LA AUTO SHOW 2010 - longing for the older shows...

In the past couple of years, it seems as though the LA Auto Show has been marching to a different beat; one far less exciting than that of past shows, with far less innovation and a little more green.

Not that this is a bad thing for those actually questing for their new rides, but for those who like seeing concept cars and prototypes, such as myself, it is a little disappointing. Even Cadillac, who had me going with its Lambo door vehicle, surprised me with a small, silly looking future-car. When I think Cadillac, I think long, big, powerful, not "tin-bin". And that's what came to mind.

EQUALS

(and the Fiat 500 has far more charm and charisma...)

So critical, I know. It's not like I even know that much at all, I just like fast-looking batmobiles.

Mazda, however, pulled through with its concept car. It looked sharp, mean, with well defined edges and curves in all the right places -- FAST.

Take a gander!

I took a faux-joy ride in a sexy flat black AMG... and my facial expression tells all. Nowhere near comfortable, it ain't got anything on my '84 300sd's fine leather bucket seats, and the worst part was that my head was almost sticking out of the damn car, and my legs where squished. I'm sure there are a million features to make the ride less of a stress-factor, but out of the twelve thousand gadgets and buttons, I could not seem to locate the "make-seat-drivable" button, which would hypothetically allow one to ADJUST the seat and thus DRIVE.... without running the risk of partial decapitation by car.

Stay tunned for REAL cars... last Pomona swap meet of 2010!!!

Big American Car - Thank you Frog-Eaters

My Dad's a die-hard American. Army Medic. Major, Football player, BIG, and all ( I won't go into his political views). Everything labeled America is BEST. I'd like to note that he also went through a couple of Cadillacs at some point.

Now, I'm sure we can all agree that the Cadillac pretty much epitomizes the American Car, a car emblematic of all that is highest in automobile construction and design. We also know that many die-hard Americans (Pops) like to bash on the French for whatever reasons... poor WWII strategies... governmental embarrassments... racism... antisemitism.. frog-consuming... etc. To those people, may your opinions remain your opinions. Being a Frenchie myself, I get a little defensive about my country. But francophilia isn't the issue at hand here. It's about History, and the creation of an emblem that came to symbolize an American classic, the Cadillac.

A Brief History of Cadillac Emblem:

Antoine De La Mothe Cadillac was born in Gascony, France, on March 5th, 1658. Being adventurous by nature, stories of the New World appealed to him very much, so he took it upon himself to make it to those shoes. What he was most noted for was his founding of the city of Detroit in 1701. Little did he know that his settlement would not only grow to be one of the largest cities in the United States, but also the greatest automobile manufacturing city in the world.

At this point, we can clearly distinguish the parallel between Antoine De La Mothe Cadillac, who stands for all that is pioneering, and the Cadillac car, which stands for actual pioneering in the automotive world.

There is actually a château in existance known as Le Château de Cadillac (featured below).

It is said that although Antoine De La Mothe Cadillac most likely came from a prominent family, he was not a French nobleman by blood. It was not uncommon for men in those times to adopt a name from another family in order to promote their own standing... mostly when that family was far across the Antlantic. Speculations indicate that Antoine borrowed the name LaMothe along with his ancestry and armorial bearings of a certain Baron Sylvester of Esparbès de Lussan ( a mouth-full for sure), Lord of LaMothe Bardigues, a manor located near Toulouse. Interestingly, the First International Cadillac Meet was held on those very grounds in 1989.

Below you will see the original coat of arms belonging to the Esparbès de Lussan family, along with its interesting evolution into the modern-day Cadillac emblem we are so familiar with.

Above is pictured the authentic coat of arms ofBaron Sylvestre Esparbès de Lussan.

"Cadillac" family crest -- uncanny resemblance, no?

Adopted as the Cadillac emblem in 1905, the crest became a trademark in August 1906.

The birds known as marlettes, a quasi-mythical representation of the martin, were displayed on the Cadillac emblem until the turn of the century. In 2002, the wreath was brought back, and the designed was cleaned up, with a more geometrical and abstract design, representative of Cadillac's latest automobile designs.

Today's sharp-looking Cadillac emblem we all know and love. It's meeeaaann... ohh yes but in a sexy way. Stay fabulous, Cadillac!

Pomona never disappoints... August 2010

I hadn't gotten my Pomona Swap Meet in a while, but when I finally did last month, it was... for a lack of better words... SUBLIME. Check it out!

Jeepster, Where Did You Get Those Peepers?

Costa Mesa - 2010, one of the better car shows I've been to. Not only did they have a parade of beautiful to ridiculous automobiles, but they also had a race track. And that was very entertaining... the race track highlight must have been the super-light chopped up Pick-up rat rod. It was so light, it couldn't hug the curves of the track and spun 360s half the time.

