Cars We Love & Who We Are
More than the polished parts and hard to find pieces, the special interest vehicles people collect embody the character of each owner. “Cars We Love & Who We Are” profiles individual special interest vehicles and the proud owner committed to its preservation.
Conversations with People We Value
Talking with skilled professionals who support our passion for collectible automobiles.
Roads We Remember
Some roads discovered far from home reward us with a once in a lifetime driving experience. Others are old friends revisited to elevate our spirits and celebrate the joy of life behind the wheel.
In Search of the 7th Royale Series – All the Episodes Here
Conversations With People We Value #63
Shiny and red as a ripe apple and half the width of a Smart Car, it silently split the lane between two SUVs and sailed off down the highway. Witnessing this, friend of Drivin’ News, Dr. Chuck Berg, fueled by a high octane “need to get a better look” took off in determined pursuit. Thanks to a stoplight, Chuck finally caught up to what can best be described as a high performance transportation pod for two. It was then that Chuck would meet the vehicle’s driver and creator Rick Woodbury.
Meet Rick Woodbury and his creation, the Tango high performance commuter electric microcar.
The Tango Electric Microcar – Little Tykes Cozy Coupe reborn as a Dodge Demon
While faster from 0 to 60 mph than a 2026 911 Carrera, Rick Woodbury’s Tango also protects occupants with a chrome-moly steel roll cage construction that exceeds FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) racecar standards. Not bad work for a man who quit high school to live in Mexico, retreated to a Zen Monastery, worked as the Sales Manager at Beverly Hills Porsche Audi, raced Porsches in IMPSA and SCCA events, worked as an electrical engineer for Northface garments, spent all his spare time in machine shops, considers himself a master fabricator and, oh yes, an accomplished ice dancer. In so many ways Rick Woodbury’s unique creation, the Tango electric microcar, not unlike his life, defies categorization. In the case of the Tango this confusion has proven to be both a blessing and a curse.
Rick Woodbury and the Tango
The Tango idea sprouted during conversations with his young son. A very passionate Rick says, “By the time my son was in 5th grade around 1998 we had enjoyed many discussions about the future of highway travel.” Dating back to when he worked with Porsche Rick would be exasperated by commuting to work behind the wheel of a 911 and poking along in freeway traffic at 10 mph. Rick says, “It would drive me nuts. And I thought, you know, we need narrow cars just for commuting.” He envisioned a future with highways hosting a plenitude of narrow cars providing more efficient use of road space for expedited commuting. How narrow? Rick says, “You have to get a car less than 40 inches wide to solve the traffic […]
Conversations With People We Value #62
Best described as a glorious passion driven celebration of predominantly mid-20th century analog performance motoring, the Mille Miglia stands apart from and above all other contemporary tribute driving events. It draws its unique stature both from its historic roots and the challenges posed over five days spent traversing 1000 miles of primarily rugged and often punishing Italian back country roads and the rudimentary nature, by today’s standards, of the vehicles that comprise the field of participants.
Having spent a week immersing myself in the sweltering spectacle of last year’s 2025 Mille Miglia, this year I took the opportunity to speak with a man who has campaigned numerous world class vehicles at the Mille Miglia over the last 40 years and who will return this year with a 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4.
Meet Bruce Amster.
Prepping to Race 1000 Miles on Some Bad Italian Roads
Today’s Mille Miglia may be a celebration of a once great race, but to mistake driving in it as some kind of party can cost you dearly. Unlike some stateside paved 1000-mile classic car cruises, the Mille Miglia is no pussy cat. It’s got teeth and an attitude. To display a lack of respect for its dangers can quickly tear up your car and, worse, you with it. Not everyone who starts the Mille Miglia finishes it, far from it.
For 2026, the route will replicate the original roughly 1000 mile figure-eight course. Each of its five timed stages will take drivers on grueling 10 to 12 hour treks through a challenging mix of fast changing elevations while traversing winding, mountain passes; rugged dusty backcountry paths; narrow twisting cobblestone lanes squeezing through rural villages; and picturesque open vistas viewed from ancient roads clinging to cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Bruce Amster has seen and driven it all many times over since the 1970s.
Now, ten weeks before the 2026 Mille Miglia finds classic car maven Bruce Amster immersed in executing plans made months ago. Early 2026 has seen him retained to prepare and campaign a striking red, the actual color is Dubonnet Rosso to be exact, pristine 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 for what will be a torturous 1000 mile event. As a master of the art and science of campaigning vintage cars in grueling races, the next few months of Bruce’s life will […]
Cars We Love & Who We Are #74
Brought by restorer extraordinaire Bruce Amster to Redline Restoration, this visual echo of mid 20th century sports car design called to mind other striking Pininfarina creations. However, despite common design cues, no other car looked exactly like this one and for good reason, none existed.
