The book contains detailed information on each marque. It not only serves as an entertaining book from a readers perspective but also provides valuable data and specs for the collector. From production numbers to engine and coachwork information, Gullet has done his research.

For many car enthusiasts, myself included I have a deep conviction of being able to identify any car that has ever been produced. Lets just say European Style with American Muscle opened my eyes to a few automakers I’d never heard of.

For example the Gordon-Keeble shown below.

Every marque featured is assisted by photographs which draws the readers attention to styling details and cues that will help for future identification. The 117 page, soft cover book is small enough to take along on travels yet eye-catching for coffee tables or to have around the house as a conversation piece. It features over 100 Photos of the 25 marques.

I was so intrigued with the book I actually read it in one sitting. I’ve gone back to check stat’s and data on several of the marques since then. Overall, it’s a great addition to any car enthusiasts library and I would highly recommend it.

You can purchase European Style with American Muscle here online.

Gullet has more publications in the works which will take a closer look at individual marques similar to those shown in this book. His future works are sure to expand upon the foundation set in this book and may possibly be offered as a set accompanying European Style with American Muscle.

I look forward to seeing more of Gullets brilliant publications.

About The Author

Mike Gullet writes about classic cars, racecars and other cars that interest him. He also pays close attention to the makers and history of each car. He began publishing his own blog My Car Quest in November 2010.

He has spent most of his adult life in the technology business and has lived and worked in the San Fransisco Bay Area where he currently lives with his wife and cats.

The new rules mean you can’t simply avoid the need for insurance by not driving. For example, if your car needs some major work and you decide to switch to public transport until you can save up for the repairs, you will need insurance.

Another example of how the law could affect many people is the situation where your car insurance renewal expires while you are away on holiday. In the past you could simply leave it, take out a new policy when you get back, and effectively save yourself a few quid in the long run. Today however, that would be an offense.

Not having insurance at all times can now lead to a fixed penalty of £100, or a prosecution that can lead to a maximum court fine of £1,000. Under the law, your car could also be clamped, impounded or even crushed.

Don’t think you can take the risk of getting away with it either. There’s now a national motor insurance database that has details of every customer with a valid policy. The police also have automatic technology to recognize number plates, which means that within moments they can check if you have valid insurance and begin enforcement procedures if you don’t.

The main exception to the rules is if you have made a Statutory Off Road Notification. This is a legal declaration that you are not currently using the car, and also means you can stop paying the tax. Note that if you do this, not only must you stop driving the car, but you must also store it in a garage or driveway as it is not allowed on public roadways, even for temporary parking.

One unintended danger of the new rules is that drivers may wind up leaving things till the last minute and effectively being forced to renew with the same company rather than risk being uninsured. That makes it all the more important to look around in plenty of time and get the best possible deal.

The Motoring Journal is happy to offer a couple neat and affordable gifts from our own archives as well! So lets start off with that.

TMJ is offering in limited quantity these vintage decals for vintage European car owners.

1970 Le Mans Parking Pass. This is the same sticker shown in the windshield of that famous 911S driven by Steve McQueen in the Movie “Le Mans”! Add that McQueen Cool factor to your pre-1971 car! For ordering info click here.

Our next offering is the rare 1969 Porsche Parade decal. This would be displayed in your side quarter window or lower windshield as a souvenir from attending the Irvine Ranch Parade in 1969. What a great piece! For ordering info click here.

Tag Heuer has been a reliable name in timed Motoring Events for decades. So how about these great vintage Heuer Matching Pair of Timers and Chronographs? We came across this Original NIB pair for sale online.

Replica Ferrari Grand Prix Hood Panel

These hand made replica hood panels are the perfect compliment to any office, entryway, bedroom or… anywhere else you can think of! Darren Hall, the founder of the European Sports Car Preservation Society has a knack at making these new re-pop’s look old! See More Here!

