Tim Lappen

I am a third-generation Los Angeleno so I have cars in my blood and on my brain. I grew up going to (and sometimes racing at) San Fernando Valley Raceway and Lyons Drag Strip (Long Beach) as well as Ascot Park (the dirt track in Torrance). I drove anything that I could get the keys to (and some which I figured out how to hot-wire – all with the owners’ permission, of course). When I was at Palisades High School (Pacific Palisades – West Los Angeles), I wrote the “Car of the Week” column (1964-1965). Some weeks I wrote about my friends’ cars but other times I was able to talk local dealers out of giving me a car for a few hours. (Talk about a different time in the world!) And what dealers cooperated? How about a GTO, an Olds 442, a Buick GS and more? I also got to drive (with the rep) a Mustang GT350 at the Shelby headquarters near LA Airport and was able to interview the owners of other unusual cars, like the Chrysler turbine car. I even met and wrote about Craig Breedlove, who had just broken the land-speed record at Bonneville in his “Spirit of America”. Fun times. Flash forward a few (several?) decades and I now work as an attorney with a specialty in representing family offices. Many of my clients (and friends and other contacts) have amazing car collections and I occasionally get to drive some of their cars, especially when I help a client buy something special. For example, in the last few years, I have driven most of the superfast models made by Bugatti (a few times!), Mercedes, Bentley, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, BMW and more. I have participated in track days (I have met many dealers) with Bugatti, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Bentley and Cadillac (I had a CTS-V for almost a week). I will write about those cars in future posts. As a member of the Checkered Flag 200 (the main support group of The Petersen Automotive Museum), I participate in events about a dozen times a year. We organize or attend car shows, rallys, garage tours and more. It’s a great group of people. I also am into motorcycles (I have had a slew of Triumph Bonnevilles and currently have a 1979 T140E, which I’ve owned for over 30 years) and a BMW R11RS sports-touring bike. I am a self-trained mechanic who and I worked as a boat mechanic before going to college. I probably have put between 50,000 and 75,000 miles on motorcycles and intend to ride for many more years.

Posts by Tim Lappen

Bugatti Chiron: The Ne Plus Ultra Of Vehicles

The Chiron is a vehicle where nothing was compromised to meet a budget. The leather is sumptuous, the seats beyond comfortable, the fit and finish superb.

McLaren 570S: A Chip Off Some Very Fast Blocks

If McLaren can produce two of the most famous hypercars of all time, they certainly can provide an “ordinary” supercar like the 570S. 

An Inside Look At Vanderhall Venice Sparks Joy And Exhilaration

Part motorcycle, yet with a car-like seat and a shoulder belt, Vanderhall Venice is a car that should soar like the rocket which it resembles.

That Old Black Magic: Rolls-Royce Black Badge Wraith

Beautiful. Fast. Mysterious. Exciting. Sumptuous. Exclusive. Thrilling. Luxurious. Introducing the wonderful Rolls-Royce Black Badge Wraith.

The Ferrari 488 Spider Is Gorgeous And Fast, What’s Not To Like?

With terrific ergonomics, comfortable yet purpose-built seating, informative gauges, & extremely responsiveness, the 488 Spider is an incredible vehicle.

Lexus LC 500: An LFA In LC Clothing

LFA – those three letters cause auto cognoscenti’s eyes to light up, with dreams of a high-output V-10 redlining, superb handling and incredible sound.

Aston Martin DB11: A True GT That Can Hang With The Fast Boys

Hit the start button, pull the right paddle shifter and away you go.

Chevrolet’s Corvette & Bolt: A Tale of Two Chevys

Perhaps the takeaway from the Tale of Two Chevys is that you can have it all . . . but you’ll need two parking spaces.

Superformance: Daytonas and Cobras and Vettes…Oh My!

You can tell immediately that this company is about speed. I mean, they don’t even have time to call themselves Super Performance.

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