Cars and Coffee, August, 2013

HOT!  Yesterday was Cars and Coffee first Saturday and it was HOT!  Because it was so HOT attendance was noticeably below normal.  And those that brought their nice cars were all crankin' 'em and leaving by 9:30 because it was so HOT!  Did I mention it was HOT?

I honestly didn't even get to walk the whole parking lot because while I was only half way through the mass exodus began.  Sorry for the abbreviated photo display this month.  :(

First thing I saw when I arrived was this BMW Z4 M Coupe.  I personally wouldn't tacky my car up with decals like this, but I must say he had a sense of humor.

Looks like he's overdosed on BMW's Kool-aid, too.

The local VeeDub Club was there in force.  A very nice 1970 (?) Beetle Cabrio.

Notice the original owner checked all the option boxes, too.  Look....a radio!

This was an early flat-screen (windshield) model.  Absolutely mint!

I suppose this nice BMW 2002 from Nevada was just passing through.  I'm glad he stopped and shared his car with us.

This is apparently becoming a big deal:  People are mounting these GoPro cameras on their cars so they can record their driving exploits.  I'm thinking of getting one, too.  "Here I am waiting in line at In-n-Out burgers, and here I am on my way to the SuperTarget...."

A couple of interesting vintage Porsche's caught my eye:

A 356 Cabrio....

....and a Continental.  Notice the location of the gas cap.  How odd.

Ahhh....the Italians.

A 1972 Ferrari Dino GT.  This didn't actually carry the Ferrari badge as it was meant to be an entry level (6-cylinder) model, unlike the powerful 12-cylinder "true" Ferrari's of the day.  (Enzo Ferrari was very touchy about things like that.)

An early '70's (?) Ferrari Daytona Spyder. *still drooling*

A bit out of sequence....This Porsche Carrera GT is an incredible performance car, but to me it just looks clinical...cold...brutal.

Now compare that to this Ferrari 458 Italia...curvy...sensual...like a beautiful woman...who could still kick your ass!  ;)

Even the badge is sexy.

And now for my Car de Jouir:  Because of it's uniqueness I chose....

....this 1930 Studebaker.  I remember the old Studebaker Avanti's and Lark's and such from my yoot, but I'd never seen a Studebaker this old.  The current owner bought it from a 94-year-old man who had it for 60 years!

I always thought the steamer trunk on the back was just for storage, but it turns out the gas filler is inside that box.  And the gas gauge is a dip-stick.  (Wouldn't all your stuff smell like gas?)

Now here's some automotive trivia for you:  See that little round red piece of glass on the side of the Studebaker's headlight?  That was on the left (port) side, and a matching green light was on the side of the right (starboard) headlight, just like navigation lights on a ship or plane.  Who knew?

Maybe Coffee and Cars next month will enjoy cooler weather and better attendence.  Fingers crossed.  (Missed you Robert.  Hope to see you there in September.  :)

Have a great day everyone.

S

Oh yeah....

Bazinga!

Cars & Coffee, May, 2013....best one EVER!

First Saturday of the month, 45 degrees and rising, clear sky, calm winds....all the necessary ingredients for a great Cars and Coffee.  With a thousand cars +/- on display, this was petrolhead heaven.

The Plano (TX) PD was there doing some very effective PR work:

 I thought this was pretty clever.

There must have been a Porsche 928 Owners Club meeting there today.  I saw at least a dozen.  Porsche thought this would be the successor to the venerable 911.  They missed by a mile.

A rare $500K Porsche Carerra GT.  Impressive, but I think I could find better car(s) to drop a half-mil on.

Can you imagine shoe-horning a V-8 into a MGB GT?  British Leyland somehow managed it.  The weight distribution must have been awful.  (Hate the wheels.  Blech!)

Hard as I try, I just can't get excited about the new-generation Lamborghini's.  I just don't get that "Transformers" look.  I much prefer this cleaner, older-style Murcielago.

While this Maserati GT body style has been out for about 5 years now, I still never tire looking at it.  *sigh*

'Course, the Aston Martin Vanquish gets my juices flowing, too.  British Racing Green for me, please.

A Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder.  While I have excellent credit, I'm not sure USAA would up my credit limit to $291,000.  *curses*

A McLaren MP4-12C.  Can a car be TOO perfect?  (Hint:  yes.)

Until today I'd never seen a BMW Z8 with a removable (?) hardtop.  Umm....no.  Convertibles should be ragtops.  Period.  (Unless you're gifting me one.  ;)

A BMW Z3/4 Coupe menage a trois?

You knew you wouldn't get through one of my C&C posts without seeing a Fiat 500, right?  ;)

A very interesting Jaguar Mk ?  Doesn't it just scream BRITISH?  (No...wait...the British don't "scream".  It's much too undignified.)

OK, OK.  I'm a Europhile.  I admit it.  To be fair I took some photos of Detroit iron, too:

If you must have a 'Vette, THIS is the one you want.  A split-window '63.

Remember when GM stood for General Motors, before it became Government Motors?  Remember the Buick Riviera?  And the Pontiac Grand Prix?  If you answered 'yes', you're an old coot like me.  

Or a Studebaker Champion?  These were even before my time.  (OK, this was made in South Bend, IN, not Detroit.  Sue me.  ;)

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I'VE BEEN SANDBAGGING THE BEST FOR LAST

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Over the past year of posting C&C photos one car in particular has popped up more than any other....

....this absolutely pristine Jaguar E-Type V-12.  

Before today I think I've shown this car four times, I like it that much.  It was none other than the legendary Enzo Ferrari who once called the E-Type Jaguar the most beautiful car ever made, and I certainly wouldn't argue that.  Can you believe this design is fifty years old?  It's still stunningly spectacular today!

Several months ago on one of my Cars and Coffee debriefs I received a comment from a reader, "Robert", who said this was his car!  Whoa....needle in a haystack, right?  We made plans to personally meet today at 08:00, and we managed to connect.

What a treat it was to meet him.  Not just because he owns this magnificent automobile, but because he is a thoroughly pleasant gentleman.  He shared with me the history of his car, how he came to own it, the maintenance it requires (not much), and more.  I can't tell you what an interesting visit we had.

Then he made my day.  As we were both about to call it a day and go home, Robert asked me if I would like to go for a spin in his car.  I only had to be asked once! 

Oh my, you should hear this magnificent V-12 engine purr!  Once we cleared the crowd and pulled out of the lot he asked if I'd like to drive it?

Gulp!

I couldn't do it.  I've had manual transmission cars before....that wasn't the problem.  I just couldn't imagine how I could live with myself if I did something dumb and hurt his pride and joy.  I would have to impale myself on a long knife Hara-kiri-style.  (And boy, would K be pissed!  "Knock, knock....Hi.  Are you the widow Park?")

Until today I'd forgotten how excited I was as a kid to run into the den and look under the tree on Christmas morning.  Just sitting in this magnificent automobile, listening to it, smelling it, looking at every toggle, brought back that thrill.

Thanks, Robert, for the ride and most of all just for the "car-guy" camaraderie.  I'm looking forward to us being able to visit again.  

Until June 1, 2013, that's all for Cars and Coffee.  :)

S

*QUESTION:  I've been playing with my layout width in order to post x-large photos.  Is it too wide now to be seen on your screen without scrolling over?  If so let me know and I'll convert it back the way it was.