From Daily News & Analyis: Vintage beauties hog the limelight at Ahmedabad car show
The first vintage car show, held on Sunday at a party plot, saw
people pouring in throughout the day, making it a big success. Organised
by the Gujarat Vintage Classic Car Club, the event had over 50 cars
exhibited.
The aim of the show was to spread awareness about maintaining and
restoring these heritage cars and bringing those people together who
share the passion for these old beauties.
“I am overwhelmed at the
response we got. I knew that Amdavadis have passion for cars, but this
is more then we expected. We are planning to organise more of such
small-level shows and will have the show every year,” said Subodh Nath,
president of the car club.
Among the vehicles on display were a
1977 Chevrolet Impala, Ford Lincoln, a 1956 Hindustan-14 and a 1971
Mercedes. It was a mix of classic as well new-age sports cars. The show
turned out to be the perfect Sunday outing for Amdavadis. Citizens were
curious to learn the name of the car and the era it belonged to.
From children to the elderly, visitors posed around the cars to get their photos clicked. The crowd also enjoyed the live music.
Lalit
Bakeri, whose 1963 Chevrolet Impala was on display, was surprised to
see the attention drawn by his car. “The response is unbelievable. Even
in this heat, the ground is filled with people. I opened the door of the
car so that people can get a peek into the interiors. This way such
hidden vintage cars will resurface and people will be encouraged to
restore their old cars,” he said. The owner of a Mercedes, Hem Vyas, 24,
added that he wanted to own more vintage cars, as these got more
attention than their modern counterparts.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
New posting schedule
Now that I've got this new full-time job, I'll be posting in this blog twice a week - on Monday's and Wednesdays.
So the next post for this blog will be on Monday.
Thanks for your patience.
So the next post for this blog will be on Monday.
Thanks for your patience.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Posts resume this Wednesday
I'm a freelance writer and I am way behind on a job I have to do, so I won't be posting here until Wednesday..
Thanks for your patience!
Thanks for your patience!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Tour company offering classic cars for Route 66 trips
From Route 66 News: Tour company offering classic cars for Route 66 trips
A new, North Carolina-based tour company is offering a novel way to see Route 66 — by renting a classic car for the 2,400-mile trip.
Blacktop Candy’s is offering an upgraded 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, or 1967 Camaro Super Sport for 18-day tours (both eastbound and westbound) from April through September in 2013. The vehicles come with Garmin navigation devices to guide travelers down the Mother Road.
According to the news release:
The fee may sound steep. However, it’s likely a fair number will jump at the chance of driving the length of Route 66 in a classic American automobile.
According to the company’s website, the idea came during a Route 66 trip itself:
A new, North Carolina-based tour company is offering a novel way to see Route 66 — by renting a classic car for the 2,400-mile trip.
Blacktop Candy’s is offering an upgraded 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, or 1967 Camaro Super Sport for 18-day tours (both eastbound and westbound) from April through September in 2013. The vehicles come with Garmin navigation devices to guide travelers down the Mother Road.
According to the news release:
With Blacktop Candy’s, gone is the fixed schedule opting instead for flexibility. Travelers drive at their own pace between the nightly stops and see as many or as few attractions as they choose, free to enjoy the perfect journey reliving America’s golden past. A tour adviser and qualified mechanic accompany each tour in a spare vintage auto just in case there are questions or a mechanical issue.The $11,900 fee also includes overnight stays at historic lodging establishments, including the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M.; El Rey Inn in Santa Fe, N.M.; El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, N.M., Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff, Ariz., Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, Calif., and the Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif.
“We’ve restored each vintage car in our fleet to better-than-new condition,” commented CEO and Founder Scott Shinn when asked about the condition of the cars. “I’ve personally driven most of these cars cross-county without an issue. Upgrades like power disc brakes, aluminum radiators, air-conditioning and modern audio with Bluetooth allow our clients to relive the heyday of automobile travel knowing they’re driving a safe, well maintained vehicle.”
The fee may sound steep. However, it’s likely a fair number will jump at the chance of driving the length of Route 66 in a classic American automobile.
