CLASSICS TODAY: November 2009

Saturday

TWO MORE SEATS FILLED

ADRIAN SUTIL

Force India has had a much better year than the past couple. They have choosen to retain their drivers, Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi, for the 2010 season.

VITANTONIO LIUZZI

FROM THE 30's........FOR SALE

1930 BUICK http://www.mroks.com/

1933 ALFA ROMEO http://www.mroks.com/

1934 BENTLEY http://www.sargeantsofgoudhurst.co.uk/

1937 BMW 327 http://www.thiesen-kg.de/

ENGLAND ON THE 1ST OF DECEMBER

1989 PORSCHE 944

1941 CADILLAC SERIES 61

TRUE GREATS

by Coys

The Royal Horticultural Halls

London, United Kingdom

http://www.coys.co.uk/

+44 208 614 7888

1933 ROLLS ROYCE

1929 FORD SPRINT

Monday

ANOTHER ONE GETS A SEAT

NICO ROSBERG

The Mercedes Formula One team named Nico Rosberg as one of their 2010 drivers while failing to kill off speculation that retired champion Michael Schumacher could partner him in an all-German lineup.

Nico is one of the new breed of drivers that grew up racing since they were just little kids, check out the picture below. It didn't hurt that his father was a former World Champ from 1982 either. Over half the field is yet to get a job for 2010. I sure it will be a surprise as to who stays and who goes.....it is all about money.

THE LITTLE NICO

Saturday

FLORIDA ON THE 27TH

DAYTONA CLASSIC CAR AUCTION
by Dan Kruse Classics, Vicari Motorsports Museum and Golden Classics of Clearwater
Camper World Pad #4 on Lake Lloyd Road
Daytona Beach, Florida

http://www.vicarimotorsports.com/
http://www.kruse.com/

1-866-495-8111

ENGLAND ON THE 25TH

1929 HUMBER

1961 MORRIS MINOR

VINTAGE & CLASSIC MOTOR CARS

by Simon Charles

The Auction Centre

Nile Street, Guide Bridge

Ashton-U-Lyne, Lancs

United Kingdom

http://www.simoncharles-auctioneers.co.uk/

+44 (0) 161 339 9449

1950 MASSEY FERGUSON

JAGUAR XK120

A COUPLE OF SURPRISES IN FORMULA ONE

JENSEN BUTTON

To my surprise Jensen Button, World Champ for 2009, who won the championship with a brand new team is not getting a seat with them for next year. Second surprise was that Mercedes purchased 75% of this new team which was called Brawn GP. Next year it will be Mercedes GP. I have no idea what Mercedes paid, but it has to be a team owners dream. It now appears that Button will be teamed up with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren. That should make the British happy.

Sunday

MICHIGAN ON THE 21ST

UNIVERSITY MOTORS

by Vander Kolk's Golden Gavel Auction Service

University Motors

Ada, Michigan

http://www.vkauctions.com/

http://www.universitymotorltd.com/

1-616-437-1047

1977 MGB

CALIFORNIA ON THE 20TH

1957 CHEVY BEL AIR

1965 CORVETTE

1964 CADILLAC

KEITH McCORMICK'S EXOTIC CAR AUCTION

by Palm Springs Auctions

Spa Resort Casino

244 North Indian Canyon Drive

Palm Springs, California

http://www.classic-carauction.com/

1-760-320-3290

1981 DeLOREAN

1972 DeTOMASO

1969 TRIUMPH

ENGLAND ON THE 18TH

1935 AUSTIN

1939 AUSTIN

1949 LAND ROVER

1935 BENTLEY

1971 JAGUAR

1953 FERGUSON

COLLECTOR'S MOTOR CARS AND MOTORCYCLES

by Bonhams

Yorkshire Event Centre

Harrogate

United Kingdom

http://www.bonhams.com/

+44 (0) 20 7447 7447

1928 ROYAL ENFIELD

1938 NIMBUS

1951 VINCENT BLACK SHADOW

1952 SCOTT FLYING SQUIRREL

1969 DUCATI MONZA

1964 TRIUMPH TIGER

Saturday

A CLASSIC FROM THE BEGINNING...

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Built by Daimler-Benz AG, the fuel-injected road version was based on the company's highly successful competition-only sports car of 1952, the somewhat less powerful carbureted Mercedes-Benz 300SL.

The 300SL was best known for both its distinctive gull wing doors and being the first-ever gasoline-powered car equipped with fuel injection directly into the combustion chamber. The gull wing version was available from March 1955 to 1957.

A CLASSIC? MAYBE IN 25 YEARS

WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR MILLION DOLLAR CAR A SALT WATER BATH?

