Great meandering article today, Larry (all good!) - the Bob Lutz piece caught my eye, as I remember well his column at the back of R&T. First thing I would turn to in the mag! Insightful, with an attitude only Lutz could grace it with. Miss it!! -and him writing! On Manuals, I wonder how this viewpoint is regarded in the European market where a LOT of cars were (are still) avai as manuals as well. I know that at least until recently, as a traveler, if you opt to rent a car in Europe, you pay extra for an automatic... Stu A Sedona, AZ ... View more

Never heard of these Beauties till I walked into a bay-side museum in San Diego in early 90s. Presumed loaner from some then-local owner? Stunning presence, been a fan ever since. Great to hear the whole story, thanks Hagerty and Ron! ... View more

Here, here Larry. Car lover's dream is The Road Trip, what ever it's form or distance. Limited only by your Fear & Budget. I bought my Time Machine, a 1980 RX7, in So. Cali in '01 (off ebay, no less). I was determined to pick it up and drive it home. To Alaska. A buddy in San Diego arranged the drop off, and being an ex-Mazda mechanic, he gave it the once-over before I departed. The drive home was fabulous. Of course, there was a hitch. That is the Law. About 2/3rds of the way home, in Watson Lake, Yukon, the starter crapped out. So the last 3 days of driving meant anywhere I stopped, it had better be on an incline so I could do a rolling start! The Alaska Highway, by 2001, had been pretty much tamed (read: paved) and early spring the roads are pretty much empty. Speed was limited only by your imagination, and the odd frost heaves or Buffalo (really). What could have been a better trip? Well, in 2018, we moved to Sedona, Arizona. Yep, I drove her all the way back down. And I took the long way with as many scenic highway routes as I could map out. Now with 105,000 miles on the original rotor-motor. Drama-free. Here is to adventure! Stu A 80GS AZ ... View more

FunFact: While proto-typing final configuration of the soon-to-be 240z in the late 60's, Nissan actually planned and considered a convertible version (AND a neat targa-style too). Both were built to 1:1 models, so as an alternative to the coupe, or a sibling? Unknown. But was a pretty handsome rig. The fact they HAD a vert already, were they afraid of gutting sales of the 2000 roadster? Which sort of happened anyway with the rabid popularity of the new coupe. ... View more

I walked into my local Ducati (and Benelli, and Moto Guzzi) hole-in-the-wall dealership in spring of 1980. My buddy had just bought a Honda CX-500 and I wanted to ride with him. I had never owned a motorbike, I had no license and no clue how to ride one. But a magazine spread showing the all-new Pantah 500SL had me entranced. They didn't even have a Pantah in the shop. I ordered one on the spot. 3 weeks later they called up and asked if I wanted to see it coming out of the crate. Hellya. I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. Assembled, I could not drive it home. I didn't know how! The shop mechanic dropped it by my house. What followed was a few weeks of evening circuits at the local dept store lot, where my friend instructed me on how to drive the damn thing. The sound! Even with the stuffed-up Contis you could hear the rumble of racing history (I later had them gutted out - and: W-O-W!). I was transfixed. Spin the Time Machine to 2022, she's still with me. All of 12K miles (I have other distractions), but patiently awaits me to mount up and terrorize the local switchbacks. I even got my license! -in 2017. John Law had been very patient. Now at 67 I prob spend equal time gawking / polishing it than riding it. And the comically stretched-over-the-tank (instantly, I am racing!) style means the term "cafe-racer" literally means trips to local eateries with bike-buds is about all she is usable for. But even then, on a curve with the 36mm Del'ortos cracked wide open, the sound of Thunder echoing behind me - I am 25 again... Stu A 500SL AZ ... View more

GREAT story. Have heard of this famous wreck - and it's equally famous cargo, but this really brings it home. Makes one wonder if the design concepts, properly presented to the public, might have altered in some way the designs and engineering into future cars of the era. Cool stuff Jeff. Thanks. Stu A Sedona, AZ ... View more

I was right there with you in the barn Sam. Can't get any better than that. thanks. Stu ... View more

Thinking forward, digitally, there might/must? be as much future-art design work going on with in-house (and of course boutique) designers in the automotive world NOW. I hope, with the fleeting existence of electrons and the proprietary software it may take to generate the images, there are those in the Know that are preserving this new history as well? Superb article about a guy-I-never-knew-of. Thank you Mr. Sharf - and author Shreiber! ... View more

First stumbled across this Process recently on my YouTube searches. Have to say, for me at least, watching this process in action is...mesmerizing. Its like unwrapping a present! When you see factory paint marks (!) reveal themselves under years of munge. Or hardware show itself in all its factory-plated glory! Incredible. I would prob need a Lottery Win to justify putting my beloved 80 RX7 coupe thru this process, but I swear-to-gawd if I did, I would mount a mirror on the garage floor so I could see the undercarriage every time I walk in there. Wow. ... View more

Great tips. Have the Gun, but not the wherewithal to know these applications! thanks !   ... View more

What a wonderful aesthetic. I too have pondered derelicts, be they old cars, old buildings, old aircraft...left to molder in an almost state of grace, in my travels thru my home states of Alaska and now Arizona. There is many secret, off the grid places in America where you can pause for a moment and wonder 'what is the story behind this place, this thing'. Beautiful. ... View more

Late in Life I have become a bit of a coffee-connoisseur (my dear Lady actually roasts ours. In a pop-corn-popper. In the driveway.), savoring a fine Ethiopian bean or the occasional indulgence in something like a Kona blend. ahhh.   But my younger days with car-loving buds would often end in an hours-long conversation at a local all-nighter Truck Stop where the cups were endless. For better or worse. Well, better actually. The flavor (OK lots of sugar and creamer...) only enhanced great times spent with dear friends. Even now, years on, on those too-occasional meets, we will shun the boutique brews and drop back over to an all-nighter Stop and act like teenagers again. Ahhh. Can there be bad coffee?? ... View more

ahem - Alfa Romeo Montreal???? ... View more

Wow. "Picker" fan. Commercial Car art fan. And Sedona resident! Didn't know this was in my backyard. Looking forward to the episode! Thanks Jeff.   ... View more

Bought my Beloved (80 SA RX7) thru ebay out of San Diego in 02. Drove it home to Alaska, then, 15 yrs later back down to Arizona on retirement. The Alcan Hwy trips were epic (in the Good Way!). Now with 110K miles on the original-everything (drivetrain, paint, interior). My summer-in-Alaska driver has now become my winter-in-AZ toy. Now if it only had AC ! 😉 ... View more

Heartfelt and embracing story. Sorry you had to lose your Mum so young. Glad your Dad seems to be able to move on, or at least find an outlet to cope with his loss too. As maybe you have. Godspeed on his journey, may he find happiness and maybe a new partner to share it with... Stu A AZ ... View more

1979 Mazda RX7 vs 924 Porsche. ... View more