My dear cousin Sérgio never misses a classic car gathering, and he often sends me pictures he takes there. This time, the meeting took place in a picturesque little town called Lapa, located 70 kilometers southwest of Curitiba, my hometown in Brazil. Lapa is one of the oldest cities in Brazil; in the downtown area,Continue reading “Sérgio’s Pictures – Part III – Lapa Classic Car Meeting.”
Author Archives: Rubens Junior
The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum.
Recently, I shared my intention to write a series of articles about the machines that fought under the Canadian flag against fascism. In this second installment, I will focus on a museum located in Brandon, Manitoba: the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum. This museum was born with a noble mission to preserve the memory ofContinue reading “The Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum.”
1968 VW Beetle – Saved from the Crusher.
The title of this post might be misleading. After all, the VW Beetle has reached the status of a classic, collectible car in Brazil, and therefore, it rarely ends up in a junkyard nowadays. The story of this car started when my Dad received as a gift, the race Beetle that belonged to his brother,Continue reading “1968 VW Beetle – Saved from the Crusher.”
Classic Advertising – The Cassette Tape and The Maxell’s Blown-Away Guy.
In 1966, the most popular rock and roll band in history, The Beatles, chose to step away from the pressures of live concerts to focus on creating music and recording albums. At that time, music artists could afford this luxury and still make tons of money by doing so. Back then, we had the delightfulContinue reading “Classic Advertising – The Cassette Tape and The Maxell’s Blown-Away Guy.”
Classic Ship- HMCS Haida
Top picture credit – Jeremy- Google Photos. If you have been following the news lately, you know that Canada is facing an unprecedented threat against its own existence. The country that once was our strongest ally is swiftly becoming the aggressor. In this new scenario, Canadian patriotism is on the rise. I plan to embraceContinue reading “Classic Ship- HMCS Haida”
The Shelby-Dodge Years
This is a story that most of the gearheads know by heart. Back in the 1960s, FOMOCO hired Carrol Shelby, and together, they developed the GT40, the car that dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans for 4 years in a roll. A few other iconic sports cars were born from this partnership, like theContinue reading “The Shelby-Dodge Years”
The Racing Heritage of TAG Heuer
In the early 1930s, Rolex opened the doors of motorsports, paving the way for other Swiss watchmakers to form partnerships with drivers and racing teams. During the 1960s and 1970s, which is often considered the golden age of auto racing, no watch brand was more prominent on racetracks around the globe than Heuer. The romanticContinue reading “The Racing Heritage of TAG Heuer”
The Racing Heritage of Rolex.
It is an understatement to say that the worlds of motorsports and timekeeping are intrinsically connected; after all, drivers must first beat the clock before facing each other on the race track. Since the dawn of the sport, watchmakers have established partnerships with teams and organizers, supplying watches and chronographs in exchange for publicity. SirContinue reading “The Racing Heritage of Rolex.”
Classic Story- We Don’t Want You To Die.
Louis Armand de Lom d’Arce, French aristocrat, writer, and explorer who served in the French military in Canada, once said: “To survive the Canadian winter, one needs a body of brass, eyes of glass, and blood of brandy.“ Well, Monsieur Louis Armand was absolutely right: winter in Canada is brutal, but when my wife andContinue reading “Classic Story- We Don’t Want You To Die.”
End of The Season Reflections
The 2024 Formula One season has concluded, and I would like to share a few brief thoughts on it. First, I want to clarify that I am not delving into deep analysis, as I follow the sport more superficially. Additionally, I will be writing from the perspective of a South American fan. Max Verstappen MaxContinue reading “End of The Season Reflections”
The 2014 Brazilian Southern Nats. – Classic Car Meeting.
During the time I worked as a parts guy for two different restoration shops in Brazil, I had the opportunity to attend quite a few classic car meetings. Although I have nice memories (and some pictures too) of all of them, there is one I consider special. It was the last meeting I attended beforeContinue reading “The 2014 Brazilian Southern Nats. – Classic Car Meeting.”
Smokey Yunick – The Wizard of NASCAR.
If you follow this blog, you probably have noticed that I love motorsports. I can spend hours watching all kinds of races on TV, but I am not a big fan of NASCAR. First, I don’t like watching races on oval tracks in general, but what disgusts me the most is how they encourage driversContinue reading “Smokey Yunick – The Wizard of NASCAR.”
Classic Story – 1973 Cadillac Eldorado – Not a Primadonna
In 2014, I decided to quit my job at Powertech, and I went to work for another restoration shop called Phoenix Studio. If it was a wise decision, I still don’t know, but it was a different experience. A salesperson in a restoration shop must perform various duties; there is no such thing as “thisContinue reading “Classic Story – 1973 Cadillac Eldorado – Not a Primadonna”
The Panoz/Nissan Delta Wing
In the world of motorsport, evolution is constant. If you were to compare a Formula One car from the 1970s to a modern one from the 2020s, the differences due to half a century of technological advances are simply astonishing. However, both vehicles still share some core similarities, such as having four open wheels, aContinue reading “The Panoz/Nissan Delta Wing”
Sergio’s Pictures – Part II: São Bento do Sul, 2024
Once again, my dear cousin, Sergio D. Florentino, visited São Bento do Sul in Brazil for the 19th edition of the traditional classic car meeting on July 6 and 7, 2024. Sergio sent me hundreds of pictures of the meeting, and I decided to make a video with the best shots. The majority of theContinue reading “Sergio’s Pictures – Part II: São Bento do Sul, 2024”
Sergio’s Pictures – Part I : São Bento do Sul, 2019.
It has been almost ten years since my wife and I moved from Brazil to Canada; time really flies, even when you’re not having fun. Although I am far from the Brazilian classic car scene, my cousin, Sergio Devens Florentino, keeps me updated on every gathering he attends and regularly sends me pictures. After allContinue reading “Sergio’s Pictures – Part I : São Bento do Sul, 2019.”
Lamborghini Miura – 1966-1973
This is a well-known story that has been told over and over again among the gearheads around the world. Just like any other story/legend, this one can vary widely depending on who is telling it, but it mostly goes like this: Ferruccio Lamborghini, the founder of Lamborghini Trattori and notorious bon vivant, was dealing withContinue reading “Lamborghini Miura – 1966-1973”
The Classic Machines 