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Articles by Tim Suddard
Latest stories, page 2
BMW | BMW M2 | Iconic Auctioneers | F87 BMW M2 Straight from the auction house’s founder, this BMW M2 CS What does an auction house chairman and founder own? A BMW M2 CS, apparently, but it now can be yours. Mazda | Miata | Buyer's Guide | NA NA Mazda Miata: Buy one now? | Buyer's Guide Too new to be a classic? The original Mazda Miata is now over 30 years old. Dyno | tech | Shop Work | Distributor What difference does a distributor make on the dyno? What difference does a distributor make?
Import Carlisle show attracts younger generation of car enthusiasts
When the import Carlisle show started 40 years ago, it was designed to be a club gathering and swap meet for people who loved vintage imported cars–mostly British ones–as well as kit cars. Picture rows of MGs and Triumphs, Alfas and Fiats. Aside from some dune buggies, most of those cars are gone. At this year’s Import & Performance Nationals, there were probably more Hyundais than British roadsters.
7 cars that prove the 1970s weren’t so bad after all
Story by David S. Wallens and Tim Suddard Catalytic converters. Questionable fit and finish. Landau tops paired with velour interiors and massive bumpers meandering down the highway at 55 mph to the disco beat. Looking back, the ’70s get a bad rap. Okay, true, the decade produced some stinkers, but was it really all that bad? What about one of the most famed Porsches ever built? Or Japan rewriting what made a sports car? Or, perhaps, the car that would help guide BMW into greatness?
Hidden gem of a concours: Old Town Festival of Speed & Style
You should go here. Now in its sixth year, the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, presented by Burke & Herbert Bank, deserves to be a destination event in the concours scene. The event, held this year on May 18, is set in charming Old Town Alexandria, along the Potomac River and right near Washington, D.C. This site reminds us of the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel, California, or the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival concours, two events we dearly miss.
Savoy Automobile Museum rocks North Georgia
Photography by Tim Suddard North Georgia is home to timeless mountains, falls dating back millennia, and a rather monumental car museum only opened to the public late in 2021. The Savoy Automobile Museum sits in Cartersville, about halfway between Atlanta and Chattanooga. So, the museum’s name: It does relate to cars. While clearing the land to build the museum, a badly damaged 1954 Plymouth Savoy was found on the property.
2025 BMW 330i
By Tim Suddard When we first reviewed BMW’s current G20-chassis 3 Series upon its arrival back in 2018, we lamented the lack of a manual transmission as well as the high price. The car we drove lacked a leather interior and some other niceties you would expect in a $50,000-plus automobile. We recently spent a week pre-running our upcoming Smoky Mountain Tour in a new version of that same sedan.
Amelia Island Kickoff: Affordable fun for the whole family
Photograph by Joshua Sweeney Can’t find a sitter leading up to Classic Motorsports Amelia Island Kickoff? Why not get the kiddos involved in the hobby by bringing them, too. Don’t worry, it won’t cost you anything extra as spectators–of all ages–are free. [Amelia Island Kickoff: Enjoy the fun–and the food] Want to take it a step further? Register one of your family’s classic cars for just $45.
Bidding on our vehicles closes Tuesday, February 18
The chance to own a vehicle from our very own collection? You better lock in those bids soon, as the auctions close on Tuesday, February 18. Learn more about each lot available, and follow the links below to Hagerty Marketplace to set those final bids: 2005 Mazdaspeed “Safari” Miata 1984 Callaway Turbo Volkswagen Rabbit GTI 1969 Triumph TR6 1965 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Coupe 1975 Honda CB 400F Motorcycle 1959 Triumph TR3A Comments Editorial Director 2/18/25 9:09 a.m. Today’s the big day.
Smoky Mountain Tour: This is why Chattanooga is a destination
Why make Chattanooga and its Westin Chattanooga the hub for this year’s Classic Motorsports Smoky Mountain Tour? Because the Scenic City rocks. Don’t take our word for it. According to Visit Chattanooga, Lonely Planet named Chattanooga as the “Best in the U.S.” and “10 U.S. destinations you need to see.” The New York Times put Chattanooga on its list of “Top 45 Places to go” in the world. Why? Chattanooga offers a vibrant arts scene, fine dining, natural beauty and amazing things to do. The good news?
