What really surprised me is the amount of knowledge he has and that he isn’t just interested in hot rods and muscle cars. For instance the most recent show, for August 27, featured a woman named Kelley Styring who is basically a social anthropologist. She studies people by what she finds in their cars. Additionally, Carolla and his co-host Sandy Ganz take a look at Ganz’s newest purchase, a Sunbeam Tiger. Now those are the kind of cars I want to talk about.

Looking down the list I see other episodes dealing with the Mitty Challenge at Road Atlanta, an interview with Tim Suddard of Classic Motorsports Magazine and Grassroot Motorsport, and HSR vintage racing at Fontana. Those are just a few of the shows that I have queued up to listen to.

So, give Carcast a try, let me know what you think, and please pass along recommendations for any other podcasts that might be of interest.

“Jaguar is one of the world’s premier manufacturers of luxury cars and a great British brand. We are very proud to have been asked to make this clock for their XJ75 car and were keen to make something different for Jaguar. As such rather than a quartz clock we have created a beautiful mechanical clock that also has a chronograph function,” Bremont co-founder Giles English said.

The Bremont Jaguar XJ75 car clock comes in a white and black contrast theme, complementing the concept car painted in satin Matte Pearlescent White with dark chrome or gloss black exterior elements. The vehicle’s 22-inch wheels also use dual-tone black and white finishes.

“Our design teams talk a similar language when it comes to clean cut form with a sharp, sporting edge. The XJ75 Bremont clock design has superb functional clarity in its detailing and this is combined with a beautifully crafted outer metal bezel that suggests strength and longevity,” said Giles Taylor, Jaguar chief designer for the car. “It fits the crafted luxury feel of the XJ interior perfectly and all who have seen it so far ask the same question: How can I dismount it and wear it on my wrist?”

Aside from the bespoke clock created by Bremont, the XJ75 also features a 1,200-watt surround sound system provided by Bowlers & Wilkins that uses 20 speakers powered through 15 channels.

One Saturday in the early summer of 1969 Randy asked me to go with him on a quick day-trip from Augusta to Huntington Beach, S.C., near Myrtle Beach. He was delivering something for a friend and just wanted some company for the drive. It was a perfect day for a drive in that car. Actually it could have been raining hammer handles and flaming charcoal briquettes and it still would have been a perfect to be in that car. We left early in the morning with the top down and a postcard blue uncluttered sky above. About noon we stopped in a little caution light of a town for gas. The station was situated at fork in the road. One road would take us to our destination and the other lead back into the uncharted reaches of the South Carolina low country. It was from this direction that a faded blue 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2 fastback pulled into the station and parked at the pump on the other side of the lot. The driver got out and while filling his tank looked over at Randy and me. We could see three other occupants in the Mustang. This was long before the movie “Deliverance”, but this foursome could very well have been the inspiration for James Dickey’s characters. The driver said something to Randy about the little foreign girly car he was driving. Randy, who had by this time finished filling up the Healey, was now back behind the wheel suggested to the Mustang’s driver that the next time he borrow his mother’s car she at least have the courtesy to clean it up a little. With that Randy slowly eased out of the station and headed east. The section of highway we had turned onto was arrow straight for what looked like eternity. We had been on the road for less than a mile when Randy told me to look behind us.

They were coming up on us in a big hurry. It was the Mustang, and it was making a lot of noise. It may have had a tuned exhaust, but more likely the owner had taken a broom handle and rammed it up the exhaust pipe breaking all the baffles designed to muffle the exhaust noise. They were getting as close to Randy’s bumper as they could in an attempt to rattle him. Randy was doing a respectable 60-65 on this two lane blacktop and refused to be intimidated. The Mustang got a little perturbed with Randy’s unwillingness to panic, pulled out into the oncoming lane, got beside us whereupon all four occupants began yelling and gesturing. Randy dropped the Healey into 3rd gear, accelerated, shifted into 4th and continued building speed. The Mustang, not surprisingly, was maintaining its position right beside us. At about 90 mph Randy looked over at me, gave me a big grin and winked. He turned to the Mustang and raised the middle finger of his right hand in salute. With the same finger he reached over to the dashboard and flipped the toggle switch engaging the electric overdrive.

