It is always a treat to attend the monthly Cars and Coffee show, held the first Sunday of each month at The Oasis on Lake Travis.  However, for the June gathering, a special treat was in store for spectators as a contingent of British car owners converged en mass on the event.  There was the expected smattering of Jaguars, Triumphs, and Morgans, along with a rare MGA Twin-Cam coupe, and an even rarer Arnolt MG coupe.  

It is rare to see a Morgan automobile around Austin.  But when one pops up, almost assuredly the owner will be a passionate Anglophile, at least where automobiles are concerned.  Such is the case for Austinite Duncan Charlton, who has had a long-time love affair with Morgans.  He recently acquired a racing Morgan with a genuine winning provenance.  

MGA Redux.

Without question our hands-down fav car enthusiast blogsite (well, after Austin Motor Scene), is www.Petrolicious.com  If you haven’t discovered or visited Petrolicious, we urge you to do so.  It houses an incredible display of owner interviews, car-specific videos, and just general all-round eye candy for us car guys to appreciate.  

That’...

The French have always been known for their quirkiness.  There is the unique French cuisine, the cavalier attitude toward sexual relationships, and, not least, the many cars exhibiting that special  je ne sais quoi French attitude.

Of course, there are the to-die-for bespoke coach builders of the 30’s through 50’s.  Stellar houses such as Bugatti (many people don’t know that Italian born Ettore Bugatti were mostly produced in France), Figoni et Falaschi, Delahaye, and Talbot Lago, created some of the most beautiful 4-wheeled creations ever.

Then, there is the “homely but cute” category of French vehicles.  Simca, Renault, Peugot, and not to be outdone: Citroen.

The instantly recognizable Ci...

Sure, there’s eBay, Hemmings, and other national sources to find that perfect classic car you are looking for.  But purchasing a car sight unseen, and/or from a distant location, has its obvious disadvantages.

Sometimes we overlook the obvious in our own backyard:  Austin’s local edition of Craigslist.  During the past decade, Craigslist has completely taken over the local classified auto advertising segment, leaving the “Classifieds” section of the local paper a mere skeleton of that of yesteryear.

There can be many advantages to being able to purchase that gem of your dreams locally.. you get to see, inspect, and drive the object of your affection; you can haggle the price face-to-face with the owner; and, there are no shipping costs to get the car to you.

Every week on Austin craiglist there are any number of ‘Cars of Interest‘ appearing for sale from somewhere the Central Texas area.  We present a few of those below.

Important!  Craigslist, as well as any other online marketplace, is awash with scammers.  Any communication or transaction through Craigslist must be approached employing extreme caution, exercising prudence, and using due diligence.  Austin Motor Scene makes NO representation as to the validity of any of these listings.  Any comments by the editor regarding any of these vehicles are strictly personal opinion, and do NOT in any way imply a professional assessment of vehicle condition or value.  The buyer alone takes sole responsibility in determining if any of these listings represent an appropriate purchase for the buyer.

Finally, due to the ephemeral nature of Craiglist, some of the vehicles featured here may be no longer available, or may have been removed from Craigslist.

1984 Mercedes 280SL Roadster

This is a rare find indeed.  A Euro-version 280SL (meaning, no ugly DOT rubber barge-bumpers).  With the ever-increasing values of earlier “Pagoda” SL’s, and even the lowly 190 SL, these later model 280SLs are coming of their own as investment grade cars.  The overhead cam 6 cylinder engine is smooth, and relatively easier and less expensive to maintain than the V8 lumps of the same era, yet offer almost as much power.  This particular example appears to be in beautiful condition, and at just over 100k miles could give a new owner many more happy miles of bullet-proof Mercedes driving pleasure.

We think this is a real bargain at under $15k, and should be snapped up, unless there are hidden gremlins!

VIEW LISTING HERE

Barn Find – 1962 Hawk GT

The Hawk GT’s are starting to show up on the collector car radar.  At first glance of the opening picture, this car looks like a tired little doggy indeed.  Yet, the interior pictures, combined with the seller’s description of a 66k mile original, does pique the interest.  Naturally any car that has been sitting for so long (evidenced by flat tires) will have MANY needs.  But, at well under ten grand, it is possible that a set of new treads and some elbow grease could breathe new life into this classic.  We say well worth investigating.  VIEW LISTING HERE

2010 Lotus Evora – A Supercar in your garage?

This car has always been widely acclaimed by critics worldwide as one of the best handling cars around.  With its upgraded Toyota V-6 engine, reliability should not be a problem.  At near Fifty large asking, we’re meeting or exceeding used Porsche territory.  However, although not a steal, the price asked seems to be competitive with other similar Evora’s around the country, and with only 16K on the clock, this could very well be a deal.    If a Lotus poster is on your wall, here is a rare chance to view and drive one locally.  It just may very well have your name on it!  VIEW LISTING HERE

XKE in your Garage? 1971 V12 coupe

Anyone who has ever owned an XKE will tell you it was one of the best cars ever (including the editor.. a silver gray Series one coupe).  Classic Jaguar roadsters and coupes of all ilk seem to be very high on the collector car wishlist at this time, and of course that timeless classic shape only gets better and better in these days of shapeless boxes.

The seller of this car appears anxious, as the price has just been reduced some $3,000.  The V12 XKE’s have never been the favored model, and as well the 2+2 “humpback” coupe is generally considered the least desirable.  Likewise, few enthusiasts would opt for the automatic slushbox tranny, albeit this was a very common option on the V12’s.  Finally, most all XKE engines have a propensity to overheat, and not the least that huge hunk of metal known as a V12.  Regardless of these concerns, the asking price appears fair, if not perhaps a bargain, to own a genuine slice of British history.  Well worth investigating!  VIEW THIS LISTING

Corvette Anyone? 1986 ‘Vette

Let’s face it.  Any certified car guy MUST own at least one Corvette at some time or another.  This silver gray example of America’s Sports Car seems to check all the boxes.  At only 33k miles (according to the seller) and well under the magic ten grand price, this baby may very well find a place in your garage.  Hurry, it probably won’t last long!  VIEW LISTING HERE

What car enthusiast hasn’t fantasized about driving a fast car at breakneck speeds through a bustling city!  The most famous such escapade was filmed in 1976  by Claude Lelouch, a French director, who staged a highspeed run through the early morning streets of Paris.  This short film has long been a part of underground car lore.

A few...

It is not an ordinary sight to see a guy regularly riding a 1927 motorcycle. But then, Mark Scott is not your ordinary motorcyclist!

Yes, Mark, a resident of Volente, Texas, regularly rides his 1927 Scott “Flying Squirrel” motorcycle. Mark acquired his Scott bike, a British marque, in 2001, and has subsequently restored it to beautiful condition.

Mark is certainly not a one-bike guy.

When my friend Doug told me he had inherited a 1939 Allis Chalmers tractor, it got my attention.  After all, it DOES have an engine and 4 wheels, the basic ingredients to attract any gearhead.  However, my interest was particularly piqued due to my own personal encounter with the exact same model tractor at age 12 (the tractor I was driving overturned at 25 mph and exploded in a spectacular fireball… but that’s a story for another time).

I thought my dad was nuts when he allowed me at only 14 years old to buy a 1947 Chevy out of a junk yard for $30. Never mind that it had no motor or transmission, I was going to be on the road in 2 months. Dad knew that I would be 3 years getting that car together and would get the equivalent of a two-year technical degree in the process.