The Weekly Driver Podcast

Auto auctions are back! Live, that is. Online auctions have continued during the pandemic, but January sales are a key indicator for collector car sales. And what a January it was.

Brian Rabold, Vice President of Valuation Services at Hagerty, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Rabold about the new year, the return of live auctions and some of the surprising prices paid for vehicles.

Hagerty reports a 1957 Chrysler New Yorker helped launch a resurgence in station wagon prices as the 2021 auction season began strongly in January with $181.9 million in sales.

According to Hagerty, January 2021 auto auctions generated $181.9 million. The impressive tally doesn't include sales from the launch of the Barrett-Jackson campaign. It's been postponed until March.

"For us at Hagerty and others in the collector car market, January is a huge month. It always has been," said Rabold. "Barrett Jackson is one the anchor events that happens every January and over the years nearly a dozen events have sprung up around it.

"A lot of people look around and see whats's going on at those auctions, read the tea leaves and see where the market is headed. Of course, this year is very, very different."

Hagerty: New Auction Season Strong

Hagerty compiled a list of the top sellers about January and it's an impressive, diverse collection.

The month kicked off with Mecum’s best-ever Kissimmee, Florida sale. Mecum offered 24 percent fewer lots than in 2020, but total sales were 27 percent higher thanks to a sell-through rate that jumped from 64 percent in 2020 to 83 percent in 2021.

Average sale prices increased by 31 percent. This performance likely gave confidence to bidders at RM Sotheby’s and Bonhams sales, which respectively recorded 102 and 112-percent increases in average selling price. Gooding & Company’s average price fell 2 percent, from $293,501 to $287,100.

The usual Ferrari, Corvette, Cobras and other popular collector vehicles all sold well. But, for something different, here two unique sales from January.

A 1957 Chrysler Town & Country wagon sold for $67,200. The upscale machine has air conditioning and power everything—amenities a modern driver should greatly appreciate. It "straddles the line between family commuter and rip-snorting tire smoker," wrote Hagerty, "with fantastic 1950s jet-age styling and good performance from its 325-horsepower 392 engine."

Mecum Auctions also sold a 1972 Chevrolet C10 CST for $88,000. The surprising price more than doubled the average condition value. The C10 short-bed pickup is equipped with a 400-cubic inch big block engine. It also has some cool features: bucket seats with houndstooth upholstery, a center console and faux wood-grain trim.

Please join us as Rabold details what January meant to the collector industry.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

Hagerty reports a 1972 Chevrolet C10 CST sold for $88,000 in January.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Its official name is the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, but it's almost always called the AACA Museum or the Hershey Auto Museum.

By any name, the museum in Pennsylvania is among the country's most active facilities honoring the history of automobiles — and it's reopened.

Jeffrey Bliemeister, the museum's Executive Director, is our guest on this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

The AACA Museum, among the country's most prominent auto museums, has reopened.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Bliemeister the status of auto museums around the country during the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, we talk about the AACA Museum and its approach to presenting the ever-fascinating world of vintage vehicles.

The museum's vast digital experiences — tours,  ride-alongs and collection chronicles — are all highlighted on the AACM website and YouTube channel. In-person visits began again on January 4.

(A storm in the area temporarily stopped in-person visits again, but the museum has re-opened.)

One compelling vehicle on display is a 1933 LaSalle. The artwork on wheels, sometimes known as the Cadillac Companion, was manufactured from 1927-1940. It was slotted between the Buick and Cadillac lineups, and like Cadillac, was named the Frenchmen who explored America in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The museum's LaSalle is a two-door convertible coupe with a rumble seat. It has most of the features of the Cadillac line, including the 115 horsepower V8 engine. The trim and detail distinctions and an approximate $500 price difference set the two lines apart.

Restored in the late 1970s, the car was shown then placed in long-term storage. It was donated to the Museum in 2017 by Walter Van Nuys of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.

A new exhibit showcases the world of "Hemis."

As the website explains:

"Most people associate the word “Hemi” with Mopar/Chrysler vehicles; however, there are many more vehicles that have a “Hemi” engine that might surprise you!