The Healey had been emitting an aggressive howl that was steadily climbing in octave as the speed increased. When the overdrive kicked in the exhaust noise took on a low guttural growl, at which point the whole car seemed to lower itself further towards the pavement and literally surged forward with a force that drove us both back into our seats. I looked behind me in time to see the Mustang losing pace with us at an amazing speed. Suddenly the little blue Mustang was completely lost from sight as it was engulfed in a huge cloud of blue smoke. The engine had let go at what was close to 100 mph. The last we saw of the Mustang it was coasting to the side of the road. Once Randy stopped laughing he suggested we plan a different route on our return to Augusta. I couldn’t have agreed more. Now whenever I see a red Austin Healey 3000 MKII I think of Randy and that amazing adventure. Whenever I see a faded blue Mustang 2+2 fastback I go the other way.

Note: This has been a guest post by Pat Stuckart. You can read more about Pat and see more of his photography at Pat Stuckart Photography.

The collector is just warming up at his Oxnard-based Mullin Automotive Museum, which was designed to evoke a 1930s art deco auto salon in Paris. He caresses the swooping fender of a red- and-black 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante coupe, designed by the company founder’s son, Jean Bugatti.

“I love all the French cars, but Bugatti is my favorite among favorites,” Mullin says. “It’s the ultimate car in engineering, design, performance.”

The museum’s creme de la creme spins on a pedestal in the middle of the 46,800-square-foot building. In May, an anonymous buyer paid more than $30 million for this 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, a silver-blue coupe with a raised spine that runs the length of the car.

Mullin declined to comment on media reports that he was the buyer. It’s the highest price ever paid for a car, topping the old record by about $2 million. The same Bugatti sold in 1971 for $59,000. Mullin belongs to a small club of about 100 collectors worldwide with the money to buy the most expensive classics, Geneva-based classic car adviser and broker Simon Kidston says.

Rich collectors are an eclectic lot, from comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who collects Porsches and who appeared in a 30-minute cable program extolling the brand; to Jim Glickenhaus, a Wall Street investor who covets Ferraris; to British television and radio host Chris Evans, who paid $10.9 million in 2008 for a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder once owned by Hollywood actor James Coburn.

A semi-retired founder of a Los Angeles executive-benefits-consulting and asset-management firm, Mullin, 69, began buying vintage cars in 1981. He now has 140. “It starts with an interest, turns to passion, then migrates to obsession,” says the chairman of Portland, Oregon-based M Financial Group.

Collectors are pumping money into the classic-car market like never before, driving up prices for the world’s most famous models of Bugattis, Ferraris, Mercedes-Benzes and Rolls-Royces.

Enthusiasts are bewitched by their curvaceous bodies; handcrafted leather stitching; racing prowess, with 200-plus- horsepower engines; famous owners; and even their possible investment value.

Today, with the stock market in the doldrums, investors seeking hard assets are turning to vintage cars — often for more than $1 million, says Keith Martin, publisher of Sports Car Market magazine in Portland. “At the moment, important cars are making crazy money,” he says. “Baby boomers still have all the money. Half of them are saying, ’I always wanted a Ferrari SWB.”’

Bugattis, along with Ferraris and Mercedes-Benzes, are the most coveted of the collectibles, based on auction prices. The Bugatti 57SC Atlantic at Mullin’s museum is, for the moment, the world’s most valuable car because only three were made, and only two of them are known to still be intact. The other one is owned by fashion designer Ralph Lauren, who displayed some of his Bugattis, Jaguars and Porsches at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts in2005.

Collectors who buy vintage cars for money, not just for love, face many risks in making a profit. Inthe opaque and illiquid classics market, they struggle with everything from determining a fair price and finding a buyer to ensuring a seller isn’t passing off a heavily repaired model as an original, says Glickenhaus, general partner at New York investment firm Glickenhaus Co., which manages $1.3 billion.

Consider the price swings for Ferrari 250 GTE four seaters from the early 1960s. In 1990, the cars were selling for as much as $250,000, up from $30,000 to $40,000 three years earlier, publisher Martin says. The price swooned to as low as $50,000 before recovering to $100,000 in the past few years.

“There is a huge business in buying and selling classic cars, and these guys will tell you whatever you want to hear,” says Glickenhaus, whose collection includes seven Ferraris. “To the average person, it is not a good investment.”

Collectible cars have outperformed stocks, at least in the past four years, according to the Hagerty’s Cars That Matter “Blue Chip” Index, compiled by auto appraiser David Kinney of Great Falls, Va.

The index, which contains the estimated values of 25 of the most popular collectible autos, increased more than 61 percent from September 2006, when it started, to the end of July. That compares with a 16 percent loss in the Standard Poor’s 500 Index. The 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder LWB gained 131 percent in that period to an estimated value of $3.3 million, according to the HCTM index.

