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Curbside Classics Archives
tech Archive
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![Tesla announced last night that all of its cars now being produced are fully equipped with all the hardware (sensors, cameras, and a 40x more powerful processor) to allow them […]](https://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/themes/arras162/images/thumbnail.png "A Preview Of The Autonomous Future, And A Podcast Commentary")
A Preview Of The Autonomous Future, And A Podcast Commentary
Posted on October 20, 2016 | 109 CommentsTesla announced last night that all of its cars now being produced are fully equipped with all the hardware (sensors, cameras, and a 40x more powerful processor) to allow them […] -
![(first posted 12/27/2011; updated 10/26/2022) The development of brakes pretty consistently lagged the development of engines and speed, which made most really old cars very hairy to drive. One of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Rolls-Royce-power-brake.png?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History Capsule: Mechanical Power Brake Servo: Invented In 1919, RR Was Still Using It Up To 1978.")
Automotive History Capsule: Mechanical Power Brake Servo: Invented In 1919, RR Was Still Using It Up To 1978.
Posted on April 13, 2016 | 31 Comments(first posted 12/27/2011; updated 10/26/2022) The development of brakes pretty consistently lagged the development of engines and speed, which made most really old cars very hairy to drive. One of […] -
![The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI recently raised the hoods for its “Engines Exposed” exhibit, and among its many exhibitions was this unmachined Flathead Ford engine block. The flathead’s […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/036a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "QOTD: How Would You Have Designed the Flathead Ford?")
QOTD: How Would You Have Designed the Flathead Ford?
Posted on February 29, 2016 | 44 CommentsThe Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI recently raised the hoods for its “Engines Exposed” exhibit, and among its many exhibitions was this unmachined Flathead Ford engine block. The flathead’s […] -
![Regular readers may recall that I recently bought a ’74 Firebird Esprit from that most dangerous of online rabbit holes, eBay. It’s the second car I’ve bought sight unseen, the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/010.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL Repair: 1974 Pontiac Firebird–Repairing the Classic GM Saggy Headliner")
COAL Repair: 1974 Pontiac Firebird–Repairing the Classic GM Saggy Headliner
Posted on February 22, 2016 | 45 CommentsRegular readers may recall that I recently bought a ’74 Firebird Esprit from that most dangerous of online rabbit holes, eBay. It’s the second car I’ve bought sight unseen, the […] -
![There’s nothing like that old car smell, at least to someone addicted to dilapidated vintage machinery. One of the formative moments in my bonding with said machinery is “decoding day,” […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/007.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Mystery Monday: Getting to Know Your New Junker – VIN and Fender Tag Decoding")
Mystery Monday: Getting to Know Your New Junker – VIN and Fender Tag Decoding
Posted on January 4, 2016 | 41 CommentsThere’s nothing like that old car smell, at least to someone addicted to dilapidated vintage machinery. One of the formative moments in my bonding with said machinery is “decoding day,” […] -
![We tend to be contrarians. While seemingly everyone else is buying Subarus or other AWD crossovers, we sold our 2000 Forester and bought a FWD Acura TSX Sportwagon. Given that […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Snow-tires-1-crop.png?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "The Niedermeyers Trade AWD For Snow Tires")
The Niedermeyers Trade AWD For Snow Tires
Posted on January 1, 2016 | 127 CommentsWe tend to be contrarians. While seemingly everyone else is buying Subarus or other AWD crossovers, we sold our 2000 Forester and bought a FWD Acura TSX Sportwagon. Given that […] -
![Last time on CC Mini Projects we built a Rambler hub cap clock. This time we will try something a little more practical for our garage decorations. I did not […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Paper-Towel-Holder.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Mini Project: Piston Powered Shop Towel Holder")
CC Mini Project: Piston Powered Shop Towel Holder
Posted on October 28, 2014 | 8 CommentsLast time on CC Mini Projects we built a Rambler hub cap clock. This time we will try something a little more practical for our garage decorations. I did not […] -