"The term “Hemi” refers to hemispherical combustion chambers – learn more about these robust engines and the vehicles they power."

The auto museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is often referred to as the AACA Museum or the Hershey Auto Museum. One of its current exhibits showcases "Hemis."

Please join us for a lively discussion about all things auto museums.

The AACA Museum, Inc., is located at 161 Museum Drive, Hershey, Pa. Tel. (717) 566-7100. Visit its website: AACA Museum.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Steve Birkett is an electric vehicle expert who embraces the automotive technology of sustainable choices.

Birkett, who lives and works in Boston, Mass., has owned several electric vehicles. He provides his expertise in the field and his advocacy of the industry on the website findthebestcarprice.com and other industry publications.

And he's our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

The EV industry is expanding quickly.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Birkett the industry at-large.

We ask Birkett about his family experiences with EVs. (He drives to visit relatives in Ohio on occasion in addition to daily car use). Bruce and I chat with our guest about how the alternative fuel industry has changed.

EV industry rapidly changing

And, of course, we ask about how he views the industry's future and the pending competition between Tesla and the nearly dozen manufacturers in different stages of debuting electric cars and trucks.

Birkett also provides his thoughts on the "electric highway" and the companies involved in providing recharging stations. He also discusses home charged, battery longevity, the promotion of the industry and pending legislation.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher

There's never a dull moment in the automotive industry. Car news never stops. Competition is intense. The emerging electric vehicle market continues to emerge but with its future unknown.

Recalls aren't going away anytime soon. And how consumers buy and sell vehicles is further transitioning from in-person sales to the online marketplace. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything.

The debut of the 2020 Corvette CB Stingray is was among the top car news stories of the year of 2020. Image © Gretchen Gaither/2020

Overall, the automotive industry, just like most businesses, endured a turbulent 2020.

Car News Abounds

The Weekly Driver reported on much of the car news . . .  recalls to bogus speed records, an iconic sports car's mid-engine revelation to a record sales in the vintage car sales market.

Bruce Aldrich and I discuss on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Here are our top news stories from 2020, scattered throughout the calendar year:

DECEMBER 27: ODOMETER FRAUD ON THE RISE

https://theweeklydriver.com/2020/12/odometer-fraud-on-the-rise

Manipulating odometer readings is a well-known automotive fraud. Government agencies have attempted to curtail the cheating for years, but it’s getting worse.

NOVEMBER 23: TAKATA AIRBAG MESS

https://theweeklydriver.com/2020/11/takata-airbag-mess-means-7-million-gm-recalls/

The Takata airbag fiasco won’t go away, and it’s not good car news for General Motors, pickup truck and SUVs owners and the bankrupt Japanese company.

NOVEMBER 15: MID-ENGINE CORVETTE C8

https://theweeklydriver.com/2020/11/corvette-mid-engine-rocks-auto-world/

The debuts of the 2020 C8 Corvette and its 2021 sibling, both delayed in production by the coronavirus pandemic, feature what Chevy considered for decades — a mid-engine.

NOVEMBER 2: SHELBY SUPERCAR GETS NON-RECORD IN RECORD TIME

https://theweeklydriver.com/2020/11/shelby-supercar-tuatara-gets-no-record/

The need for speed has resulted in the Shelby Supercar Tuatara crossing a line it hadn’t hoped to cross — in a blur of doubt. And, then the non-record was ratified.

SEPTEMBER 24: MICHAEL SCHUMACHER VEGETATIVE

https://theweeklydriver.com/2020/09/michael-schumacher-vegetative-recovery-unlikely/

Michael Schumacher, the legendary Formula 1 driver who has been in a coma since a 2013 skiing accident, is in a “vegetative state” and has a minimal possibility of returning.

SEPTEMBER 20: FORD ANNOUNCES FIRST EV TRUCK

https://theweeklydriver.com/2020/09/ford-announces-next-f-150-plus-first-ev-truck/

With several pickup trucks, including the much-touted all-electric options, competition is increasing. The Ford F-150 still rules, but the manufacturer isn’t resting on its success.

