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Curbside Classics Archives
Automotive Histories Archive
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![Over the years Curbside has had a number of articles on Canadian market cars. We have covered Canadian Pontiacs, Meteors, and other post-war cars in pretty good detail. Yet, there […]](https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1931-McLaughlin-Buick016.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1931 McLaughlin-Buick Series 50 4-door Sedan Model 57 – The History of McLaughlin-Buick and Buick’s Straight-8")
Curbside Classic: 1931 McLaughlin-Buick Series 50 4-door Sedan Model 57 – The History of McLaughlin-Buick and Buick’s Straight-8
Posted on January 19, 2021 | 12 CommentsOver the years Curbside has had a number of articles on Canadian market cars. We have covered Canadian Pontiacs, Meteors, and other post-war cars in pretty good detail. Yet, there […] -
![image via microcars.ch (first posted 1/17/2015) In an e-mail exchange with my older sister this morning about microcars we used to see in Innsbruck back in the 50s, she […]](https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/a-lib.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History Capsule: 1952-1954 Libelle (“Dragonfly”) – The Only Car Ever Built In Innsbruck")
Automotive History Capsule: 1952-1954 Libelle (“Dragonfly”) – The Only Car Ever Built In Innsbruck
Posted on January 18, 2021 | 39 Commentsimage via microcars.ch (first posted 1/17/2015) In an e-mail exchange with my older sister this morning about microcars we used to see in Innsbruck back in the 50s, she […] -
![(first posted 1/16/2015) When writing the post about the 1972 Chrysler by Chrysler the other week, I thought I should explain why there was a full-blown Brougham version of a […]](https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/S-series-ute.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History – The Valiant in Australia, Part 1")
Automotive History – The Valiant in Australia, Part 1
Posted on January 17, 2021 | 74 Comments(first posted 1/16/2015) When writing the post about the 1972 Chrysler by Chrysler the other week, I thought I should explain why there was a full-blown Brougham version of a […] -
![Ever wonder just why a big four cylinder almost invariably has more punch down low, and less need to rev than a similar-sized six or V8? There’s a very simple […]](https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/a-honda-horz.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Engine Tech 101: How Displacement Per Cylinder Affects Torque and Horsepower")
Engine Tech 101: How Displacement Per Cylinder Affects Torque and Horsepower
Posted on January 13, 2021 | 70 CommentsEver wonder just why a big four cylinder almost invariably has more punch down low, and less need to rev than a similar-sized six or V8? There’s a very simple […] -
![(first posted 3/20/2011. Updated 1/5/2021) Nailhead: what did Buick do to deserve that less than flattering name for its legendary V8 engine from the mid-fifties to the mid sixties? […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Buick-Nailhead-3x2-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Legendary Buick Nailhead V8 – And The Source Of Its Unusual Valve Arrangement")
Automotive History: The Legendary Buick Nailhead V8 – And The Source Of Its Unusual Valve Arrangement
Posted on January 6, 2021 | 160 Comments(first posted 3/20/2011. Updated 1/5/2021) Nailhead: what did Buick do to deserve that less than flattering name for its legendary V8 engine from the mid-fifties to the mid sixties? […] -
![Any feature about a pickup seems to be accompanied by comments lamenting the loss of basic pickups. Despite these perceptions, basic spec pickups do still exist although they have become […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2021-Silverado.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Losing The Plot? The History Of The American Pickup Becoming More Civilized")
Automotive History: Losing The Plot? The History Of The American Pickup Becoming More Civilized
Posted on December 22, 2020 | 63 CommentsAny feature about a pickup seems to be accompanied by comments lamenting the loss of basic pickups. Despite these perceptions, basic spec pickups do still exist although they have become […] -
![can you make it a bit lower? We’ve been pointing out for years here about how the longer, lower, wider mantra as applied to American cars turned out to […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Cadillac-1959-Coupe-De-Ville-WILD-CAD.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Lowest, Widest and Longest American Production Cars")
Automotive History: The Lowest, Widest and Longest American Production Cars
Posted on December 13, 2020 | 55 Commentscan you make it a bit lower? We’ve been pointing out for years here about how the longer, lower, wider mantra as applied to American cars turned out to […] -
![(first posted 12/4/2014. An excerpt from an excerpt at Business Insider of Icons and Idiots: Straight Talk on Leadership by Bob Lutz) Lee Iacocca had been trying to get me […]](https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/a-lee.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "When Bob Lutz and Lee Iacocca First Met: “Those Ford Potato Cars (Taurus and Sable) Are Going To Bomb!”")