When we reviewed the then-new E46 BMW | #TBT
Story by Tim Suddard and J.G. Pasterjak Here’s an interesting predicament: How do you fix something that’s not broken? Case in point: The most recent BMW 3 Series, designated the E36 chassis, has to be the most successful car ever produced by the popular German manufacturer. It is far from broken. The E36 BMW is still thoroughly modern and has seen … This content is available for GRM+ members and Grassroots Motorsports magazine subscribers only.
9 common restoration mistakes–and how to avoid them
[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2014 issue of Classic Motorsports.] Restoring a car is a risky proposition. While TV shows and auction coverage make it look like it’s quick, easy, and without risk of financial loss or frustration, that’s rarely the case. Most restorations require hundreds to thousands of hours of work, an upside-down amount of money, and a timeframe that can stretch on for years.
4 future collectibles worth buying now
How to be ahead of the market? Here are four modern cars with an old-school performance feel that are worth buying now. What’d we dream about driving in high school? A Mustang. What was our reality? A station wagon–if we were lucky. Yet the AMG-tuned E-class Benz wagon shows that performance and practicality can go hand in hand: Its twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V8 is good for 603 horsepower along with 627lb.-ft. of torque.
Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals evolves for a new generation
Afraid that the next generation hasn’t embraced car culture? Then you haven’t been to Carlisle’s import show. The show's transformation can now be called complete. Since 1986, the folks at Pennsylvania’s Carlisle Fairgrounds have hosted an annual spring import show. When we first started attending in the early ’90s, we praised the great swap meet, strong camaraderie and growing car show that featured some 100 machines.
How to replace rusty rocker panels
Rust is the plague that infects everyone in the classic car hobby. We all talk about avoiding rusty cars, but let’s face reality: If no one was willing to fix any corrosion, there wouldn’t be many cars left to restore. And where does this metal cancer tend to strike? The rocker panels. Trapped moisture loves to breed in dark confines until it bursts free–and leaves a giant hole in its wake. Just about all makes and models are affected, but fortunately the market has responded.
Developing a game plan for the Corvette we bought sight unseen
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea One of the most important steps in any restoration? Developing a game plan. This is especially true for the C2 Corvette we bought sight unseen. Follow along as we do an initial inspection of the car, as well as try to decide whether we should do a complete restoration or simply enjoy it as-is. More like this Comments New Reader 2/22/24 12:41 p.m. This is a really nice car as is. Do not restore it. There are thousands of restored Corvettes around.
5 steps to a seamless transaction | How to sell a car: Part 1
It seems to be easier than ever to sell your stuff, thanks to a plethora of options that make the yard signs and local classified ads of old look positively primitive. Today’s venues for turning a classic car into cash–from traditional auction houses to aggregate sites like Bring a Trailer–allow sellers to get their vehicles in front of more people than ever before. However, they can also cut down the amount of time people have to exhibit and ponder these purchases.
America’s Greatest Road Trip! Key West to Deadhorse | Book Review
Tom Cotter, the prolific writer and friend of Classic Motorsports, is at it again. This time he has documented, as the title suggests, what might just be the ultimate road trip. He and photographer Michael Alan Ross borrowed a new Ford Bronco and a tiny Airstream trailer to make the trek from Key West, Florida, to as far north as you can drive: Deadhorse, Alaska (better known as Prudhoe Bay).
Our top 14 favorites from Monterey Car Week
Photography Credit: Tim Suddard Story by Tim Suddard and J.A. Ackley Monterey Car Week brings out some of the most special vehicles from all corners of the world. It’s also one of the few places where you catch yourself saying, “Oh, it’s just another Ferrari or it’s just another Lamborghini.” Despite the abundance of low-production cars, some vehicles still stand out. Here are 14 that caught the eye of our publisher Tim Suddard and senior editor J.A. Ackley. 14.
Has Monterey Car Week gotten too out of hand?
PowerDork 8/21/23 10:42 a.m. Why are you talking about Burning Man? Or Aspen? Or air-cooled Porsches? The answer is that there are three phases to anything good. The Genesis, the heyday, and the ascendance of the moneied crowd. I don't know if Monterey has been spoiled or not because the only times that I've gone it's been for a single day as the guest of an exhibitor. I was particularly surprised at the Concorso Italiano because my friends Alfa was a (comparative) rat with a Buick motor.
