Import Your Next Classic Car - Some Ideas from Europe

You can find a “Greatest Hits” collection of this author’s best works, available in Kindle and printed book format, on Amazon at - http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Car-Stories-Innovative-Meetings/dp/1530003954

Did you know there are almost no restrictions for importing a car older than 25 years?  This got me thinking, "Am I buying the right cars"?  If you look at Haggerty's price guides for classic sports cars just about everything interesting has spiked insanely in the last year in America.  Are there better deals to be had overseas?  You probably won't believe what I found; you can have a Lambo for under $15k!

Screenshot of the price of a Ferrari 328 in America

Yes, I decided to do some foreign investigative journalism for you my readers; this global effort involved logging onto the British magazine Classic and Sports Car's classified pages.  Yes, just for you, readers, I spent several hours looking at classic car ads online.  The life of an investigative journalist is tough.

Instead of plagiarizing and writing drivel about things I know little about, I'm going to take a road most journalists never consider and I'll point you towards the source of my info about the 25 year rules. Doug Demuro, over at Jalopnik, wrote a blog on import laws (http://jalopnik.com/here-are-the-four-legal-ways-to-import-a-car-to-the-uni-1682067632).  The summary of his article is once a car hits 25 years old, it doesn't matter how out of conformance with emissions or safety it is, the car is allowed to be imported to the US.  There's also a video I'll embed here.

So just what cars can I bring over?  

I would have enjoyed searching the Italian countryside for a bargain Ferrari but 1. I can't read Italian, and 2. I can't find a well functioning searchable classic car classified site for Italy.  So I landed on British classifieds written (mostly) in English.  Likely a mistake as the pound seems to be doing very well against the dollar, unlike the Euro, but I could at least read the ads.

It seemed relevant to set a budget.  I thought a $13,000 US dollar budget was a good price point for people like me, who are too politically incorrect to ever be middle-managers (for example, I passionately dislike the supposed profit Mohammed and will never believe his religion is peaceful no matter how many CNN/NPR articles they air/write/televise).  $13k equates to about $9k British pounds.

Note: All photos are screen grabs from Classic and Sports Car classifieds.

Ok, first let's get this out there. I teased you with a Lambo.  And yes, yes, you can have a Lambo for under $15,000 USD.  Turns out before he went all wedge with the Countach, Signor Lamborghini built tractors.  It is pretty.  If I owned a farm I might even be tempted.  But I don't.  And I've watched two tractor shows in the last year (Oregon Steam Up and Heritage Days in McMinnville) and they remind me way too much of beauty pageants which I've never had the slightest desire to enter.  Seriously, they line the tractors up and have them drive a runway in front of the judges.  Thankfully there's no bikini contest for Farmer John or I might lose my fried elephant ear (these are high class events with 1st class dining).

While we're on the subject of vehicles with no horsepower, consider this Austin 7.  Now why in the world am I showing you this car?  Well, if you've ever seen one in person you'd understand the uniqueness.  They are roughly the size of a large John Deere riding lawn mower.  With prices for "micro-cars" going through the roof, I think these are the un-recognized micro-car deal of the year.

Now I understand a clown car may not be in the cards for all of you, but I've always thought it would be fun to drive around a car the size of my motorcycle.  Especially this one, which in pictures without scaling elements looks like it should be completely normal.  Maybe you could park it at one of those optical illusion parks when you're not driving it to earn money on the side.

Well, I've shown you a tractor and a micro-car so far.  My American muscle car readers may be about to hit the "x" button but wait... I've got a Ford for you!

You know how that chicken farmer Shelby made his fame sticking Ford power in an English built body?  Well, did you know that Ford was building sporty cars in France 6 or 7 years before Shelby had his idea?  Mark Twain once said something to the effect of, "If anyone ever tells you they came up with the idea completely on their own they are blatant liars, everyone plagiarizes to some degree", but I'm too lazy to actually look up the quote.

Ford's French bodies are a huge hit with me, and I would give serious consideration to selling my current well running track day car for this pile of parts.  Here's a photo of one restored (drool) -

Photo license Flickr Creative Commons user Michael

Perhaps drop-dead gorgeous, like the Comete, isn't your thing.  Perhaps you've been more a fan of Tim Burton movies than those glossy A-list movies with glamorous unrealistic people.  Consider this...

