If you want to get into car collecting for the first time or build up the car collection you already have, this is the year to do it. There are some great bargains around, especially if you like late-1930s cars and 1940s cars like I do.

Here are a few examples from the recent Atlantic City Classic Car Auction, How about a "barn find" 1941 Lincoln Zephyr with its original, smooth-running V-12 for $11,000? The solid original car had bee n stored in a barn in Maine for 50 years and even had new brakes, new brake lines and new fuel lines.

Another very nice car was a 1940 Buick Century trunk sedan with dual sidemounts. Ron Kowalke rated it #3. It didn't seem to need much of anything other than a few taps on the carb bowl to help it start. It sold for $15,700. What a bargain.

Sellers may not like the fact that the prices are leveling off, but it's the ups and downs of any market that drive commerce. When prices drop, people buy cars. When people buy cars, vendors sell parts, books and tires. Then, the vendors go to the food stand and buy hot dogs. That's how the economy works.

Another good thing - the people who buy now are buying low and will probably make money when the market cycles back up. That means they'll stay in the hobby longer.

Tell that food stand to heat up a few more franks!

No wonder I don't go to the movies! While I was working on my MG Magnette last night, John Marks of Barrington, Ill. called. Of late, John has been helping Wayne Lensing of the Historic Auto Attractions Museum. It was not long ago that I blogged about the museum and remarked that the folks shooting a movie called "Public Enemy" ought to visit Wayne's museum. The movie is about John Dillinger and Wayne has a real John Dillinger car in his collection. I thought it would be nice to see the car in the movie because of the historical accuracy.

It turns out that John Marks did invite the movie people to come see the car and they decided to rent it for the film. They even fixed a bullet hole in the trunk (that shouldn't have been there). And they took the car all the way up to Columbus, Wis., where the filming was being done. But director Micheal Mann didn't like the way the car looked and sent it home without using it.

Is that dumb or what? The car was the REAL THING. It would have made the silly movie a lot more authentic. It could even have been used to hype the degree of realism in the film. But it wasn't the right color or something! Could you imagine old Public Enemy No. 1 turning down a hot '32 Studebaker getaway car because the pinstripe was the wrong shade?

 Oh well. That's Hollywood for you. I think I'll wait until it comes on TV. Oops. I can't do that because I don't watch television either. 

Here's a real challenge for you. I just finished writing about the Model T Assembly competition that's going to be part of the Model T Ford 2008 Centennial Party in Richmond, Ind. on July 21-28 (www.mtfca.com)

On the 23rd and 24th Model T Assembly competitions will be held from 2-4 pm. On the 25th, the finals will be held during the same hours. The idea is to build a Model T, from parts to running car, in 15 to 30 minutes. The fastest team wins.

If you think you're a real restorer, here's the chance to prove it. Only 6 teams are currently entered. There's room for more. Get yourself a Model T, get five other restorers, practice up and prove your skills in Indiana.

It's a chance to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience - as well as some real old-car fun.

Here's a hot tip for those who like prewar cars and '50s-'60s models. Bob Marx of Marx Parts LLC in Arpin, Wis., (bob@marxparts.com) recently purchased 59 skids of ignition and electrical parts from Egge Machine Co. Nels Egge, the founder of the California parts house, socked these parts away back in the '70s. He loved obsolete parts and bought all he could.

Egge, one of the largest companies in the hobby, now focuses on engine rebuilding, engine parts, water pumps, fuel pumps and flathead Ford speed equipment. After finding the old electrical parts, the company decided it would cost too many man hours to sort and identify them. Selling them seemed best and Bob Marx came along at the right time.

This treasure trove of parts was buried so deep that Egge originally offered Bob 36 skids. This increased to 40 and then 19 additional skids were found inside semi trailers.

Most parts fit '30s-'40s cars. Bob showed us some at the Fondy Swap Meet last weekend. Need a new Zephyr V-12 rotor? He has them - now!

People ask "What's wrong with shows?" They feel attendence is off and participation down. Why? Bad economy! Unemployment! Mortgage crisis! Stock market! Election! Ebay! Graying of the hobby! Rising gas prices!

The answer is NONE OF THE ABOVE! If the shows are down, it's because you and I are staying home and that's bad news! And it's silly, too!

When the economy is sluggish, prices drop and it's a good time to buy. I saw tremendous bargains at the Atlantic City Auction last month. I saw terriffic buying opportunities at the Fondy Swap Meet last weekend.

Vendors who are complaining about eBay are probably selling on eBay and seeing an overall INCREASE.  Don't expect hobbyists to buy on eBay and  buy the same stuff at a show? Ebay is a selling tool, but so is a show, so figure out how to use both wisely.

Smart hobbyists make money at shows. So if they are unemployed or need mortgage money, they will go to the show to buy stuff to resell.

