Pebble Beach concours attracted attention to a rare car, and now, the US Govt wants to seize it. Seems it's provenance is fuzzy

The U.S. government wants to seize Charles Morse's car, because the French government considers it a national treasure.
The Seattle car collector says he wants to be reimbursed the $927,518 he paid for the historic 1919 Turcat-Mery touring car. He hasn't objected to France reclaiming the car, as long as they pay him for it. (Fair enough)

"It's a one-off automobile with a wonderful history to it. It was built for the Duc de Montpensier, an heir to the French throne," Morse said.

U.S. authorities say the historical classification prohibited the export of the Turcat,, which had several owners before it was purchased by Morse.

In July 2005, the Turcat arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to the AP story. Shortly thereafter, Morse showed the car at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California, taking top honors in its class. http://www.oldcarsweekly.com/article/France_wants_Turcat_Mery_back

Steve McQueen's Hudson up for auction

RM Auctioning off the 1950 Hudson Commodore Six Convertible, Scottsdale AZ , January 16.

This Commodore was one of four Hudsons owned by McQueen as one of his prized daily drivers. http://www.mcqueenonline.com/mcqueensmachineshudsonwasp.htmThe original 6-cylinder engine was replaced by a high-compression 308 cubic-inch six, upgraded with a mild camshaft and "Twin H-Power" induction system. Shortly before McQueen's death in 1980 the car was sold to a friend, who placed it into long-term dry storage in a San Bernardino, California warehouse. It has recently been maintained by RM Restoration in preparation for this offering in Arizona.

http://www.classicaldrives.com/50226711/steve_mcqueen_and_our_collectible_hudsons.php

Steve also wrote a movie screen play that might make it to film: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/14/movies/14cull.html?ex=1305259200&en=367fb59d7bba836f&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

and a biopic movie maight be made about Steve: http://www.cinematical.com/2007/06/22/steve-mcqueens-widow-wants-daniel-craig-for-a-biopic/

The last Horch made, one-off 1953 Horch 830 BL, a barn find

Built in late 1953 for the president of Auto Union, the Horch was an unusual product. A U.S. soldier bought the car during a tour of duty, and shipped the Horch back home, driving it until the transmission gave in. It was then that Al Wilson of San Angelo, Texas, bought the Horch for $500, saving it from the crusher.

It wasn't until Wilson's family wrote the company's headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany, that a connection was made, and the car was purchased for Audi's historical collection.

http://blogs.automobilemag.com/6274185/antique-classic-cars/last-1953-horch-built-found-in-texas/index.html

Jay Leno's Duesenberg Collection

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/specials/episode/0,2046,DIY_14360_51028,00.html

and for a good over all write up about Jay's collection and garage: http://www.forbes.com/2000/12/18/1218lenols.html

Buy a barn find

1918 Harley, with 1917 sidecar. Orig paint, found after 50 year slumber in a shed $5500
1926 Essex tourer, 42000 miles, 8500 GB pounds
1931 V12 Cadillac Fleetwood town car, unrestorable donor parts car
1941 Lincoln Continental Coupe, V12. Rough. $8000

These and 45 more: http://www.prewarcar.co.uk/the_barn.asp

(Correr, competir, eu levo isso no sangue, é parte de minha vida) Ayrton Senna (1960-1994) "Run, compete, I take it in blood, is part of my life"

Racing is a dangerous sport, an inherently risky activity. Regardless of all efforts to enhance safety, and of its continuous improvements throughout the last decades, motorsports will never be totally safe.
By engaging in motorsport activties - as a competitor, a team member, a marshal, a member of the press, or as a spectator - one understands and recognizes that they are exposing themelves to risks.
Very regrettably, fatal accidents - the darkest aspect of motorsports - are one of these risks. The objective of this website is to honour the memory of all those that paid motorsport’s saddest price - by remembering their histories, reviewing their careers, celebrating their victories, cherishing their lives.
http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/index.php

