We call it “Car Knitting” or “Car Solitaire.”
It’s the never-ending and always entertaining process where we mentally and physically reshuffle the cars in our garage.
At SCM, we’re getting closer to the desired combination of cars and garage spaces. At the same time, as our patterns of use evolve, it’s okay to say goodbye to some old favorites and focus on getting our base cars up to snuff.
Keep in mind that cars are the keys to magic marque kingdoms. If we want to play in the Jaguar world, we have to have a Jaguar and so on. Here are our current admission tickets.
The 1971 Jaguar E-type V12 2+2 continues to be our event car of choice. It’s comfortable, cruises easily at 75 mph and has great A/C. Plus my mobility scooter fits in the trunk. It has no radio, so Ed Grayson made me a facsimile blanking plate. He says there never was a factory blanking plate.
We’ve found that a JBL Bluetooth speaker connected to an iPhone gets the job done to an acceptable standard. After all, we don’t drive this car for the music. An added bonus to the Bluetooth is that there have never been speaker holes cut into this car, and there never will be.
We joined the Jags at the last All British Field Meet, but need to step up our Jag club participation.
With the Duetto gone, we are down to two Alfas. I was once president of the Alfa Romeo Owners of Oregon, and first joined the breakaway Alfa Romeo Association in the Bay area in 1968.
The 1965 Giulia Spider Veloce gets the least love and attention of all of our cars, and deserves more. We’ve had the car nearly 40 years. But I can’t drive it, and Bradley needs someone to take him out for a driving lesson. He has mastered a manual shift in his mom’s Porsche Boxster, the Lotus Elise and the Alfa Duetto, but the GSV is more finicky than those cars and doesn’t suffer fools gladly.
The 1991 Spider automatic is simple, easy and fun. There hasn’t been an Alfa event to take it on for a while, so it to is crying out for attention.
That’s the first three of the six we are considering keeping, with more on the rest to come next week.
Do you think six cars is the right number?
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Personally I think that three classics are the right number but can’t seem to part with a car keeping my stable to four. I have a 1990 V12 automatic that is a comfortable cruiser, a 1998 British V8 manual convertible that is a real hooligan, then a 1960 Italian GT V6 manual for comfortable touring and lastly a 1975 convertible V8 automatic roadster that offers sophisticated long distance rally/ touring. One or two of these might need to depart to add an early 1950’s roadster for serious rallying. But then… Ok maybe six classics are a good number to own. Never lift!
Keith. From a Collector who has owned many Marques, I recommend you pick 2 that you like and focus on only two ! I have settled into one Marque only now – Porsche – with my 356A and 986 Boxster . Even 1 Marque with 2 to choose from , keeps you focused better and less stressed mentally.
You have been there, done that in our Car World. Eliminate 4, Keep 2, keeps the Doctor away ! It’s Time to smell the Roses !!
I think the number is not so important but how much you enjoy them my current stable DB7 Vantage/Volante and Bentley Continental GTC these are the convertible then two Ferrari’s 599 GTB and 456 GTA so all of these v12 for the pleasure to drive a V12 daily!!!
Then as a car to be driven at BMX B7 Alpina with the driver of course so you can enjoy the back seat and not worry.
And if an SUV is require them Porsche Cayenne GTS or Turbo or more exterme a Gemballa GT750 Aero.
Back to six cars!!!
I agree with Ralf Berthiez: three is the right number. But, since you share the fleet with Bradley, 2 X 3 = 6 seems right for the two of you. Needless to say, my own classic fleet numbers three – two early 105 Alfas and a BMW CS coupe. I owned more than three in the past, but keeping them all maintained, regularly-exercised and properly stored became too much trouble
The key is having a car for each type of event or use that you pursue. My choices are a clean car for concours, a reliable, comfortable car for touring and a convertible for those warm, sunny days. Others may want to include an autocross / track vehicle or a ratty car that can be used daily.
To the less is more contingent, for me ( 3 ) is all I can create time for ( 2004 Porsche 911, 1954 Chevy 3100 pickup, 2009 Bmw 328i ). As a full time working boomer, my free time is consumed by Porsche related activity even though I’m a 20+ year BMWCCA member. Then having time to fettle ( have fun ) with these as well is challenging for me. I have what I love, love what I have and enjoy them all to the max. Never Stop Driving.
Your piece a few years ago on the ultimate four car collection really changed my entire worldview and how I view collecting almost entirely. I really think that’s the perfect number
1. Drop Top
2. Hard top with a back seat
3. Light duty 4×4
4. Late model performance car
Everything you need, nothing you dont!
I have six. it is too many but everytime I thin the herd, another one or two fillow me home. Lat time was the worst; I had to buy three to get a bucket list 1971 Plymouth ‘Cude convertible.
MARK