For many of us involved in motorsport, the off-season has finally begun. With the exception of a few races like the Baja 1000 and the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, I like to think that SEMA marks the end of each season. There is a silver lining though, and that’s that I now have more time on my hands to make it along to various local car meets. Cars & Coffee is always a fun morning out, and the last time I checked one out was back in February right before the racing season started.
Back at the end of 2014, Southern California’s original Cars & Coffee held in Irvine shut down, prompting many others to pop up and try and take over as the #1 Saturday morning meet for the greater area. Almost two years on, things have finally settled down, and Cars & Coffee Aliso Viejo now stands out as a real favorite for many.
There were lots of things I loved about the original Cars & Coffee, but one aspect of the event that didn’t like was that the organizers regulated the cars that were allowed into the lot. This meant that they would occasionally turn cars away and direct them over into the spectator’s parking garage. While it did help weed out random soccer-mom-spec Toyota Siennas and the like, there were times when genuinely interesting cars were not allowed in, which was a shame.
Cars & Coffee Aliso Viejo, however, is open to everyone. It takes place in the parking lot of a large shopping plaza, and because of the early morning hour before the center opens, it is for the most part devoid of random Prii. Side note: Yes, it’s Prii, not Priuses, Prius, Prium, or Prien.
Like the original Irvine event, you’ll find a nice variety of cars at Aliso Viejo, and on this particular morning it was everything from the new Corvette to an electric-converted Porsche 914.
On the countless occasions I’ve been to Cars & Coffee, there hasn’t been a single time I didn’t find something that piqued my interest. There’s just always something cool and different that shows up, but you never know what it will be.
This time it was a line-up of pristine Toyota FJ40 Land Cruisers. It’s rare to see these things in SoCal at all, so to come across not just one, but three unmolested examples in one location just completely blew me away.
I’m no master of Fords, so I can’t really tell the differences between a genuine GT40 and a replica, but this example garnered plenty of interest.
Given their HQ is in Irvine, which is only about 20 minutes north of Aliso Viejo, the guys from RWB USA show up to this event every now and then.
It’s always hard to get clear shots of these cars though, as they’re almost always surrounded by fans.
I think there’s been only three or four occasions when I’ve seen a Prowler. Fun fact: Chrysler designers were pretty much given free rein to create what they thought would be a modern hot rod, and this was what they came up with. I first remember seeing a Prowler at the LA Auto Show as a kid, and vividly recall stating that I was going to buy one. I didn’t, but I still think it’s a pretty legit machine.
I found it surprising at first, but you can always be sure to find a large number of Abarth cars at this weekly event, and they’re always parked in the same place. I’m patiently waiting for someone to bring along a new Abarth 124 Spider.
Cars & Coffee wouldn’t be complete without a good Mustang showing, and for how many that actually turn up (read: lots), a good few of them are sure to be quite interesting. I’ve seen everything from an original GT350 to a Boss 429, to the brand new Super Snake.
It’s always nice to see cars that are technically illegal in California at this event. It’s also funny, because even though Hakosuka Skylines are pretty much nonexistent on the streets here, I have a solid 40 per cent chance of seeing one each time I hit up Cars & Coffee.
The police showed up, but instead of issuing tickets they were actually showing off their new Ford Explorer Police Interceptor. Yes, I asked my friend to take a picture of me in the back seat with cuffs on, and yes, it was cool.
They’re so different, yet look so right parked next to each other. It’s sad that the Alfa Romeo Giulias from the ’60s to ’70s are almost impossible to acquire here in California, but on the bright side, BMW 2002s are a bit more common and can still be had for a reasonable price, averaging around $5000.
If I had to name one vehicle that defined cutting-edge SUV design in the ’00s, it would have to be the Isuzu VehiCROSS.
This was one of the more odd-looking vehicles that showed up, and although I didn’t get a chance to talk to the owner of this car/bike mash-up, I spent a long while soaking up the details.
Jeff Zwart brought out his Porsche 906, which is quite literally a road legal race car, and everyone wanted a closer look.
Lamborghini Newport Beach is an enthusiast-friendly dealership and will often bring a contemporary exotic along to Cars & Coffee. This time around it was a wrapped Huracán to celebrate achieving 1,000,000 followers on its Facebook page.
This 550 Spyder had a nice James Dean tribute feel going on.
And this Beetle had an astonishing engine conversion. I didn’t know HRE made breather caps, though.
I’m not going to lie, I put the Buick GNX on my car wish-list back in high school after seeing that one in the opening scene of Fast 4.
Mr. 356 himself, Rod Emory, also turned up for this event. He and his cars have made appearances on Petrolicious and Jay Leno’s Garage before, and those episodes are definitely worth a watch.
That’s it from my visit to a shopping plaza parking lot at 7:00am on a Saturday morning with a bunch of people I don’t know, but who all share in this passion for cars we all have. Long live Cars & Coffee Aliso Viejo!