Behold the Citroen.  Everything is bizzare, but not bad.  From it's air ride suspension, to it's weird single spoke steering wheel this car is not for the run-of-the-mill Mike.  But all the reviews I've read say they were great cars, if a little complex.  To testify to either their reliability, or the strangeness of Portland Oregon, I still see these occasionally around town... although I don't think I've ever seen one moving.  Hmmmmm...

Ok, true, everything I've shown you could probably be whipped in a drag race with the earlier mentioned John Deere riding lawn mower.  How about some power?!

Ok, I cheated. You'd need to bump your budget up just a little but a Caterham 7 looks like more fun than a barrel full of monkeys (which actually sounds horrific, especially if you're inside).

With it's little dual-overhead cam, dual side-draft carb, modern Ford motor setup, and a weight of 1300-1400 lbs, this thing likely moves like few things you've driven before (if ever).  And it looks like it's almost track ready with seats, harness, battery cut-off, etc!  I want to drive one bad, and if I didn't have kids I'd like to take to my car events this would likely be the car I'd be pursuing right now.

Four cylinders remind you too much of Honda's with fart-can exhausts.  Sick of pissed off bumble-bee noises?  Well, perhaps the TVR might turn you on.  These little sport cars sport Ford V-6 motors, and in some cases V-8s.  The rumor is they "go-like-stink" as I read in one TVR ad (I think this is British for "fast").

And on the topic of British auto-makers, check out this Reliant!  And it's not a Robin.  Great body-lines on this car and you'd have something totally unique at any car show.  I dig it.  Would go great with a high revving small block.

And if you have no idea what a Reliant Robin is you HAVE TO WATCH this video.  I vote for this as the funniest Top Gear segment of all time.

And to keep rolling along with the British cars...

The quid-essential Morgan 4/4!  This is the 1938 motor show car that's continued giving demonstrations for it's entire life.  2 owners from new! Could you find a more pristine platform, with better provenance, to plunk a body on ?  Actually, forget that.  This calls for some aluminum seats.  That's it.  Oh, and maybe a steering wheel and a pair of goggles connected to a leather hat.  

But you know what caught my eye the most?  Maybe it's because I grew up in a small mountain town where we did strange things like "go muddin" but I still have an affinity for anything that can take me where most of the U.S. population (that disagrees with me on almost every belief front) isn't; I need a break!

Behold the Land Rover Trail... wait. Tralala... forget it.  Four x Four thing looking awesome.  I don't think I've ever heard of or seen this before but the WANT is soooo strong.  If I didn't have fun in that I'd need to go apply for those happy pill medications they're always pushing on TV with the creepy ads warning of anal seepage (I think I prefer grumpy and stain free to happy and leaking).

Let me guess, there's no way the wife will let you bring home that monstrosity.  She's asking for a larger family car to meet the growing needs of your family....

Bring her home a station wagon!!! Seriously, it's named a "station wagon".  I think my wife saw my eyes light up when I saw one of these because the other day she told me she's scared that someday I'll make her drive "some weird thing where the air filter sticks up above the roof".

I only hope we are so lucky.

And it's not just the extreme and family haulers that seem well priced.  Look at this gorgeous S2.  You show up to the hunting cabin in that and all the Dodge Ram diesel drivers will cry late that night as they realize that they were just out accessorized.  The S2 exudes "fishing and hunting", in a classic way.  Best invest in some tweed with arm patches if you go this route.  Oh, and I'd recommend an English shotgun but... that'll cost you more than the truck.  But see, you could tell your wife, "think of all the money I saved not buying the Dodge Ram diesel"!

But which was my in-budget favorite?

This. "Road Legal".  Just look at it!  It's the insane go kart that you could drive to work, legally!  Pick a twisty track and watch the BMW M3 and Porsche drivers fold their "popped" collars down when you utterly destroy them and check their haughty spirit.  Center of gravity two-inches off the ground? Check.  No weight? Check. Race legal? Check. Best commuter ever? Check.

