-
-
Curbside Classics Archives
tech Archive
-
![GM’s Y-body “senior compacts” — the Buick Special/Skylark, Oldsmobile F-85/Cutlass, and Pontiac Tempest/Le Mans — boasted many interesting engineering features, from their lightweight aluminum V-8 engines to the Tempest’s flexible […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1961-Buick-Dual-Path-Turbine-Drive-cutaway.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1961–1963 Buick Dual-Path Turbine Drive Transmission – Forward Thinking About Going Backwards")
CC Tech: 1961–1963 Buick Dual-Path Turbine Drive Transmission – Forward Thinking About Going Backwards
Posted on December 7, 2024 | 21 CommentsGM’s Y-body “senior compacts” — the Buick Special/Skylark, Oldsmobile F-85/Cutlass, and Pontiac Tempest/Le Mans — boasted many interesting engineering features, from their lightweight aluminum V-8 engines to the Tempest’s flexible […] -
![While the illustration above might look a lot like Chevrolet’s ubiquitous aluminum Powerglide, it’s actually a completely different transmission: the Buick-built two-speed Super Turbine 300 automatic transmission, which went into […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Buick-Super-Turbine-300-automatic-transmission-640099-F05.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: The Buick Super Turbine 300 Automatic Transmission — Not a Powerglide")
CC Tech: The Buick Super Turbine 300 Automatic Transmission — Not a Powerglide
Posted on December 3, 2024 | 26 CommentsWhile the illustration above might look a lot like Chevrolet’s ubiquitous aluminum Powerglide, it’s actually a completely different transmission: the Buick-built two-speed Super Turbine 300 automatic transmission, which went into […] -
![(first posted 9/21/2017) I’ve long had a fixation on the lack of four speed transmissions being available on American compacts in the 1960s. The standard three […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Slant-6-4-speed-64-dart-br.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: Factory Four Speed Transmission Behind a Slant Six? Yup, For a Couple of Years Anyway")
Automotive History: Factory Four Speed Transmission Behind a Slant Six? Yup, For a Couple of Years Anyway
Posted on September 21, 2023 | 81 Comments(first posted 9/21/2017) I’ve long had a fixation on the lack of four speed transmissions being available on American compacts in the 1960s. The standard three […] -
![To me, this is a new car. My parents have owned it since 1990, and they even permitted me to drive it to school once a week when I turned […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/PXL_20230814_182220683a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1988 Ford Mustang GT – Plastic, A Better Idea In Quarter Windows")
CC Tech: 1988 Ford Mustang GT – Plastic, A Better Idea In Quarter Windows
Posted on August 17, 2023 | 40 CommentsTo me, this is a new car. My parents have owned it since 1990, and they even permitted me to drive it to school once a week when I turned […] -
![(first posted 6/14/2017) A ten cylinder Corvair engine installed in a FWD ’62 Impala? How’s that to get the juices of a hard-core Corvair air-head going? One of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/CC-328-033.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Engine Prototype: The Stillborn Corvair Gen2 Modular Engine – From Two to Twelve Cylinders")
Engine Prototype: The Stillborn Corvair Gen2 Modular Engine – From Two to Twelve Cylinders
Posted on June 23, 2023 | 57 Comments(first posted 6/14/2017) A ten cylinder Corvair engine installed in a FWD ’62 Impala? How’s that to get the juices of a hard-core Corvair air-head going? One of […] -
![(first posted 6/3/2017) After seeing the explosion of the aftermarket air conditioning sales in the early 1950’s, Detroit decided to get back into the factory air conditioning business […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/1007-01-automotive-air-conditioning-chevrolet.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Cold Comfort: History of Automotive Air Conditioning, Part 3 – Post-World War II")
Cold Comfort: History of Automotive Air Conditioning, Part 3 – Post-World War II
Posted on June 3, 2023 | 108 Comments(first posted 6/3/2017) After seeing the explosion of the aftermarket air conditioning sales in the early 1950’s, Detroit decided to get back into the factory air conditioning business […] -
![(first posted 6/2/2017, updated 6/2/2023) As I detailed in Part 1 of this series, Packard, Cadillac, and Chrysler all dabbled in automotive air conditioning between 1940 and 1942. […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/1007_02-automotive_air_conditioning-vintage_car_interior.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Cold Comfort: History of Automotive Air Conditioning, Part 2 – The Aftermarket")
Cold Comfort: History of Automotive Air Conditioning, Part 2 – The Aftermarket
Posted on June 2, 2023 | 111 Comments(first posted 6/2/2017, updated 6/2/2023) As I detailed in Part 1 of this series, Packard, Cadillac, and Chrysler all dabbled in automotive air conditioning between 1940 and 1942. […] -
![(first posted 6/1/2017) I’ve never really seen a good, comprehensive history of Automotive Air Conditioning, so I decided to take it upon myself to write one, being somewhat […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/3604083691_bef5fcfaa1_b.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Cold Comfort: History of Automotive Air Conditioning, Part 1 – Pre-World War II")
Cold Comfort: History of Automotive Air Conditioning, Part 1 – Pre-World War II
Posted on June 1, 2023 | 94 Comments(first posted 6/1/2017) I’ve never really seen a good, comprehensive history of Automotive Air Conditioning, so I decided to take it upon myself to write one, being somewhat […] -
![Yes, I know that we do mostly old cars here, but I have built up a respect for the brain trust of CC readers, so maybe some of you can […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BMW-Hybrid-01.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "QOTD/CC Tech – What’s The Best Way To Store A Plug-In Hybrid Car?")
