No Cookie Cutters Allowed

California dreamin’.

I spent the morning with nephew-in-law Scott, our feet hovering about six inches above the pavement in Montecito, California. But first, a brief lesson in comparative literature. Many American fairytales begin: Once upon a time … While many Russian fairytales begin: Someday there will be a time … Today was a bit of both.

We took a step or two back in time, to when cars had wings on which a young man’s dreams could soar. It was billed as Cars and Coffee, a benefit for the Special Olympics. More than 100 cars, familiar brands and some you’ve never heard of (When was the last time you passed at 1947 Delahaye on the highway?) transformed the quiet landscape of Montecito and the Costal Village Road into a parking lot of dreams.

It was a view of what the world was and what it might be like if money was not an object. Conversations around us, indeed, even our own, began with sentences such as, “If only …” or, “My buddy once had …” or, “Don’t ya just hate it when a car you drove in high school turns up at an antique car show?”

I came away from the show with one overall impression: craftsmanship. Way back in J-school I was admonished never to use the word, unique. Well, I know, they’re gas-guzzling beasts and probably unsafe in the hands of normal people, however, they are as individual as the people that drive (or drove) them. Unique. No focus groups were used to design these babies, just the temperament of the person whose name is on the badge: Porsche, Ferrari, and Ford. Someplace along the way designers all started to use the same wind-tunnel data and focus-group gurus and we’ve ended up with a bunch of cars that look like potatoes with wheels.

Oh well, for a few hours it was worth the trip back in time. If only I had held on to my Porsche 914 …

Dream along with me.

1955 Chevrolet Corvette, coming and going.

When gas cost 31 cents per gallon.

Early form of car alarm. No batteries required.

Lil' Duce Coup--so California.

When cars had wings--and tails. 1959 Coupe da Ville.

Craftsmanship of a '48 Chrysler Woodie

1958 Porsche Speedster and 1962 Porsche 356. Don't drool on the paint, please.

Pierce-Arrow knew how to make radiator caps.

2004 Porsche Carrera GT. A steal at $300,000.

It doesn't get any more Californian than a '56 Chevy Nomad with wood sufrboard hanging out the back.