The AutoZone store on Woodward Avenue in Birmingham is a Saturday morning magnet for car and coffee lovers who figure November is not too late for a cruise.

AutoZone's Cars, Caffeine and Croissants standing Saturday invitation tends to fill its modest parking lot with a variety of cars -- including the good, the bad and the ugly.

Most are without much identification and the owners not on hand likely are inside patronizing the auto parts and accessories retailer.

The good? That was a hard choice the first weekend in November. There was an early 1970s black Mercedes-Benz coupe surrounded by admirers. It was parked beside a sleek, silver Corvette ZR1 that looked like it had either just landed or was about to head down the runway. Tucked a few feet away: a British racing green MINI Cooper S, glistening in the morning sunshine.

The bad? A couple of Mopars departed before the camera could capture them. But Doug Thompson was happy to stand around and chat about his innocent-appearing 1991 red Dodge Spirit RT sedan. Grandma's car? Not exactly, he said. It has a 224-horsepower engine that was the result of a joint venture between Chrysler and Lotus Racing.

'This car will go from zero to 60 in 5.5 seconds,' said Thompson, of Royal Oak.