– so said Henry Ford. We visited the Model T museum in Richmond Indiana today. A nice display of 30 examples of the original multi purpose vehicle. It was a runabout, speedster, truck, van, snowmobile, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck, touring car. These particular models, ranging from early 1907 models to the latter 20’s versions, were in marvelous condition.
– I enjoyed the company of this gold colored Buick LeSabre down Lake Shore Drive this morning. Or to give the Highway it’s full new name Jean Baptiste Point DuSable LSD.
– we’re now traveling through Missouri along the old cross country driving road. Occasionally an old American car peeps out from some weeds.
– a one-off masterpiece in baby blue. This TR6 Triumph was given the estate conversion by some adept owner. Fun? Sure! Practical? Yep! head-turning? Absolutely!
– old forest service trucks were lined up at the Russell Road Military Museum under the Spring sun; their paint was faded and cracked, instrumentation spare and efficient.
– Grand Prix racing was an adventurous spectacle when I was younger, no small part due to the excitement imbued by the high pitched commentary of Murray Walker. His father was a noted TT motorcycle road racer, which Murray took up briefly, before going into TV work and advertising. His races that were a shared experience with the couth color of James Hunt are legendary.
– slotting a two litre inline 6 into the Spitfires chassis and more streamlined bodywork from the Michelotti studio created a worthy competitor to the silo mar MGB GT. The Poor Man’s E-Type it has been called.
– the small roadster based on the Herald was in production for 18 years from ‘62 ‘til ‘80 becoming a popular runaround. Early iterations saw success in alpine rally’s. Another one from the creative mind of Giovanni.
– pure sixties design from Giovanni Michelotti in the shape of this compact sports car from the Triumph factory in Coventry. In red it looks like a firecracker.
– another classic from Giovanni Michelotti’s drawing board. The 3l V8 Stag built between 1970 & 1978. This particular blue body color is impressed on my childhood memory.
Natty Dresser
– the Triumph cars certainly had their own vibe going on. One in particular was the Triumph Herald; a small two-door car made from 1959 to 1971. The body design was by the Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti, and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, estate and van models, with the latter marketed as the Triumph Courier. This example has a fine green side body and room with white hood and wings. The blue skies with scudding clouds with verdant grass make me nostalgic for the warmer weather to come. I think we’ll revisit Michelotti designs this week.
– Launched 40 years ago today the brushed stainless steel paneled car with the full-wing doors was an eye-catcher from day one. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro it earned worldwide fame in Back to the Future as Doc Browns 1.21 gigawatt powered time machine.
-an automobile collector stores his vehicles at my work parking garage. One of the cars was uncovered today. Typically hidden under a dust cover this 1970 Supreme model of an Oldsmobile glowed fire-engine red in the dim subterranean light.
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