All aftermarket radios for sportscars with no factory location for a radio should look this good

this was in a beautiful 60's Aston Martin

From the smallest details or questions about unusual car related things, Steve blows my mind with his detective skills.

I mentioned yesterday when I posted this radio, that I'd never heard of the Al Davis radio company, and found this to be the only example of one I've ever come across...

And that made Steve ponder, perhaps. Or, he realized it had been a while since he'd rearranged my brain... so he did it again. He blew my mind. For the umpteenth time. Great guy!

It turns out that Al Davis was a car radio installation guy, who made a company out of it, and in the same type of business as Mad Man Muntz he was a success. He had a good enough business or location that Rock Hudson (big celebrity in movies and tv, and the first hollywood star to die of aids) was a customer in 1963

How in the world Steve does that, I'll never know. I Googled Al Davis, and all that came up was the LA Raiders past owner. I even tried AL Davis AM car radio. Nothing.

Steve has a couple websites, http://serviside.blogspot.com/ and http://dullcrayon.blogspot.com/ and http://booksbythebedside.blogspot.com/ and when he is posting, he's a avalanche of awesome info. re: http://serviside.blogspot.com/2011/11/land-tugs-de-dion-bouton-steam-bogie.html and the land tugs research and posts he did. 

Some interesting and unusual things from the British Car Council annual car show

Pictured below is an actual WW2 Brockhouse Corgi GI camp scooter from the archives

 Looks like a hoodscoop more commonly found on 60's race cars and hot rods

 the backseat of this 60's Aston Martin is nearly couchlike

 starter fluid, don't leave home without it

who knew a Morgan glovebox made a good cupholder?

Al Davis custom? Huh... another bit of trivia lost to the past. Who or what Al Davis radios were known for will likely never be known or recalled. Certainly it isn't referring to the LA Raiders former owner

When Life On Cars met John Pugh MP

Life On Cars has gone from gearbox to ballot box this week after John Pugh, MP for Southport, agreed to be the latest guest on the radio show.

The Liberal Democrat politician has a passion for classic cars, but where does he stand on today's motoring issues?

Cast your vote by clicking the video above...

The Life On Cars Radio Show, episode 4

Life On Cars speaks to John Bailie of Aintree Circuit Club about plans for the forthcoming Ormskirk Motorfest, to find why he thinks the full-throttle event will benefit the West Lancashire town.

To hear more from Life On Cars Radio click the Radio link at the top of the page or click here.

Life On Cars now on ChampRadio

IT'S here! It's now! It's got jingles and an American chap doing voiceovers! The Life On Cars radio show is back!

Regular readers might remember the first two pieces I recorded for the radio spin-off of this blog, but they were unedited interviews to give a flavour rather than the finished product. That's why I'm pleased to present the polished final product, which thanks to some music and an American chap (who I've never met) doing the voiceovers sounds a lot better.

Click above to hear the latest special edition I promised earlier this week, focusing on the glorious Jaguar E-Type, and if you scroll down you'll hear the final versions of pieces I recorded with guests Gareth Jackson and Katie Massam.

So sit back, enjoy the show and let me know what you think....

Life On Cars episode one, featuring Katie Massam

Life On Cars episode two, featuring Gareth Jackson

The Life On Cars Radio Show, episode 2

The Life On Cars radio show is back!

This time, Birkdale-based enthusiast and fellow MGB owner Gareth Jackson has taken the hot seat, offering his thoughts on everything from the freshly launched Kia Picanto to the fearsome Ferrari FF.

You can check this week's episode out by clicking on the link below to see what guest Katie Massam and I think of a whole host of cars, and you can check out all the other broadcasts on the "Radio" link on the blog.

You can also get involved, if you've got an opinion about cars and don't mind having a microphone thrust in your face, by getting in touch.

Enjoy...

The Life On Cars Radio Show

WHILE I could have used the new MP3 dictaphone in The Champion office for something vaguely useful, I've used it to record a show about cars instead.

As part of a venture for ChampRadio, the paper's new online radio station, I offered to do a recorded version of the banter you're probably used to reading on here and in the back pages of a certain local newspaper. It's essentially a follow up to what I did with Dune FM - the last show was in June last year - but with a more of an emphasis on new cars on their way to a showroom near you.

You can check this week's episode out by clicking on the link below to see what guest Katie Massam and I think of a whole host of cars, and you can check out all the other broadcasts on the "Radio" link on the blog.

You can also get involved, if you've got an opinion about cars and don't mind having a microphone thrust in your face, by getting in touch.

Until then, enjoy...

The best of Millbrook, in one handy radio show

I STILL haven't quite got over the joys of being let loose on the test tracks at Millbrook and really getting stuck into some of 2010's most exciting cars.

As promised, there will be a write up of each of the 16 cars I drove, but if you just can't wait to find out whether a Peugeot's 308 RC Z is better than Honda's CR-X or just why the best sports car you can buy is in fact 20 years old than you'd do well to listen to the clip I've uploaded below.

It's from last Friday's Live From Studio One show on Dune FM, and it's well worth the listen. Plenty of car related banter and the Life On Cars verdict on some of this year's most crucial cars, weeks before you'll get the write up.

Enjoy...

Radio Gaga

Life On Cars has hit the airwaves again!

This time it's the Mini's fun-loving nature that's taken the spotlight, along with a spot of go-karting, which (hopefully) makes for a slightly offbeat few minutes.

I've also took the liberty of uploading this latest episode both directly onto Blogger (below) and on Facebook (above), after a reader said they had problems listening last time. Let me know which one works better, and I can easily change them.

Either way, enjoy!