Curbside Classic

This is the kind of stuff I inhaled as a fifteen year-old: Brock Yates analyzing the British Car industry, and prognosticating. It’s a bit long-winded, from a time when we weren’t bombarded with media flying at us from all directions and we craved long articles to fill the time (and brains). And of course, it’s old hat; we know how the British car industry essentially melted down and away; the few remaining remnants (except Morgan) all in the hands of foreign ownership. But if you have the time, here’s a trip back to 1968, when the British auto industry was really just beginning to face its do or die situation. (from the December 1968 issue of Car and Driver). Read the rest of this entry »

It’s time to leave poor GM alone for a while, and move on to that all-time favorite automotive scapegoat: British cars. We’ve got a couple of CCs lined up today, a reprint of an old Brock Yates look at the British industry, and maybe we’ll squeeze in something else. I wish I had time to do this superb XK-E justice today, but it’s been a hectic (but exciting) week here.

But let’s use this post to reminisce a bit about an industry that has brought us some of the most lust-worthy vehicles ever, as well as some of the all-time greatest stinkers. Here’s an abbreviated overview of some of those highs and lows, and then it’ll be your chance to wax eloquently – or have a PTSD moment – about your Brit car experiences. But let’s look for some nuance too, as it’s all-too easy to fall into easy stereotypes. Read the rest of this entry »