Q. What do you think of
Jay Leno’s television car show? — P.W. (via Internet)
A. I generally like it, although Leno gives it a lot of
show business touches. Of course, he’s a pro so he knows such
touches will help the show reach a wider audience. So far, the
show appears to be a success.
Q. I noticed that classic car prices
have dipped a bit in 2019. I think they’re still
ridiculously high for most such cars, some costing millions,
but at least I hope there has been a change that has made
them more affordable. — J.K. (via Internet)
A. There was a loss of 5.6 percent in such prices in 2019,
says the Historic Automobile Group International’s Top Index,
which covers rare and collectors’ cars. However, prices for
other “luxury items,” including paintings, also fell.
Q. I’m confused. I’d like to buy a
classic 1954 MG TF or a 1955 MG TF 1500. The 1500 is a
little more expense than the 1954 TF, although both look
identical. What’s the story here? — E.S. (via Internet)
A. Those both were the last of the classic-looking British
sports cars (replaced by the 1956 MGA) and are a thing of
beauty. However the 1955 TF has a larger engine and more power
than the 1954 model. The TF 1500 keeps up with modern traffic,
but the 1954 TF is too slow for anything but safe driving on
secondary U.S. roads with little traffic. Both MGs steer and
handle so well they are a blast to drive despite their ages.
Both also have a medium price in the low $20,000 range, which
makes them a screaming bargain in the still wildly priced
collector car market. The MGA was followed by the MGB, which
was sold in America until 1980.
Q. What do you think of
the radical new mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette—the first
mid-engine Corvette in the car’s history? — E.H. (via
Internet)
A. The late Zora Arkus-Duntov, who was the official “father”
of he Corvette at General Motors since nearly its introduction
in the early 1950s wanted GM to make a mid-engine ‘Vette in
the early 1960s, but the front-engine Corvette was selling so
well that GM turned him down. I haven’t driven the new
mid-engine Corvette yet but it’s said to be virtually as good
as sports cars with exotic nameplates that cost twice its
price, or more.
Q. What do you think of the upcoming
four-door Ford “Mustang?” — P.A. (via Internet)
A. Automakers will do anything to make a buck.
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