Quintessential adjective quin·tes·sen·tial | \ ˌkwin-tə-ˈsen(t)-shəl :of the pure and essential essence of something :of or relating to the most perfect embodiment of something By the time the second world war came to an end, the...
Fair disclosure, I’m a multiple Lancia owner. I love everything about them. Their wonderful engine sounds, the brash audacity of their...
The first time I saw a photo of the Lamborghini Countach I knew it was something special. I was probably 11 or 12-years old, but even at that age, after seeing Jaguars, Porsches, and Ferraris, the Countach looked like it was from another planet. Lamborghini had only been in business...
This is my 50th article for Vintage Road & Racecar. I didn’t realize it until my editor sent me a thank...
Car Design is a wicked beast. The purpose of design is to create both alluring and engaging combinations of mechanical...
With so much new digital technology arriving daily in our lives, it’s hard to imagine that something as simple as a new material could spawn an entirely new industry and market, lasting for decades. But that’s exactly what fiberglass did. Easy to use and relatively low cost, fiberglass fit perfectly...
I’ve had a fortunate car life. I’ve owned a wide range of cars, enjoying various shows, events and the pleasure...
A few weeks ago McLaren released their new sports car to the public. It’s not fair to really call it...
When first introduced in 1959, the Mini Cooper was a revelation of automotive simplicity, economy, and delight. Designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, primarily called upon to respond to the 1958 fuel crisis plaguing the UK and much of Europe, the diminutive Mini instantly won hearts, charming a wide range of...
Quintessential designs of the 20th century are all around us. These items are so familiar we often take their shape, color...
Fair disclosure—I’ve wanted to write about this car for years. The Ford GT appeared, in 2005, as a production offering from what was still a very conservative company. At that time, the world had yet to be inundated by smart phones, there was no Alexa, no Siri, no Uber and...
This is technically the first issue of Vintage Roadcar as an online-only periodical. While many of us will miss the...
May 2018 The first major car show I attended was the 1971 L.A. Auto Expo. As a wide-eyed nine-year-old, everything...
The year 1962 was a big one. Not only was Seattle sporting its beautiful piercing tribute to the futuramic skyline of tomorrow, cars of future greatness were being born worldwide. It was also the year I was born, so in many ways, I identify with cars from that year. As...
When I was a college student, some friends told me about a woman who ran a hair salon in her...
I pedaled my bike past the edge of our main street and down the Santa Monica canyon road toward the Pacific Coast Highway. This was as far as I was allowed to ride my bike, but I was 10, adventure was more important than following rules. Heading down the canyon...
Stunning looks, capable performance and, today, an undisputed fixture in the automotive lexicon of excellence, the Jaguar D-Type has become...
I had dinner with Carroll Shelby in 1997. Among the dozens of things I remember him telling me, the most poignant was when he talked about making great chili. “The secret,” he said, leaning in as though he was about to share the nuclear launch codes, “Don’t mix in too many...
In an age of cell phones, disposable appliances, laptops thinner and smaller than LIFE magazine, it’s hard to remember that...
Both Ferrari and Pininfarina had quite a surprise in store when they debuted the 308 at the 1975 Paris Auto...
How one car changed the culture of Japan and the mindset of America, one sports car at a time With an unmistakable body design, superb performance and a dedicated enthusiast following, the Datsun 240Z has evolved into a sports car legend. After nearly 50 years since its launch, the “Z”...
Aston Martin. The name alone conjures up images of spies, well-dressed Europeans at fine gatherings, record-setting race wins and a...
Designed by the legendary Leonardo Fioravanti, the same man responsible for some of the greatest Pininfarina/Ferrari designs, the original 206 Dino GT was a delightful Italian shape elegantly translated from the 1967 206 racecar. The sultry curvature and sensuality of the body bridged the exact moment of change from heavy...
Le Mans, 1960. You can imagine the scene. The coming decade was cresting the ’50s into oblivion. The vast high-speed...
Since first offering its wares to the automotive public, Lancia has excelled at engineering some of the most technically advanced...
America’s Sport Custom Production Car I had no idea who Howard “Dutch” Darrin was, as I pedaled my Schwinn Sting Ray past his house and peered down the driveway into his garage. From the sidewalk, I could see clay scale models and drawings on the walls. I loved drawing and making...
