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CLASSIC CHEV WOODIE, RARE FIND FOR LUCKY BUYER

Find a "woodie" and you'll find a crowd. The wood-panelled vintage cars stand apart from everything else, regardless of make or model, adding a touch of class to sedans, wagons, and convertibles. Now find one that was made in relatively small numbers and you've got yourself a gem of a collectible. If that appeals to you you're bound to be interested in this 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster 8-passenger station wagon, offered for sale through Hemmings. Only 10,171 were built between February 1948 and January 1949, so you can be certain that relatively few survive today.

The seller is a vintage car store in Ohio, so I'll quote from their description, leaving it to you to decide what matters. It "appears to have most of its original wood intact, and any replacement pieces have been nicely integrated into the existing structure. The steel body panels have been refinished in Oxford Maroon, and need little more than a coat of wax to perfect the shine. Much of the chrome appears to have been re-plated when the rest of the car was restored, and the stainless brightwork remains in good condition. All three seats have been reupholstered in the correct tan vinyl, new maroon carpets have been fitted throughout. The woodgrained dashboard has been professionally restored and all the gauges are functional. Accessories include a heater, AM radio, and clock, as well as aftermarket turn signals."

The Chevy powertrain is a 216 cubic inch “Stovebolt” six cylinder engine delivering 90 horsepower, combined with a 3-speed manual transmission. The electrics have been upgraded to 12-volts, there’s a newer single exhaust system, and the stock wheels have been fitted with Coker wide whitewall radials. All of which means you should be able to drive this beauty home with no more difficulty than acknowledging the friendly waves along the way. Vintage Motor Cars of Ohio is asking $64,900 but that's negotiable.

TOASTING A ROVER WITH A CUCUMBER GIN

I've been accused of posting too many blogs about British cars lately, so I was planning to go all-American today with a nice 48 Chevrolet woodie. But that can wait, as I've just spotted this article in the Classic Driver newsletter. One look at the photo should explain why it was too good to resist. The car is a 1961 Rover P4 (one of my long-time favorites), customised for Hendrick’s gin, which apparently is an unusual drink due to its cucumber and rose-tinged flavor. Indeed, the Rover is referred to as "The Cucumbermobile" in the company's unique promotional campaigns.

It can easily be spotted in a crowd, thanks to its British Racing Green exterior, the flying cucumber hood ornament, a gearshift in the shape of a rose (which Hendrick's says "evokes thoughts of this rose-petal infused spirit”). Not unsurprisingly it has a bar that pulls out of the trunk from which Hendrick's gin can be sampled at concours d'elegance and other events. Passengers hoping to enjoy a sip or two en route will be pleased to know that the rear seat armrest has space for a bottle and two glasses. Adding pleasure to the trip, they can tune the original radio or listen to an iPod adapter through a stereo system playing period music. Need more gin to share with friends? What looks like a container of windshield washer under the hood is a spare bottle of Hendrick's! Outside, the roof rack holds a vintage Victorian tent, chairs, table, a picnic basket, vintage wooden skis for those winter trips to the Alps, a suitcase, and an emergency gas can.

Two years ago I visited the Goodwood Revival, where I revived myself with a delicious glass of gin from a distiller I'd never heard of. The taste was quite different, unlike any gin I'd ever experienced, leaving me to wonder now if it could have been Hendrick's although there was no cucumber in sight. If so, I'm delighted to learn that the company sells its product in North America and although not inexpensive I intend trying a bottle soon. It would be even more fun if the Cucumbermobile showed up at some special events on this side of the Atlantic. Cheers!

[Photo: Hendrick's]

BEETLE DREAMIN' IN SIDNEY BC AND ORANGE COUNTY CA

Wandering along the streets of Sidney BC a few days ago I came upon an absolutely exquisite Volkswagen Beetle, circa mid-to-late 1950s. It was restored to perfection, painted two-tone cream and orange, with whitewalls and appropriate chrome wheel trim. I've been a Volkswagen fan ever since late 1959, when the company hired me as its Canadian pr assistant, so you can imagine that it immediately caught my attention. If ever there was a car I'd buy to start my collection, this was it, though I doubt the owner would be interested in selling.

