Africa Concours

We think of the concours d'elegance as an American institution, despite its French origins. These days, nearly every car show adopts the lofty title, despite the fact that only the most prestigious really qualify. What are we to make, then, of the Africa Concours d'Elegance, held in Kenya? Courtesy of my daughter Harriet, whom you've met before, we can take a tour and decide for ourselves.

This year's Africa Concours took place on September 27th, and Harriet and her husband Don Howard, who live in Nairobi, went to take a look. The rules are interesting. "Any normal roadworthy car,utility vehicle or motorcycle made in 2007 or earlier is eligible to compete." There are 20 classes, of which eight are for motorcycles, and cars are grouped mostly by engine size. Also interesting is that cars are judged on "cleanliness and condition without regard to originality."

Contestants were as diverse as Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen, Alvis and Plymouth. Of particular interest were the last Peugeot 404 ever assembled (they didn't say where), a diamond-plated Mini Moke and a Metropolitan. A Ford Fairlane was seeking a new home, and a British Ford E83 truck displayed an original emblem from the Kenyan dealer. Cleanliness was a transitory commodity, as dust settled as soon as the polishing cloth was put away. And where else but Africa would you see a Peugeot 505 4x4?

Around the periphery were displays from manufacturers, including Daihatsu, Kia, Mahindra (India) and Subaru. The Chinese automaker Chery showed a hint of America's upcoming imports, and even General Motors made a good showing, with the familiar Chevrolet Aveo and upmarket Optra, both Daewoo products. You could buy bull bars for your SUV, a Howling Moon roof tent for camping, or take driving lessons for Kenya's dangerous roads. You could also get your suspension, the Achilles' heel of many a Kenyan car, tested for free. Also on hand were the Kenya Automobile Association and the Vintage and Classic Car Club of Kenya.

Once the judging was complete, the Starehe Boys' School marching band played, and the Ugandan Motorcyclists' Club led the parade as cars passed in review. Overall winner was this 1928 Model A Ford, whose restoration had been finished shortly before the event. The costume prize was taken by this Hillman Minx convertible. The surprise of the afternoon? See if you can spot the Railton.

Under Three Grand

From time to time, the guys over at the Hemmings Blog, one of the more inspired forms of journalism to emanate from the Green Mountain State, look at cars available for under $5,000. That seems to be about the minimum for a car that runs in which you'd dare to be seen. For people of my generation, though, that seems like a lot of money, for we can remember when $500 would buy a pretty decent car.

While at Hershey the week before last, I decided to keep my eyes open to see what sort of car I could buy for $3,000, a sum of money I could easily lay my hands upon and, not coincidentally, the price I paid for Angus the Hudson in December 1976. I was surprised at the results.

We all know about stratospheric "Hershey prices," so I did not take the $3,000 limit too seriously - there's always room for negotitation, particularly on Saturday afternoon - but some of the asking figures were, frankly, insane. Granted, barn-fresh prewar cars can be expensive, like the Lincoln service car at $21,500 and the '39 Ford convertible sedan for $14,999, but why pay tens of kilobucks for a restoration project when you could probably drive home in a nice Model T roadster for $6,500. A little less money would buy a 1940 Bantam coupe, that might also run. The 1941 Ford one-taillight-one-wiper Special coupe was certainly rare, but does that make it more valuable than a Super Deluxe model in comparable condition? Grandpa's 1937 DeSoto at $27,000, though, makes it look like good value indeed. Neither the 1930 Whippet nor the brokeback '37 Ford had a price listed, nor did the 1927 Buick, but at least the latter left room for haggling. The $600 Model A Ford and Overland we'll dismiss, as they're not whole cars.

Postwar cars were similarly diverse. Thirteen-five for a '57 Olds with broken windows seems high, but the value guides do show a premium for the hardtop wagon. Seven grand for a sun-dried Cali-Camino is indeed rich, but perhaps they'll get it. Ten-and-a-half big ones is too much for any standard VW, in my opinion, but the value guides disagree. Unfortunately, the Beetle that fit my budget was a bit tatty. I wouldn't pay $4,500 for a Mercury that you couldn't leave out in the rain, though $4,300 for a '62 Ford Galaxie might be palatable, if I actually thought the car was attractive. A '48 Dodge seemed a relative bargain at $1,500, but it was not a running car. The only hope for an impecunious drive-away seemed to be a $2,500 '64 Ford F100, though it showed that "rust free" is a relative term. Then I saw the '61 Studebaker Lark being offered in the car corral. "I think it's worth $3,800" said the seller, and it came with the original owner's manual. If I were serious about buying a car, I'd have seen how close to my $3,000 limit he would come.

All Roads Lead to Hershey

In October, all roads lead to Hershey, and on the roads are lots of old cars. That's because Hershey, Pennsylvania, hosts the world's largest old car event, the Eastern Regional Fall Meet of the Antique Automobile Club of America. This was my 27th consecutive year.

Hardly had I arrived than a saw an old acquaintance, a 1974 Ford Maverick Grabber that was a no sale last year. The owner had dropped his price by $2,000, which must have worked because it was gone before the show closed. Other treasures included a 1917 Overland engine for $600, toys, radiator shells and a flathead Ford V8 - demonstrated regularly. Throughout the grounds customers were taking home parts and memorabilia.