Well, it's two in the morning.  I need to be done.  If I wasn't so tired I'd wrap things up in a witty conclusion.  But it's two in the morning. Conclusion is, consider importing when you start looking for your next classic car.  Looks like there is some fun, different stuff out there you don't have to be rich to afford.  I'll be jealous if you pick just about any of the above.. except the TVR, it's ugly.

Here's the links to the above cars -

Reliant - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/reliant/scimitar/reliant-scimitar-1968/5119153

Lambo - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/lamborghini/other-models/1965-lamborghini-1r/5114967

Austin 7 - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/austin/all-models/austin-seven--open-roof-35/1495701

Triumph Herald Convertible - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/triumph/herald/triumph-herald-948-convertible/4849417

TVR 280 - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/other-makes/all-models/tvr-280-s-white-88/4582222

TVR 350 - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/tvr/wedges/ultra-rare-350se-no-10-25/5053191

Citroen - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/citroen/other-models/citro-n-id-19-jaeger-tableau-66/4484007

Beautiful Classic Series II - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/land-rover/other-models/land-rover-series-2-1966/5119619

Defender pickup - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/land-rover/defender/land-rover-defender-110-pick-up-200-tdi/4970822

Land Rover Trialler - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/land-rover/other-models/land-rover-80-inch-class-10-trialler-1960/3656685

Land Rover Station Wagon - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/land-rover/other-models/land-rover-110-2-5-200-tdi-county-station-wagon-1989/3656680

Mini Hill Climb - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/mini-classic/all-mini-classics/1984-classic-mini-race--hill-climb-car-road-legal/5133395

Morgan - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/morgan/four--four/morgan-4-4-series-1/3181657

Caterham - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/caterham/all-models/caterham-super-seven-1-8/4553901

Ford Comete - http://www.classicandsportscar.com/classifieds/classic-cars/ford/classics/1954-ford-comete/4299795

Why Craigslist Sucks: or my Canadian Adventure (Vancouver B.C. Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Convertible)

You can find a “Greatest Hits” collection of this author’s best works, available in Kindle and printed book format, on Amazon at - http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Car-Stories-Innovative-Meetings/dp/1530003954

Last photo of my MGA

Alright, I’m dog tired from a 2 day public transportation ordeal brought on by a Craigslist liar, but I’ll try to vent in a coherent way.  Namely, after several friggan ridiculous Craigslist experiences I’m almost ready to climb in a hole and give up on finding cars.

Now you might be thinking, “Crap, now he’s going to tell me some stupid first world problem like the Craigslist seller never called him back.”  You may even be considering mailing me a straw and telling me to suck it up.  But that’s not the sort of thing I want to whine about.

I have had the no call backs/no replies more than once.  They’re lame, but they don’t make for material for a blog.  For example, there’s a nice ’65 Mustang coupe with a 289 and a manual 3 speed in the next city over, 15 miles away.  It needs a restoration but it’s a clean, running old muscle car.  He wants $13k.  I have $12,500 (well, at least I did but more on that later).  I looked the car up on Haggerty and their estimate for a 289 coupe in that condition was $10k.  So I sent him an email saying basically, “Hey, I’m interested in the car but Haggerty says $10k for a value.  What’s your thoughts on $13k?”.

I wasn’t being rude, I genuinely wanted to know.  Here’s where he could share that it’s a single owner car, or that the body is ugly but the frame is a brand new aftermarket frame from Racer X.  Whatever.

But instead I got silence.  Not a word.  Not even a “screw you”. (Note: I just checked Craigslist, and he's lowered it to $10k and never told me; what a moron!  I already bought another car but I might have bought this had he returned an email telling me he lowered the price).

It was even worse when I was selling the MGA.  I’d peruse the “for sale or trade cars” and ask them if they wanted to trade for an MGA.  The value would be similar, I wasn’t being ridiculous.  Some of the answers from those emails were to the effect of, “Not a chance in hell would I consider being in the same county as that piece of crap”.  And the dude would be selling a fastback mustang that was rotten from the door handle down, no motor or trans, and an imaginary title.

But still, not blog material.

Then about 6 months ago I saw a Subaru rally car pop up on Craigslist.  It was the base model Impreza but had a full cage, racing belts and upgraded shocks.

 Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Grant C

As the months went by the price kept falling.

