Curbside Classic Archives
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American Brands: GM 
American Brands: Ford 
American Brands: Chrysler 
American Brands: AMC, Jeep and All Others 
Automotive Histories and Misc. 
Asian Brands 
UK Brands 
Australian Brands 
European Brands 
Cars Of A Lifetime & Auto-Biography 
Buses 
Trucks, Pickups and Vans 
Design 
Trains, Planes & Ships 
Motorcycles, Trikes, Bicycles 
Engines, Transmissions and other Tech 
Tractors, Lawn Mowers, Off-Road Equipment 
RVs, Motorhomes, Trailers, Campers Privacy
COAL Archive
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1964 MG 1100: My Father’s Authentic British Car Experience
Posted on August 31, 2025 | 20 CommentsThe following story is based on an interview with my father, John V. Pellegrino (b. 1935), conducted on August 19th, 2025. Dad provides some fascinating insights on what it was […] -
My 1970 Buick Riviera (Part 2): A Challenging “Student Driver” Car And An Unexpected Crash Test
Posted on June 1, 2025 | 20 CommentsAfter an extended hiatus, I am resuming my COAL series. In Part I, I covered the Riviera’s introduction to our household in the mid-’70s, including my instant attraction to […] -
My 2001 Ford Focus – A Daily Dose Of Joy
Posted on May 8, 2025 | 105 Comments(first posted 2/9/2016) It seems our family keeps vehicles until they are about 15 years old. Our 88 Ranger and our 96 Windstar both departed at 15, […] -
My 1999 Alfa Romeo 166 – Was There Ever Really Another Choice?
Posted on April 27, 2025 | 20 CommentsWell then, here you have it, CC friends, the final result of my most recent search for a new (to me) automotive millstone. Any of you who have read the […] -
GM B-Body Cars Of My Dad’s Lifetime
Posted on April 4, 2025 | 14 CommentsMy Father liked his big Buicks. In a previous article, I outlined the Buicks he owned in the 50’s and 60’s. In 1977, he bought another big Buick, a LeSabre […] -
My 1996 Ford Windstar – Anomaly
Posted on March 27, 2025 | 50 Comments(first posted 7/11/2015) a·nom·a·ly: something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. I had a Windstar. I drove it for almost 10 years without major problems. It still […] -
A Converted School Bus for Mr. C – A 1959 International B And Other Family Memories
Posted on March 16, 2025 | 10 CommentsMy wife’s dad Dermot was a funny guy who left us too young. He was a single dad in the ’70s with four girls to raise on a teacher’s […] -
COAL: 1981 Chevrolet Impala – B is for Broom Handle
Posted on February 21, 2025 | 112 Comments(first posted 10/26/2014) Here at CC we normally have a high regard for the GM B-bodies that appeared in 1977, but my own B-body tale is a […] -
Help Me Choose My New Car (Mis)adventure, Meet the Contenders – 2024/25 Edition
Posted on February 20, 2025 | 65 CommentsGreetings, fellow Curbsiders, and welcome to another instalment of my automotive misadventures. It’s been a little over two years since I last asked you to weigh in on an automotive […] -
From Dream to Driveway: Owning a 1955 Packard Patrician
Posted on February 5, 2025 | 37 CommentsWhat 30 something dreams of owning a 61 year old luxury sedan from a marque that most people have no idea even existed? This one. -
COAL: 1980 Honda Accord Hatchback — Oil and Water
Posted on March 6, 2024 | 42 CommentsFrom the beginning, it was obvious that there was going to be a problem. Not a mechanical problem, as the above COAL title might imply, but a philosophical one. Following […] -
COAL: 1978 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham Sedan – The Good Life
Posted on February 28, 2024 | 33 CommentsOur move to Rochester in June 1977 was the beginning of a four-and-a-half year period I’ll call “The Good Life” (TGL). My father often said that timing is everything. Apparently, […] -
COAL: 1970 Buick Riviera — Part 1: Different From Everything Else
Posted on February 21, 2024 | 61 CommentsA Time of Change Our goal in moving from Endicott to Vestal, NY in winter of 1974 was recapturing the rural magic of living in Unadilla. While the move was […] -
COAL: 1971 Ford Ranch Wagon — A Mint-coated Turd Is Still A Turd
Posted on February 14, 2024 | 18 CommentsWe acquired a 1971 Ford Ranch wagon in summer of 1974, which shared driveway space in Endicott with our ‘66 Country Squire. In our previous COAL installment, I referred […] -
COAL: 1966 Ford Country Sedan — Ten Years Is Too Long To Wait
Posted on February 7, 2024 | 21 CommentsWith our Pontiac gone, it appeared we were in dire transportation straits in the fall of 1972. But surprisingly, we had a utility infielder waiting in the transportation dugout. […]
