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Curbside Classics Archives
Automotive Histories Archive
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![(Ed. Note: This piece was first published exactly ten years ago today) It has become beyond trite by this point to say that, with the end of the Crown […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Requiem for the Last American Car – A Decade On")
Requiem for the Last American Car – A Decade On
Posted on September 15, 2021 | 71 Comments(Ed. Note: This piece was first published exactly ten years ago today) It has become beyond trite by this point to say that, with the end of the Crown […] -
![(first posted 10/21/2011) All cars have headlights. They’re a basic part of our image of a car, the eyes on its face. At night they need to be up high […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Mazda323FBG_KlappscheinwerferAni3.gif?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Hidden Headlights (Part 1) – Now You See Them….")
Automotive History: Hidden Headlights (Part 1) – Now You See Them….
Posted on September 14, 2021 | 120 Comments(first posted 10/21/2011) All cars have headlights. They’re a basic part of our image of a car, the eyes on its face. At night they need to be up high […] -
![(first posted 6/17/2013) Cadillac and Lincoln shared an almost identical early biography. Both were founded by “Master of Precision” Henry Leland. And both were eventually sold off to their […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Lincoln-Zephyr-Continental-Cabriolet-1939-40.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "A Condensed Illustrated History Of Lincoln Up To 1958")
A Condensed Illustrated History Of Lincoln Up To 1958
Posted on September 13, 2021 | 27 Comments(first posted 6/17/2013) Cadillac and Lincoln shared an almost identical early biography. Both were founded by “Master of Precision” Henry Leland. And both were eventually sold off to their […] -
![(first posted 6/21/2013) Why the endless questions and arguments about the origins of the Chrysler minivans? It’s the old story: “success has a thousand fathers”. You don’t see designers and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Ford-carousel-1972.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: 1972 Ford Carousel – The Chrysler Minivan’s True Father? More Like The Aerostar’s")
Automotive History: 1972 Ford Carousel – The Chrysler Minivan’s True Father? More Like The Aerostar’s
Posted on September 11, 2021 | 48 Comments(first posted 6/21/2013) Why the endless questions and arguments about the origins of the Chrysler minivans? It’s the old story: “success has a thousand fathers”. You don’t see designers and […] -
![GM pioneered the automatic transmission with their Hydra-Matic back in 1939, a four speed unit with a fluid coupling (no torque converter). It was rather complex, but it worked well […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GMC-1954-twin-hm-br-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Transmission History: GM’s 8-Speed Hydra-Matic and 21-Speed Twin Hydra-Matic For Big Trucks – Complex Dead End")
Transmission History: GM’s 8-Speed Hydra-Matic and 21-Speed Twin Hydra-Matic For Big Trucks – Complex Dead End
Posted on September 9, 2021 | 24 CommentsGM pioneered the automatic transmission with their Hydra-Matic back in 1939, a four speed unit with a fluid coupling (no torque converter). It was rather complex, but it worked well […] -
![Most of us Curbsiders are aware that Canada made its own variants of US cars. Of those cars, Canadian Pontiacs are some of the better known. Although they had similar […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1982-Pontiac-Parisienne-4-door-Sedan.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: 1982-1986 Pontiac Parisienne – The Canadian Immigrant")
Automotive History: 1982-1986 Pontiac Parisienne – The Canadian Immigrant
Posted on September 8, 2021 | 31 CommentsMost of us Curbsiders are aware that Canada made its own variants of US cars. Of those cars, Canadian Pontiacs are some of the better known. Although they had similar […] -
![(first posted 8/25/2015) Do you see a Civic? So does everyone else. Like the narrow-bodied Pontiacs of old, the 1.6EL is a curious Canadian-only vehicle that has an interesting story […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/1999_acura_el_1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: 1997 Acura EL – It Worked in Canada")
Automotive History: 1997 Acura EL – It Worked in Canada
Posted on August 25, 2021 | 61 Comments(first posted 8/25/2015) Do you see a Civic? So does everyone else. Like the narrow-bodied Pontiacs of old, the 1.6EL is a curious Canadian-only vehicle that has an interesting story […] -
![The Phoenix was a very ambitious undertaking by former race car driver and Corvair tuner and John Fitch to build a genuine American Porsche 911 competitor, in a series of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Fitch-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Forgotten Classic: 1966 Fitch Phoenix – The American Porsche 911 Wanna’ Be")