NEITHER WOULD I!

Thursday

SPEAKING OF LICENSE PLATES

If you need a plate for the classic sitting out in the garage you might want to check these people out. Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Licenseplates.tv has been specializing in custom-made vintage plates from every state in the Union, as well as European and International plates, for over 20 years. Starting with a colored piece of aluminum, the blank is embossed with your custom numbers and letters from correct tools and dies. Raised letters are then painted and sealed in a clearcoat for long-lasting protection.

Check them out at http://www.licenseplates.tv/ or give them a call at 1-800-491-2068.

LICENSE PLATES

The Michigan Plate

Some people collect them and car collectors hunt high and low for a plate that is the same year as their car. Today I read that Adrian, Michigan has cornered the market on Michigan license plate production. One and a half million of them a year plus another 6,000 or more special plates. I always thought the plates were made in Jackson State Prison, but I was wrong. Well, not totally because they are made in prison. A smaller one in Adrian with a more controlable population. And Jackson did start making them in 1910.

In 1843 prisoners made harnesses and other farm equipment, woolen and cotton goods, carpeting, farm tools, saddle trees and trimmings, steam engines and boilers, barrels and copper ware. Other contracts were established for the manufacturing of shoes and laundry products.for outside companies. No wages, but the State was paid. This went on until 1900.

In 1922, the state began to operate its own factories but continued to sell the products on the open market. Over the years Michigan prisoners have mined coal, manufactured bricks and tile, cigars, tombstones and binder twine. In 1935 they could only made supplies for tax-supported institutions and state offices. In 1980, the state Correctional Industries Act was amended to allow the prisons to sell its products to nonprofit organizations, to governmental institutions in other states and to the federal government. It allows Michigan agencies, offices and departments to buy goods from them if they are comparable in price and quality to those produced elsewhere and can be supplied in a reasonable time period.

All leaving private industry with that job loss.

Cyprus Plate

You have to love Cyprus for this one. The plate is made of plastic and you can get it made up at your local key shop. When the front-end of my car got clipped a few years ago I needed a new plate. Off to the key shop, all I needed was the numbers and it didn't even cost me €5. They are probably higher now, but still cheap I am sure. No proof of the number required....I love it.

Monday

STOLEN VW APPEARS

A Volkswagen van stolen 35 years ago in Washington state has been found in a shipping container at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport.

Customs agents found the 1965 van on Oct. 19 when they opened a shipping container bound for The Netherlands, The Spokesman-Review newspaper reported. They ran the vehicle identification number and discovered it was listed as stolen.

Law officers said the van, which is in great shape, was stolen from an upholstery shop in Spokane on July 12, 1974 — while Spokane was hosting the 1974 World's Fair.

Authorities have not been able to find the original owner.

The operators of a vehicle restoration business in Arizona were the latest to have possession of the van, which they refurbished and planned to sell overseas. The California Highway Patrol the shop is also considered a victim in the case.

The van now legally belongs to Allstate Insurance Co., which paid off the original owner's theft claim back in 1974.

The van had been restored to pristine condition.

A spokeswoman for Allstate, said the company is looking through old records trying to find the original policy and theft claim.

The company will likely have the van appraised and go through the process of getting a replacement title before selling it at auction.

Some cars never disappear.

Sunday

THE MODEL 'T'.......THE FIRST 100 YEARS

Saturday

ENGLAND ON THE 8TH

1938 Morris

1973 MG Midget

CLASSIC VINTAGE CARS & MOTORBIKES

by Charterhouse

The Bristol Classic Restoration Car Show

Royal Bath & West Showground

Shepton Mallet, United Kingdom

http://www.charterhouse-auctions.co.uk/

+44 (0) 1935 812277

1953 Morris

1975 Jaguar XJC

Wednesday

TOYOTA GONE FROM FORMULA ONE

Just like Japan, Toyota is in deep trouble. Today they announced that they were following Honda's lead of last year and pulling out of Formula One. This leaves three drivers flopping in the wind. Veteren Jarno Trulli, with 219 Grand Prix under is belt, and his teammate Timo Glock, with 36. The third driver was test driver Kamui Kobayashi who filled in for Glock in the final race. He came in at a respectable sixth place. The whole Japanese economy is in deep trouble. Even Bridgestone, the Japanese tire supplier is dropping out at the end of next year if it makes it that long.

Recently said about Japan, "The rate of deflation is shocking. The debt dynamics are horrible and there is the risk of a downward spiral." Downward, indeed!

Since Toyota recently committed to staying in Formula One until the end of 2012 the F1 governing board wants to see what legal stand they have. Can't get blood out of a turnip.