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 Don't be deterred by the slightly iffy name and outdated website; as car garages go this must be one of the best.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.

[daytona365]

Infinitely better looking than modern Camaros.

[soad]

Panoz Esperante - now, that's a rare car!

[dinkel]

Brilliant stuff:

[Pothole]

dinkel said:

Brilliant stuff:

late 1980s Monte Carlo SS in Black back there...

[andybu]

Another dealership that's always worth a look-see when in LA is Cadillac Corner. Actually in Hollywood, but it's a suburb of LA.

Legend says they always, but always, have at least one '59 Cadillac de Ville on the lot. That's the one that's 26 feet long and with fins you could cut yourself on. I always fall in love with one of the gangster-style 1940's Cadillac saloons. Some pack a V12 or even a V16 motor. Great fun to browse and a British accent means you'll get polite treatment even if you're just a tyre kicker.

[only1ian]

How much for an mgb? Surely you could buy 10 in the uk for that price and ship them out!

[turnipbmw]

'My hot cars' in Livermore is a similar place if you're in the Bay area, always pop in with my uncle when I'm over there.

http://www.myhotcars.com/

We also like wheels and deals in San Jose

[daytona365]

only1ian said:

How much for an mgb? Surely you could buy 10 in the uk for that price and ship them out!

.......This one is probably virtually as new, not bodged up under a railway arch in say sunny Birmingham !

[canucklehead]

only1ian said:

How much for an mgb? Surely you could buy 10 in the uk for that price and ship them out!

alternatively you could do the same with old Landys. the LWB versions reach stupid money over here in NA. my local Porsche garage has a restored 1993 110 for sale asking $50k Canadian - and that's the reduced price.

[Matt Bird]

daytona365 said:

only1ian said:

How much for an mgb? Surely you could buy 10 in the uk for that price and ship them out!

.......This one is probably virtually as new, not bodged up under a railway arch in say sunny Birmingham !

As MG Bs go that one did look excellent. I'd still have the Fiat over it every day but if the MGB was your thing I doubt you would find many better. Thanks for the other garage suggestions too, now I have to go back!


Matt

[A511ley]

canucklehead said:

alternatively you could do the same with old Landys. the LWB versions reach stupid money over here in NA. my local Porsche garage has a restored 1993 110 for sale asking $50k Canadian - and that's the reduced price.

it's a tricky one importing into the US due to their strict import laws. the vehicle has to be at least 25 years old, and you'll still get stung with massive import tax (hence an MGB easily going for £10k + to cover costs!).

The money is in shipping cars OUT of the states (take a 2005 Ford Mustang for $8,000 and flipping that for £10k easy on the UK market).

[dinkel]

Pothole said:

dinkel said:

Brilliant stuff:

late 1980s Monte Carlo SS in Black back there...

Americana galore here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[only1ian]

daytona365 said:

only1ian said:

How much for an mgb? Surely you could buy 10 in the uk for that price and ship them out!

.......This one is probably virtually as new, not bodged up under a railway arch in say sunny Birmingham !

10 should equal 3 that work!

[ayseven]

The cool thing about California cars is the total lack of rust. The rest might be worn out, but as we know, bearings can be replaced pretty easily. Deals galore down there.

[ayseven]

The cool thing about California cars is the total lack of rust. The rest might be worn out, but as we know, bearings can be replaced pretty easily. Deals galore down there.