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Scott
with one of his
Sunbeam Alpines |
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I owe my passion for classic
cars and collecting literature to my father, who
when I was young enough to remember, would take
me along on his literature collecting jaunts,
grabbing one or two copies of anything he could
get his hands on. This was in the 1970s, when
car manufacturers still produced lavish brochures
and a variety of materials to lure the prospective
buyer. Like me, my father also started at a very
early age, visiting all the dealerships in his
native Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a young lad in
the late 1940s / early 1950s, begging, borrowing,
and sometimes stealing to get that elusive piece.
He once told me of his trick in checking the glove
boxes of rental cars in order to add to his growing
collection of owner's manuals!
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Growing up I was aware of the
numerous boxes stored in the basement, literally
stuffed with literature from the 1950s through
the 1990s, but rare were the opportunities to
glimpse this collection as security was tight
and justice swift if I dipped my sticky hands
into this treasure trove. Full color brochures,
both large and small; press photos; dealer albums;
paint chips; owner's manuals - the list goes on
and on. When I was allowed a glimpse I was amazed
to see names I was not familiar with - Kaiser,
Packard, Studebaker, Willys, Hudson. My father's
collection brought history to life as I dreamt
of those bygone days when car manufacturers were
plentiful, and the new model introduction was
a city-wide celebration.
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My particular interest is in
the cars offered by the English manufacturer The
Rootes Group. Names such as Sunbeam, Hillman,
Humber, Singer, Commer, and Karrier spur me on
to collect. Have you noticed that owning the literature
simply isn't enough? It usually leads to a purchase
or two of the actual car. To date my garage houses
a 1961 Humber Super Snipe, a 1963 Sunbeam Alpine,
and a recent addition, a rare 1962 Sunbeam Harrington
Le Mans, one of only 250 built.
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For me, collecting the literature
helps in restoration, and I have a special appetite
for original press photos. Dealer stamps on the
brochures are an added bonus, especially since
I've had the privilege of talking with some of
these ex-Rootes dealers over the years.
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Now a grown adult with two young
boys of my own, I hope to impart this love for
classic cars and literature to my own children
in order to keep my father's legacy alive. Thanks
Dad for giving me an appreciation for the cars
of your youth, and for passing along a hobby I
can one day enjoy with my own sons.
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