The Winner Of The My Car Quest Best Car Photo Contest

by Mike -

Thank you to all who entered this contest, I do appreciate your participation. I had a difficult time picking a winner but it had to be done.

The winner is, Gabor Vida with this photo of a Jaguar XK140 below.

Not only is the car gorgeous but the setting and the people are interesting. Congratulations Gabor!

Second place goes to Ted Hirth for this photo of a great line up of Bizzarrinis with the first three being the three Bizzarrini Spiders.

And finally third place goes to Zachary Bachert for this very well done photo of a VW. I love the lighting and this car just looks fast.

Photo by Zachary Bachert and Sean Tierney

I will be sending all three a paperback copy of European Style with American Muscle. Second and third place were supposed to receive an eBook but I had such a difficult time picking out a winner that I would like to give a hard copy book to all three.

And I will make the eBook available free to all who entered. I will contact you directly all by email with the details.

Later this week I will publish some of the other entries, there were some cool and fun photos.

Please share your comments with me and other readers.

Click on the images for a larger view.

A Pinto photo above from Mike Clarke. My Mother-In-Law had one very similar to this.

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Interesting On The Internet Today: Zagato, Maserati, Ferrari, Abarth, Mercedes

by Mike -

I surf around the Internet everyday and today there were three items that caught my attention.

Ferrari

A One-Off 1954 Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Spider "Specially built for Argentina’s Juan Peron, the car is the only open version of Maserati and Zagato’s ‘gentleman racer’ coupé collaboration." according to Classic Driver.

This car and many others were at 'Uniques - Special Ones' 2011 - a car show and event in Italy that reminds me a little of The Quail, A Motor Sports Gathering in Carmel. It is expensive, 250 Euros, has great cars, food and wine.

This Ferrari 250 GT Zagato wins Best of Show

Next Jay Leno finds a 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing Coupe in a storage crate. Read about it at Jay Leno's Garage.

Jay says, "It was an old race car that its owners put in a storage container out in the California desert in the late 1970s. And the Mercedes just sat there for decades. I’m only the third owner. And that makes it special."

And he continues, "We’re restoring the mechanicals and the instruments on my Gullwing, but we’ll leave the worn interior and exterior alone...At some point, we will restore it completely."

I hope Jay read my article "Car Collector Clichés And Contradictions".

And finally a unique Abarth for sale here. This is a 1955 Abarth 207/A No. 001. The seller says "body by Carrozzeria Boano to a Michelotti design".

At Disneland

Please share your comments with me and other readers.

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Cool Fastbacks

by Mike -

My first memory of a fastback is the 1965 Ford Mustang. It was so different than other cars. It is great that the fastback improves aerodynamics, and thus speed, but it also looks cool, which is important.

1965 Ford Mustang

There are other style features that improve the cars speed but do not look so cool, like wings on the tail section (think about the Plymouth Superbird, fast but not so good looking).

It is likely that the Stout Scarab is the first example of a fastback, although that term was not used in the 1930s.

Stout Scarab

The 1948 Tatra T87 was also early to the fastback style

Here are some other cool fastbacks.

1954 Bentley

I have always liked the Dodge Charger style, I had a slot car that looked just like this.

1966 Dodge Charger

1953 Ferrari 250 MM

1968 Lamborghini Miura

1937 Airomobile

The Ferrari 250GTE usually does not get respect in the Ferrari world because it is a 2+2 but I have always loved this body style.

1962 Ferrari 250GTE

1966 Bizzarrini GT 5300

1969 AMC AMX

1966 Shelby GT350 H

Notice how flat the rear window is on the Bizzarrini

Please share your comments with me and other readers.

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This custom front air dam helps the Bizzarrini at high speed but it does not help at a car show

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My Car Quest Best Car Photo Contest

by Mike - 

Thank you to all who entered - the contest is now finished. I will be publishing the winners within the next week.

Car Collector Clichés And Contradictions

by Mike -

The following are some common, and irritating, classic car clichés that are repeated by collector car luminaries over and over.

Clichés always have a ring of truth to them but there are some inconsistencies and contradictions in these five clichés.

