Ed Hughes

There's an eclectic cars and coffee every Saturday on the square in Rancho Santa Fe. Heck, just parking there, one sees some nice machinery passing by. It is quite typical that RSF is listed as the most expensive real estate in Calif, if not the US, and there are some cool cars sprinkled around. Starter houses can be in the $2 mil range. Where else do you get to park your beater Targa in front of a 1939 Lagonda race car?

But today, this was the start of a drive up the coast to an open house at Cavallo Motorsports. I've met one of the owners, Jeff Abramson and his son Lucas on some of our drives. Jeff is a really nice guy who has extended the invite to come see his shop. I wish I'd have gone sooner. This place is unbelievable. They had more cars undergoing complete restorations and various stages of repair than you can believe. And when I say cars, I mean some serious metal. There were more Ferrari GT cars from the 60's than I think I've seen in one place. The quality of workmanship they do there is awesome, and I suppose that is why the place is packed with customer cars from all over the world.

They also have a showroom with some consignment cars, and a few of those were to lust for too. The silver 993 Carrera S caught my eye....and is actually one I can't shake right now from my mind. Too close to my shopping list of cars I'm looking at for my 2011 birthday present. About 40K miles, and seemingly immaculate, with the aero goodies. Jeff offered a test drive, but warned me I'd like it too much. I passed, I need to get the wife's new car first.

But, the fully restored '63 250 was the one that I'd really like, but then again, I'd have to sell the house and pop another $200K out of the bank to buy it. It may be worth it, though.

A textbook SoCal day, driving up the coast and then hanging with car guys and gals in car heaven. Not a bad Saturday. I wonder how people are doing in N. Dakota today?

A few pics....

Ed Hughes

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rusnak

With no trailer in sight it looks like someone actually drove the Lagonda there. Looks like a blast!
Edit: Didn't expect the second post. Does the FIA sticker mean he has an official connection I wonder?

ron_dargenio

Drool

niche

No!!! I forgot about this event!

Ed Hughes

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Ed Hughes

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Ed Hughes

The Lagonda was driven....

(PS- not trying to disparage N. Dakota, there are great things there too. SoCal has you beat on cars, though!)

grant911

Sweet pics. What else is there to be said. Old cars have so much more soul than what's being made now. Thanks for sharing!!

w00tPORSCHE

Wow...that's celestial bliss. Grant911's statement is so true: Old cars have so much more soul than what's being made now. Cars these days have no character of their own. They all share some common properties; They are all bigger, heavier, look so similar. Just takes the joy out of driving.

MUSSBERGER

Damn I miss California when you show me stuff like that. Automobile enthusiast capital of the world. That looks like a Lusso that use to come to the shop where I worked in my youth. BTW I hate Borrani's.

Ed Hughes

We've got some friends from Texas coming out in a couple of weeks. I'm either taking Brad for a run up Palomar, or we're headed to Irvine cars and coffee, which any gearhead should see at least once. We get cars like the Lagonda driven to that event every weekend.

Btw, business is booming at Cavallo. There seems to be no shortage of collectors spending money, and large sums of it.

whalebird

Damn. Thanks for sharing Ed. I could stare endlessly into that shop..

race911

Always great to get a peek at the highest end restoration shops. But when you mention a 250, realize that a '59 LWB and a '61 SWB were two of the three highest sales at the Gooding Auction last week on either side of $7M!

ivangene

wow Ed, NICE!