SEPTEMBER 6: LA AUTO SHOW POSTPONED

https://theweeklydriver.com/2020/09/covid-19-postpones-la-auto-show/

The LA Auto Show is annually held in November, but it’s the first major national showcase for new models of cars, trucks and sometimes campers and motorhomes. The show must go on, but it won’t be as planned because of Covid-19.

AUGUST 20: FERRARI SETS SECOND SALES RECORD

https://theweeklydriver.com/2020/08/rare-ferrari-sets-2nd-sales-mark-3-08-million/

Is there any more lucrative manufacturer in the vintage car market than Ferrari? Doesn’t it seem like it’s almost always collectors’ top choice?

AUGUST 20: AUCTION BACKFIRE HALTS RARE PORSCHE SALE

What’s a $53 million error among friends, collectors and vintage Porsche fanciers?

FEBRUARY 26: GENESIS UPENDS LEXUS IN JD POWER RATINGS

https://theweeklydriver.com/2020/02/genesis-upends-lexus-as-most-dependable-carmaker-says-j-d-power/

J.D. Power named the Genesis, the industry’s most dependable in the renowned analysts’ detailed Dependability Study. The comprehensive study is an overview of owners’ repair history of their three-year-old models.

JANUARY 22: SIX MILLION HONDA, TOYOTA MODELS RECALLED

https://theweeklydriver.com/2020/01/massive-airbag-recall-includes-six-million-honda-toyota-models/

Another day, another airbag recall. This time, it involves more than six million Honda and Toyota vehicles.

Jim Brooks owns Approved Autos Bakersfield, California. It's a used car business, a constantly changing segment of the automotive landscape.

Brooks worked as a new salesman at a dealership for two years. But he didn't like the sales practices and decided his own business was a better option.

Fifteen years later, Brooks has witnessed lots of industry changes, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jim Brooks owns Approved Autos, a used cars business in Bakersfield, California.

Brooks is this week's guest on The Weekly Driver Podcast.

The used cars sales market has changed

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Brooks about all aspects of buying and selling used cars, live and online auctions to financing, price negotiations to paperwork.

Brooks also discusses some of the unusual vehicles he's bought and sold. We also talk about thr influx of national companies selling new and used vehicles online and without a customer "kicking the tires" of a vehicle before it's purchased.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Welcome to the 14th annual Cars of the Year list, selected by TheWeeklyDriver.com.

This year, co-host Bruce Aldrich and I announce the top-10 list on this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

The 2020 Aston Martin Vantage is among the Cars of the Year, announced on Episode #163 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Bruce and I individually picked 10 vehicles from the nearly 40 cars and trucks in 2020 models I reviewed and Bruce drove.

Neither of us was surprised. Our choices for cars of the year were nearly identical, including our No. 1 choice, the 2020 Corvette Stingray.

Unlike many publications, we wait until the end of the year to announce our selections. A year's perspective is important.

Cars of the Year

Here are The Weekly Driver Podcast's choices for 2020 (with prices), followed by cars of the year lists dating to 2007.

2020

1. Corvette Stingray $78,265; 2. Aston Martin Vantage $182,000; 3. Genesis G90, $76,695; 4. Ford Bullitt Mustang, $52,000; 5. Hyundai Palisade, $43,115; 6. Jeep Gladiator, $54,145; 7. Kia Telluride,$41,900; 8. Mazda MX5 Miata, $36,005; 9. Volvo XC40 T5, $47,395; 10. Honda Civic, $26,130.

2019

Chevrolet Camaro Z1, Chrysler Pacifica (Hybrid), GMC Sierra, Honda Civic, Hyundai Ioniq (Hybrid), Infiniti QX90, Lexus LS500, Kia K900, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Camry.

2018

Audi A5, Genesis G80, Genesis G90, Honda Accord, Hyundai Ioniq, Infiniti QX60, Lexus GS300, Mazda3, Range Rover Velar, Volkswagen Golf SportWagen.

2017

Bentley Bentayga, Genesis G90, Honda CR-V, Kia Niro, Lincoln MKZ (Hybrid), Mazda3, Volvo S90, Volvo V90 Cross Country, Volkswagen Jetta, Toyota Prius Prime.

