by David Mathias Over the decades I have owned literally dozens of British and German sports cars. I can’t say this without likening myself to a character in Aesop’s Fables about the grasshopper and the ant. The ant is wise. He works hard, saves his money and is both thrifty, conservative and probably drives a…
by Will Howard Since the MG TD roadster only has two seats, you must have discerning criteria for your favorite passenger. The rider must not be concerned about keeping their hairstyle neat, since the convertible top is almost always down for touring country roads. Also, it’s a must to not get carsick easily, the low…
My father was a wonderful man, devoted and nurturing to his four children. This was especially true of his two sons, who he taught character, self-reliance, and ability to self instruct. I suspect the last was foremost in his mind in 1964 when he “loaned” me, a college junior dweeb, the magnificant sum of $1,000…
It’s Thursday morning and my fuel pump is dead. These two facts are normally of little consequence, but this happens to be the third week in August, and that means the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, which may be available to Betend, are coming. Every year a substantial percentage of Southern California walks off the job…
This year’s Fall Photo Contest was a whole lotta fun. We received many entries, and had a great time watching our favorite roadsters against beautiful fall backdrops. A big thanks to all for participating 🙂 It gives us the greatest pleasure to share the winning submission followed by some great entries with our enthusiastic classic…
By Greg Prehodka Where have the years gone!? I purchased my (not running) MG TD (in sad shape) in 1967 for $350 while I was in college. My dad predicted it would end up in a junkyard – but he let me pursue my dream! As I restored it over the next nine years, it…
Most automotive enthusiasts appreciate the innate differences between sports cars from America, France, Italy, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom even if they are unable to articulate what makes them unique. Even the casual car guy can tell you that American muscle cars have large displacement engines; Italian engines make their power with lots of…
It never fails to surprise me how much real life is like high school. Back then we were typically identified with a group and that appellation likely stayed with us throughout our entire four years. Jock. Nerd. Slacker. Freak. Sometimes you were lucky enough to cut across such crass distinctions by creating a niche for…
By Scott Fischer “Yes. This.” That was the two-word Facebook posting from my friend, and fellow British-car sufferer, Jeff Zurschmeide in April 2013. It accompanied a Craigslist ad he’d found for a 1951 MG TD, unrestored, in a nearby town at the edge of the Oregon wine country. From the pictures, it looked complete, straight,…
By Gerry Strachan I am a transplanted “Brit” who arrived in this country as a member of “Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Corp” in 1978, and expected to return to U.K. in 1981 after a three-year “tour of duty” at the British Embassy. Two years later, I decided I wanted to stay in the USA for a…
