| 
Results for automo. Search took 0.24 seconds.
Lost American Marques: Hupmobile
in Classical Drives, on May 1, 2009
... cars. The company was in trouble and the stock market crash was about to decimate sales of all new automobiles. Hard times were ahead for Hupmobile. Nevertheless the company survived, in part because...
A Beautiful Boat Tail for Our Times
in Classical Drives, on January 10, 2009
...itects terminated their hulls in a sleek stern not unlike that of a duck. It wasn't long before automobile designers copied the idea, where it came to be known as a "boattail." The Aubur...
A Shelby Cobra With Racing Pedigree Highlights 2009 Scottsdale Auction
in Classical Drives, on November 10, 2008
We're still in the early days of November and already the January 2009 Scottsdale auction calendar is heating up as sellers submit their cars for bidding. Russo & Steele have carved out a special niche with their focus on European sports and American muscle and what could represent both...
Carroll Shelby MG TC Racer at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas
in Classical Drives, on August 11, 2008
The MG TC was the first real sports car I'd seen in my young life. It was, to say the least, a stunning change from the heavy, chrome-spangled, Detroit wonders I'd fallen in love with until then. So what causes we males to sometimes leave faithful, hard-working partners in favour of a...
Cars and Coffee on a Saturday Morning. Great Way to Start the Weekend
in Classical Drives, on June 9, 2008
This is something I wish would occur in my town but unless I move to Vegas or Irvine, California , it ain't gonna happen for me. It's called Cars and Coffee (the name's already been trademarked), and the idea is that every Saturday morning from 7:00 am - 10:00 am auto enthusiast...
Easily Overlooked Among Muscle Cars, Morris Minor Pickup is No Less Desirable
in Classical Drives, on January 21, 2008
Be it ever so humble, there are few cars regarded with more affection by their owners than the Morris Minor. Designed by Alec Issigonis, the genius behind the Mini, the Minor was known for its excellent handling, which featured rack-and-pinion steering and independent front suspension by torsion ...
Early Corvettes Could be Auction Finds
in Classical Drives, on January 16, 2008
As mentioned in my first blog from the Barrett-Jackson 2008 auction , Corvettes and muscle cars seemed to dominate the seller's lists. Surprisingly, considering the few that were made, a number of first and second-year Corvettes were offered to buyers, complete with inline-six engines ...
First Day at Barrett-Jackson 2008 Auction
in Classical Drives, on January 16, 2008
...Azera when the booked economy car wasn't available. Wednesday morning, somewhat dazed, your ace automobile journalist drove the first mile with the emergency brake on until unpleasant vibrations a...
Ford Cortina Ad Aimed at Squashing Volkswagen's Bug
in Classical Drives, on December 14, 2007
After many years of service as an ad writer it probably comes as no surprise to learn that I'm fascinated by old car ads. New ones too, though I'm not impressed with the current crop. It seems that many other folks also enjoy old car ads, judging by the thousands of vintage magazine pages...
Daimler Green Goddess Goes to LeMay Museum
in Classical Drives, on November 14, 2007
If the LeMay Museum continues to receive gifts such as this one, its future as a world-class museum is assured. The car is a 1950 Daimler Drophead Coupe known as the "Green Goddess" and has been donated by Wes and Nancy Lematta. Formerly part of the Harrah collection it is one of only...
VW Rabbit Makes Test Drive History
in Classical Drives, on October 17, 2007
... Fifty years ago I performed and recorded, for radio, my first test drive as an automobile journalist. Last month I performed and wrote my last. During that lengthy period I've test-driven more ...
We (Nigel, That Is) Drive the Bugatti Veyron
in Classical Drives, on October 14, 2007
Our ace contributor Nigel Matthews gets to drive some very exotic machinery but nothing could compare with his seat time in the Bugatti Veyron, the fastest and most expensive production-built car in the world. It is already a collector car and future classic, so his recounting of the event in his...
The (yawn!) Woodward Dream Cruise
in Classical Drives, on August 22, 2007
..., living on the west coast, to appreciate the Woodward Dream Cruise. Cruising wasn't part of my automotive culture even though I was born and raised in Toronto, a mere 200 miles from Detroit and s...
