Keith Martin
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Keith’s Blog: Prepping Three Alfas for the NW Passage
I’m not really a glutton for punishment — even if my actions indicate otherwise. Getting one 49-year-old car ready for a 1,000-mile, high-speed tour is enough of a challenge; getting three ready has been an adventure. The annual Northwest Passage tour begins this Thursday, June 9. The Oregon Region of the Porsche Club of America…
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Keith’s Blog: No Concours Restoration for the Alfa
For those following the saga of our 1965 Alfa Giulia Spider, you’ve seen it go from a slightly disheveled but much-loved daily driver to a completely stripped shell. It was last year that we took it to Bill Gillham, in Jefferson, Oregon, for some minor rust repairs. As he dug into the car, he found…
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Saying Goodbye to the Amazon
It was two years ago that we watched our 1967 Volvo 122S arrive on a car hauler from Madison, WI. And now we’re going to watch it leave. Owning the Amazon has been a delightful and enlightening experience. It was a good car when it arrived (unlike so many of the cars that I acquire),…
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Keith’s Blog: Porsche Turbo vs. Alfa Duetto: Size Does Matter
“Old age, experience and treachery will overcome youthful enthusiasm and talent. “ In car speak, that translates to: “A mature driver in a vintage 4-cylinder sports car can easily overtake someone younger and less-experienced — no matter what they are driving.” Two weeks ago, I discovered that saying is simply not true. I asked my…
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The SCM Volvo Could Be Yours!
We’ve spent more than two years and thousands of dollars fully developing and sorting out the SCM 1967 Volvo 122S “Amazon.” It’s now for sale on eBay. We purchased it from noted Volvo racer Jim Perry; it had been his personal car, and he took it on some hot laps at Road America. It came…
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Should the Alfa Spider be Restored for Concours or Driving?
Here’s a quick update on the 1965 Giulia Spider Veloce. It went to Alfa guru Bill Gillham for some rust repair in the rockers and trunk a few months ago. As he disassembled the car, he found corrosion in nearly every nook and cranny. While the car looked good at first glance, it actually bent…
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Keels and Wheels Gives Back
There are many ways to measure the success of a concours. They range from number of entries to spectator counts to the elegance of the cars. But there is one element that I think outshines the rest – how much money is raised for charity. Those who have cars entered at concours are likely to…
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A Tail of Two Auburns: The First Kiawah Island Motoring Festival Concours
Kiawah Island, located 25 miles southwest of Charleston, SC, was settled in 1670 by British colonists. In 1974, the Kuwaiti Investment Corporation decided to fund the development of the 13.4-square-mile island. It has since become a nationally recognized nature conservancy. While the Kuwaitis have since sold their investment, the island continues to focus on…
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What would we do without French cars?
Bugatti, Delahaye, Delage. These names are almost synonymous with “Best of Show” at prestigious concours all over the world. The 12th Annual La Jolla Concours d’Elegance was no exception. Best of show was awarded to Ken and Ann Smith’s 1936 Delahaye Type 135 Competition Disappearing Top Convertible. Its coachwork was, as you might expect,…
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The Three Cars I Should Have Bought Last Weekend
This was my fifth year at the Auctions America sale at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. Each time, I have been shooting episodes for “What’s My Car Worth?” – our new season begins May 12 on Velocity. The inventory at Auctions America Fort Lauderdale is always an engaging mix of the eclectic and the commonplace…