A Bite of the Market -Collector Car Trends for the Next Six Months by Mike Thies

As I am appraising vehicles, many folks ask me what the future holds. I tell here what I tell them. So often I am too close to the "real metal" to have much of a crystal ball and it's not my strength, anyway. However, when I stand back and do the research, sometimes a cloudy picture does come through. It seems to me that the last…

JUDGING THE OPEN CAR SHOW

A Practical Guide for Judges at Local Three-to-Four-Hour Community Car Shows

Prepared by Mike Thies

Certified Vehicle Appraiser, I-VAN #04152019

Global Automotive Services LLC, Dacula, Georgia

Copyright November 2011, August…

A Bite of History by Mike Thies

Maserati & Chrysler

I've always had a soft spot for stories where two companies that had no business working together somehow made it work anyway, and the Chrysler TC by Maserati is exactly that kind of tale. Lee Iacocca had a long friendship with Alejandro de Tomaso going back decades, and by the mid-1980s he wanted a personal luxury convertible that could carry some…

A Bite of History - Marcos 

By Mike Thies

The Marcos was one of those wonderfully unconventional British sports car companies that could only have come from the postwar racing world. The company was founded in 1959 by Jem Marsh and aerodynamicist Frank Costin, with the name Marcos coming from Marsh and Costin. Costin brought serious aircraft and racing design experience to the project, and that influence showed up immediately in the cars: low frontal area, light weight,…

A Bite of History by Mike Thies

Waffle House

Waffle House has a long-standing partnership with Richard Petty, featuring a custom Waffle House paint scheme on the No. 43 Ford. This connection to the racing world naturally bleeds into the broader car collector community. Waffle House is a staple for 'Cars and Coffee' style meetups. Because they are open 24/7 and located…

Hope everyone had good Thanksgiving and gave thanks to Him for our many blessings. Now, help us give back to children in our community that may otherwise go without this Christmas plus the organizations providing care for them. https://lnkd.in/e86vw5gj   or…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMY_XGBrpiQ 

A Bite of History  by Mike Thies

 The Jaguar XK120

There are moments in automotive history when a single car changes everything, when elegance, engineering, and audacity collide to create something that feels more like a declaration than a machine. We learn that the Jaguar XK120 was one of those moments. When it first appeared at the 1948 London Motor Show, no one…

A Bite of History – by Mike Thies

The RestoMod

There’s a sweet spot between keeping a car original and making it your own, and that’s where the restomod lives. It’s the perfect handshake between yesterday’s design and today’s technology. You keep the classic lines, the chrome, and that unmistakable old-school personality, but you update what counts. Underneath…

A Bite of History: by Mike Thies

1958 Porsche 356 Speedster

The 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster marks the swan song of one of Porsche’s most iconic and minimalist models. Originally introduced in 1954 at the urging of U.S. importer Max Hoffman, the Speedster was designed to be a low cost, lightweight, stripped-down entry sports car that could double as a weekend racer, especially for the California sports car scene. With its low windshield,…

The Volunteer Gap: Thoughts on Why Car Clubs Are Struggling to Fill Leadership Roles, and What to Do About It

With car shows, cruise-ins, tours, parades and varied events across the country, car clubs continue to bring enthusiasts together for camaraderie, preservation, and celebration of automotive history. But behind the scenes, many of these clubs are hitting a serious speed bump: no one wants to take the wheel. Volunteer-run clubs are facing an increasingly common…

Why It’s Hard to Recruit Younger Members to Volunteer Car Clubs, and How to Fix It

Car clubs have long been the social engine of the collector car world, bringing people together to swap parts, plan road trips, attend shows, and preserve automotive history. But in recent years, many volunteer-run car clubs have struggled with a pressing problem: recruiting and retaining younger members. The concern isn’t just about numbers, it’s about sustainability. As the…

A Bite of History: The Hudson Essex

by Mike Thies

Let’s take a look at a pretty underrated but important part of automotive history, the Hudson Essex. This car came out of the Hudson Motor Car Company, which was based in Detroit and started producing vehicles in the early 1900s. In 1918, they introduced the Essex as a more affordable option for everyday…

A Bite of History: by Mike Thies

1958 Porsche 356A Speedster

The 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster stands as one of the most iconic and sought-after models in Porsche’s early lineage. Originally introduced in 1954 at the request of U.S. importer Max Hoffman, the Speedster was designed as a lightweight, bare-bones sports car tailored to the American market. By 1958, the model had evolved into the refined "356A" version, featuring a more advanced…

The “SouthEastWheelsEvents Annual Recognition Awards” - The Ceremony is set for January 17, 2026 at the Savoy Museum as part of the conclusion of their Annual Drive…

A Bite of History - Mike Thies

1950's Nash Metropolitan

The Nash Metropolitan, introduced in the early 1950s, holds a special place in automotive history as one of the first American-designed cars…

A Bite of History -Mike Thies

1970 Chevrolet Camaro RS Z/28

The 1970 Camaro marked the beginning of the second generation for Chevy’s popular pony car, and the Z/28 with the RS (Rally Sport) package was one of the most desirable configurations. With a more European-inspired design — longer, lower,…

A Bite of History - Mike Thies

The Lafayette

The Lafayette automobile was more than just a machine, it was a statement. First introduced in the early 1920s and named after the Marquis de Lafayette, this luxury car was built to rival the finest on the road. Precision engineering, refined styling, and a bold American spirit made the Lafayette a standout in its time.…

A Bite of History – Mike Thies

Pontiac GTO

Meet the car that kicked off the muscle car era: the Pontiac GTO. Born in 1964, it was basically a Pontiac Tempest with a rebellious twist, a massive 389 V8 engine stuffed under the hood, some attitude sprinkled in, and just enough rule-bending to make it legendary.

The GTO wasn't supposed to exist. GM had a ban on racing, but John DeLorean (yeah, that…

The History of SEMA’s Battle of the Builders

SEMA, founded in 1963, has been a cornerstone of the automotive aftermarket industry. Its annual show in Las Vegas is the premier trade event for showcasing the latest automotive innovations. Recognizing the need to highlight the creativity and technical expertise of custom car builders, SEMA introduced the Battle of the…