How to Upgrade Your Alfa Romeo's Suspension in 12 Simple Steps
Story by Carl Heideman • Photography by Carl Heideman unless otherwise credited When American auto manufacturers basically abandoned the convertible in 1975, the European manufacturers kept the topdown flame alive. Most of the British convertibles died off in about 1980, though, and by 1984 Fiat decided to stop selling cars in the U.S. American automakers eventually restarted convertible production. The Japanese then got into the game, and the Europeans came back soon after.
When’s the last time you saw a Daimler SP250 race car?
Photography Courtesy Bill Holland Story by Bill Holland One of the more interesting stories in motorsports lore is that of the Daimler SP250–which was introduced at the 1959 New York Auto Show and promptly dubbed the “ugliest” car there by the press. Not to mention that Daimler Company Limited (founded in 1896 by British investors and Gottlieb Daimler in Coventry, England) had named their creation the “Dart” and were promptly advised that Chrysler Corp.
2023 Dodge Hornet GT
Story by Tim Suddard With the introduction of the Hornet, Dodge has introduced its first all-new car in 10 years. This one might have been worth the wait. The Hornet is an all-wheel-drive small SUV–think BMW X2 or Honda HR-V–that just kills it in the looks, comfort and performance categories. Yes, we’re surprised as well. The gas-powered version–268 horsepower along with 295 lb.-ft. of torque–outpowers the similarly priced Honda.
When a collection of old photos becomes an archive of racing history
Not long ago, I was racing at one of my favorite events, the HSR Savannah weekend, when a guy walked up to my pit area. He was obviously attracted by my TR3, and after looking the car over for a minute, he told me that back in the mid-’60s he crewed for a car that looked just like mine. When he told me that the car belonged to John Taylor, my heart skipped a beat. I quickly told him that this was, in fact, the very same car.
No restoration is complete until the car has been properly sorted
For the past few years, you’ve poured your life, soul and wallet into restoring your classic car. So far, things have gone pretty well. You’ve done most of the work yourself, hiring only a few professionals along the way when you haven’t had the time, skills or equipment. The day finally comes when you go for that first ride, and it’s quite a thrill. But the adrenaline soon wears off as one fact becomes apparent: The car isn’t quite up to your expectations. Subconsciously, you table the project.
Why a more modern gear-reduction starter makes a wise upgrade
In most cases, there is nothing inherently wrong with the starters that came on our classics. Like a noble workhorse, they step up and do their jobs over and over again. The problem is that many of these units have been doing that job for 40 or 50 years. Just like that workhorse, these starters need to be put out to pasture sooner or later. While we view some conversions with skepticism, modern gear-reduction starters are one upgrade we can get behind.
Which Porsche makes a better race car, the 914/6 or the 911?
[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2008 issue of Classic Motorsports.] Story by BS Levy The 911 is surely the most iconic machine Porsche ever built, and likely represents the longest-running success story—on and off the track—in sports car history. And please, no frothing-at-the-mouth hate mail from Lotus 7 devotees.
Volvo 140 Series: Buy one now? | Buyer's Guide
Photograph Courtesy Volvo [Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2015 issue of Classic Motorsports.] Looking for a boxy sedan that captures that funky ’70s vibe, but don’t want to go with the usual suspects? How about a Volvo 140? Call it the tanklike alternative to a BMW 2002, Datsun 510 or even Alfa Romeo GTV.
The bamboo skewer: an effective, inexpensive detailing secret
And if you bring a hibachi, you can have yakitori sitting around the cars after the day's activities are over (assuming you didn't use all the skewers). Ahhh!! Dude, I recommended wooden chopsticks as my favorite no-cost housecleaning tip on our web show last year. Seriously, you either get them for free or buy a gross for $5 at the Asian grocery. You can trim down the tips to get in tiny spots and they don't hurt finishes. Plus, when they get gunked, you pitch 'em.
Classic roadster showdown: Alfa Romeo Spider vs. Triumph TR6
The dream remains a common one: wind in the hair, throaty exhaust, a pinch of chrome. European machines have defined the roadster genre for decades, cementing motoring memories for enthusiasts young and old. They’re the cars good enough for hometown heroes and Hollywood heartthrobs alike. Many of our most beloved roadsters are products of the ’60s and ’70s, with most hailing from two countries: England and Italy.
