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

Bentley Bentayga: On-Road Elegance, Off-Road Warrior

The Bentayga is gorgeous, but it’s not just another pretty face. Every performance and luxury box is ticked.

The New Lincoln Continental Black Label

The 2017 Lincoln Continental Black Label is definitely not your father’s Lincoln—with that hardtop and the coach doors made famous by Vinnie, Drama, and Turtle on Entourage.

Italian Finesse Vs. Detroit Muscle: The Alfa Romeo Giulia And Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

There are some who say you can tell a lot about a country, and its people, by the cars it produces.

A Look At The Jaguar F-Type SVR And Range Rover Evoque Convertible

Jaguar and Land Rover are storied brands, both growing up in the English countryside and wending their ways through history via very different paths.

Haute Auto: Lamborghini Giro 2016

The hills are alive with the sound of Lambos.

Haute Auto: Open-Top LaFerrari Revealed

The limited-edition series open-top LaFerrari debuts in September–here’s a preview of what you can expect from the newest supercar.

Cadillac Escala: The Concept Car That You Weren’t Expecting

Pebble Beach. Those two words conjure up visions of exotic classics of long ago, each displayed fender-to-hubcap each August on the grass at one of the world’s most beautiful golf courses.

Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100: The Future Has Arrived

No, the trunk badge isn’t likely to say “Vision Next 100,” but there’s no need for badging in order for cognoscenti to know that this is a car from the future.

Haute Auto: Rolls-Royce Dawn

Rolls-Royce Dawn: a car that drives like a cloud.

get the magazine

Subscribe to Haute Living

Receive Our Magazine Directly at Your Doorstep

Embark on a journey of luxury and elegance with Haute Living magazine. Subscribe now and have every issue conveniently delivered to your home. Experience the pinnacle of lifestyle, culture, and sophistication through our pages.

Exclusive

Haute Black Membership

Your Gateway to Extraordinary Experiences

Join Haute Black and unlock access to the world's most prestigious luxury events