garage style magazine

Garage Style Magazine Fall 2011 1Fall 2011

Morgan Factory

Tour

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2 Garage Style Magazine Fall 2011

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TheFinest ofClassic Car Gatherings

P E B B L E B E A C H C O N C O U R S d ’ E L E G A N C E — A U G U S T 2 1 , 2 0 1 1

tarted in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is considered the world’s premier

gathering of the finest classic motor cars. Held each August at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, the

event attracts enthusiasts from around the world to California’s scenic Monterey Peninsula.

The 61st annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will be held on Sunday, August 21, 2011.

S

www.pebblebeachconcours.net TICKETS: 877-693-0009 INFO: 831-622-1700 FAX: 831-622-9100

PebbleBeachConcours11_Layout 1 4/14/11 5:11 PM Page 1

Garage Style Magazine Fall 2011 3

TheFinest ofClassic Car Gatherings

P E B B L E B E A C H C O N C O U R S d ’ E L E G A N C E — A U G U S T 2 1 , 2 0 1 1

tarted in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is considered the world’s premier

gathering of the finest classic motor cars. Held each August at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, the

event attracts enthusiasts from around the world to California’s scenic Monterey Peninsula.

The 61st annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will be held on Sunday, August 21, 2011.

S

www.pebblebeachconcours.net TICKETS: 877-693-0009 INFO: 831-622-1700 FAX: 831-622-9100

PebbleBeachConcours11_Layout 1 4/14/11 5:11 PM Page 1


contentsfeatures22

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Memory Trove

The Morgan Motor Company

Tuff Shed

Muse Garage

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26

40 Office Parking

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46 Garages in History


8

Publisher’s Note

Lance’s ColumnGrins in the Garage

Phil’s ColumnDispatches from the Ultimate Garage Tour

Personal Notes

Garage News

Office Profile

Tool Bag

Automobilia Outlook

Artist ProfileBernardo Corman

Unique ArtistsJoe PepitoneNicolas HunzikerSteve Erler

Personality ProfileJacques Vaucher

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departments

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Automobile Review1913 Fiat Tipo 55 9-Litre

Book Reviews

Business ProfileSinger Vehicle Design

Holiday Buyer’s Guide

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Publisher’snote

Growth and Expansion

“Where do you find all the garages you feature in the magazine?”This question is asked all the time, and I never get tired of

answering it. The truth is, many times, they find us. When we first started the magazine, we had a long list of great garages. Upon photographing those garages, those garageistas asked their friends with great garages if they’d open their doors to this new magazine, and when they did, it turned out those people knew other garageistas, and so on. It was exponential growth, one garage led to five; those five each led to five more; and so on, and so on, like that Faberge Shampoo commercial from the 1980’s starring Heather Locklear.

Our initial question when launching this title, “Would we run out of garages?” was answered rather quickly and absolutely within the first couple of months. Since that time, we’ve been blessed to cover a huge number of garages and shops, and built a gorgeous magazine around them. We all know design and creation is never done, that there’s always room for improvement; as such, the magazine will always see changes and enhancements, usually subtle, hopefully positive. But, for now, at this

moment, we’re all relatively happy with the current look and feel of GSM. As such, we’ll be diverting a bit more energy to the World Wide Web.

We’ve always had a website, but it’s obvious that we don’t spend a lot of time improving the site. Because of that, there is a quality gap between the magazine and the website, and we’re hoping to fill it within the coming year. We’ve had our Facebook account for a number of months now; we’ve managed to exchange links with several online presences, and slowly learned about mingling print and web together, making them dance as one, complement one another, and offer unique benefits to those who explore both. It’s been a slow curve, and it probably shouldn’t have been, but we’ve rarely been a fast-moving group around here, particularly when we’re learning about something as important as improving our overall brand. Truth be told, we’re print people at our core. We love magazines, newspapers, books, fliers, pamphlets and brochures. We love holding, folding, flipping through, and quickly getting information off a piece of paper. Or, maybe it’s just me – everyone else around me is pretty tech savvy, and waiting for me to catch up. Regardless, the idea of a second portal of information seemed redundant, a necessary evil in a modern world that seems largely interested in crushing the printed word. I’ve learned that stereotype is a falsity, by the way, that the printed word, properly delivered, is alive and well, and more popular than ever. Well-assembled magazines, in particular, have become appreciated and coveted in a fast-paced world occasionally interested in unplugging with an engaging media filled with interesting topics. But, we must always keep moving forward too, and that means embracing the Net. A little rule at GSM, though, is that if we can’t do it well, we won’t do it at all, unless we’re on a mission to learn. I’m proud to say, we’re eager to learn and anxious to deliver well, and certain we can.

None of us ever discounted the benefits or abilities of the great Triple-W; it’s simply that yours truly can be quite ignorant and a bit scared of most anything electronic, including the Internet. But, thanks to this magazine, and some really patient people, I’ve learned a lot. The marketing benefits are astounding, the reach is amazing, and the possibilities are rather endless. I know, you know this, I even knew it – but there’s some irony about a print publication teaching one about enhancing an electronic presence.

So, I’m excited to announce that in the coming months, GSM readers will be able to enjoy an enhanced website, occasional webinars, an E-newsletter, an expanded online edition, a more exciting Facebook, and much more. Who knew I, Captain Neanderthal, would ever be excited about anything ‘E’ – but I am.

I guess it’s all part of growing up, and growing up we are. Our print edition presence has expanded astonishingly in the past six months, and now, it looks like our E-presence will too. Thanks for joining us, being there, and keeping in touch.

Enjoy!Don WebergEditor-Publisher

Editor-PublishErDon Weberg

Art dirEctorWEb dEsignEr – coordinAtor

Kari McDaniel

grAPhic dEsign intErnBeau Van Sickle

businEss dEvEloPmEnt mAnAgErMichele Weberg

coluministsLance Lambert

Phil Berg

contributorsNed LawlerKate Lawler

Jeremiah McDanielJohn GunnellDennis Wilkes

Iain CurrySteve McCarthy

Cobb WareDr. Rick RaderBill NakasoneTerry Doran

Dr. Booker Preston

Public rElAtions/AdvErtisingCindy Meitle

[email protected]

Doug Holland910.398.8307

[email protected]

subscriPtions – AddrEss chAngEsPlease write to:

GSMP.O. Box 18478

Anaheim, CA 92817800.999.9718

PublishEd QuArtErly byWeberg Media Group, Inc.201 W. Sandlewood Ave.

La Habra, CA 90631www.garagestylemagazine.com

Not responsible for undelivered issues due to late change of ad-dress. Not responsible for issues delivered damaged.

All rights reserved byGarage Style Magazine, Inc.

Garage style

Printed in the United States by American Web Printers

magazine


Lance’scolumn

by

lAncE lAmbErt

Grins in the Garage

“There’s a lot of testosterone in this garage!”

This humorous comment was made by my friend and neighbor, Karen, when she walked into her garage and listened to the exchanges going on between her husband, Joe, and several of the neighborhood “car guys.” Joe had asked us to come over and help him place a newly painted Cobra body on the chassis of the car that he’s been building for the past three years.

Several things seem to happen whenever car guys gather together: joking and good natured teasing begins, old stories are re-told and best of all, laughter fills the room. The right combination of participants usually results in a raging river of wit, or at least the perception by the participants that everyone in the room is incredibly witty.

I’m not sure if Karen thought we were witty or just a bunch of Joe’s friends being goofy. I think we were likely a combination of both, but I’m not sure that testosterone was the common ingredient.

In my circle of friends the most important goal at any gathering is to make others laugh. We will use all of the laughter ammunition available: a good natured tease or insult here, a joke or story from the past there and plays on words and innuendos everywhere. It’s why my friends have become my friends.

The world that I live in is immersed in the hobby of the automobile. Most of my friends and associates are car guys, most of my activities are within the old car hobby, I make my living by producing and hosting a TV show about old cars and,

thank goodness, I’m married to a wonderful woman that encourages my passion for old cars. But are old cars the most important part of the hobby? No, it’s the people and the laughter that make every car guy gathering a comedy show.

It’s likely that golfers, square dancers, musicians, bowlers and every other hobby community feels the same way. Laughter is the best medicine in this angry world and everyone should consider taking every opportunity to be a pharmacist dispensing laughter.

So there we were early on a Saturday morning waiting for Joe’s direction on how best to remove the Cobra body from the support stand, lift it over the chassis and gently park it in place without scratching the shiny new black paint.

Immediately comments began flying:“Shouldn’t we have a few beers first?”“My back has been acting up so I’ll let you guys take care

of this.”“Where are the snacks? Shouldn’t there be a table of

snacks?”“Is this scratch supposed to be here?”“It’s 10:30. Is it time to break for lunch yet?” “Hey, it’s not my car. So what if it gets scratched.”This incredibly high level of intellectual wit continued until

the Cobra body was properly placed on the chassis and the common goal of helping Joe while making him and others laugh had been accomplished. Every wisecrack was delivered and received as a gift between friends.

Karen was also helping and laughing too, but perhaps her testosterone observation was incorrect. Testosterone is, among other things, used to prepare for confrontations. Webster’s definition includes, “a meeting of persons face to face,” and, “to compare.”

