Keith Martin

It’s an unintended miracle. At the exact same time that the weather is turning towards sunshine, nearly all our cars are in tip-top condition and ready to go. After I reported on the errant speedometer in the 1972 250C during last week’s shakedown cruise, our technician reminded me that I actually already purchased the instrument…

Our 1972 Mercedes 250C is done. After tucking another $2,000 bill for repairs and upgrades in the bulging RO (repair orders) folder, I took the car for a 200-mile shakedown cruise. Like so many cars from the 1970s, the Mercedes had only an outside mirror on the driver’s side door, and none on the passenger…

It was ten in the morning on Friday when we boarded the streetcar to head to the Portland Swap Meet. We were not in a hurry. Accompanying me were SCM Editor-In-Chief Jeff Sabatini and my son Bradley (fresh from scoring a 1:24 Avanti toy at the previous weekend’s Hot Rod and Custom Show). We planned…

I’m a believer in “value in use” with old cars. In other words, take them out as often as possible. The more they are used, the better they run. Plus, you get the simple satisfaction of being behind the wheel of your personal time machine. Of course, each time you take a car out in…

A resto-mod 1972 Datsun 240Z that sold this past weekend for $82,500 ($86,625 with buyer’s premium) caught my attention. Nine 240Zs have sold for over $100,000 on BaT. However, most of these were either perfectly restored or low-miles originals. This one, while stock in appearance, had a bored-out 3.2 liter “Rebello” engine and triple Webers.…

Did you know a 1965 Shelby GT350 was first overall in the 1965 Mexican 24 Hour Road Rally? At least it was for the first 14 hours, until it was sidelined by a fire in its trunk. I learned this at the 68th Annual Portland Roadster Show. It’s billed as the largest volunteer only indoor…

It’s a weird addiction. Each time I declare that I’m done buying cars, like a “Whack-A-Mole” game something new pops up and catches my attention. In a previous blog, I commented on how a lucky missed phone call saved me from buying a Jensen Interceptor. (It also kept Editor-In-Chief Jeff Sabatini around, as he vowed…

“Will you sell me your Duetto?” It was really a two-part question. It started with, “I’m looking to buy my first Italian sports car,” and ended with, “and I wondered if you would sell me your Duetto?” There was more, of course. My friend has always owned Porsches, and recently sold his air-cooled Carrera 4S.…