Keith Martin’s Adventures
Follow his weekly thoughts on the collector car market, and his time behind the wheel.
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Keith’s Blog: Collectible or Drivable?
I read a recent article in Bloomberg about the rise in collectability of first generation Ford Broncos. Some are now selling for over six figures. I’ve owned first-gen Broncos (and even a Bronco II, but I don’t like to admit to it), and they are decent enough bare-bones utility vehicles. But no one has ever…
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Keith’s Blog: The Fourth Annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance
I’ve been a part of the Arizona Concours d’Elegance since day one, four years ago. I recall that first year, looking out of my hotel room onto the grass-covered splendor of the courtyard of the Arizona Biltmore. It was pitch black as the first cars entered the field. Within an hour, as the sun was…
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Old Cars — Unreliable Then, But Not Today
I used to carry a load of spare parts in the trunk of my car. Now I just bring a cellphone and a AAA towing card. When I first started going on classic rallies 30 years ago, it was routine to see cars smoking, overheating and finally dying by the side of the road. There…
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Bradley’s Bugeye – A Giant Lego
The pieces are coming together. I maintain that the only way to get kids involved with our old cars is to engage them from a very early age. Old cars should just be one of the many hobbies and sports they enjoy. In his after-school classes, my 9-year-old Bradley is taking computer coding — and…
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Don’t Buy a Project Car
Our old cars continue to make the transition from daily use appliances to coveted artifacts. This change raises an entirely different set of questions when it comes to deciding the quality and condition of a car you might buy. Just buying something that runs and drives is not what we’re looking for these days. As…
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New Year’s Resolution For Your Classic Cars
For most of us, December is not the best month to drive our classic cars. Aside from the cold, there often is snow on the ground — and many roads have been salted. I would guess that somewhere more than 80% of our classic cars are sitting under covers in heated garages and attached to…
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Help Pick My Next Car
I’ve got that classic-car itch, and only you can help me scratch it. In my column in the February issue of SCM, I wrote about the three cars that are calling to me right now. I invited subscribers to vote and comment on your choice. As a blog reader, I’d like to hear your opinion as…
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The Spider Veloce is Finished!
Two weeks ago, Bill Gillham sent me a brief email: “Your car is ready for you to come and pick it up.” After more than a year — and a six-figure resto bill, our 1965 Giulia Spider Veloce is ready to come home. The notes from Bill had been getting shorter and shorter. “Tracked down…
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Alex Conquers Hog’s Back
Eight years ago, my daughter Alex (then 17) and I were trying to get up the Hog’s Back Hillclimb in our 1973 Land Rover SIII 88. My off-roading skills were rudimentary. I attacked the hill with too much speed and tried to muscle my way up. I got hung up on some rocks near the…
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The Right Car for the Right Trip
I’m just back from a visit to the High Desert Museum. Located in Bend, Oregon, about 150 miles from Portland, it’s a jewel. It’s true to its location, the desert, and to its mission, which is to help us understand the ecosystem of Central Oregon’s high desert — and the colorful history of the area.…