L.B.S.M.

Highlights from last weekend's Swap Meet.

Highly accessorized "Barn Fresh" (you sick of that term yet?), 1950 WL with original paint. Very cool, but 20K for a 45 seems like a pretty steep hill to climb.


Everyone needed a photo or a better look. From what I overheard, several guys had no idea of what they were looking at.


Classic. You'll never go wrong if you keep them clean and simple.


This Mustang looks like it would be fun, but for 5.5k, I'd opt for a real motorcycle. I don't really care for the modern wheels. These gas tanks were a source for many early choppers.


Every now and then, the talented Jimmy C. hocks his wares. Artist, sculpture, painter, striper, the guy is proficient at so many things.


Except for the lame tacked on fat bars, this Servi-Car will take you back. Looks like a relic from the Big Bike era.


Funny how the sun was lined up just about perfect when I shot it. I didn't ask the price, later in the day heard it sold for only $2,500.


Potentially a nice pan. What kind of mushrooms was he on? That color job won't help sell it.


As always, Slim was there with his wild van. It's his daily driver and those pipes just blow out the sun roof. Go check out his blog (in my list), to see his skills. If he keeps practicing, one of these days, he'll get his lettering down.


Flathead Fern displayed another one of his rebuilds. Very cool cam cover, I must say.

Overall it was a great day. It was the busiest and biggest meet there has been for a while. I had a good time wheeling and dealing, and talking shop with several friends.

Speaking of swap meets, I'm thinking of starting a new (linked), blog dedicated to the task of selling parts. What do you think, anybody interested?

2010 BMW 5-series Touring

2010 BMW 5-series

Over the last 25 years or so, the story of station wagons in the U.S. has been a sad one. Sales plunged with the advent of the minivan in the early/mid 1980s, and the wagon’s fate was seemingly cemented when—of all things—the SUV picked up buyers tired of the sliding-door stigma.

It's not as if there‘s a shortage of capable station wagons on the global market. As you probably know, European customers often prefer spacious five-door wagons over the executive sedans on which they are based. Three of the most popular and luxurious models are the Audi A6 Avant, the BMW 5-series Touring (known here as the Sports Wagon), and the Mercedes-Benz E-class wagon. To renew the fight in Europe—but not here, since this Bimmer won’t be imported to the U.S.—BMW will launch its next-gen 5er Touring at the Leipzig, Germany, auto show in early April.

It‘s a pity that we won’t get it, because the look of the new Touring is an improvement over that of its funky predecessor; the new model is almost coupe/fastback-like, and it’s even more elegant than the handsome if somewhat bland sedan. Furthermore, it is certainly easier on the eye than the chunky 5-series Gran Turismo.