Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Dorotheum, OH MY! - M. Joseph Miller II.

Some may never have an opportunity to enjoy life in a fashion that God has allowed me, does it take a couple of hundred thousand dollars, a few million or more? For some these glorious experiences will never come....but if your smart and ambitious you too can enjoy the luxuries of the middle class...well the Upper Middle-Class! I bring you an event that occurs every year in Europe, among many for auto enthusiests.


Dorotheum Auction at the Classic Expo, Salzburg, 17 October 2009

Dorotheum, the Vienna-based auction house established in 1707 and now the largest in Central Europe, is once again holding a sale at the Classic Expo in Salzburg, Austria. ‘Vintage Cars, Automobilia and Motorcycles’ will see 500 lots coming under the hammer on 17 October.


In the car category, an Aston Martin DB2 built in 1952 and kept in traditional British Racing Green guarantees an enthusiastic reception. When new, it was displayed at the Earls Court Motor Show and later went on to race at Goodwood. It carries an estimate of 130,000 – 140,000 euros. A light-metallic-green Triumph TR2 is another rarity. Its distinctive feature is the coupé conversion, a modification which the Belgian Imperia company carried out only 22 times. Named after the Francorchamps racetrack, the coupé features a top with removable Plexiglas section and a luxurious leather interior with four seats (estimate 36,000 – 42,000 euros).

Some 50 motorcycles will also be looking for new owners at this Dorotheum auction, including an NSU Konsul II (estimate 7000 – 9000 euros), the crowning achievement of the famous German manufacturer founded in 1901. The M.G.F. Triumph Fiddaman was originally purchased as a new experimental model in 1969 by racer Jean Bouquin, who ran it in 500 and 650 classes until 1975 (estimate 22,000 – 28,000 euros). Meanwhile, opening at the sensational starting bid of just 1 euro, is a 1907 motorcycle by Presto that was discovered only this year in Belgium and, for reasons of authenticity, simply cleaned and conserved. Research suggests it could be the last of its kind in Europe. The Dorotheum car expert Ernst Pilger describes it as "a jewel in original condition complete with its patina".To enjoy the last rays of the autumn sun in fine style, there’s always the iconic Jaguar E-type, a 3.8-litre, 210HP model. Said to be in excellent condition, it carries an estimate of 70,000 – 80,000 euros.

The auction also features around 400 lots of automobilia, from various publications to a child's bobsleigh by Porsche dating from the 1960s, as well as a selection of bonnet ornaments. One such item, never used and now behind glass, is a Rolls-Royce ‘Schneider Trophy’ SB6 seaplane dating from 1929-1931 (starting price 4000 euros).

The Style of M. Joseph Miller II.

I refuse to allow the challenges of life completely alter my life and path of which I am on, this is why I am getting back onto that path of which I started oh so many months ago...be they travel stories or those of fashion. This one is one of fashion.

A few days ago, I was walking to brunch when I ran across an old friend I met in Germany a few years ago, we had not seen one another in some time and started a conversation, one that lead us to enjoy the mornings meal together. He had remembered that my sense of fashion and style was more astute than that of others particularly the others in the immediate surroundings of which we had met; and so he mentioned to me that he had purchased a couple of suits of clothing and a few shirts that he wanted my opinion on.

I obliged and later met him at his place to peruse his new wears. Clearly his sense of style leaned more towards that of Crocket and Tubs, we both joked, of course neither of us could agree as to which version of the pair he had taken cue, the 80’s or the more recent duo as portrayed by Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx.

One suit, black with three buttons and the other grey, so far so good….the material, of the black one was, as I recall not silk or wool, but suitable, the other of better quality maybe even in the “super 150” category, not the best, but still quite nice for starters. He then showed me something I was surprised to see, a white French-cuffed dress shirt, ahhhh how refreshing a dash of sophistication abounds at last even though he mentioned that he has yet to purchase a pair of links.

I was about to get into detail about how to pair these suits and what not to wear with them when he introduced to me what he considered the pièce de résistance!

One black shirt and one white shirt and one red “Pure Silk.” As he exclaimed. Now surely many of you may wonder, what the problem, silk is the best, isn’t it? Well, for men, a silk suit may be ok, especially if your a member of the "family", as for the shirts, their better left for after ten at night no business meetings in a silk shirt. \

As red...its just a NO-GO, unless your going to your prom and your matching your dates bow. Otherwise lets leave the silk red dress shirts for the latin dance instructors! Be very careful with the solid color silk shits as it will be hard to match them to a suit or tie, I mean the black silk shirt will probably only go with a black silk tie and as for the white silk shirt, the contrast of being shiny white itslef, should just be left alone and worn without a tie altogether.

I can only go into so many to do's and not to do's in this session, but if anyone has any specific questions, dont hesitate to comment or ask. Until next time, where what you like and feel good in it, the most important thing is that you like it!

- M. Joseph Miller II.