Why can't we all be less judgmental on the road?
Photography Credit: Tim Suddard You name it and I have likely driven it: Ford Model A, Edsel wagon, Manx dune buggy, and all the ’50s and ’60s favorites. I’ve found that each cool car seems to elicit its own reactions. Drive a Model A Ford Coupe or, in our case, carry it on an open trailer from Massachusetts to Florida, and you get in plenty of conversations with old guys–and I mean really old guys. You hear stories about first cars and first loves.
12 tips for better project car management
Restoring a car is more than just the grunt work. You need to have a game plan, too. While there are many mental aspects to classic car restoration that are no doubt best left to highly trained psychiatric professionals, here are some quick tips regarding the organization, timing and motivation required to properly tackle the job. 1. Determine the Scope One of the first decisions you need to make is whether you want a rolling restoration or a full, ground-up redo.
What it's like to drive an authentic BMW 3.0 CSL
They say you should never meet your heroes. But in this business, meeting heroes is sort of what we do, be it a rare car, a famous hotshoe or a hallowed ground. Our job tends to drag us right up to reality, hand outstretched and a friendly “hello” on our lips. Over the years, we’ve had both positive and negative experiences with confronting our favorites. We wouldn’t say the aphorism is necessarily true, but our heroes have certainly disappointed us before.
How a bad or missing title can derail a project
Photography Credit: Tom Suddard Like the shark that never stops swimming, I am always looking for the next beat-up, forlorn car to rescue and fix up in the pages of this publication. I’ve seen a lot of things during my searching, but the one that still manages to surprise me is how many people sell old cars without clear titles. One would think that having a car’s title in good order would be an automatic part of any sale. It’s as basic as hand washing after a trip to the bathroom.
How to savor the past with classic cars | Peter Brock column
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea Not a day passes in this wildly consumer-oriented market without every facet of our daily lives being hyped with some “latest” improvement that we supposedly can’t live without. Whether it’s in the field of electronics, clothing, communication, automobiles, food or travel—whatever it is that we’ve owned, used with satisfaction, or even recently acquired—it’s somehow already deemed obsolete. Really? Don’t think so.
Preflight check: The key to a better driving adventure
You’ve done it: After all of that head scratching, parts sourcing and engine sorting, you’ve finally finished restoring your car. You’ve even shown off your handiwork at several local gatherings. At this point, many enthusiasts are looking for the next big thing to do with their cars. For us, it comes down to two words: Road trip.
How to finance your next classic car purchase
[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2021 issue of Classic Motorsports.] Let’s face it: Your baseball card collection may never be worth more than it is right now, so perhaps it’s time to sell some of your boys and do what you really want: Buy the classic car you always desired. That 1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle card might bring you a healthy $20,000, but that’s not going to pay for the bright-red Ferrari you’re craving.
How an MG TC gave way to a worldwide British car enterprise
New Reader 7/6/22 8:11 p.m. Moss TC Memory #1: Laguna Seca Raceway, sometime in the mid-1980s, when Steve Earle was in charge of what were then called the Monterey Historics. I owned an M.G. of my own and had bought a few Moss parts for it, so when I saw that Al Moss had entered his TC, I was thrilled to see it. I found it in the paddock, leaned into the RHD cockpit (those cut-down doors made this easy), and laughed out loud when I saw the tachometer, right in front of the driver.
This MGB features Capri V6 power
British car enthusiasts must be masochists. It’s amazing what they’ll suffer through thanks to their affection for certain old machines that hail from England. Wire wheels that might at any moment slip free from the hub and roll off down the road, cancerous rust that eats large holes in the bodywork, and, the most fun of all, those questionable fuel and electrical systems that harbor the ever-present chance of spontaneous fires—while underway, of course—are all part of the charm.
Glasswork: Fiberglass Bodywork Tips
[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2009 issue of Classic Motorsports.] It lurks in the darkness, creeping around corners and hiding in crevices, threatening to eat your classic alive and bleed your wallet dry. In our hobby, rust is the stuff of nightmares. However, some of our favorite machines—including the Lotus, Corvette and TVR—have been able to sleep a little more soundly. How? They’re made of fiberglass. When it comes to car construction, fiberglass has many advantages.
