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Category Archives: Classic Bits

DECODING THE HIGHWAY CODE (FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD)

FOR US ’MERICANS, AFTER ALL, it is the wrong side of the road. In any event, the British book You Have Been Warned treats its Highway Code with an anatomically … Continue reading

March 19, 2022 · 2 Comments

THE TALE OF GENEVIEVE

YOU KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE a charming movie with this opening credit: “For their patient co-operation the makers of this film express their thanks to the officers and members … Continue reading

March 17, 2022 · 2 Comments

L’IDEA FERRARI—FLORENCE

WHAT BETTER ART VENUE than Florence. And what a fine topic in “The Idea Ferrari.” This exhibition, June 8-September 30, 1990, was set with the help of Ferrari North America … Continue reading

March 13, 2022 · 1 Comment

TWO-WHEELED STYLE—1902 to 1960

 I AM FASCINATED by the two-wheelers displayed by Sotheby’s in its Motorcycles and Bicycles Auction on September 16, 2000, in Chicago.  Here are tidbits on several of my favorites. Dursley … Continue reading

March 6, 2022 · 3 Comments

ROAD AND TRACK VOL. 1 NO.6 PART 2

VOL. 1 NO. 6 OF Road and Track first appeared in December 1949 and later in a Brooklands Books facsimile in 1987. Yesterday in Part 1, we learned about motor … Continue reading

March 2, 2022 · Leave a comment

ROAD AND TRACK VOL. 1 NO. 6 PART 1

I STILL HAVEN’T UNEARTHED my oldest rattle-taggle issues, but did uncover facsimiles of the magazine re-issued by Brooklands Books in celebrating its 40th anniversary in 1987. These are December 1949 … Continue reading

March 1, 2022 · Leave a comment

A MAN, HIS THINGS MECHANICAL—AND HIS SISTER VERA

GEORGE EDWARD MILLIGEN was born in 1910; he died in 2004, shortly after which his collection of things mechanical was auctioned by Bonhams at the Goodwood Revival Sale 2004.  Here … Continue reading

February 26, 2022 · Leave a comment

JOHN W. BURGESS—MUSEUM CURATOR/ARTIST/DIRT TRACK RACER

JOHN BURGESS KNEW AUTOMOBILES extremely well and also admired the American West. I have proof positive of this through his artwork and through knowing him as director/curator of Briggs Cunningham’s … Continue reading

February 19, 2022 · 14 Comments

RM AUCTION: THE PONDER COLLECTION 2007 PART 2

THE CATALOG OF the Ponder Collection 2007 RM auction hit responsive chords of several of my automotive enthusiasms. Today’s Part 2 continues with more of these, some auction results, and … Continue reading

February 15, 2022 · 2 Comments

RM AUCTION: THE PONDER COLLECTION 2007 PART 1

I ENJOY PERUSING automotive auction catalogs. The best of them are mini histories of cars and auto memorabilia; they also evoke great reminiscences. As examples, here in Parts 1 and … Continue reading

February 14, 2022 · Leave a comment