2016

Honda Accord (Sport), Honda Civic, Honda Fit, Honda Odyssey, Kia Optima, Lexus IS200t, Lexus RC F, Lincoln MKX, Mazda6, Scion iA, Toyota Avalon (Hybrid), Toyota Sienna.

2015

Buick Lacrosse, Chrysler 200, Ford F150, Ford Mustang, Honda Accord (Hybrid), Honda Civic, Hyundai Genesis, Hyundai Sonata, Kia K-900, Lexus ES350, Subaru Outback, Toyota Camry (Hybrid).

2014

Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet SS, Ford Focus, Ford Fusion (Hybrid), Honda Accord, Honda Accord (Hybrid), Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Equus, Kia Cadenza, Volkswagen Jetta, TDI. Special Mention: Rolls Royce Wraith.

2013

Acura ILX, Audi Allroad, BMW 750 Li, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Santa Fe, Infiniti IPL, Mazda3, Volkswagen Beetle.

2012

Acura MDX, Acura TSX, Audi A7, Honda Odyssey, Honda Civic (Natural Gas), Hyundai Sonata, Infiniti G37 IPL, Kia Optima Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Nissan Maxima.

2011

Acura TSX, Buick Regal, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Mazda 2, Suzuki Kizashi, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Sienna, Volvo S60.

2010

Audi A5, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Transit Connect, Honda Crosstour, Infiniti G37, Lexus LS 460, Mini Mayfair (Special Edition), Subaru Forester, Suzuki SX4, Volkswagen Golf.

2009

Acura TSX, Audi A3, BMW 335d, Honda Civic (Hybrid), Honda Fit, Infiniti G37, Lexus GS450h, Lexus IS350, Nissan Versa, Toyota Corolla.

2008

Audi A4, Audi A8 W12, BMW 128i, Cadillac CTS, Honda Accord, Honda Civic (Hybrid), Honda Fit, Kia Amanti, Mini-Cooper Clubman, Nissan Altima.

2007

Cadillac CTS, Honda CR-V, Honda Fit, Honda Ridgeline, Hyundai Elantra, Lincoln MKZ, Mini-Cooper, Saab 9-3, Saturn Aura, Volkswagen EOS.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 car and truck reviews.

The podcast is in its third year. We've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Chris Miller has been a sculptor for several decades. He makes public art, primarily out of granite, marble and wood. But on Thanksgiving night, he returned home to Vermont from Maryland with swollen hands and tired from another creation of his latest passion — automotive art, as in a stone truck.

Miller, who lives outside of Calais, Vermont, had just completed his third piece. The 125 percent-sized sculpture is located on the property of a business in Lexington Park, Maryland.

Chris Miller's latest stone truck, a 1929 Ford Model A.

The business owner is a car and truck collector and semi-truck racer. Miller's stone truck creation is the signature for the combined home and business. It's a 1929 Ford Model A.

Co-host Bruce Aldrich and James Raia interview Miller, a returning guest, on this week's episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Stone truck: 30,000 pounds of granite

"It has all the curved fenders; it's from my favorite era of trucks," says Miller, who owns ChrisMillerStudio.com. "It has beautiful lines."

Miller still spends most of his time creating traditional sculptor work. He has commissions for several years. Automotive creations are his side work.

"The stone trucks are sort of a fun way to get outside," Miller says. "I get out of the studio, do some traveling and work with a crew, that sort of thing."

After completing his latest truck, Miller arrived home at 9 p.m. His right hand was swollen from swinging a four-pound hammer day for several weeks. His left hand was covering from wounds from the repeated wallops of the hammering of chisels. His body was sore and he couldn't use his hands for four days. His girlfriend has a turkey dinner waiting.

"There are no plans; I make it up as I go," says Miller, reflecting particularly on the completion of his current piece. "You measure a vehicle, you draw it all out, you think out all of the different parts you'll need. But it's all quite a puzzle, a challenge and a lot of fun."

