This years biker gathering in the old meat packing district saw upper 80’s temperatures but a good crowd of folk out to listen to some rockabilly, look at some cool motorcycles and cars, drink some locally brewed ale, and chow of burgers. A good way to spend a summer Saturday afternoon in Chicago.
Bottle green with a V8 Big Block good for 500 lb ft of torque and 360 horsepower. Spied on Devon Avenue on my drive home. “Mid-size” in its day! Loverly, just.
Skyward Roadster | One last image from the car show. An octogenarian dressed in a kilt with a pale blue Triumph TR3. A little gem.
Antique on Four Wheels | A select offering from yesterday’s car show under the June sky. Beautiful and well cared for there was something for everyone be it German Italian or British. A red XKE was sublime; the early model orange Porsche 911 pure deutsche ingenieurwissenschaften; mint green VW Beetle German efficiency; MK 2 Jags in detail; and a sturdy canvas roofed SWB Landy. So much more was enjoyed.
A few more images to share highlighting the varied vitality of the Motoblot scene. Choppers, custom engines and saddles, gams on the go and hotrods. Oh, and not to mention motorcycles. Look out for that picnic basket laden Moto Guzzi scooter!
Fabulous day in the saddle taking the Bonnie’s around to Michigan. An early start saw a quiet Riute 12 with naught but the shadows playing across the road ahead. 
This quicksilver toned Porsche Spyder stopped us in our tracks. A race-spec engine growled as the owner sped off from the seasonal grocery store it was parked near.
Also included in the ride was a short drop.-in to the amiable Bob Goodpaster at Expert Motorcycle Works in Hobart Indiana. A glorious racing 650cc Norton sat in the front showroom floor. A serious track iron that sees unobstructed chequered flags across the country at vintage racing meets.
The Aston may be a little out of reach for me so here’s something closer to the mark. TR6 with warm wood dash, stout steering wheel, and over a hundred ponies being reigned in under the bonnet ahead (145 UK injected spec/ 104 US carburetted spec)
I can’t find the ejector seat button… However the plush red leather seats are a comfortable pew to handle that beautiful wheel… DB5 cockpit
Before computers drove the shape of the aerodynamic form it was up to the car designer to devise of the curved lines of bodywork to wrap the chassis, engine and seating compartment.
Sculpture on wheels each with a face and body as recognizable as any old family member.
Friends that always continue the conversation where you left off…
Art becomes Art. Looking at, and analyzing, the outline of these beauties, seeing how the curve flows.
There are details that become the marques signature: BMW’s central grill for example. The 2002’s shows this off well.
An E Type’s rear end complements the long engine-full front so well. Perfection!
Even a German next to an Briton looks sumptuous.
Then there’s the cockpit… That another story*
*I didn’t get any images at this car show of walnut dash and leather seat or wood steering wheel and Smiths clocks… Next time!
When funds allow, or rather if funds allow. There could be nothing nicer than being the proud owner of a classic vintage automobile. Soft top XKE? Why yes sir!
Especially if it holds the big V12 5.3l ‘gin. Another owner was kind enough to open the bonnet to reveal this hearty powerplant. With a sound like an Elgar piece. True Britishness.
Jaguar have some other special vehicles: here’s the XK120 coupe. Grey like a black and white movie. Knock-off hubs, split windscreen and a Jag grill. Astounding machine!
The Germans were at it too! Mercedes Benz SL300. Roadster to rip along the tarmac whist playing Wagner.
The other German: Porsche’s sweet little coupe. Their original sports car. The purest aerodynamic form. A Beetle that goes fast! This Schwartz model was sublime. Green is fine too!
550 Spyder… Even faster… Sadly for James Dean…
Crossover design to siblings Volkswagen with their neat looking Karmann Ghia. Style for the middle classes.
The King: Martin, Aston Martin. DB5. This one didn’t have the machine guns or ejector seat… But that silver grey in sunlight is legend.
When cars were named after heroes: the Triumph Spitfire was one such; a two-seater 1500cc powered roadster that heralded the best of British spirit. WWII ace Ginger Lacey cheekily grins from his flying cap, he saw tremendous action in the 1949 Battle of Britain over the southeast as well as flying over Japan during the close of hostilities. This car needs a white silk scarf a-flutterin’ behind the driver to evoke its namesakes legacy. Ginger is true ‘boys own’ stuff with 28 definite downed aircraft to his name he gained the DFM with Bar.
With numerous marques, models and mechanicals to be seen at last weekends car show I’ll conclude the week with a collage of images for your perusal.
The eyes have it…
Top: MG MGA Le Mans
Middle: Aston Martin DB5
Bottom: Austin Healey 100
The Devil’s in the Details…
Clockwise from top right
Nash Metropolitan hood ornament
Ford Cortina Lotus
Rolls Royce Phanto II Continental
Jaguar XK120
Morgan Plus 8
Jensen 541
On its release Enzo Ferrari called the E-Type “the most beautiful car ever made”. Many agree; me too. Its shape is one of pure perfection from all angles, all the curves flow as one in sinuous beauty.
Its aeronautical inspired streamlining derive from the eye of Malcolm Sayer 1916-1970 who’s vision derived to fine style the C, D and E Types as well as the godly XJ13 and XJS. Aircraft design borne principles were utilized to magnificent effect on the roads and race tracks of England.
A 4.2l powerplant could take a leadfoot from zero to sixty in about seven seconds topping out at a ton and a half with the 265bhp under that l-o-n-g bonnet (on a good day, with a factory fettled car).
Like the Spitfire the entire front end flipped up for adequate access to the inline six and its triplet of carburettors.
Swallow Sidecars was the original name of Jaguar cars before the war however the initials SS had different connotations after then so a 30’s model name was chosen for the new company brand. A cat was a good choice!
The Amazon? That’ll be 36D-22-36 to you sonny Jim; Norma Jean to the world.
The E-Type arrived in ’61, M.M. left us in ’62… Do you believe in reincarnation?
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