Griots Garage has been at the top of our list for years now. Honestly, it’s hard to decide just what exactly would be the neatest gift from Griots because they have so many great products! We narrowed it down to a few

The Cadillac of Creeper’s… NO MORE NECK ACHES!   Need we say more?

• If you live anywhere that gets remotely chilly in the winter these are a must have. Heated 12V blankets plug into your 12v power output/cigarette lighter and keep you cozy during the cold winter drives. My kids love these as well as our dog!
  

Slot Mods is in the business of building Custom Clot Car Racetracks for corporate or private home use. They have the ability to recreate actual tracks from years gone by to current tracks in use today. This would be ultimate party favorite for your next club gathering!

Here are a couple pictures from Slot Mods featured tracks. Looks like fun!

Exotics Racing provides the ultimate driving and educational experience... behind the wheel of some of the worlds most exotic cars! TMJ Contributor Nate Odio spent a day on the track with the instructors from Exotics Racing and here’s what he had to say “The experience was incredible, I had picked 3 cars to drive; The Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari 458 . I drove the R8 first and was hooked but it wasn’t until I drove the Ferrari I realized that was the car I have to own some day! The instructors were great, I really felt confident and improved lap times with their help.”

Here is the 458 Italia from the stables at Exotics Racing

We hope this helps in your Christmas shopping this year for your favorite gearhead! As always Happy Motoring and Merry Christmas~

Publisher: Chris Runge and “Her Majesty” the 93, County LWB.

This 1969 Porsche Parade Decal was offered as a souvenir to those lucky enough to attend the Irvine Ranch event back in 69. It’s the perfect quarter window sticker for your pre-1970 P-Car! See pricing below. If you would like to order different quantities of each sticker please make a note for us.

The next decal is the same one that you can see in the windshield of Steve McQueen’s Legendary 911S used in the Movie Le Mans. Impossible to find? Almost, until now!

Shown here proudly displayed on TMJ fan Greg A’s Slate Grey, 1968 912

Prices Include US Postal Service to the lower 48 States. For overseas shipping please inquire.

$8.00/ 1 Sticker

$12.00/ 2 Stickers

$15.00/ 3 Stickers

For US Residents, Stickers can be purchased by sending a Paypal payment to: Chris@TheMotoringJournal.com. Please  specify in your order notes the decal and quantity you want. Paypal or personal check  mail is the only form of payment accepted right now.

Note: We ship decals once a week.

We purchased the Cafe mid Summer 2011 as an absolute impulse. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. The bike is a blast to ride, runs extremely well and if you like attention, it gets that too…

Here are a few of the specs on the bike.

• The suspension has been rebuilt and lowered
• The original handlebar mount has been shaved and clip-on bars added
• The seat is a one-off custom fiberglass seat
• The carbs have been rebuilt and “Pod” filters added
• The Tires are new Continentals
• Kerker 4 into 1 Exhaust

Price: $3950.00
Contact: Chris@TheMotoringJournal.com

Chris at The Motoring Journal found this car in the Spring of 2010. He found it in rural Iowa tucked away in a garage at the owners lake home. The car had an interesting story which is only verbally represented with no actual documentation. It was purchased by an Iowa serviceman stationed in Italy. He brought the car back to the U.S. and it stayed in Iowa for most of its life.

The bug was restored in the mid 90′s by Golden Beetle in Montana. We are guessing this included paint, interior and engine work.When Chris bought the car it was represented as tuned, running and driving however upon arriving to the garage where it was stored… The car would not start, had old fuel in the tank/lines, seized brakes and needed plenty of loving… So, after the seller insisted that he buy the car he finally caved in!

It took a couple draining and flushing of the fuel tank and though the carbs were rebuilt, several carb cleanings to get the car running well and tuned. After that we went through the brakes installing a new master cylinder and shoes on the front, then bleeding them.

We removed the single-port 1500 engine summer of 2011 for a reseal of pushrod tubes and the cylinders/top end where there were numerous oil leaks. We found big bore cylinders were installed. End play is minimal, compression is excellent and the motor runs without any leaking now!

