What are your favorite brands and why? Many years ago, when I was a parts consultant for a restoration shop in Brazil, I had an interesting conversation with a customer about the things we wanted but we could not afford, mostly hot rod-related. This is how he wrapped up the talking: “You know what IContinue reading “All The Pretty Things Money Can Buy.”
Author Archives: Rubens Junior
Honda XL 250R
Reliable, stylish, affordable, and groundbreaking; no wonder this little Honda became one of the most popular bikes of the 1980s. The perception of motorcycles varies across different cultures around the world. In developed countries, it is a vehicle used mainly as a hobby, but in poorer nations, a bike is the most affordable means ofContinue reading “Honda XL 250R”
Flight To Arras / Pilote de Guerre
What book could you read over and over again? The Prince of the Sky. Writer, poet, illustrator, pilot, and above all, a romantic guy regarding most aspects of life. Antoine de Saint-Exupery was blessed with quite a few qualities when he came to this world. Saint-Ex, as friends and family knew him, became famous thanksContinue reading “Flight To Arras / Pilote de Guerre”
Classic Poetry – Huey
Such a hot afternoon. It could have been a Wednesday, or a Friday, but not a Sunday. Sitting on the driveway, brake parts scattered around me. And then the sound. POM POM POM POM… I remember this sound, I know what it is. POM POM POM POM… I close my eyes. I am not listening…Continue reading “Classic Poetry – Huey”
Jimmy Stewart, The War Hero.
Old movies are the closest thing we have to a time machine. They can bring us back to a time when life was simpler, and people were more authentic. Every movie lover has a list of their favorite classics and, consequently, their favorite actors and actresses. During the glory days of Hollywood, Bogart was theContinue reading “Jimmy Stewart, The War Hero.”
The Argentine Mission at the 84 Hours of Nürburgring
– In 1969, a team of Argentine racers, led by Juan Manuel Fangio, won one of the most gruesome endurance races ever, driving an unlikely race car. This is their story. No, it is not a typo. The first time I came across this amazing story, I also thought: ” You mean 24 Hours ofContinue reading “The Argentine Mission at the 84 Hours of Nürburgring”
1983 Porsche 911 Targa – A Matter of Feeling
During the time I worked for two different restoration shops in Brazil, I had the opportunity to drive some interesting cars and bikes. A couple of days ago I was going through hundreds of digital pictures that I have scattered all over Google Drive and found a few shots of one of those cars, aContinue reading “1983 Porsche 911 Targa – A Matter of Feeling”
The World’s Fastest Ferrari
The 1980s was not a remarkable era for the auto industry, the decade will always be remembered by sluggish engines and questionable taste in design. But if we venture into the realms of Italian exotic cars we will certainly find a few exceptions. In my humble opinion, the Ferrari 288 GTO can easily sit onContinue reading “The World’s Fastest Ferrari”
Classic Motor: Assembling a 1300cc VW Engine
While I spend time putting together plastic model kits, my 75-year-old dad spends his time restoring vintage VW Beetles. Recently he sent me a few short videos showing himself masterfully assembling a rebuilt, air-cooled 1300cc-VW engine. This little mill replaced an old, tired 1300cc that came with the car when Dad bought his 1968 BeetleContinue reading “Classic Motor: Assembling a 1300cc VW Engine”
Classic Modeling – 1:72 Spad XIII
Once again it is wintertime in the Northern Hemisphere, and here in Canada, it means one thing: spending most of your free time indoors. If you are not willing to sit in front of the TV and spend hours watching Netflix’s “craparama”, you better find a hobby. Occasionally, I give a shot at an oldContinue reading “Classic Modeling – 1:72 Spad XIII”
Classic Rock – Bitter Sweet Symphony
During the 1990s, rock’n roll enjoyed what might have been its last breath of life as a mainstream musical genre. The Grunge Movement, which started in the mid-1980s, and exploded in the next decade, was a healthy departure from the (mostly) silly, glossy-looking bands from the 80s to a more hard-core, back-to-basics approach. Rock wasContinue reading “Classic Rock – Bitter Sweet Symphony”
The Brazilian Champions – Part Four : Gil de Ferran
Between the years 1972 and 2004, Brazilian drivers won 14 world championship titles: 8 in Formula One, 5 in Formula Indy/CART, and one in Sports Car Prototype. Those years became our golden age in motorsport. We are deeply proud of our drivers and we will shamelessly brag about them for decades to come. When IContinue reading “The Brazilian Champions – Part Four : Gil de Ferran”
Classic Poetry – A Pilot’s Prayer.
Somebody gave me this lithe-looking creature called Spitfire, and said: -There is a Spitfire, go and fly it.- The next thing I knew, it had leapt into the air. Sort of me hanging on to it, really… And off we went into the wild blue yonder. Oh, my goodness me. It is going to beContinue reading “Classic Poetry – A Pilot’s Prayer.”
Royal Enfield – Classic 350
The year 2023 was a remarkable one for the so-called musical physical format. Physical copies of music have been performing better than digital downloads for a while and the trend continued this year. To make it even more amazing, for the first time since 1987, the analog vinyl LP outsold its digital nemesis, the CD.Continue reading “Royal Enfield – Classic 350”
Classic Watch- Zenith Pilot Type 20
It is Christmas again, the time of the year when our hearts get flooded with love and compassion. Time to get together with family and friends, and that jazz, but it is also the time of the year when we dream about all the pretty things money can buy. I know, I should not mixContinue reading “Classic Watch- Zenith Pilot Type 20”
Classic Story – I Fought The Law And The Law Won.
Being a poor car guy can be very frustrating. I spent a lifetime dreaming about cars that I could not afford, and chances are I never will. Perhaps, writing about those machines helps to cope with the frustration. Instead of owning memorable cars, what I have are some memorable moments driving ordinary cars. In aContinue reading “Classic Story – I Fought The Law And The Law Won.”
More Than a Grocery Getter
Car guys can be a very opinionated bunch indeed, some of them will worship one brand and despise all the others, and some of them will prefer a certain category of cars and make fun of the others. But there is one thing that seems to bring all of us together, we all have aContinue reading “More Than a Grocery Getter”
The Classic Machines 