Mike Lovell: Blue Collar, Blue Chip Collection

Highline Autos, November 2020

Mike Lovell is similar to many car lovers whose collections we’ve featured in GreatGarages. The vehicles aren’t just high-dollar valuables: They represent childhood, dreams, aspirations and treasured joys. For example, the passion meant reclaiming at least two automobiles. One is a 1967 Camaro he had to sell to go off to college; his dad reacquired it and had the classic pony car restored by friends. Now it sits in the purpose-built garage just south of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix. Another is a 1987 Buick Grand National, which he sold shortly after buying it. But America’s quarter-mile production-car king that year had engaged his daughter’s interest; she chided him for the sale without her sign-off. Now, with velvet stanchions guarding it, the GN is safe at home. When she’s 16, it’s hers. A classic joy.

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Bentley: A Century of Class

Highline Autos, July 2019

In this GreatGarages, to honor the 100th anniversary of Bentley, I worked with a variety of gracious marque experts and fans worldwide for about five months. The home office of Bentley in England connected me with Frank LaVerda, Customer Relations and VIP manager, and Jon Simons, Product Marketing manager, for Bentley Motors-USA. Here, in Scottsdale, Beli Merdovic, general manager of Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, a Penske Automotive Dealership, was also helpful. Thanks as well to Phil Brooks, Williamsburg, Virginia; Graeme Cocks, Australia; Simon Hope and Julian Roup, England; Colin Dougherty, Keswick, Virginia; and Bostonian Bruce Male. Cheers!

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Apollo 11 at 50: One Giant Leap for Corvettes

Highline Autos, June 2019

“We all watched in wonder, with Walter Cronkite.” But I watched my father, too, July 20, 1969. Outside it was a muggy evening, and everyone had vacated the rowhouse stoops, where neighbors gathered on summer nights to chat and listen to Philadelphia Phillies games on transistor radios. Tonight, they were watching black-and-white TVs as window air-conditioners whirred. I watched him: the sense of amazement and awe (a Great Depression boy, he was not easily overwhelmed) at Commander Neil Armstrong’s historic hop out onto the moon. This was Jules Verne, Flash Gordon, H.G. Wells, Tom Swift and Commando Cody and the fulfilment of World War II victory. This July 20, I will be thinking of the moon, the stars and the look in my father’s eyes that magical summer night.

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Lexus LC500 & LS500

Highline Autos, February 2019

We particularly enjoyed the Lexus LC 500 luxury coupe for a weeklong test drive a couple of months ago. The company flagship brought thumbs-up signs with its potent 5.0-liter normally aspirated DOHC 32-valve V-8 producing 471-horsepower/398 lb/ft-torque engine. We were especially impressed with the car’s graceful 10-speed automatic transmission and wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The powertrain delivers 0-to-60 mph runs of 4.4 seconds. The LS500 is equipped with a 3.5-liter, twin turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6, also paired with the 10-speed automatic. The family-oriented sedan is not quite as quick as the two-door LC, but you’ll still handle most of life’s road challenges very capably with 4.7-second 0–60 times. The LC500h Hybrid completes the line-up of fine 500 models.

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Michael Furman: Cars and Classics

Highline Autos, August 2018

Michael Furman is one of the world’s premier studio car photographers, that is, for showcasing stationary classics in garages and museums. But, because of his skill and perspective, his cars seem to move. I knew Michael when we were growing up in the Philadelphia area almost a half-century ago. Even then, he had a camera, and you knew what his life focus would be. Even among quality photographers, his work stands out. Look at the Horch and the Delahaye, even the Scarab, in the story: They have a motion and life even in park or neutral. Great car museums such as the Simeone in Philly and the Mullin in California have turned to him to celebrate their stellar collections. And, he was just honored to discuss his work during Monterey Car Week 2018 in California. Please enjoy his superlative work, as I have. His images, indeed, are worth a thousand words.

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