That time we drove Brian Johnson's Lola T70
Photography Credit: Tom Suddard [Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2015 issue of Classic Motorsports.] Most of us know Brian Johnson by his day job–or perhaps more correctly, by his night job–as lead singer for the massively popular and successful rock band AC/DC. However, many of us also know that Johnson has another passion besides music: automobiles.
Easy ways to improve the safety of your classic
Photograph Courtesy Volvo One of the most common reasons people cite for replacing their classic car with a newer model is improved safety. Advances in air bags, anti-lock brakes and traction control give drivers the impression of safety, both real and imagined. Sure, your Austin Mini might not fare too well if it's run over by a Canyonero SUV, but there’s more to safety than sheer size.
The truth about daily driving a classic car
Photography by David S. Wallens [Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2008 issue of Classic Motorsports.] Let’s say that you have decided to make a piece of classic machinery your usual ride—rain or shine, hot or cold, in sickness or in health. Overall, it’s a simple proposition. Back when they were new, most classics were intended to be used as daily transportation on one level or another. There’s no reason why that can’t be done today.
Does the Amphicar actually succeed at being a car and a boat?
When performing any act, there’s a certain point where you become committed to it—a point of no return, if you will. Once past that point, you’ve set in motion a chain of events that will continue to their fruition pretty much regardless of any further input on your part.
Picking the right fire extinguisher for your classic
[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of Classic Motorsports.] Fire burns hot no matter the day or occasion. It doesn’t care if it breaks out during a quiet drive through the countryside or a major race on the international scene. Many competition venues have required fire-suppression systems for decades. But what about your street or show car? Go back to the first sentence of this article: Fire burns hot no matter the day or occasion.
Can Triumph's overlooked TR250 outcharm the more favored TR6?
Story by David S. Wallens and Tim Suddard. Most all sports car enthusiasts know the Triumph TR6, the iconic sports car from the first half of the 1970s. It was a huge success on both the road and the track. Then there’s the TR4, the brand’s model that helped define the 1960s. The one-year-only TR250, however, tends to get lost in the shuffle. It marries the Michelotti-designed TR4 body with the six-cylinder engine that makes the TR6 such a brute.
Not a Mini but a Sunbeam Imp
If an Imp could speak, it would echo Marlon Brando’s anguished lines in the 1954 movie “On the Waterfront”: “I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody.” Despite its innovative features and stellar reputation as a driver’s car, the Imp was never a contender. This tiny machine was launched too late to compete, beset with corporate mistakes and bedeviled by a lack of development.
Peter Brock explains how the Shelby GT350 got its stripes
About 50 years ago, I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. Shelby American had been growing at an astounding rate due to our success with the Cobras. Our race shop was filled with an interesting assortment of super-talented racing types, including a smooth-talking, lanky ex-racer from Texas and a brilliant, self-taught engineer named Phil Remington. This unlikely combination had changed the direction of American racing.
After More Than 40 Years, a Stolen Austin-Healey Is Back Where It Belongs
[Editor's Note: This article originally ran in the January 2013 issue of Classic Motorsports.] Bob Russell agrees that getting his stolen Healey back after 42 years was a dream come true, but he never expected the media explosion that followed. When the story really got cranked up, the calls got so bad he had to turn off his cell phone. Even then, reporters managed to track him down.
8 Steps to Clean That Engine Bay
None 6/5/09 6:33 p.m. Did you guys run a short story not long ago about refinishing/painting a white TR6's engine compartment WITHOUT removing the engine? I recall having to remove the ancilliary items, but not the block. I have a 74' TR6 which just received a great new paint job, and I'd like to treat the engine bay to a re-spray without pulling the motor... Erik S. New Reader 1/3/19 5:14 p.m. Hi Guys, I never got a response from my comment above almost 10 years ago... My question still stands...
In 1973, Porsche built something very special: the 911 Carrera RS
Story by Tim Suddard and Scott R. Lear The purpose-built Porsche 917 was an amazing race car and a smashing success at tracks around the world. For the small Porsche factory, the 917 was also about as complex and financially draining as a lunar landing program. A dramatic change was needed, one that would bring down costs while keeping the Porsche brand on the top of the podium; there was no confusion at Porsche about the fact that racing success was 24 karat marketing gold.
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