If you, too, might have had the same reaction, do not despair. Barrett-Jackson is offering a similar Beetle at its Orange County auction, June 24-26. Not a two-tone body but equally handsome in dark brown, with a stayfast cloth top, two-tone wheels and wide whitewalls. BJ says it also has "crotch cooler" kick panel vents, whatever they are! I do, however, remember the semaphore turn signals, plus period accessories like the gas heater, spare tire tool kit, rear luggage rack, bamboo under dash shelf, front visor, bud vase, fender skirts, and the rare sunroof option. Mechanical features include an early Porsche fully syncro transmission and 1192cc motor with 12-volt electrical system. From the Dave's Garage Car Collection, it has enjoyed a professional body-off restoration.

Only 390 Beetles were sold in the U.S. in 1951, which alone makes this one rare, and apparently the DeLuxe models with sunroof are scarcer still. It should command a good dollar, though far beyond my meager means. Still, I dream that one day a lesser but no less worthy Beetle will come my way. Meanwhile I wish you luck in bidding for this brown beauty.

BEST CITY IN THE WORLD TO GET AROUND WITHOUT A CAR?

The scene was Ralph's Coffee and Tea House in Sidney, BC. Four of us were seated around the table, including Ralph, his Ferrari-owning friend Don, a car guy whose name I've forgotten, and me. The conversation wandered to Vancouver and mass transit, wherein I suggested that the city had the best public transportation system in North America. My table-mates were shocked. They simply couldn't imagine that our west coast system could compete with New York, San Francisco, or even Toronto.

I argued differently, pointing out that the SkyTrain is everything overhead transport should be. That the new Canada Line subway is an advanced technology connecting downtown with the airport and points between. That the futuristic SeaBus joins the mainland with North Vancouver in 12-minute sailings every quarter hour. And that even though surface transport depends on traditional buses, many of those vehicles are new-generation electric trolley buses. Although tiny by comparison, I was pleased to add the water taxis scooting across False Creek to Granville Island like June Bugs on a hot summer night.

For those who've never visited this beautiful city a few words of explanation are in order. The SkyTrain is an overhead rail system that bears no resemblance to the overheads in New York or Chicago. The tramway is light in appearance and elegant, each of the contemporary stations unique in design. Tickets are purchased from automatic machines and possession of same is all that's needed. Although attendants now patrol the cars to make random checks of ticket holders, it's an honour system. The cars have large windows offering excellent views of the city. And there are no drivers or conductors. Operation is entirely computer-controlled. There has not been an accident since the SkyTrain's launch in 1986. Think "horizontal elevators."

SeaBuses are 125-seat catamarans that join downtown to the city's north shore quickly and comfortably. Tourists ride them just for the panoramic views of mountains and harbour. The same honour system as on the SkyTrain applies. More than just ferries, they include doors that open automatically to match doors on the enclosed docks, making entry and exit quick and easy.

The Canada Line is Vancouver's first subway, which surprised me on my initial ride for I'd expected something similar to the SkyTrain. Nevertheless it's the best underground rail line I've ever experienced, and I've been on more than a few. The downtown terminus meets both the SkyTrain and SeaBus, as well as the helicopter commuter line between Vancouver and BC's capitol city of Victoria. At the opposite end is Vancouver International Airport, with intermediate neighbourhood stops. It is airy, spacious, quiet and... drivers are not required.

As for those new trolley buses they, too, surprised me on first meeting. I was under the impression that electric trolley buses were a thing of the past (unfortunately, for they use no fossil fuel) until I saw Vancouver's fleet of handsome, powerful units. I'm not a big fan of buses but until we can have affordable fuel cells for street transit the trolley bus (like hybrids) is a decent compromise. By way of comparison, I just spent two weeks in Toronto, my hometown, where I frequently rode the subway, streetcars, and buses. Toronto has always boasted of its transit system but its rock-hard seats, overcrowded subways, and slow-moving streetcars can't begin to compare with Vancouver.

By the time I'd finished boasting of the advantages of Vancouver's transit system my tablemates had stopped laughing and begrudgingly agreed with me. In reality it may not be the world's best but it is certainly world class. And that's something planners everywhere should keep in mind as we move to a more integrated system of automobile freedom and transit mobility.