On second thought………………


Phil’scolumn

by Phil bErg

Dispatches from theUltimate Garage Tour

Where did Ultimate Garages Come From?

I needed the backyard deck adjacent to the garage so I could admire the Porsche Boxster silver-painted car while I was loafing around at home.

In 1998 I wrote a story for Car and Driver magazine’s Ten Best issue

asking readers to send in photos of their garages, and the results were surprising – neat, tidy rooms with many ideas about how to create an environment where cars and people could live together. After the story, I longed to see more car nuts’ homes.

But that wasn’t the first seed of the on-going book series Ultimate Garages, the third edition of which is now for sale at aptly named UltimateGarages.com. The first Ultimate Garages book was published nine years ago and its success spawned several hastily assembled copycats, but the idea actually began in 1990 when I began assembling a fiberglass replica of a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder from prolific tinkerer Chuck Beck.

At the time I had a detached one-car garage tucked far behind a small bungalow. The only way to view the garage and its long driveway from the house was through a single small window in the kitchen. So I stopped work on the Spyder, and commenced to knock out the kitchen wall and replace it with big glass doors. Then I filled half of the backyard with two levels of overbuilt deck with built-in bar and plenty of bench footage. Why this improvement was important enough to delay finishing the nifty little car is because it occurred to me that I would not be driving this example of my assembly handiwork all the time – most of the time it would likely be parked. I needed the backyard deck adjacent to the garage so I could admire the Porsche Boxster silver-painted car while I was loafing around at home. It inspires me, and I need to live with it.

Like the first two editions of Ultimate Garages, the third

book peeks into the private spaces of some of the most serious car (and motorcycle) admirers from all over the U.S. These passionate people have agreed to share their ideas, stories, and images of their garages and how they have integrated their cars with their living quarters. This is exactly the lifestyle vision that Garage Style Magazine’s creator Don Weberg shares with you quarterly.

For one example of this vision, international jewelry honcho Nicola Bulgari keeps his regularly driven collection of classic Buicks, which remind him of America’s passion for putting regular folks on luxurious wheels, in a large Pennsylvania garage. On a mezzanine overlooking the cars, Bulgari built a glass-walled bedroom so he can drift off in slumber in view of his cars. He stays in the garage on visits to the U.S.

Harry Yeaggy keeps his Pebble Beach Concours-winning Duesenberg and other special cars in a garage that’s on the other side of the only window in his office. The Ohio banker uses his garage as an inspirational chamber in which he can think.

These garage guys’ stories are two of 24 featured in Ultimate Garages III, the cover of which is graced by an image of muscle car fanatic and author Colin Comer’s Dodge Charger Daytona in its regular parking space in Comer’s garage. Stay tuned to Garage Style

Magazine for special excerpts from Ultimate Garages III of these and other remarkable car guys’ garages in coming issues.


personalnotes

Please send letters to:[email protected]

orPersonal Notes

C/O GSMPO Box 812

La Habra, CA 90633-0812

I want to compliment you on the photo and design of your Spring issue cover. This cover makes this one of the best looking issues of any magazine I have in my collection of years of automobile magazines. I especially like the way you kept the text to a minimum and placed it around the edges so as not to block the main subject, which is a garage full of beautiful Corvettes. What could be better? Further, the writing inside is first rate.

Looking forward to future issues, and patiently waiting for Ultimate Garages III. I hope there’s not a problem with that book, but it’s been a long time coming.

Thanks,JimFrom Email

Jim –Thank you for the complimentary words on GSM – it’s high

praise! Ultimate Garages III is out! Stay tuned!-ED

First of all, when is the last time you recieved “snail mail”? Shows you how old I am.

I am a GSM subscriber. I have to tell you, for such a class act/obviously well-thought-out magazine, the last of proof-reading is glaring- and very discerning. I counted not one, but twelve grammatical errors; words that did not belong; and an entire “end of story” missing, (Winter 2010 Issue-Trosely story). I was not looking for errors-they just jumped off the page. In the Trosely article, page 57 ends with, “I sneak away from my drawings-and-....? Where is it continued? I need to know-what does George do, where does he go after he sneaks away?

If this keeps up, this retired teacher will no longer be able to support GSM-much too painful.

Car/Garage GuyRich MessinaWading River, NY

Rich –You caught us! We too notice a number of mistakes after

an issue has been printed. We do our best to ensure proper grammar, punctuation and AP Style mixed with local flair, but can’t offer perfection. We never will - we doubt any media outlet ever will. We’re sorry the errors glare so painfully at you, but, we appreciate you keeping us on our toes. It’s good to know people care! Be patient - like an old car, we too have quirks that aren’t always favorable. Meanwhile, we hope you’ll continue enjoying GSM!

-ED

One short note on the Spring, 2011 GS article and cover. My wife and I have owned a home on Hilton Head Island for 18-years and go there several times a year for anywhere from a long weekend with friends to 3-weeks or so to work.

When we were there in January, we went to a new restaurant and while we were waiting on our table, we were in the bar having a drink and struck up a conversation with another couple, our age, who had moved to Hilton Head last year and

living there full-time. We really hit it off and have had dinner with them twice since...including this past weekend. While we were at dinner, he said, “I knew you’d be interested in this since you’re a ‘car guy,’ this will blow you away.” He then pulled out the Spring issue of Garage Style! He, of course, knew it was my collection on the cover, but said he had bought the magazine somewhere recently and didn’t realize it was my collection until he read the article. He too, was very complimentary of the article...even had me sign it!

So...you’re getting out there with GSM!Michael BrownTexas

Michael –Thanks for the great story and encouraging words! Oddly,

we recently had a conversation very similar to this one with our writer, Bill Nakasone. He was at a car club function, and was asked if he was the same Bill Nakasone who writes for Garage Style Magazine – taken back a bit, he admitted that he was, and discovered another fine garage to feature soon.

GSM is indeed getting out there!-ED

I would like to express my admiration for the Texaco Fuel station from Mr. Joe Mascolo style 1940’s. I wished we had one here in Belgium I could admire! Very unique and striking! I am over the moon about it.

Many GreetingsYves Souvenir Brussels, Belgium

Yves –Thanks for the note! We too were quite impressed by Mr.

Mascolo’s garage, so much so that ace photographer Bruno Ratensperger to shoot it, and Mr. Mascolo’s parents garage! Stay tuned…

-ED


Garagenews

Credit Suisse Sponsors Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance

Credit Suisse will host its clients and guests as a partner and official sponsor of the Concours d´Elegance in Pebble Beach, California, from August 17 – 21. This sponsorship bolsters and demonstrates the bank´s continued commitment to the international classic car community. Credit Suisse will offer its guests an exclusive viewing of some of the latest Mercedes models and a driving experience along California’s legendary Highway 1 participating in the Tour d’Elegance, which was previously reserved for the vehicles being exhibited at the Concours d´Elegance.

“At Credit Suisse we share a special passion with our clients for classic cars. We both admire the artful nature of automobiles which combines technology and design,” says Anthony DeChellis, CEO of Credit Suisse Private Banking Americas. “Because of our passion for classic cars and our desire to deepen our relationship with our clients, we have taken the next step and developed our own Classic Car program. Our clients will be able to network, meet motorsport pioneers, and, of course, drive. We have

begun to see a growing community that, although built on a passion for classic cars, has seen the development of enduring friendships that go well beyond mere ‘car talk.’”

At Pebble Beach, the participants in the Credit Suisse’s Classic Car Program will view rare and historic vehicles and meet former drivers such as Alain de Cadenet, the official ambassador for the Credit Suisse Classic Car program and former race car driver, who drove many legendary and victorious cars.

“I am pleased to be part of Credit Suisse’s classic car program, and look forward to meeting fellow enthusiasts and hearing about their experiences,” said de Cadenet.

With its renewed sponsorship of Pebble Beach and its partnerships with the Goodwood Revival in England and the historic Monaco Grand Prix, Credit Suisse is establishing itself as a member of the international classic car community. The Bank’s commitment to this field is further demonstrated by its two independently organized classic car rallies, as well as its own fleet of classic vehicles, which are actively used at various events, mostly held in Europe.

Amelia Concours Presents DonationsRecently, Bill Warner, chairman and founder of the

Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and Foundation, presented donations in the amount of $100,000 and $7,500 to both Community Hospice of Northeast Florida and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, respectively. To date, the Concours has presented the NMCRS with over $20,000.

“This is what it’s all about,” said Warner. “We work all year to put on a great show and this allows us to donate much-needed funds to organizations that serve a constant and real need.”

The Concours has long supported both Community Hospice and the NMCRS, the latter assisting members of

the Naval Services of the United States and eligible family members with financial, educational, and health services. A non-profit, volunteer service organization, the NMCRS is committed to ensure that active, retired, and eligible family members have access to resources that aid in self sufficiency and emergency needs.

The 2012 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance will be held March 9-11, and will honor Vic Elford and the iconic Ferrari GTO, along with custom coachwork Cadillacs and classes featuring winning entries of Florida’s two endurance races, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Griot’s Garage Signs Five-Year Renewal with LeMay Museum, provides supplies

The LeMay – America’s Car Museum (ACM) named Griot’s Garage as their Official Car Care Provider just a few years ago. In July, Richard Griot, founder of Griot’s Garage, signed a five-year renewal to continue supporting the museum. Additionally, Griot has been named to the ACM board of directors.