When Bob Lutz and Lee Iacocca First Met: “Those Ford Potato Cars (Taurus and Sable) Are Going To Bomb!”
Posted on December 4, 2020 | 114 Comments(first posted 12/4/2014. An excerpt from an excerpt at Business Insider of Icons and Idiots: Straight Talk on Leadership by Bob Lutz) Lee Iacocca had been trying to get me […] -
![What is it about the Germans and amphibious cars? Some kind of national neurosis obsession? Sure, the VW Schwimmwagen acquitted itself rather superbly in WW2, but being able to cross […]](https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/conte-bw-promo.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive Oddity: 1979 Herzog Conte Schwimmwagen – So Why Didn’t This Succeed?")
Automotive Oddity: 1979 Herzog Conte Schwimmwagen – So Why Didn’t This Succeed?
Posted on November 29, 2020 | 14 CommentsWhat is it about the Germans and amphibious cars? Some kind of national neurosis obsession? Sure, the VW Schwimmwagen acquitted itself rather superbly in WW2, but being able to cross […] -
![(first posted 11/27/2014) There was a time when every country still fervently wanted its own domestic automobile. For Turkey, that took two tries; the first one, the ill-fated Devrim of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/a-turk.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Anadol – When Turkey Built Its Own Cars, Before They Built Ours")
Automotive History: Anadol – When Turkey Built Its Own Cars, Before They Built Ours
Posted on November 27, 2020 | 40 Comments(first posted 11/27/2014) There was a time when every country still fervently wanted its own domestic automobile. For Turkey, that took two tries; the first one, the ill-fated Devrim of […] -
![(first posted 11/24/2011) In 1620, the Mayflower carried 102 Puritans from England to America to escape religious persecution. A year later they celebrated their survival and a good harvest with […]](https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Triumph_Mayflower.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "1949 Triumph Mayflower: Your Thanksgiving Turkey")
1949 Triumph Mayflower: Your Thanksgiving Turkey
Posted on November 26, 2020 | 60 Comments(first posted 11/24/2011) In 1620, the Mayflower carried 102 Puritans from England to America to escape religious persecution. A year later they celebrated their survival and a good harvest with […] -
![Since its introduction in 1953, the Corvette has been the quintessential definition of the American sports car. It truly represents the American take on the sports car genre, with its […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/1990-Chevrolet-Corvette-ZR-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Chevrolet 5.7L LT5 DOHC V8 – A British Heart for an American Icon")
Automotive History: The Chevrolet 5.7L LT5 DOHC V8 – A British Heart for an American Icon
Posted on November 26, 2020 | 24 CommentsSince its introduction in 1953, the Corvette has been the quintessential definition of the American sports car. It truly represents the American take on the sports car genre, with its […] -
![(first posted 11/25/2014) Flight has always been a major fantasy attached to driving. Since the first cars shimmied over dirt roads and cobblestones, motorists have imagined themselves at the […]](https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/60-chevy-sweep-spear-8001-e1416798538912.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Planes, Rockets and Automobiles – Aero Influence in Car Design")
Automotive History: Planes, Rockets and Automobiles – Aero Influence in Car Design
Posted on November 25, 2020 | 51 Comments(first posted 11/25/2014) Flight has always been a major fantasy attached to driving. Since the first cars shimmied over dirt roads and cobblestones, motorists have imagined themselves at the […] -
![1954 Special One of the most distinctive and readily-identifiable styling cues of the 1950s was Buick’s full rear-wheel openings. It sure made them easy to ID as a kid in […]](https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Buick-1956-yellow-coupe.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Design History: Buick’s Fully-Open Rear Wheel Wells (1953 – 1957) – The Year-By-Year Opening")
Design History: Buick’s Fully-Open Rear Wheel Wells (1953 – 1957) – The Year-By-Year Opening
Posted on November 25, 2020 | 19 Comments1954 Special One of the most distinctive and readily-identifiable styling cues of the 1950s was Buick’s full rear-wheel openings. It sure made them easy to ID as a kid in […] -
![Ending up on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain for the builders and lovers of fine cars sucked. A number of Germany’s premier automakers were based or had plants […]](https://i2.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Horch-1957-Sachsenring-Wikipedia-crop-vert-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Horch P240 Sachsenring and Sachsenring Repräsentant – East Germany Tries (And Fails) To Build A Luxury Car")
Automotive History: Horch P240 Sachsenring and Sachsenring Repräsentant – East Germany Tries (And Fails) To Build A Luxury Car
Posted on November 23, 2020 | 51 CommentsEnding up on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain for the builders and lovers of fine cars sucked. A number of Germany’s premier automakers were based or had plants […]
