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I love cars. Not just like them a lot, but really love 'em. I still love to play with them just like I did when I was a kid playing with toys and models. And I'm a very lucky guy to have collected a few nice ones. They're not exotics, or true "classics." But they represent a cross-section of the cars I love to drive. When I was a teenager in the mid-sixties I really wanted a "muscle" car (they were very popular at the time - this was their heyday). I never got a chance to own one back then, but bought a nice Mustang 5.0 in 1989 (and moderately modified it in 2001). I owned it for 18 years, finally selling it when I got a new 2007 Mustang GT (see below). The MR2, purchased in 1996, is about close to an exotic as I will probably ever get. I've kept it stock - and very clean. It's even appeared in a magazine! And the Miata (got it in January, 2004) is sort of like the British roadsters I loved when I discovered sports cars back in the mid-sixties. You know, I'm living my teenage car fantasy! |
2007 Mustang GT (as yet unnamed) |
2003 Miata Shinsen ("BB Zoomer") |
1993 Toyota MR2 ("Mr. Red") |
2002 Toyota Highlander ("Conner") |
2000 Acura TL ("Fern") |
I love going to as many car meets as I can...
In September, 2011, I started using Flickr to
host my car meet pictures and will no longer be updating these pages. |
On the MR2 |
Was on my Nissan |
On the Highlander |
Baby Zoomer |
I met George Barris again in July 2009 at a book signing. (More info here.) |
- I stopped in nearby Montrose early one Sunday morning to find the main street (Honolulu Ave.) closed. They were filming a Buick commercial. (3/09) |
May 2010 - my brother gets a Corvette. |
Jay Leno's
Garage The "Holy Grail" for many car enthusiasts is Jay Leno's garage. And in February, 2009, I was fortunate enough to take a tour. Randy Chase, a real nice guy I met on-line (and owner of ChaseCam.com) invited me to join a tour that he had arranged. Unfortunately Jay wasn't there at the time. More unfortunate is that photos were not allowed. (The photos above are from Jay's web site, JayLenosGarage.com.) If you watch some of the videos on his site, you'll get an idea of the scope and layout of his garage. (There are actually six buildings including an incredible workshop - with a full kitchen.) The tour was fantastic, and Jay's collection, not only of cars and motorcycles, but of artwork and other paraphernalia, is impressive beyond description. Jay and I are pretty close in age, and in our taste for many types of vehicles as well. So essentially, he is living my car fantasy! |
George Barris, king of car customizers: http://www.barris.com (6/08) |
Another famous customizer, Gene Winfield (6/08) Read more... |
Yet another car customizing legend, known for many movie cars, Dean Jefferies (3/09) More... |
Ed Iskenderian (right), a hot rod legend known mainly for his racing camshafts (www.iskycams.com) and Glenn Necessary, who owns that old race car). |
I ran into Jay again at another book signing. That's Wallace Wyss on the right, one of the authors of a new book on the Ford GT and GT40. |
My close call - 1/06 (click the pic for more info) |
Mustang show (9-04) at the Petersen Automotive Museum. |
Another car enthusiast and me (Autobooks, 11/04). |
My garage makes a great bar. And I can smoke cigars here! |
I used a picture of my MR2 (as well as my Miata) on a sign at the Auto Trader office in Van Nuys (4/05) |
The Los Angeles debut of the 3rd generation Miata (5/1/05) |
A couple of neat toys. |
Mussy at a show (4-04). |
Getting my new plates (April 04). |
Dennis Gage in Reno at Hot August Nights |
The Miata Club goes to Meguiar's, 8-21-04. What a great day! |
The Miata Club at Mazda R&D |
A real Cobra (My dentist's!) |
Caterham (Lotus 7 Replica) |
Dave's Porsche Boxster |
Rented Vette 5/19/01 |
Steve's Mach 1 Nice! |
1980 Honda Civic ("Sylvia") |
1981 Mazda GLC ("Leo") More info |
1985 4-Runner ("Thor") |
1992 Honda ("Clark") |
1988 Nissan Pathfinder ("Sandy") |
1957 Pontiac ("Ashley") |
1970 Plymouth Duster ("Donald") |
Rhonda's 1970 Capri ("Bonnie") |
1976 Dodge Van ("Raoul") |
197? Honda 350 |
1974 Honda 350-Four |
1975 Honda 750F |
Mom's first car 1966 Tempest |
Mom's 1971(?) Toyota Corona Mark II |
My friend Ed and my 64 VW |
Karmann Ghia (I should have called it "Rusty") |
Austin Healey Sprite |
My first new car. 1970 Beetle |
1967 Triumph TR4A - |
Oops - |
1959 Ford |
1962 Fiat (Click for the story) |
Lancia Flaminia (and Pat) |