Tuesday 25th November 2014

Cars With Class LA: PH Blog

Matt goes tyre kicking in LA and finds off-beat treasures amid Wilshire Boulevard's Priuses and G-Wagens

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What to do with a few hours to kill in a new city as a petrolhead? Go looking for cars, of course. I discovered Cars With Class doing just that before the LA show last week. It's a fabulous place, a haven for car enthusiasts in a district with a Prius plague. Don't be deterred by the slightly iffy name and outdated website; as car garages go this must be one of the best.

Now this is a V8!

The stocklist is certainly diverse. Want proof? Last week there was an MGB, a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit, a Pontiac Firebird, a Willys Jeep and a BMW M Roadster for sale in perhaps a dozen available cars.

They all look brilliant but two stood out. The first was the 1967 Camaro SS396 seen in the lead image. Sold new in LA it has spent its entire life in California with one family accruing a lovely patina of use in 45 years. Some of the paint is faded, the leather is worn and the chrome has lost some its lustre but that's what makes it so charming. It has been used but looks willing to be used a little more. Cars With Class has a load of history for this Camaro, from the original owner's manual to a certificate of authenticity from Camaro Hi-Performance. Options for the car when new included 'Z87 deluxe interior', 'L35 Camaro SS equipment, 396-325 hp V8 engine' 'J52 front disc brakes' (good job they were ticked together) and 'Z22 Rally Sport equipment'. It looks small by modern standards too, the perfect thing to roll out to Cars and Coffee every couple of weeks or so. It's for sale at $54,995.

Fitted with the 'LA colour combo' option

In amongst the old American muscle, a 60s Toyota Land Cruiser and a Bentley Conti GT (alright, so not everything looked brilliant), the dinky 1974Fiat 124 Spider looks a bit out of place. But what a lovely, lovely little thing. Pert and pretty, it's powered by a 1.8 with twin overhead cams, 100hp and a five-speed 'box. Obviously being red makes it faster too. Just the thing for a quick sprint up a canyon road or cruising to the beach. At just $12,000 (the MGB is $20K) the Spider surely can't remain tucked up in that showroom for long, especially given California in November still has highs of 25 degrees or so. Wonderful.

Isn't it funny how climates can make a certain cars or colour schemes work better? The aforementioned Silver Spirit is black with a tan roof and tan leather. In the UK that would probably seem a bit naff but in LA it looked just right. Something for the run to dinner perhaps.

Twelve thousand dollars!

The CWC website does take a bit of navigating but it's worth a peruse to become lost in the previously sold cars. More classic muscle including a barn find Boss Mustang, a few delightful old 911s and a BMW Z8. All photographed in glorious sunshine at Santa Monica beach. Not a rainswept car park in sight!

If you are ever in Los Angeles, Cars With Class is a must-visit. If it has to be justified to significant others, Wilshire Boulevard has many other distractions where shopping can be done and coffee consumed. As well as the cars, the showroom is crammed with automotive paraphernalia including posters, models and signs. It's a place where you can't help but smile for the whole visit and it won't cost you a cent. Unless you buy something of course. Enjoy!

Matt

Full stocklist here.

[Cable]

'60s Camaros really are a beautiful and underrated thing, easily on par with a Mustangs of the same era, IMO. That, along with an FJ Land Cruiser, are on my must have list.