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Curbside Classics Archives
Automotive Histories Archive
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![(first posted 3/28/2015) The title of this post is a bit misleading, in the interest of alliteration. I’m examining that period of automotive styling that transitioned us from […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/1973-Charger.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Muscle Cars To Malaise Era – The Transition Years, 1969-1974")
Automotive History: Muscle Cars To Malaise Era – The Transition Years, 1969-1974
Posted on March 28, 2021 | 128 Comments(first posted 3/28/2015) The title of this post is a bit misleading, in the interest of alliteration. I’m examining that period of automotive styling that transitioned us from […] -
![We’ve already observed how GM was unique among the Big 3 US automakers in having bespoke V8 engines for each of its five automobile divisions. Contrast this with Ford Motor […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/1961-Buick-215-V8.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: When Did Each GM Division Stop Making Their Own V8 Engines? A Brief History of V8 Engine Sharing at GM")
Automotive History: When Did Each GM Division Stop Making Their Own V8 Engines? A Brief History of V8 Engine Sharing at GM
Posted on March 27, 2021 | 99 CommentsWe’ve already observed how GM was unique among the Big 3 US automakers in having bespoke V8 engines for each of its five automobile divisions. Contrast this with Ford Motor […] -
![We’ve covered a number of small French utility vehicles, like the Citroen Mehari, Renault Rodeo 5 and Rodeo 6, and touched on some others in the process. It’s debatable as […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/47635088202_5539eecbd5_k.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Dallas, By Automobiles Grandin – The French Mini-Me Jeep")
Automotive History: Dallas, By Automobiles Grandin – The French Mini-Me Jeep
Posted on March 25, 2021 | 7 CommentsWe’ve covered a number of small French utility vehicles, like the Citroen Mehari, Renault Rodeo 5 and Rodeo 6, and touched on some others in the process. It’s debatable as […] -
![The strictly two/three passenger coupe/business coupe style petered out in the late forties and early fifties, depending on the brand. It was no longer was worth the investment in body […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/50410557492_501331f2f7_k.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Vintage PR Photos: 1956 Chevrolet 150 Utility Sedan – And A Brief History Of Chevrolet Business Coupes/Utility Sedans – Who Needs A Back Seat Anyway?")
Vintage PR Photos: 1956 Chevrolet 150 Utility Sedan – And A Brief History Of Chevrolet Business Coupes/Utility Sedans – Who Needs A Back Seat Anyway?
Posted on March 20, 2021 | 49 CommentsThe strictly two/three passenger coupe/business coupe style petered out in the late forties and early fifties, depending on the brand. It was no longer was worth the investment in body […] -
![(first posted 3/17/2015) The other day I happened upon an HB Holden Torana parked in the street, the first I had seen in many years. I was admiring this attractive […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/03_lj_torana1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The 1970s Aussie Six Cylinder Small Cars – When Long Noses Were Fashionable")
Automotive History: The 1970s Aussie Six Cylinder Small Cars – When Long Noses Were Fashionable
Posted on March 17, 2021 | 88 Comments(first posted 3/17/2015) The other day I happened upon an HB Holden Torana parked in the street, the first I had seen in many years. I was admiring this attractive […] -
![The Great American Diesel Boom saw diesels go into a wide variety of cars and trucks, but I’d never heard of one in the Eagle. Sure enough: if you were […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/a-mfhd.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: 1980 Eagle Turbo-Diesel – Seven Were Built, One Still Survives, Not Running")
Automotive History: 1980 Eagle Turbo-Diesel – Seven Were Built, One Still Survives, Not Running
Posted on March 15, 2021 | 48 CommentsThe Great American Diesel Boom saw diesels go into a wide variety of cars and trucks, but I’d never heard of one in the Eagle. Sure enough: if you were […] -
![(first posted 3/8/2015) Recently I brought you an overview of the career of Rolls-Royce stylist John Blatchley. In that article I made mention of his posited involvement with the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Bentley-Continental.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Who Actually Styled the 1952 Bentley Continental?")
Automotive History: Who Actually Styled the 1952 Bentley Continental?