From News Day

I am a long time fan of all Morgan cars, and have been in love with the Aeromax Coupe since I first saw the concept drawings. It somehow conveys the past and the future at the same time and really conjures up images of the fantastic sleek cars from the frames of Dick Tracy comic strips. The new Morgan Aero SuperSports in nice, but it just doesn’t convey the same aesthetic somehow.

Vintage Triumph Register

Highlights of this year’s event include a special focus on the TR6, and a keynote address from author and editor Mike Cook, the former public relations manager for Triumph in the United States and an expert on the marque. There will be plenty of driving opportunities, including an autocross, a time-speed-distance rally and a funkhana, as well as the annual car show and concours d’elegance. Jekyll Island offers attractions of its own, including pristine beaches and a rich Gilded Age history.

If you’re a current, past or future owner of a Triumph, or simply admire these delightful cars, the North American Triumph Challenge is the place to be. VTR is the only register in North America that covers and supports all models of Triumphs. Registration is $105 for VTR members, and registrations are now being accepted at the Challenge website, www.vtr2010.org.

The automotive firm is introducing its all-new MG6, and will begin by developing a campaign to launch the model, which it describes as a “fastback, new upper- medium sized vehicle” later this year.

The agency is tasked with delivering a fully integrated campaign from above the line advertising to direct and dealer marketing with a specific focus on online and digital.

The campaign aims to create awareness of the new model range and communicate the brand “in a modern and relevant way for the 21st century whilst retaining its unique and iconic image.”

MG currently has 40 dealerships in the UK, but is now recruiting additional new dealers to deal with the growing model range.

Guy Jones, sales and marketing director at MG, says: “These are exciting times for MG. We have a great brand and are about to launch a range of all-new, British designed products to compete in the European market. We are delighted to be working with DCH, who have proved they not only understand the challenges we face but have also demonstrated their ability to support us across all of our marketing requirements, from brand advertising to dealer comms and CRM.”

Andrew Hawkins, managing director at DCH, adds: “There remains huge latent affection for MG. The marque has always had a special place in the hearts and minds of the British consumer. The MG6 has the potential to reaffirm this affection in a modern and relevant way. We are excited at the prospect of helping the team in Birmingham put MG back in its rightful place as an iconic British motoring brand.”

The Morgan Motor Company is the last survivor of these British sports car manufacturers. Of course the company is lucky enough to have 100 years of continuous success behind it and like Bristol and Frazer Nash; Morgan has a history of successful collaborations with German suppliers BMW, Siemens and Bosch. But Morgan also works with a number of young engineering companies in the United Kingdom and with world class British university research departments.

The new challenge is to make cars that are more efficient than any we have seen so far. The Morgan Motor Company is in a good position to respond to this challenge because the company is small and flexible with a proven track record of fast development cycles. It currently manufactures one of the greenest sports cars in the world, the Morgan Four Four Sport. Morgan achieves this result with the use of the new Ford 1.6 Sigma engine coupled with a light chassis. Morgan currently has a young well qualified technical team working towards a potential 5 engineering PHD’s, who will make full use of research departments at the University of Oxford, Cranfield and Birmingham City to tap into a technical knowledge network to make more efficient cars. This team is helping to develop a high torque electric motor twice as powerful as others of the same weight and size and a powerful lithium phosphate battery with a higher charge density to achieve the most efficient performance for weight so far.

The dynamic team at Morgan has made a commitment from 2010 that they will bring out a new model every two years. The legendary sports car manufacturer will target new niches…..electric sports cars, a fun weekend vehicle and the first of the new cars will be the Morgan EvaGT, a four seater Coupe aimed at young families, with a bit of drama or automotive theatre as we like to call it. This is a revolution for a car company famous for making the same car for 50 years!

The Morgan EvaGT
Brief provisional specification

Chassis:
The Morgan EvaGT makes full use of clever technologies that the Morgan Motor Company has developed to manufacture a lightweight car. Morgan was one of the first car companies to see the advantage of a bonded aluminium chassis to give rigidity but also to save weight. The EvaGT uses a further developed version of the bonded aluminium chassis of the Morgan Aero SuperSports, a chassis that successfully competes in International GT3 Sports Car Racing. Compliant with European and US safety approvals.

Bodywork:
Morgan was the first car company in 1995 to see the benefit of superformed aluminium, an aircraft technology, to manufacture smooth accurate body parts. Morgan Design have sculpted a new shape for the Morgan EvaGT that focuses on natural materials and understands their unique technical properties. Using computer technology in design and in manufacture to ensure accuracy, the parts are then hand finished to make sure they feel as good as they look. A perfect “A” class surface, minimal shut lines, hidden wipers, flush door handles and sharp creases deflect air over the surface of the car. The new Morgan EvaGT represents a philosophy of lightweight luxury that embraces authenticity, sustainability and innovation achieving its final result through the process of skilled craftsmanship.