“We’ve been able to watch the museum literally be built from the ground up,” said Griot. “Like our company, the museum is about enthusiasts and their love for the automobile – there is a lot of synergy between our

organizations.”The new museum will be situated 30-miles south of

Seattle, Washington on a 9-acre campus, in a four story, 165,000-square foot building. The campus and museum also boasts a 3.5-acre show field, theater, café, banquet hall, and meeting facilities. Featuring rotating displays and a variety of automobiles from Pontiacs to Packards, the ACM is dedicated to preserving more than a century of automotive history; the grand opening will be in May, 2012.


In May, 2011, LIQUI MOLY produced 9,000-tons of lubricant and one-million cans of additives, equating to growth of about $50-million. Managing director and owner, Ernst Prost, has raised the turnover goal for 2012 to about $675-million.

“We used to need an entire year to achieve what we achieved in May in sales and the factory,” said Prost. “However, most important are the employees. What they achieved in May is simply unbelievable. A huge complement to my team.”

From Ulm, Germany, LIQUI MOLY offers a wide range of products such as motor oils, additives, vehicle care, and service goods. The range includes roughly 4,000-individual products, each developed, tested, and manufactured at LIQUI MOLY labs in Germany.

Rhino Linings Acquires Concrete Solutions, Inc

Rhino, long a provider of polyurethane, polyurea, polyaspartic, and epoxy coatings, recently acquired Concrete Solutions, a well-known and respected manufacturer and distributor of products and systems for the restoration, protection and beautification of concrete surfaces. The merger makes Rhino one of the largest and most comprehensive concrete treatment companies on the planet.

“This acquisition strengthens our commitment to be one of the leading concrete coatings solution providers by expanding our current product line and offering the best products available,” said Pierre Gagnon, president and CEO of Rhino Linings Corporation. “With the expanded use of concrete in both the residential and commercial markets, we want to take a leadership position in the concrete restoration business.”

Concrete Solutions made a name for itself by developing products and systems to restore and resurface concrete to original condition, while also providing customers with decorative options. Their products are frequently used on driveways, patios, indoor floors, steps, and pool decks, and have also been used in stadiums, amusement parks, hotels, and businesses.

LIQUI MOLY Sees 65-Percent Increase in Business

In its second year taking over the Orange County Fair Grounds, Barrett-Jackson proved another raving success. Taking three days and selling hundreds of cars, including the renowned David Parker collection, drew thousands of people from all over Southern California, and the nation. It’s a fantastic venue for Meguiar’s to demonstrate their products and make new friends.

“We wanted some of our friends in the media to show their cars, so we invited them out to our headquarters in Irvine, California, showed them how to properly detail and prepare a car for a show using Meguiar’s products, and then met them at the Fairgrounds for a great weekend,” said Mike Stoops of Meguiar’s.

Don Weberg, editor and publisher of GSM, brought out his 1965 Ford Mustang from a long-term storage, and was thrilled at the opportunity.

“The car has been a long time in storage, about four-

Meguiar’s Wax Company Invites GSM to Barrett-Jackson Orange County

years, and in that time it’s gotten pretty dirty,” he said. “There were a lot of water spots on the finish, as well as some light scratches – Mike and his crew took care of it all in no time, and it’s shining like a diamond.”

At specific intervals, the Meguiar’s team would have demonstrations during Barrett-Jackson weekend, showing people how to clarify cloudy headlight lenses, remove water spots, eliminate the spider web-like swirls on finishes, and much more. In all, it’s safe to say about 500 people over the course of the weekend enjoyed some brief lessons.

“The weekend was very successful for us, it’s always fun to come out and meet our customers and potential customers,” said Mike. “We like to step it up a notch, and take some time with people, which is why we even offer free detailing courses at our facilities.” Continued on Page 14.


Meguiar’s Wax Cont.


About the Vette

American cars in general have evolved leaps and bounds in the past few years, but Corvette seems to be leading the pack. During our time in Florida, we put about 2,500-miles on the Corvette Grand Sport Coupe, and

More and more it’s becoming necessary to make a vacation out of a Concours weekend. Take a few extra days, or even a full week, to enjoy the Concours and the surrounding areas. Every year in August we take a week, sometimes more, to visit the Monterey Peninsula, see some sights, learn some history, and, of course, enjoy the car shows, auctions, and auto jumbles going on. It’s always an absolute joy.

For GSM’s first trek to Amelia Island, we took a similar approach and stayed for six days in Jacksonville, just about an hour from Amelia Island, and got to know some local flair. Bill Warner, founder of the Concours, gave us a tour of the Concours offices and garage, and showed us a few garages around town, even his own. Look for more on these garages in upcoming issues of GSM, or cruise our Facebook posts.

To make the journey even more enjoyable, we borrowed a 2011 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe from GM – after all, if you’re going to a world class Concours event, it makes sense to drive a world class sports car, doesn’t it? Further, if you’re going to

Notes from Amelia Island, Floridabe spending a few days getting to know the locals, it’s great to have a car like the Vette to help break the ice. Torch Red with silver hash marks on the fenders, bright chrome rims, two-tone tan and black LT4 interior, automatic, navigation, and heads-up display, there wasn’t an option our tester didn’t have, and it was a smash hit anywhere we went. One kid driving an old van even hollered at us, “That thing is better than sex!” While we’re not sure about that, it’s close for sure.

During our time in Florida, we were able to catch some amazing sights, such as the dilapidated and abandoned old Jacksonville school house (Publisher Don Weberg pondered the idea of buying the building and moving it back to California to use as his personal home and headquarters for the Weberg Media Group), a neighborhood on the shores that looked like it popped right out of the 1930’s, an abandoned gas and service station, and oodles of other surprises. It’s more fun to spend some time before or after the show and discover than just run back home.

enjoyed every mile of it. Never did the car miss a beat – the power is astonishing, the brakes are mind boggling, for a smaller car the seats and cockpit are comfortable, and the entire experience of driving the new Vette was much more enjoyable than we expected.

Boasting 430-horsepower (a tad more, thanks to the open-flange exhaust our loaner had) and a rear-mounted 6-speed autobox, the Corvette was easy and fun to drive, even in traffic. Corvettes of the past were often subject to rattles, cowl shake, and a host of other maladies that detracted from the driving enjoyment. That’s apparently all a thing of the past. Even with the center-section roof removed, the car was as solid and poised as Gibraltar. A few uneven cracks and even two unavoidable potholes in the road proved even more to us how solid and well built the new Corvette is.

Mashing your foot on the accelerator brings a predicted

E-Types Celebrated at MuckenthalerWith a Hot Rod and Custom Show on Saturday and a

Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, the Muckenthaler Motor Car Festival marks a busy weekend in Fullerton, California. Now in it’s 17th year, the Motor Car Festival turns the Muckenthaler Arts and Cultural Center into car mecca for North Orange County.

“I’ve come to this show many times, and I never tire of it,” said David Greer, spectator. “I have some vintage cars, but none are as nice as any of these – someday maybe I can get them in this condition!”

The Jaguar E-Type was introduced in 1961, marking 50-years of the sports car, and giving the Concours a focus. The Southern California Jaguar Owner’s Club uses the Motor Car Festival as the setting for its own Concours every year, making it the perfect tie in for 2011.

“We normally have a lot of Jaguars because of the Club’s participation,” said Nick David, chair of the car show committee. “But this year we have even more Jaguars on hand, especially XKEs thanks to the 50th anniversary.”


result – a massive grin, and a lot of very rapid forward motion with a spine-tingling song from the exhaust. Going fast in a Corvette is almost too easy – the engine pulls like a jet, the exhaust has the drama of a bomb, the trans shifts with the crispness of a cold, fresh pickle snapping in two , and the car is solid and sure the entire time. So long as the driver can keep up, Corvette can deliver. Curves and corners are not much of an issue – just ease into them and Corvette comes through the other side with an undramatic but fun exit. If you’re into the whole paddle shifting movement, Corvette has you covered there as well. One arena in which we were really impressed, if not downright shocked, were the brakes – huge multi-piston calipers bite down on massive cross drilled rotors that could dub for a table platter and break speed so dramatically that we found ourselves worried more about what was behind us than in front of us.

The Grand Sport option adds a more dramatic body closely related (if not entirely) to the Z06 with a faux air intake on the nose, double air exit vents on the front fenders, rear brake vents on the lower rear fenders, and flaired rear wheel wells. The flaired wells allow for slightly wider tires out back, thus, more grip and control, which is nice, but it adds just a bit more to the Corvettes appearance. Depending on whom you ask, the Grand Sport styling is likely the most attractive of the

About the Concours

This year’s Amelia Island event proved to be another astonishing Concours, with some of the rarest and most unusual vehicles on display from around the world. Major sponsors such as Cadillac, Haggerty, and more peppered the Ritz-Carlton golf course with wonderful booths and displays, lending interesting moments to an already interesting show. Inside, visitors could enjoy a host of vendors from around the globe dealing with everything from high-end sound systems to die cast toys to insurance and investment services to watches and jewelry. The entire event, including an impressive silent auction, benefits Hospice Care of Northern Florida, Spina Bifida, and other charities.

