Petrolicious

Derek Wilburn of Long Beach, California, is a collector of many things, especially of Morgan history. Building and restoring the automobiles has been a family affair since he was a small boy. There is an understated joy Derek has when he talks about Morgans, and we hope this video lets you feel some of that joy.

The Targa California is our favorite way to experience the beauty and back roads of Central California in a vintage car. An homage to the original Targa Florio race in Sicily, the Targa California is a non-competitive 3-day vintage rally open to all cars 1973 or older.

There was a time when an art form known as coachbuilding existed. Back then, the coachbuilder did not have to answer to a CFO. Back then, the coachbuilder did not have to compromise his vision due to government regulations. Back then, the outrageous was possible. The Lamborghini Countach could only have been born then.

With a screaming, 1300cc twin-overhead cam engine, a lightweight aluminum body sculpted by Zagato, and a production run limited to 170, this is the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ. Watch our good friend, Alfa Romeo expert, and race car driver Anthony Rimicci wax poetically about this rare beauty.

Infused with a strong rally heritage, the 1966 Lancia Fulvia Coupe transforms Adan Figueroa's world whenever he sits behind the wheel. It's easy to picture Adan no longer driving on the streets of Southern California but rather traversing the roads of Monte Carlo back in the '60's.

In 1963, Don Minkoff bought this 1960 Mercedes 220SE for his wife on their 10th wedding anniversary. He blindfolded her, sat her in the front seat, and said "Honey, I bought you a station wagon." We're glad he didn't buy her a station wagon. Watch Don's son, Mark, share the history of his family and their elegant car.

Next Monday, we'll begin a six-piece article series filled with tales of romance and intrigue. Follow the adventures of our Petrolicious protagonists as they navigate blind romance, love triangles, and Italian roads in a 1968 Alfa Romeo GTV.

Dick Hughes may have left behind the speedway and his beloved Alfa Romeo marque, but he can still be found blasting up country roads in his 1960 Triumph TR3A, the car of his youth, and he does it with the maturity and experience that comes with decades of vintage racing.

Ken Sirlin and his Porsche 356 Cabriolet have spent many fun-filled years together. Ken bought the car in 1985 after it had been restored from a bare shell. Since then, he's driven it endless amounts of miles through Europe as a competitor in the famous Liege Rome Liege vintage car rally. Though he no longer races competetively, Ken would never part ways with his racing partner.

Lamborghini has had a long history of naming its cars to reflect the power and tradition of bullfighting. In the hands of driver and owner CJ Bonura, it's easy to understand how the sounds and sights of this particular Lamborghini inspired the name "Espada", Spanish for sword, referring to the one used by matadors to defeat the bull at the end of the fight.

Since 2007, Bring A Trailer has been alerting us to some of the best vintage cars the web has to offer. Started by good friends Randy Nonnenberg and Gentry Underwood, the site has grown to become a huge asset to those on the prowl for a vintage car to add to their collection. Hear more about Randy and Gentry's journey to getting where they are today.

The Carabinieri are Italy's national military police force and have played an instrumental part in Italy's history, including helping bring down Mussolini during World War II. What makes them even more badass is that not only do they get to wear chic uniforms and drive Alfa Romeos, but in the '60s and '70s they were the protagonists in many real-life car chases...

On a dark, drizzly day in the San Francisco Bay Area, Petrolicious caught up with Ivan Jaramillo, the owner of not just one, but two Skylines: the Hakosuka and the Kenmeri. With epic histories, straight sixes and little effort, both cars cut the silence through the redwood groves and past horse ranches on Lucas Valley Road before posing for their close ups along the bay.

Even in seemingly mundane tasks such as running an errand to the grocery store, every car enthusiast has a choice to make: take the quick and efficient route from A to B or obey the siren song of the open road. With the wheel of a Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing firmly gripped, resisting that urge becomes nearly impossible.

In Napa Valley, California, the grapes have been harvested, and vintners are aging their reserves in cellers, but here at Petrolicious, we love vintage automobiles, the wonderful folks that drive them, and the community that always builds around a make. Here in wine country, we caught up with a strong community of Datsun Roadsters that help one another with parts, maintenance, and enjoying a leisurely day in the sun.

Ah...the joys of restoring a rare classic. You've spent countless hours toiling over that beloved restoration job or paid embarrassing sums to someone else to do it for you. Your unobtainable jewel of a vehicle is finally finished and you're ready to enjoy it and show it off. There's just one thing missing: a period-correct radio. Are you going to take the easy road and just put in a blanking plate in that hole? Heck no! Lino Carlini is here to the rescue and he's just an email away.

Some of the most precious gifts in life are the ones for which we didn't think to wish. They are the gifts that find us by surprise and connect us with family and loved ones who are no longer with us and those who are. This is a story of a man's passion for old cars that led him to such a gift. May all your unwished wishes come true.