A must read! Sleeping Beauties -- Great Barn Finds

Tantalizing tales of barn finds have been circulating for as long as people have been collecting old cars. Enthusiasts still talk about Barney Pollard, a mysterious 1950s-era Chicago collector who amassed hundreds of old crocks from the teens and '20s. He removed front bumpers, drained fluids and then stored them vertically so he could cram still more cars in his warehouses. When he died, his collection was sold and the cars dispersed. Alexander K. Miller, an eccentric miser, and his wife Imogene, owned some 50 rare cars, primarily Stutzes (his nickname was "Stutzee"), along with stacks of parts. The Millers moved to Vermont and began filling barns and garages with many once-fine cars. A.K. and his wife lived frugally, dressed in ragged clothing, had no central heat, paid no taxes, bought old cars and parts as cheaply as they could and eventually secreted nearly $1 million in gold and silver bullion, coins and valuables on their property. In 1996 Sotheby's auctioned off the Miller estate.
1927 Model X Duesenberg sedan It had been parked since 1947.
Because it was just sort of parked, and everything was oily when it was parked, everything moved and everything was free. The windows were left rolled up so nothing got in there. Two of its tires still held air, and the other two were rock solid. The old fellow bought the car in Chicago, had it shipped out here by train, and towed it with a chain to his garage. And then he never ran it. One of 4 known to exist, one of 14 made http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/ab_auto_restoration/article/0,2021,DIY_13680_5548073,00.html

1937 Horch Model 853 Cabriolet imported by an American GI after the war, then sold to a New York enthusiast who decided he didn't like the car and tucked it away for 50 years

Duesenberg sedan Jay Leno also managed to free this Duesenberg sedan that was left in a New York City parking structure in 1933 but the garage was remodeled in the mid-'60s and got a new elevator that's about a foot and a half shorter than the old one. The Duesy was stuck.

Delahaye Type 135 M Roadster now in the Peterson collection, was found in 1992 under an olive tree in the Algerian mountains virtually complete and purchased for the sum of just 60 British pounds! http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z9207/Delahaye-Type-135M-Competition--LWB.aspx

1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Coupe. Left to rot in a garage in Pound Ridge, New York, for 45 years http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2007/06/in-new-york-garage-since-1962-1938.html

Rolls-Royce Phantom I Hibbard & Darrin-bodied convertible sedan had been a "Welcome to Hollywood" gift to actress Marlene Dietrich from producer Josef von Sternberg. This opulent car co-starred with Dietrich and Gregory Peck in the film classic, Morocco. It was in Golden Colorado from the mid 40's, and used until the late 60's. In 1974 the owner died, the inheritors started a restoration, dissassembled it, and for the next 20 years is remained in parts... til 1994 http://books.google.com/books?id=vhz_jw1_It4C "the Cobra In The Barn"

1934 Ford custom speedster originally built for Edsel B. Ford. After Ford's passing in 1943, this car found its way from Michigan to California and then to Florida where it was stored for 40 years, and dug out of obscurity by the head of the Amelia Island Concours http://www.classicaldrives.com/50226711/edsel_ford_design_genius_lost.php

1953 Ferrari 375M Sypder Began its life as the winner of the 1953 Nürburgring 1,000 Kilometers. It was purchased by amateur racer racer Lou Brero in Oct 1955 for $3500, raced for 3 months, the heads cracked. Lou died, his son disassembled the powertrain fromt he body, and stores it in 2 padlocked tractor-trailers for 39 years in Arcarta California.