“The weather, the cars, the people – it’s all exquisite,” said Jon Schurmann, visiting from Canada. “Every year it gets better and better, and it’s one of the things I really look forward to.”

Gooding and Company kicks off the weekend with a fantastic auction, this year selling a barn find Aston Martin, rare Alfa Romeo, and a host of American classics such as Packards and Pierce Arrows, and even a Dual Ghia.

“The fact that this event supports so much more than just itself is nice,” said Juliet Ulman, visiting from Pennsylvania. “This is the second year my husband and I have come to Amelia for the car show, and we have a great time.”

Corvette family because of its unique appointments blended with Z06 cues.

Featuring the LT4 interior option, our loaner car had soft surfaces throughout with hand-stitched leather seats, console, dash, and door panels, and was truly worth the extra coin. It’s where Corvette absolutely becomes a world-class contender, more readily able to compare and compete with like-minded sports cars from Europe and Japan. Corvette has long had the power and the prowess to keep pace with the competition, but many complained it was the cockpit where Corvettes fell short against the others; with the LT4 package, that gripe ends, and suddenly the world is faced with a sports car that’s comparable in many ways, and literally several thousand dollars less. Nicely too, LT4 is available on regular Corvettes as well.

During our journey, the Coupe had enough luggage space to accommodate three larger suitcases, a couple of duffle bags, and some camera equipment. Not too shabby for a car considered by most to be small. In all, the Corvette Grand Sport really made our journey to Amelia Island much more enjoyable. Makes us wonder what it could do for our normal lives.

The Concours honored racing legend Bobby Rahal, and it was a unique experience to be wandering through the hotel and literally bump into him, and have a nice little conversation. Also, chatting it up with Karen Meguiar, wife of Barry Meguiar, at the silent auction, crossing paths with Matt Stone, and catching some time with David E. Davis, Jr. was special indeed.


With the absence of the Los Angeles Concours d’Elegance, Aaron Weiss, Paul Colony, and members of the Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) worked to launch the first annual San Marino Motor Classic. Held at Lacy Park in San Marino, California, the event was highly successful.

“We’re very proud of the

New Concours Launched in San Marinoturnout, for a first year event it’s much better than anyone expected,” said Weiss.

Roughly 250 cars showed up, ranging from vintage Porsches to classic Packards, and judging was provided by members of the CCCA.

“This has to be a tough show to judge,” said Robert Stubin, spectator. “All the cars are beautiful, and the owners seem genuinely enthusiastic about them, which makes the show even more enjoyable.”

The CCCA has used Lacy Park as the venue for its show Continued to Page 20

It was only weeks later that he passed away.In the end, Bill Warner awarded two Best

of Show Awards, the Best in Show Concours d’Sport, awarded to Harry Yeaggy and his 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster, and the Best in Show Concours d’Elegance, awarded to Jack and Helen Nethercutt and their 1933 Duesenberg SJN Arlington Torpedo Sedan.

“They’re all fantastic cars and great people,” said Bill Warner. “This year was especially difficult to judge, but we feel ultimately that we did very well.” See more at www.garagestylemagazine.com.


Rodeo Drive Father’s Day Concours Honors the Art of Italian Motoring

With Fiat reentering the US market, and Italy marking 150 years of unification, it made sense for the Father’s Day Show in Beverly Hills, California to celebrate Italian Motoring.

“The show is fantastic, everybody is having a great time, the cars are fantastic, it’s just a great way to spend father’s day,” said Bruce Meyer, chairman of the event.

Fiat sponsored the event with a gelato and espresso stand, a gift shop, and the opportunity to drive a new 500. They also lined Rodeo Drive with new 500s – one in every color. A number of Italian car collectors and aficionados brought their cars for display, including Fiats from the early part of the last century, small city cars, and more mainstream spiders and coupes.

“I love the new 500, and I plan to buy one after this event,” said Mark Greene, a spectator. “I heard they were coming back to the States, but I had no idea of the enthusiasm behind the cars. I didn’t know so many older Fiats were still out there

on a number of occasions, but this is the first time there has been a formal concours at the park aside from the clubs. For the Motor Car Classic, vendors such as Hasseblad Cameras, Lalique, and the Petersen Museum were on hand creating a boutique experience.

“You can’t beat this venue,” said Holly Lauren, resident. “This park is perfect for a car show of this caliber – the people are all having a nice time, the music is fantastic. I hope this show returns next year.”

San Marino con’t.

MECUM to Feature 600 Collector Cars at Dallas, October 6-8The auction season continues

to heat up for Mecum Auctions after a $40-million auction in Kissimmee and nearly $50-million at their flagship Spring Classic event in Indianapolis. On the docket this Fall will be a new Mecum event in Dallas, Texas, but first their September auction in St. Charles, Illinois.

Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles will play host to four big days of auction action and 1,000 vehicles Sept. 15-18, 2011. Among the headliners for the event will be a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 KK #1451 and a Fathom Green 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro. Included in the early list of consignments are rare Mopars, desirable GTOs, and

several Corvettes. The inaugural Mecum event in Dallas

will debut on Oct. 6-8, 2011 at the Dallas Convention Center. Mecum will offer 600 classic and collector cars during the three-day event, which will be broadcast nationally on the company’s popular television series “Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars & More”

airing on Discovery Communications HD Theater. “Over the past few years, Mecum has experienced

tremendous growth. We have added days to many of our events, allowing us to sell more cars and better serve our customers. We are excited to bring the Mecum experience to Texas in October with our inaugural Dallas auction,” Dana Mecum said.

Entries up over previous years, Coppa d’oro delle Dolomiti Experiences Surge in International Interest

The Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti, to be held September 1-4, is an historic and beloved race which has recently seen a number of new entries. The Coppa is expecting 175 crews, up 40-percent compared to previous events. Of the 175, 11 teams are from Monte Carlo, Switzerland, Belgium, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, and Israel.

“We are pleased that the number of members is constantly increasing,” said Rossella Labate, head of the upper echelons, the Brescia

company that is bringing en vogue the historic race established in 1947.

Sponsored by the Foundation Unesco Dolomites and the Veneto region, confirmed as one of the most desirable and attractive locations on an international level, enrollees compete along breathtaking mountain paths, winding through challenging hairpins, arriving at historic squares where large, growing

audiences wait to greet the cars and drivers.


officeprofile

Offi ce Profi le: Joseph “Corky” CokerOccupation: President of Coker Tire Company, the

world’s leading supplier of specialty tires and wheels for collector vehicles. Corky is a busy man, but spends a lot of time at his beautifully restored building in the historic Southside district of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He runs the business, and is constantly developing new tires for all sorts of applications, including classic cars, motorcycles, commercial trucks and even airplanes.

Location: Coker Tire Headquarters, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Setting: Corky’s offi ce is located on the top fl oor of Coker Tire’s world headquarters, which was originally built in 1910 and completely refurbished within the past few years. It’s a four-story building, with sandblasted brick, and heart pine fl ooring. The facility is built with large wooden beams for structure, and it features a large lobby on the ground level, and easy access to the loading dock, machine shop and restoration shop. The building is physically connected to these shop areas, as well as the Honest Charley Speed Shop, and the Coker Tire Museum, which features approximately 70 classic cars from the 1900’s to the 1980’s, and nearly 40 vintage motorcycles, some as old as 1907. It even features a vintage airplane hanging from the rafters!

The Offi ce Creep of Joseph “Corky” Coker

Corky’s offi ce is large, old school, with decor galore.


Garagefeatures

Spending his younger days running with an organized car club in Santa Monica, Chuck’s love affair with

automobiles spans back decades. Today, most of his time is spent running an electronics company in Southern California, or spending time with his family – but on occasion, he gets out to his garage to enjoy a car, or just some time to reminisce.

“Our club was focused on cars, but aided in civic activities,” he said. “We would help with local events and happenings in an attempt to clean up the image of the hot rodder. For the most part it worked, in Santa Monica, where they knew us reasonably well, a lot of the locals knew we were about more than just tearing up the streets.”

It was the basic messaging behind Robert Petersen’s Hot Rod magazine, Wally Parks National Hot Rod Association (NHRA Safari, as it was known back then) and countless others to follow. Slowly the publications and dedicated rodders dispelled the myth that hot rodders were a gangly group of derelicts anxious to tango with the law. Chuck and his club would race at sanctioned drags held at local tracks such as Lions, and San Fernando when both were functional. The club would even have weekly meetings at a local restaurant in Santa Monica to discuss club business and involvements. It was an exercise that would stick, as Chuck went through the years involving himself with business and family responsibilities. Over time, Chuck collected an arsenal of nostalgic memorabilia ranging from trophies to pictures to plaques to clothing and on and on.

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Like a typical garagista car guy, he hung onto pretty much all of it, looking forward to the day he’d have a place to keep it.

“When we bought this house, it had a nice garage, but it was always a lot of storage and a Corvette, which was the daily driver,” he said. “So when the empty lot across the way

An ecclectic mix of cars reside at the Trove.

