The answer to the question “What is wrong with me?” can be partly answered by reading James Ruppert’s post on Hemmings Daily. He seems to have nailed what is wrong with all of us who drive or want to some day drive the classic automobile that is sitting in their garage.
James Ruppert writes for Bangernomics. He has also written a book, “My Mini Cooper It’s Part in My Breakdown“.
One of my favorite bloggers, NavyOne at the Mellow Jihadi posted a link to an Art Deco era car slideshow back in July, 2013. Those are some beautiful cars. My favorite is the one I’ve posted, the 1937 Delahaye 135MS. The online article refers to the autos as “sensual”. I couldn’t agree more. More after the jump…
The Delahaye automobile manufacturing company(Wikipedia) began making cars in 1933. Their history is like many companies from that era. They stopped producing automobiles and trucks in 1954 after a buy out.
At one time they even built an off-road vehicle called the VLRD(Véhicule Léger de Reconnaissance (Delahaye)). On a side note, I bet if there is an VLRD club, it is very exclusive.
I couldn’t help but look at the wheel flarings of the 135MS Roadster and wonder how many hours on an English Wheel it would take to recreate those cars out of steel? I would imagine if we were to create copies of these cars today it would be cheaper to make them out of carbon-fiber than to have a craftsman work them individually.
You don’t see one of those everyday. Rolls Royce Limo. Funny I see one of these while NPR is discussing The Great Gatsby and the excesses of the roaring twenties.
What’s the line from Scarface? Nothing exceeds like excess.
You don’t see this everyday. It was beautiful. Roof rack, immaculate paint, and the driver had a smile on his face you couldn’t wipe off with an angle grinder.
You can’t tell me cars aren’t important to people. Such a great video.
What a great story. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Mrs. Okierover and I’s first cars were nothing to be excited about. I guess the 1992 Ford Escort was the first car we bought together. We quickly outgrew it with the addition of Diet Mt. Drew. Our second car was the 1993 Ford Ranger pickup truck. It served us very well. Our first Land Rover? Well, we still have it. 1993 Range Rover LWB.
On a side note, I had a great weekend. I’ll have some pictures and a story up later this week.
This is what my car looked like. I wish I had one today.
The Art of Manliness has hit another home run with a post titled, “How to Be Happy with the Car You Drive“. Its written by guest writer Marcus Brotherton about the seven stages of car ownership men go through in their lives.
The post ends by asking what was your first car and what do you drive today? My first car was the 1965 Pontiac Tempest station wagon. I paid 150$(US) for her in 1980. That was two summer’s worth of saving from odd jobs. I bought it when I was 15 and half in anticipation of a successful driver’s test. We all called it the Millennium Falcon.
Terry and Sherry Bates were with me when the engine blew on the way home from Oklahoma City crossing the South Canadian River bridge on highway 62. I was pretty sad about that as you can imagine.
Today, I am somewhere between 5. Cars for Work and 6. Cars of Arrival
I drive a 2007 Honda Civic on my daily commute, mostly for the gas mileage. It is a totally loveless car. And as all of you are aware I own a 1993 Range Rover which was originally purchased to haul kids around and has since been turned into an adult-sized Tonka toy or hobby for me in lieu of a motorcycle as is seemingly normal for men my age.
I hope you enjoy the post as much as I did. Happy Rovering.
PS The post time is no accident. 20:05 = 19:65 in homage of my first taste of freedom.
