Long before books were sold online, before you could shop for anything and have it delivered to your door, or...
Vintage Roadcar Columns
The 1953 Turin Auto Show must have been quite a sight. It presented cars of what would become a landmark...
There are a number of cars that are better known by their nicknames, than their original designation, like the Alfa Romeo Montreal, or the Ferrari Daytona. But probably the most iconic and well-known nickname is Mercedes’ Gullwing. The 300SL was a road car based on Mercedes’ 1952 W194 racecar. The...
In 1954, the AC company, in Thames Ditton unveiled a new car, a beautiful coupe called the AC Aceca. Many...
Three-owner Kellison was extracted from a barn, in 1986, and restored by author, racer and rally organizer Rich Taylor. I...
Among car collectors, enthusiasts, even kids who’ve yet to master driving, the Chevrolet Corvette needs no introduction. Introduced in 1953, the fiberglass convertible (at that time, the only body style) was a surprising, but welcomed departure for the conservative Chevrolet division. GMs VP of Styling, Harley Earl, eagerly promoted the...
Some 9,500 miles separate Davenport, Iowa, and Victoria, Australia, but this great distance is no obstacle for a group of...
So often the cars I research come with stories permanently attached. Stories of celebrity ownership or the classic “Fangio drove...
Not too long ago, a very good friend called me about his 1967 4.2 Jaguar XKE OTS. He had two precise questions for me to research and a task. First, was his XKE a Series 1 or Series 1.5? Second, was his car originally equipped with an enclosed headlight bonnet...
As classic car enthusiasts, we live with a foot in two completely different worlds. One foot is firmly placed in...
In the 1980s, the idea of a Japanese Luxury Sedan was a radical concept. Most North American perceptions around Japanese...
Every car guy, collector and car designer knows the two major categories that separate car designs—Pre-war and Post-war. Pre-war cars are generally regarded as cars that span from the very first “horseless carriages” all the way up to the start of the U.S. engagement in World War II. Post-war cars...
I’ve been revisiting a series of cars recently from the period of my youth. There’s something to be said about...
Living in Southern California, we’re admittedly pretty jaded when it comes to the classic cars we see on the road, on a day-to-day basis. Porsches, Ferraris, Cobras (real and re-imagined) for sure, but even exotic pre-war machinery. It’s like living in an alternate dimension when you see a Type 35...
The Earth is round. These days we say this with reasonable certainty (thanks in part to space travel) and considerably...
After several false starts, the U.S. is finally getting a major classic car exhibition of its own… A little over...
Throughout the 1950s, American automobile manufacturers developed some of the most extravagant concept cars. While many of these efforts were styling exercises and prototypes, a great many were visionary, featuring futuristic (if not dream-like) scenarios including self-driving cars, flying and nuclear-powered cars. With enormous resources behind them, car designers had...
After suffering what must be called the worst five years of American car design 1974-1979, the 1980s ushered in the...
Aston Martin. The name alone conjures up images of spies, well-dressed Europeans at fine gatherings, record-setting race wins and a...
Can a fictional spy save the world…and a car company? I write this column on the eve of Halloween. While my youngest daughter is busting at the seams for what is one of her favorite holidays, I have to say it no longer holds much allure for me. The holiday...
There’s an old adage about “the steady march of progress.” The truth, in fact, is that when it comes to...
Being ejected from the car…that’s half the appeal! As I’ve mentioned off and on, I’ve found that my automotive tastes...
In 1962 the worlds of fashion, design and cultural norms were changing faster than we were sending a man to the moon. Television was in more than 90 percent of all American homes. We welcomed the dashing and hatless John F. Kennedy and the European-influenced First Lady Jackie into the...
If you’ve been reading this space for any period of time (yes, I’m talking to both of you), then you’ll...
Every year the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance offers a spectacular showing of amazing cars. I am fortunate to get a...
Just how far are you prepared to go for exclusivity? In January, Bentley announced that its famed Mulliner coachbuilding team would now offer interiors trimmed in…slate and quartzite. You read that right, you can now order your Continental or Flying Spur with a dashboard and trim made from paving stones....
What does the recent sale of “unobtanium” tell us abou the market as a whole? I’ve literally just walked in...
I graduated from Art Center College of Design in 1987. MTV was in full swing, Compact Disc players were the...
Has history caught up with the electric car? I mention in my column on the other side of the magazine this month that Ford made a big impression at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, with the latest iteration of its iconic GT (nee GT40). However, Ford was not the only...