Former Cars

1995

1995 Chevrolet Suburban TD6.5

2003

2003 BMW M3 Convertible

E46 M3.

1978

1978 Ducati Darmah

2002

2002 Chevrolet Avalanche

A real Swiss Army knife of a truck, but let down by troublesome electrics and very poor fuel mileage.

1960

1960 Mercedes 190b Street Rod

1950

1950 Chevrolet 3100

Camaro front clip, Chevrolet 350 engine, and TH350 transmission.

1980

1980 Ford Fiesta S

Factory air conditioning.

2000

2000 BMW M Roadster

1989

1989 Laforza

Italian luxury SUV built on a military IVECO truck chassis.

1985

1961 Austin Gipsy S2

With Moulton independent suspension.

1963

1963 Locost Lotus 7 Project

Turbo Miata drivetrain.

1967

1967 Mercedes 250SE Coupe

European specification, 2.8-liter mechanical fuel injection, 4-speed, air conditioning, and power sunroof.

1966

1966 Corvair Corsa Coupe

Owned for 20 years, daily driven, autocrossed, tracked, rallied, ice raced, and then retired.

1977

1977 Lotus Esprit S1

"Lotus Prepared by Claudius" Rover V8 swap; one of 15.

2000

2000 Europa G500

Pre-MBUSA. One of 220; $150,000 when new.

1998

1998 BMW M3 Convertible

5-speed; one of the best cars I have owned.

1990

1990 BMW 325i Convertible

Marianne's first 325ic. Dinan modifications included a chip, IE exhaust, suspension kit, and a cam too aggressive to pass emissions; 5-speed manual, M30 AFM, cold-air intake, and 19-pound Ford Mustang injectors.

1999

1999 Chevrolet Suburban

Great tow vehicle and trip car.

1968

1968 Porsche 912

Short-wheelbase basket case.

1962

1962 Mini V8 Project

Rear-wheel-drive V8 Mini project, later going off to become a turbo all-wheel-drive Mini.

1976

1976 Mini Moke

Australian Moke with a conventional body.

1970

1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Convertible

455/4-barrel.

1980

1980 Leyland Mini Moke Californian

998 project; rare model, one of the last built in Australia, using a galvanized body. Sold to the Bahamas.

19XX MG Metro Turbo MK2

The ultimate performance version of the British A-series engine and the car that saved MG, at least until 2005.

1993

1993 Cadillac Allante Northstar

One of the last. It was originally one of the last six Mary Kay Northstar Allantes (out of 19 total), and the only one with a proper color change.

1987

1987 Cadillac Allante

One of the first.

1963

1963/1968 Tatra 2/603

Air-cooled Hemi V8, four-on-the-column, four-wheel disc brakes, rear swing axles, and a gas heater under the driver's seat.

1974

1974 Bond Bug 750ES

If the Berkeley T60 was the first performance trike, this was the last.

1989

1989 SAAB 900 Turbo Convertible

Group 6 modifications; a fast and outstanding ride.

1985

1985 Audi Turbo Quattro Coupe

Ur-quattro bought from the Gerber collection. One of 73.

1974

1974 Chrysler SnowRunners

Single-track snowmobiles powered by Chrysler outboards.

1995

1995 Saturn SC2

Bought for John; the engine failed in under 1,000 miles.

1998

1998 GMC Suburban

Deceased.

1966

1966 AC Acedes MK12

Three-wheeler issued by the UK National Health Service to disabled people, with all-hand controls.

1951

1951 Riley RMB

2.5-liter basket case. Strangely, the previous owner bought the running RMF as a parts car for this RMB.

1958

1958 DKW MUNGA

A little 4x4 with a 3-cylinder, 2-stroke engine. After VW bought DKW, the VW-engined version became the VW Iltis, which later contributed its drivetrain to the first quattro on an Audi 4000. This was the second one I owned.

1974

1974 Hillman Imp

Newest in the United States and one of the last built.

1953

1953 Riley RMF

The last true Riley, with a 2.5-liter engine. It ran and drove; strangely, the previous owner bought it as a parts car for the 1951 Riley RMB basket case.

1965

1965 Sunbeam Imp

Rootes Group answer to the Mini. Rear-mounted, water-cooled Coventry Climax engine (like Lotus); built by unskilled labor in Scotland and quickly developed a reputation for unreliability.

1971

1971 FIAT 850 Spider

The design was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show the same day and time I was born, just hours after the Bertone designer's first son.

1960

1960 Berkeley T60 – Full Mini Transplant

Full Mini transplant.

1960

1960 Berkeley T60 – Isle of Man Museum Car

Lowest-mileage example in the world. It spent 1961-1988 in the Isle of Man auto museum and later went to the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, along with my previous Berkeley 328SE four-wheeler.