Southern California – Car Buff Capital of the World
There are many opinions people have about Southern California, whether or not they live here or have even visited. When thinking of “SoCal” many conjure up images of sunny weather, palm trees, surfing, and the Hollywood sign. Some may think of the Lakers, Disneyland, San Diego, or Palm Springs. Still others mark this region with thoughts of earthquakes, bad traffic, OJ Simpson, and plastic surgery. The truth is Southern California is all of these things, and a lot more. But when I think of this great land I have called home for the better part of the last decade I also think of cars. In fact, I from this day forward will unofficially crown Southern California the Car Buff Capital of the World. There I said it. Now, I would probably get some arguments from those who live in and around Motor City (Detroit), where the American car dream was born in the 20th century. Others could make a case for heavy enthusiast states in the South and Southeast, where motorsports are a big part of the culture. Or even those in the Midwest, where I grew up and witnessed my fair share of classic car shows, world-class racing, and a passionate base of automobile lovers. However, after living here and witnessing just how much the automobile is engrained in the culture and the culture engrained in the automobile, I have realized this place is a true candy store for car fanatics, no matter what their preference.
Eye Candy
Now I live in Newport Beach, which may give me an unfair advantage given the fact I get to see some pretty amazing cars on the road as I just drive to the grocery store. Ferraris old and new, mint-condition muscle cars from the 60’s, Tesla roadsters, Aston Martins, Ford Model A’s from the 1930’s, and a half-dozen camouflaged test mules of upcoming, yet-to-be-released models have been witnessed by yours truly in just the past month. And the beauty of it is these sightings are commonplace for coastal Orange County locals.
Prime Conditions
It’s no secret Southern California has by and large the best climate for drivers of any place in the U.S. and possibly the world. With few days of rain, limited excessive heat (for LA, Orange, and San Diego Counties at least), solid roads (anyone who refutes this hasn’t lived in the pothole-ridden Midwest or East Coast), and no snow, the climate gives enthusiasts simply more nice days to enjoy their rides. As a non-native it was amazing to me after moving here to see so many old cars, and I mean ’65 Mustangs to old VW Beetles, still on the road being used as daily drivers. Rust is virtually non-existent in such a dry climate and these weathered workhorses only have paint-fade from the sun to show their age. A properly kept will looks years newer having grown up in Southern California than virtually any other place in the nation, and is yet another reason the area is so great for car lovers.
Local Passion
What I perhaps love most about Southern California car culture is that it truly does have something for everyone. Car clubs run rampant in these parts and have very strong followings, whether they are British sports cars from the 60’s or modern Japanese technology, the forum for camaraderie is ever-present. Big name custom shops are also in great supply. From German car powerhouses such as Brabus to hot rod style-influencers like Chip Foose and the legendary West Coast Customs, influencers of the industry are widespread. The lowrider revolution even started here in the ethnic neighborhoods of Los Angeles and continues to have a strong following to this day. Perhaps because of this culture of trend-setting individuality visitors will find residents who, by and large, take more pride in their cars than most. Some may say it is more of a “status” issue where John Doe is trying to keep up with the Joneses, but in my opinion it runs much deeper than that. Culture such as clothing, music, and television has been exported from California for decades, and the culture of the automobile is simply an extension of this.
Industry Influence
What would a Car Buff Capital be without some official industry presence? While our state’s unfavorable tax rates have driven the likes of Nissan and others out, many big players still have influential operations here. Ford, Toyota, Hyundai-Kia, Honda, Fisker Automotive and others all have offices here. Publications such as Road & Track (Newport Beach), Kelley Blue Book (Irvine), and Edmunds (Los Angeles), each have headquarter operations in Southern California. What’s significant is this is not just a haven for those who drive, it’s also a nesting ground for those who design, build, innovate, and report.
Motorsports
As mentioned before there is certainly something for everyone here, including motorsports fans. Autoclub Speedway in Fontana is home to big NASCAR races among other events, and open-wheel fans can get a front-row seat in the Long Beach Grand Prix, held every year on the streets of Long Beach. There are also such gems as Buttonwillow and Willow Springs near Bakersfield, along with a score of Baja-style off-road races in the legendary Mojave Desert. What better environment for a car enthusiast than one that fosters some great racing as well?