Anywho, there is was. The Willy. I have a strong penchant for Jeep Willys and Jeepsters and Commandos... I think they're the epitome of cool and I can totally picture myself cruising in one of these fun vehicles down PCH on a sexy California summer day. Too bad its drizzling today.

The Willy was born with WWII and was produced for the Army from 1941 through 1945. The WWII vehicle was then adapted for civilian use and was known as the Jeep CJ, or "civilian Jeep". These were some of the first mass-produced 4x4 vehicles out there ever.

The Jeep Jeepster was originally produced by Willys-Overland from 1948 through 1950. The name was then revived in 1966 on a new model knownas the Jeepster Commando. That is by far one of my favorite car names EVER. American Motors, Willys-Overland's successor decided to put a halt to the name in 1972 and production in 1973.

Willys produced the Jeepster as a crossover from the military Willy to a more passenger oriented market. Originally set with only rear-drive, the Jeepster was given 4 wheel drive with its revival in 1966, under the name Jeepster Commando.

What's there not to love?!

Highlights and Tail lights from the Culver City Car Show

Here are only but a small percentage of what Culver City's Seventh Annual Cruisin' Back to the 50s Car Show had to offer. The show featured a wild variety of classic cars, pick-ups, wagons, vans, hot rods and rat rods, muscle cars, and what-where-they-thinkings. It was a very sunny day and cars sparkled (yes, some literally sparkled). I was definitely in the zone. And a show in Los Angeles for once? Even better!

There was a car for everyone, new cars, old cars, verrry old cars, TV cars, movie cars and fantasy cars! If you're an LA city dweller, I strongly urge you to check it out next year! Entrance is FREE, there are drinks, food, restaurants around and much more.

Violating GM Policy = Good Idea

GTO. Gran Turismo Omologato. Built for racing as it was for cruising the streets. Many consider the GTO to be the first true muscle car.

The GTO has known two lives, first produced from 1964 to 1974 and then resurrected in 2004. Lets put the focus on the earlier real and raw muscle car. During its original 10 year run, the car went through six generations. Other manufacturers were focusing on producing full-size vehicles, but Pontiac saw potential in another project: taking a large, big block engine and dropping it in a medium framed car and selling it at a budget price. Thus, the muscle car was born. In order to get the project on the road, Pontiac had to sneak their way around GM rules and regulations. Was the outcome going to be worth the trouble? You bet...

In 1964, the road was dominated by full size vehicles. GM specifically stated that mid-size vehicles were strictly prohibited to be fitted with an engine greater than 330 cid -- Cubic Inch Displacement ( switched to the metric system in the 80s -- liters). Engine Displacement refers to the volume swept by all the pistons in the engine from a single movement from Top Dead Centre (TDC) to Bottom Dead Centre (BDC). There is some math involved, but it's a simple equation:

Displacement = (π/4) x (bore²) x stroke x number of cylinders

Bore is the diameter measurement of the cylinders inside and engine.
Stroke refers to the distance the piston travels.
Dead Centre refers to the point at which a piston is the furthest (top dead centre) away or nearest (bottom dead centre) to the crankshaft.

Pontiac took it upon themselves to throw the book out the window and put a 389 cid engine in their Tempest model, but presented it as an option for the Tempest, and called it the GTO. Did they name it after the famed Ferrari 250 GTO? Perhaps... and what a car to be named after! It was a long shot and Pontiac aimed at selling 5,000 units but far exceeded their expectations and sold over 32,000 units! It was the hottest performance machine yet! This novel idea fueled the competition between GM, Ford and Chrysler and gave way to a thriving muscle car industry.

The success of the 1964 Tempest GTO prompted Pontiac to keep on producing and improving the car through 1965. In 1966, Pontiac made the GTO its own model, which reached sales of almost 100,000 units, the highest number sold for any true muscle car.

In 1968, however the GTO was very much restyled. Its most prominent feature was actually its "lack of bumper" look. The car was equipped with the Endura Bumper, which was made of rubber and gave it the bumper-less look.

In 1969, the famous Judge was introduced. The new option packet was named after the TV show "Laugh In, and came complete with a more powerful engine, a larger spoiler and showy body paints and decals.

