To find not one but TWO MG's here makes my day.  I have a  soft spot in my heart for the sacred Octagon brand,  And just to own something so quick, aggressive, and stealthy (as in public perception, not the livery) would be vastly satisfying. ... View more

Hodaka in the early seventies was the off-road standard bearer.  Their reputation rested mainly on their importer (who? I wish I knew!).  But in that time, they were the kings! ... View more

My 1985 Turbo Coupe Thunderbird was one of the best cars I ever owned.  Stir for the right gear, let go of the clutch, and heroic acceleration was only a right foot application away.  And, with relatively light weight four cylinder turbo in the front, lateral acceleration was very happy.  As I said, one of the best cars I ever owned. ... View more

I tell anyone who wants to listen that buying a classic gives you two hobbies, driving the car, and maintaining it.  Accept it and enjoy the ride. ... View more

The 2000 Toyota MR is actually a direct lift of the MG F. ... View more

I've worked with engineers in the auto industry for over 30 years, and I believe the primary reason all the industry is taking on autonomy is that engineers love a challenge, the more  insurmountable the better.  In the sixties, the elites wanted to kill the automobile, cities were supposed to be car-free, and our mobility was to be severely trimmed.  That's why the emissions laws and safety rules were set so high, no known technology could reach their lofty heights.  Well, the auto engineering community rolled up their sleeves and came up with catalytic converters, more and better fuel optimization techniques, crumple zones, ultra high strength steels and a whole panoply of technologies.  No wonder car companies feel they can cheat death again.   But the bureaucrats and social planners have not given up their dreams of a car-less society.  Autonomy is goals they are willing to live with.  Cars that are unable to speed.  Unable to change lanes.  Unable to take a curve at an entertaining pace.  Energy consumption will be optimized for our own good.  Supposedly we will have cars that will not crash, but every sci-fi movie has a "robot boneyard" of broken autonomous toys.  Perfection is not of this world, nor the future world.  But the budding plutocrats in our midst hope that Mr. Baruth is right, that autonomy is unattainable.  Just as vehicle emission levels, no matter how benign, have now gotten impossible to achieve, forcing emissions away from vehicles to power plants, autonomy will be mandated as well.  But if autonomy, really, can never happen, the desired end of any individual mobility will be finally achieved. ... View more

Frankly, I am not impressed.  On the real life street, no "super car" is quicker than my 1973 MG BGT.  Timidity reigns, I'm sorry.  But every "hot" car ends up in my rear view mirror.  Of course, it is not the car, it is the pilot.  I am cheerfully entertaining sharing of car keys! ... View more

I would  go to the MGP near Tampa every time I visited my parents years ago.  And yes, I still have my "license".  OK, they weren't supposed to be fast, but I still recall when I connected two of the closely coupled corners in one drift . . . glorious! ... View more

This might be an example of "compliance steering", but anyone who has taken an MGB at speed through a fast corner will notice a "hand of an angel" making the turn tighter and more stable.  I believe this was due to a subtle angling of the "ancient oxcart leaf springs" but whatever it is, it is marvelous. ... View more

In the late sixties, my uncle and I waited for the arrival of his brother-in-law and sister to meet us for a short vacation at the Torch Tip resort at the northern shore of Torch Lake in Michigan.  We waited in his '58 Pontiac for the tell tale vertical headlights of his brother-in-law's Pontiac.  They finally appeared on the Northern Michigan roads, and we guided the family to the resort, there was a campfire, and I saw the Milky Way in the northern  Michigan sky.  I've never been closer to Heaven. ... View more

My name is John Zajac, and I am Secretary for the Yankee Air Museum Foundation.  I want to thank Hagerty for this feature.  The community of the Yankee Air Museum now own and plan to make the remaining 145,000 sq. ft. of this plant the new home to the Yankee Air Museum.  First, the building that houses our "flyables", the B-17 Yankee Lady, the B-25 Yankee Warrior, the C-47 Hairless Joe, and a Waco biplane must be replaced.  I hope that once our "Aeronautics Center" (new hanger) is complete, we return to the task of finishing the new home for the Museum, the home of Rose Will Monroe, part of the legend of "Rosie the Riveter".  I would like to thank Hagerty for its support for our "Wings and Wheels" events (the original can be seen on the link to the right of this story".  Our "Save the Bomber Plant" inquiries are being redirected to raise funds for the Aeronautics Center.  I hope that can be completed quickly, so that our efforts can be directed to remember the Liberators that were built, the crews than maintained and flew them, and the incredible women and man who built. them. ... View more

Kaiser made Liberty and the later Victory ships using the modular approach, not destroyers.  Perhaps two days is correct in final assembly.  But not from a top to bottom (or is it "bow to stern"?).  The health care system set up for the cargo ships built by Henry J. Kaiser's firm (ring a bell, car buffs?) became Kaiser Permanente, the health care insurer. ... View more