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Curbside Classics Archives
Automotive Histories Archive
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![Half-model year vehicles are an interesting historical oddity that you don’t see any more. They briefly gained favor in the sixties as a way to distinguish mid-year model introduction and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/n_1970.5-Ford-Falcon-Folder-01.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: 50% Better – A Brief History of Half Model Year Cars")
Automotive History: 50% Better – A Brief History of Half Model Year Cars
Posted on May 27, 2020 | 76 CommentsHalf-model year vehicles are an interesting historical oddity that you don’t see any more. They briefly gained favor in the sixties as a way to distinguish mid-year model introduction and […] -
![Lately it’s Diesel Days here at CC. Paul’s put up articles about a gasoline-engine-based diesel that went just fine (VW’s 4-pot), and one that probably shouldn’t have been built but […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/DieselSlantSixPrototype.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Diesel Chrysler Slant-Sixes, In-House and Otherwise")
Automotive History: Diesel Chrysler Slant-Sixes, In-House and Otherwise
Posted on May 19, 2020 | 61 CommentsLately it’s Diesel Days here at CC. Paul’s put up articles about a gasoline-engine-based diesel that went just fine (VW’s 4-pot), and one that probably shouldn’t have been built but […] -
![Fageol is an endlessly fascinating company. The company was founded by Rollie, William, Frank and Claude Fageol in 1916 to manufacture trucks, tractors, and automobiles in Oakland, CA. The Fageol […]](https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/49792305708_1eb0f0a1cb_o.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Late 1930s Fageol Ice Cream Delivery Truck: The Future First Peterbilt – A 100 year Lineage")
Late 1930s Fageol Ice Cream Delivery Truck: The Future First Peterbilt – A 100 year Lineage
Posted on May 17, 2020 | 37 CommentsFageol is an endlessly fascinating company. The company was founded by Rollie, William, Frank and Claude Fageol in 1916 to manufacture trucks, tractors, and automobiles in Oakland, CA. The Fageol […] -
![In March of 1977, headlines and TV newscasts across the US breathlessly broke the news that GM had been selling some Oldsmobile models with Chevrolet engines. While this may hardly […]](https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/5356100018_large.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The 1977 Oldsmobile Chevrolet Engine Scandal – There’s No Rocket In My 88’s Pocket")
Automotive History: The 1977 Oldsmobile Chevrolet Engine Scandal – There’s No Rocket In My 88’s Pocket
Posted on May 13, 2020 | 92 CommentsIn March of 1977, headlines and TV newscasts across the US breathlessly broke the news that GM had been selling some Oldsmobile models with Chevrolet engines. While this may hardly […] -
![In the late ’50s, GM’s Detroit Diesel Division’s “Million Miler” -71 diesel engine was so superior to the competition, resulting in such market dominance that GM was forced by an […]](https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GM-mark-of-exc-2-Mediocrity.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Oldsmobile Diesel V8 – GM’s Deadly Sin #34 – Premature Injeculation")
Automotive History: Oldsmobile Diesel V8 – GM’s Deadly Sin #34 – Premature Injeculation
Posted on May 11, 2020 | 117 CommentsIn the late ’50s, GM’s Detroit Diesel Division’s “Million Miler” -71 diesel engine was so superior to the competition, resulting in such market dominance that GM was forced by an […] -
![image source: National Park Service (first posted 5/14/2014) May 8th is President Truman’s birthday. Earlier this year, I wrote an article (here) chronicling the various Chrysler products President Truman […]](https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/truman-72-chrysler.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History Follow-Up: President Harry S Truman And His 1972 Chrysler Newport")
Automotive History Follow-Up: President Harry S Truman And His 1972 Chrysler Newport
Posted on May 8, 2020 | 61 Commentsimage source: National Park Service (first posted 5/14/2014) May 8th is President Truman’s birthday. Earlier this year, I wrote an article (here) chronicling the various Chrysler products President Truman […] -
![Independent front suspension, air-suspension all-round, an ultra-light forward-set alloy cab only 48″ long, power steering, a complex fabricated frame that was 50% lighter, and the lightest diesel engine: This was […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GMC-1959-tiltcab-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Truckstop Classic: 1959-1961 GMC DLR8000 “Crackerbox” – GM’s Deadly Sin #32 – Turns Out the Most Advanced Semi Truck In the World Wasn’t What Truckers Really Wanted")
Truckstop Classic: 1959-1961 GMC DLR8000 “Crackerbox” – GM’s Deadly Sin #32 – Turns Out the Most Advanced Semi Truck In the World Wasn’t What Truckers Really Wanted
Posted on April 27, 2020 | 58 CommentsIndependent front suspension, air-suspension all-round, an ultra-light forward-set alloy cab only 48″ long, power steering, a complex fabricated frame that was 50% lighter, and the lightest diesel engine: This was […] -
![(first posted 5/17/2014) When we think of 1971 Challengers, it tends to be the wild ones with 440 Six Packs or Hemis. Of course there was a base Challenger hardtop […]](https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Dodge-Challenger-1971-coupe.png?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History Oddity: 1971 Dodge Challenger “Coupe” With 198 Cubic Inch Slant Six")
Automotive History Oddity: 1971 Dodge Challenger “Coupe” With 198 Cubic Inch Slant Six
Posted on April 20, 2020 | 130 Comments(first posted 5/17/2014) When we think of 1971 Challengers, it tends to be the wild ones with 440 Six Packs or Hemis. Of course there was a base Challenger hardtop […] -
![VE Holden Commodores celebrate the Commodore’s 1978-2008 anniversary. (first posted 4/25/2014) Greetings Curbside Classicists, today, April 25th, is Anzac Day downunder, the official Australian and New Zealand day of remembrance […]](https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/holden-commodore-30th-anniversary1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Australian Auto Family Trees – The Holden Commodore From <strike>A-Z</strike> VB-VF.")