In 1948 Italy, with the war in the past and the future in question, Pininfarina in collaboration with Lancia had created a strikingly forward thinking sports car design called the Lancia Aprilia Spider 2 Posti Pininfarina Special. Completed, it would honor a renowned Italian cyclist Gino Bartali whose war-time heroism and post-war patriotism made him a most deserving owner.
Who was Gino Bartali?
Pininfarina’s One of One Tribute to an Unsung WWII Hero
Lancia Aprilia Spider 2 Posti Pininfarina Special and Gino Bartali
Squirreled away in a decrepit garage deep in one of Detroit’s lesser neighborhoods it would seem to be the last place to find a mid 20th century Pininfarina designed one-of-one Italian sports car. This once sleek pewter metallic Postwar Italian stunner had traveled a long distance over many years to find itself ingloriously stashed in a forgotten corner of a tired inner cityscape. Then, after its decades long journey into oblivion it had been unearthed by seasoned classic car collector Bruce Amster. Now, like the Phoenix, it would one day rise to the heady heights of the awards ramp at Pebble Beach. However, an even more interesting story would be that of the man for whom Pininfarina had created this classic car, famed Italian cyclist and WWII hero Gino Bartali.
For the Italian nation in the 1930s cycling reached its peak of popularity. It served as Italy’s most popular spectator sport until the 1950s. It was a mass cultural phenomenon that unified the country, shaped the national identity of its citizens, and up to WWII became a central tool for fascist propaganda under Benito Mussolini. Cycling stood above all other sports as did baseball in America. For Italians cyclist Gino Bartali towered as their Babe Ruth maybe with a little Charles Lindbergh mixed in.
A devout Roman Catholic and ardent anti-fascist, Bartali, born into poverty achieved legendary status with his cycling exploits. Described as tough, feisty, outgoing with a gravelly voice, broken nose and reputation as an aggressive cyclist, Bartali though only 5 ft 7 inches tall carried the nickname […]
Here’s this week’s question:
Many Aston Martin models incorporate the letters DB (e.g. DB5). What does The DB stand for?
Answer to last week’s question:
The brand that used the ad line “Drive it like you hate it” – Volvo
About the blogger
Burton Hall has written for an automotive client list that includes Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Maserati, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Peugeot and Volvo. He has also written for The Washington Post, AutoWeek, Corvette Monthly, Jaguar Magazine, BMW Magazine, Hemmings.com, Hagerty Magazine and numerous auto restoration buff books.
A member of the Society of Automotive Historians, he, in 2014, created and has since taught the adult school program “Collectible automobiles as a passion.” In 2020 he originated and has since produced the Drivin’ News blog.
As a classic car hobbyist, He owns a 1961 Corvette that he bought in 1967, a 1953 Jaguar XK120MC Drophead Coupe that he restored after finding it disassembled in a barn in 1980, a 2003 BMW 330i he bought new and a 1951 MG TD that presently serves as a planter and centerpiece in his garden. All are great drivers, except the MG which has a few bugs.
RECENT POSTS
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03/18/26 – Pininfarina’s One of One Tribute to an Unsung WWII Hero
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12/08/25 – Visiting old writings from the Hemmings bible
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07/20/25 – 2025 Mille Miglia; Hot Town, Summer in the City
07/01/25 – In Search of the Lost 7th Royale – (Part 3. Episode 20 – A Snowball’s Chance)
06/14/25 – In search of the Lost 7th Royale – (Part 3, Episode 19 – Frozen Freeway to Freedom)
05/29/25 – In search of the Lost 7th Royale – (Part 3, Episode 18 – End Game)
05/15/25 – In Search of the Lost 7th Royale – (Part 3, Episode 17 – The Best Laid Plans)
05/01/25 – In Search of the Lost 7th Royale – (Part 3, Episode 16 – Bugatti Royale Resurrection)
04/17/25 – In Search of the Lost 7th Royale – (Part 3, Episode 15 – The Ultimate Barn Find)
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03/20/25 – In Search of the Lost 7th Royale (Part 3, Episode 13 – Return to a Heart of Darkness)
02/20/25 – In Search of the Lost 7th Royale (Part 2, Episode 11 – A Wounded Bird Points the Way)
02/06/25 – In Search of the Lost 7th Royale (Part 2, Episode 10 – Harrowing Escape into an Unknown Future)
01/23/25 – In Search of the Lost 7th Royale (Part 2, Episode 9 – Priceless Bugatti Lost in the Fog of War)
01/10/25 – Automotive Crimes and the Man Who Solved Many of Them, Talks AirTags, Fobs and Much More Pt. 2
12/04/24 – Jaguars Trans-formation into the New Coke of Automobile Re-branding
11/21/24 – New York City Automotive Crimes and the Man Who Solved Many of Them Pt 1
10/20/24 – The Charming Terror of Driving on Ireland’s Back Roads
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08/25/24 – America’s First Car Show for Kids?
