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Curbside Classics Archives
COAL Archive
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![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&ssl=1 "My 1970 Buick Riviera (Part 2): A Challenging “Student Driver” Car And An Unexpected Crash Test")
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 […] -
![(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&ssl=1 "My 2001 Ford Focus – A Daily Dose Of Joy")
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, […] -
![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&ssl=1 "My 1999 Alfa Romeo 166 – Was There Ever Really Another Choice?")
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 […] -
![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&ssl=1 "GM B-Body Cars Of My Dad’s Lifetime")
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 […] -
![(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&ssl=1 "My 1996 Ford Windstar – Anomaly")
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 […] -
![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&ssl=1 "A Converted School Bus for Mr. C – A 1959 International B And Other Family Memories")
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 […] -
![(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&ssl=1 "COAL: 1981 Chevrolet Impala – B is for Broom Handle")
COAL: 1981 Chevrolet Impala – B is for Broom Handle
Posted on February 21, 2025 | 109 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 […] -
![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&ssl=1 "Help Me Choose My New Car (Mis)adventure, Meet the Contenders – 2024/25 Edition")
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. -
![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&ssl=1 "COAL: 1980 Honda Accord Hatchback — Oil and Water")
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 […] -
![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&ssl=1 "COAL: 1978 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham Sedan – The Good Life")
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, […] -
![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&ssl=1 "COAL: 1970 Buick Riviera — Part 1: Different From Everything Else")
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 […] -
![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&ssl=1 "COAL: 1971 Ford Ranch Wagon — A Mint-coated Turd Is Still A Turd")
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 […] -
![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&ssl=1 "COAL: 1966 Ford Country Sedan — Ten Years Is Too Long To Wait")
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. […] -
![Music takes me places, at least in my mind. “In Only Seven Days,” the eighth track on Queen’s 1978 “Jazz” album, is streaming on Spotify as I write this. I […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1967-Pontiac-Full-Line-22-23.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "COAL: 1967 Pontiac Catalina Convertible — Months For Some, A Lifetime For Others")
COAL: 1967 Pontiac Catalina Convertible — Months For Some, A Lifetime For Others
Posted on January 31, 2024 | 26 CommentsMusic takes me places, at least in my mind. “In Only Seven Days,” the eighth track on Queen’s 1978 “Jazz” album, is streaming on Spotify as I write this. I […]
