Keith Martin
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Keith’s Blog: La Dolce Vita in Modena
Today, I’d like to share this space with Mark Wigginton, a veteran SCM writer — I’m sure you’ve enjoyed his “Speaking Volumes” column. Wigginton recently traveled to Modena, Italy for a visit with Pierangelo Masselli of Modena Classic Works. Take it away, Mark… So, when the boss says, “Can you go look at some vintage…
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Keith’s Blog: Doing Arizona Right
It’s bitterly cold today in Portland, and I’m just finalizing my room arrangements at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. The third annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance takes place on Sunday, January 24, and I’ll be there as co-emcee, along with SCM Editor-at-Large Donald Osborne. I don’t think I have missed the Arizona auctions since SCM began, 28 years ago. It used…
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Keith’s Blog: What is it About Convertibles in Winter?
If I don’t drive my old cars in the winter, I feel like I am losing out on part of the ownership experience. Growing up in San Francisco, with its temperate weather, I recall keeping a down-filled parka behind the seats of my Bugeye Sprite. I never put the top up, and the little bit…
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Desert Concorso 2015: Something For Everyone
I’ve just returned from the second Desert Concorso, which was in Palm Springs, CA, this year. The clear, sunny skies and 75-degree weather provided a perfect setting for more than 100 collector cars. The weekend kicked off with a reception at Landmark Aviation, held at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport at Thermal. Palm Springs Stadium…
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Exploding the “Needs-Nothing” Bugeye
It was just two months ago that I bought Bradley his first car, a 1960 Bugeye. I drove the “needs-nothing” car home 65 miles from White Salmon, WA, made a short list of minor items in need of attention and gave Bradley a ride around the block. The car didn’t idle well, so I sent…
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The 911 Makes a $2,500 Visit to the Mechanic
A few issues cropped up on SCM’s 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo after the 1,000-mile Northwest Passage tour this summer. The airbag warning light came on, and a few days later the PSM/ABS light joined it. Then I began to hear a low whirring sound from the engine. And now the car is back from its…
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The Méhari Out-Climbs a Land Rover
We were sitting in the SCM Citroën Méhari, watching a Land Rover Discovery make several attempts to climb a wet, grassy hill. The Rover would get halfway up, its wheels would lose traction and back down it would come. “Watch this!” said Bill Lonseth, caretaker of the Méhari. He revved up the mighty 600-cc twin-cylinder,…
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Winter and the SCM Fleet
Our unseasonably long, hot summer is finally coming to an end. The temperatures today are in the 60s with overcast skies and a light drizzle. While this would be considered summer weather in my native San Francisco, here in Portland it’s time to start prepping for winter. I’ve begun shuffling the SCM fleet around, in…
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The Viper and the Alfa – Two Different Types of Snakes
As I’m still recovering from rotator-cuff surgery, I’ve become a passenger in the cars in the SCM collection. This weekend I rode in two of them: the 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce and the 2000 Dodge Viper GTS ACR. Aside from the snakes they each have in their logos, they have little in common…
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The Best First Sports Car
This is a question that comes up all the time. Sometimes I’m asked, “What’s the best first Alfa Romeo or Ferrari?” Other times it is just, “I’m thinking of getting into vintage sports cars. Which one would I have the most fun with?” There are many layers to these types of questions. My first answer…