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Curbside Classics Archives
Automotive Histories Archive
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![(first posted 12/19/2011) The utter dominance of the Volkswagen made life very difficult for anyone else vaguely close to it in price and size, such as Lloyd. Although the Lloyds […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Lloyd.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Lloyd LP 300, 400, 600, Alexander – Steamrollered By VW")
Automotive History: Lloyd LP 300, 400, 600, Alexander – Steamrollered By VW
Posted on February 3, 2021 | 89 Comments(first posted 12/19/2011) The utter dominance of the Volkswagen made life very difficult for anyone else vaguely close to it in price and size, such as Lloyd. Although the Lloyds […] -
![(first posted 1/26/2015) This simple car is the definition of the Chrysler Corporation in 1980s North America. From 1981 to 1995, this basic architecture was molded, shaped, stretched, shrunken, and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/a-K.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Curbside Classic Comprehensive Chronology of the Chrysler K-Car Family Tree")
Automotive History: The Curbside Classic Comprehensive Chronology of the Chrysler K-Car Family Tree
Posted on January 26, 2021 | 157 Comments(first posted 1/26/2015) This simple car is the definition of the Chrysler Corporation in 1980s North America. From 1981 to 1995, this basic architecture was molded, shaped, stretched, shrunken, and […] -
![Recently, I wrote about the gradual incorporation of various creature comforts into full-sized pickups. While a vinyl covered roof doesn’t directly lend itself to creature comfort, it would have helped […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1971_Dodge_Light_Duty_Trucks-01.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Dude, Your Dodge Has A Toupee")
Automotive History: Dude, Your Dodge Has A Toupee
Posted on January 25, 2021 | 43 CommentsRecently, I wrote about the gradual incorporation of various creature comforts into full-sized pickups. While a vinyl covered roof doesn’t directly lend itself to creature comfort, it would have helped […] -
![original junkyard photos by Jim Klein Automotive history of the 1950s is commonly reduced to an orgy of fins, chrome, V8 engines and the inexorable influence of the longer, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_3918.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Junkyard Classic/Automotive History: 1955 Rambler Cross Country – How Rambler Won The Compact And Price Wars Of The 1950’s And Saved AMC")
Junkyard Classic/Automotive History: 1955 Rambler Cross Country – How Rambler Won The Compact And Price Wars Of The 1950’s And Saved AMC
Posted on January 25, 2021 | 65 Commentsoriginal junkyard photos by Jim Klein Automotive history of the 1950s is commonly reduced to an orgy of fins, chrome, V8 engines and the inexorable influence of the longer, […] -
![(first posted 5/11/2011) Necessity really is the mother of all invention. And the history of this peculiar kind of truck was born during wartime shortage. In Sweden before and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/en-pv-epa.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Regional Car Culture Explained: The History Of The Swedish A-Traktor")
Regional Car Culture Explained: The History Of The Swedish A-Traktor
Posted on January 22, 2021 | 32 Comments(first posted 5/11/2011) Necessity really is the mother of all invention. And the history of this peculiar kind of truck was born during wartime shortage. In Sweden before and […] -
![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://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1931-McLaughlin-Buick016.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&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 | 29 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://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/a-lib.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&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://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/S-series-ute.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&ssl=1 "Automotive History – The Valiant in Australia, Part 1")
Automotive History – The Valiant in Australia, Part 1
Posted on January 17, 2021 | 82 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://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/a-honda-horz.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&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 | 74 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&quality=89&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 | 180 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&quality=89&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 be […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Cadillac-1959-Coupe-De-Ville-WILD-CAD.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&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 | 56 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 be […] -
![(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://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/a-lee.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&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 | 117 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://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/conte-bw-promo.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=89&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&quality=89&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 […]