1) It is original only once.

This is a truism but time takes it toll on all things and original cars eventually turn into original cars in bad condition. If they are properly cared for and stored properly they can remain in good condition for many many years. But eventually they will deteriorate to the point of well, bad condition.

2) Do not restore an original car - this always follows number 1.

At what point does this philosophy no longer make sense? The great paintings hanging in the museums of Europe are periodically restored as are the old buildings. If they are not then they would eventually fall into an unrecoverable state. The period between restorations may be a a long time but it is still done.

Cars also will reach a point where they will deteriorate to a point of non-functionality. Will this philosophy toward classic cars change then?

3) It is being driven and used like it was meant to be.

Eventually this will wear out the car - maybe 50 years from now but these cars will deteriorate to the point that they can only be placed in a museum and looked at by future generations. Especially race cars that are driven and used like they were meant to be. Some will also be destroyed in the process.

It can be driven and used like it was meant to be only for so long, especially if it is to be kept original at all costs.

The car that is being driven and used like it was meant to be will never win a best in show at a Pebble Beach like event.

4) Every nut and bolt has been removed and this car has been restored to a condition that is better than when it left the factory new.

We praise these cars because they are better than new and beautiful to look at. It takes a restoration like this to win a major award at a Concours d'Elegance. Yet this is inconsistent with clichés 1 and 2 above. And if this car is then driven and used like it was meant to be it will deteriorate rapidly so that it will never win a Concours.

5) The car is over restored.

This is a bad thing but it is the only way to win best in show at a Concours d'Elegance like Pebble Beach. We worship these winners but then at other moments we criticize the over restored car and we criticize the trailer queen that does not get driven and "used like it was meant to be". But it is the trailer queen that wins best in show.

If these Pebble Beach winning cars were used like they were meant to be then they would not win Pebble Beach.

Which of the two cars pictured in this post is more valuable? The red one is a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 that is all original with only 11,500 miles but still looks to be in great condition. I wrote about this car here.

This silver car is a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy Long Nose that is also all original with around 60,000 miles and is in bad condition. I wrote about this car here.

This is not exactly a perfect comparison from a model point of view but it is reasonably close. One is an alloy body and the other is a 4-cam, the 4-cam will command a higher price with everything else being equal.

What do you think? I would love to hear some comments.

Click on the images for a larger view.

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Enter The My Car Quest Best Car Photo Contest

There are only a couple of days left before the contest ends - midnight on Wednesday California time.


I would love to see more entrants!

You can win a FREE (including shipping) paperback copy of my book, European Style with American Muscle, by entering and winning the My Car Quest Best Car Photo Contest.

Here are the rules:

1) Email to me your best pictures of cars, no more than two pictures per email and no more than one email per day – put "My Car Quest Best Car Photo Contest" in the subject line and send the email, with the photos attached, to this address: Michael.gulett@gmail.com.

Provide this information in the email body:

* Make, model and year of the car for each picture

* The name and email address of the photographer that will be published on My Car Quest

2) You must be an email subscriber to My Car Quest before you submit your photos. So, if you are not an email subscriber now go to the top right of the page and subscribe.

3) I will pick my favorite picture and that will be the winner.

4) The second and third place pictures will win a free eBook version of European Style with American Muscle and the top ten pictures will be published on My Car Quest giving credit to the photographer.

5) By submitting a picture you agree that you have the rights to the picture and that you are granting me permission to publish the submitted picture.

6) This contest ends at midnight California time on Wednesday September 7, 2011. All entries must be received by this time. The winners will be announced within one week after the contest ends.

7) Photos previously published on My Car Quest are not eligible.

8) My family are not eligible to win anything.

Let's have some fun and good luck!

Update - Best Car Photo Contest

by Mike -

A couple of questions have come up about this contest:

1) Do the pictures have to be of a car owned by you?

No, these can be pictures you took of any car at a show, the races or on the street.

2) What if I don't want my name mentioned but I still want to win the book?

It is not necessary for me to publish the name of the photographer.

So, get your pictures in early! There are only 6 days left! Win a free book!