LIGHTWEIGHT JAGUAR E-TYPE LIVES AGAIN

Fifty years after the first Jaguar E-Type stunned the automotive world with its power and beauty, the gorgeous roadster has been reborn. No, not by the factory but by Jaguar specialist builder Eagle. On the weekend of June 22-24 the E-Type Speedster Lightweight will be unveiled during Salon Privé 2011 at Syon House in West London. But don't be fooled into thinking this is just another replica in Sir William Lyon's clothing. As the constructors say, "the E-Type Speedster Lightweight is an authentic Jaguar E-Type from the 1960s reworked with more muscular styling, fresh classic detailing, and the performance of a contemporary supercar."

Underneath that beautiful body every component has been skilfully reworked, improved and sometimes lightened, resulting in a handmade automotive masterpiece with a weight of just 1000kg. True to form, the original Lightweight E-Type-based engine is an aluminum 4.7 liter fuel-injected inline six, producing 310 hp at 4800 rpm, working through an aluminum 5-speed gearbox. Needless to say everything that matters has been updated, from lighting to brakes to suspension geometry, yet the car remains an authentic Jaguar.

Based in rural Sussex, Eagle has been restoring and selling vintage Jaguar E-Types for nearly 30 years. It eventually created its own derivative of the 50-year-old classic, also called E-Type, and in 2009 unveiled its first E-Type Speedster, which was conceived initially as a one-off model for a well-heeled American customer. All Eagles are individually built and numbered for each owner but since they take about 18 months to finish the buyer needs to show a little patience. And, needless to say, a substantial amount of British pounds.

YOU CAN BUY THE MARILYN MONROE MG BUT DID SHE DRIVE IT?

I have trouble imagining Marilyn Monroe at the wheel of an MG TD. A BMW 507, maybe, or one of those gargantuan finned Cadillacs. But not a basic, side-screened British sports car. Okay, I was wrong. Ms. Monroe drove an MG in the 1952 sci-fi comedy Monkey Business, starring Monroe and Cary Grant. And that very car is for sale at auction.

The MG was put into storage not long after filming wrapped but Debbie Reynolds purchased it in 1971 during a sale of Monroe memorabilia. She hasn't driven it much since, although she did let her daughter, Carrie Fisher, get behind the wheel when Fisher was first learning to drive.

Reynolds recently had the transmission rebuilt and now the MG is offered at icollector.com. Auction estimates place the final value around $20,000 to $30,000, though pre-bidding revealed a price of $27,500. Apparently several Hollywood stars placed their bottoms in the TD seats so if that matters, you should get your bid in now. As for me, I'd be so pleased to own a pristine TD that it wouldn't matter who sat where.

 

FIRST BENTLEY EVER SOLD TO BE SOLD AGAIN AT AUCTION

Some cars are rare because few examples were made, but nothing could be as rare as an auto manufacturer's first-ever. And so, when this 1921 3-liter Bentley takes to the stage at Gooding's Pebble Beach auction in August, the new owner will be in possession of the first Bentley ever to be sold to a customer, an experimental chassis known as EXP 3. Apparently three chassis were built but EXP 1 no longer exists and EXP 2 was retained by the factory. EXP 3 was sold to Welshman Ivor Llewelyn. He, by the way, was the father of actor Desmond Llewelyn, who appeared in numerous James Bond films as the genius who created Bond's arsenal of trick gadgets.

Before making cars W.O. Bentley, an engineer by profession, had been involved in the design of locomotives and motorcycles and then, as agent for French automaker DPF, he discovered that substituting aluminum for cast iron in piston design allowed for higher compression and higher performance. This led to developing advanced aero engines for the Royal Air Force, some of which powered the famous WW1 Sopwith Camel fighter. When the war ended, W.O. turned to the automobile industry, building fast, luxurious sports cars. Bentley's five victories at Le Mans remains the stuff of legends.

The first customer Bentley passed through the hands of several owners, some of whom raced it in the 1940s, being unaware (or uncaring) of the car's historical origins. “A Bentley collector in the Northeast then bought it and completed a very conservative and sympathetic restoration of the car leaving things like the patina on the brass intact,” said Paul Hageman of Gooding. “It remained a remarkably unaltered car that, unlike many other early Bentleys including EX 2, retains its original body, engine and gearbox.”

[Photo Credit: Gooding & Co.]