Daydreaming on the Road
At the end of the day Southern California, to me as a car nut, provides my fix of automotive Zoloft every time I get out on the road. As a frequent business traveler I find myself in awe at just how many simply beautiful cars there are in just the parking garage at John Wayne Airport. This place is a bona-fide Mecca for the car guy, and one that puts a smile on my face every time I hear the burble of an Italian-built V12 off in the distance as I sit in my living room. More often than not it’s probably some lucky guy fulfilling a childhood dream by exercising his Lamborghini down Newport Coast drive on the way to a dentist appointment. This scene is one that many Americans will never even witness in a lifetime, but to me it is just another day in the life around here, and why Southern California is so worthy of being dubbed the Car Buff Capital of the World.
Tesla Newport Beach
Brabus USA
Willow Springs Raceway
Toyota’s New Sports Car Coming in 2012
This year’s Geneva Motor Show gave the car buying public yet another tease of what is yet to come from Toyota in terms of a true sports car for the road. Dubbed the FT-86 II, this rear-drive machine, set to hit production in 2012, will finally give Japanese sports car fans a taste of what they have been missing for many years. According to the manufacturer, the new car will be lightweight and powered by most likely a high-revving four-cylinder Boxer engine mated to a manual gearbox. I will be curious to see the power output and performance numbers for this machine given its very aggressive looks.
The FT-86 will bring Toyota back to the sports car game after a long hiatus. The automaker has made fans of many enthusiasts over the years with its rear wheel drive Corollas (not to be confused with the modern economy car interpretation), Celicas, Supras, and MR-2’s. Throughout the late 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s these varied models all gained cult followings for their balanced performance and excellent value versus much more expensive machines.
It is nice to finally see something exciting and passionate coming from Toyota in the sports car department and it is my hope that the production model’s looks match this show car and the performance lives up to those striking looks.
A modified AE86 Corolla from the early 80's
Print advertisement for the 1989 Supra Turbo
A mid-engine MR2 from 1992
Has Jaguar Lost its Way?
To many in the automotive world the name Jaguar has, for generations, stirred up images of graceful styling, handcrafted interiors, and exhilarating performance. The brand, which in the 1950’s and 60’s represented some of the most beautiful (and collectible) sports cars of all time, has also survived fiscal crisis, several changes of ownership, and a fluctuating reputation for reliability. Through it all, the character of these cars has made them modern legends. As a car junkie myself I have always had a very soft spot in my heart for Jaguars both old and new. To me it seemed these cars were always a little different from the rest of the pack, whether it is a warm, inviting interior or simply the timeless, work-of-art styling, Jaguar represented something filled with emotion every time I saw one on the road. Among the cars I have always wanted in my garage, even since I was 15 years old, has been the mid 1980’s Jaguar XJ6 Series III. This model, which is arguably the most successful in the company’s history, evoked the charm, class, and timeless styling that made the “leaping cat” hood ornament so recognizable to the average citizen.
During the 1990’s and early 2000’s, when the technological advances of the German and Japanese automakers were starting to leave Jaguar behind, Ford ownership of the company improved the cars to a point where rankings in the highly respected JD Power quality surveys were reaching all-time records. While BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and the like would still nearly always beat out Jaguar in comparison tests, the British cars for the most part still had their own draw that kept buyers coming back, and now with a newfound reliability. However, as time wore on and designers kept re-hashing old styling cues from those iconic models from the past, it became apparent a new design focus was needed to take Jaguar into the 21st century. That focus is now here with the second new model in recent years to hit showrooms, the totally new XJ.
I have had my chance to see the newest iteration of the Jaguar XJ both at auto shows as well as on the street here in Orange County, and I must say I am disappointed in the result of the company’s new styling direction. It is no secret that the latest model from this manufacturer, now under the ownership of Tata Motors of India, is a “make or break” for the brand. Years of declining sales and some “bunts” such as the ill-fated X-Type (a poorly built and executed answer to the C-Class and 3-Series), has put Jaguar in a “must-win” position to regain market share. The problem I see with the new styling is that the designers have simply worked too hard at developing something daring, fresh and modern, without respect for creating something timeless. When I see this car on the road I ask myself “if you took the badges off would anyone know it is a Jaguar?” I also ask myself if anyone really thinks these cars are truly beautiful, in the way a collector looks at a piece of art. As silly as that may sound to some, this is how many who have loved the cars for years have viewed their styling. Now, I would be the first to say Jaguar had to move in a new direction, step forward in a way that was groundbreaking for the brand. However, in the process the designers have, in my opinion, moved too far away from the mark. Stumbling has certainly happened before, as the updated XJ6 from 1988-1994 was criticized by many for being a bit too slab-sided. But even those cars had retained much of the low-roof, sleek, graceful packaging that made them look lighter on the road and more romantic in print than any of their competitors.
