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Ben Erickson is an automotive author, restoration consultant, Concours judge, and has authored books about French cars with past Cars Yeah guest Peter Larsen. In addition to being a connoisseur of the grand French classics, he is a Maserati fan having owned a number of them. Ben has a special interest in all things Iso as well as Swedish and American cars from the challenging years in the 1970s and 1980s when, as Ben says, “They did the best with what they had”. Although originally from Minnesota and brief stays in Finland, his time is split between Denmark and Thailand. As a linguist and fluent in five languages including Finnish, Ben also owns a translation company. Ben’s latest venture with Peter Larsen is a three-volume series titled The Kellner Affair, Matters of Life and Death.
SHOW SPONSORS
Covercraft • MetronGarage • Christopher Kimball Financial Services
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
Do what you’re passionate about.
CAREER & LIFE CHALLENGES
One of my largest challenges was moving to Denmark at the age of 17. I was an exchange student and finished high school in Denmark. Even though I left Denmark several times, and I had not planned on living there, I fell in love with the Danish language and Scandinavia, and made it my home.
FIRST SPECIAL VEHICLE
All of my cars have been special. I had a 1986 Merkür is XR4Ti. Even though it was a money pit, I loved that car.
BEST AUTOMOTIVE ADVICE
Learning how to drive a manual gearbox was the best advice I received.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
Facebook Groups have helped me learn a lot about car restoration and helped me to get other information about cars.
RECOMMENDED BOOK
La Carrosserie, a trade magazine that started around 1900, and closed around the 1950’s. It showed pictures of new cars, with labels telling who made the engine, body, etc.
PARTING WORDS OF ADVICE
Go after what you’re passionate about because you can’t fake it. Surround yourself with people who can help you along the way.
WHERE TO FIND BEN
Facebook pages for each of my book titles.
https://www.facebook.com/TheKellnerAffair/
https://www.facebook.com/talbotlagograndsport/
https://www.facebook.com/saoutchik/
https://www.facebook.com/J.Figoni/
J. Saoutchik Carrossier. Addendum, by Ben Erickson and Peter M. Larsen
The Kellner Affair, by Ben Erickson and Peter M. Larsen
Talbot-Lago Grand Sport, by Ben Erickson and Peter M. Larsen
SHARE THE INSPIRATION
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