The car shifts superb and is a pleasure to drive. The tires have good tread. The flaws are several rock chips (it’s a driver) and  a vertical crack in the windshield on the passenger side. The interior is showing some early signs of wear but overall this car is the perfect summer cruiser. There are minimal signs of corrosion anywhere on the car and has been kept very dry. All lights, radio, wipers and signals work. The gas gauge seems to work when it wants to…

We would like to get $4500.00 for the bug known as Francisco. Contact Chris@TheMotoringJournal.com for more info. The car is located at our farm in Minnesota.

CLICK HERE FOR THE AUCTION

In the 1960′s Sears Roebuck and Company were opening doors in mid to large scale towns all across the US. If you happened to be a young man looking for your ticket to freedom on the open road, you had options. One of those options was the Gilera.

From Classic Motorcycle Museum:

Gilera was founded in 1909 by Giuseppe Gilera (1887) a farmers son in Milan, but as demand grew with racing success he moved his factory to Arcore after the war. In 1935 Gilera acquired rights to the Rondine four cylinder engine and this formed the basis for Gilera’s racing machines nearly forty years. They developed a range of four-stroke machines with engines ranging from 100-500cc. The most famous of which was the 1939 Saturno.

Post war came the famous World Championship winning San Remo, which takes it’s name from it’s victorious debut at the 1947 Ospedaletti Grand Prix near San Remo. Gilera rode these fast machines himself and broke many records with them.

Like many other great manufacturers the company was bought by the Piaggio group in 1969 and who continued their manufacture. Giuseppe Gilera died two years later at the venerable age of 84 years, having created an empire and a legend.

Gilera 500-4

A TMJ reader recently sent over this link on 9-17-2011 of a 1967 Gilera for sale on Jacksonville, FL Craigslist.

Have a look for yourself and as always,

Happy Motoring

The big question is what will it bring on the auction block? You can find it on Ebay HERE or at Cars With Class.

I bought this 220S nearly 18 years ago in California. I had it delivered by trailer back to the Missouri. It’s a four-door sedan with a very rare factory canvas sunroof that slides and accordion-folds to behind the back seat. Everybody gets a view! This is the perfect cruiser for a weekend trip or a night on the town. See the photos below. And note the Christmas wreath on the hood!

The following may save you thousands of dollars versus buying another classic car… especially at this price level. The engine was completely rebuilt 17,000 miles ago. Over $9,000 was invested. I have the receipt for the work as well as the paperwork for the many other mechanical and electrical repairs performed. The pistons were made by a racing machine shop in Los Angeles. The car runs extremely well and is great on the highway. New radiator, belts, hoses, rebuilt twin carburetors and clutch. Tires have very low mileage. The spare is brand-new. Comes with original jack. Doesn’t smoke. Doesn’t leak. Oil change just 350 miles ago. Little rust. Paint is good. Rugs are OK. Interior needs new leather. And the wood dash and trim need to be redone. You’ll need a new muffler pipe. The manifold and muffler are both totally fine. The car also needs a new/used emergency brake cable. The only repair required at this time is a new U-Joint at the rear axle. Mine snapped and needs to be replaced. I’ve contacted one of the better repair shops in St. Louis and the part is available.

Visit ebay motors and you’ll see cars like my 220S in collector’s quality listed at $28,000 and $35,000. I am leaving St. Louis and wish to sell the car here. I’m taking offers starting at only $4,700. As you can see, I’m not trying to get rich on this deal. I’m listing Sadie at this price, because of the repairs and improvements I’ve listed above. I am a realist.

You can also go to Craigslist back around August 18 and see a car for sale just like mine. No sunroof and hasn’t run for 16 years. He wants $5,000.

Sadie must be sold by Saturday, September 17, otherwise I’m taking her with me. I’m near Westport and will be showing the car today and until sold. So write back with your interest. No tire kickers. No Low-Ballers. No trades. This will be a cash or bank check-only deal. You won’t be disappointed with this purchase.