What is ironic today is that the German manufacturers, long seen as very cold and technical in their styling, have ”out-Jaguared” Jaguar in many respects in recent years. Two fine examples of this are the original Mercedes-Benz CLS sedan, which launched here in 2006, and the 2012 Audi A7. Dubbed a “four-door coupe,” the CLS embodied the emotion, flair, and downright instant-classic styling that should have been coming from the drawing board at Jaguar. Both it and the A7 possess the sleek, slender lines, athletic stance on the road, and sure to be timeless styling that represents what should be described as Jaguar design virtues. At the same time, these two models bring groundbreaking elements to the table, and are modern without having to be “retro” in their looks. Make no mistake; I am not in the camp of keeping Jaguars old-fashioned looking. However, I’m a firm believer that a brand can move into a new styling direction while still keeping the virtues that made them successful in the first place. Just look at the designs that have come from Audi over the past several years, and then look at their sales numbers. The results speak for themselves. When it comes to world-class car companies these days styling home runs are a must, and with their latest flagship sedan it appears Jaguar is wearing flashy new team colors yet aiming for a base hit.
The new 2011 Jaguar XJ
Unflattering rear view of the 2011 Jaguar XJ
The 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG
The 2012 Audi A7
The 1987 Jaguar XJ6 represents timeless classic styling
The Jaguar XK120 is highly sought-after by collectors today
A 1974 ad for the famed E-Type demonstrated the brand's sex appeal
Dream Garage – Land Rover Defender 90
When thinking of used, perhaps collectible cars I’d like to have in my garage I find myself dreaming of vehicles that have come from all parts of the world, built with all sorts of different purposes. For the first go-around many, when asked, would probably look straight to sports cars from their youth or the latest technology they saw advertised during the Super Bowl. For me, right now, I’d like to start the first installment of “Dream Garage” with a storied player from across the Atlantic. One who had a brief stint here stateside but has been satisfying enthusiasts overseas for decades.
The Land Rover Defender 90, to me, has the perfect blend of rugged off-road prowess, storied pedigree, North American rarity, and utter class all rolled into one. These trucks aren’t the grocery-getter, soccer mom Land Rovers currently dotting the suburban landscape. Drivers of the Defender 90 often have real adventure in mind, and enjoy getting a little dirty while doing it.
Having been used for decades in the British military (and still to this day), the Defender has been available to consumers worldwide since the early 1980’s, having first come to the U.S. in 1994 alongside the more family-friendly Discovery and the famed Range Rover models. Originally imported with only an open back with soft top, it was seen as an expensive alternative to the perennial Jeep Wrangler. By the end of its brief time in the U.S. we also saw a fully enclosed Wagon model join the ranks. Offered with both manual and automatic transmissions and V8 power plants, these trucks were the epitome of a no-frills, purpose-built off-road vehicle. Air-conditioning was optional and the interior was as spartan as one would expect in a truck derived from military use. However, the stuff for adventure seekers was (and still is) all there: A capable V8 engine with just enough power, full-time four-wheel drive, a locking differential, a suspension built for the outback, and enough ground clearance to ford a few low, rocky stream beds. If this description sounds like I’m starting to think of my next camping adventure then you know exactly why this model stirs up emotion in drivers to this day.
All this is exactly why my first pick for Dream Garage Car of the Month is the Defender 90. This truck, if parked in my garage, would make me sleepwalk into it at night and find myself waking up in the parking lot of REI, ready to buy some camping gear and head out for an adventure into the wilderness. Sure, it doesn’t have a lot of the creature comforts most SUV’s had even back then, but I guess that’s the point. I’ll take a little more road noise, a lot more character, and a few more maintenance quirks in exchange for a unique and genuine motoring experience. I see these Defenders here around Newport Beach, shiny and clean, loaded with surfboards and ready for a day in the sun. I applaud those owners and the others who use them for whatever their passion is…because passion is what it’s all about.
Years Sold in U.S. 1994, 1995, 1997
Total Production #’s 6,442 (U.S. spec)
Specifications 3.9 liter V8 (’94-’95) and 4.0 liter V8 (’97)
List Cost New $27,900-$40,000
Value Now $20,000-$50,000
Why Buy? Unique, pedigreed, capable, street-cred
Best For… outback adventures, off-roading, surf and ski patrol
My pick A hardtop wagon in blue, green, or white
A yellow Defender 90 Soft Top
The Defender's no-frills interior
A white Hard Top
A Land Rover ad circa 1994, depicting the Defender's adventurous capabilities