![1964 MG 1100: My Father’s Authentic British Car Experience The following story is based on an interview with my father, John V. Pellegrino (b. 1935), conducted on August 19th, 2025. Dad provides some fascinating insights on what it was […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/20170814_095222_resized.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![My 1970 Buick Riviera (Part 2): A Challenging “Student Driver” Car And An Unexpected Crash Test After an extended hiatus, I am resuming my COAL series. In Part I, I covered the Riviera’s introduction to our household in the mid-’70s, including my instant attraction to […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Captura-de-pantalla-2025-05-25-00.02.01-e1748207454468.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![My 2001 Ford Focus – A Daily Dose Of Joy (first posted 2/9/2016) It seems our family keeps vehicles until they are about 15 years old. Our 88 Ranger and our 96 Windstar both departed at 15, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Canoes.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![My 1999 Alfa Romeo 166 – Was There Ever Really Another Choice? Well then, here you have it, CC friends, the final result of my most recent search for a new (to me) automotive millstone. Any of you who have read the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20240917_112917-e1739600530827.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![GM B-Body Cars Of My Dad’s Lifetime My Father liked his big Buicks. In a previous article, I outlined the Buicks he owned in the 50’s and 60’s. In 1977, he bought another big Buick, a LeSabre […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Front-Caprice-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![My 1996 Ford Windstar – Anomaly (first posted 7/11/2015) a·nom·a·ly: something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. I had a Windstar. I drove it for almost 10 years without major problems. It still […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Freestar.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![A Converted School Bus for Mr. C – A 1959 International B And Other Family Memories My wife’s dad Dermot was a funny guy who left us too young. He was a single dad in the ’70s with four girls to raise on a teacher’s […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FastFoto_0235_a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 1981 Chevrolet Impala – B is for Broom Handle (first posted 10/26/2014) Here at CC we normally have a high regard for the GM B-bodies that appeared in 1977, but my own B-body tale is a […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/1981-Specs.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![Help Me Choose My New Car (Mis)adventure, Meet the Contenders – 2024/25 Edition Greetings, fellow Curbsiders, and welcome to another instalment of my automotive misadventures. It’s been a little over two years since I last asked you to weigh in on an automotive […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CC-Article-picture.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)

![COAL: 1980 Honda Accord Hatchback — Oil and Water From the beginning, it was obvious that there was going to be a problem. Not a mechanical problem, as the above COAL title might imply, but a philosophical one. Following […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/5587BF74-AD26-42F9-88D0-164A52B4F1FD.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 1978 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham Sedan – The Good Life Our move to Rochester in June 1977 was the beginning of a four-and-a-half year period I’ll call “The Good Life” (TGL). My father often said that timing is everything. Apparently, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/78-bville-brougham.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 1970 Buick Riviera — Part 1: Different From Everything Else A Time of Change Our goal in moving from Endicott to Vestal, NY in winter of 1974 was recapturing the rural magic of living in Unadilla. While the move was […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/70-grille-green.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 1971 Ford Ranch Wagon — A Mint-coated Turd Is Still A Turd We acquired a 1971 Ford Ranch wagon in summer of 1974, which shared driveway space in Endicott with our ‘66 Country Squire. In our previous COAL installment, I referred […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_0216x1.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 1966 Ford Country Sedan — Ten Years Is Too Long To Wait With our Pontiac gone, it appeared we were in dire transportation straits in the fall of 1972. But surprisingly, we had a utility infielder waiting in the transportation dugout. […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/490BB189-58D7-4A48-8EE3-BFDA0A19BC09.webp?resize=115%2C115&quality=70&ssl=1)


