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Curbside Classics Archives
Car and Driver Archive
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![Back in 1961, Mercedes-Benz belatedly introduced its first in-house automatic transmission, known by the prosaic designation K4A 025 and offered in the company’s new W112 Mercedes 300SE flagship sedan. […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1962-Mercedes-Benz-300SE-sedan-Bordeaux-Lutziger-Classic-Cars-front-3q-left.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1961 Mercedes-Benz K4A Automatic Transmission – “Mercedes Builds A Brain Box”")
CC Tech: 1961 Mercedes-Benz K4A Automatic Transmission – “Mercedes Builds A Brain Box”
Posted on May 2, 2025 | 16 CommentsBack in 1961, Mercedes-Benz belatedly introduced its first in-house automatic transmission, known by the prosaic designation K4A 025 and offered in the company’s new W112 Mercedes 300SE flagship sedan. […] -
![Writing in CARS in 1968, Roger Huntington had demonstrated the effectiveness of the Oldsmobile Force-Air induction system on the hot Olds W-31 350 engine, but how did it actually […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1969-Oldsmobile-Cutlass-S-W-31-RK-Motors-left-front-3q.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage C/D Review: 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass S W-31 – “The Difference Between Transportation And A Trip”")
Vintage C/D Review: 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass S W-31 – “The Difference Between Transportation And A Trip”
Posted on March 13, 2025 | 25 CommentsWriting in CARS in 1968, Roger Huntington had demonstrated the effectiveness of the Oldsmobile Force-Air induction system on the hot Olds W-31 350 engine, but how did it actually […] -
![Back in the spring of 1963, GM’s now-defunct Oldsmobile division introduced a new version of its F-85 compact sedan called Jetfire, which added a turbocharger to its lightweight aluminum V-8 […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1962-Oldsmobile-Jetfire-featured-MT-1962-09.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "1962–1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire – How Powerful (And How Fast) Was This Early Turbocharged Car?")
1962–1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire – How Powerful (And How Fast) Was This Early Turbocharged Car?
Posted on March 5, 2025 | 9 CommentsBack in the spring of 1963, GM’s now-defunct Oldsmobile division introduced a new version of its F-85 compact sedan called Jetfire, which added a turbocharger to its lightweight aluminum V-8 […] -
![Introduced in 1962, the 90-degree Buick Fireball V-6 engine was basically three-fourths of Buick’s small aluminum V-8, cast in iron rather than in light alloy to create a cheaper base […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1962-Buick-Fireball-V-6-cutaway.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "CC Tech: 1978 Buick Even-Fire V6 – Buick Evens The Odds")
CC Tech: 1978 Buick Even-Fire V6 – Buick Evens The Odds
Posted on January 29, 2025 | 42 CommentsIntroduced in 1962, the 90-degree Buick Fireball V-6 engine was basically three-fourths of Buick’s small aluminum V-8, cast in iron rather than in light alloy to create a cheaper base […] -
![In the fall of 1978, Cadillac rolled out the model that would become one of its greatest all-time hits: the 1979 Cadillac Eldorado — newly downsized and a half-ton lighter, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CD1979-05-vignette.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage C/D Review: 1979 Cadillac Eldorado – A Brilliant False Dawn")
Vintage C/D Review: 1979 Cadillac Eldorado – A Brilliant False Dawn
Posted on January 23, 2025 | 51 CommentsIn the fall of 1978, Cadillac rolled out the model that would become one of its greatest all-time hits: the 1979 Cadillac Eldorado — newly downsized and a half-ton lighter, […] -
![For 1986, Oldsmobile redesigned its FWD Toronado personal luxury coupe, hoping to expand its market with a trimmer, more efficient new model bristling with high-tech features. In August 1985, Car […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Car-and-Driver-1985-08-cover-snippet-with-Toronados.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage C/D Review: 1986 Oldsmobile Toronado – A Downsized E-Body Begins Oldsmobile’s Downward Spiral")
Vintage C/D Review: 1986 Oldsmobile Toronado – A Downsized E-Body Begins Oldsmobile’s Downward Spiral
Posted on January 16, 2025 | 38 CommentsFor 1986, Oldsmobile redesigned its FWD Toronado personal luxury coupe, hoping to expand its market with a trimmer, more efficient new model bristling with high-tech features. In August 1985, Car […] -
![What makes a luxury car? Is it size, power, gadgets, and prestige, or just a soft ride and a lofty price tag? Humorist Jean Shepherd and automotive iconoclast Brock Yates […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1972-02_CD_Viewpoint_Ford_Thunderbird_Brock_Yates_Jean_Shepherd_sepia-joined.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage C/D Review: 1972 Ford Thunderbird – Jean Shepherd And Brock Yates Ask, “What Would Gatsby Do?”")
