Hemmings Classic Car March 2023

“My days of contorting to retrieve something as simple as a torque wrench from the vast pile of clutter are, thankfully, coming to an end.” Contrary to what one might think, this has nothing to do with the intense combat armies endured within the Ardennes nearly eight decades ago, or the annual test of willpower against the tasty might of holiday snacks. No, this has to do with the constant struggle to minimize the introduction of—and/or maximize the purge of—more outdated, too-good-to-throw-away, might-need-it-again objects of everyday life to the “Family Storage Center,” also known as “the garage.” I’ll refrain from narrating every OSHA-violating trip hazard that exists in what was once my well-organized work-space for vintage cars. Oh, the horrors verbally painted in prior monthly “State of the Space” addresses…it…

THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE MADE the trek on Route 66 in recent years may have noticed or stopped by a facility dedicated to Chevrolet’s famous air-cooled car. General Motors has now officially recognized the Corvair Preservation Foundation Museum in Glenarm, Illinois, as the official Corvair museum in North America. The museum, in operation since 2016, hosts events throughout the year to celebrate and preserve the legacy of the popular compact car. “It is with great joy and genuine excitement that we announce the official new name of our ‘National Corvair Museum,’ which has just been approved by General Motors,” Mike Hall, CPF President and Museum Curator, says. “We look forward to a long and productive partnership with General Motors as Corvair will now have a national home for its display…

THE SCHEDULE FOR THE 28TH AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE—NOW KNOWN as The Amelia—has been set with something for everyone over four days. After the opening night Porsche Winemaker’s Dinner, the nearby Jacksonville International Airport will host a Porsche Driving Experience for a wild drive with a professional driver, and a seminar about Corvettes at Le Mans at the Ritz-Carlton. Friday’s film will be The Quest, which sheds light on what became of the four Corvettes after their 1960 race at Le Mans. Saturday’s car show will feature more than 500 vehicles spread across RADwood spotlighting 1980s and 1990s vehicles; Concours d’Lemons for oddball, unique, and unimpressive cars; and Cars & Community, spotlighting hundreds of curated cars from around the country. That night will include a seminar with this year’s honoree, NASCAR…

THE VINTAGE MOTOR CAR CLUB OF AMERICA ANNOUNCED THE DATES AND ROUTE FOR ITS 41ST CHROME Glidden Tour. Enjoy four days of touring and experiencing wildflowers, spirits, history, and old cars in the Texas Hill Country, centered around Fredericksburg, Texas. Preference will be given to vehicles built from 1935-1998, with the tour capped at 100 entries. The itinerary includes drives to Enchanted Rock, the Willow City Loop, the Museum of the Pacific War, country roads to Luckenbach and Johnson City, and a private car collection. The tour will take place April 16-20 and registration is now open. Visit vmcca.org/tours for more details and registration forms.…

2-5 • The Amelia Amelia Island, Florida • 904-636-0027 ameliaislandconcours.org 5 • Sumter Swap Meet Bushnell, Florida • 727-848-7171 • floridaswapmeets.com 18 • AACA Antique Auto Show Vero Beach, Florida • 772-584-1842 • aaca.org 11-12 • Kyana Auto Swap Meet Louisville, Kentucky • 502-619-2917 • kyanaswapmeet.com 17-18 • Chickasha Pre-War Swap Meet Chickasha, Oklahoma • 405-224-9090 • pre-war.com 19-20 • Almost Spring Model A Club Swap Meet Puyallup, Washington • 360-863-2877 • mafca.com 24-25 • Corvette Expo Pigeon Forge, Tennessee • 865-687-3976 • corvetteexpo.com 24-26 • Turkey Run Daytona Beach, Florida • 386-767-9070 • turkeyrun.com Please note that these events are active as of press time. We recommend you verify the status before making plans to attend.…

THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT CAME WITH THE LITTLE ELECTRIC sports car when Tom Rapini bought it from a friend’s widow was sparse. The amount of useful information was even more scant. In fact, he didn’t even really know what to call it, so he’s since dubbed it “EV2,” denoting the second homebuilt electric car he’s come to own. What he knows for sure: It has an aluminum body, a boat windshield, dual 36-volt golf cart motors with belt-to-chain drive at each rear wheel, and a “clacking” speed control “with contractors that feed the power through a big resistor for the three slower speeds, just like the old golf carts in the Sixties,” he says. What he’s been told: A retired aircraft engineer in California built it. It may have…