Columns

Blasts From the Past

Soon you will have the entire contents of 35 years of SCM at your fingertips. We are about to unveil a project we’ve been working on since the very first issue was created. This magazine was born in the midst of a revolution in desktop publishing and database management for […]

How to Survive an Auction

The 2023 auction season kicked off with big January sales in Florida and Arizona. We counted a total of 5,394 collector cars sold by Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, MAG Auctions, Mecum Auctions and RM Sotheby’s. (We’ll have full results and analysis in next month’s issue.) What struck me as we watched all […]

Helplessly Hoping

The ZR-1 debuted after the C4 Corvette had already been on the market for six model years. Chevrolet’s new “King of the Hill” took its name from the race-spec 1970–72 Corvette ZR1 (a rarity, with only 53 built). It was both a nod to the past and an attempt to […]

Factory Blessings

Among the many qualities that confer value upon a collector car, none is as important — or open to dispute — as provenance. The term refers to evidence that a vehicle is what a seller claims it is, and that any notable history of the car can be proven to […]

Sky-High Skylines

2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R M-Spec Nür S/N BNR34403330. 27k miles (44k km). “2.6-liter RB26DETT inline-6, 6-speed manual transmission, limited-slip rear differential, one of 285 M-Spec Nür examples, Millennium Jade paint, black leather upholstery, ATTESA all-wheel-drive system, Super HICAS rear steering, Brembo disc brakes, 18-inch NISMO LMGT4 wheels, NISMO side skirts, […]

XTra Affordable

1988 Subaru XT GL 4WD S/N JF1AX7329JD304854. 102k miles. “1.8-liter flat-4, 5-speed manual 4WD, pop-up headlights, cloth upholstery, automatic front shoulder belts, power windows and locks, air conditioning, single front wiper blade, pistol-grip shifter, tilt and telescoping steering column, pneumatic suspension system and AM/FM radio.” Condition: 2+. SOLD AT $5,434. […]

A Date to Remember

January 6 was the fourth anniversary of my stroke. That day in 2019 started like any other. I was up at 5 a.m., put on my Hoka running shoes and pounded out a relaxed 5k along the Willamette River. I had just turned 68 years old, and I was trim […]

Escape Hatch

When the Volvo C30 arrived in America for the 2008 model year, it had been 36 years since production of the carmaker’s P1800 coupe ended. The new generation of sport coupe reflected the reality of its era, with an important nod to the past. The result was a 2-door hot […]

Escape Hatch

When the Volvo C30 arrived in America for the 2008 model year, it had been 36 years since production of the carmaker’s P1800 coupe ended. The new generation of sport coupe reflected the reality of its era, with an important nod to the past. The result was a 2-door hot […]

Mind the Paperwork

Ahead of the upcoming driving season, “Steve” took his 1958 Porsche 356 “Outlaw” coupe to his favorite local Porsche repair shop for some needed work. Once completed, a short test drive was necessary for the mechanic to verify that everything was working properly. As the mechanic came to a nearby […]