According to the company’s website, the idea came during a Route 66 trip itself:
Scott Shinn and his wife Candi longed to trade the stresses of corporate life for a fun and exciting entrepreneurship. During a road trip along Route 66, they thought “Wouldn’t this be fun in a classic car?”Blacktop Candy’s website also indicates it is considering other tours, including U.S. 1, Pacific Coast Highway, Great River Road, a national parks excursion, and Washington, D.C., to New Orleans.
They searched for ways to make the trip in a classic car, but couldn’t find what they were looking for. So, they created the perfect road trip with Blacktop Candy’s — not just for themselves, but for you too!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Classic Car Rescue
This is a website from Haggerty Insurance, who want to help people who's collector cars were damaged during Hurricane Sandy.
http://www.hagerty.com/Collector-car-insurance/Classic-Car-Recovery-Center/Overview
Super Storm Sandy was unprecedented for the collector vehicle world, and thousands of collectible cars and other vehicles have been damaged or destroyed. We want to help. We've created this website as a resource for those of you impacted by the storm. Whether you need tips on what to do with your salvaged vehicle, contact information for local restoration shops and transport companies, or assistance tracking down parts to bring your classic back to its former glory, you'll find useful information here. For personalized attention, please call our hotline at 877-922-9697 where our experts are standing by to answer questions and help direct you to storage facilities, restoration shops, parts — even leads on a replacement classic.To find a list of resources in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy click here.
http://www.hagerty.com/Collector-car-insurance/Classic-Car-Recovery-Center/Overview
Super Storm Sandy was unprecedented for the collector vehicle world, and thousands of collectible cars and other vehicles have been damaged or destroyed. We want to help. We've created this website as a resource for those of you impacted by the storm. Whether you need tips on what to do with your salvaged vehicle, contact information for local restoration shops and transport companies, or assistance tracking down parts to bring your classic back to its former glory, you'll find useful information here. For personalized attention, please call our hotline at 877-922-9697 where our experts are standing by to answer questions and help direct you to storage facilities, restoration shops, parts — even leads on a replacement classic.To find a list of resources in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy click here.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
What Old Cars of World Leaders Go For on the Auction Block
From the Epoch Times: What Old Cars of World Leaders Go For on the Auction Block
Before becoming heads of state, most prime minsters, presidents, or chancellors drove cars that were surprisingly ordinary.
But just the mere fact that these cars once belonged to them has made their value sky-rocket … or at least in some cases.
British Prime Minster David Cameron bought the 1971 Fiat in 1998 as a
surprise birthday present for his wife, Samantha. They owned the small
car for 10 years, driving it for only around 1,000 miles, according to
Silverstone Auctions.
At that time, Cameron was 32 years old and worked for the media company Carlton Communications as director of corporate affairs.
On Nov. 17 at the Footman James Classic Motor Show in Birmingham, the white Fiat sold for £18,480 ($29,284), after being estimated at £12,000 by the auction house.
The Fiat 500 L was a popular car in Europe in the ’70s and is considered one of the first city cars.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad put his 1977 Peugeot 504 up for sale in Nov. 2010, likely intended as a publicity stunt.
At an Iranian exhibition of classic cars in March 2003, the Peugeot was sold for $2.5 million, more than 1,000 times its estimated value. More than half a million bidders had registered online for the auction of the 35-year-old car.
Ahmadinejad used the car while Mayor of Tehran from 2003 to 2005.
In January 2005, Benjamin Halbe bought a 1999
Volkswagen Golf from a car dealer in Siegen, Germany. To his surprise,
records documented the former owner as Joseph Alois Ratzinger, a famous
German cardinal at that time.
Four month later, Ratzinger was elected as Pope Benedict XVI. That’s when Halbe decided to offer the car on eBay.
He advertised the metallic-gray car as a Papamobil (Italian for Pope’s car) which “drives heavenly.”
The bid became one the highest attended auctions on eBay with 8.5 million clicks. It did not need seem to matter to the bidders that Ratzinger does not have a driver’s license.
Eventually, with the final bid for 188,938.88 euro (about $241,000) the owner of a Canadian online casino, Richard Rowe, known for bizarre publicity stunts, bought the car.