Posted on March 10, 2021 | 42 Comments(first posted 3/8/2015) Recently I brought you an overview of the career of Rolls-Royce stylist John Blatchley. In that article I made mention of his posited involvement with the […] -
![(updated; first posted in 2011) The evolution of automotive design doesn’t really have that many clearly defined mileposts, especially those with the word “revolutionary” etched into them. It’s a river […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Lancia-Florida-II-1957.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Pininfarina’s Revolutionary Florida: The Most Influential Automotive Design Since 1955")
Pininfarina’s Revolutionary Florida: The Most Influential Automotive Design Since 1955
Posted on March 9, 2021 | 78 Comments(updated; first posted in 2011) The evolution of automotive design doesn’t really have that many clearly defined mileposts, especially those with the word “revolutionary” etched into them. It’s a river […] -
![I ran across this ad for the new 1941 Cadillac Series 60, which effectively replaced the LaSalle and lowered the entry price for the brand. It got my wheels spinning: […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/50874801883_a151c9e1ce_k.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: What Was The Cheapest Cadillac Ever? Cheapest Big Chevy? And The Smallest Cadillac Price Premium Over a Chevy?")
Automotive History: What Was The Cheapest Cadillac Ever? Cheapest Big Chevy? And The Smallest Cadillac Price Premium Over a Chevy?
Posted on March 8, 2021 | 24 CommentsI ran across this ad for the new 1941 Cadillac Series 60, which effectively replaced the LaSalle and lowered the entry price for the brand. It got my wheels spinning: […] -
![(first posted 3/7/2015) For 24 years John Blatchley was responsible for the styling of Rolls-Royce automobiles that were decidedly stately, always proper and sometimes quite beautiful. He brought to the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/a-j.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "CC Biography/Design: John Blatchley of Rolls-Royce")
CC Biography/Design: John Blatchley of Rolls-Royce
Posted on March 7, 2021 | 56 Comments(first posted 3/7/2015) For 24 years John Blatchley was responsible for the styling of Rolls-Royce automobiles that were decidedly stately, always proper and sometimes quite beautiful. He brought to the […] -
![(first posted 2/28/2011) Wow! Leave it to the Australians to outdo anything Madison Avenue ever came up for the Pinto Cruising Wagon. These ads for the Holden Sandman were sent […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/a-hold.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Holden Sandman: The Aussies Blow Away The Pinto Cruising Wagon")
Holden Sandman: The Aussies Blow Away The Pinto Cruising Wagon
Posted on February 28, 2021 | 26 Comments(first posted 2/28/2011) Wow! Leave it to the Australians to outdo anything Madison Avenue ever came up for the Pinto Cruising Wagon. These ads for the Holden Sandman were sent […] -
![(first posted 2/25/2015) In our last installment, we covered the introduction of the Valiant and the subsequent Australian models based on the US Valiant (and Dart), but beginning in 1971, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CM-GLX-towing-race-car.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History – The Valiant in Australia, Part Two")
Automotive History – The Valiant in Australia, Part Two
Posted on February 25, 2021 | 68 Comments(first posted 2/25/2015) In our last installment, we covered the introduction of the Valiant and the subsequent Australian models based on the US Valiant (and Dart), but beginning in 1971, […] -
![(first posted 2/22/2011) From a contemporary and European perspective, the Gremlin (CC here) makes no sense whatsoever, with its large 3.8 L six, mediocre fuel economy (20 mpg, 11.75 L/100 […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Ford-Model-T-coupe-crop-horz.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Trying To Make (Business Coupe) Sense Of The Gremlin")
Automotive History: Trying To Make (Business Coupe) Sense Of The Gremlin
Posted on February 22, 2021 | 40 Comments(first posted 2/22/2011) From a contemporary and European perspective, the Gremlin (CC here) makes no sense whatsoever, with its large 3.8 L six, mediocre fuel economy (20 mpg, 11.75 L/100 […] -
![Daewoo marketed cars in the United States for only about 1,300 days, but its story was as interesting as its cars were bland. The narrative of the company’s rapid home-market […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Daewoo-Leganza-2001-RF2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Tangled Story Of Daewoo In The United States")
Automotive History: The Tangled Story Of Daewoo In The United States
Posted on February 16, 2021 | 102 CommentsDaewoo marketed cars in the United States for only about 1,300 days, but its story was as interesting as its cars were bland. The narrative of the company’s rapid home-market […] -
![My recent tome on how Rambler survived the 50s focused on the cars, statistics and some commonly accepted snippets of Nash/Rambler/AMC history. It didn’t adequately delve into the key player […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Romney-1959-ramblers.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: George Romney At Nash/Rambler/AMC (1947-1962) – Unflinching Vision and Determination To Take On The Big Three Dinosaurs With Compacts")
Automotive History: George Romney At Nash/Rambler/AMC (1947-1962) – Unflinching Vision and Determination To Take On The Big Three Dinosaurs With Compacts
Posted on February 5, 2021 | 57 CommentsMy recent tome on how Rambler survived the 50s focused on the cars, statistics and some commonly accepted snippets of Nash/Rambler/AMC history. It didn’t adequately delve into the key player […]