Automotive History: Australian Auto Family Trees – The Holden Commodore From
A-ZVB-VF.Posted on March 30, 2020 | 144 CommentsVE Holden Commodores celebrate the Commodore’s 1978-2008 anniversary. (first posted 4/25/2014) Greetings Curbside Classicists, today, April 25th, is Anzac Day downunder, the official Australian and New Zealand day of remembrance […] -
![In 1951, plucky little Studebaker introduced its new ohv V8 engine, only two years behind the groundbreaking 1949 Cadillac and Oldsmobile V8s, and several years ahead of other competitors. Except […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Studebaker-V8-image.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Studebaker V8 Engine – Punching Below Its Weight")
Automotive History: The Studebaker V8 Engine – Punching Below Its Weight
Posted on March 30, 2020 | 64 CommentsIn 1951, plucky little Studebaker introduced its new ohv V8 engine, only two years behind the groundbreaking 1949 Cadillac and Oldsmobile V8s, and several years ahead of other competitors. Except […] -
![(Dave Skinner contributed key technical info to this post) At Dave Skinner’s recent 1964 Olds Jetstar 88 post, eagle-eye Jim Cavanaugh once again raised the question that had been […]](https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/a-Parallell-wipers.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Mystery of GM’s Two Wiper Systems (The Answer Was Pretty Obvious) – And More Wiper History")
Automotive History: The Mystery of GM’s Two Wiper Systems (The Answer Was Pretty Obvious) – And More Wiper History
Posted on March 19, 2020 | 120 Comments(Dave Skinner contributed key technical info to this post) At Dave Skinner’s recent 1964 Olds Jetstar 88 post, eagle-eye Jim Cavanaugh once again raised the question that had been […] -
![Recently Paul posted a vintage Road and Track article on the early Corvettes which asked if the Corvette was really a sports car. Much discussion ensued in the commentary about […]](https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1957-Corvette-interior.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: From Powerglide to 4-speed – The History of Transmissions on Early Corvettes")
Automotive History: From Powerglide to 4-speed – The History of Transmissions on Early Corvettes
Posted on March 11, 2020 | 31 CommentsRecently Paul posted a vintage Road and Track article on the early Corvettes which asked if the Corvette was really a sports car. Much discussion ensued in the commentary about […] -
![When the Taurus development team started to solidify plans for the car that was supposed to save Ford, it was smaller than the production model that would arrive at dealerships […]](https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Screenshot_2020-02-07-ford-vulcan-3-liter-v6-history-Google-Search-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Ford 3.0 Liter “Vulcan” V6")
Automotive History: The Ford 3.0 Liter “Vulcan” V6
Posted on February 12, 2020 | 56 CommentsWhen the Taurus development team started to solidify plans for the car that was supposed to save Ford, it was smaller than the production model that would arrive at dealerships […] -
![Last week Paul posted an article about the Chevrolet Nova and the Ford Granada. The article focused on how the hot selling Granada handily beat the Nova in the luxury […]](https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/LASD-Nova-9C1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: Chevrolet Nova 9C1 – “Super Nova”")
Vintage Review: Chevrolet Nova 9C1 – “Super Nova”
Posted on February 7, 2020 | 30 CommentsLast week Paul posted an article about the Chevrolet Nova and the Ford Granada. The article focused on how the hot selling Granada handily beat the Nova in the luxury […] -
![(note: Australian-based online classic cars magazine, Retroautos, conducted the original groundbreaking research about the Solaris and, with GM’s copyright permission, was able to access rare and previously unpublished images of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Solaris-11.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Design History: Solaris (1961) – One Of The Most Influential GM Advance Design Studio Concepts Ever")
Design History: Solaris (1961) – One Of The Most Influential GM Advance Design Studio Concepts Ever
Posted on February 5, 2020 | 36 Comments(note: Australian-based online classic cars magazine, Retroautos, conducted the original groundbreaking research about the Solaris and, with GM’s copyright permission, was able to access rare and previously unpublished images of […]
