The 4th of July is prime car time. If you own an old car, chances are you’ll be adorning it with a flag or two and taking it out this Thursday. But will it be ready for slow-speed cruising in the heat of summer? Here are a couple of things […]
Author: SCM Contributor
Jim’s Blog: Three Favorites at Mecum Portland
Portland may not be one of Mecum’s bigger auctions, but it tends to bring in a bunch of interesting cars from all over the northwest. This year’s sale just wrapped on Saturday, and ACC was there to cover cars at the sale for an upcoming issue. Complete results are still […]
Jim’s Blog: When Was the Last Classic Built?
I hear a lot of car people lament that the last classic car was built in 1973. I don’t agree. “Classic” is technically defined as “Serving as a standard of excellence: of recognized value.” There’s nothing there to limit production years on cars. I think that comes from the definition […]
A Modern Classic
Values and trends have always been the heart of ACC, but “value” is a loaded concept. Dollars and cents may run the market, but owning classic cars and trucks is supposed to be fun, and a lot of that fun comes from actually getting out and using the cars we […]
Jim’s Blog: Are GM’s C/K Trucks on the Way Up?
Built from 1988 to 1998, GM’s C/K pickup has traditionally been viewed as nothing more than a basic taskmaster. Other than a few special editions, such as the 454SS and the Indy Pace Truck, car people have not considered these trucks all that special. But with a rising interest in […]
Jim’s Blog: How Old Are Your Tires?
Most of us know that gas has an expiration date. We typically say that oil should be changed at least twice a year. But when’s the last time you considered the age of your tires? If you’re lucky, you might put a couple thousand miles per year on your classic. […]
Jim’s Blog: Car Spotting at Portland Transmission
Here in Portland, car season kicks off with a pair of huge swap meets in early April. About a month later, on the Saturday before Mothers’ Day, the city’s car people wake up all their classics and head out for the inner east side of town, where all gather for […]
Jim’s Blog: Are Engine Swaps OK?
Small block, big block, and LS Chevrolet V8s tend to find their way into all kinds of classic cars. Should they? I’m all about making a vintage car more drivable — from steering and brake upgrades all the way through the addition of modern fuel injection. All of these things can make […]
Jim’s Blog: 1957 Chevrolet — Buy, Sell, or Hold?
The 1957 Chevrolet is probably the most iconic American classic car of all time. But with interest in 1950s cars cooling thanks to a changing demographic in the classic car world, is it still the collector car it once was? The Chevrolet fin may not have been the biggest or […]
The New Wave
Each week, my extended family gets together on Sunday to have dinner together at a place I like to call the Pickering compound — a flatroof house in Portland’s West Hills, built by my great grandfather, grandfather and dad in 1959. It’s full of family heirlooms and history. The grandkids […]