2017 Atlanta International Auto Show

The Atlanta Auto Show is usually a quiet affair, normally constrained to only a few prototypes. Cars don't get unveiled here, but it's still a good opportunity to climb around in luxury sedans and to see some neat concepts under convention hall lights.

This year's notables include the Kia Stinger, a twin-turbo sedan whose styling would be bold for any car maker, but somehow fits just right into KIA's lineup. The Korean manufacturer's auto show real estate was impressive; hardly a surprise, given the location of major manufacturing centers in West Point, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama.

Another manufacturer that's recently started calling Atlanta home is Mercedes-Benz. Just a few feet away, final work is being done on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will be the new home of the Atlanta Falcons and the burgeoning Atlanta United Football Club. And Mercedes brought out the big guns--a 4x4-and-then-some G550 and a Maybach S650 convertible, along with a healthy spread of AMG offerings.

You may have noticed a post here a couple of months ago when I visited the Jim Ellis Alfa Romeo dealership, and this brand was a new reappearance at the Atlanta Auto Show. Several Giulias were on display, along with a 4c. Fiat was also in attendance, showing off the Miata-based 124 Spider.

Ford continues to impress with bold, inexpensive cars aimed at the enthusiast. Focus and Fiesta ST made mandatory appearances, but the stage was really being stolen by the Focus RS--with a shocking $41,000 sticker to match. Ford also displayed Mustang and Expedition prototypes, a nice touch.

A final surprise? Volkswagen. Hot water doesn't begin to describe the trouble this mammoth auto maker has been in the past few years. But only a company as big as Volkswagen Auto Group could still manage to bring out both compelling and exciting vehicles. Much to my delight, there were two VWs with manual transmissions on the show floor--and not the ones you'd think would be there.

A Jetta Sportwagen and a Jetta Alltrack (think Audi Allroad but more down-to-earth) both sported six speed manuals and more than agreeable price tags. Enough to make you rethink even a Japanese mainstay --whispers-- Honda Civic.

Of course, this is far from an exhaustive look at the show. Here are some more of my photos from the 2017 Atlanta International Auto Show:

A Fiat, a Land Cruiser, and a London bus in Chattanooga

Many exciting things can be found about 100 miles north of us in the border city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. My childhood is sprinkled with memories of being dragged through the aquarium, terrified in the caves of Rock City, and walking across the bridge over the Tennessee River.

This past Saturday, I stopped through on my way back home and discovered a few automotive gems in the city's River Arts District.

First of which was a nicely equipped Series 80 Toyota Land Cruiser. This Cruiser has an interesting double roof rack, obligatory brush guard, and bubbly clear coat. I'd be surprised and a bit disappointed to see an odometer reading below 250,000 on this truck.

Cross the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge to reach Chattanooga's North Shore neighborhood

The main attraction though lie in a parking garage in the North Shore area of Chattanooga. This part of the city enjoys a laid back, Main Street USA atmosphere, thanks to its relative detachment from downtown proper. A perfect spot, then, to discover an old Fiat 124 Spider. This car didn't (and still does not) enjoy even a microcosm of the success of its close cousin, the Alfa Romeo Spider.

Originally, the Spider came with a 1.4-liter, double overhead cam inline four. By 1970, it had become the 1.6-liter, found in this car. Fiat continued tinkering with the bore until 1974, when it bumped up again, this time to 1.8-liters.

However, discerning types still value its Pininfarina styling, penned largely by Tom Tjaarda. Throughout his career, which spanned nearly 48 years, Tjaarda had his hand in the designs of many icons. He worked on designs for the Lancia Flaminia Coupe, DeTomaso Pantera, Saab 900, and the Qvale Mangusta.

North American models first arrived in 1968. These cars came standard with four wheel disc brakes and a five-speed manual transmission. Original asking price for a 1968 124: $3,181; the Alfa Spider? $3,950.

The 124's strengths weren't just confined to its styling either. Its fantastic dual overhead cam four cylinder evolved throughout the car's first generation, growing from 1400 to 1900cc and 89 to 133 horsepower, respectively. This generation of 124 had an impressive 17 year sales run in the US. Now, we're eagerly anticipating the 124 Spider's return to American soil.

The AEC Routemaster isn't so much a bus, as it is a definitive symbol of England. Routemasters ran regular service in London from February 1956 to December 2005. "Heritage" routes 9 and 15 in central London still use Routemaster buses.

And then, a startle from an unfamiliar horn. It had to be taken straight from the pages of history, and surely enough, the clattering sounds and familiar smell of diesel smoke born an even more familiar image: a classic London bus. The last time I saw one of these, it had been turned into a coffee shop with an Asheville, North Carolina address. But that's the wonder of travel, you never know what you're going to see.