The roof rusted away on the trailer and the car felt the elements. It had been driven by the great European racers, Villoresi, Ascari, Farina, Chinetti, de Portago, and then by the great American racers Phil Hill, Ken Miles and even Carroll Shelby.

http://marksavory.com/0286am/index.html

http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/Ferrari375MM.html

1937 Packard Model 120-C Convertible Sedan, owned by Nicola Bulgari, this dusty Packard had been stored in a dilapidated Pennsylvania building since 1969. http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/07/slideshow-and-story-about-car.html

1951 So-Cal Speed Shop Special bellytanker now owned by Bruce Meyer, this was built and raced by Alex Xydias, proprieter of he So-Cal Speedshop http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/12/bruce-meyer-car-guy-preserver-of.html

1940 Coachcraft Mercury Speedster, bought by Derby, a 12 yr old, from the Brucker "Cars of the Stars" museum, and his parents garaged the car for 20 years until Derby had enough money to restore it.

http://my.algeria.com/forums/open-board-forum-libre/22091-barn-finds.html

This is funny stuff! From "The Mechanic"

For the record, killing is bad and should be avoided, along with Brussels sprouts and flip-flops in the workplace. Still, I call this one Kill the Car Guy. It's a phrase I've just had enough of. Everybody's a car guy these days; just ask them.

You used to have real credentials to call yourself a car guy. Grated knuckle skin. Greasy fingernails. R Compound tires. A racing trophy. Proof you've been to some racetrack somewhere at sometime. A basic understanding of the internal combustion engine. Knowing how to heel-and-toe downshift. Knowing how to do a proper burnout. Knowing the GT-R is not the new Skyline. Knowing which one is Bo and which is Luke. Something.

Relax. I'm not saying you need to know all this stuff to qualify. It's not that simple. There's no litmus test here. You just need to invest in cars. What you choose to invest is up to you: could be your time, your brain power, your garage space, your weekends, your marriage, or of course all of the above. I don't care what it is, but I know this; being a car guy should not be free.

There was a time when it wasn't. As little as a decade ago, car guy status still had to be earned. Earned through your knowledge and your actions. You had to have real passion for this stuff; you weren't in the club just because you wanted to be. You had to truly care and you had to make the sacrifices that come along with the commitment. It wasn't enough for cars to be just a passing interest, they had to be a high priority, an very important part of your life.

And now that every knit shirt knows Ol' Shel tuned up some Mustangs 100 years ago, that's not enough to qualify you anymore. Mrs. The Mechanic knows that much. If you're going to use your Shelby knowledge to substantiate your car guy qualifications, you better know what year he won Le Mans and what he was driving.

If not, get off my lawn.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2008/10/kill-the-car-guy.html

Doug Jenkins Custom Hot Rods in St Louis has a series of videos about working on hot rods

http://www.answerbag.co.uk/articles/video/Tips-for-Using-a-Spray-Gun-to-Paint-a-Car/2017d779-0ebf-debe-ba71-a8f996eddf65

The "Team Sprite" car gets auctioned again, and still gathers compliments

The Oct. Barrett Jackson auction had the Team Sprite car auctioned and Automobile Magazine in the Feb 2009 issue spotlighted it, page 93. It was only driven 34 miles since the restoration, so the first owner must have kept it as a showpiece is my guess. It sold the first time for 24 thou, this time for 20 thou. That first owner should have enjoyed it more, and kept it longer.

http://www.livingwisdom.org/highschool/latest_news/High_articles/AHMag-YouGoGirls.pdf for a 6 page magazine pdf that cover the story really well.

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/12/in-favorite-all-time-car-stories-is.html

1966 Pontiac Catalina.... limo. ? one of about 20 made

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330298327510&category=6418&viewitem Via http://suedeandchrome.blogspot.com/

I like art, I like cars, ergo: I like art cars

http://artcar.blogspot.com/

Hood ornaments, emblems, and model names

Via a French forum: http://www.forum-auto.com/automobiles-mythiques-exception/section5/sujet189904-735.htm

Not just a car, an artwork, and wood... it's a master thesis too.

Splinter is made from a combination of maple, plywood, and MDF, giving it a beautiful look while cutting from its weight. Even the wheels have wooden rims. Joe Harmon, who is heading the project, said, “Wood has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than aluminium or steel, and it possesses a versatility that makes many types of construction techniques possible. The satisfaction involved in making something from a piece of wood is awesome.”

http://www.joeharmondesign.com/ via: http://www.notcot.org/post/17808/

"Awesome Nostalgia" Drag racing.. nothing compares to the experience

Completely off the ground.

