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Concept Classic: 1958 Imperial D’Elegance – The Origin Of The Valiant’s Roof,...
Since we have a Lancer CC today, it might be useful to examine the origins of the Valiant and Lancer’s “fuselage” design, which originated here. The Imperial D’Elegance dates from 1958, and Exner...
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Concept Classic: The 1957 Chrysler 300 Almost Did End Up Looking Like That...
After yesterday’s 1957 Chrysler 300 clay buck post, I cracked open my book on Virgil Exner (“Visioneer”), and was reminded that that buck was not some far-out design that never went anywhere. It was...
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Curbside Classic: 1973 Ford F-350 Super Camper Special – Ford Goes Camping In...
Notice anything different or unusual about this Ford pickup? Maybe this will help, especially if you direct your eyes to the rear wheels, or more specifically, their relative location compared to the...
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Homebuilt Camper From 1935 – Built For $85, Carried Family Of Nine 30,000...
Ah, the good old days, when Dad spent his weekends for five months building a camper on the back of a 1929 Chevy truck. $85 dollars worth of materials and parts, and when it was done, he piled Mom and...
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CC Outtake: One Less Curbside Classic?
It’s hardly the last regularly-driven Datsun 510 wagon in town, but this hurts. When I first saw it a couple of blocks from my house, I assumed it had just been involved in an accident at the corner...
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CC Outtake: Chevrolet M1009 Military Blazer – The Army Buys An SUV
We recently had a Blazer CC, but it barely touched on the military version, the M1009 built between 1984 and 1987. The Blazer version was just one member of the Chevy CUCV (Commercial Utility Cargo...
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Concept Classic: 1987 Lincoln By Vignale – Ford’s Allante (Updated With...
Today’s concept from glen.h’s collection is the 1987 Lincoln by Vignale, also known as the Vignale Gilda. Rather GM-ish, downright Allante-ish. Well, there’s a reason for that. The Vignale was...
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CC Capsule: 1984 Buick Skyhawk Limited – Like New Old Lady-Mobile
I’m not guessing at the title; I followed her (slooowly) for a couple of blocks, until she pulled into the parking lot, and waited while she slooowly shuffled off to wherever it was in downtown...
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Curbside Classic: 1963 Ford Econoline Pickup – Keep The Sand Bags Handy
History does tend to repeat itself, especially in the car business. Detroit’s more recent efforts to compete with import compact trucks was once a serious undertaking, but has largely dwindled away....
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The Color Of Money: What’s The Most Expensive Repair Bill You’ve Ever Paid?
I shot this TT roadster because of its glowing color. But it reminded my that a (female) friend of ours in the Bay Area recently mentioned to me that she had a $7500 repair bill to replace the...
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Cohort Sighting: Plymouth Gran Fury, Denuded And Despoiled
Maybe “liberated” might be a better term for this Gran Fury that has had its “halo” vinyl half-top removed. Yes, I’m not the world’s biggest fan of them, as you undoubtedly know. And here’s another...
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Not-Curbside Outtake: Back In My Day, Parallel Parking Was Part Of The...
I don’t want to sound like a grumpy old man, but drivers under a certain age (not exclusively, of course) nowadays all-too often exhibit utter cluelessness when trying to parallel park. Sometimes, I...
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Australia’s Finest Brougham For Sale: 1979 Ford LTD P6 Town Car
We’re not in the car sales business, but Hank sent me this link to what must be Australia’s Broughamiest Brougham ever, the Ford LTD P6. I know it’s just a stretched Falcon, but someone in the U.S....
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Concept Classic: Colonnade Cutlass Precursors
Let’s take a look at four renderings done as part of the development of the 1973 Colonnade cars; the Cutlass in this case. This fastback has a number of elements seen on GM cars, including the Monte...
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Mystery Concept Car: Can Anyone Identify It?
A reader just sent me this picture, asking if I could identify it. He was told it may be a 1940′s Peugeot concept. Well, I don’t recognize it. There were a lot of one-off cars built in Europe,...
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Cohort Sighting: Centurion Chevy Double-Cab Pickup
Once upon a time, Centurion filled a niche in the truck market, building the vehicles that the manufacturers didn’t. Want a Ford “Suburban”? Centurion would gladly sell you one, for a price (CC here)....
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Concept Classic: Studebaker Sceptre – The Thunderbird From South Bend...
(Update: I have received some excellent commentary and insight into the situation at Studebaker regarding the Sceptre and other plans during these final years from Studebaker historian Rob Moore. It...
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Curbside Classic: 1965 Lincoln Continental – The Last Great American Luxury Car
What defines a true luxury car? Not comfort and convenience, as was proved so convincingly by the Broughamization of mundane Chevys, Fords and Plymouths. A genuine luxury item is recognized as such...
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Curbside Classic: 1977 Lincoln Versailles – Pig In A Poke
Deception–and self deception–is a very significant factor in the automobile business, maybe the biggest. Unless we buy a stripper Corolla (so conveniently parked here) or the like, we’re happy enough...
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