1931 Cord L-29 LeGrande Speedster prototype replica

Jaguar XF Sportbrake is a clever and cool estate

FISHING, camping, horse-riding and skiing. All things I imagine the Jag set love getting up to, but until now they've never really had the car to cope.

If you wanted a finely sculpted, thoroughly British way of lugging your lifestyle equipment from the gymkhana to the ski resort you've only really had two options; a Range Rover or a Discovery. That's why I reckon Jaguar's onto a winner with something they should have come up with ages ago, in the form of an XF estate.

It gets off to a great start in my books simply because it's got a cool name - it is, ladies and gentlemen, the XF Sportbrake, which it makes it sound like an aerodynamic aid you'd fit to your snowmobile or mountain bike. I know it's a sort of unspoken rule among the executive car club never to call your estate an estate, but somehow Sportbrake has just got a bit more oomph than Avant or Touring does.

Jaguar, who are revealing the XF Sportbrake at this year's Geneva Motorshow, said:

"Sharing its underpinnings with the XF saloon, the Sportbrake's overall length grows by just 5mm, its weight by less 70kg and its chassis structure matches the strength of the conventional XF. These characteristics mean the Sportbrake can closely match the acclaimed handling of the XF saloon yet offers a large and highly practical load space.

"Every panel on the XF Sportbrake, from the B-Pillar rearwards, is new. The strong silver signature line running the length of the car is extended while the C-Pillar is finished in gloss black, a trait shared with the XJ saloon."

Estate car practicality blended with the firm's refreshingly affordable 2.2 diesel lump should, I reckon, broaden the XF's appeal way beyond the members of your local golf club. Expect to see plenty of them on our roads when the Sportbrake gets launched later this year.

a quick glimpse of the Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance at Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California

much more coverage of this past Sunday's show to come, it's going to take a lot of time to work the photos first before posting them.

Beautiful day, great venue, marvelous variety of cars, and I'll be there again next year. This was my first year there, and I am getting a bit farther from home a bit more now that I have a new car with 38-39 mpg to range  farther out into So Cal

very cool and extremely rare tungsten spark plugs still in the tin cans, and marked Ford

I can't believe I came across 2 NOS sets of old Champion spark plugs, wrapped in cosmoline too

Things I had to take home with me from the swapmeet. Doesn't being at a swapmeet make you realize you have to buy at least one thing that is cool, but you don't need?

 Hell no I am not going to work on Carter carbs, but I couldn't pass on this tool set for 20 bucks.

 I've never heard of Marvel Mystery Oil Company making anything but oil... so this had to find a home in my garage for 10 bucks

Starett is high quality, and this is accurate to one thousandth of an inch. Perfect for 20 bucks

How to make your garage fire extinguishers cooler

How one guy entertained himself and friends at the swapmeet while stuck at his booth

 a dollar bill on a fishing pole cast into the road between booths

Pablo is hot rodding in Uruguay, and he's got a pin-up for a girlfriend... is he a lucky guy or what?!?!

 Pablo and his 48 Fleetmaster, above and below

 Sofia.... and Pablo's Fleetmaster

 variety of Uruguay hot hod moments

Kelly is curious about cars in her family's really old photo albums, can anyone identify these cars? If so, please use the comment function, or email me directly so I can thank you proper, and credit the correct people!

Nancy and Dennis were first to respond with "The first one is a home built body, not sure of the make. Second, both are post war GM, one in back is '47 Chevy. Third and fourth, '47 Chevrolet Fleetmaster and it was Easter. Fifth, definitely not a Ford! Might be a Plymouth. Last is a '41 Ford Super Deluxe with a lot of aftermarket accessories. Fog lights, bumper ends, headlight visors, spotlight, radio antenna on fender (stock is above windshield)."

 I think the car on the right is the same as the car below in the front, and rear view photos. Tom says the car on the left looks like a 41 Chev

 Just a guess that the above and below are the same car

Robert commented "2nd pic, car on the left looks like a 41 Chevy, the 4th pic looks like a 37 Plymouth"

 above is likely older than 1937, that is the year Fords started putting the headlights half into the fenders

my email is jbohjkl@yahoo.com

I'm pretty sure the bottom one is a 1940 Ford Super Delux