Every year a bunch of barn-fresh cars come out, like this 1939 Ford convertible sedan, a 1923 Lincoln converted to service car, and an unobtrusive 1930 Whippet Six sedan. Vehicles that caught my fancy in the Car Corral included a rare 1951 Frazer Vagabond, a 1958-9 Chevy milk truck, and a 1941 Ford Special coupe, a bottom-of-the-line model with minimal chrome, a seat that flips up to access the inside storage area and a single taillight. The nastiest vehicle I saw was a 1937 Ford pickup, in great danger of disintegrating on site.

A 1947 Ford cab-over-engine truck, like the one we featured some years ago, sold early in the week. There was also a nice 1959 Dodge Sweptside pickup and a 1947 Canadian-built Mercury panel truck. We've seen 1950s Packard station wagons before and Hershey had an interesting one, obviously converted from a sedan, its roofline and bustle giving it away. The storied Tucker convertible was on show and drawing crowds. I find it attractive, but I'm skeptical about its stories. The innovative 1955 Flajole Forerunner was mesmerizing many, particularly this mystery man with a camera. I'd never before seen a Hanover but Hershey had one, a 1922 model being sold by Hyman Classic Cars. There were two (count 'em) DeLoreans and a single Bricklin. Faced with a choice I'd take the Bricklin, as there were parts available in the Red Field.

One could get a close look at the Futurliner belonging to the National Auto and Truck Museum of the United States. Of great interest were the dual front wheels which have differentials in the hubs. They also run on genuine Parade of Progress tires. Most people, though, were watching the show, not the wheels.

On Saturday morning, all visitors head for the car show where there's always something new to see. A nicely-restored 1948 International KB-2 pickup was carrying a beautiful Simplicity garden tractor, just like mine. There was a Crosley ladder truck, a Reo Gold Comet school bus (when was the last time you saw one?) and a 1926 GMC motor home.

The cut-off date for AACA recognition is now 1984, so we see such things as a first generation Bronco, a Suzuki LJ50 and a Jeep J4000 pickup with 360 cubic inch V8 (Dan Strohl, eat your heart out!). A Maryland collector showed a matched pair of 1960 Valiants, one with red interior and the other in blue.

My favorite part of the show is the Historic Preservation of Original Features class. Drawing crowds was a Willys Silver Knight roadster (you can look it up), and a Springfield Rolls Phantom I with Brewster Suburban body was nearby. You could also see a Day-Elder truck and an unrestored 1914 Haynes. In the main show were a 1932 Detroit Electric with balloon tires on wire wheels and a companion 1976 Citicar electric. Around the corner was the first Browniekar I'd ever seen.

The only auction in town these days is the RM sale held at the Hershey Lodge. One of the stars of the sale was the unrestored 1909 Stanley E2 runabout that took part in the 2006 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. Prepped by specialist Mark Smith, it steamed across the dais to be knocked down for a high bid of $160,000, twice the high estimate.

After a brief respite at headquarters of the Society of Automotive Historians, it was time to go since nearly all vendors had left. Dennis, Chris and Billy helped break down the tent and I loaded my remaining wares for the trip home. It had been a good Hershey, marred only by high winds on Wednesday and some overnight showers. I'm already looking forward to year 28.

A Land Office Business

"It may go, or it may not." So said Mr. Bishop to Mr. Titus, and according to local legend that's how Waterford, Connecticut's, Mago Point got its name. Titus and Bishop, partners in the land company that bore their names, were developing a subdivision of 255 lots, each 25 feet wide by 100 deep, on the eastern shore of the Niantic River.

To assist their marketing, they ordered a 1925 Chevrolet Superior commercial car from the Thompson Chevrolet Company in their home city of New London. As supplied, with hood and front fenders, but no body, it listed for $425. The partners then had a local carpenter build a miniature bungalow on the back, complete with hip roof, bay windows and a porch for the driver. "Little Down - $1.00 a Week Buys a Lot" read their marketing: "Ask the Man."

As it happened, Mago Point didn't go, at least for Titus and Bishop. After the land was foreclosed during the Depression, the Chevy went out to pasture. Following World War II it was sold to an oil company and used as a service vehicle, then laid up in the owner's back yard.

Karl Hansen grew up in the neighborhood, and he and other children often played in the Chevy's bungalow. In 1972, he asked the owner if he could buy it. Having turned down previous offers, the owner took a liking to Karl and accepted his offer, and even the impecunious teenager's time payment plan. Having fulfilled the $125 full price, Karl gave the truck a coat of white paint, reshingled the roof and began to participate in local parades and car shows.

By the mid-1990s, though, the Chevy had been sidelined as Karl bought and sold other collector cars. Finally, he decided its time had come and began a full restoration, replicating the original theme right down to the lettering and American flags on the roof.

Although about the same displacement as a Model T engine, the Chevy's ohv powerplant puts out 35 bhp, nearly double that of its rival. Its sliding gear transmission was more advanced, but otherwise the truck is quite primitive, with sparse instrumentation, an "armstrong" windshield wiper and rudimentary weather protection. The front doors are constructed like gates. It performs well, mostly due to light weight, as the 3.8 to 1 gearing is pretty tall for a truck. Karl has added a surveyor's transit to its equippage, as Titus and Bishop very likely used it to lay out their lots.

Mago Point eventually did go, but not until the 1950s. The lots now sprout plenty of big bungalows, and the original land office also survives, as an Italian restaurant.