Miller is primarily self-taught, although he studied art in college. He also studied anatomy and sculpture with the late Lothar Werslin of Sandgate Vt. He also studied drawing and anatomy under Billy Brauer of Warren Vt. He’s collaborated with several stone sculptors in nearby Barre Vt.

Completion of the 1929 Ford Model A was a three-person project, Miller and a two-person crew. It took 700 hours, the craftsmen working nine-hour days. About 30,000 pounds of granite were used.

"I don't know how much longer I am going to be able to swing a four-pound hammer every day," says Miller. "But I think I have a decade more in me. But I will slow down as I go."

But it won't be soon.

Miller's next stone vehicle project will be a 1952 Ford Truck and pending are a 2007 Peterbilt dump truck and at least one more creation.

We also interviewed Miller last May on Episode #134: Vermont Artist Chris Miller's Stone Truck

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests — famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher

New car sales are hurting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Used cars, car subscriptions, leasing, etc., are increasingly popular. Clasiq.com hopes for its share of the marketplace as an online start-up.

As its name implies, Clasiq.com sells classic cars. It streamlines the process of buying and selling a classic vehicle.

Classic car start-up Clasiq.com specializes in buying and selling classic cars. Image © Jeremy Birenbaum.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Jeremy Birenbaum, Clasiq’s Creative Director, on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Birenbaum says Clasiq.com defines a classic vehicle as dating from 1994 and older.

As the car-buying and car-selling landscapes evolve during the pandemic, Birenbaum discusses the procedures of buying and selling from the company, including inspection, payments, pick-up and delivery.

Clasiq.com Specializes In Classic Cars

According to the company, Clasiq.com provides "peace of mind" to first-time buyers and veteran car buyers and sellers.

"I developed the site when my casual social media posts on cool classic cars become the largest and fastest-growing online community of classic car lovers, and I realized through their comments that there simply wasn't a place for them to reliably trade," explained David Zysblat, CEO and Founder of Clasiq.

"To make a solid business out of it, we at Clasiq promise to independently verify the condition and accurately price every car we list, and only put up for sale what we would happily buy ourselves."

Clasiq.com does not charge a selling fee. The company arranges and obtains a professional car inspection and produces high-quality photos and videos at no cost to the seller, all in the name of presenting a transparent and trustworthy shopping experience to interested buyers.

Clasiq.com offers an online auction platform and provides a secure escrow service through which a seller can be sure that the buyer has paid for the car before signing over the pink slip of ownership.

The buyer and seller never have to have any contact at all through this COVID-friendly shopping experience.

Xavier Martinez, who is selling his head-turning, red 1971 Fiat Spider, is using Clasiq because of the sense of security he feels with the process.

"I've sold five classic cars in the past and had no idea what someone's intentions were when they expressed interest. Now, using Clasiq, I don't feel like I'm on my own. The hassle and worry are gone because the buyers are screened by Clasiq and I know that they are serious."

The Clasiq.com website also has a free classic car valuation tool and hosts fun videos about interesting cars and their owners, classic car ownership guides and news from the car collecting world.

Clasiq began 2016 as a social media presence focused on interesting classic cars. Nearing 900,000 in its audience, the business side of the brand launched in November 2020.

Join us for another compelling episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests: famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher

Easy. Appreciated. Two words and a holiday gift issue solved. Buy automotive books for the enthusiasts on your holiday shopping list.

Bruce Aldrich and I discuss a half-dozen automotive books on episode #160 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Automotive books make good holiday gifts for the car enthusiasts on your holiday shopping lists.

We've had several authors on the podcast in the past three years. All share a passion for the automotive industry: Chevrolet to Volkswagen, Jeep to the massive Takata airbag catastrophe.

Here's a synopsis of three of the books we discuss:

* Russell Hayes, like all automotive industry book authors, is passionate about his subject matter. Hayes’ interests cover several iconic carmakers, including his latest effort celebrating the 75th and 70th anniversaries of the Volkswagen Beetle and Bus.

Automotive Books, VW to Jeep to Chevrolet

For enthusiasts as interested in vehicles as the author, Hayes' coffee-table sized volume is Volkswagen Beetles and Buses: Smaller and Smarter (Quarto Publishing Group, $40).

