A UK Lotus Commercial

Most Americans really aren't familiar with the Lotus name. We British car enthusiasts know Lotus for building light, nimble and - occasionally - troublesome cars. Modern Lotus cars are expensive driver's machines. The Elise, for example, is quite basic (exposed aluminum structural supports intrude in the cockpit) but it is sublime to drive.

Here is a commercial for UK audiences about the new Lotus Europa. The Europa looks like it belongs on my list of cars I'm buying with my lottery winnings.

Meeting Activity

The next SABCC general meeting is scheduled for February 9th at our usual venue - the Lake Forest Yacht Club. We will have a quiz about radiator mascots and marque badges. Do YOU know which marque used an octagon in their badge?

Good for you - that's not on the quiz. See you there!

A Tiger in Monte Carlo

Here's some historic footage of the 1965 Monte Carlo rally as seen through the windshield of a Sunbeam Tiger. These hairy chested beasts packed a lot of Detroit horsepower under their bonnets and were much more civilized than their AC Cobra half-brothers.

Enjoy the video and note the wheel-sawing by the driver.

Another Interesting Car-Themed Web Site

Wikicars is an automotive version of the not-always-accurate Wikipedia. I've not spent a lot of time with it, but it appears to be a work in progress. A large number of marques that we care about are notably absent. Unlike Wikipedia, this site sells ads.

The New MG6

Most you know that MG is now owned by the Chinese firm SAIC. They've been cranking out the Former Rover 75 in China and have restarted (in fits and jerks) production of the (modern) MGTF in Longbridge, Birmingham, UK.

The first car designed under the current ownership is the new MG6 saloon. I've posted a YouTube video of the teaser ad developed for the Chinese market. I note - with no small sense of irony - that the actors are westerners and the theme of the ad is 'freedom'.




The above-mentioned Rover 75 is now badged 'Roewe' 750 and is loosely pronounced 'wrongway'. To the Chinese ear, it apparently sounds similar to the original Rover name. You remember that the Rover name is owned by Tata - the current owners of Jaguar.

Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car Magazine

I enjoy several automotive publications but the only one I subscribe to is Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car. It's not the thickest magazine on the shelf but it always has the kind of articles I want to read. The focus is on the kind of imported cars we grew up with.

Each month there is the 'Drivable Dream' article where the staff highlights a less-than-perfect car that is usually a daily driver. It brings hope to those us that struggle to keep our cars on the road, knowing full well that we'll never win a trophy at a car show.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Standard Oil Gas Pump Globe

I scored a really nice gas pump globe from a Standard Oil gas pump.

Those of us of a certain age remember that all the major oil companies had their own globe design to make their product stand out. Standard used a flame device. I think the red indicated 'regular' gas instead of the more expensive 'ethyl' grade.

I'm going to try to make this into a garage lamp.

Arrive in Style

RM Auctions will be offering a 1963 BMC support vehicle at its Arizona auction on January 21st.

The support vehicles were designed to carry racing cars and spare parts in Europe for the various BMC teams. The Morris-derived chassis were powered by Perkins 6.1 liter 6-cylinder engines and had 5 speed gearboxes.

Some of the transporters were brought into North America to provide BMC dealer support and training.

This vehicle is expected to fetch $115,000 - $145,000.

Tiff Needell Hoons a Morris Minor

Former race driver and current TV personality Tiff Needell demonstrates the chuckability of a Morris Minor 1000 in this YouTube video. Tiff says that a Minor 1000 was the car he learned to drive in and, if he was like most new drivers, found its limits pretty quickly.

Remind me to tell you how bad the brakes were on '62 Olds F85 V8s.

January Club Activity

We will be treated to a talk about sandblasting by our own Dennis Hansen at our next regular meeting on January 12. Dennis started sandblasting his own projects and he is now taking on outside work at his home shop.

Speaking of his shop, Dennis has graciously agreed to host our January activity. We'll meet at his home shop Saturday, January 16th at 10:30 AM. Dennis' place is in Fairhope off county road 32. Simply go south on US highway 98 until you get to Fairhope. Continue south on 98 until you reach county 32. Look for the Fairhope airport signs. Turn left onto county road 32 and left again at Charles McKenzie Lane. Dennis does his sandblasting behind the big red barn on his property.

He will demonstrate his various sandblasting equipment and has said that we can don the hood and have a go at sandblasting, too.

Dennis has suggested a trip to Big Daddy's restaurant after the demonstration. Sounds delicious!

SABCC Grill Badges are In!

OK, SABCC'ers - you asked for them and we delivered. The second batch of 25 grill badges are in Alabama. We'll have them at the next club meeting, yours for $20.00 each. Show your pride and buy your ride a shiny new grill badge.

Mr. Bond *snicker* Your Aston Martin is Here *ahhh ha ha ha!*

Aston Martin is facing governmental requirements to lower its fleet CO2 emissions. Since Astons are high performance, high fuel consumption cars they make a lot of CO2. Aston Martin's solution to the problem is the Cygnet.

The Cygnet is a facelifted Toyota IQ (a model not sold in the USA) with an upscale interior, snazzy paint job and not much else. Available only to current Aston Martin owners, it is intended to be a city runabout while the Vanquish is safely tucked away.

Aston Martin has yet to officially announce the Cygnet for production, but indicated it will be available for retail sales in 2010. Initial sales will be limited to the UK and Europe, but U.S. sales have not been ruled out. Expect the Cygnet to be priced above the $30,000 mark with annual production to be capped at 2,000 units.

A cygnet is a baby swan. To my eye, this one is an ugly duckling.

Spitfire Commercial

While we're on a Triumph theme, I'll post this US commercial for the Spitfire. I'm not sure it's all that politically correct (by today's standards, anyway) I'm sure the exhaust sound was, ah, modified a bit.