Louis Yio
louis@speedhunters.com
Instagram: @lusciousy
Even though my family has always been a Jeep family... we always wanted a VehiCROSS.
Bricklin SV-1 ! It always looks like a baby DeLorean DMC-12 to me ! XD
just as Bryan said I'm shocked that a student able to profit $7511
in 3 weeks .............
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This is the second time you have claimed that 2002's are still reasonably priced at about 5k. Please show me where these said decent 5k 2002's are. I have a long line of friends that would jump at the chance.
At Irvine they had to turn people away because they were limited to the size of the parking lot, I think they did do a pretty good job at keeping out x20 mustangs. Occasionally an interesting car was turned away due to an owner who didn't wake up early enough.
Love that 906 though, overall I enjoyed your coverage. It really is the heir to the Irvine event.
RDS Trust me, you're not alone on that one. I always thought that the Bricklin was a predecessor of sorts to the DeLorean. If you think about it, the two of share a few similarities.
AceAndrew2 There is almost always one that pops up every two weeks or so on Craigslist in the SoCal area that's a steal.
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/5847352443.html
It's not a roundie and not pre-1975 smog exempt but still a good deal
"I’m patiently waiting for someone to bring along a new Abarth 124 Spider." *posts a picture of a 124 Spider*
my Aunty Samantha got an awesome year old Porsche Panamera from only workin parttime
online... see.
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Digging that Porsche 903...
Love the Porsche 906! Oh how simple Le Mans cars once were
like April replied I cannot believe that some one can earn $7119
in 3 weeks .............
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oh man that 550 spyder!
Not an Abarth
The Abarth 124 is not available in the US? I've already seen a few ones here in EU but to be fair they're way overpriced, something like 50k $
I saw it in a movies torrent : http://extratorrents.bz
LouisYio AceAndrew2 Our definition of decent seems to be rather different.
There's a reason everybody in California gets rid of 75/76's. Especially one that has bubbly rockers and a repaint ("no accidents" but wavy rear 3/4 driver panel) thirty years ago.
In confession, there is a honest good deal that pops up every couple months. It is typically gone within a couple hours.
Saw the opening photo and started reading the article, not expecting to see anything else as striking as a GT40... and then I got to the 906! Some stunning cars, looks like an excellent meet.
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What, no Rotas?
The Prowler is a car that could have been so much better. Chrysler failed that car. How a V6 was approved for that car is beyond me.
-Alex
LouisYio The 635 you took a picture of in the last frame was a car I built for my ex gf earlier this year. Glad it was nice enough to catch your eye! Here is a build video of it if you're interested!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3kPykmsb24&t=6s
I see my custom build just out of frame.... maybe next time it will get in your gallery Here is a photo from that day and my build-blog: https://www.facebook.com/240ZeffR
jeffmayland That is an interesting modification you've got going on there! I've got a 71Z myself I'm going to do some extensive body modifications on as well. Good work! Take a look at the video I linked as well and tell me what you think of the BMW!
J.Albert jeffmayland Thanks! I bought the ZTrix fenders but created my own door scoop modifications and I highly customized the airdam. The build blog shows 14 years of toiling...
I just watched your video. Impressive metal work, I wish I could have done that with my car but fiberglass was easier for me to design-build it.
Buick GNX - the Samuel L. Jackson of cars.
It's big. It's black. It's a bad motherfucker.
my Aunty Victoria just got a fantastic cream Audi A6 ........................
http://tinyurl.com/youtube-have-jobs
A cool selection, thank you Mr Yio.
Somebody help out an ignorant Limey: what's that red muscle car parked next to the nice MKI Land Rover please?
great
My Uncle Alex recently got an awesome 12 month old Ford Edge only
from working off a laptop...............
see more.....................http://www.fox-88.com
I cannot believe that some one can earn $7119
in 4 weeks ...................
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1966-67 Chevy II
what Janice said I'm taken by surprise that some one can earn $8126
in 4 weeks ...................
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RWB......... Those are fancy Ricers........ Do they not feel awkward with proper cars around them?
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my Aunty Savannah just got Mercedes GL-Class SUV
just by working from a macbook.
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My Uncle Adrian just got a real cool Toyota
by working part-time ...................
details https://qr.net/3GtZDe
GNX.......soooooo much love! One of the baddest of the 80's. Still a legend today.
You can earn $9184
in weeks ..................
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It's awesome to see you give us Abarth Boyz some recognition. They are no super car or super rare but they are fun and all of us change them up to fit our likes. We will have a 124 Abarth in the group soon!!
Cool GNX, but no mention of the Grabber Blue '70 Mustang next to it???
Great stuff.. Thanks for sharing. I was wondering what location everyone would end up in after Irvine closed down years ago.
Based on seeing this, I will swing by there next week. I know the area, which shopping center lot is this located in?
Thanks..
Riperoni, they shut it down ;(