Each Saturday morning, at a somewhat ungodly hour, drivers of always beautiful and often rare cars congregate on Mazda’s parking lot in Irvine, CA.
The gathering is called “Cars and Coffee.” The cars are free to look at, the (strong) coffee does not cost much.
Ed Niedermeyer & I went there today, the early hour (and Ed’s hangover) be damned
Whether classics, exotics, concepts, hotrods, or race cars, Cars and Coffee is the place to be admired, to swap stories and to subtly make your car available for sale.
The area is an historic battleground of the car business. The building was the headquarters of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, the umbrella organization of Volvo, Aston Martin and Jaguar. Now, it is the home of Taco Bell.
Not all cars at Cars and Coffee are antique. We spotted a brand-new “hachi-roku” Scion FR-S with press fleet tags. Ed considered trading in his BMW for a new BRZ.
“Look,” shouts Ed, “jack has one just like that.”
This E-Type reminds us of a bygone era.
Got wood?
Detomaso Pantera.
And some engine porn.
You don’t need to have a hot rod to be a star at Cars and Coffee.
I love that this event has spread nationwide. It surpasses all facets of the gearhead hobby. Collectors, gawkers, drivers, racers, kids, old head, hot rods, JDM, street machines. You name it, it shows up. As I am away from my hobby for the better part of 2 years, the pics on my phone keeping me going.
Love the diversity of old iron at that show, highest regards to the Studie and the 600. We love the oddball stuff.
Is this the get together which used to happen at Crystal Cove? If so, it’s their loss. I loved a Saturday morning coffee and the casual atmosphere among these proud owners.
While I’ve not been to one of these and don’t know if one is available in Seattle (should look and see though).
However, I DID see a classic, restored, though not totally stock Dodge Challenger, I think a ’72 in a dark blue with aftermarket wheels tootling south down highway 167 Friday evening after work during rush hour.
And I saw a Fisker Karma today outside, where else, Bel Square. If only Bellevue had more of the classics. Oh, I take that back, I did see a Mondial yesterday. I so wanted one when I was in HS.
For those in the Detroit area, “Bakers of Milford” is the largest weekly auto get together in the country.
Hey, and you don’t need to get up early!
The first day of the season starts on May 6th.
Then it’s every Sunday from 3:00 to 7:00 until fall.
Copy and paste the link for more information:
http://www.bakersofmilford.com/1/252/cruisin.asp
*ahem* Scion “BRZ”? That car has the “86 boxer” logo on the fender, so it’s a Scion FR-S. Admittedly the 4 brands for this car are confusing things a bit, but I like Tada-san’s take on it: it’s a bit like the Levin and Trueno (but not as easily distinguishable; the headlights are different, but it’s not like the pop-up versus fixed headlights).
I’m getting my FR-S soon, and I’m going to have my ears open for comments from the classic car crowd. I think the development story is going to become legendary, especially considering how many conventions it broke along the way (“Subaru is going to be developing a rear-wheel-drive boxer car… WHAT?!?!” “Toyota’s letting Subaru use D4-S in a boxer engine… WHAT?!?!”).
I wandered around the parking lots in Gig Harbor North Thursday while the Accord was getting its summer tires put on. Didn’t see anything older than around 1987…a Saturn sedan in the Y parking lot. Or more exotic than that either. Friday made up for it though – I saw a ratty but original-looking 1954 Ford V8 club coupe and a chopped 1949 Ford coupe. I’ll have to show up at the A&W in Port Orchard one of these Wednesdays and see what’s there.
Fincar1,
I get lucky here in Seattle’s Capitol Hill as in the past few years, I’ve seen some vintage cars parked on the street around my place.
Someone may still be driving a mid 70’s Ford Currier, there is a pea green Pinto Runabout (a 76, I think) currently parked around here.
Back in 2009, I did a walk around my neighborhood, on my way up the hill to Broadway to the store, with camera in hand and inspired by an old Muralee Martin column when he was still with Jalopnik, his Down on the Streets series and in that exercise, I spotted an ’83 Cressida, a Datsun 120 truck (turquoise with red painted rims), An early 80’s GL Subaru wagon, an 85-87 Ford Bronco II, a Pontiac T1000 (in nice shape at that), an old Volvo Amazon (white 2 door), an early FWD Nissan Stanza wagon, a Ford Festiva, an 84, or 85 Honda CRX (very well weathered but ran), to name most of the older ones I spotted that day.
In other walks around the area, I spotted a first gen Subie Brat, an 87 Chevy Sprint 5 door hatchback (they were almost next door to each other), I once spotted a yellow 77 Subie wagon, around 2006, I spotted a yellow Datsun B210 coupe, a Bumble Bee IIRC and have spotted 84-87 Toyota Tercel wagons, and the Honda Civic wagons too, and one day, spotted a blue AWD variant of the Honda wagon.
I see on occasion, even now, a 60’s era black Mercury Comet with a red interior, I do also see old Falcons from time to time, 2 springs ago, spotted a Lancia Zagato, I believe it was an ’82, it looked complete and in good shape except it was missing a left rear turn signal lens, and yes, it ran just fine thankyouverymuch as I once a few days later i think it was, get in it and take off as I walked past, in almost the very same spot.
and there have been more, including a Yugo even!
Capitol Hill is an interesting place for what one may spot as drivers around here.
Reminds me of driving with my father to the Scottsdale auto show in the early 2000’s in his daily driver 1936 Chevy 2 door coupe. Other than new tires, belt, and hoses, as the seals slowly came back to life less fluids needed to be poured in. Faded paint, worn mohair, and we just pulled into the strip mall where the teens in McDonalds shirts skillfully sorted the various cars that rolled up (in August-off season in Arizona). Just a bunch of nice people rolling up in an astonishing array of vehicles but united in their love for cars.
Nice show. too bad it is so darn early, (and so darn far away) I see Ed is still a spiffy dresser ;-)
More of this please!!
This is indeed the event formerly held at Crystal Cove. I’ve lived in Irvine since 1996 and am truly ashamed for having attended C&C only twice. Had I known that the TTAC powers that be would be in attendance yesterday, I’d have set the alarm!
C&C Dallas is great!!!! My son made me take him and it is a great event. Nice folk and slammin cars. Good times.