Carl has been writing for SCM for 19 years. His first article appeared in the February 1997 issue, and at least one of his articles has appeared in every issue since. When he’s not writing, he serves as a National Director for the Classic Car Club of America and tends to his extensive collection of automobilia. He has been a judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for the past 20 years, and he also judges at Amelia Island and other major concours. An extensive number of collector cars have passed through his garage, and a 1947 Cadillac 62 Series convertible and a 1968 Intermeccanica Italia are current residents.
This 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Custom Convertible Victoria by Waterhouse was produced on June 15, 1931. The known history dates to 1939, when Calvin Collins of New York purchased it from the McCormick garage.
The Collins family enjoyed the car for several years, but it was almost lost to the scrap metal drives of World War II. At the insistence of Collins’ young son, Scott, the sculpted Imperial was spared, but in the balance of patriotism and patronage, the Read More
At its foundation is Duesenberg’s long-wheelbase chassis, a full eleven inches longer and more expensive than the standard Model J. Generally reserved for the most lavish and Read More
In 1953, General Motors wowed the automotive world with the introduction of a 50th Anniversary Buick, the Skylark, as well as the Oldsmobile Fiesta, the Cadillac Eldorado and a fiberglass sports car called the Corvette. All four cars were successful, but it was the mighty Cadillac that retained the most star power. Today, 1950s-era Read More
As readily recognizable as the immortal Volkswagen Beetle itself, the VW Type 2 and its derivatives enjoyed an even longer period in production than their progenitor. The original was conceived in the late 1940s by a Dutch Volkswagen agent, Den Pon, who drew up plans for a van based on the Beetle floorpan and running gear.
Known as the Volkswagen Type 2 (the Beetle being Type 1), the result of Pon’s efforts arrived in 1950 and almost immediately proliferated into Read More
Chysler’s financial crises of the early 1950s couldn’t stop the string of Virgil Exner’s Ghia concept cars
In 1953, Dodge unveiled its first concept car, the Firearrow, a sleek out-of-this-world roadster that provided a glimpse of what everyone’s new automobile would look like in just a few years. While this stylish open-top car looked like it was ready to ply the highways of tomorrow, it was just a rolling concept Read More
This is the only Oldsmobile to have been recognized by the Classic Car Club of America as a Full Classic
There was a time when neither Ford nor Chevrolet were America’s leading automobile producers. You have to go back to the dawn of the auto industry, but from 1903 to 1905, Oldsmobile was top dog. Rolling out of Lansing, the little single-cylinder, curved-dash runabout was touted as able to go Read More
Jaguar people may argue, but I believe the 150’s appeal lies in the “creature comforts” our traveling companions often demand
Jaguar’s series of XK sports cars established the company’s reputation as a manufacturer of good-looking, fast automobiles sold at a reasonable price. The 1949 launch of the XK 120 caused a sensation and, at the time, its 120 mph top speed established it as the fastest standard production car available. Read More
Built for a limited time, the Town & Country remains arguably the rarest, most desirable pre-war Woody produced
Conceived in 1939, the Town & Country Estate wagon represented Chrysler’s desire to create an entirely new car that was both luxurious and dramatic. It had to be elegant enough for city driving and chauffeur driving, but utilitarian enough for country living.
David Wallace, Chrysler’s president, was the driving force behind Read More
If Italias offer style and performance, why would they sell for under $50,000? Well for one thing, their handling is a bit suspect
In 1959, chemical engineer Frank Reisner combined his fascination with automobiles and professional talents to establish Carrozzeria Intermeccanica. Born in Hungary in 1932 and raised in Canada, he raced sports cars and “specials” in the late 1950s before moving to Italy.
Over the next few years, Read More
Founded by Henry Leland and Robert Faulconer, the Cadillac Automobile Company of Detroit completed its first car in October 1902. The firm’s superior manufacturing technology-precise gear cutting was Leland and Faulconer’s specialty-soon established it as the foremost builder of quality cars in the United States. The company was formed using funds supplied by two of Henry Ford’s ex-backers and took its name from Le Sieur Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the great French 17th century explorer who founded Detroit in Read More
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