The body was once again drastically restyled in 1970, and in 1971, the already declining sales crashed along with the car's performance as GM was strict in following government regulations on emissions and noise pollution. 1971 was also the GTO's last year being its own, separate model. in 1972, the GTO was back to being an option to the LeMans and LeMans Sport. The Judge was also discontinued as well as the convertible option. Rumor has it that one convertible was produced as well as a handful of... GTO station wagons?!?! (If you have evidence, please share!) The 1973 GTO was still based on the LeMans, but it was so ugly (really), it didn't even reach 5,000 units in production. Finally, in 1974, the once dominating GTO was reduced to an option on the compact Ventura, with a 350 V8 engine that shamed its proud predecessors.

Despite its dwindling sales and progressively worse oh-so-70s homely looks, the GTO's name still represents the image of the Great One that lead to an American phenomenon: the muscle car era.

Snapshots of two 1966, 1967 GTOs at the auto show in Culver City last weekend.

Across the street from my house, a 1969 Pontiac GTO Hardtop Coupe. H.O.T.

The Little Jalopy That Could

So if you've read this blog thoroughly (which isn't saying much as this is my 11th post), you must know I refer to all 1984 and older Mercedes-Benz as Babymamas. You will also know that it's all in honor of my very own 1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Babymama :) Those who know me personally know that I am absolutely smitten on that car. I love her like a person and she keeps me safe. Babymama is my first car and I fully intent to keep her forever, even if that means keeping her by means of her "nose" (hood ornament) if, God forbid, anything tragic happen. Anyway, I would like you to get to know her better. Most people don't look twice when they see a 1970s - 1980s Benz. I do. And I always say "babymama!" with the biggest freakin' smile on my face. That's affection. Despite the fact that she's been beat and totalled and has suffered technical hemorrhages galore, I adore her. My Mister has said it quite well, scars give you character. True true true, even for cars. If you came across my post about Concours D'Elegances, I'm sure you get a sense that I love a well kept classic. However, there is something about a car that has seen life, that has trucked through it and said "bring it" to whatever rough terrain it had to go through. Such was the case of my Babymama.

She was picked up from Stuttgart, Germany in 1984. She's a true Euro! Mercedes-Benz offered my parents a 1 way ticket to Stuttgart to pick her up straight from the factory! Included in the program was a complete tour of the Mercedes Benz factory. Once they picked her up, they drove her through the Black Forest. Once it started raining, my dad (USA) turned to my mom (FRANCE) and said quite bluntly: "this is your weather, you drive". They encountered a funny piece of land that sat in the middle of the 3 lane freeway: a little house who's owner refused to sell. Babymama drove them all around France before they dropped her offand handed over her keys at a parking lot at Avenue de la Grande Armee in Paris. From there she made her way onto a boat a travelled across the seas. Two months later a phone called informed my parents that she had made it to San Pedro, CA. Why Diesel?? Emission laws in California made it terribly complicated to get a gasoline car from Europe. That's the reason my mom had to forfeit her sexy little Mercedes Coupe, you know the ones with the pagoda roof you could forget a cup of coffee on, and it would make it across town just fine...

Now she's travelled her way into my hands. I can't say I've always treated her the way I should. I don't mean I call her names or hate on her! She's my first car. I've hit a pole or two, I've driven over those obnoxious parking cement blocks and got her oil pin stuck in the oil pan (that means oil leak!!!) and I've gotten two flat tires. But she gets a "good morning" and a "thank you" and a "good night" every day. I know her faults, her foibles, her troubles, and her triumphs! I go by Randall "Memphis" Raines' philosophy (Gone in 60 Seconds) : you take care of me, I'll take care of you. I believe it. I wash her myself almost every week and try to vacuum her every now and then. I check the oil level frequently as she's known to leak. You may think I'm a lunatic-wierdo by now, but that's OK. If you're really in-tune with your car, you'll get it. There is a reason a car is often referred to as "my baby". A car is usually a person's second greatest purchase in life. You definitely want to show proper care to something that important. I live in Los Angeles, so your vehicle is even more important considering the unimpressive public transit system (not to diss the Big Blue Bus, of course!). However, car care and car love are distinguishable. I don't think the dude over there driving on PCH like a befuddled version of Michael Schumacher in his expensive, new Porsche quadriporte, after having 10 people detail his car, really gives a rat's ass about it. It's an item of luxury. It's a sign of wealth and social status (and who knows, he could live in a shit hole and have invested it all in his ride just for looks). I'm making a gross stereotipization here, but I've encountered that "type" in the past. He cares enough about it on the surface, he keeps it in pristine condition, both physically and mechanically. But when I see the older man in his 1965 BMW 2000 CS, somewhat beat it may be, I know it's love. When I go to Pomona and see greasers drinking beer and talking car at 8am, its definite car love! And that, to me, is worth more than a million dollar car.

Here's a circa 1965 BMW that chills close-by to where I live. It's got charm! Below is a 1960s Chevrolet I saw a little old man get into. He actally looked at me funny as I was snapping shots of his car.