QOTD/CC Tech – What’s The Best Way To Store A Plug-In Hybrid Car?
Posted on March 7, 2023 | 17 CommentsYes, I know that we do mostly old cars here, but I have built up a respect for the brain trust of CC readers, so maybe some of you can […] -
![In addition to road tests, Car Life also had a regular tech column, written by Roger Huntington, who really knew of what he said and wrote. This article, from March […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/air-10.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car Life Tech: “Air Cooling For Cars?” – There Was One Benefit That I’d Not Considered Before")
Vintage Car Life Tech: “Air Cooling For Cars?” – There Was One Benefit That I’d Not Considered Before
Posted on February 23, 2023 | 22 CommentsIn addition to road tests, Car Life also had a regular tech column, written by Roger Huntington, who really knew of what he said and wrote. This article, from March […] -
![On a snowy Sunday of late, my dad and I made our annual sojourn to a local Model A Restorers Club swap meet, which was unfortunately less well-attended by vendors […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Image-2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Literature: 1977 Ford <em>Noise And Vibration Diagnosis</em> – Never Has A Dollar Been So Useful")
CC Literature: 1977 Ford Noise And Vibration Diagnosis – Never Has A Dollar Been So Useful
Posted on February 1, 2023 | 35 CommentsOn a snowy Sunday of late, my dad and I made our annual sojourn to a local Model A Restorers Club swap meet, which was unfortunately less well-attended by vendors […] -
![A recent entry in JP Cavanaugh’s COAL, about his 1968 Chrysler sparked some personal memories, and some comments, about subverted automotive safety features. In JPC’s case, that trigger had to […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/s-l1600.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "QOTD – What Auto Safety Devices are Most Often Bypassed or Ignored?")
QOTD – What Auto Safety Devices are Most Often Bypassed or Ignored?
Posted on November 25, 2022 | 129 CommentsA recent entry in JP Cavanaugh’s COAL, about his 1968 Chrysler sparked some personal memories, and some comments, about subverted automotive safety features. In JPC’s case, that trigger had to […] -
![(first posted 11/7/2016) The EPA has issued its “Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2016”report). (The updated report through 2020 is here). It’s […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/EPA-0-to-60.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "The EPA’s Charts On Efficiency, Performance, Weight and Other Metrics, 1975-2016 — Peak Malaise Was Obviously In 1982")
The EPA’s Charts On Efficiency, Performance, Weight and Other Metrics, 1975-2016 — Peak Malaise Was Obviously In 1982
Posted on November 7, 2022 | 54 Comments(first posted 11/7/2016) The EPA has issued its “Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2016”report). (The updated report through 2020 is here). It’s […] -
![For too many years I’ve cringed when I see or hear the expression BOF (Body On Frame) as applied to American cars with perimeter frames, meaning pretty much all of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Frames-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Tech History: The Perimeter Frame – Body-And-Frame, Not Body-On-Frame")
Tech History: The Perimeter Frame – Body-And-Frame, Not Body-On-Frame
Posted on November 3, 2022 | 50 CommentsFor too many years I’ve cringed when I see or hear the expression BOF (Body On Frame) as applied to American cars with perimeter frames, meaning pretty much all of […] -
![When one discusses American cars of the 1970s, good handling is not typically something that pops into one’s thoughts. If anything, most American cars of the 1970s have a reputation […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1973-Grand-Am-cutaway.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1973-77 GM Colonnade Chassis Design – Corner Carving through the Brougham Era")
CC Tech: 1973-77 GM Colonnade Chassis Design – Corner Carving through the Brougham Era
Posted on October 26, 2022 | 67 CommentsWhen one discusses American cars of the 1970s, good handling is not typically something that pops into one’s thoughts. If anything, most American cars of the 1970s have a reputation […]
