Jim’s Blog

Every year, Detroit pumps out more and more nasty modern muscle cars, from ZL1 Camaros through Hellcats, Demons, and GT500s. But how will these cars’ values stack up to the values of their vintage counterparts in the future?  That’s a tough question. There’s no good answer. But how they’re treated now is a pretty good…

ACC’s Mustang is a great driver, but there’s no hiding that it’s already lived a full life. Evidence of this is all over the car, from dings in the body and trim through wear to the original interior. The car is low-miles, but it’s by no means minty. So that raises the question: Should we…

The summer months are always busy here at ACC, as our production schedule here at the magazine ramps up alongside all the annual summer events scheduled to take advantage of good weather. Between that, selling my house, buying another house, and the daily life of having two kids under seven, time has been slipping through…

When tracking the market, we often focus in on what’s hot, what’s rising, and what the best short or long term investment might be on paper. Let this serve as your reminder: Buy what you like. On Friday, I headed out to Mecum’s annual Portland sale to cover cars with ACC Data Analyst Chad Taylor…

Old cars are great just as they are. But if you hope to use one regularly these days, a few updates can make the experience better.  For example, say you’ve got a 1968 Mustang with a 390 and you live in L.A. That traffic is notorious, and the cooling system in the Mustang, while decent…

We’re working on the next issue of ACC this week, and there’s still time to participate in our Readers’ Forum. This month’s question: What is it that makes a car collectible? This issue will feature everything from a vintage AMC Pacer through a modern Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. That’s a wide range of cars, and…

Every year, on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, classic car owners all over the Portland area fire up their cars before the sun and head to the east side of town for an early morning gathering. This is where the Portland Transmission show kicks off the car show season, sprawling across a big chunk of…

There’s something pretty appealing about a classic car project. For me, there are a lot of possibilities that circle around a rusty remnant of a car — especially when its revival is in my hands.  What color was the car and what color will it be when you’re done with it? What engine was in…

Everybody loves Tri-Five Chevrolets, Shoebox Fords, Mustangs, Camaros, Chargers and Challengers. But if your goal is to stand out from the classic car crowd, the best bet is to find something different.  Owning an old car is a social thing. You can’t take a classic anywhere without striking up a conversation with people in parking…

We’re wrapping up ACC #39 this week, but there’s still time to submit responses to our Readers’ Forum question. What car should you have kept? This builds off a blog I wrote a few weeks ago — I’d like to know what car or cars you’ve owned in the past that you wish you still…