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Curbside Classics Archives
European Brands 1950s Archive
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![Porsche’s iconic 356 was first built in 1948, with much of its engine, transmission and most of its running gear sourced from the VW Beetle. But with its tuned engine, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Porsche-1952-356-Coupe-by-Reutter_0-1024x683-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Road & Track Road Test: 1952 Porsche 356 1500 – “This Is The Car Of Tomorrow”")
Vintage Road & Track Road Test: 1952 Porsche 356 1500 – “This Is The Car Of Tomorrow”
Posted on September 20, 2023 | 29 CommentsPorsche’s iconic 356 was first built in 1948, with much of its engine, transmission and most of its running gear sourced from the VW Beetle. But with its tuned engine, […] -
![As you all know, I have a very deep affection for the Volkswagen. One of the many things that interest me is how it was seen and evaluated at various […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/VW-1954-review-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T and The Motor Road Tests: 1954 Volkswagen – Already 16 Years Old And Just Getting Going")
Vintage R&T and The Motor Road Tests: 1954 Volkswagen – Already 16 Years Old And Just Getting Going
Posted on November 18, 2022 | 28 CommentsAs you all know, I have a very deep affection for the Volkswagen. One of the many things that interest me is how it was seen and evaluated at various […] -
![R&T decided to test a Gullwing 300SL in 1968 to see how it compared to contemporary cars. It had been the leading edge sports car of its time, but time […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/300SL-1.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Road Test: 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing – How Does It Measure Up To 1968 Standards?")
Vintage R&T Road Test: 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing – How Does It Measure Up To 1968 Standards?
Posted on September 24, 2022 | 18 CommentsR&T decided to test a Gullwing 300SL in 1968 to see how it compared to contemporary cars. It had been the leading edge sports car of its time, but time […] -
![A while back, we posted Tom McCahill’s review of the 1956 Volkswagen. By then, his love for it was already in full bloom. But that started earlier, with this review […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/mcahill_volkswagen_0.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: Tom McCahill Drives the 1953 Volkswagen – Through Deep Snow")
Vintage Review: Tom McCahill Drives the 1953 Volkswagen – Through Deep Snow
Posted on August 23, 2020 | 30 CommentsA while back, we posted Tom McCahill’s review of the 1956 Volkswagen. By then, his love for it was already in full bloom. But that started earlier, with this review […] -
![Ben Pon, VW’s exclusive distributor for the Netherlands, and father of the VW Bus, tried to sell two 1949 VW’s in New York in 1949. That didn’t work out so […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VW-1950-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "1950 Popular Science: “Hitler’s Flivver Now Sold In The U.S.” – From Modest Beginnings…")
1950 Popular Science: “Hitler’s Flivver Now Sold In The U.S.” – From Modest Beginnings…
Posted on August 23, 2020 | 17 CommentsBen Pon, VW’s exclusive distributor for the Netherlands, and father of the VW Bus, tried to sell two 1949 VW’s in New York in 1949. That didn’t work out so […] -
![How did I forget the XK 140? Somehow I managed to overlook it, which is not easy to do. It’s literally impossible to overstate the impact of the Jaguar, especially […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Jaguar-XK-140-fq.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage SCI Review: Jaguar XK 140 MC – The First Shall Be Last")
Vintage SCI Review: Jaguar XK 140 MC – The First Shall Be Last
Posted on August 6, 2020 | 12 CommentsHow did I forget the XK 140? Somehow I managed to overlook it, which is not easy to do. It’s literally impossible to overstate the impact of the Jaguar, especially […] -
![It’s time to finish our perusal of the SCI 1958 Directory of Sports Cars. The original was sent to me by CC reader Zipster, and I want to thank him […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/guide-scans0001.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Sports Cars Illustrated: All the Sports Cars Available in the US in 1957-1958")
Vintage Sports Cars Illustrated: All the Sports Cars Available in the US in 1957-1958
Posted on August 2, 2020 | 22 CommentsIt’s time to finish our perusal of the SCI 1958 Directory of Sports Cars. The original was sent to me by CC reader Zipster, and I want to thank him […] -
![Last but not least in our survey of sports cars and American GT cars from 1956-1957 via reviews from Sports Car Illustrated is the Triumph TR-3. The TR series of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Triumph-TR-3-red-a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage SCI Review: 1957 Triumph TR-3 – Disc Braked!")
Vintage SCI Review: 1957 Triumph TR-3 – Disc Braked!
