The article appearing online at European Car
On the last Sunday of each month, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles hosts an informal "Cars & Coffee" get together. At a friend's suggestion, I recently brought "Klaus," my 1967 BMW 2000C - without knowing it was British (not German) car day. Ooops. So I felt like a real spoilsport (and photo-bomber) when European Car magazine named Klaus one of the Top Five cars at the show! Without a hint of schadenfreude, here are some of my favorites from the Petersen along with a few related automotive tangents as noted in italics to keep confusion to a minimum.
Sandwiched between two Jaguars in the masthead image above, Klaus is rare because bimmers of this vintage are very prone to rust, and few of this model were sold in the USA. Back in '67, BMW wasn't exactly a household name, and it wasn't until the introduction of the BMW 2002 a few years later that the mark gained popularity. Klaus isn't as powerful as the larger-engined coupes that followed (including the 2800CS, 3.0CS and mighty CSL), but I prefer its unique style including glass headlamps across the nose.
Given that it was British car day, there were some beautiful Austin-Healeys and Jaguars at the show, including several E-Type Coupes and Roadsters, plus XK140s and XK150s from the 50s.
Austin-Healeys and Jaguars arrive
Winston arrives in his beautiful 1955 Jaguar XK150 Drophead Coupe
Speaking of Jaguars, below is a lovely 1959 XK150 Fixed Head Coupe spotted at a specialty body shop on Melrose Avenue a few weeks back. And right across the street...
1959 Jaguar XK150 Fixed Head Coupe
1957 Cadillac Biarritz
The Cadillac "Magic Eye"
...I happened upon this very grand 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz (above), which had been recently restored. I noticed the cool, leather-wrapped sensor on the driver's side of the dashboard (right), which I learned from the garage owner is the Cadillac's "Magic Eye," which senses oncoming headlights and politely dips the Caddy's hi-beams accordingly - very impressive for 1957!
1964 Aston Martin DB5
Back to the Petersen with this stunning 1964 Aston Martin DB5 (above). Produced from 1963 to 1965, the DB5 is an iconic car with values (presently around $450,000USD) that steadily appreciate year after year. This example has been with the same owner for thirty-five years, and has beautiful patina and its original white paint; many DB5s selling at auction have been fully restored and repainted in silver, green or red. While the Aston DB5 has been highly prized since debuting as James Bond's calling card in 1964's "Goldfinger," the Toyota 2000GT (below) has only jumped from Japanese cult status to global stardom in recent years, with values now around $1 Million
1967 Toyota 2000GT (white), and 1976 Jensen Interceptor Series III Convertible
Toyota 2000GT In Paris last December at the Toyota showroom on the Champs-Elysees
USD. The 2000GT - a special convertible version, actually - was featured in the 1967 bond flick "You Only Live Twice," and the sports car manages to bring both Italian and British styling elements together with a distinctly-different Japanese flair. Last December in Paris, I saw this amazing 2000GT on display at the Toyota showroom on the Champs-Elysees (right).
Parked next to the 2000GT at the Petersen was a smashing 1976 Jensen Interceptor Series III Convertible. The good news about Britain's Jensen Interceptors is that mechanically, they use a Chrysler V8 engine and a dependable TorqueFlight transmission, and the bad news tends to be - the rest. The electronics are largely by Lucas, which are also underpinnings for Jaguars of the same vintage. There's an old joke: Why do the English drink warm beer? Because they have Lucas refrigerators!
Jensen Interceptor Coupe & Cars and Coffee, Irvine
Jensen, dejected and "intercepted" in Los Feliz
Jensen Interceptor III from Fast & Furious 6 (image courtesy of Edmunds.com)
1980 Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC
At the Petersen, this Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC (above) looked like it was right off the showroom floor, complete
with a very "Euro"-centric black velour interior which - like the rest
of car - appeared brand new. Its owner said the car was a mess when he
first bought it a few years back, before restoring it with the help of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine. I've never seen one of these grand old coupes in such beautiful shape and I love the color.
Maseratis from the 60s are special cars, rarely seen, and somewhat under-appreciated. This 1962 3500GT (below) stopped me dead in my tracks....
1962 Maserati 3500GT
1962 Maserati 3500GT
...and earlier that week I saw this stunning 1967 Sebring, and had a chance to chat with its owner who drives his Maser regularly. A winning combination of tough and pretty, with a tailored and purposeful profile that evokes the beautiful life.
1967 Maserati Sebring Series II in Larchmont Village, Los Angeles
1965 Ford Lotus-Cortina
At the Petersen, this Ford Lotus-Cortina (left) still has its original paint, and its owner told me that both his parents drove them while he was growing up in LA - that is until he took his father's Lotus-Cortina for a drive without permission, and got t-boned at an intersection. He rode home in the tow-truck hauling the wrecked car, and when he saw the look on his father's face through the dining room window, opted to stay in the tow truck and ride back to town rather than facing his wrath.
Early 70s Triumph TR6
This picture-perfect Triumph TR6 (above) somehow missed its invite
to the Petersen, and was parked on Los Feliz Boulevard.
