Keith Martin
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Keith’s Blog: 500 Classics Come to Hilton Head
This was my fourth year at the Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance, at Hilton Head, SC. Each year, it continues to develop and grow in size and quality. Hilton Head now resides comfortably in the top tier of vintage car events. It’s more than just a car show. The official name of the weeklong happening is…
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Keith’s Blog: Keith Martin, Car Schlepper
It’s been a busy week at SCM World Headquarters. Oregon is having its annual days of fall sunshine, with temperatures in the mid-70s. The leaves are turning and it’s a perfect time to enjoy sports cars. It’s also great weather to run them back and forth to repair shops. The 1967 went to Nasko for…
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Keith’s Blog: 22nd Annual European Auto Festival Features VW
Last Saturday I tried to give away a free subscription to SCM, but found no takers. Volkswagen was the featured marque at the 22nd Annual European Auto Festival. On the event app’s Vendors page, a group appeared in the listings between parts suppliers and detailers, which reminded me how broad the crowd can be; a…
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The Ultimate GTV is a 911
Our old cars haven’t changed in the past 30 years. What has changed is the world around them. In 1988, when we produced the first issue of The Alfa Romeo Market Letter on a mimeograph machine, our 1967 GTV would have been 21 years old. Most GTVs in 1988 were just tired used cars that…
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Keith’s Blog: Let Them Sit in Your Car
You’ve probably read the same things I have. “Kids don’t care about cars.” That’s just not true. While young people today have many more options for social interaction than we did when growing up, they still love cars. I recently spent a weekend with a McLaren 750S Spider. I’ll share my thoughts about driving this…
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Keith’s Blog: My Old Cars Are Wearing Me Out
I take pretty good care of my old cars. I keep them in top shape. When something breaks, I try to get it fixed right away. They are stored in a climate-controlled garage at SCM World Headquarters. Despite all this, after an active summer, they all seem to need attention at once when fall rolls…
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Keith’s Blog: Atlanta Concours
At 6 am, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is already bustling. I’ve just arrived here after an hour drive from Chateau Elan Winery and Resort, where the 2nd Annual Atlanta Concours d’Elegance was held. I’m waiting for a 9:45 a.m. non-stop flight to Portland, and I finally have a chance to reflect on the past…
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Keith’s Blog: A 911 Joins the SCM Fleet
At 2 p.m. this past Saturday, a 2003 Porsche 911 joined the SCM fleet. I wrote last week that the first-generation, water-cooled 911s, often called the 996, represented a good value in today’s market — and I wanted one. They are out of favor with diehard Porsche fanatics because of their “pancake” headlights, low-horsepower (330…
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The Royal Treatment
In the September issue of SCM, I predicted that sales in Monterey would total $331 million. As the dust continues to settle, it appears I was within a few million dollars — close enough. The current sales total, roughly $330 million, represents a slight decline from the $343m sold in 2016. However, with the addition…
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Keith’s Blog: Help Me Find my Next 911
A truffle hound has nothing on Robb Sass when it comes to spotting overlooked Affordable Classics. When he posted that he had just bought a very nice 911 for under $20k, my “I need one too” alarm sounded. I sent him a message right away. He replied that very nice 1999 – 2004 911s (996…