Posted on July 24, 2020 | 14 CommentsLast but not least in our survey of sports cars and American GT cars from 1956-1957 via reviews from Sports Car Illustrated is the Triumph TR-3. The TR series of […] -
![This review written by Griff Borgeson at Sports Car Illustrated was a treat, as it’s the first vintage review I’ve read about the Porsche Speedster. Like certain other automotive icons, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Porsche-1956-Speedster-rq.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage SCI Review: 1956 Porsche Speedster 1600 – “…One of the most significant technical accomplishments of our time”")
Vintage SCI Review: 1956 Porsche Speedster 1600 – “…One of the most significant technical accomplishments of our time”
Posted on July 15, 2020 | 39 CommentsThis review written by Griff Borgeson at Sports Car Illustrated was a treat, as it’s the first vintage review I’ve read about the Porsche Speedster. Like certain other automotive icons, […] -
![“MG” was synonymous with “sports car” for several decades. It all started with the spidery TC, a 1920’s style roadster that American GIs discovered while stationed in the UK during […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MGA-1500-Roadster-red-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage SCI Review: 1957 MGA – New Body, Familiar Sensations")
Vintage SCI Review: 1957 MGA – New Body, Familiar Sensations
Posted on July 10, 2020 | 13 Comments“MG” was synonymous with “sports car” for several decades. It all started with the spidery TC, a 1920’s style roadster that American GIs discovered while stationed in the UK during […] -
![The evolution of the sports car has a number of key developmental milestones. But one company decided to ignore them early on, and just stay in the late 1910’s forever, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Morgan-1957-Plus-4-red-white.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage SCI Review: 1957 Morgan Plus Four (TR-3 Engine) – Already Outdated, or The Anti-190SL")
Vintage SCI Review: 1957 Morgan Plus Four (TR-3 Engine) – Already Outdated, or The Anti-190SL
Posted on June 29, 2020 | 21 CommentsThe evolution of the sports car has a number of key developmental milestones. But one company decided to ignore them early on, and just stay in the late 1910’s forever, […] -
![The Mercedes 190SL is the unfortunate victim of my stupidity. No, actually it’s the other way around; given that I passed on the opportunity to buy one for relative peanuts […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Mercedes-190SL-M2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage SCI Review: 1957 Mercedes 190SL – “A Sense of Security and Perfection”")
Vintage SCI Review: 1957 Mercedes 190SL – “A Sense of Security and Perfection”
Posted on June 25, 2020 | 44 CommentsThe Mercedes 190SL is the unfortunate victim of my stupidity. No, actually it’s the other way around; given that I passed on the opportunity to buy one for relative peanuts […] -
![Although most commonly known as the Austin-Healey 3000, that version of the “Big Healey” (to differentiate it from the Sprite) was the third major variant of the series, built from […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/austin-healey-100-6-1959-fq-.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage SCI Review: 1957 Austin-Healey 100-6 – The Big Healey Gets a Six")
Vintage SCI Review: 1957 Austin-Healey 100-6 – The Big Healey Gets a Six
Posted on June 20, 2020 | 4 CommentsAlthough most commonly known as the Austin-Healey 3000, that version of the “Big Healey” (to differentiate it from the Sprite) was the third major variant of the series, built from […] -
![Everyone knows that the legendary Shelby Cobra was of course an AC Ace with a massive dose of Ford V8 hormones. But probably fewer of us know much about the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AC-Ace-WP-2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Sports Car Illustrated Review: 1957 AC Ace – The Progenitor of the Cobra With An Engine Dating Back to 1919")
Vintage Sports Car Illustrated Review: 1957 AC Ace – The Progenitor of the Cobra With An Engine Dating Back to 1919
Posted on June 14, 2020 | 19 CommentsEveryone knows that the legendary Shelby Cobra was of course an AC Ace with a massive dose of Ford V8 hormones. But probably fewer of us know much about the […] -
![Although the VW Beetle had been sold in the US since 1949, when exactly two were imported, its sales were modest for the first six years. During the early 50s, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/VW-1955-review-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: Tom McCahill Wrings Out the 1956 VW – And Explains Why It was Suddenly So Popular")
Vintage Review: Tom McCahill Wrings Out the 1956 VW – And Explains Why It was Suddenly So Popular
Posted on March 28, 2019 | 44 CommentsAlthough the VW Beetle had been sold in the US since 1949, when exactly two were imported, its sales were modest for the first six years. During the early 50s, […]
