All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

Volkswagen Jetta Driver Tried to Outsmart California Toll Cameras

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Some drivers will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid paying a few dollars in tolls. In California, however, one Volkswagen Jetta driver allegedly discovered that hiding a license plate can attract more attention than it saves money.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), officers recently stopped a Jetta equipped with a device designed to obscure its license plate. The driver reportedly admitted that the device was being used specifically to avoid paying tolls on express lanes and bridges in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The incident highlights California’s increasingly strict approach to license plate tampering—and the potentially expensive consequences of trying to outsmart toll cameras.

CHP Spots Volkswagen Jetta With Obscured License Plate

The CHP shared video of the traffic stop on Instagram. The footage, recorded by a dashcam in a police vehicle traveling in an adjacent lane, shows the Jetta passing with its license plate apparently completely hidden.

After a brief section of sped-up footage, the same vehicle appears again, this time with the license plate fully visible. Officers subsequently pulled the Volkswagen over.

While the video itself shows the plate changing from obscured to visible, the CHP’s account provides the explanation: the driver allegedly used the device to conceal the plate when passing through toll collection points.

Driver Allegedly Admitted Using the Device to Avoid Tolls

The CHP said the driver openly admitted that the purpose of the device was to avoid paying tolls for express lanes and bridges in the San Francisco Bay Area.

For drivers who regularly use the region’s toll roads, the motivation may be understandable. But the potential penalties for concealing a license plate can quickly outweigh the money saved on individual trips.

The case also illustrates why license plate-obscuring devices are a particularly risky way to evade toll enforcement. Even if a plate is hidden from a camera, the mechanism itself can become a reason for police to investigate.

California License Plate Laws Carry Significant Fines

California law requires license plates to remain visible and legible. The CHP specifically cited California Vehicle Code Section 5201.1, which establishes a base fine of $250 per offense for operating a vehicle with a movable license plate frame, plate-turning mechanism or other obscuring device.

That amount is only the starting point. Additional state and county fines and fees can increase the total cost considerably.

The agency also referenced California Vehicle Code Section 5201, which requires license plates to be visible and legible at all times, as well as CVC Section 23302(a)(1), which addresses toll evasion.

California has also tightened restrictions on license plate tampering. A law taking effect in 2025 expanded restrictions involving alterations to a plate’s reflective coating when those changes are intended to evade detection.

Toll Evasion Can Lead to More Than a Traffic Ticket

The CHP warned that unpaid toll violations can result in civil fines and may potentially affect vehicle registration. That means the consequences of avoiding toll payments can extend beyond the initial traffic stop.

For the Jetta driver in this case, the alleged attempt to save a few dollars per trip could therefore result in substantially higher costs.

The incident is a reminder that license plate visibility is not merely a matter of convenience. It is a legal requirement, and devices designed to defeat toll cameras can create additional violations even before the toll itself is considered.

The Device Meant to Avoid Cameras May Have Attracted Police Attention

The irony of the case is difficult to miss: a device allegedly installed to prevent toll cameras from reading the Jetta’s license plate ended up giving police another reason to stop the vehicle.

For drivers considering similar modifications, the lesson is straightforward. Attempting to hide a license plate may save a toll payment in the short term, but the potential fines, civil penalties and registration consequences can make the strategy a very expensive one.

Source: chp_solano via Instagram

Auctions

Colorado Vintage Car Collection Heads to Auction With Bids Starting at 50 Cents

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Some families pass down jewelry, watches, or antique furniture. The Born family of Colorado accumulated something considerably harder to store: hundreds of vintage cars and pickup trucks.

After three generations of collecting, a portion of the family’s extensive automotive collection is heading to auction. The event, organized by VanDerBrink Auctions, will feature approximately 300 vehicles, signs, and pieces of automotive memorabilia, with some lots reportedly carrying starting bids as low as 50 cents.

The auction is scheduled for September 19 in Eaton, Colorado, a community approximately 90 minutes north of Denver and just east of Fort Collins. An in-person vehicle preview is planned for the previous day, while online bidding will also be available.

A Lifetime Spent Searching for Vintage Cars

The collection belonged to the late Doug Born, his father, and his grandfather. According to the auction information, the family spent decades traveling to auctions across the country in search of vintage automobiles.