What is really needed is for promoters and vendors to pump new excitement into shows. Don't put on the same show this year that you did last year! People get bored very easily. When you advertise dates, location and awards, advertise specials froim the vendors, too. Give the folks a real reason to travel to your show.

On Thursday afternoon I bought a truck and I bought it in a really cool place. Up until a few weeks ago, one of the 11 vehicles in my fleet was a full-size '88 Chevy pickup that was my everyday run around truck. It was a rusty beast, but it had been mostly rebuilt mechanically, so it ran very well. It lacked a few amenitities like a heater and a working radio, but so what? Then, my middle son overheated his car and ruined the engine. Since he was not in the position to rush out and buy another vehicle, I gave him my truck. Then, I began looking for a replacement. Last week I happened across a white Ranger pickup sitting on a car lot in Waupaca, Wis., 13 miles south of Iola. I did not really want a small truck, but it was a very clean 2003 Ranger and I was able to get it for just the price I had in mind. Considering where gas prices are going, I admitted to myself thar a small truck wasn't such a bad idea and I bought it. Picking it up was a pleasure. It turned out that the used car lot - Hansen's Auto - started as a pre-1920s Oldsmobile and Oakland dealership. The inside of the building is like a museum. It is loaded with Oldsmobile automobilia, models of old cars and old gas pumps and candy machines. The place used to be called the Yellowstone Garage because, in the old days, Waupaca was on the Yellowstone Trail. Folks heading in the direction of Old Faithful would stop at the Yellowstone Garage to get their buggies serviced. I enjoyed sitting in the old building filling out the paperwork on the truck. It made me feel like there was an old-car connection to the deal, even though I was buying the newest vehicle I have ever owned. 

Earlier this year I predicted that small cars would be a trend in the old car hobby as gas prices climb. I noticed a bunch of small cars at the Atlantic City Classic Car Auction that were getting heavy attention. They included a Fiat 600, a Renault 10, a Morris Minor Traveler, a pair of Volkswagen Things and an MG TC.

The next week I was at the World of Wheels Show in Green Bay, Wis., and noticed an even smaller car -- a Vespa -- on display. It was an unusual sight in amongst the hot rods and racing cars that are typically seen at such events.

The conventional wisdom is that we will see $4 per gallon gasoline soon. Unless I miss my guess, that's going to bring more tiny vintage cars out of the woodwork. As they start to catch on, expect to see their prices rising (but not going wild)..

Some folks I have talked to say it doesn't work this way. They think gas prices don't affect "real" collectors that much. I've been told, "Collectors are going to trailer their cars to shows, so fuel economy won't matter." What do you think? I'm betting that many enthusiasts still prefer driving and I say they wil gravitate towards little old cars.l  

During my recent visit home to New York, I slipped up to Valley Stream to visit Kevin Mackay's Corvette Repair, Inc. (www.corvetterepair.com) As Kevin says, his shop is a "hole in the wall," but the work done inside those walls is Holy. His talented crew was finishing up the famed Owens Corning race car when I arrived. But this is not about Kevin, or rather, it's about the person who got Kevin started.

Frank J. Dominianni opened Hi-Speed Power Equipment in 1947 or 1948. Frank began racing sports cars in 1950. He drove an MG TC at venues like Watkins Glen and raced against some people I've had the great pleasure of meeting over the years like Augie Pabst, Oscar Kovoleski, Briggs Cunningham and Brooks Stevens. When the Corvette came out, Frank became a fan and by '62 he had a "Big Tank" race car on the circuit. Young Kevin Mackay used to watch him loading that car on summer weekends. Today, the car is in Mike Yager's MY GARAGE Museum.

Frank Domininni is now 83 years old - and as sharp as a pistol. When I asked if I could do a story about him, his response was "You'd better write fast, I'm old." But, Frank doesn't seem as old as he is. He still builds custom racing engines, sets up fuel-injection systems and specializes in race tuning Corvette engines. His ancient speed shop houses an engine dyno and a chassis dyno. "It's a good one, from Italy," Frank pointed out.

While we were talking, two 'Vette lovers came in and asked Frank about a 427 that he had rebuilt years earlier. He was friendly to them, but he couldn't remember a lot of details on the big-block motor. He was too busy thinking about kicking up dust in his TC roadster nearly 60 years ago. At a certain age, you kind of max out your memory. After that, only the good things stay. All thoughts of the work that you had to do to pay the bills goes away. For Frank, it's the racing memories that count!

Linda Clark and I were selling car books at the "World of Wheels" in Green Bay, Wis., yesterday, when we saw a young boy walking past with a shirt that said "Street King" on it. Below the words was ae picture of an old car. We both noticed the boy, but Linda said it first. "Cool shirt for a kid, huh?" Then we both realized that the Shopko Hall at Brown County Areana, which hosts the show, was loaded with young boys and girls.