![I recently restored a very poor condition Rambler partial hub cap I’d purchased on a whim at the local scrapyard. It cleaned up but rather nicely, but I couldn’t think of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/ClockHubCap.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Mini Project: Rambler Hub Cap Clock")
CC Mini Project: Rambler Hub Cap Clock
Posted on October 2, 2014 | 23 CommentsI recently restored a very poor condition Rambler partial hub cap I’d purchased on a whim at the local scrapyard. It cleaned up but rather nicely, but I couldn’t think of […] -
![When NASCAR allowed Toyota to design and fabricate a two-valve pushrod V8 specifically for Sprint Cup competition, it marked the first time that it had allowed a purpose-built racing […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/01-R07-Engine.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CGI: Not What You Think It Is")
CGI: Not What You Think It Is
Posted on December 20, 2013 | 36 CommentsWhen NASCAR allowed Toyota to design and fabricate a two-valve pushrod V8 specifically for Sprint Cup competition, it marked the first time that it had allowed a purpose-built racing […] -
![I’m also of the opinion that Chrysler got overly ambitious with its heady expansion in the 1990s, and that quality suffered because of that. When the Neon came out, Toyota and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/neon1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Stereotype-Defying Neon With A Half-Million Miles")
Stereotype-Defying Neon With A Half-Million Miles
Posted on October 19, 2012 | 12 CommentsI’m also of the opinion that Chrysler got overly ambitious with its heady expansion in the 1990s, and that quality suffered because of that. When the Neon came out, Toyota and […] -
![My good friend Paul Wasson recently took delivery on the first Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car in Oregon. Having recently done a CC on my neighbor’s 1917 Detroit Electric, I’m struck […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/MitsuEVmotor.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV / 1917 Detroit Electric – There and Back Again")
2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV / 1917 Detroit Electric – There and Back Again
Posted on March 6, 2012 | 23 CommentsMy good friend Paul Wasson recently took delivery on the first Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car in Oregon. Having recently done a CC on my neighbor’s 1917 Detroit Electric, I’m struck […] -
![Cruising down the highway, most of an engine’s work is spent pushing air out of the way. Common sense tells us that depends on 1) how much air is in […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CdA.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive Aerodynamics: Drag Area – Size Matters")
Automotive Aerodynamics: Drag Area – Size Matters
Posted on February 1, 2012 | 70 CommentsCruising down the highway, most of an engine’s work is spent pushing air out of the way. Common sense tells us that depends on 1) how much air is in […] -
![We took advantage of a dry January to do some serious garden clean-up. Thanks to the serendipity of tree-trimmers being in my neighborhood, who dumped two truck loads of wood […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CC-158-125-800.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Overloaded? By How Much? (Update: By About 2200 lbs)")
Overloaded? By How Much? (Update: By About 2200 lbs)
Posted on January 31, 2012 | 57 CommentsWe took advantage of a dry January to do some serious garden clean-up. Thanks to the serendipity of tree-trimmers being in my neighborhood, who dumped two truck loads of wood […] -
![I’m a retired Special Education teacher. Many teachers feel that our special kids really can’t do very much. Frankly, for the most part the kids agree. I happen to think […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Red-Fiberglass-Trike.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Building An EV/Hybrid: A Hands-On Classroom Project")
Building An EV/Hybrid: A Hands-On Classroom Project
Posted on December 26, 2011 | 8 CommentsI’m a retired Special Education teacher. Many teachers feel that our special kids really can’t do very much. Frankly, for the most part the kids agree. I happen to think […] -
![No, new cars are not our typical thing, but then the Fiat 500 twinair is not exactly the typical car. The not-available-here 875 cc turbocharged twin puts out a healthy […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fiat-twin-air-500-630.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Three Cylinders? Bring On The Two-Cylinder Fiat 500 TwinAir")
Three Cylinders? Bring On The Two-Cylinder Fiat 500 TwinAir
Posted on October 3, 2011 | 19 CommentsNo, new cars are not our typical thing, but then the Fiat 500 twinair is not exactly the typical car. The not-available-here 875 cc turbocharged twin puts out a healthy […]
