoyment, but my friends at Road...
Best of France and Italy 2016 was indeed the Best

Best of France and Italy 2016 was indeed the Best

I’ve told you before that this is a great show every year, and this year, it was again. All of the usual Italian and French made or designed subjects, plus a cross section of the strange, rare, and often wonderful. As you may know, this event is owned and...
You must visit the Unser Racing Museum in New Mexico

You must visit the Unser Racing Museum in New Mexico

You may love the Unser family, or you may not. No matter, any true racing fan will respect their considerable accomplishments. Nearly two handfuls of Indy 500 wins, several championships in a variety of series, Pikes Peak, Formula 5000, IROC. The Unsers have been...
DRIVEN: 2015 VW Jetta GLI 2.0 SE

DRIVEN: 2015 VW Jetta GLI 2.0 SE

After all the diesel emissions cheating fiasco noise, finally some positive things to say about Volkswagen. I like VW products, and I generally have great respect for the engineering and carmaking prowess of the company. Yes the emissions testing debacle was a major...
San Marino Motor Classic concours, 2016

San Marino Motor Classic concours, 2016

This amazing show has grown beyond the scope of a “regional concours” and continues to gain in quality and scope of a much more national or international level. It is my honor to serve as a judge for this event, but I would attend every year I could no...
Calendar Alert: Motor4Toys is Sunday, December 4

Calendar Alert: Motor4Toys is Sunday, December 4

If you’ve been on this blog for any length of time, you’ll know that Motor4Toys is among my very favorite morning cruise in car shows. And not only is it a fabulous display of a couple thousand run-what-you-brungs, it’s also all for charity for kids....
More than 300 Ferraris visit the new Petersen to celebrate

More than 300 Ferraris visit the new Petersen to celebrate

Los Angeles’ reborn, remodeled, and reimagined Petersen Automotive Museum celebrates Enzo Ferrari’s birthday with rooftop all-Ferrari cruise in. Enzo’s 118th This event was now several months ago, but I thought you still might enjoy these great Kirk Gerbracht photos...
Introducing Total MX-5 Magazine

Introducing Total MX-5 Magazine

Like Miatas? Then you’ll be happy about the launch of an excellent new magazine about the world’s now best selling sports car. I’m pleased to be Total MX-5‘s North American Editorial Correspondent, and this new mag is published by CHP Limited,...
Strange Cars From Far Away Lands

Strange Cars From Far Away Lands

As you may or may not know, my rather fabulous daughter Mo has spent the last year living and working in Turkey, and has recently left that country to do a bit of travelling around Russia in search of my maternal grandfather’s ancestral home in what is now the...
Driven: 2016 Nissan 370Z Nismo Tech 6M/T

Driven: 2016 Nissan 370Z Nismo Tech 6M/T

  I’ve never been particularly crazy about the 350/370Z. It’s not that they don’t perform well, because they do, but these cars to me lack the style, charm, and lithe fleetness of the original 240Z. It may not be fair to compare a modern day...
Porsche Day at Supercar Sunday

Porsche Day at Supercar Sunday

One of the great morning cruise-ins near me takes place in Woodland Hills, California, at the parking lot of a regional shopping mall. It’s called Supercar Sunday, and is open to any kind of cars or bikes, although once a month, it’s sort of dedicated to a...
“Hey Mario, You Drive!”

“Hey Mario, You Drive!”

If you know anything at all about me, or have visited this blog site more than a time or two, you know that the legendary Mario Andretti is both my hero and friend. Mr. Versatile, as he’s often been dubbed, is the very definition of “Been There, Won...
Three New car guy books, coming soon

Three New car guy books, coming soon

I’m pleased to advise you that I’ll have three new books out early next year. The first is the next step in my ongoing Steve McQueen as Hollywood Car Guy series, this time about Steve as cyclist. Its called McQueen’s Motorcycles, all about...
Driven: 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL450 Roadster

Driven: 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL450 Roadster

When I booked a new SL450 Roadster with Mercedes-Benz for my trip to Monterey and Pebble Beach this year, I got a little nostalgic over the name of this new model.  You will recall that prior to putting the platform class (S, SL, C, G, whatever) prior to the number it...
My Monterey Car Week Memories

My Monterey Car Week Memories

Everyone enjoys the Monterey car week (or some would say its now car Month) a bid differently. Here are some of my personal highlights, which I hope you also enjoy. It dawns on me that, somewhat like the “swallows returning to Capistrano” every year,...
Pebble Beach 2016 now history

Pebble Beach 2016 now history

The Really Big Show for this year is now consigned to history. This was about my 35th or so Pebble Beach, and 21st as a judge. So here’s Pebble Beach’s official press announcement with a complete list of all the class and special award winners.–MS...
Field Trip: The Coker Group Showroom

Field Trip: The Coker Group Showroom

Initially, this will sound like a plug for a friend’s business, which it sort of kind of is, but I promise you there’s a free and easy payoff for you next time you’re in SoCal. Besides being a terribly high quality guy, Corky Coker is a consumate...
The Devil’s in the Detailing

The Devil’s in the Detailing

I love to detail my own cars. It’s a way of really connecting with them, touching nearly every square inch of them with my own hand, great exercise, and you get a beautiful shiny car when you’re done. What’s much better? Here’s an update on...
Driven: 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland EcoDiesel 4×4

Driven: 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland EcoDiesel 4×4

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a bit of a phenom, maybe a little bit of an American Range Rover. The GC was a runaway sales success from its first day, and Jeep (and its various owners) have aimed to continuously improve it. I have long felt this vehicle would be ideally...
Highway Earth 2016, another smash great car show!

