Keith Martin has been involved with the collector car hobby for more than 40 years, and is the founder and publisher of this magazine. Keith has also written for the New York Times, Automobile, AutoWeek, Road & Track and other publications, has been an emcee for numerous concours, and had his own show, “What’s My Car Worth,” shown on Velocity. He has received many honors, including the Lee Iacocca Award, the Edward Herrmann Award, was inducted into the Concorso Italiano Hall of Fame, and more. He has served on the board of directors of The LeMay Museum and Oregon Ballet Theater, and was formerly the chair of the board of the Meguiar’s Award. Learn more about Keith here.
Last we discussed finding the perfect mix of garage space, event participation, affinity groups and classic cars. We note that our current “keepers” are the 1971 Jaguar E-type V12 2+2, the 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider S4 and the 1965 Alfa Giulia Spider Veloce. Here are two more contestants. While the 1972 Mercedes-Benz 250C is now in fine fettle, I think it is time for it to head down the road. Thanks to our technician Chip Starr of Racecar Resurrections, it goes, stops and handles better than it ever did. Not only has he rebuilt the suspension and added 560SL shocks to […]
Last we discussed finding the perfect mix of garage space, event participation, affinity groups and classic cars.
We note that our current “keepers” are the 1971 Jaguar E-type V12 2+2, the 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider S4 and the 1965 Alfa Giulia Spider Veloce.
Here are two more contestants.
While the 1972 Mercedes-Benz 250C is now in fine fettle, I think it is time for it to head down the road. Thanks to our technician Chip Starr of Racecar Resurrections, it goes, stops and handles better than it ever did.
Not only has he rebuilt the suspension and added 560SL shocks to stiffen up the front end, he installed Weber carbs and a high-speed rear end from a 300D. It has far more power than it did with the Zeniths and cruises comfortably at 75 mph.
But it is rarely our car of choice for events. In the end, it’s a cruiser, not a sports car. And on those rare occasions we want to go out for a drive, we don’t grab the keys for the 250C. Watch for 911r to be selling it for us on Bring a Trailer.
Another car that will probably be departing is Bradley’s 1982 Collector’s Edition C3 Corvette. I bought it for him on his 16th birthday, primarily so he would always have a story to tell. “I turned 16, got my license and my dad bought me a Corvette.”
Yes, it is an automatic (the first four-speed auto in a Corvette) and has only 200 horsepower. It is still fitted with the can-be-problematic Cross-Fire fuel injection (aka, “cease-fire”). But it is still a Chevrolet Corvette.
It has just under 100,000 miles and is completely original. Chip has gone through it, and we have replaced the shocks and other parts as necessary and installed a new A/C compressor. Everything works as it should.
Now that Bradley has managed a manual gearbox, there are other cars he heads to first on sunny days. Although he has only had 15 months with the car — and they have been good ones — it’s okay to say goodbye. This is another car that we are placing with 911r to go on BaT.
If you enjoyed this blog, consider subscribing to Sports Car Market with this special offer. Save $56 over newsstand prices, get all the bonus guides and never miss an issue.
9 responses to “Keith’s Blog: The Six-Car Collection, Part II”
Rand Wintermute
Keith. Yes, sell the 250. MB and the C3 !
There is NO “upside” in either !…time for Bradley to learn about this before he is forced to learn about this ! Throwing more dollars into their respective maintenance isn’t going to increase their resale value. Those 2 cars were coveted by a totally different generation of drivers , foreign to his peers now . Stick with “Blue Chip” cars !!!
Philip brent
I had a 250. Beautiful but totally underpowered for a highway cruiser. Exit stage left!
The C3 was, except for a few muscle variants and coupes, a terrible , underpowered wannabe sports car. Trade it for an e- bike!
Definitely keep the Alfa. Classic pininfarina design, fun to drive, completely unreliable like a mid century Italian sports car should be🤗
Remember what they used to sing on Sesame Street?
One of these things is not like the other ones.
You can argue taste and you can argue age related choices and you can even argue prejudice, but outside of a Jan and Dean song, how often do Jaguar people and Corvette people get together?
