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Curbside Classics Archives
About Author: Ben Dinger
Posts by Ben Dinger
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![(first posted 9/11/2014) I’ve been around a lot of Mazda cars in my life but one of two that have left a lasting impression was a test drive in a […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Photo-Apr-27-7-16-57-PM.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1988 Mazda 323 – A Better Little (And Very Basic) Car")
Curbside Classic: 1988 Mazda 323 – A Better Little (And Very Basic) Car
Posted on September 11, 2020 | 45 Comments(first posted 9/11/2014) I’ve been around a lot of Mazda cars in my life but one of two that have left a lasting impression was a test drive in a […] -
![(first posted 5/12/2014) My brother is one of those people who, in choosing his cars, has always stumbled upon vehicles with legendary drivetrains. Maybe it’s simply a matter of his […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_3484.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1986 Toyota Turbo Pickup – Get Tough, Get Turbo")
Curbside Classic: 1986 Toyota Turbo Pickup – Get Tough, Get Turbo
Posted on April 16, 2020 | 51 Comments(first posted 5/12/2014) My brother is one of those people who, in choosing his cars, has always stumbled upon vehicles with legendary drivetrains. Maybe it’s simply a matter of his […] -
![Early in 2008, with a pregnant wife and two other kids, we decided we needed something that could easily haul three kids, one of them in a big car seat–in […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/van-4.png?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager – The Scourge of V’Ger")
COAL: 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager – The Scourge of V’Ger
Posted on March 28, 2015 | 49 CommentsEarly in 2008, with a pregnant wife and two other kids, we decided we needed something that could easily haul three kids, one of them in a big car seat–in […] -
![I remember the first time I saw this truck. It was Thanksgiving Day 2008, and I was in my grandmother-in-law’s driveway putting new brake pads on my wife’s van, replacing […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Dakota_main.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 2003 Dodge Dakota – Perfection?")
COAL: 2003 Dodge Dakota – Perfection?
Posted on March 21, 2015 | 53 CommentsI remember the first time I saw this truck. It was Thanksgiving Day 2008, and I was in my grandmother-in-law’s driveway putting new brake pads on my wife’s van, replacing […] -
![(side note – I took a few months off from writing as my busy life intervened. Previous posts can be found by going to my profile here) When I was […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/IMAG0257.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1993 Ford Taurus GL – Base Model Terrorist Taurus")
COAL: 1993 Ford Taurus GL – Base Model Terrorist Taurus
Posted on March 14, 2015 | 30 Comments(side note – I took a few months off from writing as my busy life intervened. Previous posts can be found by going to my profile here) When I was […] -
![You may remember from my last post that I inherited an instant family, so to speak, and with it came a perfectly sensible family car. A white Escort wagon with […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/0115090102060103062008071459e022dca4280120c30022f1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1998 Ford Escort Wagon – Instant Family")
COAL: 1998 Ford Escort Wagon – Instant Family
Posted on November 29, 2014 | 20 CommentsYou may remember from my last post that I inherited an instant family, so to speak, and with it came a perfectly sensible family car. A white Escort wagon with […] -
![Standing in my mechanic’s office in August of 2006, I laid down the sad story of Fred’s demise, my brother’s misfortune, and my need for a replacement. In his usual […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/231122639_0afda0d075_o.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1992 Ford F-150 XLT – Sometimes The Sequel Is Pretty Darn Good")
COAL: 1992 Ford F-150 XLT – Sometimes The Sequel Is Pretty Darn Good
Posted on November 15, 2014 | 21 CommentsStanding in my mechanic’s office in August of 2006, I laid down the sad story of Fred’s demise, my brother’s misfortune, and my need for a replacement. In his usual […] -
![As they say, it really is strange how things work out. Shortly before my sixteenth birthday, my dad bought a brand new 1993 Mazda 626 ES in glorious bright red […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC01244.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1994 Mazda MX-6 LS – Short but Sweet")
COAL: 1994 Mazda MX-6 LS – Short but Sweet
Posted on November 8, 2014 | 35 CommentsAs they say, it really is strange how things work out. Shortly before my sixteenth birthday, my dad bought a brand new 1993 Mazda 626 ES in glorious bright red […] -
![My buddy Xav and I have been friends since sophomore year of high school when we discovered that each of us were of the rare breed at a Catholic high […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Photo-Nov-01-3-07-24-PM-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL Outtake: 1965 Dodge Coronet – A Good Friend Finally Gets His Mopar")
COAL Outtake: 1965 Dodge Coronet – A Good Friend Finally Gets His Mopar
Posted on November 2, 2014 | 21 CommentsMy buddy Xav and I have been friends since sophomore year of high school when we discovered that each of us were of the rare breed at a Catholic high […] -
![Fall of 1998 came and I’d had enough of the CRX, working three jobs, and was even starting to tire of the partying phase. When it came time for another […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/AMT-6809-F-150WI.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1992 Ford F-150 Custom – One Great Red Truck")
COAL: 1992 Ford F-150 Custom – One Great Red Truck
Posted on October 25, 2014 | 29 CommentsFall of 1998 came and I’d had enough of the CRX, working three jobs, and was even starting to tire of the partying phase. When it came time for another […] -
![Now it’s time for another automotive admission of guilt: my favorite Thunderbird, bar none, was the tenth generation. I’m sure this is to cause nearly as much controversy as my […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/blackbird01.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Junkyard Outtake: Junkyard Birds of the Nineties – Bad Breaks")
Junkyard Outtake: Junkyard Birds of the Nineties – Bad Breaks
Posted on October 24, 2014 | 24 CommentsNow it’s time for another automotive admission of guilt: my favorite Thunderbird, bar none, was the tenth generation. I’m sure this is to cause nearly as much controversy as my […] -
![During my post-high-school years one of the several jobs I had was as a delivery driver. I started in my senior year of high school driving a 1987 Ford box […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/acf5c5f8-7732-4527-8aa9-3feda6a0c747.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1994-1997 GM Box Vans – High Cube Drifter")
COAL: 1994-1997 GM Box Vans – High Cube Drifter
Posted on October 19, 2014 | 50 CommentsDuring my post-high-school years one of the several jobs I had was as a delivery driver. I started in my senior year of high school driving a 1987 Ford box […] -
![Sometimes what you read on paper and imagine in your mind doesn’t manifest itself in practice. Even with the low gas prices of the mid 1990’s it was pretty clear […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/84372-500-0.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1987 Honda CRX Si – A Roach By Any Name")
COAL: 1987 Honda CRX Si – A Roach By Any Name
Posted on October 12, 2014 | 57 CommentsSometimes what you read on paper and imagine in your mind doesn’t manifest itself in practice. Even with the low gas prices of the mid 1990’s it was pretty clear […] -
![If you polled the majority of my friends and other kids at the time, the first car of the Midwest teenager during the mid-nineties was anything but memorable. I […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Mem1305-68a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1968 Ford Galaxie 500 Fastback – The Legend Lives On")
COAL: 1968 Ford Galaxie 500 Fastback – The Legend Lives On
Posted on September 29, 2014 | 41 CommentsIf you polled the majority of my friends and other kids at the time, the first car of the Midwest teenager during the mid-nineties was anything but memorable. I […] -
![At about thirteen years old I realized something – the next “family car” was likely going to be the one that I would be driving when I turned sixteen. My […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/CC-148-016-800.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1990 Plymouth Voyager – Never Say Never")
COAL: 1990 Plymouth Voyager – Never Say Never
Posted on September 15, 2014 | 25 CommentsAt about thirteen years old I realized something – the next “family car” was likely going to be the one that I would be driving when I turned sixteen. My […]