Inside the cars rest on RaceDeck.


Garage Style Magazine has never covered an automobile factory. From an American perspective, automobile

factories often conjure up images of mass production, robots, dingy spaces, disgruntled employees, CEO’s begging for bail out money from governmental bodies, and a multitude of dehumanizing aspects associated with the industrial age. This runs contrary to the central theme of Garage Style Magazine which seeks to showcase individual expression and character through automotive themes in garage spaces, homes, art, product, and people. It’s a magazine celebrating individualism and tradition.

So, why do a story on the Morgan Automobile factory? Because it’s a completely different kind of factory owned by a company of unique philosophies, celebrating individualism and tradition.

The factory can best be described as a collection of brick buildings, or very large garages, each with a specific artisan purpose; wood crafting, metal panel shaping, hand body fitting, paint application, and upholstery. The pace of the operation is deliberately moderate, and is the total opposite of the frenetic, repetitive and robotic methods seen in the modern automated automobile factories. The Morgan factory represents that bygone era and commitment to tradition all garageistas appreciate.

The Morgan Motor CompanyA Hand-Hewn Automobile Crafted by Artisans

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This year the Morgan Motor Company celebrates its’ 102-year anniversary. This is quite an achievement unto itself, but all the more remarkable considering the company still builds cars the same way it has for the last century. Located on Pickersleigh Road in the small village of Malvern Link, England, the company relocated to this at-the-time newly constructed collection of single-story brick buildings situated near the local city park in 1919, leaving behind the original factory at Worcester Road. By 1923 all Morgan production, except for the machine shop, had moved to Pickersleigh. Unless you were specifically looking for the Morgan factory address, it would be easy to pass the compound on Pickersleigh Road. Not much has changed in Malvern Link over the last 102 years and the Morgan factory is no exception.

Founded in 1909 by Harry Frederick Stanley Morgan, or HFS as he was known, his first “cars” were three-wheeled vehicles powered by a motorcycle engine, and could best be described as being half-motorcycle, half- car. The Morgan three-wheeler endeared itself to the British motoring public, and by 1937 they introduced their first 4-wheeled car, the Morgan 4/4. The name stood for 4-cylinders/4-wheels announcing to the world that Morgan was finally making a 100-percent legitimate automobile. The body was sleek and stylish for the time and the basic theme and silhouette of that car continues

Morgans await owners.

www.spiritofspeed.comEmail : [email protected]

Tel. USA 760.580.8005France 33. 603.461.031

Spirit of Speed~ ORIGINAL ~

Automobilia • Petroliana • Art

A Purpose-Built Garage High Above the PeninsulaTuff Shed

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When a couple both work in stressful and challenging fields, it’s paramount that they have a retreat far from

it all at the end of the day; a sanctuary to cleanse their psyche of the demanding worries their careers dictate. Adrian, a Netflix movie streaming boss, and Laurel, a contract negotiator with a legal flair, adhered to this advice, and chose to make a home high in the mountains above a Northern California peninsula, overlooking a lush valley of green leading to the Pacific Ocean and breathtaking sunsets. The road from town to home is a winding ribbon of narrow asphalt switchbacking through a dense forest – sports car fanatics love a good, winding time.

“We didn’t want to live in town, and in fact, wanted to leave work very much behind,” Adrian said. “Part of

moving here though was to also establish a garage that could house our cars and give us a place to tinker about.”

You see, with Adrian and Laurel, the automotive love affair is his and hers.

“When I met Adrian, he introduced me to autocrossing,” she said. “I already liked cars, but I had no idea something like that was available. He really opened my eyes to motoring.”

With that, the couple enjoyed crossing their Lotus, Porsche and other sports cars and spent Valentines’ Days taking one car or another to a track day.

“It’s so exciting, and so much fun,” said Laurel.“Except when something breaks,” Adrian chimes in.But when something does break, that’s when their

garage comes in handy.


The shed preserves the wheels in the great outdoors.


When they built their garage, the couple chose the cost-effective method of purchasing a 32’x36’ prefab building from Tuff Shed, and working with local talent to lay a proper concrete foundation. A team of friends helped to organize the various pre-assembled garage components that were delivered to the couple via big rig, and the structure was ultimately assembled at their home.

“You can imagine the job of driving a truck that size up this road,” said Adrian.

With the help of paid pros, Adrian and Laurel built a purposeful, protective, and attractive six car garage that also complemented the overall look of their home.

During the construction of the garage, Adrian set up time-lapse

cameras to record the progress of the garage, a video they very much enjoy watching and sharing.

“Not only does the video show the construction process, but you get to see the garage assembly in detail,” he said.

The video is fascinating. Weather changes, plastic protective tarps, concrete being poured, formed, smoothed, big rigs and cranes lifting formidable bundles of metal pieces that come together like an Erector Set to form a garage – rain, sun, wind, tree clearing, junk removal, and so on. The entire process recorded.

“It didn’t take as long as we thought it would, and we would have finished sooner if it weren’t for some bad weather that moved in,” Laurel said.

“It’s a place to park, play, and enjoy – a garage doesn’t have to be a palace to be enjoyable, it just has to be set up as you need it.”

Simple, the shed works well; add floor and art.

Fiats are easy for a BendPak to handle.

“But it was no walk in the park either.”

The couple feels it was more cost effective, easier, and fun than hiring a contractor, architect, and builder to assemble their dream garage.

“It’s a place to park, play, and enjoy – a garage doesn’t have to be a palace to be enjoyable, it just has to be set up as you need it,” said Adrian. “With this, over time, we can decorate it more, install a more attractive fl oor if we like, bring in more interesting storage chests and so on. But, for now, we’re having loads of fun with it as is.”

When we visited Adrian and Laurel, their garage had been assembled for several months. They’d had time to install a BendPak lift, build

some purposefully solid wooden work benches and shelves, hang a few pieces of art, layout a rubberized snap-together fl oor, and establish a home for the various tires burned up by autocrossing. The walls had been fi nished with drywall coverings, but the ceilings remained open beam, with a fi re sprinkler system.

“We really like it, it’s a great place for the cars, and a great place for us to enjoy working with them,” Laurel said. “The best part was it was quick and effi cient to put up. Our cars are out of the elements.”

Calling the space home is a late-model Porsche Boxster, a Citroen SM, two Fiat 124 Spiders, a Mazda Miata, Lotus Elise, and Porsche 911. Each one runs and is used regularly, none are trailer queens, and all are perfect for the road to and from town.

“The SM is probably the most cumbersome going up and down the hill, it’s a bit lofty,” he said. “But on the open road it cruises beautifully.”

Since we visited, solar panels have been added to the garage roof, and this summer a Nissan Leaf Electric Car has been added to the collection. GSM

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Work bench is stout.

Battery charging station.


Having spent a portion of their early years redeveloping coastal communities in Southern California, Larry and his

wife, Karen, knew where to seek out their dream home when the time presented itself. When they discovered it, nestled in the hills overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean, they knew they’d found their sanctuary, their place to call home.

And, as it turned out, it was an ideal spot for Larry to create his ultimate garage.

“We’ve lived in the area for 37-years, and we like it here,” said Larry. “We were really fortunate to have found this house; it does everything just right for us. Especially the garage.”

Larry has always enjoyed designing and building, a talent he put to good use preparing his garage just for him.

“It was a sizable garage, and still is, and that size enabled me to design a layout within that worked for me, integrating where cabinets, outlets, machinery and so on would be,” he said. “I worked in construction, which made a lot of sense,

Muse GarageAbove a California Shore is a Garage of Dreams

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because I love working with my hands, problem solving, and tinkering.”

As such, he’s always trying to stay one step ahead of the technology curve, keep abreast of emerging advancements, and try new things. For example, in 1976, he designed and built an electric skateboard, followed up in 1978 with an electric go-cart.

“The go-cart was capable of speeds over 80-miles per hour,” he said.

He amassed many awards, and developed a sizable reputation in the hobby world, and the bug has never been silenced. Lately, his garage has come in especially handy as he’s been dedicating his time to building one-of-a kind model tether cars. Electric, gas, and even CO2 powered, each of these cars took over 800-hours to complete. Obviously that’s a lot of time to work in any garage.

“Working on these cars, to me, is challenging and fun.

Stamped concrete driveway compliments garage, cars.

Willy Wonka flair.“It’s a fun little escape,” he said.Aside from showcasing his interest in creating and using

tools, his garage proves to be the perfect place to showcase his passion for automobiles. In his youth, Larry enjoyed racing and maintaining the first car he bought, a 1960 Chevy with a potent 348-V8. While he sold this car many years ago, it launched his appreciation towards all cars, especially those of a performance variety.

“I had a 409-powered Chevy after the 348,” he said. “Both of them were brutal, but so much fun. I have bought and sold a few cars since then, but I am more of a keeper; I buy what I like and just keep it around.”

Through his tenure with cars, Larry grew to appreciate a diverse spectrum of vehicles, but leans toward sports cars. One of his favorite cars, of which he is the original owner, is a 1969 Porsche 911S.

“I loved the torque of muscle cars, but it’s nice to be able to stop and turn as aptly as accelerate, and sports cars see to that,” he said.