You can win a FREE (including shipping) paperback copy of my book, European Style with American Muscle, by entering and winning the My Car Quest Best Car Photo Contest.

Here are the rules:

1) Email to me your best pictures of cars, no more than two pictures per email and no more than one email per day – put "My Car Quest Best Car Photo Contest" in the subject line and send the email, with the photos attached, to this address: Michael.gulett@gmail.com.

Provide this information in the email body:

* Make, model and year of the car for each picture

* The name and email address of the photographer that will be published on My Car Quest

2) You must be an email subscriber to My Car Quest before you submit your photos. So, if you are not an email subscriber now go to the top right of the page and subscribe.

3) I will pick my favorite picture and that will be the winner.

4) The second and third place pictures will win a free eBook version of European Style with American Muscle and the top ten pictures will be published on My Car Quest giving credit to the photographer.

5) By submitting a picture you agree that you have the rights to the picture and that you are granting me permission to publish the submitted picture.

6) This contest ends at midnight California time on Wednesday September 7, 2011. All entries must be received by this time. The winners will be announced within one week after the contest ends.

7) Photos previously published on My Car Quest are not eligible.

8) My family are not eligible to win anything.

Let's have some fun and good luck!

Subscribe to My Car Quest by email, go to the top of the page on the right side and enter your email address.

Funny Pictures

by Mike -

This Lamborghini took a wrong turn at Concorso Italiano last Friday. This must be a tough sand trap because I saw a pick up truck in the same trap on Thursday afternoon while I was placing cars on the course.

A friend of mine, who does not want to share his identity, took the picture below in Palo Alto, California recently. Yes, that is a Bentley with what looks like a Lalique crystal ornament sticking out of the middle of the hood.

One has to wonder why? If you want a fancy hood ornament buy a Rolls Royce and they will put the ornament in the correct location.

This Bizzarrini is not so funny as strange. I do not think the two tone paint job suits the car.

Elvis in an Isetta! I'll bet you have not seen this before.

But the winner is the Bugatti Veyron driving into the lake in this video. 

It is funny as long as no one gets hurt.

Please share your comments with me and other readers.

This gives me a chance to plug the Best Car Photo Contest. Please get your pictures in early.

Click on the images for a larger view.

Subscribe to My Car Quest by email, go to the top of the page on the right side and enter your email address.

My Car Quest Best Car Photo Contest

You can win a FREE (including shipping) paperback copy of my book, European Style with American Muscle, by entering and winning the My Car Quest Best Car Photo Contest.

Here are the rules:

1) Email to me your best pictures of cars, no more than two pictures per email and no more than one email per day – put "My Car Quest Best Car Photo Contest" in the subject line and send the email, with the photos attached, to this address: Michael.gulett@gmail.com.

Provide this information in the email body:

* Make, model and year of the car for each picture

* The name and email address of the photographer that will be published on My Car Quest

2) You must be an email subscriber to My Car Quest before you submit your photos. So, if you are not an email subscriber now go to the top right of the page and subscribe.

3) I will pick my favorite picture and that will be the winner.

4) The second and third place pictures will win a free eBook version of European Style with American Muscle and the top ten pictures will be published on My Car Quest giving credit to the photographer.

5) By submitting a picture you agree that you have the rights to the picture and that you are granting me permission to publish the submitted picture.

6) This contest ends at midnight California time on Wednesday September 7, 2011. All entries must be received by this time. The winners will be announced within one week after the contest ends.

7) Photos previously published on My Car Quest are not eligible.

8) My family are not eligible to win anything.

Let's have some fun and good luck!

Update - Interesting Car And Motorcycle On eBay Now

by Mike -

Updates are in red text.


No change on the AC 428 - the buy it now price is $105,000.

1971 AC 428 FRUA

The Isomoto SOLD for $3,216.99 - here.

1958 Isomoto 125cc

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Interesting Car And Motorcycle On eBay Now

by Mike -

1971 AC 428 FRUA

1958 Isomoto 125cc

Click on the images for a larger view.

Please share My Car Quest with other car lovers.

Subscribe to My Car Quest by email, go to the top of the page on the right side and enter your email address.