Good things come in small batches.

Scotch, wine, watches, and cars all have one thing in common.  The best specimens are usually only available in small batches.

In November, I made a connection with Local Motors.  It stuck.  I met with Jay, Sarah, and Ariel again in Austin during SXSW, and they are doing well.  The Rally Fighter continues to impress and is nearing production readiness, and the plans for the first micro-factory in Arizona are well underway.  I mention Local Motors not only because I think they have a  big future, but also because my experience with that company has changed how I look at other small-batch manufacturers.  I have always been amazed how many start-up car companies seem to come and go, but even more amazed at the success of the handful that have stuck around.

Pagani is the first that comes to mind, and with the imminent delivery of the Zonda successor, they appear to be in it for the long haul.  Koenigsegg seems to be holding its own as well, well enough to have bid for Saab.  Of course, when speaking of Saab, one must mention Spyker.  While I was elated that Saab survived the absurd circus of GM's restructuring, I must confess I was a bit concerned for its future.  Spyker did not seem to be a sure thing from the moment of its re-birth.  Only recently do they seem to have found their direction, and with the purchase of Saab, an anchor.  I hope the best for the newly minted Spyker-Saab.

At an event this past weekend, I was chatting with a handful of my old Ferrari clients, and one more manufacturer came up in conversation.  When Mclaren unveiled the MP4-12C, I honestly thought it was a lovely addition to a crowded field of pointless supercars.  Nothing wrong with the car, just the market.  But meeting up with my old clients made me stand up and take notice of what has changed over the last two years.   The speculators are all but gone.  The gold chain crowd that was stretching to buy the lowest range of supercars can't even afford the lowest range economy cars anymore.  What remains are the modern equivalent of the gentlemen racers.  They don't run F1 cars anymore, but they do go on Ferrari Rallys.  They have track cars and garages at motorsports country clubs.  They are successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople with good taste in cars, watches, electronics, and clothes.  

And for those people, the Mclaren makes perfect sense.  It has more depth than the Pagani, Koenigsegg, or Spyker in that it has serious racing pedigree, an F1 team, a history of producing some of the world's most serious supercars, and an internationally recognizable name.  Sounds a lot like that little company in Modena that builds all those red cars, doesn't it?  But the Mclaren has more up its dihedral doors.  The technology is cutting edge and its performance is a given to be at the head of its class.  After taking in all I could from the Mclaren's press materials, I am beginning to think of them as an extremely serious competitor to Ferrari and Lamborghini.  I don't know that any brand will ever have the worldwide recognition of the Prancing Horse, but while Mclaren may not get their own Barbie and Lego sets, their big ticket items, like the MP4-12C, are definitely going to give the other players a serious run for their money.