Highway Earth 2016, another smash great car show!

I couldn’t be more proud of my friends Evan and Thomas, who now for the third year, have organized, promoted, and pulled off a wonderful, casually irreverent car show that celebrates the notion of “run what you brung.”   Highway Earth is a one day...
Please come meet me in Pebble Beach

Please come meet me in Pebble Beach

I’m absolutely honored to have been asked by my friend Wayne Carini, and the folks at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to participate as a panelist in their Classic Car Forum during Monterey car week. Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum Highlights...
DRIVEN: 2016 Volkswagen Beetle 1.8T Convertible

DRIVEN: 2016 Volkswagen Beetle 1.8T Convertible

The current VW Beetle (reborn in 1999 as the New Beetle, you may recall) is a bit of a phenom in that it is the only surviving member of that era’s class of retro cars. The Chrysler PT Cruiser? Cute but gone. The reborn two-seater Thunderbird. Also cute and also...
Chasing Wayne Carini

Chasing Wayne Carini

I’m privileged to call Wayne Carini my friend. If you visit this site, you likely know Wayne from his outstanding Velocity television show, Chasing Classic Cars. It is leaps and bounds better than so much of the other automotive television content out there. And...
Fourth Annual Carroll Shelby Tribute and Car Show

Fourth Annual Carroll Shelby Tribute and Car Show

Celebrating the Spirit of Carroll, and the GT40s’ winning of Le Mans in 1966 Kirk Gerbracht photos Carroll Shelby passed away in May of 2012. So every spring, the Carroll Shelby Foundation, Shelby American, and all the other related Shelby companies and entities...
Wanted and Needed Please: McQueen’s Motorcycles

Wanted and Needed Please: McQueen’s Motorcycles

  After first writing and publishing the original McQueen’s Machines: The Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Icon, I’m diving headfirst back into the McQueen as motorhead pool. This time, the focus will be strictly on Steve McQueen as a motorcyclist; bikes...
Join me on a car tour of Cuba

Join me on a car tour of Cuba

I have for quite some time, been enamored of Cuba for many reasons. Among them certainly is the island nation’s history with the United States during the John F. Kennedy era (Cuban Missile crises, the Bay of Pigs, nearly 60s years of trade embargo with the US, and a...
Calendar Alert: Highway Earth Car Show is June 26

Calendar Alert: Highway Earth Car Show is June 26

I’m a huge supporter of this show, and have entered a car the last two years.  It is staged and presented by friends of mine, and is a wonderful day with nice people and a varied smorgasbord of great cars, in a cool, historic and attractive location. Car entries...
Cars and Coffee at Katie’s in Virginia

Cars and Coffee at Katie’s in Virginia

You know by now that I love Cars and Coffee events, and have been to many of them around the country. If you are heading Virginia or Washington DC way, this is one you must visit if you’re there on a Saturday morning. The epicenter is a little coffee, bakery and...
Cool Cars Are Where You Find Them

Cool Cars Are Where You Find Them

Wherever I go in the world, my eyes are always on silent prowl for cool cars that may be forgotten, but not gone. Cars marooned and neglected on driveways or in carports or just parked in front of some house, looking forlorn. My missions are likely much the same as...
Happy 85th Birthday, Big Eagle (Dan Gurney)!

Happy 85th Birthday, Big Eagle (Dan Gurney)!

It is with humble pride, and a bit of hero worship, that I tell you it was my honor to attend Dan Gurney’s 85th birthday party yesterday afternoon.  The warm, love filled, and race fueled gathering was hosted by his family at their All American Racers Southern...
Amelia (Island Concours) Always Amazes

Amelia (Island Concours) Always Amazes

It was again my honor to serve as a judge at the 2016 Amelia Island Concours e’Elegance in Florida, and it continues to rank as among the world’s great concours.  This was the 21st edition of this fabulous show and week full of wonderful automotive and...
Ventura Harbor Car Show

Ventura Harbor Car Show

Here’s yet another great local car show I’ve been too lazy a sloth to post up and share with you. Nice location, nice sized show, some nice cars, and free entry. Plus great Kirk Gerbracht photos. Enjoy.              ...
The OTHER List…

The OTHER List…

Every car guy has two fantasy lists of cars/trucks/racers/bikes we want to own if we had unlimited space and an even more unlimited budget. The first is the conventional roster, containing the usual suspects: perhaps a Ferrari 250 GTO, the world’s rarest Corvette,...
DRIVEN: Chevrolet Cruze Turbo Diesel

DRIVEN: Chevrolet Cruze Turbo Diesel

Modern automotive diesel engines are fabulous. Put aside for the moment all the noise about VW scamming the emissions testing process; today’s oilburners perform marvelously and get fabulous mileage. I had a trip from LA to Vegas planned, so a car with great...
DRIVEN:  Mazda 3 5-door, Grand Touring

DRIVEN: Mazda 3 5-door, Grand Touring

I generally love Mazdas.  Mazdas are generally more sporty and more expressive cars than the models by other carmakers with which they compete.  And the Zoom-zoom brand has also given us great sports cars such as th RX-7, RX-8, and the best compact British sports car...
LIMITED EDITION SHELBY TERLINGUA MUSTANG RETURNS

LIMITED EDITION SHELBY TERLINGUA MUSTANG RETURNS

News from my friends at Shelby American that I thought you might enjoy knowing about…MS Only 75 total (50 for the USA and 25 international) Shelby Terlingua Mustangs will be built 750+ supercharged V8 offered for the first time in a Shelby Terlingua Mustang Each...