Technical Specification (subject to change):
BMW 3 litre straight six mono twin turbo with direct petrol injection 306bhp and 400nm torque

• Euro 5 and 6 compliant at 200 gms Co2/km, US FMVSS, CARB and EPA approved.
• 40 mpg / 7.06 litres/100kms
• 6 speed sport automatic or 6 speed manual gearbox.
• Rear wheel drive with fully independent intelligent suspension
• Aluminium body panels with a laminated internal safety structure.
• Predicted weight of 2755 lbs/1250 kg
• Predicted 0-60 mph 4.5 seconds/ 0-100km/h 4.5 seconds
• Predicted top speed 170mph / 273 km/h

Launch
The first public view of the Morgan EvaGT will be at the 60th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Carmel, California, USA on the 15th August 2010.

The Morgan Motor Company will be taking orders worldwide with a request for a deposit of £5000 from prospective clients for an allocated build slot. The first 100 cars of a limited run are planned to begin production mid 2012 and the “on-road” price will be competitive for a car of this class.

Further information
For further information contact EvaGT@morgan-motor.co.uk

Following on from the hugely successful Project Kahn Range Rover Sport RS600 and the Project Kahn RS300 powered by Cosworth, it was an inevitable progression that the prestige automotive design house, Project Kahn would eventually place their signature stamp on the Land Rover Freelander.

The Freelander as the junior member of the 4×4’s most aristocrat family; Land Rover, continues to be the nations favourite SUV with its combination of car-like dynamics and smart styling explaining their popularity.

Taking inspiration from the Project Kahn Range Rover Sport RS600, the Freelander RS200 has received an extensive makeover from the king of aesthetic conversions Afzal Kahn.

The Freelander RS200 modifications include features which are unrivalled in today’s market, including to the exterior; Kahn 20” RS wheels and tyres, matt black signature bonnet stripe, silver door handles, door mirror caps, front bumper vents, body coloured style vents, side sills, front grille surround and smoked side repeater’s.

Climb aboard the RS200 and you’ll find modifications including black quilted leather interior with contrasting white stitching complete with RS200 logo’s, steering wheel with white contrast stitching and Kahn red and white speedo and rev counter.

As with all Project Kahn cars, the RS200 accessories are available as standalone pieces. Afzal Kahn; the CEO of Project Kahn comments: “Customising your existing car, is a great alternative, cost effective way for owners to upgrade”.

The complete RS200 is priced at a very reasonable £26,995 which includes £10,000 worth of Project Kahn accessories.

Project Kahn will shortly be announcing another addition to their RS series, news of which we will bring you shortly.

For full history and mileage and all Project Kahn accessory enquiries, call one of their qualified sales representatives on 01274 749 999.  [Press Release]

When you are going for a leisurely drive, or even just your daily commute, it is nice to listen to some music instead of listening to people talking and laughing on the radio. But what songs are particularly popular to listen to while driving, and why? We’ve found five songs which are played in cars all over the UK, on the motorway, driveway, and probably in the line at a fast food drive through too.

The Boys are Back in Town – Thin Lizzy

This song is featured on the Top Gear Seriously Cool Driving Music CD set (1), and it is easy to see why. It’s a sing-along tune known through the generations. Of course this song works particularly well if used by a group of men who are literally back in town!

Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen

One to sing your heart out to, Don’t Stop Me Now is another classic driving song. You would find it hard to be feeling angry listening to this, even if you were stuck in a traffic jam.

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic – Sting and the Police

Sting seems to be a popular choice for a more chilled out journey in the car, but doesn’t skimp on the catchy lyrics front either. Just because it topped the UK charts in November 1981 (2), it doesn’t mean it isn’t still cool today.

Wouldn’t it be Nice – The Beach Boys

Another upbeat song! This song makes us want to roll down the windows (or a convertible roof) and drive next to an ocean on a warm summers day. Although once you listen to one Beach Boys song it is easy to get into the mood for the whole album.

Don’t Stop Believing – Journey

There have been a couple of covers of this song in the past year, but the Journey one is the most classic. Like the other songs above, Don’t Stop Believing is just as catchy and easy to sing along to. In fact, this seems like a recurring theme when it comes to driving music; if you can sing along to it, and it makes you happy, it is destined to be a song for your journey.

About the author: Hannah Warder writes for MediaVest (Manchester) on a number of topics, including car insurance.

References

(1)  Amazon – Top Gear Songs.

(2) Amazon – The Police.