Around the same time I watched a video about how indestructible Volvos are.

Yes, Volvos.  How in the hell does that relate? Well, I commute to work in a Geo Metro.  The cars the Volvo’s were being crashed into to demonstrate their ruggedness were Geo Metros.  And the metros were being smashed like aluminum cans and the speeds didn’t seem that high.

Fearing for my life a fully caged beat-up Impreza started to sound good.  Especially since the price had fallen to two grand.  I could probably sell the Geo for $1500 and for $500 dollars I’d continue living after an accident.

So I take two grand, and a friend (to drive the Subaru and my car back home), to my arranged meeting with the Subaru guy. He lives an hour from me. 

When we arrived the car was beat up but drove solid and I liked it.

So we move into haggle mode.  I offer him $1800 and he’s insulted. So, being a tactful person (just don’t ask my wife if that’s true) I tell him point blank that, look dude, we all expect our car to come down at least a couple hundred from the value we put on Craigslist; a little haggle room is the nature of the deal.

He sort of sees my point and says yeah.   So I say, “Look, I like the car but it really needs tires.  How about $1900”.

This is when it all got weird.

He just goes silent.

Then starts muttering about how my price is fair but he needs to think.

Then he just stares off into space for like 10 minutes.  My buddy and I are watching him like some sideshow circus anomaly.

Finally he looks at me and asks if we can go for a walk around the block.  Just the two of us.

Now if he was a bigger fella I might have been worried he was going to try and subjugate me once out of view of my friend, but he was a scrawny yoga/rock wall type (the Impreza had prayer flags draped from the roll cage) and so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to go for a non-romantic stroll if he’d just sell me the d@^# car.

We start walking and he starts talking about how much he loves the car.  Then he tells me he’s decided he can’t sell it because he’s in love with it and didn’t realize the strength of his love for the car until he saw me driving it (at least it wasn’t me he fell in love with!).  That, and he tells me he was going to lose his lease that day for non-payment but the landlord gave him an extension.  He wanted to walk so his roomates didn’t hear that part as they had no idea (they were all under his name).

I wanted to punch him for wasting our time but I refrained.

And truthfully, I’m not completely sure it was that or if I had offended his Portland sensibilities.  At one point during the test drive he was talking about how great Subaru’s were and I said something to the effect of, “Yeah, it’d be funny if I owned a white one because I always thought these were cars for lesbians”.

After that, I gave up on replacing the Geo via Craigslist.  Prayer shawl dude called me a week later saying rent was due and he really would sell the car now; I said “no”.  I still drive the Geo every day to work.  God will decide when I die, but if he decides it’s soon the Geo will be an easy way to pull the trigger.

So fast forward a couple months.

I sold my MGA, on Craigslist, listing every issue and a true MGA fanatic showed up and bought it after several months.  I'm proud that I even told her, during the sales process, "it's an MG, it's going to break but it's a fairly simple car and easy to fix".  I sleep well at night.

After selling the MGA I wanted a four seater, so I could take the family out on day trips, that I could also track day.  I considered Mustangs, but I’m sorry, to me they look kinda white trash with their garish body lines, colors, and stripes.  Now what’s funny is I said “white trash” and no one was offended.   But I erased the word Mexican I originally had there.  That would have been considered racist.  I think I’ll never run for President so I can tell you that I think a bunch of people out there are huge friggan hypocrites with double standards because I can write “white-trash” and no one cares, but they do if I write Mexican.

But back to the topic.  I’ve landed on the e46 M3 BMW.  They have four sears, but also 330 HP.  They can handle the kids in the back, but they can also attend a track day.  I’m not a big fan of BMW, again for the image reasons, but the M3 cars seem pretty solid.

So I find one in Canada that’s in great shape per Craigslist.  The ad pictures are gorgeous, and the car is painted the rare Laguna Seca Blue.

I'd put a pic here but he'd probably sue or something.

It's a Laguna Seca Blue M3 E46 convertible in Vancouver Canada

Can't say which one!

I get into lengthy emails with the owner about the car.  He tells me it has “no issues” and assures me repeatedly that it will be a great car for my family.

I counted tonight, over 30 emails passed between us.  I did my homework.  I called his “shop”.  They said they didn’t really remember it but it looked like it received regular service per their records.

