Keith Martin’s Adventures

The organizational wheels for a potential SCM 40th Anniversary Tour are slowly turning. One of the more pressing questions is what navigation aids to offer. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a variety of tours all over the world and observe the navigation tools they provide. These have included the Mille Miglia, California Mille,…

This past week, an SCMer sent me a link to an online estate auction in Sewanee, TN. Among the tools, clocks, furniture and chandeliers are dozens of cars, including around 31 Alfa Romeos. “Fright pig” is a popular term here at SCM to describe cars that time hasn’t been kind to. Unfortunately, it describes just…

“I know lots of 75-year-olds who have cars. But I don’t know any others that have seven cars.” Those were SCM Editor-in-Chief Jeff Sabatini’s words to me as we wrapped up another discussion about “how many cars is enough” and “what should those cars be?” Our collections are limited by a variety of factors. The…

Last Saturday was a glorious day for many reasons. First, once a year, Alfa Romeo master-restorer Bill Gillham hosts The Old Super Tour. Giulia Supers were the first mass-produced Alfa four-door sedans. They were built on the same chassis, and with similar drivetrain options, as the sporty GTV coupes and convertible Spiders. Ads proclaimed them…

I attended the Healey 50th anniversary at Lake Tahoe, CA, in 2002. It was memorable. At the time I owned an Austin Healey BJ7, red with white coves, in nice fettle. Once Bob Macherione replaced the overdrive switch on the first night in his shop in Eugene, OR, we were ready to roll. There were…

If you’ve been following this blog, you’re aware of the saga with my 1975 Porsche 911 S Sportomatic. It was discovered by an SCMer at the Hershey Swap Meet car corral in 2022. I bought it sight-unseen, and it wasn’t until seven months later that I got to drive it for the first time. Over…

Two new words have entered my automotive vocabulary since my son Bradley started to drive. When he bought his 1998 Volvo V70 wagon, he wasn’t as excited by the factory mags as by the fact that it was a “long roof.” I found out that’s what we used to call a “station wagon,” in ancient…

My good friend and stalwart SCM 1000 supporter, Allen Stephens, has owned his 1972 Mercedes-Benz 250C since 2013. He has been a fastidious and thoughtful caretaker of the car, and it is now listed on Bring a Trailer here. I’ve had my own experience with a 250C and managed to learn slowly and painfully just…

This story is a little complicated, so buckle your seatbelt and get ready for a ride. It’s now easier than ever to look up the history of your car. While the wealth of knowledge makes your life simpler, there are still fraudsters out there. Before I bought my 1991 Alfa S4 Spider, I never did…

As the days begin to lengthen, our thoughts of how to use our classic cars become more inviting. As SCM Contributor Miles Collier as puts it so succinctly, “It’s all about engagement.” We all have cars of varying ages and degrees of performance. What endears them to us is the degree of competence each requires…