Keith’s Blog: A Never-ending Sears Catalog

I was reminiscing with a friend last night about how our homes and childhoods would light up when the Sears, Montgomery Ward and Spiegel catalog would arrive around this time of year.

We would always take turns picking out our favorites. I liked farm sets with plastic horses and cows. Other friends wouldn’t settle for anything but Lincoln Log sets.

In 2022, gifts to fantasize about arrive in our inbox every day.

Am I the only one who stops everything when the daily list of No Reserve cars on Bring A Trailer arrives?

Instead of toys, I dream of Ferrari 575 Maranellos, Austin-Healey 3000s and even Corvair Greenbriars. Any of which I could own by simply being the highest bidder.

It’s free to look at the listings and imagine being an owner, just as it was free to flip through the pages in those holiday catalogs and imagine any of our fantasy choices showing up in a big box on our doorstep.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, for a 12-hour period I fantasized about becoming the proud owner of a Jensen Interceptor coupe.

The pictures and description online were incredible. I could afford the car.

When the deal fell apart, I felt as if I had been on a great date that lasted three hours with someone who then left the country. The memories of the fantasy of Jensen ownership continue to entertain, even though the car is long gone.

My holiday wish for you is that your inbox keeps you delighted. Frequent the sites that make it easy to be notified when something of interest pops up. Just last night I got a notification from Hemmings Auctions for a restored Jaguar XK 150 with an automatic tranny that was being offered for sale.

For about five minutes I was insanely desirous of this car and needed to own it.

After taking my medications, I realized that the totally original V12 E-type coupe that we own is a far better car in general, and for me specifically. “That we own” is the key phrase here. Continuing to own a car that is fettled is generally far less expensive than buying something unknown and embarking on a journey into the wilderness.

I also had a moment to realize the advantage of an original car over a restored one. While I have no idea whether the XK150 for sale is restored properly (the grill appears to be black, which gave me pause), I think I am pretty good at telling whether an original car has been messed with. So, no Jensen, no XK 150. Twice saved, but two thrills from imagined acquisitions, nonetheless.

Spend your holiday season with visions of classic cars dancing through your heads. Get all the feeds turned on, from online and land auctions, classifieds and more.

Don’t be afraid to imagine yourself lusting after cars both naughty (S1 Lotus Esprits) and nice (chrome-bumper Panteras).

What’s the one car you hope shows up in your inbox? Mine is a Mk II Jag 3.8L with auto and a/c. Preferably owned by someone in Texas who slathered money all over it to be a tasty, handsome, reliable driver.

Let me know what your own fantasy inbox car is.

And thanks so much for being a part of the SCM gang. We continue to have a great ride together.