That should have been a red flag as he just replaced a clutch at the shop.  If you replace a clutch in an M3 I’m pretty sure you would remember it.

I also checked his Vin number with one of the background check sites.  No accidents/liens/etc.

Well, two days before I’m set to head up to Canada he starts asking for a deposit to hold the car because he has pressing demand.  I agree and send him (via Paypal) $200.

Then, as I’m perusing the internet looking at all the other Laguna Seca Blue convertibles out there, I see a picture of the car I’m buying.  The same picture in the ad.  So I click on it expecting to be taken to the Canada car’s advertisement.

Instead I was directed to an add on the BMW forums from 2012.  And it couldn’t be the same car because the one in this add had a different transmission.

At this point I should have bailed but I want to be trusting of humanity.  This was/is an issue.  Do not ever operate on Craigslist in the mode “I want to be trusting”.

So I still go to Canada inventing my own innocent reasons why he may have used a different photo.

I get off the bus in Canada after an eight hour ride, and meet up with the BMW and owner next to the bus station.

Instantly I see grime in all the crevices of the interior.  I walked over to the driver’s side and I can see the entire center console’s factory paint had essentially peeled off. The buttons to release the seat belts were pink.  The steering wheel had holes in it’s leather.  The leather boot on the e-brake was severely worn.  The floormats were missing.  The leather seat, which he’ claimed had no “appreciable wear” looked like someone had taken sand paper to it, cracked, faded and broke down.

Now I may have overlooked all that for Laguna Seca Blue, but next I popped the hood and took a look at the oil.  There were literally little balls of chunky oil mixed in with the normal oil on the dipstick.  I wiped them off probably four times and each time I came up with more sludge.

At this point, because I’m so tactful, I told the owner I thought he was a liar and he should give me my deposit back.  Needless to say we both left in a huff.

It took me 24 hours to get back home via public-transit without ticket reservations.

I did experience Canada in neat ways.  In the train station I learned that there are different popular candies in Canada.  I feel very international now.

And I learned that border guards are very suspicious when you declare that you have $12,500 in cash in the soles of your shoes wrapped in seran wrap to keep the sweat off (I was worried I'd get robbed!).

And I learned that there are no buses from Seattle to Portland after 8:30 PM.

I also learned there is no such thing as a cheap motel in Seattle.  When I finally made it there the cheapest 1 star hotel on Priceline was $130.

Thankfully my father-in-law came up from Olympia and picked me up to let me crash at their house. Yes, I was rescued by my father-in-law.  That’s humbling.

I’ve opened a claim, via Paypal, to try and get my money back based on the car being “significantly not as-advertised”.  We’ll see if I get anything back.

Now the moral of all this is don’t make your cars sound too good on Craigslist.  Be open about the cars faults so you don’t get any moron’s from another country showing up to look at it expecting something better.  And be sure you want to sell.

Because when you’re not honest, or fake someone out on the sale, you become a complete jerk and exemplify what’s wrong in America… wait… actually Canada too!  People lack morals everywhere these days.  Don’t let it be you, be honest in your Craigslist ads. Please.  For the sake of my sanity.

2015 Oregon Concours d'Elegance - Forest Grove

You can find a “Greatest Hits” collection of this author’s best works, available in Kindle and printed book format, on Amazon at - http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Car-Stories-Innovative-Meetings/dp/1530003954

Had a chance to head over to the Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance this weekend.  It was a great show with a wide variety of cars.  I thought I'd throw a few photos and thoughts up for those of you that weren't able to make it.

At $20 bucks a head to get in it ain't cheap so leave those not interested in cars at home!

The event is held at the college in Forest Grove and it's a unique nice venue, well shaded from the July heat.  Some of the old residence halls make nice backdrops for the classics.

Right in the gate I walked up on an MGA Coupe.  Not an overly notable car except that I sold mine last week.  It was a little bittersweet to see one in "concourse" condition but the reality is I don't have the time or patience to make a concourse car.  I'll post a pic of my car below the concourse car and you'll see.  'nough said.

