By Martin Swig Most observers credit the Acura NSX with revolutionizing the supercar business, not because of its commercial success, but because it introduced new standards of usability, drivability, and reliability to the supercar field. In a similar way, the 1992-97 Subaru SVX sent a message about what high-performance coupes could be. It was a very subtle, stylish, high performance coupe. The production … [Read more...]
About Martin Swig
Collector Cars as Investments
By Martin Swig Every few weeks we read of a new world record price paid for a collector car. Are these the good investments they're claimed to be? I think not. Here's why. When I was in high school and college in the late ‘40s, early ‘50s, a car was the centerpiece of a young man's life. Chevy, Ford and Plymouth – they were all good and created lifelong memories. Then, when you drove your car to Monterey … [Read more...]
Anti-Football Run 2012 – Photo Gallery
Report by Martin Swig | Photos by Maurice Liang The Anti-Football Run is finally winning. After over 20 years of staging our January 1st drive, to save people from having to stay home and watch football, the Bowl promoters have given in. They moved their games to January 2nd! Over 150 cars gathered at 8:00am on New Year's Day 2012 for the annual 100+ mile drive in beautiful western Marin County outside San … [Read more...]
The New Car Scene from the LA Auto Show
Report by Martin Swig What a recovery! Two and three years ago, the Detroit manufacturers were almost dead, and their exhibit spaces reflected that. The Los Angeles Auto Show was alive in 2011. Domestic and import manufacturers have a ton of enticing new product. As you wander through thinking “which one would I buy?” you can’t narrow it down to just one. The Toyota/Subaru joint venture RWD sport coupe is … [Read more...]
Art Center Car Classic 2011 – Report and Photos
Report and photos by Martin Swig The Art Center Car Classic was held October 23, 2011 at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design. Each year, Art Center has a very special car show on their hillside campus overlooking Pasadena. The focus is on significant design, with special emphasis in 2011 on designs originating in Southern California. … [Read more...]
Thoughts on Mille Miglia North America Tribute 2011
By Martin Swig On October 25-29, 2011 the Santa Barbara, California Stratus Media Group showed us their interpretation of a Mille Miglia. Originally scheduled for August, the Mille Miglia North America Tribute was postponed until October “to allow entrants time to prepare their cars.” I was interested to observe, because for twenty-one years I’ve been involved with the California Mille. We’ve always thought … [Read more...]
Puzzles Facing the Car Industry
The Puzzles Facing the Car Industry - Oil Prices and Consumer Biases By Martin Swig Car selling requires a long-term strategy. Consider Hyundai. In their first ten years in the U.S. they wandered all over the map. They then “idled” for about five years. Finally they found a sound strategy and produced a succession of very good cars. At long last they are recognized as a major producer of very desirable … [Read more...]
Toyota Under Fire – Book Review
Toyota Under Fire: Lessons for Turning Crisis into Opportunity By Martin Swig In the last two years, Toyota has been the target of more negative publicity than any auto company in recent years. Some of the fault lies with Toyota, but most of the blame must be on an inept, maybe even deceitful Department of Transportation, a UAW anxious to bloody their longtime nemesis, and a thoroughly gullible press … [Read more...]
Car Guys Versus Bean Counters – Book Review
Car Guys vs. Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business By Martin Swig In the 1950s and 1960s, General Motors ruled the automotive world. Their market share in the United States was over 50%. Each of their brands (Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac) was the benchmark in its market segment. Product planners at Ford and Chrysler could only hope to anticipate GM’s next move, … [Read more...]
Limited Usefulness of Supercars
By Martin Swig While streaking across Montana at 120 mph in my son’s Subaru Impreza, we discussed the advantages of having a much faster car. A few miles later, we crested a rise just as a Montana Highway Patrol car appeared from the opposite direction. The cop apparently had his radar off, because otherwise our Valentine One would have warned us. Taking no chances, we turned onto a farm road and disappeared … [Read more...]
Art Center Monterey Tour 2011 Information
By Martin Swig Art Center College of Design and the California Mille are collaborating on a tour from Pasadena to Carmel on August 14-15, 2011 to kickoff “Monterey Week.” The Art Center Monterey Tour will consist of two days on the back roads of Central California, with designated stops for lunches and overnight. Cars of any year, which are judged to be of significant design merit, are invited. Art Center will … [Read more...]
Cadillac – Don’t Call it “Standard of the World”
By Martin Swig In the years just before and after World War II, a Cadillac was one of the best performance cars on the market. By 1950, they were so good that a very lightly modified stock Cadillac finished in 10th place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, humbling many more exotic cars, and deeply impressing the Europeans. Cadillac engines appeared in European performance cars like the Allard. Cadillac cars were … [Read more...]
Podium for Sale – Ethical Lapses at 24 Hours of LeMons
By Martin Swig Jay Lamm is a long-time friend. Back in 2006, when he first thought of “LeMons,” I encouraged him. I told him he should simply go ahead and do it; the sooner he started, the quicker he’d discover exactly how it should be done. “Just make your mistakes and move on.” The first 24 Hours of LeMons at Altamont Speedway, near Livermore, California, was a huge success. I had never seen so many … [Read more...]
New Car Test Day at Laguna Seca – Martin Swig on Motoring
By Martin Swig Each Spring, the auto journalists in Northern California gather at Mazda’s Laguna Seca Raceway to evaluate an array of new cars on the racetrack and on nearby roads. While the quality differences in new cars have narrowed, there’s still plenty to experience in terms of car characteristics. Most cars meet their manufacturer’s objectives, but those might not be yours. And often, your preconception … [Read more...]