Throwback: Fante\’s Coffee and Cars

Husqvarna Svartpilen 401

What\’s the first thing to come to mind when you hear the word \”Husqvarna\”? Chainsaws, perhaps? Maybe lawn mowers?

How about motorcycles? Husqvarna Motorcycles — a part of KTM since 2013 — has been building two-wheeled rides since 1903. This example is the Svartpilen 401, motivated by a 44-horse, 373cc single-cylinder motor. The motorcycle was designed to handle the bumps of broken streets with ease. It\’s certainly a bike you won\’t see every day, though.

Chevrolet SS

This year, GM announced it was withdrawing entirely from right-hand drive markets as part of its overall global and economic strategy. Thus, the red lion of Australia, Holden, was slain upon the red sands of the Outback, weakened by the end of local production in 2016.

One of the last cars made by Holden was the Commodore. GM made the move to bring it over to the United States for the 2014 model year as the Chevrolet SS. It remains the Bow Tie\’s last rear-drive family sedan to date.

Since the SS was a Commodore, though, this car\’s owner swapped out the Chevy badge on the grille for the Holden lion. A fitting swap for one of Australia\’s legendary cars.

Lotus Europa Twin Cam

This unusual-looking two-seater holds a place in my memories, for I first gazed upon the yellow Europa in the early New \’10s at the Louisville Concours d\’Elegance, then held in the infield of Churchill Downs.

Just over 9,300 examples of the original Europa were built between 1966 and 1975, including 4,710 Twin Cams like the yellow one above. The Europa name would be resurrected in 2005, this time adorning a two-seater based on the Elise. That car, the Europa S, was built between 2006 and 2010. Only 456 examples left the factory in Hethel, England.