Buy What You Like, Pay What You Should
Keith Martin
-
Keith’s Blog: Back from Europe, Again – and Driving the 2002 tii to Seattle
I’ve said goodbye to my new best friends at United, Air Canada and Delta – at least for three days, when I check in with my other best friends at Alaska. But we’ll get to that in a second. This weekend marked the high school graduation of Wendie’s youngest son, Drew. So the family trundled…
-
Keith’s Blog: Life is Good
Unbelievably – and happily – I’m back in Europe for the second time in less than a month. It seems like I’d just unpacked my bags from my trip to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, where I saw many friends and wonderful cars, before packing up again and boarding a plane for France.
-
BMWs in the Alps, Concours on Lake Como, A Rolls-Royce to Goodwood
It’s been a busy couple of weeks, full of the old car stuff that we dream of. I landed in Munich on a Wednesday evening, and Thursday morning I set off on a caravan of BMW 7-series old-timers, across the Alps to Lake Como in Italy. I drove a variety of BMWs, the earliest being…
-
From Car Show to Concours
In the course of a year, I attend at least 30 car shows, ranging from the Beaches Cruisin at Portland International Raceway to maximus supremo, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Despite wildly varying locations, audiences and car offerings, I have come to recognize that the shows have more in common than they have differences. As…
-
Keith’s Blog: See You at Lake Como
Every once in awhile, a gearhead’s fantasy trip comes along. And mine is about to begin. Thanks to BMW, I’m heading to Munich tomorrow. There, I will join three other journalists from the U.S. and we’ll set out for two days of driving vintage BMWs from the BMW Classic Center. Visions of 328s and 507s…
-
Keith’s Blog: Spend Your Time, Then Your Money
Porsche guru Jim Schrager has been my advance scout in the search for a 1984-89 911 Carrera. A lifelong Porsche man, he has a substantial collection himself, and has bought and sold literally hundreds of cars. This, of course, is in addition to his day job as Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at the…
-
Keith’s Blog: Little Deuce Coupe, Bobby Unser and Chris-Craft Capris – 17th Annual Keels and Wheels
I’m writing this on the plane, en route home to Portland after a weekend filled with people, the cars they drive and the boats they pilot. Keels and Wheels is unique among shows, as the setting at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, Texas (near Houston) allows for equally compelling displays of vintage cars and…
-
Sometimes You Just Say No
Whether it’s a cheap car or a million-dollar one, some elements of the buying decision are the same. And sometimes, even though a car is priced right and is in excellent condition — in fact, it is just what you have been looking for — saying no and walking away is the absolute right…
-
And Mechanics Everywhere are Smiling! – The Status of the SCM Fleet
This is the moment we wait for each year – the weather turns, we dig out the sunscreen, do a little work in the garden and drive our collector cars. You’re probably thinking that we, the scions of collector car forethought, have all of our cars on the button, everything prepped and ready to road…
-
Leapin’ Lutefisk – The Volvo Needs an Engine!
The last step in refurbishing our 1973 Volvo 1800ES was to be a simple one: a minor tune at Harold’s Auto Service, in order to remedy a slight misfire. The news that came back wasn’t so simple—two cam lobes were nearly gone. Hoping for the best, I had Wayne Atkinson pull the head for an…