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Curbside Classics Archives
Automotive Histories Archive
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![(First published Jan 9, 2014) Brougham. Such a seemingly simple word certainly incites strong feelings around here. After a recent piece on a ’72 Mercury Marquis Brougham (CC here), it […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/brougham-badge.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Brougham – An Indictment and A Defense")
Automotive History: The Brougham – An Indictment and A Defense
Posted on December 23, 2019 | 145 Comments(First published Jan 9, 2014) Brougham. Such a seemingly simple word certainly incites strong feelings around here. After a recent piece on a ’72 Mercury Marquis Brougham (CC here), it […] -
![American car makers really dragged their feet with the development of fully-synchronized manual transmissions. VW got its first gear synchronized in 1961, and most other Europeans did too by around […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/three-on-the-tree-2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Transmission History: The Last Three Speed Manuals With Non-Synchronized First Gear – Grinding Gears Until 1976")
Transmission History: The Last Three Speed Manuals With Non-Synchronized First Gear – Grinding Gears Until 1976
Posted on December 11, 2019 | 55 CommentsAmerican car makers really dragged their feet with the development of fully-synchronized manual transmissions. VW got its first gear synchronized in 1961, and most other Europeans did too by around […] -
![One of the absolute highlights of my Tokyo trip was visiting the Toyota Megaweb Museum with Tatra87. Besides being free of charge and remarkably uncrowded while the Tokyo Motor Show […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_6849.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Museum Classics: Toyota Megaweb Fantasy Garage (Part 1B) – The Toyota Rally Cars")
Museum Classics: Toyota Megaweb Fantasy Garage (Part 1B) – The Toyota Rally Cars
Posted on December 8, 2019 | 9 CommentsOne of the absolute highlights of my Tokyo trip was visiting the Toyota Megaweb Museum with Tatra87. Besides being free of charge and remarkably uncrowded while the Tokyo Motor Show […] -
![The gradual transformation of the horseless carriage into the modern car took several decades. Many important steps were needed to go from the Benz Patentwagen to the Studebaker Avanti, such […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1932_maybach_zeppelin_ds8_stromlinien_by_spohn4.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Winging It – An Archeology Of The Pontoon Fender")
Automotive History: Winging It – An Archeology Of The Pontoon Fender
Posted on December 3, 2019 | 32 CommentsThe gradual transformation of the horseless carriage into the modern car took several decades. Many important steps were needed to go from the Benz Patentwagen to the Studebaker Avanti, such […] -
![In the late forties, DAF started the production of heavy trucks. Prior to the Second World War, the company was best known for their trailers and semi-trailers. But the Van […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IMG_8612.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC History: 1937 Single Bearer Stretcher Carrier – DAF’s Smallest Vehicle Ever")
CC History: 1937 Single Bearer Stretcher Carrier – DAF’s Smallest Vehicle Ever
Posted on November 30, 2019 | 20 CommentsIn the late forties, DAF started the production of heavy trucks. Prior to the Second World War, the company was best known for their trailers and semi-trailers. But the Van […] -
![Like a meteor crashing through the sky, diagonally canted quad headlights were a styling trend that shone brightly and then burned out quickly. Let’s take a look at this short-lived […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1961-DeSoto-Front-View.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside History: The All-Too-Brief History of Diagonally Canted Headlights")
Curbside History: The All-Too-Brief History of Diagonally Canted Headlights
Posted on November 12, 2019 | 104 CommentsLike a meteor crashing through the sky, diagonally canted quad headlights were a styling trend that shone brightly and then burned out quickly. Let’s take a look at this short-lived […] -
![Over the years I have acquired many automotive window stickers. By accident, I guess. Every time I would buy a car or visit the junk yards I would search for […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/164-Sticker-.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside History: Monroney Sticker – 1975 Volvo 164")
Curbside History: Monroney Sticker – 1975 Volvo 164
Posted on November 11, 2019 | 51 CommentsOver the years I have acquired many automotive window stickers. By accident, I guess. Every time I would buy a car or visit the junk yards I would search for […] -