This doesn't look like the far lane is going to have a good landing

Why it's more important to have a scattershield around the trans, and the engine in the back. Those flying parts are also rotating, at between 4 to 9 thousand rpm... notice the tires are still spun up... and those spinning discs will slice through any thing that gets in the way. Be careful out there, and have fun.

That's the timing lights in the upper left of the photo, and the front tires are off the ground, the Moon Eyes are looking at the track they'd desperately like to get back to, and the slicks arec oming off the bead of the rim.

Paradise Mesa dragstrip in San Diego

Petty's Barracuda

This is gonna break parts when it comes back to earth

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101131

Before there was fiberglass, before carbon fiber, before acid dipping... there was the hole saw. As 'Ol dad Baskerville might say, "that's reet"

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101131 it's the Awesome Nostalgia thread

Train photos from Pixdaus

Inside historic trans am racing

http://www.jbaracing.com/hmsa68/ for lots on the Trans am race cars, and in particular, the restoration of the Hinchliff/Ross Shelby GT-350 Mustang

This is fun, a kind of virtual drag racing

http://www.jbaracing.com/ from this home page, look in the lower right hand corner for "Race J Bittle's '67 Mustang"... click on it.

Press the first 3 red buttons one by one from left to right. The second to last is to start the tree lights, the last is to launch the car. Your reaction time is measured... my best time so far is a 10.40. J ripped off a 10.14.
(I think he's practiced a little.)

A sneek peek at the Balboa Park Auto museum new exhibit on Hot Rods

http://sdautomuseum.org/

A great historical documentary on the Model T, Thanks Randy!

Interesting how much of social circumstances were due to the auto industry... the documentary informed me of something I hadn't thought of before, that Henry Ford, by utilizing the assembly line to produce the Model T, realized the the math of having a 9 hour workday wasn't a good idea. So the 8 hour work day was born, due to Henry Ford wanting to keep the assembly line running 24 hrs a day - he had to institute the 3 shifts we find common now, and eliminate the 9 hour shift.

This kid is cool.

Via: http://badcopnodonuts.com/page/2/

Cool So Cal photographer, John Jarasa, editor of Heavy Hitters magazine

http://badcopnodonuts.com/ be sure to browse for some really cool stuff, likehttp://badcopnodonuts.com/2008/12/30/2009-widebody-dodge-challenger-vizualtech/

Like Ford COE's?

got to Google, type in 1950 Ford COE... or click on http://images.google.com/images?q=1950%20COE%20ford&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi for a great variety.

Happenings in San Diego

Looks like the Hot Rod and Motorcycle show I enjoyed in 2007 isn't coming back to San Diego's Qualcomm stadium. http://www.cycleprousa.com/shows.cfm http://www.sandiego.gov/qualcomm/pdf/calendar.pdf which also show the Race Legal drag races.

Here's the San Diego Harley events calendar website http://www.sandiegoharley.com/event_calendar.asp

Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse has a Koffee Kruise, it's put on by Ed, the man behind the Overdrive newspaper, and it will also have a parts swap meet now.

The Motorhead Misfits and Beef and Bun are continuing the Thursday cruise.. there's only one.. Beef and Bun! Yeah, it's catchy, I hope it doesn't get stuck in your head like it is in mine. Apr 23rd, May 21st. and so on. From 6 pm til people go home.

Over the Hill Gang streak on Mission Bay will be May 7-9

If you want a Do-Wap group for a car show or event... do-wop is 1950's type music (if you were wondering, you are very young, but will still like it!) ... like I said, if you want a do-wop group, the Royals are looking to book the season http://sdroyals.com/ try the Shoop Shoop song, very good.

the Santee lakes car shows will begin April 3rd. Lake #5

the Balboa Museum car show season will include Datsun Nissans from Jul-Sept.