Show manager Bob Ashton and his hardworking crew make a point of reaching out to kids. Their attractions this year include Ben Jones who playsed "Cooter" on the "Dukes of Hazzard" TV show (plus a "General Lee" Dodge Charger of course, cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, Jason Earles who stars as "Jackson" on the popular "Hanna Montana" TV series, the "Tow-Mater" tow truck from the Pixar-Disney "Cars" cartoon movie and Ron Kramer of the Packer Hall of Fame.

Many people in the car-collecting field talk about the problem of getting young people involved with old cars. This is something we have to do if we want our hobby to survive and grow in the future. It seem to us that the World of Wheels shows (produced by Championship Auto Shows) are reaching out to get kids to come to these events. Those boys and girlds may come to see a TV star, but when they get there, they are exposed to many old cars, hot rods and tuners that will help turn them into car enthusiasts.  

The Green Bay World of Wheels continues Sunday, March 9. Why not come and see the show - and bring the kids along.

The past 12 days were fun for me as I got to take one of my road trips. I don't travel as much as Angelo or Ron, but when I travel I pack in the stops. This time I drove my 1989 Caprice 9C1 state trooper car around 3,000 miles and it ran faultlessly, although you do have to watch those "cop car" ABS brakes, which were trouble when new). I left Iola on Feb. 23 and touched base with my old photographer buddy Mike Carbonella on Staten Island. Then I made three stops in Valley Stream, N.Y. Austin Azzeretto, a big Buick collector, runs a Goodyear store in the Green Acres Mall. He tackled a wheel alingment for me and I watched his '34 Ford hot rod being detailed for the Atlantic City Auction. About a mile from Austin's tire store is Corvette Repair, Inc., a famous shop that does Corvette racing cars. After stopping there, Kevin Mackay directed me to an old speed shop nearby, where the man who got him started in Corvettes still fixes 'Vette engines and injection units. What a day! On Wednesday night I scooted down to Atlantic City and I spent the next four days at the auction there. You have already read about some of the doings down there. Sunday I left AC and went to the outskirts of Philly for a next-morning stop at Ragtops & Roadsters, a British restoration shop of note. From there I went up to Eastwood to test some of their new tools and products. Then I headed to Pittsburgh to visit Glassworks/The Hardtop Shop, which I have already blogged about. On the way home I made one stop in Elkhart, Ind., to see a trailer maker. They make a very cool little trailer that breaks down so you can carry it in a minivan. Think about that. You could drive to a swap meet in an economical minivan, but if you find something big that you just have to have, you can assemble the trailer and get it home very cheaply. This trailer is called "Port-A-Chopper" because it comes in motorcycle form, but for swap meets you'd want the utility kit that makes it into a cargo hauler (there's also a boat kit).  For info call QC Metal Fab at 1 800 828 1374 or visit www.portachopper.com.

The past 12 days were fun for me as I got to take one of my road trips. I don't travel as much as Angelo or Ron, but when I travel I pack in the stops. This time I drove my 1989 Caprice 9C1 state trooper car around 3,000 miles and it ran faultlessly, although you do have to watch those "cop car" ABS brakes, which were trouble when new). I left Iola on Feb. 23 and touched base with my old photographer buddy Mike Carbonella on Staten Island. Then I made three stops in Valley Stream, N.Y. Austin Azzeretto, a big Buick collector, runs a Goodyear store in the Green Acres Mall. He tackled a wheel alingment for me and I watched his '34 Ford hot rod being detailed for the Atlantic City Auction. About a mile from Austin's tire store is Corvette Repair, Inc., a famous shop that does Corvette racing cars. After stopping there, Kevin Mackay directed me to an old speed shop nearby, where the man who got him started in Corvettes still fixes 'Vette engines and injection units. What a day! On Wednesday night I scooted down to Atlantic City and I spent the next four days at the auction there. You have already read about some of the doings down there. Sunday I left AC and went to the outskirts of Philly for a next-morning stop at Ragtops & Roadsters, a British restoration shop of note. From there I went up to Eastwood to test some of their new tools and products. Then I headed to Pittsburgh to visit Glassworks/The Hardtop Shop, which I have already blogged about. On the way home I made one stop in Elkhart, Ind., to see a trailer maker. They make a very cool little trailer that breaks down so you can carry it in a minivan. Think about that. You could drive to a swap meet in an economical minivan, but if you find something big that you just have to have, you can assemble the trailer and get it home very cheaply. This trailer is called "Port-A-Chopper" because it comes in motorcycle form, but for swap meets you'd want the utility kit that makes it into a cargo hauler (there's also a boat kit).  For info call QC Metal Fab at 1 800 828 1374 or visit www.portachopper.com.