Vintage C/D Review: 1972 Ford Thunderbird – Jean Shepherd And Brock Yates Ask, “What Would Gatsby Do?”
Posted on January 12, 2025 | 31 CommentsWhat makes a luxury car? Is it size, power, gadgets, and prestige, or just a soft ride and a lofty price tag? Humorist Jean Shepherd and automotive iconoclast Brock Yates […] -
![Although it was never officially offered in the U.S., the 1961 German Ford Taunus 17M — nicknamed “the Bathtub Taunus” for its oval-shaped aerodynamic styling and peaked fenders — […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/access-taunus_17m_p3.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Automotive History: 1961 Ford Taunus 17M P3 – The Birth Of Ford Of Germany’s “Bathtub Taunus” (With Vintage SCI Photos)")
Automotive History: 1961 Ford Taunus 17M P3 – The Birth Of Ford Of Germany’s “Bathtub Taunus” (With Vintage SCI Photos)
Posted on December 11, 2024 | 27 CommentsAlthough it was never officially offered in the U.S., the 1961 German Ford Taunus 17M — nicknamed “the Bathtub Taunus” for its oval-shaped aerodynamic styling and peaked fenders — […] -
![Time to revisit a GM model that gets little love. An offering that seemed to click a few right buttons while missing on its ultimate mission; to bring new buyers […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Scan-220812-0007-copia.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car And Driver Review: 1986 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale – Personality Crisis")
Vintage Car And Driver Review: 1986 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale – Personality Crisis
Posted on May 26, 2023 | 48 CommentsTime to revisit a GM model that gets little love. An offering that seemed to click a few right buttons while missing on its ultimate mission; to bring new buyers […] -
![The quintessential ’70s Chevrolet gets the Car And Driver treatment with a glowing review and not many snarky comments, with those appearing mostly directed elsewhere. Meanwhile, DeLorean gets kudos and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Monte-01.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car and Driver Review: 1973 Monte Carlo – First Test Of The Radical “New Generation Chevy”")
Vintage Car and Driver Review: 1973 Monte Carlo – First Test Of The Radical “New Generation Chevy”
Posted on September 12, 2022 | 73 CommentsThe quintessential ’70s Chevrolet gets the Car And Driver treatment with a glowing review and not many snarky comments, with those appearing mostly directed elsewhere. Meanwhile, DeLorean gets kudos and […] -
![Bloated, overweight, slow, wallowing. These are the words often used to describe Ford’s full-size cars of the 1970s. They have been described as being the poster child for the malaise […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cover.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1976 Ford LTD – “All Is Well with the American Dream”")
Vintage Review: 1976 Ford LTD – “All Is Well with the American Dream”
Posted on December 12, 2019 | 92 CommentsBloated, overweight, slow, wallowing. These are the words often used to describe Ford’s full-size cars of the 1970s. They have been described as being the poster child for the malaise […] -
![In my series on the Ford 335-Series engines, I covered in detail the performance potential designed into Ford’s 351C. Unfortunately, this engine really had little opportunity to shine with minimizing […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/CD-Boss-351-3.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Reviews: 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 – “It’s Possible That Stylists Can’t Work in a Sporty Medium”")
Vintage Reviews: 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 – “It’s Possible That Stylists Can’t Work in a Sporty Medium”
Posted on December 10, 2019 | 63 CommentsIn my series on the Ford 335-Series engines, I covered in detail the performance potential designed into Ford’s 351C. Unfortunately, this engine really had little opportunity to shine with minimizing […]