The 911S is one of three Porsches in the family, but he’s also owned for a number of years an original fuel injected 1957 Corvette, 1926 Ford Model T, and a Ferrari 430. In the past, Larry also enjoyed driving and meticulously maintaining an F512M Ferrari, 1955 Chevy Convertible, and a 1979 Twin Turbo Porsche.

“It’s a lot of fun driving these cars in the winding hills near our home, and returning to my dream garage,” he said.

We wonder which is more fun – the driving or returning? GSM

During construction the stairs were added.


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Batmobile calls retasked warehouse home.


Having founded, run, and sold a pet supply manufacturing

company with 250 employees, warehouses on the east and west coasts keeping big box retail stores supplied, and reinventing part of the pet industry, Dennis elected to downshift a little bit. After selling the company, he invested in local commercial real estate keeping things simple, comparatively speaking; he wanted to spend more time with his friends and family, which includes eight grandkids, than at work, and decided it was time to have a purpose-built garage for his collection of cars.

“Building my business, I was frequently away from my family. I wanted to be able to change that, and spend time with my kids and grandkids,” he said. “Before this garage, I was parking my cars in the manufacturing warehouse. They were ok there, out of the way and safe, but it wasn’t like having a fun garage.”

Through the years, Dennis had gone to great lengths to find and purchase exactly the cars he wanted. A 1965 Ford Mustang GT Fastback has been his since high school; a Fiat 500 he discovered while riding a bike through Newport Beach, actually chasing it on the bike, and buying it on the spot when it finally stopped; and recently he added a Mercedes SLS Gullwing and Ferrari 458 Italia to his lineup, which also includes a Ferrari 328, Porsche 356 Cabriolet, 1963 Split Window Fuel Injected Corvette Sting Ray, 1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe with the original Flathead V-8, 1929 Ford Model A Phaeton and Sunbeam Tiger. He also has a Harley Davidson Road King Classic, and a Harley Soft Tail Custom, but probably the star attraction of the collection would be the 1966 Ford known as the Batmobile.

“I bought that car with a business partner, and it is more fun than anything either of us has ever owned,” he said. “It’s

built on a Ford chassis, and drives a bit like a tank, but people love it so much, it’s really fun picking up the grandkids from school in it.”

Everything on the car works, from the flame-throwing jet in the back to the blade up front. Through the Batmobile, he’s had the opportunity of meeting both Adam West and Burt Ward from the original Batman series, and is actually working with Ward on some business ventures.

“They are both fantastic guys,” he said. “The Batman spirit is so alive, even in the younger generation, thanks to the new movies and reruns of the original series on television and the Internet. It’s great fun.”

Searching for a garage didn’t take a lot of time. In fact, he discovered that since the local hospital had gone bankrupt, it began selling off its’ support buildings, which gave Dennis a golden opportunity to purchase a number of properties, in bulk, in the neighborhood near his home. Holding onto the original west coast warehouse

from his manufacturing days, he leased that property to a health food manufacturing company, and one by one began renovating the old hospital support buildings.

“The buildings weren’t very old, but they were really in disrepair,” he said. “The one I use as an office and garage, for example, was the physician’s lounge, and had a gym, nice seating areas, and so on, but by the time I bought it, it had really been abused.”

Which might have been perfect.“I hired a contractor to come in, gut it, and retask the

building for myself and a chiropractor tenant,” he said. “I built exam rooms for the chiropractor, and got his office established first so he could begin working, and then set up my office and garage.”

The waiting room and offices are styled traditionally, but the garage is anything but. Measuring out to about

We’re Organized did the floors, cabinets and finishing.

Back yard mechanics to world famous car builders and traditional hot rods to multi million dollar classics are all featured on “The Vintage Vehicle Show”. Lance Lambert, the show’s producer and host, has been taking you

on four wheeled adventures since 1993 and “The Vintage Vehicle Show”, broadcast nationally and internationally, can be enjoyed every week on your TV and computer screens. Check your local listings for times and topics, or log on to www.vintagevehicletv.com

6,000-square feet, the garage is divided into two sections by a pocket door subtly disguised as a wall with many pictures upon it, blending into the two walls flanking it. One section is more of a working garage, where he keeps a mint condition 1987 Chevrolet El Camino, Eliminator Ski Boat, a pair of Honda Wave Runners, a golf cart, train set, slot car set, small gym, a couple of Go-Karts and one of the original Mayberry police cars from The Andy Griffith Show.

“I wanted it to be a place where work could be done,” he said. “But, it also provides an overflow for cars that don’t quite fit in the showroom space, and it has a lot of fun elements for the kids; my two grandsons, 2- and 6-years old, are car guys already, which is neat.”

The other garage section is the showroom, which has been set up for entertaining and enjoying. At one end, Dennis has established three lifts to allow six parking spaces, while the

opposite end is a lounge environment with leather couches, an air hockey table, kitchenette, and bathroom. In between is very open and spacious, making it perfect for entertaining.

“When the contractor was done setting up the offices and garages, I called We’re Organized to do the floors and cabinets,” he said. “Bill Koepsell and his family who run We’re Organized were fabulous – they did a tremendous job putting it all together.”

The color scheme was deliberately kept somewhat neutral, allowing the cars and art and game elements to be the stars. However, it also allowed for a lot of light colors to be used, thus, providing for excellent light reflection. Overhead, a multitude of fluorescent lights were installed, along with a few skylights, which were recently shaded to cut down on the amount of light and heat coming into the building. The cabinets are flush faced, white with black trim. The floor was treated and the light grey epoxy was applied. Over the epoxy, in the kitchen and lounge areas, RaceDeck tile floors were used to create a pad.

“We donate the garage to a lot of charities to use for meetings or social functions or fund raisers,” he said. “So, it was important to have a large space for a lot of people, but also some good seating and work areas for food and drink. It’s more fun when you can share it.”

Adding to the fun factor, Dennis recently began working on installing a full screen for a movie theater, complete with sound system, custom lighting for dancing, and full-scale control modules.

“It’ll be a lot of fun, just like going to a club, or to a downtown movie theater to watch a film,” he said. “The people that use the garage for their functions should really love it.”

Who knew downshifting could be so much fun? GSM

A set of lifts keeps cars organized, creates room.

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Garages in HistoryBest Damn Garage in Town

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Being an engine builder named “Smokey” resonates with as much bravado as a sprinter named “Stumbles,” but he

was.Henry “Smokey” Yunick wasn’t just “an” engine builder;

he was “the “engine builder. His nickname didn’t come from his ignorance about piston ring tolerances, it came from his piloting a B-17 Flying Fortress named “Smokey and His Firemen” on more than 50 missions over Europe. Beyond being an engine builder and a gifted mechanic he was also an inventor, designer, racer, builder, crew chief, pilot, author and partier. We’re talking Renaissance guy in white coveralls and a pipe.

After the war Smokey came to Daytona to open a truck repair shop because, “it was warm and looked good from the air.” Finding a name for the garage was as natural to him as gapping a spark plug with the naked eye, thus “The Best Damn Garage in Town” was born.

Smokey’s reputation as a mechanic justified the braggadocios sign over the garage on Beach Street and he was soon approached by Marshall Teague, a local stock car race team owner. Despite being unfamiliar with stock car racing he prepared a Hudson Hornet which won the second Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. His legacy in stock car racing was cemented. By the time he left NASCAR he was twice named NASCAR mechanic of the year and his teams included fifty of the most famous drivers in the sport, winning 57 races, including two Grand National championships.

Smokey was also reputed to be the greatest rule-breaker Continued on Page 48

in motorsports history where he described the outfoxing of NASCAR inspectors as “walking under a snake’s belly.” Yunick was fond of placing a basketball in an oversize fuel tank for inspection and then deflating it prior to the race, or building a car exactly seven-eights the size of the actual car.

From 1958 until 1973 Smokey was a dominant force in Indianapolis 500 racing, winning the 1960 race. In 1962

“...Innovations that came out of “The Best Damn Garage in Town” included the extended tip spark plug, reverse fl ow cooling systems, a high effi ciency vapor carburetor, variable ratio power steering and a racetrack safety wall made of discarded tires.”

Smokey changed open wheel racing forever with an innovative addition to Jim Rathmann’s Simoniz Vista Special Watson Roadster. A student of aerodynamics Yunick mounted a “wing” on the car allowing Rathmann to reach unparalled new speeds in the corners. The United States Automobile Club (USAC) honored the innovation by banning its use. The “wing” was quickly adopted by Can-Am and Formula One racers and USAC eventually allowed their use.

Other innovations that came out of “The Best Damn Garage in Town” included the extended tip spark plug, reverse fl ow cooling systems, a high effi ciency vapor carburetor, variable ratio power steering and a racetrack safety wall made of discarded tires. He was granted twelve patents and was inducted into over 30 Halls of Fame (including the International Motorsports Hall of Fame). He spent thirty years in Ecuador consulting for oil refi neries. His personal items (hats, pipes, boots and engines) are displayed at museums from race tracks to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. For over thirty years he wrote for Popular Science, Hot Rod and Circle Track magazine. There’s little doubt that he would have been an inaugural subscriber to Garage Style Magazine. His autobiography Sex, Lies, and Superspeedways was published in 2001 and was narrated by his longtime friend John DeLorean.