First on TV, First With a Mobile Office
in Classical Drives, on July 17, 2007
You are looking at a long-ago photo of myself and ex-wife Maggie and our son Philip, aka "Pap, for Pappy." You can't see Pap because he's still in his mother's womb. When he finally escaped he rode home from the hospital in a Porsche; not a bad way to begin life. My reason ...
French Class Marries American Power
in Classical Drives, on July 15, 2007
..., specialises in superbly-crafted printing and the writer, Martin Buckley, is highly regarded as an automobile historian. Classic Driver's editor Steve Wakefield begins his commentary by stating &...
Touring Spain With a Classic Marque
in Classical Drives, on June 15, 2007
...roducers by country would you include Spain? Probably not, and yet it has produced some magnificent automotive engineers - Wilfredo Ricart among them - plus classics like the Hispano-Suiza and ...
New Plymouth Buried 50 Years Ago to Rise From the Grave in Tulsarama Celebrations
in Classical Drives, on May 15, 2007
The folks in Tulsa, Oklahoma are really getting worked up about June 15's Tulsarama resurrection of a 1957 Plymouth belvedere that was buried, brand new, 50 years ago. It was placed into a sealed vault along with other memorabilia as part of 1957's Golden Jubilee Week, celebratin...
May Brings Flowers and... Car Shows
in Classical Drives, on May 7, 2007
...Detroit that built thousands of B-24 Liberator bombers and after the war converted the factories to automobile production, the first event of the year is called, appropriately, Show and Shine. Proceed...
$2.3 Million Bid for Star's Charger on e-Bay
in Classical Drives, on May 2, 2007
Rats! Here I am again, forced to admit that I've missed another movie in which cars played a major role. Still, I'm sure many of you saw the Dukes of Hazzard so it's my shamefaced duty to draw your attention to the sale of what Autoblog calls "easily one of the most valuable ...
Big Brash 1960 Buick Up For Auction
in Classical Drives, on April 23, 2007
Can you recall what your were doing in 1960, assuming you were even born by then? I certainly can, for among other things I was laughing at cars like this Buick electra . Because ageing has a way of putting things in perspective I don't laugh anymore. I now smile approvingly. Besides, ...
The 1800ES Returns as the Volvo C30 and We Test It
in Classical Drives, on April 18, 2007
I've just completed a test drive of the 2008 Volvo C30 T5 for "About.com" . The C30 won't be in US showrooms until October but Volvo Canada has it now so I was able to get the jump on my US colleagues, a rare happening as the Los Angeles media pool is a big one. In my review I ...
Model Reissue Celebrates Honda's F1 Racing Tradition
in Classical Drives, on March 24, 2007
...e note of their "Website" as a future source of birthday gifts .
HobbyLink's automobiles come in various scales, such as this "1/12 Honda RA273" from 1967, with John...
Big Healey Makes it Big in Leading Collector Car Magazine
in Classical Drives, on March 21, 2007
... Every two months I look forward to receiving my copy of " Collectible Automobile " , a favorite magazine about American collector cars. With no advertising to interrupt one's reading...
Time Travel With the Mazda Museum
in Classical Drives, on March 15, 2007
With their entertaining weekly newsletter the good people of " Hemmings " have again made me aware of something I hadn't known, in this case the existence of "a superb online museum from Mazda" . Actually, it's a real museum in Japan but unlike many manufacturer'...
Celebrating A 50-Year Hemi Anniversary
in Classical Drives, on March 14, 2007
Embattled Chrysler has little time for nostalgia but perhaps may take a moment to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its legendary 392 c.i. HEMI V-8 engine.
Having acknowledged that I will, however, draw your attention to Chrysler's first Hemi-powered cars from 1951; a significant y...
Sunshine and Classics Perform at Amelia Island
in Classical Drives, on March 13, 2007
Ah, yes, that wish list. Amelia Island's Concours and RM auction have come and gone and once again I'm asking myself why I shivered in Scottsdale when I could have been sunning in Florida. The fellows at " Sports Car Market " were there (they were also at Scottsdale in January...
A Famous General, Your Editor and Volvo Have Something in Common
in Classical Drives, on March 6, 2007
...icle in the New York Times I've learned about General Powell's affection for the Swedish automotive icon, which I happily pass on for your interest and amusement.
According to the article...
