Author: Jeff Zurschmeide

Jeff is a lifelong automobile enthusiast with a penchant for sports and racing cars. He has raced SCCA, local circle track, and stage rally as a co-driver. He makes his living as a freelance automotive journalist and is the author of six books on automotive topics. As a rule, he practices catch-and-release fishing when it comes to collectible automobiles, trying to leave each one in better condition than he found it. Enduring passions include his MGA and Austin Mini, and his 1969 Corvette. He recently purchased a 1920 Ford Model T Touring because “you just have to have one of these once in your life.”

A Car for the Younger Collector

On any given Saturday morning you can find a Cars & Coffee event in most American cities. The phenomenon is less than 10 years old, and it’s delightful in its simplicity. There’s no entry fee, no class structure, no judges, and no trophy to take home. It’s just about driving […]

2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2003, the Gallardo was intended to complement the 12-cylinder Murciélago in Lamborghini’s model line. Far from entry level, however, the Gallardo was a 10-cylinder, fire-breathing supercar that not only offers world-class performance, but all the refinement and technology that Audi ownership has afforded […]

1965 Lotus Elan S2

1965 Lotus Elan S2 Convertible

Introduced at the Earls Court Motor Show in October 1962, the Elan roadster followed the Colin Chapman principle of lightweight aerodynamic coachwork coupled with the suspension, brakes and transmission of a race car, and a remarkable new Lotus-Ford twin-cam engine to provide the power. To put this into perspective, this […]

Corey Silvia ©2013, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

1909 Stanley Model E2 Runabout

This Stanley Model E2, one of six models of the Stanley steam car available in the 1909 catalog, is powered by a 10-horsepower twin-piston engine — a marvel of simplicity that employed only 13 moving parts. Once the big front-mounted boiler had been filled with water, fired, and tended by […]

A Sexy Beast Without an Entry Ticket

The Honda S Series was Honda’s first real foray into automobile production. Japanese Keiretsu politics threatened to limit Honda to motorcycle production only, so the company started the S600 as part of a broad development effort — one that led to greatness with the Honda Civic a few years later. […]

Choose Wisely — or Not at All

From the beginning, the Fiat 850 Spider has been overshadowed by its big sister, the 124 Spider. The 124 was prettier, more powerful and arranged as a proper sports car with the engine in front and the drive wheels in back. In contrast, the 850 Spider had its engine in […]

Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 S-Code fastback

Here is the real deal: a factory S-code 390 4-barrel big block and an original factory 4-speed. One of only 65 built in this paint and trim code: factory Acapulco Blue with black interior and the black-out hood treatment. This GT Mustang is verified with a Deluxe Marti Report and […]

The Virtue of Patience

Of all the variations made of VW’s venerable Type 2 van from the first model in 1950 through the end of the air-cooled engine in 1984, the Westfalia camper is probably the most recognizable and the most popular among American buyers. Further, if there was a vehicle that could capture […]

Volkswagen’s Hot Hatch Turns Collectible

By 1970, Volkswagen’s “People’s Car,” the venerable Type 1 Beetle, was long in the tooth. The company knew it was time for a successor — something cleaner than the stinky old air-cooled model, with a modern body design. The company got to work on a new project called the Type […]

Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

Supercharged 707-hp 6.2-liter Hemi V8 6-speed manual transmission Optional Satin Black aluminum hood with functional vents Sublime Green pearl coat exterior paint SRT-tuned Bilstein three-mode active suspension Harman Kardon Green Edge amplifier 18-speaker premium audio system with subwoofer 8.4-inch touchscreen display GPS navigation HD radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, MediaHub (USB, […]