WHERE ARE YOU SOPHIA? VINTAGE SCOOTERS GO ON SHOW

Scooters, once the vehicles of choice for those who've moved up from the bicycle but can't afford a motorcycle or car, are making a comeback. Higher gas prices plus the need for greener transportation are behind this new-found popularity, and not just in the streets of Rome and Milan. Here in North America scooters are becoming popular, especially in big cities. What's more, some are driven entirely by electricity as battery-powered models become alternatives to gas-driven machines.

What better time, then, for a brand-new display of vintage scooters at Los Angeles' Petersen Automotive Museum? The scooter collection opens Saturday, June 18th and runs concurrently with the supercar collection, though the little guys will remain on show through 2012. More than 90 scooters will be displayed, ranging from clip-on engine packages that attached to bicycles, to Vespa scooters and Cushman minibikes. According to Hemmings old scooters have been getting harder to find in restorable condition.

To mark the historical importance of this display the Petersen Museum is hosting Scooters and Supercars Day on July 9. The highlight will be a supercar and scooter show where the public is invited to bring their own scooters and supercars. Special guest Steve Saleen will be on hand to speak about his racing days and his manufacturing business. Technical how-to sessions on detailing will also be conducted by Griot’s Garage. For those with fond memories of scooters in their past and for those who think a scooter should be in their future, this promises to be a fascinating day.

The only thing missing? Movies where scooters played a role, either as wheels for the stars or whizzing through the narrow streets of Italy. There must have been hundreds, with and without the beautiful Sophia Loren.

[Photo Credit: Petersen Automotive Museum]

FERRARI 750 MONZA SPIDER WAS A FILM STAR AND RACE WINNER

For collectors of vintage racing cars, provenance means a lot. So this 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider with body by Scaglietti can be expected to attract many buyers with deep – very deep – pockets. To begin, it's a movie car, having had a major role in On the Beach, a marvellous 50s film starring Ava Gardner and Gregory Peck. The Monza's movie career also included "winning" the 1959 Australian Grand Prix, with Fred Astaire at the wheel.

In the real world it entered 22 west coast races during 1955-56, driven by famed Ferrari importer and racing driver John von Neumann, future Formula One World Champion Phil Hill, and Harrison Evans. In that time it won twice, scored seven 2nd place finishes, was 3rd twice and 4th four times.

One of only 35 built, the 750 Monza features a 260 hp, 2,999 cc DOHC four-cylinder engine, two Weber 58 mm DCOA/3 carburetors, dry sump lubrication, five-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with unequal-length A-arms and coil springs, de Dion rear axle with transverse leaf springs and trailing arms and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase is a mere 88.6".

This fabulous Ferrari will be sold at RMs Monterey auction on August 19/20. I suspect the bidding will be as active as the car was fast, with a selling price that could probably have financed the movie back in the 50s.

CRUISING WITH A PINTO, AFFORDABLE FUN

As a defender of the woebegon and downtrodden among vintage cars I feel compelled to report on a 1600 mile cruise to celebrate its 40th anniversary by owners of the much maligned Ford Pinto. Twenty-four cars started in Denver and eight more joined along the way. They all expect to make it to the finish line at the Carlisle Ford Nationals on Thursday. And why not? The Pinto was a perfectly good little runabout, economical and fun to drive, but got a bad rap because of several rear-enders wherein cars crashing into the fastback coupe caused it to catch fire.

Norman and Louise Bagi in their 1976 Pinto Runabout and 1977 Pinto coupe, respectively, led the group. And what did Norman have to say about the fear of blowing up if rear-ended? He said the problem was exaggerated, and that a simple retrofit fixes the issue. Louise does keep a fire extinguisher in the car but that makes sense for any classic.

On Memorial Day the group toured Fort Riley, then enjoyed taking laps around the Kansas Speedway where some came close to reaching 100 mph. Touring the Indianapolis Speedway track they were, however, limited to a more sensible 30 mph. At Carlise the cars will be participating in a downtown parade and will hold a raffle of a guitar autographed by Ted Nugent, with proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Personally I'm pleased to note that owners of cars once considered undesireable can get together and enjoy themselves in this way. It's not all about the rich and powerful.

[Story source: Autoweek Magazine]