Buy What You Love, Pay What You Should
Blogs
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Jim’s Blog: Project or Storage?
I’ve been watching the leaves change color in my neighborhood over the past few days, and it’s been prompting me to get out and drive my old cars as much as I can before the weather turns south. Here at ACC, we’ve already started work on our annual Scottsdale insider’s guide for the upcoming January…
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Keith’s Blog: A New Kind of Car Event
The celebrity-driven Lifestyle Weekend is emerging as a new wave of car events. I’m just returning from the inaugural Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, where the backdrop of downtown Chattanooga, a 1.5 mile flat-out time trial against the clock along the Tennessee River and various celebrity panels provided three full days of engagement for owners and enthusiasts.…
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Jim’s Blog: Should You Buy Online?
The web has been a popular place to buy classic cars since the ’90s. But should you? That can be a hard call to make — especially if you’re new to old cars, or if this is your first online buy. The pessimist in me likes to point out that a lot can be hidden…
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Keith’s Blog: “While You’re in There”
Fixing cars on the cheap never works out well. I was in a planning meeting for the 2020 SCM 1000, and a serious question came up — how many mechanics do we need? The 2020 SCM 1000 has a spectacular route that includes Mount St. Helens and the Oregon Coast — go to www.sportscarmarket.com/tour-registration to…
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Jim’s Blog: The Super Sport Factor
Back in the day, SS cars were the hot ticket among the Chevrolet faithful. They were special, limited-run cars with more street cred than the rest — even if their only true differences were in the amount of bright trim outside, some interior upgrades inside, and usually — but not always — a hotter engine.…
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Keith’s Blog: The Indian Reservation Alfa
There was a time in the late ‘80s when I was gainfully unemployed. I had left my job as Sales Manager at Ron Tonkin Grand Turismo and decided to make my living buying, fixing up and selling Alfa Romeos. At that time there was no shortage of non-running but not-yet-decrepit Alfas from the ‘70s lurking…
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Jim’s Blog: Registering a Classic
It seems like auto registration rates climb more and more every time I look at them. But with more cars on the road each year, that makes sense. After all, somebody has to pay for the wear and tear on roadways caused the daily commuter grind. Here in Oregon, a new 2-year registration for a…
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Keith’s Blog: Sign Up for the 2020 SCM 1000
Next year’s SCM 1000 is beginning to shape up. Plans include visiting Mt. St. Helens as well as the stunning Oregon Coast — areas we haven’t explored in the previous two tours. The dates are July 12-16, 2020. Once again, the tour will begin with participants’ cars on display in front of the Portland Art…
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Jim’s Blog: Buying on First Impressions
When you’re thinking about a new addition to your collection, what’s the first thing that you look for? Last week, I talked a little about project cars, and we’re covering that topic in the next issue of ACC as well. But that’s got me thinking about buying project cars that aren’t complete basket cases —…
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Keith’s Blog: A Rite of Fall
Each September, the Alfa Romeo Owners of Oregon puts on the “Red Duetto Tour.” Hosted by Fred and Lisa McNabb, the entry requirements are simple: You must be driving a 1966-69 “longtail” Alfa spider, and it has to be red. Before I bought my red Duetto, I recall asking Fred if I would be allowed to…