While Rowe tried to the resell the pope Golf two years later, Halbe started a foundation with the money.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who grew up in
East Germany, bought her first West German car in September 1990, a
Volkswagen Golf II. At that time, she served as a spokesperson for the
short-lived last East German government.
A first attempt in April 2012 to auction the 22-year-old car on eBay saw bids going up to almost 130,000 euro (about $166,000). The auction however was called off by eBay due to so-called “fun-bidding.” according to the newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt.
Eventually, a week later the car was bought by an entrepreneur from Southwest Germany for only 10,165.02 euro (approximately $13,000).
“Such a car shall not go under,” said Dirk Fricke, who bought it to advertise his company, according to Der Spiegel.
The Golf is the most successful Volkswagen car ever, having sold more than 25 million units in Germany.
Barack Obama — 2005 Chrysler 300C
Less lucky was the new owner of President Barack Obama’s former 2005 Chrysler 300C.
As Illinois state senator and later federal senator, Obama drove the gray car from 2004 till 2007, for 19,000 miles, according to documents posted to eBay by the seller.
During the his first presidential bid, he changed to a more environmental friendly Ford Escape Hybrid.
When Lisa Czibor from Chicago attempted to sell Obama’s Chrysler last January on eBay for $1 million, it did not attract a single bidder.
According to autoguide.com, the value of similar Crysler cars is less than $15,000.
Before becoming heads of state, most prime minsters, presidents, or chancellors drove cars that were surprisingly ordinary.
But just the mere fact that these cars once belonged to them has made their value sky-rocket … or at least in some cases.
David Cameron — 1971 Fiat 500 L
David Cameron and his wife Samantha and their
former car, a 1971 Fiat 500 L. (Paul Ellis/AFP/GettyImages and Courtesy
of Silverstone Auctions)
Advertisement
At that time, Cameron was 32 years old and worked for the media company Carlton Communications as director of corporate affairs.
On Nov. 17 at the Footman James Classic Motor Show in Birmingham, the white Fiat sold for £18,480 ($29,284), after being estimated at £12,000 by the auction house.
The Fiat 500 L was a popular car in Europe in the ’70s and is considered one of the first city cars.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — 1977 Peugeot 504
Mohammad Isari, the lawyer of an anonymous
Iranian company that bought President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's 1977 Peugeot
504 for $2.5 million poses by the car in the southwestern city of
Abadan, Iran, on March 1, 2011. (Hadi Abyar/AFP/Getty Images)
At an Iranian exhibition of classic cars in March 2003, the Peugeot was sold for $2.5 million, more than 1,000 times its estimated value. More than half a million bidders had registered online for the auction of the 35-year-old car.
Ahmadinejad used the car while Mayor of Tehran from 2003 to 2005.
Pope Benedict XVI — 1999 Golf IV
Benjamin Halbe (L), previous owner of Pope
Benedict XVI's Volkswagen Golf, Richard Rowe (R), CEO of online
casino Golden Palace, pose in Cologne, Germany, on May 19, 2005. (Ralph
Orlowski/Getty Images)
Four month later, Ratzinger was elected as Pope Benedict XVI. That’s when Halbe decided to offer the car on eBay.
He advertised the metallic-gray car as a Papamobil (Italian for Pope’s car) which “drives heavenly.”
The bid became one the highest attended auctions on eBay with 8.5 million clicks. It did not need seem to matter to the bidders that Ratzinger does not have a driver’s license.
Eventually, with the final bid for 188,938.88 euro (about $241,000) the owner of a Canadian online casino, Richard Rowe, known for bizarre publicity stunts, bought the car.
While Rowe tried to the resell the pope Golf two years later, Halbe started a foundation with the money.
Angela Merkel — Volkswagen Golf II
German Chancellor Angela Merkel tries out an
electric Volkswagen Golf convertible in Wolfsburg, Germany, on April 23,
2012. (Odd Andersen /AFP/Getty Images)
A first attempt in April 2012 to auction the 22-year-old car on eBay saw bids going up to almost 130,000 euro (about $166,000). The auction however was called off by eBay due to so-called “fun-bidding.” according to the newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt.
Eventually, a week later the car was bought by an entrepreneur from Southwest Germany for only 10,165.02 euro (approximately $13,000).