Smokey closed his Daytona shop in 1987 claiming he couldn’t fi nd decent mechanics. Sadly the garage burned

down on April 25th, 2011 and was destroyed.

Yunick died of leukemia in 2009 and as a fi nal tribute (orchestrated by his wife Margie) his ashes were scattered in every winner’s circle where his cars won.

As per his strict instructions, after his death the contents of his shop were auctioned off. He had witnessed his friend, the famed drag racing

champion Don Gartlits struggle to develop and maintain a museum and did not want either his family to be saddled with such a burden, or a “high roller” to gain control of his reputation. “Instead,” according to biographer Grant Cooper, “he preferred that his tools, equipment, cars, engines, and parts go to people who would use them, and before his death he undertook to restore as much of it as possible to working condition. The proceeds of the auction went to a foundation to fund innovations in motorsports.”

All that remains of the “Best Damn Garage in Town” are portions of the block walls and the rebellious spirit of an engine builder named “Smokey.” GSM

“A garage should reflect today’s classic designs, in order topreserve yesterday’s vintage cars for tomorrow’s enjoyment.”

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automobiliaoutlook

Collecting die cast toy cars is something pretty much every car guy does and enjoys. It’s relatively easy to

do, inexpensive, and fun. Thanks to a large number of manufacturers, both in business and defunct, resurrected and dormant, the scope of collecting die cast cars and trucks is gigantic.

Since the early part of the last century, and particularly during the late 1940s, die cast manufacturers such as Dinky, Corgi, Majorette, Mattel, Lesney, and many more came and went, bringing to market a variety of models. Primarily made of Zamak or Mazak (commonly referred to as pot metal) an aluminum-zinc alloy, earlier toys were stamped, rough, and cheap. Because of the porous and often impure alloy, these toys easily broke and often wore out early. But, they served a purpose and brought hours of joy to many a boy’s lives.

During the 1950’s, Corgi largely raised the bar on the die cast industry by adding a solid bottom to the body through which axles were housed, interiors, and clear plastic windows. During the late 1960’s, Hot Wheels were introduced with radical paint schemes, body work, and low-friction tires and

Collecting Die Cast ToystExt by

gAry ng, m2 toys, And thE EditorsimAgEs by

m2 toys And frAnklin mint

axles allowing them to achieve higher than normal speeds. By the 1970’s certain higher-end manufacturers were producing die cast models with opening doors and hoods, rubber tires, and certain detailing bringing their image closer to the real vehicle. By the 1980’s a large number of adults were collecting die cast toys, but unlike children who played with the toys, the movement turned the once pastime toy into a serious hobby.

Interestingly, despite the new surge in collecting during the 1980’s, a number of manufacturers went bankrupt and-or were sold to larger companies which moved manufacturing operations to automated plants in other parts of the world. With all this big business going on, it’s easy to think that the 1980’s were a golden era for the industry, but really, it wasn’t – it was rough to say the least. However, the bright spots were lower prices, higher availability, and new manufacturers popping up with ever higher standards to serve the collector’s market exclusively, thus, separating the toys from the collectibles. One company that largely spearheaded the movement was Franklin Mint. Their extremely detailed die cast models, mostly larger

Continued to Page 54

Die Cast with scenes can be a fun way to display.


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Artistprofile

It is often said that creation is the extension of ones self, portrayed onto a medium, but where does that spark come

from? Some artists derive their inspiration from real world situations, like a sunset, or an intimate moment, but the most obscure inspirations come from somewhere hidden deep in the ethos. Those thoughts and ideas remain dormant until the time is right for them to rear up. For Bernardo Corman, the inspirations for his surrealist sculptures often come at that moment when he is teetering on the edge of reality and the dream world. That lucid state has allowed him to create

Bernardo

Corman

magnifi cent works that challenge the idea of normalcy. His sculptures are far from controversial, but that

dreamscape shines through on each piece. Whether it’s a car soaring through the clouds on wings or a fi sh gliding through time smiling the face of a Buick, Corman’s work forces a break neck double take.

“I like to juxtapose two despairing things together, something natural with something handmade,” said Corman. That blend brings his thoughts from the dream world into reality.

tExt by

JErEmiAh mcdAniElimAgEs ProvidEd by

bErnArdo cormAn

his recent fish/car hybrids are made using this new technique, and he even taught himself how to airbrush, each one is hand painted.

The thought for the series of sculptures, like many of his other ideas came one night at that in between time between awake and asleep, but he says this one changed him a bit. “I was going through a real tough time, I was going through an identity crisis of sorts, just trying to find out who I was as an artist. When I started making these they gave me a new sort of direction.” said Corman.

Corman says that his entire art career has been a “long strange trip.” That trip started with a boy discovering his own mortality, and searching for a way to cement his mark on this earth, a way to leave a lasting memory. Often the beginning of a journey is forgotten, it’s the final outcome that is remembered, and all the memories in between fade into obscurity, but for Corman, those in betweens become the inspiration for the journey itself. GSM

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Dedicated to French art and automobiles, the Mullin Automotive Museum is a window into an era of exceptional design and custom craftsmanship. The dominant artistic styles of Art Deco and Modernism express a fascination with streamlined forms, exotic materials, and their application to fi ne art and industrial design. Nothing captures this spirit of exploration, innovation, and invention more than the automobile. Come discover the best of an exciting age.

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uniqueartists

Joe PepitoneLooking at JoepeP’s designs is like taking a step back in time. His attention to detail gives just enough to get the receptors fi ring, but leaves room to let them fi ll the gaps. Using his years as a typographer comic producer JoepeP adds a little fun to each of his pieces.www.autocomstudios.com

Nicolas Hunziker comes from a long line of racers and an even longer line of artists. His work incorporates art deco with the authenticity of being what he calls period correct. The class shown in his work would fi t in a garage, an offi ce or even over a fi replacewww.nicolashunziker.com

Nicolas Hunziker

Steve ErlerYou may think that Steve Erler has an obsession with Lincolns, and you are probably right, but that obsession gives way to passion, and his passion is cars. Erler develops his pieces based on photographs, and can produce one of works or limited number prints. He’s available for commission work, and you may just catch him hanging around the L.A. car scene on weekends. www.auto-visuals.com


personalityprofile

Jacques Vaucher is the founder – owner of arteauto.com, an auction company and on-line store specializing in the sale

of collectible automobile related artifacts. His range of product line spans 22 categories (automobilia, art, posters, mascots, signed/autographed photos, etc.) with over 1,600 items on sale at any given time. What separates arteauto.com from the rest of the herd is the rarity and uniqueness of his product

Jacques VaucherArteauto.com

Desirably Rare AutomobiliatExt by

bill nAkAsonEimAgEs by

ArtE Auto And JAcQuEs vAuchEr

selection. He has been involved with both the acquisition and sales of automobilia for over 36 years and has amassed an interesting, eclectic and historical collection from all over the world.

In order to understand arteauto.com, one must first understand Jacques Vaucher. Jacques has always been an automotive enthusiast. His godfather owned a toy company

Jacques Vaucher in his barn/gallery.

When asked what item categories have the best upside investment potential Jacques responds “art is a good investment if it is done by a recognized and respected artist. Mascots are also good. Vintage race posters are really popular. Even if they end up being reproduced, there is always a market for a good original poster. It is hard to generalize about a single type of item since each piece must be evaluated on an individual level.” Jacques has a good sense of value and desirability. What he does feel with certainty is that automobilia has proven to be a good investment.

“All of the automobile related collectible categories have really taken off in the last 10 years. People are often surprised that the value of their memorabilia has closely followed the value escalation of their car collection.”

Beyond the virtual world of the Internet, Jacques stays in touch with the car community through his interface with car clubs. Many of the marque clubs (Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati, Duesenberg, etc) have visited the arteauto.com showroom and it is even a destination spot for the Texas 1,000 rally event. He still travels throughout the world in search of the rare and elusive automobilia. This year, he will be present at the Retro Mobile tent in Pebble Beach, California during the week of the Monterrey Historics. This is where Jacques meets up with old friends of yesteryear and gets introduced to new friends. There are no adjectives adequate to describe the size, scope and character of arteauto.com. Therefore, the best way to understand it is to go directly to the website – arteauto.com. For those of you interested in adorning the walls of your garage with rare pieces, you owe it to yourself to surf his site. For those of you wanting to liquidate or thin out your automotive related collectibles, this site is also of primary interest to you. You won’t be disappointed. GSM

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A California club drove though the area and stopped for lunch.

Inside the barn/gallery.

Arte Auto Con’t.


Mint, this Fiat is more than rare.

Automobilereview

There was a time when Fiat built large, powerful, luxurious cars. Not unlike Duesenberg, Mercedes, and Bentley, Fiat

crafted cars that were race and boulevard ready for a very small demographic: the extraordinarily wealthy. But, where Fiat differed from most manufacturers of expensive cars was in its ahead-of-the-time business thinking of providing cars for the common and affluent people. Fiat was to Italy what Ford was to America in the early part of the last century – mass producing affordable, reliable cars for the working public. It’s safe to say the sales of the common road cars were what supported the construction of the higher end Fiats – a philosophy that kept Ferrari racing in later decades, road cars supporting a more expensive, yet beneficial, program.