The Big Buffet of car collecting is not just too big for most of us to take it all in at once, it includes choices that are not for everyone. If Keith’s garage is going to be a laboratory – a kind of Rotisserie League for cars- then don’t stop at Corvettes. Have a look at PreWar Lincolns and Packards, at El Caminos and Rancheros, at JDM cars and everything else. But if one family’s evolving collection doesn’t always have to reflect the multiple interests of the magazine and its readers, then dump the Vette. Live with the 250C a while longer.
Bob Tenges
Keith: Every family needs a nice cruiser and, if you decide anyway to sell the 250C, I ‘ll bet it won’t be long before you will want a replacement luxury cruiser. At age 82, I just purchased a used Bentley Flying Spur. Most luxurious and best riding car I have ever owned. The older we get, the more we appreciate this type of cruiser.
Jay Mackro
If I were looking to free up just one space in my garage, and not two, then the Corvette would be the one that I would jettison. In a heartbeat.
I agree with Bob Tenges’ point that “every family needs a nice cruiser”, and that Mercedes sure looks good in blue. Are you confident that you won’t have buyer’s remorse when it’s gone?
I need one more car to make a perfect 6-car collection. Currently in the garage are ‘46 Willys CJ2, ‘65 VW Beetle (soon to have a 1600S Porsche motor), ‘64 356 Cab, ‘65 Mustang FB, and a ‘66 912. Hmm – what’s the perfect sixth car?
Ray Devito
Jaguar XK 8 1997 to 2006
.
Todd
Say what you will, but that blue Mercedes is a great looking car!
Tracy Gillette
I have been locked out of my Hotmail account for three years. I have no access to this account ever again. How can I switch my email account and password plrease. Thank you!
9 responses to “Keith’s Blog: The Six-Car Collection, Part II”
Keith. Yes, sell the 250. MB and the C3 !
There is NO “upside” in either !…time for Bradley to learn about this before he is forced to learn about this ! Throwing more dollars into their respective maintenance isn’t going to increase their resale value. Those 2 cars were coveted by a totally different generation of drivers , foreign to his peers now . Stick with “Blue Chip” cars !!!
I had a 250. Beautiful but totally underpowered for a highway cruiser. Exit stage left!
The C3 was, except for a few muscle variants and coupes, a terrible , underpowered wannabe sports car. Trade it for an e- bike!
Definitely keep the Alfa. Classic pininfarina design, fun to drive, completely unreliable like a mid century Italian sports car should be🤗
Remember what they used to sing on Sesame Street?
One of these things is not like the other ones.
You can argue taste and you can argue age related choices and you can even argue prejudice, but outside of a Jan and Dean song, how often do Jaguar people and Corvette people get together?
The Big Buffet of car collecting is not just too big for most of us to take it all in at once, it includes choices that are not for everyone. If Keith’s garage is going to be a laboratory – a kind of Rotisserie League for cars- then don’t stop at Corvettes. Have a look at PreWar Lincolns and Packards, at El Caminos and Rancheros, at JDM cars and everything else. But if one family’s evolving collection doesn’t always have to reflect the multiple interests of the magazine and its readers, then dump the Vette. Live with the 250C a while longer.
Keith: Every family needs a nice cruiser and, if you decide anyway to sell the 250C, I ‘ll bet it won’t be long before you will want a replacement luxury cruiser. At age 82, I just purchased a used Bentley Flying Spur. Most luxurious and best riding car I have ever owned. The older we get, the more we appreciate this type of cruiser.
If I were looking to free up just one space in my garage, and not two, then the Corvette would be the one that I would jettison. In a heartbeat.
I agree with Bob Tenges’ point that “every family needs a nice cruiser”, and that Mercedes sure looks good in blue. Are you confident that you won’t have buyer’s remorse when it’s gone?
I need one more car to make a perfect 6-car collection. Currently in the garage are ‘46 Willys CJ2, ‘65 VW Beetle (soon to have a 1600S Porsche motor), ‘64 356 Cab, ‘65 Mustang FB, and a ‘66 912. Hmm – what’s the perfect sixth car?
Jaguar XK 8 1997 to 2006
.
Say what you will, but that blue Mercedes is a great looking car!
I have been locked out of my Hotmail account for three years. I have no access to this account ever again. How can I switch my email account and password plrease. Thank you!