Autotrader. Out of print, (still on line) victim of the technological wonder of the internet

http://www.autotrader.com/ Georgia commented that they are still in print ... hmm. I expect it's a local sort of thing, sorry to mis-state that. At the Car Council meeting, a friend of someone at the local outfit, said they were going to stop printing this week. I took it to mean across the states.. seems like it must be a local franchise though huh? I haven't looked through one in a while, but I seem to think it would be the cars in your region, not nationwide in each publication.

East County Cruisers, like most hot rodders, are helpful in many ways. Here's just one.

http://www.eastcountycruisers.com/pb/wp_14700e12.html?0.846123845758741

Message Board

This was e-mailed to the East County Cruisers' web site on November 7th, 2008 from Ms. Victoria Will, who lives in Michigan

"I know this letter is late however I need to thank you from 2006. My family was a recipient for the 2006 Turkey Run and Toy Run. I cannot tell you what a relief it was for our family to not have to worry about Christmas dinner and how we were going to do it. That Christmas was amazing."

"Our children had one of the best Christmas's ever and my husband and I didn't have to forfeit groceries for presents that year. We had felt so loved and blessed to be a part of your programs. It was nice that somebody cared about the military families and our struggles."

"To say the least it was the best Christmas ever. It also happened to be my husband's last. You see one month and one day after Christmas my husband died in a helicopter crash off the coast of San Clemente. I want to tell you thank you from the bottom of my heart for making his last Christmas a great one. My family will never forget what you all had done for us."
Take Care,Victoria

Breakfast at Balboa... next event, Jan 18th

http://www.breakfastatbalboa.com/about/

Bad news

Pelosi is introducing a "Cash for Clunkers" bill into the currently under developement economy stimulation package. This isn't just bad for the obvious reason, it's stupid... but it was also called out for being bad for business for charity donations. They raise money from those donated cars.

It's bad for the poor high school and college kids who (just like me) couldn't scrape up much money from mowing lawns, painting houses, and chopping wood type jobs when I was in school. Cheap junker cars are all that is within the budget for kids. Heck, their insurance costs are bad enough, why make the only cars they can afford dissappear?

What about all the repair shops that keep the bills paid, by keeping over the hill vehicles on the road? I worked for one once, and the reason they are in business is the large number of people with run down cars, who keep them going, one repair at a time.

But how do you get politicians to understand? They raise millions of dollars, deal in billions at work, and don't have to pay for transportation, gas, or repairs.

"WASHINGTON, D.C.–SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, is actively opposing an effort by some Congressional lawmakers to include a nationwide “Cash for Clunkers” program in the economic stimulus package currently being considered in Washington. Cash for Clunkers, or scrappage as it is more commonly known, would use taxpayer dollars to purchase and crush older vehicles into blocks of scrap metal. There is no evidence that the program will achieve the goal of boosting new car sales.
Many states have considered these programs in the past as a way to help clean the air but abandoned the effort because they simply don’t work. The programs are not cost-effective and do not achieve verifiable air quality or fuel economy benefits." http://stylingperformance.search-autoparts.com/stylingandperformance/Industry+News/SEMA-Opposes-Federal-Cash-For-Clunkers-Program/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/573741?contextCategoryId=43339

Photo by Dave Hodges, on Pixdaus

Take a thorough look at a car before you buy it. This Vette has a screw in the tire. On the dealership lot.

Camera phone photos while on walkabout

Ferrari, beauty of early designs. This one is currently on display at the San Diego Auto Museum, in Balboa Park

I find really old advertising interesting, so unlike modern advertising

From an ebay store... http://stores.ebay.com/Cindys-Corner

Airflow tanker. Gets my vote for best designed tanker truck ever.

I wish someone would drive one of these into San Diego to some car shows

That wind up key is one OLD gag. Still amusing though

Old fire engines never go out of style, these photos were taken in the mid to late 1940's

This is a LaFrance piston pumper. Once publically displayed in Chattahoochee Florida

Call out for a So Cal 1970 Road Runner for a magazine photoshoot

The editor of Hot Wheels Magazine--a national magazine for car-loving kids would like to feature the 70 Plymouth Road Runner. Does anyone in the in the San Diego/Orange County/Long Beach area have one they'd like to get some publicity?