In 1910, Fiat began building cars in Poughkeepsie, New York, making them the first foreign automobile manufacturer to

1913 FIAT Tipo 55 9-Litre Speed Car, the Supercar Predecessor

tExt by

don WEbErgimAgEs

Autolit.com And thE Author

construct cars in the United States. The New York cars were primarily larger, more powerful, luxurious cars for an upper-middle to upper-class American market. One of the cars they produced in that facility was Gary Wales’ 1913 Tipo 55 Speed Car. Boasting a 9-liter, 50/60-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine with a 4-speed transmission, Gary’s car has been documented as number 211, built in 1912 and sold in 1913 as a 1913 car.

“Most of these cars are gone, and I mean 99.9-percent,” said Gary. “The fact that this car is here is a mystery; they led hard lives, and vanished. No one cared back then, even though they cost so much money, they weren’t respected like Bentleys or Duesenbergs, which people coveted; these cars were factory-built race cars, and that’s how they were treated. So, they’re gone.”

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Bookreviews

From Formula 1 Custom Cars to the First Steam Car it is all

Here and Set to Music

Runways and Racers: Sports Car Races held on Military Airfields in America 1952-1954 Terry O’Neil

Runways and Racers focuses on the various aspects that contributed to sports car races being held at military installations throughout America in the early 1950s. It was a marriage of convenience for the Sports Car Club of America and the Strategic Air Command, with both parties gaining advantages from the arrangement as well as providing contributions towards it. The thorn in the side turned out to be a Congressman whose own aspirations exceeded his standing, but who found himself in a position to be able to influence the outcome of events.

The Snake and the StallionTen years in the making, this fast-paced, sixties-style, split screen epic with an amazing soundtrack tells the extraordinary story of how Carroll Shelby, together with a bunch of Southern Californian hot-rodders took on the might of Enzo Ferrari and his GTO in the mid 60s. Aside from original interviews from all the participants there’s wonderful archive footage alongside some beautiful, newly filmed reconstructions with the original cars (Ferrari GTO, 250 SWB, Cobras and Daytona Coupe) on the track.

A must for Cobra and Ferrari fans alike.

“I spent a whole lot of time with Richard on this and he’s really nailed it. Got all the right people, from Dan Gurney to Lee Iacocca. It’s a wonderful, wonderful story and I’ve never seen anybody tell it better. I’m very proud to have been part of it.” - Carroll Shelby


businessprofile

Rob Dickinson has a thing for the air cooled Porsche 911s. His earliest recollection of the legendary sports car dates

back to being 5-years old, riding in the family sedan, and watching a bright green Targa zip passed. He was hooked – like so many young people, the impression was deep and permanent, and he was a Porsche man. At 5.

In his later years, he worked at Lotus as a designer, where he honed his skills, and learned a few tricks about business, and ultimately left the car industry to join a rock band, Catherine Wheel. Spending a number of years during the 1990’s as a lead vocalist, he earned the privilege of an exceptional amount of air time, especially with a particular song, “Black Metallic.” In time, however, the glimmer faded, and it was time to hammer out another dream, the dream of building a business specializing in the restoration, modernization, and improvement of air cooled 911s. In 2009, he launched Concept 911, which evolved into Singer Vehicle Design, or SVD.

“It was the realization of a 30-year dream, a chance to do something I’d always been passionate about, recreate one of the finest sports cars ever derived,” he said. “The idea was to provide for enthusiasts an ultimate 911 rooted in the vintage style – something that’s been modernized, and performance enhanced, without losing its heritage or essence.”

Building on the essence of an early 911 seems easy, but it’s something Singer and SVD took very seriously indeed, and to another level entirely. While the Singer 911 resembles a 1970’s Porsche racer, Dickinson emphasizes greatly that it’s not an imitation or clone or resto mod in any way – it is a real 911 that he says benefit from many advancements such as body and chassis stiffening, engine revisions and enlarging,

Singer Vehicle DesignPassion for the Ultimate

tExt by

don WEbErgimAgEs by

svd And thE Author

reengineered suspensions and brakes, carbon fiber body components, and much, much more from a seemingly endless list of ideas.

In the end, a Singer Porsche will cost as little as $190,000 or as much as $300,000, depending upon how many options a client elects, but at the very least, the car will be stiffer, stronger, faster, quicker, more reliable, more drivable, more enjoyable, and simply better than it was originally. Singer claims 0-60 times of just over 3-seconds, and a top speed nearing 180-miles per hour, very comparable to a modern 911 Turbo, but with the panache and style of classic lines and that fantastic raspy air cooled sound.

“The idea was to create an ultimate air cooled 911,” he said. “A car that could be driven in modern traffic and raced at the track without fear of any deficiencies causing problems.”

Singer has delivered four vehicles since its inception, and anticipates additional sales in the coming years. With this realization, SVD partnered with Cosworth, which will now provide engines, and Aria Group, which will prepare, paint, and deliver all of Singer’s carbon fiber bodies.

“These relationships are imperative to our continued successes,” he said. “Their expertise in their fields is unquestionable, and I’m very proud to be working with them. They will help SVD deliver an uncompromising product.”

Notice the woven leather - it’s not stamped.

SVD takes 90’s 911s to another level, and time.


buyer’sguide

Save-A-BatteryPeace of mind is always a welcome gift, and Granite Digital aims to please with their new Solar Battery Maintainers. Available in 2-Watt, 5-Watt, and 12-Watt designs, the Save-A-Battery Solar Maintainer provides peace of mind even when you can’t (or don’t want to) plug in the Maintainer. The 2-Watt is perfect for smaller applications like ATVs, motorcycles, go karts, and the like; the 5-Watt maintainer was designed for most cars and trucks, while the 12-Watt model is perfect for RVs, large trucks, and/or multiple battery maintenance. The Save-A-Battery system was designed not only to charge a battery and maintain a current, but to exercise batteries, check on charging systems, provide information on how vital a battery is, and keep it as healthy as possible. Fantastic for cars in storage for any duration – See the Save-A-Battery/Garage Style Magazine Subscribe and Save Offer on Page 44.www.saveabattery.com | 510.471.6442

Autobooks-AerobooksLimited to 5,000 copies, the 1:18-scale 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic is crafted of innumerable components with absolute attention to detail, finished in black, and is a certain hit with any collector or enthusiast. To boot it has a story – this is a replica of the car owned and restored by Ralph Lauren who bought the car in the late 1980’s. During the restoration he painted it black and gave it a black interior, a complete deviation from the original blue color the car wore when it was purchased in 1938. CMC, who crafted this black car, also crafted a limited edition of the blue car, giving a sort of yin and yang feel. Will lend a museum touch to any office, den, garage, or other room.www.autobooks.com | 818.845.0707

BLTRaceDay Peel & Stick tiles from Better Life Technology are a must add to your wish list for this season. Made from solid vinyl construction for a tough, gloss surface, the tiles are easy to install and most of all easy to clean. Make your garage, work area, shop, or man-cave look like a million bucks while hiding stains, cracks, and all imperfections. The Tiles act as a vapor barrier while adding floor cushioning to hard surfaces, and will even adhere to uneven or worn surfaces. RaceDay tiles are manufactured proudly in the USA and come with a five-year warranty. With a variety of options in colors, sizes and two patterns to choose from, these easy-to-install tiles are sure to add life to a boring bare floor or area, and are the perfect gift for the home; $3.60 – $4.20 per square foot.www.bltllc.com | 913-894-0403 ext. 21


Please see more great Holiday Buyer’s Guide items on www.garagestylemagazine.com.

Images by BookerThe car enthusiast in your life will love the vibrant pictures of Booker. Using specialized computer-aided photography, Booker captures and manipulates the highlights of any vehicle and its surroundings with colors that very literally pop off the surface. Printed on aluminum, Booker’s images are exceptionally durable and provide a long-lasting image that will be a focal point in any room. Call to have your favorite car enthusiast’s favorite car or motorcycle photographed.www.bookersgallery.com | 714.345.4180

CokerNothing says I love you like the gift of a vintage-styled sign, and this beautiful Coker reproduction of a Firestone neon really brings home the point. Crafted of die cut and embossed 26-gauge aluminum with durable screen printed artwork popular during the 1920’s and ’30s, it’s complete with mounting points and measures 28-inches tall by 48-inches wide.www.cokertire.com | 866.513.2744

www.GarageArt.comWhat time is it? Garage time! GarageArt.com offers an absolute plethora of beautiful time pieces to spruce up the wall with functional art. Offered in 14- and 17-inch diameters, some are backlit, others have neon, and some just boast a pretty face, but each will bring an artistic flair to any garage or room and make a perfect gift. Some popular designs are Poly Gas, AC Delco, Texaco, Shelby, images of hot rods and muscle cars, and vehicle manufacturer logos.www.garageart.com | 800.708.5051

garage style magazine

Documents

b e r o f c o

c h c o n c o u r s

u g u s t

pm page

state beach parking

finest classic motor

worlds premier gathering

long list of great garages