Best part of my job...I get to actually say this every once in awhile FOR REALZ.

I am sure there are items the Lane will want. I am surprised the auction company hasn’t got the website or list ready for the public yet, given all of this early press. Maybe they were unprepared? Either way, I am sure something wild and wacky (land plane maybe) will speak to Jeff Lane.

That seems to be a consensus, and, as the Corvair story shows, once public opinion was set, that helped cement the idea that Fleas were too flawed to fly. The latest design, the HM.1100, actually had ailerons, which of course made it a much more controllable aircraft. Would I get in an early Flying Flea? Nope. Nope…

The Pietenpol reminds me of the Mignet Flying Flea (or “Pou de Ceil”). Henri Mignet also wanted to bring flying to the masses. The story goes that he couldn’t get the coordination right for three-axis control, so he essentially eliminated the roll (no rudder pedals), and, supposedly, created a stall-proof aircraft. It…

That interior is my jam. A tach on an air-cooled Beetle?! What an age we (could have) live(d) in.

Zelectric is awesome, but I think Torch has been there/done that. http://jalopnik.com/the-electric-converted-1963-zelectric-vw-beetle-is-a-514043175 

I’ll also add the Tramp, because a drop-top Trabbie is just an excuse to inhale the noxious gasses flowing out of the engine bay a little quicker.

Jeff Lane will be pleased to know this. As of today, Lane Motor Museum has 4 NSU Prinzes (including a 1959 like Glenn had), a Wankel Spider (the first production car with a rotary engine), 2 TTs, and an Ro80. Next time you come over, you can vicariously live the life of a Gemini astronaut by driving one around…

No no, pedantic is good. That’s actually what I meant. Branded, not badged.

We brought our KR200 (the one in Jonee’s article) to Hilton Head Concours this year. They had a Messerschmidt-only class this year. Ours is what you would call a “daily driver”. The 1957 KR201 that one Best on Class was absolutely stunning. I was genuinely surprised at how fantastic a nicely restored one looks in the…

I agree. Also, came here to post this nugget. I do believe it was the ONLY car to be badged a “GM”.

I don’t know about various Chrysler locations, but I do know of a museum that would love to have an example of an alternative power plant, to go along with its other odd examples of alternate power plants.

This is simply great writing, and as previously mentioned, hit all the stereotypes. This coming from a NASCAR fan and NOS drinker, which would have made more marketing sense. Come on, NOS, get it together!

So, one of my favorite museums besides my own workplace (I know, braggadocio) is the International Spy Museum. I am way too excited to learn they have a meet-up of Trabbies. I’ll ask Jeff Lane if I could bring one of our Trabants to this fantastic meet in DC in the future.

Ask and ye shall receive:

It was a commodious backseat. I took one special young lady on one date in that car, but never got a chance to, um, utilize the space. :(

Took my driver’s license test in my mom’s ‘91 Premier. It had beeping electronic turn signals that beeped closer together as you braked and came to a stop. To this day I don’t know if that was a design “feature” or if it was a malfunction. Tach didn’t work on ours.

I have quite a commute to work (75 miles one way), so when looking for a classic that could be comfortable on the highway, I chose a 190e. 1992 2.3 that I got for $1300. A new ECU and a radiator flush later, it’s still running strong at 213,000 miles. I bought for it one of its primary design functions: to be stable…

I learned to drive in my Dad’s 89 Grand Voyager, which we had traded in our ‘79 Coupe DeVille for (yeah, we lost some style points there). Unfortunately, the transmission eventually went into safe mode (first two gears) and, um, stayed there. Great van, horrid transmission.

This story will make me smile for the rest of the day. A good Torchlopnik article is like a full course meal that stays in your stomach.