Ralph Lauren garage was just photographed by Vanity Fair

See the whole gallery at http://www.vanityfair.com/style/features/2011/01/ralph-lauren-garage-slide-show-201101#slide=1 or read about it http://www.vanityfair.com/style/features/2011/01/ralph-lauren-garage-201101 via: http://stipistop.com/

A tour of Ralph Lauren’s car collection is up for auction for charity, and the estimated tour is $150,000. That’s right, $150,000 to look at–not to own–the vintage Ferraris, Porsches and a 1936 Bugatti Atlantic, which is valued at north of $30 million. As the bidding description states, “You and a friend will receive a tour of this extraordinary private collection of classic cars given by Ralph Lauren himself.” The day ends with a ride in the 1936 Bugatti. The winner also get a signed copy of “Speed, Style, and Beauty: Cars from the Ralph Lauren Collection.”

Having some quality car-talk time with Ralph would be an experience to remember. But for $150,000? For that amount, I think I would rather buy my own Porsche or Ferrari. This is, however, for a cause, and someone may well hit the estimate. Even if they don’t, the tour is likely to raise a large chunk of change. So far there have been four bidders and the top bid is $42,500
For more about it http://ultimate-luxury-community.com/category/luxury-addict/luxury-cars

Coolest damn thing you'll see all week. 1913 Harley, heavily optioned,TANDEM !, unrestored, with a quick history and instructions how to start it. WOW

the bike's options are discussed for the first 5 minutes, then the bike is started up and the procedure is wonderfully demonstrated, step by step. (starts at minute 5:30)
Thanks Mike! This is great!

Porsche tractor gallery

see the whole gallery at http://zelastchancegaragedu78.blogspot.com/2010/11/porsche-tractors.html

1 of 3 existing BMW R51 RS factory race bikes in unrestored condition getting auctioned

Read about the sad true story of how the first owner was ruined by the US Govt because he was German immigrant businessman at the beginning of WW2, just like many Japanese Americans were. He was the BMW importer in New York, and managed to finagle one of these seventeen R51RS racers from the factory.

In truth, BMW sold very few motorcycles in the US in the 1920s and 30s, as protectionist trade policies introduced in the mid-20s levied a huge tax (up to 100%) on 'heavy' imported goods. Thus BMWs were rare and very expensive in the US

The 'RS' was a pushrod 500cc ohv flat-twin

Emil Recke's troubles began when AMA track officials ignored the bike making the fastest qulaifying lap at a race in Langhorne Pennsylvania, and when the US finally entered the War in Dec. 1941, Recke, as a German national and 'enemy alien', had his bank accounts seized by the US government.

Suddenly broke, he was forced to sell his BMW dealership, parts stock, tooling, and motorcycles to survive, for which he was paid pennies on the dollar given the ramping-up of the propaganda machine against anything, and anyone, German (or Japanese). After selling nearly everything he owned, all he had left in the world was his most precious possession, the R51RS which had been entrusted to him by the BMW factory. When it became clear that this, too, must be sold, he did what he had to, and sold the bike. He then took his own life.
Via: http://thevintagent.blogspot.com/2010/12/amazing-unrestored-bmw-racer-at-auction.html

Real unusual things from trailer washers, motorized wheels, to tank track Rolls Royces

Never seen one before, and something about the age of a black and white photo tells me that these are obsolete

I have no idea at all what this is

Ok, but why take it out if you have to add skis?

Really early car phone

Odd stuff on this tow truck

Yup... 1890's and I have no idea what it is

Lenin's 1922 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost

I've never seen a photo of a tractor involved in a car crash

Again, no idea what the motorbike in front is

Never seen a train engine like this... must be for moving train cars around in a train yard

For packing dirt roads?

Early Daytona Beach racers with superchardged Auburns, before NASCAR took over racing on Daytona Beach

Click for full size to read the story

Two of the rare Jeeps the (1959) FC 59, but the below is even more rare

Model T tank

Love the motor wheels... I'd so love to ride one! This one was investigated by Hemmings Blog and you can read more about it: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2010/11/22/m-goventosas-one-wheel-to-obscurity/ it went 93mph... I doubt that anyone did that more than once given the conditions of roads in Italy in 1931 to 1933, that's when the above photo was taken, 1931

Puegeot in 1934, great designed car, looks like the top is coming down

Wipers on the inside and outside

Photos from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=927