That long-running passion resulted in a collection that is less a carefully curated showroom and more a snapshot of American automotive history. Restored vehicles sit alongside unfinished projects, work trucks, delivery vehicles, and cars that appear to have been waiting for their second chance for decades.

For buyers, that variety is part of the appeal. The auction offers everything from early Ford icons to unusual station wagons and hard-to-find commercial vehicles.

Early Fords Dominate the Auction

Ford enthusiasts will find plenty to explore. Among the highlights is a 1912 Ford Model T Touring, joined by several Model A examples and a customized 1932 Ford Roadster.

The collection also includes a substantial number of Ford coupes, sedans, pickups, and project vehicles from the 1930s and 1940s. Some are restored, while others are better suited to buyers looking for a long-term restoration project.

Notable Ford-related lots reportedly include:

  • 1912 Ford Model T Touring
  • Several Ford Model A examples
  • Customized 1932 Ford Roadster
  • 1933 and 1935 Ford coupe projects
  • 1934 Ford three-window coupe project
  • 1934 school bus project
  • Multiple 1936 and 1937 Fords
  • COE, or Cab Over Engine, trucks
  • Ford panel trucks and delivery vehicles
  • Numerous F-Series pickups

For a restoration shop, the collection could represent years of work. For a collector, it may offer the opportunity to find a vehicle that would be difficult to locate through a conventional classic-car dealer.

Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Dodge Add Variety

Although early Fords make up much of the auction, the Born family collection is far from a one-brand affair.

Chevrolet enthusiasts can choose from a broad selection, including a 1931 Chevrolet sedan, a 1955 Chevrolet NAPCO pickup, and a 1964 Chevrolet Bel Air two-door. Several early Chevrolet pickups, panel trucks, delivery vehicles, and project cars are also included.

The 1955 NAPCO is particularly interesting. Chevrolet’s NAPCO four-wheel-drive system helped transform conventional pickups into more capable work vehicles, making examples from this era appealing to collectors interested in both vintage styling and early four-wheel-drive technology.

The collection’s other makes include:

  • 1957 Pontiac Super Chief station wagon
  • 1961 Oldsmobile 98 two-door hardtop
  • 1958 Dodge station wagon
  • 1974 Pontiac Firebird Esprit
  • Henry J models
  • International trucks and panel trucks
  • Plymouth Ramcharger

That mix gives the auction a distinctly American character, spanning prewar cars, postwar family vehicles, classic pickups, and more unusual automotive survivors.

Could Some Cars Really Sell for 50 Cents?

Local media outlet KDVR reports that starting prices for some vehicles are as low as 50 cents. That figure is likely to attract attention, but it is important to distinguish between a starting bid and a final sale price.

A low opening bid does not necessarily mean a vehicle will sell for pocket change. Final prices will depend on the vehicle’s condition, completeness, desirability, bidding activity, and whether multiple buyers compete for the same lot.

Still, the possibility of acquiring a vintage vehicle from a major collection at an exceptionally low opening price is part of what makes this auction noteworthy. For buyers willing to take on a project, the event could offer opportunities that are rarely found in the traditional collector-car market.

Auction Date, Location, and Preview Details

The Born family collection auction is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on September 19 in Eaton, Colorado.

Auction details:

  • Auctioneer: VanDerBrink Auctions
  • Location: Eaton, Colorado
  • Collection size: Approximately 300 vehicles, signs, and automotive memorabilia
  • Auction date: September 19
  • Start time: 9:00 a.m.
  • Vehicle preview: September 18
  • Bidding: In-person and online
  • Reported starting bids: As low as 50 cents for some lots

Potential bidders should review the official auction listing for the complete catalog, vehicle descriptions, preview arrangements, bidding terms, and any updates before attending or placing a bid.

A Rare Opportunity for Collectors and Restorers

Large collections of vintage cars occasionally come to market, but few offer the same combination of scale, variety, and unfinished potential as the Born family collection.

The auction includes recognizable classics such as the Model T, Model A, and Bel Air, but it also features the less glamorous vehicles that often make a collection truly memorable: school buses, panel trucks, COE trucks, work pickups, and project cars that have survived largely because someone believed they were worth saving.

Whether the goal is to restore a prewar Ford, find an unusual Chevrolet truck, or simply explore a remarkable piece of Colorado automotive history, the Born family auction promises plenty of reasons to look closely.

For collectors, the most intriguing question may not be which car is the most valuable, but which forgotten vehicle is waiting to become someone’s next great project.

