Keith Martin has been involved with the collector car hobby for more than 30 years. As a writer, publisher, television commentator and enthusiast, he is constantly on the go, meeting collectors and getting involved in their activities throughout the world. He is the founder and publisher of the monthly Sports Car Market and bi-monthly American Car Collector magazines, has written for the New York Times, Automobile, AutoWeek, Road & Track and other publications, is an emcee for numerous concours, and has his own show, “What’s My Car Worth,” shown on Velocity.
I’m looking forward to seeing you in Scottsdale.
Last year, I missed the desert action for the first time in three decades.
But not this year.
I’ll see you first at the SCM Insider’s Seminar on Thursday morning, at 9:30 am in the Gooding & Company Auction Tent. “Priced to Sell, Determining Value in an Uncertain Market” is the topic. Donald Osborne, Steve Serio, Carl Bomstead and I will be there to share our thoughts and answer your questions.
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This January, if the weather allows, block out an afternoon to get behind the wheel of one of your vintage cars and just go driving. Having some friends join you in their old cars would make it even better.
Pick a destination that requires driving on some interesting roads. Even better, have a nice place to eat with a decent view as the destination.
Reflect on each of the steps below – things that you may do automatically. Don’t take Read More
I hope that you all get a chance to take a collector car out of the garage for a spin sometime today or tomorrow.
If the weather gives you a shot to air out your favorite car, turn off the bowl games and celebrate the New Year with a short drive — even if it is just to the supermarket for more dips and chips.
Here’s to a Car-Happy 2020!
I just wanted to drop you a quick note to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
I hope your holiday is full of family, friends and, perhaps, a special car in the driveway.
I’m sitting in the observation suite on board the Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas.
A 15-deck Freedom-class cruise ship, it is 1,112 feet long (almost four football fields) and displaces 155,889 tons.
I thought a Caribbean cruise would be a total escape from cars for me and my son, Bradley, but there was a modern Morgan on display in the three-story central promenade. We didn’t try to buy it.
Bradley and I enjoy cruises. They are trips where I Read More
We’re already talking about the SCM 1000 for 2021.
We always have a featured marque, although all cars from 1973 and earlier are welcome to apply. Your chances of being accepted are just a little better if you enter a featured-marque car.
In 2018 we featured Alfa Romeo. This year it was Porsche. In 2020, English cars will star on the SCM 1000.
I like the look of the field when it has a focus, with a smattering of outliers Read More
I’m thinning the SCM collection.
My mentor Martin Swig once said, “We don’t choose the cars, the cars choose us.” As I prepare to send these cars on to their next caretaker, I reflect about how each car chose me and came into my life.
Why now? I just have too many cars and not enough time to drive them all. I’d rather focus on the ones that mean the most to me.
As for the ones that must go, Read More
We’re already talking about the SCM 1000 for 2021.
We always have a featured marque, although all cars from 1973 and earlier are welcome to apply. Your chances of being accepted are just a little better if you enter a featured-marque car.
In 2018 we featured Alfa Romeo. This year it was Porsche. In 2020, English cars will star on the SCM 1000.
I like the look of the field when it has a focus, with a smattering of outliers Read More
I’m sticking to the 105 Series Alfa Romeos.
As I trim and adjust the SCM fleet, I’ve had to make some decisions about which cars appeal to me the most — and which ones work the best.
I’ve always thought that that the 105 Series pre-smog Alfas (roughly 1963-68) represented the high point of that period. They have 5-speed gearboxes, 4-wheel disc brakes, heaters that would drive you out of the car and reasonable creature comforts.
All of the cars Read More
Last week I explored the two-pedal options for the 2020 SCM 1000. I was looking at cars from 1974 and earlier — and under $50,000.
Among the many thoughtful responses I got were those encouraging me not to overlook the compact American cars of that era. Suggested were Ford Falcons, Chevrolet Novas and Corvairs.
You can find decent driver examples of all of these for under $25,000. They are easy to make reliable, and once they are set right they Read More
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