In each issue the magaine features two real cars. For the spring issue, they'd like to feature the 70 Plymouth Road Runner.

Please email to Micaela micaela@firebrandmediainc.com of Firebrand Media, Inc. Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Automobilia selling website

http://www.arteauto.com/posters1890-1939.aspx

Bugatti logging truck model, I can't find anything on the net about a real one

http://www.bugattibuilder.com/photo/index.php?cat=106&lang=georgian

1916, a delivery driver not grasping the concept of job security

Biker babe, cool bike, dual headlights

Via: http://wwwboard.spotlighthobbies.com/index.pl?#1298009

1922, before side windows, and without sidcurtains down... a blizzard would get inside the car too. That's enough to make the morning commute a misery

Via: http://pixdaus.com/

This is a cool looking idea

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/10/tokyo-2007-preview-nissan-nv200-concept/

Translated from German, a great description of the origins of the BMW Isetta

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.reflektion.info/html/1000_041005_2_isetta.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.reflektion.info/html/1000_041005_2_isetta.html%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us

Adaptation and innovation to avoid licensing fees, make a delivery vehicle with less than 200cc, and less than 4 wheels

Until the mid-1920s the transport of small quantities of goods with horse carts, bicycles, messengers or handcarts was the norm. (horse drawn cart far right of photo)

The new law in 1927/1928, under which vehicles with less than four wheels and an engine capacity below 200 cc would remain license-exempt began the development of three wheel cars. (Similar need for small transporters made the Piaggio Ape viable http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/12/1956-piaggio-ape-ahh-pay-resurected.html , and the Indian Bajaj / rickshaw http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/03/indian-rickshaws-celebrate-50-years-of.html )

Cheap, reliable, tremendous gas mileage, not requiring a motorcycle license and in some cases not requiring insurance either was exactly what post WW1 and WW2 Eurpoean cities needed for transporting fruits, vegetables, building materials, coal, etc etc from the train stations into the cities to the shops.

In 1928, Max Vidal and his son Oscar began production in Wandsbek, a suburb of Hamburg, Germany.

http://www.reflektion.info/html/1000_091008_1_tempo.html

A bit more on the "Matador" (not by AMC)

Previous post on the Matador http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/08/its-so-fun-finding-unusual-and.html

Good photogallery of the 2004 Miramar airshow

http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Miramar2004/Highlights/index.html

Million dollar cars need smarter owners. Bugattis in particular

...................................................................................................................................................................

Now junk, prior to a stupid storm it was a 1937 Bugatti t57 Convertible.
"Always keep a fully charged fire extinguisher handy when you start your car up after a period of rest. This is Bugatti 57287 (or was) ; a two owner car from new, the elderly owner flooded the car as he attempted to start it, the gas pooling onto the carpet under the engine.

Trying again, this time with a can of starter fluid, the car back fired, setting the gas on fire. He did have a fire extinguisher, but was unable to get it to work...he was going to pull the Bugatti out of the garage, but his regular car was blocking the door and the keys were in the house...by the time he returned, it was fully engulfed in flames."
http://www.bugattipage.com/2006news.htm
....................................................................................................................................................................

This Veyron is damaged while loading into a trailer, audibly (that's gotta be an expensive sound) from a moron not understanding the basics of clearance, planes (angled surfaces), and checking prior to loading with a test fixture. Why a test fixture? Well, a rig with a couple of dolly tires, made of pvc or conduit would cost about 50 dollars in materials, would be small enough, light enough, and resemble the clearance and wheel base of the Veyron. It could fit in the trailer with the veyron, and be used to ensure that the car won't scrape when being loaded and unloaded.

Video after the link
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/845463/driver_damages_bugatti_veyron_while_loading_on_truck/

below is the most proper method, let the pros move it. You can't afford to drive it anyway.

Wheel standing Semi truck... and 600mph "Shockwave"

Video here: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/840033/monster_truck/

For a gallery of the truck: http://nexploreshockwave.com/gallery.html