![Welcome to part two – let’s skip the preliminaries and get right to the meat of the subject, starting with the ‘70s. When we’re talking “last ever made,” sometimes things […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1975-Citroen-DS-last-car.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Last Ones (Part 2: 1970-present)")
Automotive History: The Last Ones (Part 2: 1970-present)
Posted on November 8, 2019 | 37 CommentsWelcome to part two – let’s skip the preliminaries and get right to the meat of the subject, starting with the ‘70s. When we’re talking “last ever made,” sometimes things […] -
![The terms “General Motors” and “Innovation” aren’t often used together when referring to the 1980s. Successes were rare for GM during this period, and its US market share plummeted from […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Ad-1983-Delco-GM-Bose-1a-Featured-Image.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Delco-GM/Bose Sound System – GM’s Greatest Hit Of The 1980s")
Automotive History: Delco-GM/Bose Sound System – GM’s Greatest Hit Of The 1980s
Posted on November 5, 2019 | 79 CommentsThe terms “General Motors” and “Innovation” aren’t often used together when referring to the 1980s. Successes were rare for GM during this period, and its US market share plummeted from […] -
![Extremes always fascinate. Take, for instance, the extremes of existence that are birth and death – the very first and the very last. With cars, the “first” can be pretty […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/traction-avant-derni%C3%A8re-1957-usine3.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: The Last Ones (Part 1: 1940-1970)")
Automotive History: The Last Ones (Part 1: 1940-1970)
Posted on November 1, 2019 | 40 CommentsExtremes always fascinate. Take, for instance, the extremes of existence that are birth and death – the very first and the very last. With cars, the “first” can be pretty […] -
Curbside Classics: Strange Things in Wyoming
Posted on October 6, 2019 | 22 CommentsA holiday in Wyoming can be relied on to include great things by the roadside. Such as bears, moose, elk and buffalo. But a 1926 Alvis? -
![(First Posted September 6, 2013) You want an obscure ‘teen truck? You gots it: The Denmo. The 1916 Denmo was “assembled” by the Denneen Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio. From […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/02-Denmo-ad-copy.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "1916 Denmo Truck: Putting The Denmo On Record")
1916 Denmo Truck: Putting The Denmo On Record
Posted on September 29, 2019 | 20 Comments(First Posted September 6, 2013) You want an obscure ‘teen truck? You gots it: The Denmo. The 1916 Denmo was “assembled” by the Denneen Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio. From […] -
![Each of the ‘60s/’70s Euro-American V8 hybrids had its own quality. AC was the meanest, Monteverdi was the coolest, Iso was the sportiest, De Tomaso was the smarmiest, Facel-Vega the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GB_DS4_cover3.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: British Deadly Sins (High-Brow Hybrids, Part 3) – Jensen-Healey, The Double-Barreled Deadly Sin")
Automotive History: British Deadly Sins (High-Brow Hybrids, Part 3) – Jensen-Healey, The Double-Barreled Deadly Sin
Posted on September 14, 2019 | 18 CommentsEach of the ‘60s/’70s Euro-American V8 hybrids had its own quality. AC was the meanest, Monteverdi was the coolest, Iso was the sportiest, De Tomaso was the smarmiest, Facel-Vega the […] -
![Many European aircraft-makers ended up dabbling in automobiles. Most started said dabble after the First World War – legendary names such as Armstrong Siddeley, Farman, Maybach, Salmson, Voisin and, most […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GB_DS4_cover2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: British Deadly Sins (High-Brow Hybrids, Part 2) – Bristol 603 / Britannia / Blenheim: Arrested Development")
Automotive History: British Deadly Sins (High-Brow Hybrids, Part 2) – Bristol 603 / Britannia / Blenheim: Arrested Development
Posted on September 13, 2019 | 44 CommentsMany European aircraft-makers ended up dabbling in automobiles. Most started said dabble after the First World War – legendary names such as Armstrong Siddeley, Farman, Maybach, Salmson, Voisin and, most […] -
![‘Ello, guvs. It’s time for another paddle-less trip up the proverbial creek that is Britain’s overflowing carmaker graveyard. We’ve seen everything from toff-carriages and prol-mobiles, but for this fourth edition, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GB_DS4_cover1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: British Deadly Sins (High-Brow Hybrids, Part 1) – The Surprisingly Long Story Of AC")
Automotive History: British Deadly Sins (High-Brow Hybrids, Part 1) – The Surprisingly Long Story Of AC
Posted on September 12, 2019 | 40 Comments‘Ello, guvs. It’s time for another paddle-less trip up the proverbial creek that is Britain’s overflowing carmaker graveyard. We’ve seen everything from toff-carriages and prol-mobiles, but for this fourth edition, […]