Automotive books are a good choice for the car and truck enthusiasts on your holiday shopping list.

As Hayes explains, no carmaker’s history is as unique as Volkswagen, its association with the Nazi movement to the Hippie generation.

* Patrick Foster knows as much as anyone about automaker Jeep. With more than 30 years in the automotive industry, Foster is a prolific journalist, particularly when writing about the long history of utilitarian, four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Foster’s latest book is Jeep: Eight Decades From Willys to Wrangler (Motorbooks $32.99.) Accompanied by more than 200 photographs, the 192-page paperback is described as “the definitive book on the greatest four-wheel-drive vehicle ever.”

Foster details his vast knowledge of Jeep, and he gives an insightful account of the stories behind its design and production. The automaker’s well-known World War II presence to current models are all covered.

* Mike Mueller has written and another authoritative book on the history of the Corvette. The Complete Book of Corvette, a coffee table-sized volume detailing the first seven generations of “America’s Sports Car” (Quarto Publishing Group, $55), continues Mike Mueller's prolific writing career.

Showcasing more than 60 years of Corvette history, the book was published in cooperation with General Motors. It's illustrated with 500 color and black-and-white photos from GM’s exclusive Design and Media Archives.

Development, tech specs and visual prowess of the Corvette lineup are all covered in Mueller's second book on the iconic sports car.

Bruce and I also discuss several other books, from a fascinating look at a junkyard of cars in Los Angeles to an expert who details the tragedy of the airbag crisis.

The Weekly Driver Podcast encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friends and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts. The idea of more eyeballs on more content works for us.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests: famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

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Chris Lane is the chief marketing officer of Airfield Supply Co., a cannabis dispensary in San Jose, California. Its name is derived from the company's proximity to the San Jose International Airport. Its motto is "High Is A Place."

The company is thriving in the Silicon Valley, where marijuana delivery is a competitive segment of the business community. Airfield Supply also recently determined it can more efficiently deliver its product. It added six Tesla Model 3s to its delivery fleet.

Airfield Supply Co. in San Jose, California, has six Teslas in its cannabis delivery fleet.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Lane about the cannabis industry in the Silicon Valley and the Airfield's decision to utilize the electric sports car in its business.

With sales increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Airfield’s delivery capabilities are a new benchmark across the industry, the company notes.

Cannabis Delivery In Style, Tesla

According to industry reports, Silicon Valley has had a 400 percent increase in marijuana deliveries since the pandemic began.

"The Tesla fleet is an investment that will in time pay for itself and considering that with future updates pushed directly to the vehicle, the Model 3 will only become more sustainable over time," said company CEO Marc Matulich. "This is really central to who we are.”

Lane, who discussed regulations of cannabis delivery vehicles, noted the efficiency of the Teslas in the company fleet. Airfield says it saves about $10,000 per Tesla annually or $60,000 per year compared to gasoline vehicles.

“We’ve expanded our delivery program, reduced prices and minimum ordering costs in order to be a better neighbor to our customers and to make it just that much more affordable and convenient for everyone,” Matulich said.

The six Teslas are outfitted with GPS devices for San Jose police to track them, as required by the city’s regulations, in addition to lockable containers and front and rear dash security cameras.

"Using smartphones, customers can now pre-pay for pickup and delivery of cannabis purchases, allowing for 100 percent secure, one-click transaction processes that decrease wait times as well as the spread of germs," said Matulich.

Lane also discusses customers' reactions to their orders being delivered in Teslas.

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Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com. A graphic display at the bottom of the post links to automotive selections of the online retailer. But there's also a search function for anything available directly from the site.

If you shop via this site, we receive a small commission. It helps us continue to produce independent content. The site began in 2004 and includes more than 700 reviews.

The podcast is in its third year, and we've had a diverse collection of guests: famous athletes, vintage car collectors, manufacturer CEOs, automotive book authors, industry analysts, a movie stuntman and episodes from auto shows and car auctions.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected]. All podcast episodes are archived on theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform. Several of the more prominent platforms are listed below.

Amazon.com

Google Play

iheartradio

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher