Truth in Advertising: Sports Car Craftsmen at the Colorado Conclave

It may be apparent by now that the writer of this essay series has some gripes with modern cars. Beyond the often impenetrable mysteries of their software-hardware interface, there is the problem of modern materials and finishes. The prevalence of molded plastic bumpers and trim pieces, when combined with the now-fashionable matte paint finishes, often contrives to make modern cars (even expensive ones like Porsches and Mercedes) look like full-scale plastic replicas of themselves. Perhaps in a wry commentary on this trend, a Colorado-based outfit called Sports Car Craftsmen has taken to displaying a very real Austin-Healey Sprite (the famous Bugeye current from 1958 to 1961) as a full-size scale model of itself, complete with a box like the ones which still house model cars displayed in toy stores. And compared with the veracity of most modern advertising, especially the political kind, the claims on Sports Car Craftsmen's packaging constitute a near-riot of truth-telling...

For example, while SCC trumpets the working head and tail lamps and "detailed engine compartment and interior", they note that though the hood and doors are operable (indeed, the front fenders go up with that bonnet; see 3rd photo from bottom), the "trunk does not open" (there's no external trunk lid on a Bugeye). They also admit that batteries are not included…other than, apparently, the one that starts the car. Finally, seized by a somewhat British passion for understatement, SCC notes that this "fun for all ages" car will cost "quite a bit more than $12.99."  

This year's All-British Conclave, held in Arvada, Colorado's Oak Park on September 17, featured plenty of fun for less than $12.99, as the show was free unless you wanted to exhibit your car. That costs $20, and five bucks more for a same-day registration.  Although the show is not limited to cars in running condition, some exhibitors spend time, effort and dollars in getting them that way. For this somewhat lazy writer, efforts were limited to washing the car and petitioning the crew at Sports Car Craftsmen to install some new tires…the car is on the left in the photo below, awaiting them. 

Visitors to SCC can enjoy a small-scale, indoor version of the All-British Show in the main space upon entering; this includes an MGA Twin-Cam, an MGB original enough to serve as a restoration reference car, the nearly irresistible Sprite documented in the Conclave photos, and a TR-250 in similarly immaculate condition.

The show often continues outside SCC, with a line of completed cars awaiting pick-up.  The silver blue Austin-Healey 100-4 in the last photo below is an early example of Gerry Coker's seductively curvy design.  The car has been in the same family for decades, and it appears they have followed SCC founder and master mechanic Paul Dierschow's advice: "Make sure you drive the car."  In general, that's a better way to go than keeping your car in a display box…

Photo credits:  All photos by the author.