A Car Fit For a (Speeding) Princess
in Classical Drives, on March 5, 2007
The Reliant Scimitar was never blessed with the British Royal Seal of Approval, i.e.; "by Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen." But it certainly enjoyed royal endorsement via the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, who, according to our tireless source of good things classic, Nigel ...
Driving Miss Gucci
in Classical Drives, on March 4, 2007
I can remember when the sexiest part of any serious car owner's wardrobe consisted of a pair of driving gloves. Made of lightweight leather with bared knuckles and perforated backs, they gave a firm grip on the wheel yet were cool enough for hot weather use. Of course, you were not allowed to...
The Victress Sports Car, Gone Though Not Quite Forgotten
in Classical Drives, on March 3, 2007
Back in the carefree days of the 50's anyone with mechanical talents, a little cash, and a custom fiberglass body, could build his own hot rod or sports car. A number of bodymakers catered to this hobby, some more successfully than others. I must confess I'd never heard of the &quo...
Classic Cars and Hot Rods Gather at a Mountain in Georgia. A Mountain in Georgia?
in Classical Drives, on February 25, 2007
Call me ignorant but I never knew there were mountains in Georgia. Come to think of it, you'd be surprised how many eastern Canadians think Vancouver is on the Pacific Coast's Vancouver Island! I live on said Island but that great city, home to the next Winter Olympics, is firmly located ...
Rods and Classic Cars by the Pier in Pismo Beach
in Classical Drives, on January 31, 2007
Now this is my idea of a great place to hold a collector car show. A broad sandy beach, warm ocean water, sunshine, a long pier and... wait! Where are the cars? Well, they're pier-side and on the streets of beautiful Pismo Beach, California and when this year's " Pismo Beach Classic ...
A Cold Weather Visit to Some Warm Weather Convertibles
in Classical Drives, on January 12, 2007
Yesterday I was privileged, along with long-time buddy Mel Satok, to view a most extraordinary car collection in Sooke, a suburb of Victoria, BC. Owner Ted Forbes, whose history working on oil-drilling rigs all over the world is as fascinating as the cars, currently owns some twenty 1950's an...
Tuning TV in a Classic Caddy
in Classical Drives, on December 27, 2006
They call it the Tuner Generation; young people (mostly, though not entirely, men) who modify new and used cars in order to stand apart from the masses. Many of the mods are performance-oriented, some are purely decorative, and some involve changing cars into concert halls through the use of mult...
Eyes Across the Atlantic
in Classical Drives, on November 17, 2006
...avagant curves, the three headlights, the enclosed rear wheels; they exceeded my (then) concepts of automotive beauty. I didn't know (or care) that the Atlantic was the first post-war car engineered f...
Grand Prix's Colorful Past Comes Alive at New Donington Event
in Classical Drives, on October 27, 2006
Historic Grand Prix racing just keeps growing and growing. The latest to be announced will run at the UK's Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit in early May of 2007 as the first event in the newly inaugurated GP Euro Series. The plan is to "stage prestigious historic motor racing events fo...
Voisin (voah-sehn) Inspires Chrysler
in Classical Drives, on September 21, 2006
...l engineer who believed the principles of aerodynamics could successfully be applied to the automobile, in this instance a 1935 Voisin C28 Aerosport Coupe. ...
How We Got to Ride in a Steam-Powered Antique
in Classical Drives, on September 8, 2006
...hrough the motel parking lot, using it as a shortcut. Today I was surprised to spot several antique automobiles parked there, including a 1911 Stanley Steamer . It was the first time I'd seen a stea...
Found in the Grass at Pebble Beach
in Classical Drives, on August 16, 2006
It's now my third day in Monterey and things are beginning to get interesting. I drove over to the Lodge at Pebble Beach to collect media passes for Sunday's Concours and stayed to photograph a few of the Blackhawk Collection cars already on display. More on that in the next few posts but whil...
A Fast and Furious Antique
in Classical Drives, on June 8, 2006
Would you drive at 70 mph in this stunning antique? Well, I'm not sure I would, but the restored 1909 Pierce-Arrow has actually been clocked at that impressive number on the banked Rockingham Speedway. Autoweek has an enjoyable article on the Model 40PP Touring in which author Bob Tomaine drive...