Keith Martin

It’s been five years since I’ve been to the Concours d’Elegance of America (formerly known as Meadow Brook). I’d heard good things about the new location, and when Concours Chairman Larry Moss asked if I would be interested in being co-emcee, I eagerly accepted. As Michigan has been the location of so many car manufacturing companies,…

There’s nothing better than a great car event that happens in your own backyard. No packing, no airports, no rental cars, no hotel rooms – just go into the SCM garage, pull out your favorite car (and a couple for your good friends) and head out. This was the 42nd year of the Forest Grove…

Last week, I savored a four-wheeled gourmet experience at RM headquarters in Chatham, Ontario (Canada). CEO and founder Rob Myers invited me to spend a couple of days at RM, and a generous buffet line of cars awaited my arrival. Gord Duff, one of RM’s top car specialists, showed me around, and he immediately offered…

When the old car thing bites, it bites hard. Those of us in search of of vehicles that turn ordinary trips into motoring adventures don’t stop with sports cars. We just spent a weekend with the SCM’s RHD 1984 Defender 90 200 tdi. Perhaps the Land Rover imprint happened while watching “The Gods Must Be Crazy” –…

SCM and the Alfa Market Letter In 1988, 26 years ago, I put an ad in Hemmings Motor News that said, “Subscribe Today to the Alfa Romeo Market Letter. Hundreds of Alfas for sale in every issue. One year, $33.” I had just left my job as a sales manager at Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo,…

I had the proud-father satisfaction of watching my daughter, Alexandra Dorel Martin-Banzer, graduate from Oregon State University this past Saturday. She received a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus on Entrepreneurship and a minor in writing. Two years ago, following a year studying in France, she earned a diploma in International Business from L’École…

“I’m thinking of getting into collector cars. What’s the best car to start with?” It’s a question we are asked all the time. There is no correct answer, just as there is no “right” choice for which pinot noir to pair with salmon, or which running shoes to wear for a marathon. There is a…

As I shepherd the SCM fleet through its never-ending process of repair, restore and improve, I am constantly making judgment calls about when to upgrade and when to leave things alone. For instance, I just delivered the 122S to Guy Recordon at Guy’s Interior Restorations to have the front seats restuffed and rebuilt. While it’s…

I’ve spent the morning checking with the shops caring for the various mechanically and cosmetically infirm members of the SCM fleet. The shop that has the Amazon put the rear sport springs in the front perches, and that didn’t work out so well. Tom Black reports that he was able to remove the Duetto‘s incredibly ugly…

The SCM 122S “Amazon” rolled off the carrier last week and was immediately pressed into service. I’ve been surprised at what a good car it is, given some of my previous “sight unseen” purchases. The seller, Jim Perry of Wisconsin, races an 1800S, and this was his street car. Before taking delivery, I had him…