Source: VanDerBrink Auctions

Restomod

La Cinquecento Fiat 500 Restomod Blends Classic Charm with Modern Engineering

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A British company has transformed a 1970s Fiat 500 into a carefully engineered restomod, combining the charm of the original 1957 icon with a more powerful engine, upgraded chassis and modernized mechanical systems.

The modern Fiat 500 may be one of the most successful classic-car revivals of recent decades, but the original remains difficult to beat when it comes to character, simplicity and compact dimensions. Now, British company La Cinquecento is taking that formula in a new direction with a unique restomod project designed to make the legendary city car faster, more precise and more enjoyable to drive—without sacrificing its unmistakable personality.

The prototype made its first public appearance at the Tutto Bene mountain race in Italy, offering a glimpse of what could become a limited series of numbered cars.

A Classic Fiat 500 with a More Focused Attitude

The exterior design comes from BorromeodeSilva, the Milan-based studio known for its work on projects such as the Eccentrica Lamborghini Diablo restomod and the Automobili Atmos Futurista/Safarista, inspired by the Lancia Delta.

Rather than turning the Fiat 500 into an entirely different car, the designers have kept the original’s proportions and visual identity intact. The result is a restomod that looks familiar at first glance, but reveals a more purposeful character through a series of subtle modifications.

The red bodywork is complemented by:

  • Rally-inspired lights mounted on the front bumper
  • Wider fenders that give the car a more planted stance
  • Deeper side skirts
  • Matte-finish disc-style wheels
  • Cream and body-colored interior accents
  • Retro upholstery and saddle-colored leather on the bucket seats and door panels

The design approach is restrained, but the wider bodywork and additional lighting give the classic Fiat a distinctly motorsport-inspired appearance.

A Fiat 126 Engine with Twin Spark Ignition

The donor vehicle was a 1970s Fiat 500, purchased by La Cinquecento founder Max Kindersley after spending approximately 25 years in storage. Under the hood, the original engine has been replaced by a two-cylinder unit sourced from the Fiat 126.

The engine features a Twin Spark ignition system, although La Cinquecento has not disclosed its power output. The company says the modifications improve throttle response and torque, suggesting that the focus is not simply on adding horsepower, but on making the car more responsive and engaging in everyday driving.

That approach is particularly appropriate for a lightweight classic. In a car like the Fiat 500, a modest increase in performance can make a significant difference without overwhelming the character that makes it appealing in the first place.

Upgraded Suspension, Brakes, Steering and Electrical Systems

The engine is only one part of the transformation. La Cinquecento says the restomod has received a thoroughly reworked suspension, braking, steering, cooling and electrical systems.

These upgrades are intended to improve the car’s precision, reliability and overall driving experience while retaining the light, approachable nature of the original.

The company has not released detailed technical specifications, but the extensive mechanical revisions indicate that this is more than a cosmetic restoration. The goal is to create a classic Fiat 500 that feels better engineered and more capable without losing its essential identity.

“I’ve always loved what the Fiat 500 stands for. It’s simple, light, full of character and brings a smile to your face. The idea was never to change that. We wanted to take everything that made the original so special and see how much we could improve it, make it faster, more precise and better engineered, without losing the reason you wanted a 500 in the first place.”

— Max Kindersley, founder of La Cinquecento

Limited Production Planned

Following its debut at the Tutto Bene mountain race, La Cinquecento confirmed plans to produce a limited series of numbered cars. The company is already accepting applications from interested buyers through its website.

However, the price of the Fiat 500 restomod has not yet been announced. Production numbers, final specifications and delivery details are also expected to become clearer as the project progresses.

For collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate classic Italian cars but want something more refined and mechanically capable, the La Cinquecento project could offer an appealing alternative to a conventional restoration.

The Fiat 500 Restomod Formula

The appeal of this project lies in its restraint. Instead of chasing extreme performance or dramatically altering the original design, La Cinquecento has focused on improving the elements that matter most in a lightweight classic: responsiveness, precision, braking, reliability and driving enjoyment.

The result is a modern interpretation of the original Fiat 500 that aims to preserve its charm while making it better suited to enthusiastic driving. If the production cars remain faithful to this prototype, the La Cinquecento could become one of the more interesting small-scale restomod projects in the classic-car world.

Source: La Cinquecento