A "Misfit of Motordom"

...as considered by the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The exhibition, "What Were They Thinking?" features the bizarre and innovative cars throughout motor car history. I got to see it in person and it was FANTASTIC. One car in particular stuck out as "drivable", and that was the Edsel. I also fell upon a gorgeous 1958 Edsel Roundup at the Pomona Swap Meet in March.

If you're in town before June 6th and want to see some out-of-the-box automotive styling and engineering, check out the Petersen's website: http://www.petersen.org/

Here's the 1958 Edsel Citation at the Petersen Museum.

The Edsel make was named after the late Edsel Ford, president of Ford Motor Company, who died in 1943 at the young age of 49. Most of us only know of Henry Ford as Edsel apparently wasn't behind most major decisions for the company.

The Edsel was only in production from 1958 to 1960. The car was deemed a "failure" and "disaster" by the Edsel Owners Club itself. The model nearly pushed Ford Motor Company into bankruptcy in the late 50s. The Edsel's original target was "young professionals". The car made its debut in 1957 in showrooms across the US. The hype around the new Edsel was huge. Ad campaigns aimed to keep the car's full appearance a secret, only depicting the hood ornament. Dealers were warned that if they revealed the car at any point before its release date, they would get a fine or even lose their franchise. Edsel was playing on the curiosity and excitement of the crowds to see and purchase this new, unseen car. It was a mystery and everyone loves a good mystery. The ads only mentioned "The Edsel is Coming", as if it were long-awaited event approaching in the near future.

Unfortunately, people came to look, but only to look. The daily minimum sale of 400 cars per dealership was never met. The initial design of the Edsel definitely stood on its own. Its prominent feature was the front end of the hood, which contrarily to other cars of its time that all looked similar, broke the horizontal line flow on the grille with a vertical hood ornament that spelled out EDSEL from top to bottom. Apparently that design is now referred to as a "horse collar". Fair enough. The feedback from reviewers ranged from positive, to saying it resembled "an Oldsmobile sucking a lemon". Some reviewers were not even sure if they loved it or thought it was a design disaster. The designers idea behind its unique appearance was to make it distinguishable from far. That, it was. The mechanics behind the look were not up to par either. Many owners complained about various problems with their Edsel. According to Failure Magazine (good name) who quotes Bob Ellsworth, owner and operator of http://www.edsel.com/ "there were cases where the cars that weren't exactly complete showed up at dealerships. They would have a list on the steering wheal saying which parts were missing." The Edsel program was to be ended in November 1959, but the last car rolled off the production line a year later in 1960.

There is a lot of information available out there in books and on the web about the Edsel's disastrous history, Failure Magazine online has a well detailed article about it: http://failuremag.com/

Here's the '58 Edsel Roundup in Pomona. The Epic Fail car seems to be alive today. I think it looks cool. Would I drive it? You bet.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Fairest of them All

A Competition of Elegance or Concours D'Elegance. I've always wanted to attend one, and somehow always managed to miss one. I am committed to going to the Huntington Beach Concours D'Elegance on June 5th and/or 6th, primarily because one of their featured makers is Ferrari!!! (I've had a love affair of sorts with Ferrari since age 5). It's their Silver Anniversary (25 years!) The show honoring Ferrari as well as Ford will actually be on Sunday. And of course, that same day includes the Pomona Swap Meet...

Check the site out for additional information http://www.hbconcours.org/

The Concours D'Elegance dates all the way back to 17th Century France, when aristocrats would parade around in their horse-drawn carriages in Paris during summer weekends. When the first automobiles were introduced, the Concours become more of a competition amongst vehicle owners. The rules were simple and very straightforward. The best looking car wins. However, along the course of the years judging became much more strict. A car is examined by a trained judge, and is inspected very thoroughly in its entirety. To be eligible for a trophy class, the car must be, for a lack of better words, perfect.

There are Concours D'Elegance for new and for classic cars. One focusing on classic cars will emphasize on originality over condition; by originality I mean how close it is to the way it was when it rolled out of the factory. Judges want to see a car that is in the same or better condition than the way it was once it got off the production line. Modifications are not allowed unless they are original.

Because of all these demands, a Concours car is usually not one used for driving. During the show, it'll get maintained and dusted often to upkeep its flawless look.

Estimable Concours include the Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance, the Meadow Brook Concours D'Elegance or the Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance. Concours are not limited to cars, they have them for motorcycles as well. In fact, the Huntington Beach Concours will feature Ducati motorcycles and other manufacturers.

*notice the 1960s Ferrari 25o GTO on the image... yea I captured one of those :) *