“Such a car shall not go under,” said Dirk Fricke, who bought it to advertise his company, according to Der Spiegel.
The Golf is the most successful Volkswagen car ever, having sold more than 25 million units in Germany.
Barack Obama — 2005 Chrysler 300C
An screenshot, taken on Dec. 3, 2012, for the passed eBay auction of Barack Obama's former car. (Screenshot/eBay)
As Illinois state senator and later federal senator, Obama drove the gray car from 2004 till 2007, for 19,000 miles, according to documents posted to eBay by the seller.
During the his first presidential bid, he changed to a more environmental friendly Ford Escape Hybrid.
When Lisa Czibor from Chicago attempted to sell Obama’s Chrysler last January on eBay for $1 million, it did not attract a single bidder.
According to autoguide.com, the value of similar Crysler cars is less than $15,000.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
1931 'Birkin' Bentley wins Car of the Year at the International Historic Motoring Awards
From NY Daily News: 1931 'Birkin' Bentley wins Car of the Year at the International Historic Motoring Awards
The 1931 4.5-Litre Supercharged ‘Birkin’ Bentley recently became the
most expensive UK car ever sold at auction, selling this year for £5
million ($8.05 million).
International Historic Motoring Awards
The 1931 4.5-Litre Supercharged ‘Birkin’ Bentley recently became the
most expensive UK car ever sold at auction, selling this year for £5
million ($8.05 million).
Monday, December 3, 2012
Hooked on Classics
From Wall Street Journal: Hooked on Classics
'Despite the advantages of modern motoring, with its air-conditioned, computer-controlled reliability, who wouldn't want to return to those fast-paced times when automotive design was in its prime?" writes Chris Haddon in his book "My Cool Classic Car" (Pavilion, $24.95). Mr. Haddon—a British designer whose own automotive affair dates back to when his father converted a 1960s Rover P5 steering wheel and instrument panel into a sophisticated toy—profiles 40 classic cars, including stories from their owners and notes on each model's history. (Many are European.) Yes, repairs are often expensive, and the cars can require a dose of patience. The owner of a Citroën 1975 DS Pallas notes that a ride in his car "could leave some feeling a bit seasick." Hassles abound, to be sure, but these are tales of love.
'Despite the advantages of modern motoring, with its air-conditioned, computer-controlled reliability, who wouldn't want to return to those fast-paced times when automotive design was in its prime?" writes Chris Haddon in his book "My Cool Classic Car" (Pavilion, $24.95). Mr. Haddon—a British designer whose own automotive affair dates back to when his father converted a 1960s Rover P5 steering wheel and instrument panel into a sophisticated toy—profiles 40 classic cars, including stories from their owners and notes on each model's history. (Many are European.) Yes, repairs are often expensive, and the cars can require a dose of patience. The owner of a Citroën 1975 DS Pallas notes that a ride in his car "could leave some feeling a bit seasick." Hassles abound, to be sure, but these are tales of love.
Goggomobil TS300 Coupe
Goggomobil TS300 Coupe
'When the 300cc, two-cylinder…engine starts up with full choke, it smokes like a barbecue. When a hill is unavoidable, the 15hp engine makes a noise like 50,000 angry wasps,' says owner Dirk Wurm of his quirky 1967 microcar. Still, 'it's easy to love.
Austin 7 Chummy
Austin 7 Chummy
Don't try this today: In the 1940s, this 1925 British car spent several days in a pond. Back on land, it quickly recovered—no complicated electronics to dry out.
AMC Pacer
AMC Pacer
In the '70s, AMC advertised the Pacer as 'the first wide small car.' 'It certainly attracts attention wherever we go!' says owner Becky
Citroën 2CV
Citroën 2CV
First produced in 1948, the Citroën 2CV aimed to entice French drivers away from the horse-and-cart. When owner Chris bought this 1978 model, 'it was a very sorry-looking rusty car…neither drivable nor towable.
Morris 1800
Morris 1800
Owner Ian rescued this car— which finished 18th in the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally—after watching it deteriorate in someone's driveway for 20 years.Sunday, December 2, 2012
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