Highlights from the Spring Thaw Show

More than a few places have car events known as the "spring thaw" but in very few places is it more literal than Calgary, Alberta. Last weekend I was shooting a Datsun roadster in the snow and one week later it's time for a sunny outdoor car show. At large shows like this it would be impossible to show every notable car so were going to go through a few cars that really stood out.

GC8 FHI WRX STI

World Rally eXperimental Subaru Tecnica International is a very long and wordy way of saying blue rally car with gold wheels. The now infamous Subaru WRX STI marked Subaru's transition from being the oddball ride of choice for hippies in Oregon to being a true performance car leader. And while the STI went on to become more powerful and capable in later years, many still believe that the STI's first album was their greatest hit.

We've Been Speehunting

Finals week has taken its toll on productivity here at TLM but rest assured it's only temporary. In the meantime, one of our shots from the 2013 Calgary Auto Show got picked up by Speedhunters.com for their black and white photo feature. Finals are done this Friday and we hope to resume our usual frequency of posts by then. Thanks for bearing with us and we've got a ton of cool stuff lined up for the future months!

One Man's Drive

A cold morning with a cool roadster. Hoover walks us through why the Datsun Roadster captivates him. 

A Lengthy List of the Longest Land Yachts

Perspective is an interesting thing. A Geo Metro parked next to a '59 Cadillac will look half the Caddy's length, but is it really? This chart lists and orders the cars that most people consider to be big and long (Ladies, stay with us) and order them graphically. So come along for the ride, we won't be long.

Return to Gasoline Alley

It's deja vu all over again. With a snowstorm howling outside (Yes, it's April) there was never a better day to hide inside a warm building and drool over classic cars and trucks. We've profiled Gasoline Alley previously but this time we're back with a new lens to try and capture some new perspectives.

Found in the Yard: To Ramble on no More

A more innocuous classic would be hard to find. Today's 1962 Rambler Classic is a brown paper wrapper in every sense of the word.  It's always hard to see a 50 year-old car in a crusher-bound state. But the sad fact is, with a value in top condition of under $10,000 and drivers worth around 2-3k, the values just aren't enough to keep old four-door American iron out of the junkyard.

We're Likable!

Because its never been plugged here in earnest, this is just to let you know that we have a Facebook page full of cool stuff and frequent updates. Our page features speedy updates on new articles posted right to your feed. There are also quite a few ice racing pictures in there for good measure. 

Found in the Wild: Four Hundred and Fifty Five Cubes of GSX Appeal

Fake things can still be beautiful things. And proof of that statement can be found in today's 1971 Buick GSX "clone." There were only 124 genuine GSX 455's built in 1971 and it's doubtful that any of them are hanging out behind a strip mall on a chilly Calgary afternoon. But none of that matters when you look at it. That gentlemanly yet muscular shape is flattering no matter what its true pedigree is. 

Found in the Wild: All SHO, No Go

It was a close race between the weather and the condition of this car as to which could be more depressing. This 1994 Ford Taurus SHO (Super High Output) has current registration tags and a valid parking permit but hasn't moved for a while judging by the flat tire and its dire need of a wash. Enjoy it while you can, because this is about the only time a Z34 Lumina will pass a SHO.

Old Timer

How old is old? The average age of cars on the road as of 2012 was 9.3 years. And any car from the 60's will draw stares and stand out as a beautiful anachronism of another time. But today's featured 1928 Dodge Brothers Victory Six was over 40 years old when the Apollo moon landing occurred. Think about that for a bit.

¡Bienvenido a la Neuva La Vida Mecanica!

¡Hola! Y Bienvenido a la nueva mas Internacional La Vida Mecanica. La Vida Mecanica cuenta con literalmente docenas de fanaticos de todas partes. Pero reconozco que no todoa hablan Ingles. Asi que durante el mes de Abril, LVM solamente ofrece carros con nombres Espanoles. Por ejemplo, El Camino, Coronado, Fiesta, Ranchero, Tiburon, El Dorado, y Espada. (Excluyendo Nova. "No-va" = "no-bueno") interesante no?

A proposito hoy es el primero de Abril