Behind the English sports cars sat the Germans, waiting to invade.  When I sold my car I thought naively that I might try and find an old 911.  It turns out these things are made of various parts of gold, silver. platinum and possibly some uranium that makes them of value to Iran.  It is insane how much a clean old 911 costs.  I need to plant some more money trees.  

Jaguar had it's own station around the corner.  I know most people love them but the E type looks a little too funky for me.  Maybe it's just the coupe, but it doesn't seem like the front end goes with the cab.  I prefer my car's body lines to look less like an upside down falic symbol.

Now the little XK, that I love.  I still wouldn't drive it though, but dang my wife would look hot cruising it to our Imaginaryland Villa in Italy.  I think I'd need to be an ex-theif or something (and if you catch that reference you're extremely good especially since that was a bad analogy because it wasn't a Jaguar).

Hey, I even make the same grumpy face as Cary when anyone other than me drives!

Being by myself it was fun to overhear some of the conversations.  There's nothing like a car show to bring out the know-it-all in us.  As we walked past the below car I heard someone say, "Look at the front end on this Ford!".  Yeah, not a Ford.  I don't remember what it was because I'd never heard of it before.  Neat looking car though.

It was refreshing to see some things I don't normally see.  I thought the design of this Lincoln Continental was very clean.  I'd drive it... to work... maybe.  Or the grocery store.  It's not a track day car, but I'm sure I could find something to do with it looking that good.

Over in the Chevys there was a vintage police car model that looked pretty mean.  I'm really surprised he hasn't thrown some gimmiky Barney Fife light on top, kudos!

I didn't take many photos of the American classics.  I've been going to car shows probably since I was born.  I still dream of a '57 Chevy as our family car.  But the reality is, they just don't excite me much.  I think it's context.  For the older generation they represent Friday nights cruising, going to the "hop", and rockin' aroun' the clock.  For me they represent slow hot days in fairground parks walking around men wearing polo shirts and straw hats, with the smell of polish heavy in the air.  My context is different and it's not exciting.

But I caught a little Alpina BMW that I'd never see before.  Talk about a little racer!  This thing  looks like it was ready to head out the track the day Alpina signed it over.   What a cool car!

Just up the hill from the Alpina was a real, honest-to-goodness, slant nose Porsche racecar that had won many endurace races.  I find racing heritage cool.  I think it's because of my context again.  I've seen race cars on race tracks and that looked, smelled and sounded like fun and I left thinking, "man I want to do that".

But I suppose if I owned a Lambo I too might be prone to lovingly polish it in the fairground park on a hot July day.

I found a sweet little period custom down in the customs section.  I'm into googie buildings and signs and this would be the perfect car to roll up to a vintage googie coffee shop (too bad Ships isn't around) in.  I'd feel like I stepped into the late 50's in sunny car crazy Southern CA, a place I think I would have enjoyed very much.

And everytime I see a 914 I think, "man that'd be a fun little car." To me they say, "Hey, I'm not that different than that old go-kart you had as a kid".  They're so low and small they have to be fun.  You probably feel like you're doing 100 at 40.

And speaking of cars that say something, it's so hard to look at a true AC and realize it's not a Cobra.  They are great looking cars in their own right.  I bet most people think Shelby designed the look of the Cobra.  I'd say he re-envisioned, but I wouldn't give him credit for the bodystyle.

One of the cooler things I saw was some of the luxury car owners were letting kids sit in their cars.  It was probably safe to do though because the fee to get through the gates weeded out any dirty ones.  The kids had big old smiles on their faces.

But there weren't many kids.  Or even young adults.

Which got me thinking, who in my generation is going to own all these classics in 30-40 years?  I love cars but my desire to own a large piece of American town car isn't that high. And for most of my generation, they don't give a rip about old cars. The lyrics of the recently departed George Jones come to mind.

"Who's gonna fill their shoes

Who's gonna stand that tall

Who's gonna play the Opry

And the Wabash Cannonball?"

Well, I'm not much into operas, but George, I'd love to do a Cannonball run!

Anyways, pondering the fate of many a classic as the classic loving generation ages, I wandered back to my car daydreaming that maybe, by default, I will own a concourse car when I'm old because no one else will want it or know how to work on it.  

I'll leave you with some pictures of the parking lot wildflowers.