08/01/24 – Classic Trucks Loaded With Memories
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06/20/24 – This Mr. “T” Sells 100-year old Fords to German Car Enthusiasts
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08/17/23 – In search of the 7th Royale (Part 1 – Episode 8)
08/03/23 – In search of the 7th Royale (Part 1 – Episode 7)
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04/27/23 – Charlie Ross, Gooding’s Master of the Auction Rostrum
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03/02/23 – Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda with one of America’s most important cars
02/16/23 – A Silver Ghost story. Real or Fake. You decide.
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01/19/23 – Dr. Fred Simeone’s Mona Lisa car legacy. Part 2. Fascinating backstories of cars he preserved.
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11/24/22 – How to manage down a classic car collection
11/10/22 – Saving the farm, Barry Wood’s beach club in the Blue Ridge
10/27/22 – When the collection outlives the collector, a daughter’s point of view
09/29/22 – Benny Bryant’s 50-years of building Blue Ridge beauties
09/15/22 – Visiting a community built for car enthusiasts
09/01/22 – Reaching the heights of her dreams on the wings of a deHavilland Beaver
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08/04/22 – Let’s create a Concours d’Elegance. OK…How?
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04/28/22 – Hot Road Missionary and his monster machines
04/14/22 – The monster truck that nearly crushed Volvo
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03/17/22 – Mr. Thomas’s forest of old Porsches, VW buses and more
03/03/22 – Taking the Skyline Drive to explore the dusty attic of Virginia car culture
02/17/22 – Return of the Zipper King
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11/11/21 – Randy the Rodfather and his Green “T” hot rod
10/28/21 – Provenance – Uncovering your car’s backstory
10/14/21 – Comparing classic car sales platforms
09/30/21 – Evolution of the new car brochure (Part II)
09/16/21 – A hot rod life defined by abundance not lack
09/02/21 – The man they trust to rebuild history
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08/05/21 – Exploring our power within
07/15/21 – Evolution of the new car brochure (Part 1)
07/01/21 – The sputtering Mosquito and the Virgin Loretto
06/17/21 – Raymond Loewy’s 1970s Soviet world car adventure
06/03/21 – 90 GTOs, 30 Corvettes and counting
05/20/21 – An inspired venture to preserve American craftsmanship and vintage Airstream trailers
05/06/20 – When the find is the barn
04/22/21 – Man Cave Garage Sale unmasks Covid boredom
04/08/21 – The odd couple in Vinny Plotino’s garage
03/25/21 – Lemans 1978 – A young man’s memories
03/11/21 – A Sherman tank’s incredible journey from Nyack, NY to the final episode of M.A.S.H.
02/25/21 – Jaguar Archive – Preserving the soul of the brand
02/18/21 – Carried away by Bring a Trailer
02/11/21 – Hollywood dentist Dr. George Schweiger’s fantastic stable of future classic car rentals
01/28/21 – And then, Nuccio Bertone signaled for his personal Miura
01/21/21 – Behind the wheel of a time machine
01/14/21 – Wurst Kase Motorsports
01/07/21 – Singing the CarGurus no title blues
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12/10/20 – A Volvo Christmas Classic – “It’s a Vunderful Life”
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11/26/20 – Vintage Cord binds father and son
11/19/20 – NY Route 9D – A sure cure for Covid boredom
11/12/20 – Confessions of a demolition derby survivor
11/05/20 – Sons of Danger – Mad Men on wheels
10/29/20 – VW Bug restoration is no joke. Ask Jerry Seinfeld
10/22/20 – Guatemala and back in a Karmann Ghia
10/08/20 – A classic Corvette and a soldier’s old letters connect to a kid brother’s memories
10/01/20 – American Pickers meets Hunger Games on a country road
09/24/20 – Crash course for an underage driver
09/17/20 – Playboy Bunnies in the rearview mirror
09/10/20 – The journey is the reward
09/03/20 – More than the next chapter, it’s the next book – Life 2.0
08/27/20 – Old School Larry
08/20/20 – In celebration of a life off the leash
08/13/20 – Asleep at the wheel – Rest Stop Recovery
08/06/20 – Rt. 17A – A sweet ride to Sugarloaf
07/30/20 – What’s a”Vineyard truck?”
07/16/20 – The woman picks up where the girl left off
07/09/20 – When time and other things stand still
07/02/20 – Drive-In movies, Back to the future
06/25/20 – Mystery of the vanishing Indian Motorcycle sign
06/18/20 – Dagavar’s Jaguar, the truth at last
06/11/20 – TAKE-OUT, Lifeline to the future
06/04/20 – Henry Hudson Drive
05/28/20 – CARnucopia Food Drive Results
05/21/20 – CARnucopia
05/14/20 – Collectible Car Culture in a Pandemic
05/07/20 – Austin Healey? Nope, It’s Austin’s Crosley!
04/30/20 – Storm King Highway
04/23/20 – Children We Love
04/16/20 – Mustang Madness Revisited
