I generally like to spend CC weekends doing some armchair traveling with some car spotting too. With that in mind, here’s the familiar scenery of New York City captured through some very casual snapshots. About half of these images date from 1956, with others coming from 1958 and one each from 1960 and 1963.
We’ve told the RTS story here, but I thought it would be interesting to highlight the last version of this controversial and conflicted design. Read the rest of this entry »
Paul, my father in law, and I learned early on that we both really loved cars. We were always doing car shows, and he would tell me about the 1956 Pontiac Star Chief that he customized with dual exhaust, shaved door handles and frenched headlights. Whatever that is!
It is this common thread that moved me to the next car: a 1981 Bonneville Brougham.
(first posted 5/23/2013. I have no idea what happened to this Medallion, but I’d like to think it’s still running)
Is this the very last running 1988 Renault Medallion? I can’t really say for sure, but these two guys – John (left) and Jacob (right) – are my heroes, for being determined to keep this one going. And what a noble cause, one that’s not likely to make them rich, but possibly a wee bit famous today. Of course, “running” is a matter of degrees; it currently has a misfire in one cylinder that they’re having a hard time pinning down and fixing. Well, it somehow wouldn’t be quite right if this Medallion were purring like a kitten, eh? Read the rest of this entry »
(first posted 4/19/2018) Last week, Paul couldn’t help but love the stylish “Mid-Century” grille on this 1955 Monterey 2-Door Hardtop–a true Curbside Classic. But how was the rest of the car? Motor Trend served up several articles on the 1955 Mercury, including drive reports and an overview of new models, including the new top-of-the-line Montclair series. What did MT’s editors make of the “Mighty Mercury for 1955”?
Photos from the Cohort by canadiancatgreen.
Another post in the junkyard, now covering some of GM’s less-than-stellar moments. Not that I want to start this post with such a negative spin, since I know many owned some of these and they probably served you just right. Still, it was hard to get enthused about any of these cars back in the day, or even now. And in all honesty, I don’t have many good memories or anecdotes about any of them.
I had a couple of shots of Cadillacs hauling trailers in previous vintage image galleries and they usually invited nice commentary. Those left a seed in my mind; so how about a gallery featuring two American icons, Cadillacs and Airstream trailers? And even better, what if I found images during the ’60s and ’70s? After some time searching, here is such a gallery.
My wife and I spent several days at a resort on Crete during our honeymoon 27 years ago. While lovely, there was nothing else around. That’s great if you want to get away from it all, but boring if you don’t. I could have rented a car so we could go exploring, but I was too afraid.
For our first trip to London with the kids in 2022, there were obviously plenty of things to see and do that are accessible from the Tube. However, there were two sights that we wanted to see that would require us to either rent a car or pay for a very expensive cab or coach. This time, I wasn’t going to let fear prevent me from making the most of this vacation. Read the rest of this entry »
I had to close this “JDM Rarities Week” with a whopper, and I trust this will qualify. Amply so, in fact. We’re talking about a vehicle with a 3395mm (133.7 in.) wheelbase, that is 2170mm (85.4 in.) wide, standing at over 2.05 meters (6’8’’) tall and weighing in at a hefty 2850kg – by far the biggest SUV (if you can call it that) ever made in Japan. It’s also, in this civilian version, one of the least common Toyotas in the country.
(first posted 4/18/2018) The Curbside Classic Effect was in full effect last week. Just as I was putting the finishing touches to the XA coupe piece, another Ford coupe landed on my phone. I play a regular game of cellphone spotto pingpong convened by fellow CContributor jim, who passed these on from Rolla Matt. It’s a Ford Landau – rare enough, but my first with this front clip.
(first posted 4/18/2018) I suspect that all of us have a car from early in our lives that a parent or relative almost bought but did not. Those cars have a way of becoming a sort of idolized object that often eludes our grasp as we got older. The 1969 Lincoln Continental sedan was mine.
Let’s view some vintage postcards and check out what was available for lunch and dinner across the US in the ’50s and ’60s. Mind you, this is not a comprehensive gallery, not at all. Take it just as a sampler, and appetizer of sorts about the offer back then.
A story first, to set the scene.
After my father recovered from his jukebox business going bust at the end of the fifties, he returned to being a salesman, as he’d done before the war. He teamed up with a small commercial refrigeration manufacturer, and became their roving sales rep, checking out new shops and following up leads, trying to explain why a custom-designed and specced ‘fridge or cool-room was better than a standard model from a big company.
This often involved going to the Queen Victoria Market (‘Queen Vic’ to Melbournites) to meet with the country growers before they got busy with customers. I remember us leaving home at three or four in the morning, driving through dark streets, and stopping at red lights when there was no other car on the road – and asking that typical little kid question: Why?
For people who value space efficiency, there are few cars more alluring than small, tall wagons. Able to haul both people and cargo in ways that defy their physical dimensions, such wagons merge the best of cars, vans and minivans. Honda’s 1984 Civic was among the best of this breed, showing consumers that utilitarianism doesn’t need to be dull and uninspiring. The Civic wagon inherited a legacy of innovation, and through its clever packaging and versatility, became one of the 1980s’ most innovative vehicles.
