Blogs
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Keith’s Blog: What Cars Should Star on the 2021 SCM 1000?
We’re already talking about the SCM 1000 for 2021. We always have a featured marque, although all cars from 1973 and earlier are welcome to apply. Your chances of being accepted are just a little better if you enter a featured-marque car. In 2018 we featured Alfa Romeo. This year it was Porsche. In 2020,…
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Jim’s Blog: Is a Manual a Bonus?
Is a manual transmission a bonus when you’re shopping for American muscle? That might seem like a dumb question — but I think the answer is changing. There’s a certain glory that comes with winding up a big block and dumping a clutch. You can’t get that same feeling with an automatic no matter how…
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Keith’s Blog: Selling the SCM Sprint Speciale
I’m sticking to the 105 Series Alfa Romeos. As I trim and adjust the SCM fleet, I’ve had to make some decisions about which cars appeal to me the most — and which ones work the best. I’ve always thought that that the 105 Series pre-smog Alfas (roughly 1963-68) represented the high point of that…
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Jim’s Blog: Are Burnouts Burnt-Out?
We’re shipping ACC issue #49 to press this week, just before Thanksgiving, but there’s still time to chime in on ACC’s Question of the Month. This question comes to us from Steve S, and it’s a good one: How do you feel about the ever-increasing proliferation of burnout contests at car shows? I don’t think…
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Keith’s Blog: A Ford Falcon for the SCM 1000?
Last week I explored the two-pedal options for the 2020 SCM 1000. I was looking at cars from 1974 and earlier — and under $50,000. Among the many thoughtful responses I got were those encouraging me not to overlook the compact American cars of that era. Suggested were Ford Falcons, Chevrolet Novas and Corvairs. You…
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Jim’s Blog: Three Fords to Buy Now
Blue Oval Classics have always been popular, and certain models have always brought a lot of money at auction — special cars like the 1969-70 Boss 429, 2005-06 Ford GT and 1965 Shelby GT350 have always been hot. But what about other Ford cars and trucks that are on the upswing right now — or…
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Keith’s Blog: Which Slushbox for the 2020 SCM 1000?
I’m a planner. There’s always a chance that my clutch leg won’t be fully operational time for the 2020 SCM 1000. I plan on driving the route, so I’ve been musing about affordable, 1974-and-earlier two-pedal options. If I had an unreasonable budget, my first two choices would be either an Iso Lele or a Maserati…
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Jim’s Blog: Snapshots from SEMA 2019
SEMA’s a great place to go see what’s new in the car world, but you can’t just walk into the place off the Vegas strip. The event, while huge, is not open to the public — and that’s why I always tote a nice camera with me. I spent three days on-site at the Las…
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Keith’s Blog: SCM’s Ferrari GT4 on Bring A Trailer
SCM’s beloved 1975 Ferrari 308 GT4 is on Bring A Trailer at No Reserve! Click here for the listing. The auction ends Thursday at 1:35 p.m. This is a remarkable car. I bought it from Fantasy Junction a year ago, flew down to Oakland with Bradley and drove it up the coast to Portland. While…
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Jim’s Blog: It’s SEMA Time!
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog about spotting old car trends using the weather. The SEMA show is another great way to see which older cars or trucks younger members of the car world are starting to consider cool in the old car market. That show starts today. The Specialty Equipment Manufacturers…