Forgotten Classic: 1966 Fitch Phoenix – The American Porsche 911 Wanna’ Be
Posted on August 18, 2021 | 31 CommentsThe Phoenix was a very ambitious undertaking by former race car driver and Corvair tuner and John Fitch to build a genuine American Porsche 911 competitor, in a series of […] -
![(first posted 8/29/2012) Remember all the endless recent speculation as to whether Honda would someday build a real RWD pickup? Well, they already did, in 1963. In that inimitable Honda […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Honda-1963-T360-truck.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Honda’s Wild 9000 RPM Mid-Engine T360 Pickup Of 1963")
Automotive History: Honda’s Wild 9000 RPM Mid-Engine T360 Pickup Of 1963
Posted on August 6, 2021 | 24 Comments(first posted 8/29/2012) Remember all the endless recent speculation as to whether Honda would someday build a real RWD pickup? Well, they already did, in 1963. In that inimitable Honda […] -
![(first posted 5/8/2015) Now this is a retro design I can really get behind! I’m biased of course, as the Toyota Crown is one of my favorite cars ever. And […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Toyota-2000-Origin.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History (Japan Edition): 2000 Toyota Origin – Peak Retro (Part 2)")
Automotive History (Japan Edition): 2000 Toyota Origin – Peak Retro (Part 2)
Posted on August 5, 2021 | 74 Comments(first posted 5/8/2015) Now this is a retro design I can really get behind! I’m biased of course, as the Toyota Crown is one of my favorite cars ever. And […] -
![Note: We’re out in the van for a few days at the Southern Oregon Coast, so it’s going to be mostly summer reruns through Thursday. (first posted 8/3/2015) This past […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Toyota-1996-Classic.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History (Japan Edition): 1996 Toyota Classic – Peak Retro (Part 1)")
Automotive History (Japan Edition): 1996 Toyota Classic – Peak Retro (Part 1)
Posted on August 3, 2021 | 75 CommentsNote: We’re out in the van for a few days at the Southern Oregon Coast, so it’s going to be mostly summer reruns through Thursday. (first posted 8/3/2015) This past […] -
![Jim Klein recently posted a junkyard post on a 1976 Cadillac Seville. Not only was this an awesome junkyard find, but it stirred up lots of conversation in the comments […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1976-Eldorado-Fuel-Injection.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: 1975-1979 Cadillac Electronic Fuel Injection – GM’s (Gladly) Forgotten Fuelie – A GM Deadly Sin?")
Automotive History: 1975-1979 Cadillac Electronic Fuel Injection – GM’s (Gladly) Forgotten Fuelie – A GM Deadly Sin?
Posted on July 30, 2021 | 108 CommentsJim Klein recently posted a junkyard post on a 1976 Cadillac Seville. Not only was this an awesome junkyard find, but it stirred up lots of conversation in the comments […] -
![For the third and final installment of this series, we will look at some of the most expensive cars sold by the Chrysler Corporation. For much of its history, Chrysler […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Sinatra1980_1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "The Most Expensive American Cars: Part 3 – Chrysler Edition")
The Most Expensive American Cars: Part 3 – Chrysler Edition
Posted on July 28, 2021 | 30 CommentsFor the third and final installment of this series, we will look at some of the most expensive cars sold by the Chrysler Corporation. For much of its history, Chrysler […] -
![For the second part of my Most Expensive American Cars series, we’ll take a look at the most expensive products sold by the Ford Motor Company. As before, I’ll […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1200px-1956_Continental_Mark_II_-_midnight_blue_-_fvr.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "The Most Expensive American Cars: Part 2 – Ford Motor Company Edition")
The Most Expensive American Cars: Part 2 – Ford Motor Company Edition
Posted on July 27, 2021 | 18 CommentsFor the second part of my Most Expensive American Cars series, we’ll take a look at the most expensive products sold by the Ford Motor Company. As before, I’ll […] -
![US automakers have from time to time foisted models upon the market that were outrageously expensive in their day, like the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham and the Continental Mark II. But […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cadillac-1957-eldorado_brougham_1957.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "The Most Expensive American Cars: Part 1 – GM Edition")
The Most Expensive American Cars: Part 1 – GM Edition
Posted on July 26, 2021 | 33 CommentsUS automakers have from time to time foisted models upon the market that were outrageously expensive in their day, like the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham and the Continental Mark II. But […]
